Rejoice

I am learning to rejoice in all circumstances. Those laughters and cheers are so bitter-sweet. I shouldn't be happy, but yet I am. I shouldn't be sad, but yet I also am. How ironic that living a Christian life is full of paradox: to live is for Christ, to die is gain; in order to gain my life I must lose it; in order to gain peace, I must be tormented.

Lord, help me increase in joy and peace despite all this crap. Remind me always that everything will be alright when I trust in You.

ARPC Camp

It was a really good retreat. There were many take-aways in this one. I am so tired now, I will share another day. For now, my heart is just full of praise. Third Day is playing in my head. Uploading their "Conspiracy No.5" to my iTunes right now. But the Third Day song that is in my head and heart now is:

Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
To give away to you, Jesus

from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity"

"We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are. This may sound rather difficult, so I will try to make it clear from my own case. When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected; I was caught off my guard, I had no time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance in regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated. On the other hand, surely what a man does when is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see then if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them fro hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man; it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light"

"Salvation is Here" playing in my head

One of my favourite Hillsong United song of all time. Can't get it off my head at the moment. Luv it!


God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
I don't care what the world throws at me now
It's gonna be alright

Hear the sound of the generations
Making loud our freedom song
All in all that the world would know Your name
It's gonna be alright

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
I don't care what the world throws at me now
It's gonna be alright

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here
Salvation that died just to set me free
Salvation is here
Salvation is here and He lives in me
Salvation is here

Cause You are alive and You live in me
Salvation is here
salvation is here and it lives in me
Salvation is here
Savation is here that died just to set me free
Salvation is here
Salvation is here and it lives in me

Cause You are alive and You live in me
Salvation is here
salvation is here and it lives in me
Salvation is here
Savation is here that died just to set me free
Salvation is here
Salvation is here and it lives in me

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here
© 2005 Cbs/Epic/Wtg Records

Bearer of His Name

I read this from a "Desiring God" blog post.

It seems like a direct rely from God to my prayer in my previous post. All I could do is to respond in praise and in awe of God whom I trust to take care of my family's every need. Like the song from Hillsong goes "We look to Yaweh! Our hope is Yaweh! And He shall reign forever". Forever - long after we are gone, in the lives of Josh and Jo-en.

What about now? Am I a obedient bearer of His name? Frankly speaking, I am ashamed of myself if you peel my brain to see what I am thinking about every waking day. How much of the world is in me reflects my priorities. I admit that only in the past few days that I decided to make much of my life once again to make much of Christ in my life. My passion for the glory of God for the joy of all people in Christ Jesus should not be limited only when I am in the company of believers. As I work "in the world", all the more I should translate that passion into action and words. How did this re-awakening start? Believe it or not, it's during this current production of the second season of "The Pupil" and two interns.

Through my chat with them, I am glad learn that they are from the Department of FIlm Sound and Video, Ngee Ann Poly. Through the music that I blast on from my iPad, I found out that they are Christians too. After hearing about how the interns from my previous production in April were demoralized by discouraging attitudes and words by the production house's boss (which doused their fire to pursue a career in Tv and Film), I am learning to appreciate our interns; to speak about the harsh realities of e industry, but also to offer hope and dispense joy through our work. Yes! Dispensing joy even in the midst of placing a lav mic on person or while booming and mixing. Even in the tired late nights when we go over-time. Light of reality can sometimes be so dim, so why not add some light to lighten the moment. That is what Christ does through us. He gives us a purpose to carry on; a kind of second wind. And this I want to share to these interns and anyone I meet. These interns are young, about 19-20 yrs old. They remind me of my 9 years of ministry in the R-age (youth ministry in Grace Assembly of God). There are still people to impart knowledge to, to dispense joy to, to worship with, to affirm, to encourage! There are also the non-Christians whom I work with, for whom our lives might be the only testimony for Christ they may ever encounter due to the so-called "progressive" thinking of our day. This industry has become my ministry ground. Therefore I am watching my words and actions. In the midst of my personal struggles, there is still a world who needs to know Jesus. I may be carrying a burden, but it is light because Jesus carried the worse lot and I am carry the best lot.

I may not see a physical street of gold in this present world, nor will I experience a time when Josh and I will have a decent conversation, but I look forward to the life outside this time and space; when I enter eternity and walk upon those streets of gold and have a glorious chat with my little boy. That hope is what I yearn for and with this hope in me, I want to a bearer of His name despite being me.

SHINE!