*+_Praise † Grace_+*

It's been 2 months away from home since I decided to begin my career in Penang. Before I left, I could still remember my grandma pleading me not to leave. I left anyway. A great change is coming to my family. I guess these changes can be good, but nonetheless, it is inconvenient. GRAMDMA IS DOWN WITH STROKE It was on a Saturday morning that I get this news. It was difficult to swallow, but it didn't take me long to accept what happened. Grandma had always been an active person: Waking up before the sun is up to send my cousins to school, then go to the market for her daily shopping, followed by her coffee chit-chat routine at the coffee shop before heading to my aunt's saloon to help. After her nap, she would head back home to clean the house and prepare dinner for about 15 persons. All this is about to change. With her partial paralysis, she would lose all ability to perform even the most routine task. That would mean all the different families that she had ...

I finally kick-started a new improvement project in my company. The project will serve to improve the current processes in my company and to complete my Lean Six Sigma certification. The project calls on process owners such as managers, team leaders, supervisors and etc. They are all experts in their own areas: they know how things can be made simpler and easier. One of the deadliest mistake in the early stage of an improvement project as such, is to immediately rush into implementing solutions without properly understanding the real underlying problem. As experts of their respective areas, the team is often tempted to quickly throw out solutions they think would make their work easier. It is not long before all the meeting quickly escalated into a heated discussion where everyone is trying to make their opinions heard. Each one of us is too quick to speak, yet unwilling to listen to what others have to say. As a project coordinator (particularly younger than ALL of them), I strugg...

It's my 4th week working by now. God had been with me every step of the way and I know He will continue to provide. I am thankful. It was a month of humbling experience: learning to control my impulsive spending habit as well as to manage my finances. Nonetheless, I made it through the month only because there were family and friends who supported me relentlessly. My dad continued to be my provision and supply for my first month of working. I tried not to ask too much, and indeed what I asked for is sufficient.  My mom who had been my constant counsel for life wisdom, especially on my finances. She was constantly worried about how I spend my money and how I make financial commitments. My landlord and friend, Dr. Chan, who willingly sheltered me. I am abundantly blessed with comfortable air-conditioned room, private toilet, awesome kitchen and never-empty fridge. His wife, Trish, who constantly asked me to eat fruits and even made soup that nourished me. I think if not for her,...

I couldn't stand it anymore. One step into the carpeted sanctuary of Li Xin Baptist Church will strike me into an infernal of dust allergy. Cleaning up was needed. So, right after the Theology class, I took out the church's vacuum cleaner. But it wasn't working well. It was making a lot noise but nothing was picked up. Putting my engineering to work, I opened up the dust trap, lo and behold, a whole lot of clutter. Holding my breath and ever-flowing snort, I took the filter out and shook the dust that was clogging the vacuum cleaner. The trap was emptied and voila, it worked perfectly again. I guess it is the same with us as Christians. We are called and set apart to be priest, standing in the gap between the living and the dead, between God and sinful men. We are called to bring cleansing in the blood of Christ to fallen and helpless people. The cleansing work begins, not with the unbelievers, but the very followers of Christ first. God is interested in cleans...

The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian overpowered Israel, and because of Midian the people of Israel made for themselves the dens that are in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds....And Israel was brought very low because of Midian. And the people of Israel cried out for help to the Lord. When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord on account of the Midianites, the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery. And I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.”  Judges 6:1-2, 6-10 So ...

It's been 3 weeks now and I thank God, the wait is over. I have been hired at Bose Systems Malaysia as Industrial/BPS Engineer this morning and shall commence my service by 5 October 2015 . It had been a short journey of learning humility, patience, and more importantly, about my weaknesses. There were much pain, but the blessings were more. So here I am to count it, because my Lord God is gracious. My parents have been my greatest support in my hard times. My mother who has always been understanding. No one understood how depressing I felt like she does. She offered no comment nor opinion that would only make it harder for me. She never failed to comfort and to provide. My father , even though at times teased me, had not forsaken me. He continued to provide for me and did not hesitate to give me the best. Pastor Matthew who did not cease to "suck" me over to Penang with his persistent prayers. Kept asking me for updates like every 2 days. He had been a friend ...

