The Chronicles of THE Dad

2010-12-13T00:08:00.002+08:00

feeling very drained and tired....
dad....why?
why things are happening like that.
i feel weak
i feel useless
im no so positive as before
i cant even communicate well also
dad.....whats wrong with me?
what is happening to me?
im not the me anymore
im tired.....very very tired

please help me dad...please
i really really wanna give up...

please please please......
i dont know how long i can hold on.

2009-11-30T23:33:00.012+08:00

A Donkey's Story

One day a farmer's donkey fell own into a well... The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

*************************************************************************************

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less.
NOW....

Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.

Moral from this lesson:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your back, it always comes back to bite you.

Why Worry?

2009-09-02T23:37:00.002+08:00

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NLT).

Do you tend to expect the worst? Do you panic when you get a letter with IRS stamped on the envelope or when you hear a rumor about layoffs at work?

The word worry comes from an old English word meaning “to choke or strangle.” Of course, that’s exactly what worry does to your productivity and happiness. It’s a self-defeating waste of time.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25–34), Jesus gave four reasons for not worrying and the secrets of overcoming it:

1. Worry is unreasonable. To worry about something you can’t change is useless. To worry about something you can change is foolish! And every time you review a worry in your mind, it just gets bigger. Worry amplifies problems out of proportion.

2. Worry is unnatural. You weren’t born a worrier. It is a learned response to life. In fact, you have to practice to get good at it. Fortunately worry can be unlearned. The only species in God’s creation that worries is human beings. We don’t think God will take care of us.

3. Worry is unhelpful. It doesn’t work. It can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. It only makes you miserable today. Worrying about a problem never solves the problem.

4. Worry is unnecessary. God has promised to take care of you if you’ll trust him with the details of your life. As a child, if you asked your father for lunch money you never worried about where it would come from. That was his problem. Let God be God in your life! “God will take care of you, just have faith.”

How can I break the worry habit?

First, trust God with every area of your life: “But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to” (Matthew 6:32 LB).

Second, live just one day at a time: “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time” (Matthew 6:34 LB).

What Are You Worried About?

2009-08-31T23:41:00.000+08:00

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG).

Two businessmen were talking about the economy:

Jack: “I’m about to lose my job and our house is in foreclosure, but I don’t worry about it.”
Bob: “How can you not be worried?”
Jack: “I’ve hired a professional worrier. He does all my worrying for me. That way I don’t have to think about it!”
Bob: “That’s a fantastic idea. How much does it cost to hire a professional worrier?”
Jack: “$50,000 a year.”
Bob: “$50,000! Where are you going to get that kind of money?”
Jack: “I don’t know. That’s HIS worry!”

Worry is something you learn to do.

There is no such thing as a “born worrier.” It is a learned response to life. You learned to worry from two sources:

1. You learned to worry from experience. After years of mistakes, failures, and unfulfilled expectations, you’ve discovered that things don’t always turn out right. Out of these experiences you formed the habit of worrying.

2. You learned to worry from examples. There are many models around you. Studies show that children usually pick up their parent’s worries. Anxious parents raise anxious kids.

Since worry is a learned response to life, it can be unlearned!

The starting point for overcoming worry is to realize it is useless. It does you no good to worry. It is “stewing without doing.” Worry has never changed anything. Worry cannot change the past. Worry cannot control the future. Worry only makes you miserable today.

Worry has never solved a problem, never paid a bill, and never cured an illness. It only paralyzes you so you can’t work on the solution. Worry is like racing a car when its engine is in neutral; it doesn’t get you anywhere, it just uses up gas.

The Bible teaches, “An anxious heart weighs a man down” (Proverbs 12:25 NIV).

On top of that, worry exaggerates the problem. It plays on your imagination. Have you ever noticed that when you worry about a problem it gets bigger? Every time you repeat if over and over in your mind you tend to add details, amplifying it so you feel worse.

What’s the solution? Instead of worrying, talk to God about what’s worrying you. He is someone who can do something about it.

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4:6–7 MSG)

2009-08-05T23:22:00.002+08:00

Need HELP Dad!

don't know what to do.

i think is time to let go.....

and let you take over.......

argh!! i dont KNOW DAD!

tell me...... what should i do Dad?

2009-08-03T23:03:00.001+08:00

I AM VERY SIAN!!!!!!!

2009-08-03T23:02:00.001+08:00

Help! I need Help!

Can Someone help me......

2009-08-03T23:00:00.000+08:00

“Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith will it be done to you’; and their sight was restored” (Matthew 9:29–30 NIV).

