God of Infinite Worth

Yes the Lord is worthy! That's the last thing I played on my i-pod on my way after a shoot this evening. I just want to share this song or worship and hope that it'll be your prayer too.

God Bless U and Good Nite!


God of Infinite Worth (by The Kry)
2 Samuel 7:28

You alone are holy
You alone are great
You are God and Your Word is true
None can take Your place
I am small, I am nothing
I am weak and frail
But with Your hands, You can carry me
What else can I say … I say? …
You are holy

God of infinite worth
You alone are worthy
To receive the anthem of my praise
Light of my world
Matchless God of glory
Infinite almighty God

Who am I that You’d love me
That I’d find such grace?
It’s the greatest of all mysteries
One none can explain
The Son of God, on Mount Calvary
Dying in my place
Took my cross, bought my liberty
Took my sins away … away …
You are lovely

God of infinite worth
You alone are worthy
To receive the anthem of my praise
The light of my world
Matchless God of glory
Infinite almighty God…
I fall on my face …

Crown of my life

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband...

Proverbs 12: 4

Xiaowei is so cool!!

Bad Bad Drumming

My hands felt so tired today. It really showed in the way I tried to control the sticks. I really need to practice to be more consistent. My tempo was horrendous. OH IT WAS SO BAD!!!Everything about my playing was bad. Control wasn't there. I was so unsure about how I sounded. Arhghg... Baby will be due soon. Will I have time to practice? If I plan my time wisely, I know I can do a lot of things. For now, time seems to be running out.

R.I.P. Common Sense

This is a very interesting article I got from the Moriel website. I dedicate this who have been a victim of the death of our good old friend, Common Sense. It's written in an American context. Probably from some real stories from the newspaper or the author's own life. I couldn't help but laugh as I see the similarities of what's happening in Singapore. When the laughter died down, I can't help but to weep at the condition of our society today. Revive Common Sense today!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, as his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realise that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realised he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not join the majority and do nothing.

Spiritual Leadership

I am reading this book by Dr Tim Elmore and it shook my understanding of what a spiritual leader is. It's what, as the book discribed, I am not. Consider what he wrote what a spiritual leader is not

1) Not a preacher
- We don't have to always lecture people in our sphere of influence

2) Not a boss (dictator)
- Jesus had a servant-leadership qualitiies
- God didn't call us to be bossy, narrow and stubborn
- We're not dictators, but developers.

3) Not the Holy Spirit
- Coz our role is to share God's love and not convict people of sin.

4) Not a talker
- Always have something to say about anything
- A bad listener

5) Not an idealist
- Tend to sound "hyper-spiritual" and thus impractical and idealistic.

Dr Elmore wrote that it's easy to slip into one of these stereotypes because of few men reflect true biblical leadership. Is that true of my church? No, it doesn't reflect in my leaders. In fact I have leaders who are great example of what biblical leadership is all about. I am the exactly opposite of what they are. I am so eager to point out other's mistakes and find it so difficult at times to encourage. Because of my habit of spotting the wrong things, I became less and less of a "developer". The book emphasised the importance of relationships. Our relationship to God is based on our relationship with Him. Everything that we do, should be done because of our relationship with Him. Not doctrine. Everything is about Christ. I don't have a relationship with doctrine, but the person, Jesus Christ. Of course knowing Christ means we need to know sound doctrine which we should persue in our relationship with God.

U know, I am learning so much about myself and I hate it! I wish I could disagree with Dr Elmore's view, until I read something that tells me I am not wrong. I shall continue to read and be humbled by it. So my conclusion for now is this: what I've perceived as spiritual leadership is not wrong. Correcting and warning others about their spiritual condition is a thing that even Jesus did. However I realised that I do very little "developing". I tend to have a "brimestones and fire" kind of "preachiness" that I am now so ashamed about. ARhghgh... It's time I become balance. If I tell people off, I also want to provide guidance to them in a way that Jesus also did to his disciples. He is such a perfect role model to me. I am so blessed when I think about how Jesus taught Peter. Oh, I feel so like him!!! But before I cut another person's ear off, I am willing now to let go of my silliness and let the Holy Spirit empower me MORE for the Glory of God!

Thanks Jon!

I am so grateful to Jon for letting me play for the close of the 3rd Service yesterday. I really enjoyed it. I think I played well. I felt the ease to get into the feel of the song "My Hope". And I felt that I had a better sense of time than before. Well, this week I am playing for the youth service. I heard that I might be playing the "V-drums" with all the new sound system. I am quite excited about it. Now it will happen this weekend. I will be playing!!!

SHooo...

Once saved forever saved?

Which side are u on?