久违的雨， 你的造访可真张扬， 总少不了你那宏亮的宣嚷！ 可你的到来 却为大地带来了清新的洗涤， 吓跑那让人丧气的烟霾， 好让希望把我低下的头抬起， 也有看见黎明的一天。 孕育我的祂， 我还在等着呢！ 等着祢亲手把我的日出， 抬起！ 仰望吧！我是希望的子女！ 在黎明来临之前， 别让眼睛忘了 祂的荣耀！

I thought I would be asleep by now. Sleeping for less than 6 hours, out in the morning, lots of walking and driving, and only returning home at 12am. I should be exhausted, but my mind is just occupied. Things just won't go the way I always want it too. It hardly ever do. The door to work in Bose is basically closed. And now here I am back to square one. It's scary, because I am confused. I wish God would break open the Heaven and tell me His plans for me. But His plans are too great for my comprehension. I am scared because I don't even know what I want. And the scariest thing, is to listen to people telling me what I want. So now, where do I proceed from here, O my Lord God Almighty? Speak to me, and here I am waiting to listen. All I ask now, O Lord, is peace that surpasses all understanding, that I may rest tonight. God's Character, My Encounter.

The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him. Genesis 18:17-19 The LORD visited Abraham and had lunch with him. After telling Sarah what she needed to know, He set out for His next task: deciding the future of Sodom and Gomorrah. A very grave judgement was about to come upon the wicked cities. Yet, the all-knowing Judge of the Earth stopped for a very strange gesture. The LORD was contemplating: Should Abraham know what I am about to do? The judgement for the cities were about to be severe. Lives were at stakes here. But what God was really doing here was to see the response of Abraham in the light of what was about to happen. Th...

Two weeks ago, Gabriel begged me to take a break. As usual, FES staff will always ask you to reflect. I was asked to look back to my past 4 years of university life and give a name to the journey. And of course, this one cannot miss: the name of God. So I took some time to look back, to reflect and to ponder. I named my journey "A Journey of Breaking, Molding, and Rebuilding" . As I enter my university life as a freshman, I revolved my worth and my life around the things that I do: my involvement in CF and in campus, my effort to bring Ultimate Frisbee and etc. The journey led me to my first mission trip which sparked my passion for evangelism and mission. Camp Cameron 2012 brought new meaning to my Christian life. The beginning of my service as FEMS Coordinator in my 2nd Year brought me enormous joy, at the same time God was holding me through a journey of humility. STOMP Timor Leste broke down all my confidence in the things I do and opened my eyes to my incapability i...

A few nights ago, I was having a drink with my besties. Inevitably, our conversation led us to the upcoming 916 Red Shirt Rally. He remarked something that I have heard from my dad several years ago: only Buddhism is the only religion that is never in dispute or conflict with any other religion. But is that true? So I set out to find out if that is true. With the help of Google, two incidents was enough to break this myth. Here's what I found: 2012 Rakhine State Riot between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslim in Burma Source:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Rakhine_State_riots http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/2/myanmars-buddhist-terrorism-problem.html http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22356306 2013 Burma Anti-Muslim Riot led by majority Buddhists Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Myanmar_anti-Muslim_riots Buddhist-Muslim conflict in Sri Lanka Source: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=1...

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Genesis 12:1-3 Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”  Genesis 12:7 The call of Abram started with a promise that God will make Abram into a NATION. It was a promise of OFFSPRING at the time when Abram was 75 years old and still childless. Although, it was still hopeful. Sarai, his wife was 65 years old. So Abram started his journey as a nomad in faith, knowing that the LORD who appeared to him had promised him great thing. As time goes by, it seems less likely than ever. And one day, the LORD reassured Abram of the promise He made to Abram. And ...