A friend of mine, Bruce, taught college in Oregon for awhile. When he began his first semester teaching there, he was told that the college placed students in English classes by their level of ability. Bruce was assigned to teach two “average ability” classes and one “advanced ability.” He really enjoyed teaching the advanced class: they seemed more alert, more fun, asked better questions, and, as expected, had a higher grade average than the other classes.

On the final day of the semester, Bruce commented on these differences to the other professors in the faculty lounge. He said he hoped to get more of the advanced classes next semester. But to his surprise, his department director said, “Bruce, I don’t know where you got your information but we phased out the average/advanced distinction a year ago. You’ve been teaching mixed classes all semester like the rest of us!”

Bruce couldn’t believe it! He checked his records, and sure enough, there were far more A’s and B’s in the class that he thought was full of smart kids. And he really had enjoyed teaching that class more. But the only real difference between the classes had been Bruce’s expectations of them.

You can set people up for success or failure by your expectations.

People tend to become what they think we expect them to be. If you communicate to the people around you that you expect them to be lazy, uncreative, and negative, that’s probably how they will respond to you. On the other hand, if you treat people like winners, they’re likely to become winners. Psychologists call it “The Pygmalion Effect.”

• The best salesmen expect customers to buy their product.
• The best executives expect employees to have creative ideas.
• The best speakers expect audiences to be interested.
• The best leaders expect people to want to follow.
• The best teachers expect students to learn.

Would you like to bring out the best in those around you? Here's the key: Treat them the way they could be! Don’t just “tell it like it is.” Tell it like it could be.

Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV). What are you expecting this week from yourself . . . from others . . . from God?

2009-08-03T22:59:00.000+08:00

Argh!!

Why! Why! Why!

Pure Boredom

2009-05-20T23:11:00.003+08:00

The Ah Neh software is back!
haha.
This is pure boredom!!
Presenting....

The Chronicles of the dad comic strip!

Tries to appear to be utterly serious and holy by closing his eyes during prayer

After prayer, he shows of the little-bit of mei-li that he has

After showing off his charm, he finds his armpit wet. So he lifts his arms, appearing to be deep in thought on the surface but is actually air-ing his armpits!

Now that he's comfortable after air-ing his armpits, he tries to get onto serious stuff on his laptop but haha. Nobody knows what he is looking at!

to be continued....!

2009-04-21T23:43:00.004+08:00

LOST.... LOST..... LOST

don't know what to do

where to start

how to do

i'm just lost

maybe..... maybe not..... maybe....maybe not

i'm tired......really really tired

SO CANNOT MAKE IT LAH

one word.......

LOUSY!

2009-04-20T00:32:00.004+08:00

I was wrong... I am still a failure after all

I thot i have changed, but no I dont think so.

Why all these things are happening?

Why? Why? Why?

1st Gabriel. then LE and now Nicholas

I have failed........

And Yap! Is all MY FAULT! MY FAULT! MY FAULT!

I think I can forget about my "STUPID" vision.

FAT HOPE! I'm no where there.

DREAM ON! Stupid Fool .....Dream on ......

In fact.... STOP dreaming and be REAL!

Don't get people into trouble anymore PLEASE!!!

Don't create anymore mess PLEASE!!!

I have let Everybody down more then anything

I'm tired....

What kind of dad am I?

What kind of husband am I?

What kind of employee am I?

What kind of colleage am I?

What kind of christian am I?

One word........

LOUSY!

Why? Why? Why?

I think i will not cause anymore harm and trouble......

Im tired.....

Im really really tired.....

DAD! tell me .....tell me..... tell me what you want?

2009-03-17T23:05:00.006+08:00

Wow just realised that I have not blog for months.

Have been very busy for the past few months.

Many happenings.

* Started to train more now.

Enjoying it, not all, but most of them

* For the 1st time, I was given a chance to do certification...ALONE!

Scary, Stress, but i made it.

* Past 6 months God is testing me.

Patience, love.... I have met my match ......

Well is ending soon.....ha ha

* Completed TK camp on Sunday.

Need to improve on my training skills.

Need to engage the students more.

But I think we did well in the games.

The Sec 4 had great bonding with us,

Great team...

* Today, co-trained with Patrick in Greenridge Pri Sch

Enjoyed my part and what more important is

a teacher came to me and say I presented well.....YES! SHIOK!

* Today, Ian and Patrick spoke to me something that I kinda expected

but a bit earlier than I thought.

Need to pray and ask God how can i do the right way.

Actually feel a bit up sad with myself....well...

* Today, went prayer meeting with my son Gabriel.

While having dinner, he told me he just got the gift on Sat.