I used to have this stand when I first became born again. I came to Grace when I was 7 years old. But I gave my life to the the Lord and started really living for Him when I was 14. I didn't know much about the Bible then, but I had no doubt that once God saved a person, that person is eternally secured. Does that mean that we will not sin? No, it simply means that the Spirit of God will help us as we "work out our salvation".

Then a lot of poeple say that this will give them the licence to live in sin coz they think they will be forgiven anyway. If anyone takes God's grace for granted with that kind of thought, do u think that is of the Lord? That is definitely a doctrine that is spewed out of the devils mouth. That is the single biggest misconception that I have heard. If someone after reading the Scripture that says "thou shall not steal" and yet goes on to steal, what kind of evidence does it show of a born-again believer? Even if he hasn't read the scriptures, he has a conscience that tells him that what he is doing is morally wrong.

Let's consider the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Does it mean that we are perfect at the point of salvation? Not at all. Will we fall in to sin? Yes, of course. It's the classic example of what Paul wrote about in Romans 7. However, if God's spirit is going ot help us overcome sin, can sin over the Holy Spirit that dwells in us? We may sin and fall for the moment because we are susceptible to sin. But it by no means mean that sin will quence the fire of the Spirit in us. Though we fail and fall, the Spirit of God will help us overcome sin. It's a process that we all have to go through. I also believe that a Christian will backslide, but he will not backslide completely out of favour with God eternally, because the Holy Spirit will overcome sin!

That is hope! That is the hope that everyone thrive upon knowing that God will help them overcome their struggles with sin. There is no hope in a message that tells u God can take His spirit away from u if u walk away frm Him. If a person perceive that God's spirit has left him, I'd say that the Spirit of God wasn't in Him in the first place. Was there genuine repentance? Was there genuine sorrow over sin? Was there a renewal of the mind with the things of the Lord? Was there a desire for God? These things are so crucial! Simply saying the sinner's prayer don't save any one than calling a person a hamburger makes him one. Being a genueine hamburger, one have to be chopped into pieces and minced to make a human-meant-patty. So is a Christian when the Spirit of God regenerate a Christian. God takes his whole life and transform his life for God's glory.

Do u face difficulty in living our your Christian life? Do u fail terribly all the time? Fret not! The Lord is able to help us if we have faith and believe in His word. He will take ur life and mold it into what he desires if you let him do it. God has revealed His purpose to u, are u not gonna response to Him?

Ok, I lost my train of thought...

What's the point...

... of controversy?

Calvinism vs Armenism

I admit that I read a lot from authors who are mainly leaning towards Calvinism. Being in our church for such a long time, I was taught to beware of Calvinism. As I started attended B.S. it made me more aware of the difference and challenge me to read about it. I am not a Calvinist, neither am I an Armenist, but I am definitely a Christian. One thing that I realised is that a lot of us listen to what our teacher taught, but never really ever read about it. Thus there were a lot of misconceptions about Calvinism which I found out was "hyper-Calvinism". John MacArthur said that he do not like to be labelled a Calvinist because of the negative connotation that the title brings people who know not much about it.

I am not prepare to give an entry about the difference and where I stand. But it's very important to read and understand that both sides got their stand from the bible. Both are not wrong, but I strongly believe that there is middle-ground which when all is put together make sense.

I love what Rachael Lim declared at the end of our conversation this morning, I just want to know what the Bible says about our salvation.

Praise the Lord! That's the way to go, sister!

I promise

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know that you won’t feel this way forever

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know loneliness won’t last forever

-Spoken-

Casting all your cares on the Lord Jesus takes a lot out of some people. It must be the longing for some quick-fix solution that they longed for, but they just couldn't wait. Remember that good things only comes to those that wait. And waiting upon the Lord. He is always right on time! He hears our cry and His arm is never too short to answer. In our trials and successes, God's glory will be displayed, not confined only to the results, but also in the display us trusting in Him despite our difficult circumstances.

When u cast all your cares on Jesus and trust Him with all your heart, "things will get better.. I promise you!"

Who u wanna be?

" 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset."

Exodus 17:10-12 (New International Version)

A few days ago, I felt like Moses. He is a dynamic leader, but he has his weakness. He was always careless and never use his intelligence in follow the instructions the Lord gave him. One of the best example was during in the verse above. He always have people with him and he never thought of asking for help until he the Israelites tasted defeat.

I may know a lot, but all my knowledge is so fuzzy. I am don't deserve the compliments that others have given me concerning my knowledge. I know I don't know much and there is so much for me to study. I thank God for Daniel taking the courage to question about my growth as a leader. It's about time I realign my priorities. I have to admit that I've been thinking too much about playing drums lately. I spent too much of my free time slacking and doing anything than spending time with God or studying His word.

