Canaanland Celebration

Andrew Tai led P&W. Beatrice Hiew played the keyboard while Terrence Lim was on the drums. The presence of the Lord can truly be felt.

Lo Yi Ping was the facilitator and Ps. Lam Kee Hing shared the Word. I tried my best to take down notes but I missed some.

Facing New Challenges and Realities

What happened on 8 January 2010 is a sad and shameful day for Malaysia.

- 3 churches were petrol-bombed.

- Website of the Judiciary was hacked and the hacker left some threatening messages.

- Some men entered a church and roughed up the pastor.

- “Peaceful” demonstrations were allowed in the mosques which carried some seditious messages.

1 Malaysia 2 standards

Protest has caused social unrest, political tension, economic loss and racial & religious mistrust.

What is the implication on us?

1. It is a wake up call

- A call to be intentional and innovative, no more business (activites and programs) as usual.

- A call to empower and equip our people, no more activities that are ‘entertainment’.

- A call to take, protect and promote our faith seriously, no more taking our religious freedom and rights for granted.

2. What should we do as Malaysian Christians?

- We can’t wish the problem will go away like a bad dream.

- We can’t control what the religious and/or racial fanatics will do next.

- We can’t hope for full justices and fairness from man and man-made institutions.

3. But we can and must decide to:-

- Control our response, not react.

- Chart our future in this land, not run away.

- Contribute to change the nation, not just hope/pray for the best.

Every crisis provides an opportunity for God to intervene and for us to change & make a difference.

Ways to Make a Difference

1. Don’t Give Up

- Don’t just decide to pack and leave.

- Don’t just shrug your shoulders and say ‘What to do, whatever will be, will be’. Instead adopt a positive mindset, accept and adapt to the new realities.

2. Don’t Stir Up

- Don’t stir up anti Malay/Muslim sentiments.

- Don’t start or pass on wild rumours.

Instead face any and every hostility and threat with calmness, reasonableness, dignity and courage.

3. Don’t Freeze Up

- Don’t live in fear and panic. (Buy one year supply of food from the supermarket)

- Don’t live in a Christian ghetto/bubble.

Instead:-

- Pray for boldness and courage for ourselves.

- Pray for concern and compassion for our neighbours. Look for opportunities to bless and build bridges.

The Positive 7 Ups

1. Look Up – Pray and Intercede

2 Chron. 7:14

- Pray individual, homes, churches.

2. Build Up – Equip and Empower

Eph. 4:11-16

- Pastors, church leaders, parents must make concerted and serious efforts to:-

- teach, train and equip our children, youth, young adults in the Word, prayer and worship.

- mentor and disciple our leaders and potential leaders.

- strengthen and help build strong marriages and families.

3. Speak Up – Represent and Act

Prov. 31:8-9

- Leaders and professionals must speak up and act on behalf of:-

- the poor, marginalized, uneducated, oppressed, the disadvantaged, widows and orphans.

4. Stand Up – Stand and Fight

Eph. 6:10-19; 2 Cor. 10:3-5

- Stand and fight for our basic constitutional rights and freedom.

- Speak and write to YBs, to the press.

- Sign petitions.

- Write in blogs.

- Protest and demonstrate where necessary (in a peaceful manner).

- Pray!

5. Grow Up – In Depth and Maturity

Col. 2:6-10

- Each of us must take our responsibility to grow in our faith and help others grow.

- Spiritual disciplines of meditation on God’s Word, prayer, worship, solitude, journaling.

- Spiritual fellowship, retreats, camps, conferences.

- Reading good books.

- Listening to tapes, CDs.

- Watching good VCDs, DVDs.

- Associating with godly men and women.

- Mentoring and being mentored by a goodly man/woman.

6. Rise Up – Be Bold and Courageous

Esther 4:14-16; Acts 4:1-31

- When the situation demands it, we must be prepared to take a strong stand and initiate strong action such as candlelight vigils, sit-ins, protest, petition.

7. Take Up – The Challenge and The Cross

Luke 9:22-24

- Mentally and emotionally, be prepared to suffer for Christ in terms of harassment, intimidation, confiscation of books and property, persecutions.

IN CHRIST

- We are more than conquerors Rom. 8:31-39

- We can do all things Phil. 4:13

Togther in Christ and with other Malaysians:-

- We will overcome all injustice, unrighteousness, bigotry and extremism.

- We will tear down walls of prejudice and build bridges of friendship.

- We will work together to build a better, brighter and harmonious Malaysia.

Individually as a Christian and corporately as the Body of Christ:-

- Overcome our prejudices.

- …

- …

To become instruments of peace

To become agents of change

To become channels of blessing

Ps. Lam's wife led us in interceding for our nation.

Rev. Lee Tak Vui then explained the 2010 handbook which was given out to each person present, before final prayer.

What is in a Word?

A word is not much but if it is a word that has been used by some people for yonks then there is a lot in the word.

Just cos of ignorance and one thinks that one can easily be shaken by another faith by using that same word, it shows how shallow one's own faith is.

I think there is something deeper beneath the surface. Maybe the people who claim that the word only belongs to them are afraid that their own lot would use that same word for another faith and not their own.