Lord, You are the God of Heaven, and here I am on earth, so I'll let my words be few. How much longer? How much longer do I have to wait? I'm getting restless and I'm getting impatient. All those pressing comments and all those concerned voices, I wish they would just shut up. People simply do not understand. It is never my desire to be idle. I wish I can earn my own living too. People seems to think I enjoy being unproductive; lazing around as I eat off what little savings I have. I wish they could stop telling me what to do, even though I know they were out of loving concerns. I know what to do, but it's all waiting now. Why don't people understand: waiting is not necessarily something bad. Must I be constantly doing something or contributing something, otherwise there is no place for my existence? I wish I could sleep off those waiting time, but only to be awaken by dad's name calling: Rice Bug. Figuratively, he's making fun of me for eat...

I know this sounds scary but I think I had a depression during Camp Cam 15, so bad that I was emotionally crushed. THE EXPERIENCE: I must admit that that was not the first time. It happened many times before, but I somehow had my ways of shutting it off. It was particularly scary because I heard phantom voices that I know didn't exist. It was all in my head. These voices are constantly accusing me: Why are you so weak? Why are you so fickle minded? Why are you not doing anything, you lazy fella? Why are you so clumsy and stupid? Look at other people, they can play guitar better than you, sing better than you, smarter than you, why do you even think that anyone would like you? etc. Every time I look at someone, I can actually hear that someone is accusing me of something: why is he so weird? Joash is giving me trouble again. A part of me consciously know that it isn't real and true, but a bigger part of me actually believe that that's what other people thi...

It gets heavier Each drop dances on the warm tar road Out of my bag I drew my poncho Over myself I put it on But I wouldn’t move Fascinated as I watch them dance They are only about to start The crowd around me withdrew The chants of the warring wind intimidates Allow myself to be stubborn once Because my nation is stubborn As the heavens weep, my heart aches I sat and refused to move Not until my nation knows that we have all sinned Not until my chiefs know their guilt On the chanting road I cried in pain My nation is in darkness no one can save Oh my people, if only you know Know that we have all did right Only in our own eyes Know that we have please Only the ways of men Oh my people, if only you would turn away From what’s right in our own eyes From what’s pleasing to ourselves If only we would do justice, Not only to ourselves But to the forgotten and abandoned The oppressed and the violated To my Creator I cried Before ...

This one month has been an eye-opening, mind-blowing and attitude-changing time of learning. Coming back from SWEEP ignited my passion for social work. I was looking at every opportunity to involve myself in one. However, there is a limit where my optimism can take me in the world of reality. Pastor Matthew and I at Bon Odori I didn’t know what to expect for this internship. As a man of action, I was hoping to see actions, but instead I had a lot of time for reflection. At such times I felt uneasy. Pastoral work requires creativity that drives initiatives and self-motivation. In times of inaction, a pastor needs to find gaps to fill in. In times of quietness, a pastor needs a spirit to listen to God’s leadership and guidance. Me sharing at Youth Fellowship I was required to preach on the 26 th July. I believe it was God’s perfect plan that the sermon was done prior to my class in MBTS. It prepared a context in which I could relate to the subject. My burning passion for ...

Today's reflection prompted us to think about what God may have called us into for the past week. The Scripture recounted the story of Moses who received God's calling and repeated rejected the calling with excuses. I think some excuses that I would give God are: I don't have time, I'm working, what about my family, and etc. Yet in my weaknesses, God will meet me halfway. We were all excited for attachment today. After teasing Philip for the one last time, we hopped onto Brigger's car and off we went. Home of Love for old folks was a lot nearer than Natural Farming. We arrived in less than 15min. Home of Love is a double-storey building in green. Unlike other places that we have been to, there is no greeting nor proper welcome. The first person we encounter was an old uncle sitting still at the corner. A tattoo-ed man was feeding another skinny old man on a wheelchair. The place gave a overwhelming sense of inactivity and stagnation. Richard, who was here l...