I remember the prayer I prayed two years ago when I just started freelancing again. The fire was raw, the Lord's refiner's fire was hot. But when work starts coming in, I lose my discipline and didn't commit to the the things I've prayed about. My prayer was for the Lord to help me spend time growing on my free days so that I won't waste my days doing things that has no value. Well, there's definitely a time to rest and slack, but excessive slacking to me is sin. A wasted life. So I didn't want to waste my life. I still wanna do God's will and see his blessings flow. It's not for the blessing that I am craving for. I just want His will be done on earth and I want to be an agent of His glory in our church. The promises and blessings are a gift from God that I dare not demand. But I trust Him to take care of me and my family. I also trust the people I am leading in His hands. As we obey the Lord, the Lord works for us for His Glory!! He is not blind to our service nor our struggles. He is so gracious that He'll send us His angels in the form of our friends to build us up. Sometimes, I need to be shaken up from my day-dream when a gentle work doesn't work. Which ever ways the Lord chooses, I trust Him that everything will work out for good!

I don't want to be a Moses. My character may be reflected in the life of Moses, but my ultimate example is Jesus. I want to be more like Jesus!

Sometimes my concerns for the church causes me to lose my joy in going to church. I let my personal concerns cloud the cloud of glory over the house of God. I am so pathetic! It's so easy for me to lose my focus if I keep looking at the things I do not agree. I just want to be in the Lord's presence and enjoy Him and the fellowship of other believers. That doesn't mean I will let down my guard. I love my church. I love my pastors.

Lord, teach us YOUR ways, not the ways of men!

Love

"...[Christians] talk about unconditional love, but they live a conditional love... I think as an institution the Church does a good job of doing things and is probably the biggest doer of things privately but as individuals I think people feel like they feel justified by God. They don't feel that spur to have, like, works in a sense....Scriptures [says] that faith without work is dead... it says in James that, 'pure and undefiled religion is this: take care of orphans and widows and keep oneself unstained by the world.' That's a pretty bold statement. I think people confuse that with, thinking they need to convert everybody. That's not the issue. The issue is to love everybody."

Dustin Kensrue, frontman of Thrice in an interview with HM magazine.

After reading this interview I just had to comeback on line to remind myself this. I need to love one another. I need to love all and serve all. Wow, that is quite tough when it comes to some people. But it's a challenge and a call of God.

Help me!

Rambling bout Convictions

I have strong convictions about things that I believe in. I find that not having a conviction makes a person weak. We are all learners but we need to have a certain amount of convictions. Let those convictions take root daily in the heart and it will be cemented. This said, I am reminded about the possibility of being wrong. What can I do then? Simply evaluate my stand and realign my thoughts. It's really humbling, that is why I ask the Lord to teach me and help me discern good theology from erronous ones.

I am talking about strong convictions about our Salvation in Christ. I don't care about my convictions that the traditional grip is cooler than the matched-grip. I don't care that Man U is the greatest Engligh team ever. Such convictions are nothing. But a conviction that have a effect on eternity is what we must have. It's not just a conviction. It's a passion! What is our most important passion in life as a Christian? Is it not Christ? If it isn't, u are wasting ur life away. Christ is our first love, our conviction for everything we do. If Christ is not a Christian's passion, he will perish.

What do we store in our hearts? What's our treasure? What is something we can live without? Is it a created thing or a created being or is it the Creator? If u claim Christ as ur ultimate passion. Then go after Him with everything u've got. Anything less than everything is nothing.

I pray that u will be strong in the Lord and let him be first in everything that you do. If not even when revival comes, u'll be left behind. Don't miss the boat. Don't short-change God. He gave His life for u, why don't u give Him yours too?

I will try not to go insane

Yeah, this Sunday I swop duties with Caleb and he told me that it's the last week the acoustic drums is gonna be played. Next week will be the V-drum's debut and Caleb will be my replacement as I go Sri Lanka for my shoot next week. Oh do u know that Sri Lanka is one of the top 10 most romantic place in the world? How cool, right?

Anyway, how should I celebrate the occasion (about the drum playing thing)? I am thinking of doing the thing that The Who did at the end of their show. That crazy drummer, the late Keith Moon, simply slay his gear by reaping them apart, tossing them into the air and annihilate his drums while Pete Townshend, their guitarist, slams his guitar on the amps and drums. It's totally anarchy man!

Oh, if u have not heard of The Who, I don't believe. Coz their songs were used for all the CSI series: CSI, Miami and NY. So cool, rite??

What do u mean u are not a CSI fan??? Get a life! Watch dead people talk in CSI!!