Lunch

Kurma Chicken and Beans - two of my favourites

Minor Car Accident

I had about 7.5 hours of sleep last night. But I felt lethargic at work the whole day. The hot weather may have caused me to feel this way.

I banged on the front of someone’s car on the way home as I was reversing back to a junction due to incoming traffic on the lane nearest to me while drivers in the further lane did not want to give way. The impact was quite a loud one.

Only after the bang, a driver at the further lane gave way to me while traffic on the lane nearest to me came to a complete halt.

As a courtesy, I stopped by the side of the road to wait for the driver of the car which I banged to settle the case.

He did not even stop and as he was passing by the car, he just motioned me to go off. I saw that there was no dent on his car.

I gave thanks to God for the favour of this man. After the bang, I felt the sense of God’s peace. I did not panic or worry.

When I arrived home, I checked the back of the car and there was no dent at all as well. PTL!

Where’s the Darn Thing?

I was instructed by my superior to look for some files yesterday evening.

Since I did not manage to find them, I had to continue this morning. I wasted about 2 hours altogether looking for things that do not even exist. Working in this kind of situation is fun. NOT!

Where’s My Diary or Calendar?

I was jolted up from slumber at 6.16a.m. this morning. Was wondering once again why the alarm clock did not make noise. This time round I did not even switch it on. Duh

I am definitely not having a great start to the first week of a new decade and new year. I must have been too tired last night to remember to do it.

For this first week of the new year, I have been going to sleep early, getting at least 7 hours of sleep and spending less time on the internet. Hopefully I can keep this up for the rest of the year. I am still aiming for 8 hours of sleep per night though.

As I still have not received any diary or calendar from two of my insurance agents, today I enquired whether they intend to give me one. Nowadays in order to save cost, they would try their best to pretend that their clients do not need one unless clients like me who wants to demand their rights. Actually what is the diary or calendar compared to the amount of business I give them? Peanuts really.

This evening before I left work, I called Cathay Cineplexes to enquire whether they show the movie ‘Avatar’ in 3D. Unfortunately they do not. Hmmm I really wish I can watch it in 3D.

WAYN?

Today someone actually asked me 'Where are you now (WAYN)?' when I was online during lunchtime.

If I am online, I would either be at work or at home. I seldom go online using my mobile phone. I would not be twiddling my thumb at the beach and go online at the same time. :)

Just came back from Canaanland Celebration Leaders Meeting. Everyone who should be there made the conscientious effort to do so. There were a lot of matters being deliberated in the two hours.

In the end I was asked where I would prefer to have the retreat this year. I said, ‘The mountain’. The beach would never be my choice cos I do not like to get sun-tanned. (And that’s why if you ask me WAYN, you would seldom hear me answer the beach. The only time that did happen was when Adam Barclay came to visit me in 2005. We went to Sapi Island on a normal weekday).

So this year we will be going up the mountain again during the Hari Raya period and since I was the Camp Commander last year, this year I have just been nominated to be the Advisor to the soon-to-be appointed Camp Commander.

Are You Busy?

Today someone actually asked me, 'Are you busy?'

What a rhetorical question!!! And the person should know better.

I wish I could just answer him, 'Oh no, I am not busy at all. Can't you see I am in the midst of 'goyang kaki' here?' Duh

There was never a time in the past when I was not busy.

There is never a time in the present when I am not busy.

There will never be a time in the future when I will not be busy.

I will always be busy as long as I am working in this present company.

Maggi Mee Lovers - Must Read

Received by forwarded email

'INCORRECT WAY OF COOKING NOODLES'

Normally, how we cook the noodles is to put the noodles into a pot with water, throw in the powder and let it cook for around 3 minutes and then it's ready to eat.

This is the WRONG method of cooking the instant noodles.

By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder, normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structures of the MSG causing it to be toxic.

The other thing that you may or may not realize is that, the noodles are coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete the wax after you have taken the noodles.

CORRECT METHOD:

1. Boil the noodles in a pot with water.

2. Once the noodles are cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the water which contains wax.

3. Boil another pot of water till boiling and put the noodles into the hot boiling water and then shut the fire.

4. Only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is very hot, put the ingredient with the powder into the water, to make noodle soup.

First Day

Woke up at 6.05a.m. Was wondering why the alarm clock on the mobile phone did not make noise. On closer check, I put 8.00a.m., not 6.00a.m. Duh

Today is the first day of work or school for most people. There are more cars on the road.

Upon arriving at work, I switched on the pc. I got the first shock of my life when a message came out saying that my profile cannot be accessed or something to that effect.

The thought that ran through my mind at that moment was, ‘Oh no, I do not want to lose my work again. Pls pc, pls do not crash on me’. I did not backup my work for the whole of last week. I was thinking it could not be so much of a coincidence.

Next I wanted to launch the IE Browser and then I got the second shock when another message came out saying the pc does not have any internet connection. Argh! Oh no, not on a Monday morning on a fresh new year.

I was praying hard and asking God to do something. I wanted everything back to normal.

I restarted the pc and everything was back to normal. Phew! Thank God.

I quickly took out the pendrive to back-up all my work.

Gee that was a close call. It certainly woke up me right up.

Had to be careful and alert when writing cheques today since it is no longer DD/MM/09. Any mistakes would render the cheque void. But so far so good. :)