Beautiful Site

I didn't attend service today, but I was in church to practice with Van, Liang and Jon. When I reached church, the boys went crazy with their crap! It was so hilarious! All of them stood in-line to "welcome" me, it was so funny!! U should have seen them and listen to their crap! Shawn was there, it was great to see him. He still talk nonsense though he wasn't allowed to join the rest of the guys for lunch. Dang, I miss them so much! hahaha...

The Down Grade Controversy

This is an excerpt by John MacArthur form his book "Ashamed of the Gospel". It brings to light a controversy that lead to the Spurgeon being kicked out of the baptist church. It is a situation that is prevalent in Christianity today. Is it happening to our church, I don't know. I just hope that we're not sliding down, but flying upward!

[At the end of the Puritan age] by some means or other, first the ministers, then the Churches, got on "the down grade," and in some cases, the descent was rapid, and in all, very disastrous. In proportion as the ministers seceded from the old Puritan godliness of life, and the old Calvinistic form of doctrine, they commonly became less earnest and less simple in their preaching, more speculative and less spiritual in the matter of their discourses, and dwelt more on the moral teachings of the New Testament, than on the great central truths of revelation. Natural theology frequently took the place which the great truths of the gospel ought to have held, and the sermons became more and more Christless. Corresponding results in the character and life, first of the preachers and then of the people, were only too plainly apparent.

n March 1887, Charles Spurgeon published the first of two articles entitled "The Down Grade" in his monthly magazine, The Sword and the Trowel. The articles were published anonymously, but the author was Robert Shindler, Spurgeon's close friend and fellow Baptist pastor. Shindler wrote the articles with input from Spurgeon, who footnoted the first article with a personal endorsement: "Earnest attention is requested for this paper. . . . We are going down hill at breakneck speed."...

To read on, please click HERE.

B.S or B.S

I was talking to a sister from church and ask if she'll be going for Bible Study again but she said no coz it's quite heavy. When I first attended it first time, I was so blur too. But I knew that it's something that i longed to learn. It's something that has been missing from my spiritual life. I persevered and I went against the will of my mind that screams "Info overload! Info overload!" Yet I know that those were the information that I terribly needed. So I persevered, went for it to listen (see, I don't do her homework), but I love Cecilia's teaching/ preaching. She really helped illuminate the word to me by teaching me the skills. The ultimate teacher is the Holy Spirit. The skill is just a tool but it's the one that worked for me and I am just sharing it with u.

Com'on! Don't give up just like that, sister! It's all good! Dun short-change ur ministry by being weak in the word. I assure u, it'll all be good. Honour the Lord, he will honour u too!

Preaching or Bitching?

I'll gladly lose me to find You

I'll gladly give it all that I've got

To find You I will run and never stop!

That's from the song "Bargain"by Pete Townshend. ResurrectionBand did a cover for it, which was very awesome! Love it a lot man! The song's main declaration was "I call that a bargain, the best I ever had". Glen Kaiser, in the Rez 20th Anniversary Concert, declared "Jesus is the best I ever had... EVER HAD!!" Man, it takes a sinner to know what's really the best for His life. It takes one who have been through much to realise the extent of his misery. The ensuing joy and assurance of being forgiven and having the hope of eternity really drives us to live less for ourselves and more for our Creator.

Suddenly the focus is not on our own lives. It's never about us. Not like Bon Jovi sang "It's my life, it's now or never". It's always never about us. Living life thinking about ourselves is not living at all. People may argue that u can't love others until u love urself, but the basis of our love is shallow; it is based on our moods; and it can sometimes be so self-absorbing that it makes cotton candies taste like bitter gourd.

I always say that living is always for God; for Christ; for His glory. What does it mean to live for God then? What does it mean to make much of Him? It's hard to explain this to a non-Christian, because it totally screws up their perception. Living for God requires the willingness to sacrifice; willingness to consider others above ourselves; willingness to go through the valleys of life; willingness to accept not just the blessings in life but also the trials and ultimately the willingness to obey Christ. Our obedience is the result of God's regenerating work in a believer. Our lives can lie. We can be hypocrites, but God ultimately knows the heart. The work of God in the life of a Christian is for all to see. Christ should be the barometer by which all men must be measured even though there are only a short account of Christ in the bible. But yet, it's everything we ever needed!

Let me share one aspect of being Christian. This was inspired by Liang's and Rachael Lim's messages about how awesome Bible Study had been on Tuesday.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

-Jesus speaking in John 14:15

Our love for God and God's work in us compels our whole being to live, love, move and run after the things of God. When we keep God's commandments, others will see and God is magnified and glorified through our words thoughts and action. When our action, thoughts and words match our faith, others will know that we love Jesus. Let's say we use the "F" word out of anger and rage, does that mean that we do not love God? I doubt it, although swearing is not encouraged, but in our desire to glorify God, that swearing convicts us of our weakness and thus compelling us to submitting the the Lord, God is glorified! So the next time we get angry, the Holy Spirit brings to our mind the things that God had spoken thru the Bible and as we bridle our tongue, stop the swearing, cool down and "turn the other cheek''. When we do that, God is glorified and those who see the change will know that we love Jesus because we keep keep his commandments.

Man, u know what I am talking about. I know many are have heard this in ur cell group, pastors and friends who remind u, but are u looking out for ur soul or more for urselves? Are u craving more for God? Ur spirit might be starving of the one thing that can make all of u whole, that is Christ. Take away CHRIST from C.H.R.I.S.T.I.A.N and u'll get I.A.N - "I Am Nothing". We're all somebody in Christ. Everything we ever wanted to become and everything we ever wanted to do must be for Christ and Christ alone. In Him lies all hope, all victory, all blessing and all the glory. To Him all praise and thanksgiving be due!!

Oh, i pray, I do pray ernestly for revival to sweep our church. Not just a feeling of revival, but a revival that will cause not just emotions to rocket into outer-space (we don't want Christians who get "spaced-out"), but a revival that will cause us to be balanced with the written word. U know, I find it really difficult to share this esp in our church, because no matter how bible-believing we claim to be, we're always caught up in some form of "movement" or "waves. SUch things are as man-made as plastics. If we want revival God's way, the result will be a praying church; a repentant church; a bible-study-mad church; a Christ-driven church; a sinner-loving (as oppose to sin-loving) church. I have heard enough about wanting, sensing and feeling the presence of God. Yo, it ain't a presence at at all. What we're experience is just a glimpse of heaven. If we ever to pray for God's presence to be in our church, the very presence of God would have caused a massive concivtion of sin and the turning of lives to God.

(*Boink... suddenly change gear...)

Regeneration06 Committee... I am praying for u!

I just had to trust God for His work in the retreat though I wont be there. Talk about "ownership" that some of the leaders have been talking about. I feel that I own this ministry (yes, I know it is ultimately God, but let me explain). The youth ministry is our playground. It's our backyard! It's the place where most of us grew up in and I want those who play in it to take care of it. I want to make it the place where new comers find God, not just fun and beautiful people, but a place where "greeks", geeks, jocks and jokers find God. A place where new comers will want to comeback to because of the difference in us. Let that difference be Christ!

Oh guess what... I would never stop if SW didn't ask me to eat breakfast with her. So I go spend time with my wife now. I said enuff...

It's about time

Wow, I've been working for the past 10 days without a break. Finally a sore-throat set in. That is not a good sign. Better take care of my body!

It's also about time to spend more with the Lord. Not that I've neglected Him through out my work. But I must confess that I've not been the best of testimonies in my choice of words during work. Instead of seperating myself from the world, I was part of it. It's time to rest in the Lord and time to renew my spirit.

10 days of work is too many. Now I long for one day in the house of the Lord! I am not worried that I've not blogged much or shared much thru my blog coz it's an honest reflection of my spiritual condition too. When I am inspired by the Spirit to share, i just let it rip and rip u apart, I sometimes will. But now the person who needs a good whippin' and rippin' is me. It's all good! It's going to be better!

Renew my mind, Lord
Get me thinking your thoughts
Dreaming your dreams
and living Your way

Got this from Joel's blog. It was a "WOAH" experience for me. I always love such passion for Christ. They motivated me the way Spurgeon, Piper, MacArthur and Ravenhill has. So read this and cry! Dun just cry, repent and turn back to the Lord!

Seek God above all else; everything else is dim in comparison.

We were created for a sole purpose, for relationship. But we're seeking everything else about the relationship instead of the relationship itself. We're seeking the dates, we're seeking the glamour, the power, the goodness; we're seeking the instruction manual, we're seeking to change ourselves that we be worthy of such pursuit.

Nonsense. The pursuit isn't of the vehicle that gets us to that place of communion with God, the pursuit is God. And when we can get that into our thick skulls, and have everything else become an outcome of that realization, then, we please Him.

Living in this World

I am so in a mood of praising the Lord. Just before I go off for my shoot, I just want to scream these words out. WOOOOAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I've may be living in this world but I'm not of it

I am living for Jesus, He is all I need

To live is Christ and to be scorned is gain

I am living for Jesus, He is all I need

-the Other Side of Glory-

Incredible Tales

I was so busy with the Incredible Tales that I didn't go to hospital to visit Shawn after his accident. But the boyz have been updating me and I am glad to hear he is recovering speedily. Now, that is an incredible tale, Amen!

Last night, I sub for Jason (a soundman) for the night shoot of Jack Neo's latest movie. Through out the how shoot, I kept calling out the name of our Saviour and I realised how I longed to be in the temple of the Lord and in the company of His people. I am enjoying the Bible Study on tuesday, the time I spent reading John Piper, listening to Christian music, etc. But for now, I really want to be in the presence of the Lord; to feel him close and to worship Him with everything I've got.

Sever the sin that's causing me pain

Sever the life that caused me disdain

Sever forever the life that easily entangles with every deadly sins

How I love to be in Your presence, Lord.
O how I...

Favour me in everything that I do
Favour in everything to bring glory to You
Favour that adds to my life by taking away whatever that cost me to fall away
How I love to be in Your presence, Lord.
O how I...

Savour the moment u have in the Lord's presence.

Savour the Word in ur heart and let God's flavour fill ur life.

Savour the Saviour and let all that u are be consumed by your desire for Him.

How I love to be in Your presence, Lord.

O how I...

O how I...

-the Other Side of Glory-

No Doubt

Yo, this is for you! When I read ur latest blog entry, this song was humming in my head. Read it, I'll let u hear it one day. It's a song by Petra based on James 1:6.

No Doubt

There are times when you feel like you can't go on
There are times when you feel like giving in
And there are times when you feel like you can't try anymore
There are times of trouble in believing
This test of your faith will last
As long as it takes to pass
Till you have no more doubt you'll endure
And your faith will emerge true and pure

Chorus
No doubt it'll be alright
With God it'll work together for good
No doubt in the end it will be understood
No doubt it'll all work out
With faith He can move any mountain for us
No doubt in the power of Jesus
And after all is done we find out
All we really need to have is no doubt

There's a time to take a reckless leap of faith
There's a time to be cautious and to wait
And there's a way of learning from the past
That this time of trouble won't last
And sometimes we want to think we know
The ways He will choose to make us grow
But it's never the way of our choosing
And we can't always see what He's using

(Chorus)

There will be winters in the seasons of our soul
With a cold and bitter wind that chills our lives
But our faith can be building a fire
That will warm us till springtime arrives

(Chorus)
No doubt...

Let the flame burn brighter

We used to sing this Graham Kendrick song with so much fervour and conviction. I wonder if I'll hear it again from our own lips. I want to sing it out, peepz! I want to sing it to u! I want to teach u to sing so that we could raise this anthem to heaven and to hell!

We'll walk the land
With hearts on fire
And every step will be a prayer
Hope is rising
New day dawning
Sound of singing
Fills the air

Two thousand years
And still the flame
Is burning bright
Across the land
Hearts are waiting
Longing, aching
For awakening
Once again

Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine, let it shine

We'll walk for truth
Speak out for love
In Jesus' name
We shall be strong
To lift the fallen
To save the children
To fill the nation
With your song

No more...

Eve told me that Further Seems Forever and The Juliana Theory has disbanded. I wonder if my busy schedule will cause CFS to disband. Only time will tell, but I am prepared. As with Gloria, all good things must come to an end. Some earlier, some later. But I know TOSOG will not disband, how can I disband myself?

Anyway, it was great to hear that Liang and Vern practiced a little today. I really can't want to join them!!!

Disturbed but hopeful

I was reading an article on Moriel's Website and came across this question in a open letter church leaders.

"Should we be promoting methods of success that produce big churches with shallow believers who are asleep when Jesus returns?"

I dun want my CMs to be shallow believers. I don't want a cell ministry with shallow leaders coz shallow leaders produce shallow followers. We cannot lie about the spiritual condition of our own cell group (or our own lives). In youth ministry, leaders ought to be teachers pointing them to the way the Bible teaches. Sometimes, despite our efforts, it is possible for our youths to fail to response to our teaching, but let it be the result of their own choice and not a result of our shallow teachings. Spiritual growth ultimately is a personal experience. Let's not be discouraged by the apparent poor response by your cell members. Spiritual growth takes time and it's the work of the Spirit to convict and open their eyes. We just have to teach them the truth and guide them in their growth.

So let's do our very best to be good students of the Lord first so that we will be effective teachers of His word. Let our quest for God's truth be so irresistable that will ultimately lead our young ones to either receive or to reject the Word of God. Let's guide those "in-betweeners" and guide them in the ways of the Lord.

Pray for your cell
Pray for yourselves

All glory to God, amen!

Quote of the day

"The depth of our relationship with God will determines the depth and strength in our capacity to act like Jesus more and more."

- Anonymous

The Champion

I was at Laser Fair in IMM and I saw a Carman DVD on the shelves. Man, what's the significance? It's the most unusual place to find a DVD of a Christian artiste! I also saw Steven Curtis Chapman. Anyway, this are the actual lyrics to the song. It's more like a narrative, but it's really cool! Read it and I'll let u listen to the song or watch the music video for it.

In the vast expanse of a timeless place,
Where silence ruled the outer
space,
Ominously towering, it stood,
The symbol of a spirit war
Between the one name Lucifer,
And the Morning Star, the ultimate of
good.

Enveloped by a trillion planets,
Clean as lightning and hard as
granite,
A cosmic coliseum would host the end
Of the war between the
lord of sin and death,
And the Omnipotent Creator of man's first breath,
Who will decide who forever will be the Champion.

The audience for the 'Fight of the Ages' was assembled and in place.
The angels came in splendor from a star.
The saints that had gone before
were there: Jeremiah, Enoch, Job.
They were singing the "Song of Zion" on
David's harp.

The demons arrived, offensive and vile, cursing and blaspheming God.
Followed by their 'trophies' dead and gone.
Hitler, Napoleon, Pharaoh,
Capone,
Tormented and vexed and grieved.
Waiting for their judgment from
the Throne.

Then a chill swept through the mammoth crowd and the demons squealed
with glee,
as a sordid, vulgar, repulsive essence was felt.
Arrogantly
prancing, hands held high, draped in a sparkling shroud
Trolled by demons,
Satan ascended from Hell.

Then Satan cringed, the sinners groaned!
The demons reeled in pain
as a swell of power like silent thunder rolled
The surge of light beyond
intense, illuminating the universe,
In resplendent glory appeared the Son of
God.

Then a Persona, yes, Extraordinaire appeared in center ring.
God
the Father will oversee the duel.
Opening the Book of Life, each grandstand
hushed in awe as
majestically He said,
"Now here's the rules. He'll be
wounded for their transgressions,
bruised for iniquities"
When He said,
"By His stripes they're healed," the devil shook!
He screamed, "Sickness is
my specialty. I hate that healing junk!"
God said, "You shut your face, I
wrote the book!"
Then the Father looked at His only Son and said,
"Jesus
you know the rules.
Your blood will cleanse their sins and calm their
fears."
Then He pointed His finger at Satan and said,
"And I know you
know the rules.
You've been twisting them to deceive My people for years."
Satan cried, "I'll kill you Christ! You'll never win this fight!"
The
demons wheezed, "That's right, there ain't no way."
Satan jeered, "You're
dead meat, Jesus, I'm gonna bust you UP tonight!"
Jesus said, "Go ahead,
make my day!"

The bell rang, the crowd cheered, the fight was on,
And the devil
leaped in fury.
With all his evil tricks he came undone.
He threw his
jabs of hate and lust.
A stab of pride and envy, but the hand that knew no
sin blocked every one.

Forty days and nights they fought, and Satan couldn't touch Him.
Now the final blow saved for the final round.
Prophetically Christ's
hands came down
And Satan struck in vengeance!
The blow of death felled
Jesus to the ground.

The devils roared in victory!
The saints shocked and perplexed as
wounds appeared upon His hands and feet.
Then Satan kicked Him in His side,
and blood and water flowed.
And they waited for the 10 count of defeat.
God the Father turned His head,
His tears announcing Christ was dead!
The 10 count would proclaim the battle's end.
Then Satan trembled
through his sweat in unexpected horror, yet...
As God started the count by
saying,
"...10..."
"Hey wait a minute, God..." "...9..." "Stop! You're
counting wrong..."
"...8..."
His eyes are moving...
"...7..."
His fingers are twitching...
"...6..."
"Where's all this Light
coming from?"
"...5..."
"He's alive!"
"...4..."
"Oh - nooooo!"
"...3..."
"And yet,"
"...2..."
"Oh...Yessssss!
"...1..."
He has won!
He has won!
He's alive forevermore!
He is risen, He
is Lord,
He has won!
He has won!
He's alive forevermore,
He is
risen!
He is Lord!

Proclaim the news in every tongue,
Through endless ages and beyond!
Let it be voiced from mountains loud and strong!
Captivity has been set
free, salvation bought for you and me,
'Cause Satan is defeated,
And
Jesus is The Champion!

If You're Pierced by the Word, say "WOAH"!

John Piper was writing about God being the basis of the Gospel and and everything that we do. Some of us want forgiveness to get rid of some guilt feelings or in need of some relief, but not necessarily salvation.

"If you only want forgiveness because of emotional relief, you won't have God's forgiveness. He does not tive it to those who use it only to get His gifts and not Himself"

"Woah" point 1: What ever we do, we need to seek the Creator, not created beings, emotions created by created beings or created things.

Piper stated other things that we commonly ask such as healing of diseases, getting a good job or finding a life partner, but for the wrong reasons. Yes, God can provide all these things and more than we can imagine, but most people in their eagerness to share the gospel, tell unbelievers that they had to have their sins forgiven first so as to remove "the obstacle to health and job and spouse"

"Woah"point 2: Many people come to the Lord for selfish reason. It's always about themselves and the blessings and not on the Creator.

"In other words, it matters what you are hoping for through forgiveness... If you want forgiveness only for the sake of savouring the creation, then the Creator is not honoured and you are not saved."

"Woah" point 3: If you said the sinners prayer with the wrong motive, u are not saved!

Piper noted that a lot people want the hope of heaven; the relief from suffering; the fear of hell; to hope of seeing those who have passed on, etc. "In all these aims one things is missing: God"

JOhn 17: 3
"This is eternal lfe, that htey know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent"

Piper:
"If we do not want eternal life because it means joy in God, then we won't have eternal life"

"Woah" point 4: The word of God says so. It's a fundamental pillar of our faith. We cannot offer a ticket to heaven if we preach about a train that is heading for hell.

"The 'good news' will not prove good to any for whom God is not the chief good."

WOAH!!
WOAH!!
WOAH!!
WOAH!!
WOAH!!

Christians Forever

A lot of our views about what u mentioned depends on our understanding of sin and the work of the Lord in the heart of a believer.

Christians are forever! We are forever because God's righteousness that's imparted to us is forever! So we fall into temptations and sin, not because the the Holy Spirit living in us in incapable of getting rid of them. Rahter, we sin because we are living in the flesh which is susceptible to sin. So what part does the God play in the heart of every believer? He covers us with Christ's blood so that when we sin, God sees the blood of Christ over us and not our sin. Sin leaves a mark on the soul which the blood of Christ quickly covers. This is what happens in the heart when we sin.

The mark of Christ in a believer is in his life, and sactification is a process that produces a holy life is produced. Our attitude towards sin changes. We don't live deliberately to sin. We become more aware of our weakness and become dependant on the Lord for our deliverance. Does that mean we will not sin? No, we will still sin due to our humanity. We will fail miserably, we will fail terribly, but we will not fail etarnally and totally. If people think that they can lose their salvation, that is to say that the Holy Spirit's power can be defeated by sin. But this cannot be true! The work of the spirit compels us to offer true worship, to read His word and allow it to renew our lives as we live in obedience. The work of the spirit will be evidence by the fruit it produces in the life of a Christian.

At the end of the day who is real and who is not? WE can all play the role and fake it. We can talk about accountability til we're blue in our faces and still have people living in sin. The ultimate accountability I feel is the in the heart towards God. God knows all things and he sees all things. Whether fake or not, God knows. But we know ourselves best. And we are the best (or worse) judge of ourselves. But I pray that we use the Word of God as the standared that our heart and soul are measured. God is our ultimate judge, Christ is our ultimate example and the Spirit of God is our ultimate teacher.

Lord, teach us to live this life the way we ought to.

My prayer today

It's fire we want, for fire we plead, Send the fire

The fire will meet our every need, Send the fire today

Give us strength to always do what's right,

And grace to conquer in the fight

for power to walk this world in white,

Send the fire today

Splattering Jam on the Dance Floor

We were suppose to jam this evening, but I had to call it off because of the RL meeting. Liang and Vern were quite disappointed (I am sure Caleb also). Everyone including me were looking forward to it. That meeting just slipped my mind and I was only reminded thru an e-mail that CX sent. Sad I may be, but I am very encouraged and touched to see the passion that my friends have for the band. We have not played together for such a long time. I am sure we're more rusty than Russian Tank.

But I know my priorities. The Cell ministry is my priority. I encouraged Liang to take the lead and gather the guys and have a go without me. Thebaby will be due in about 3 months. It's as good as 3 months before retiring from the scene, unless we find ways to jam on weekdays where everybody's schedule meets. I really don't know how it will be after this 3 months. But I am praying that we'll find time to jam.

Today is the day

Today is the day

Yesterday was the same

So will be tomorrow

Everyday is the same

-The Other Side of Me-

Bible Study

I have not been to Cecilia's class for a long time and I am so glad that I went this evening. I really missed a good dosage of teaching/ preaching. It's something that music cannot accomplish in my spirit. I am so glad to see so many of our young adults there too! I am very hopeful that they will become, God willing, great teachers of God's word to your youths. I am very confident that God has already begun a work, stirring and pulling the hearts of these guys. I know I won't be standing and praying alone anymore about seeing revival in R-age.

I believe!

I believer!

I believe!