I very happy for him and prayed for him asking God to work in his life.

AMEN! God is answering my prayer.

* Today, at the prayer meeting, for the 1st time.

Ps Chen walk toward me during prayer n worship and prayed for me

I was feeling disturb after the talk with Ian and Patrick and frustration

in the office. In his prayer, he say that God wants me to clear away

the unhappiness and frustration that I'm feeling . and he sees a well fill

with water, but it is not full. he said the water in the well is slowly rising

and that well is me (a servant of Christ) and the water is to be share

or serve to many other people. He also said that God has a great

plan ahead of me. I think this is amazing, and I'll be looking forward

for this day to come.

Well that's all for now. More exciting happening ahead.

Till then.....byeeee

2009-01-11T22:30:00.003+08:00

ha ha ..... today i very happening in church man .....

1. i left my wallet in the church toilet and

went to my car and carry the TV that i'm

giving to acti. then i realized that i left my wallet

in the toilet. so on my way pushing the tv with henry,

i went back to the toilet to check it out and it is not there liao.

ha ha best rite...

well i started to worry cos got $1000 in there

which is for paul.

somehow .... God told me not to worry. my wallet

is ok and i continued and then join my

wife for breakfast.

there i told the av guys about it and they flash the

notice on the screen......oh no now the whole church

knows about it......

those who know me start coming to me and ask me

and i can tell them ..... don't worry lah. (crazy rite..)

my wallet is in God's hand it will come back to me.

guess what, i got it back half way thru worship..

ha ha thanks DAD!

2. you know what ..... cynthia and i did scriptures reading in

church in front everybody... 1st time man... scary....

but a good experience and a good start for cynthia.

and what's best is that cynthia is thinking of service.

i told her to pray about it and maybe can try ushering.

well ... let God decide for her bah.

looks like Dad is making ways for me slowing.......

and the day to fulfill his calling is nearer and nearer.

My Personal Vision

2009-01-05T00:01:00.005+08:00

I came up with this vision during company’s retreat last month. If you can’t see the words (welcome to my club), this is what I came up with, with the help of Patrick Wee, my editor...

A landscape that ministers: giving rest, giving peace. In addition, there is a bridge of encouragement - to be above challanges. There is a tree, with a strong foundation, that even in storms (troubles), it stands firm and not waver, bearing fruits at the end of the season. These seeds will in turn bear more fruits. The legacy is that the seeds of these fuits will continue t bear more fuits: and it duplicates many times more - touching lives and moulding future - until the end of time.

-Choon-

A brand new year

2009-01-04T23:48:00.003+08:00

It’s a new year and today is the 4th day. It’s been a while that I’ve not blogged. Today is a wonderful day! First worship service in 2009 and we attended church as a family (Cynthia finally went to church) all because Nicholas initiated.

Gabriel, Nicholas and I have set a goal for 2009 that we will get Cynthia to come back to church regularly. Also that we will get my parents to accept Christ and complete the Bible in 2009 as a family.

God Will Make A Way

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way
He will make a way for me

By a roadway in the wilderness He’ll lead me
And rivers in the dessert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade
But his love will still remain
He will make something new today

One voice

Father we ask of you this day
To come and heal our land
Knit our hearts together
That Your glory might be seen in us
Then the world will know that Jesus Christ is Lord

Let us be one voice
That glorifies Your name
Let us be one voice
Declaring that You reign
Let us be one voice in love and harmony
And we pray, O God, grant us unity

Now is the time for you and I
To join our hearts in praise
That the name of Jesus
Will be lifted high above the earth
Then the world will know that Jesus Christ is Lord

Today’s worship wasn’t very fantastic but somehow these 2 songs gave me the attention that I need. For the past few months I have been worrying about my calling in 2009 and the biggest obstacle is Cynthia growing spiritually. But somehow, God answered all my prayers in this 1 week.

As humans we always think that certain things cannot be done but somehow we are always wrong. God will make a way for us and true enough, today Cynthia attended church service. Amazingly, the first song we sang is God will make a way. It is so clear that God wants me to step by faith to walk on water and He will make a way for me, ever since Pastor Chen told me that God has heard my prayer and wants me to walk on water and cling onto Jesus.

After sharing to Jingle about this, she affirmed me that I should tell Cynthia about my calling and we ended the worship with 'One voice'. God is telling me that He will make a way for me and my family to come in one voice to worship and to serve Him (One voice is actually my wedding song).

These few days, it has never been so clear to me that God’s calling for me is clearer and clearer, nearer and nearer. To be honest, I’m scared. And I’m excited. To see how God will work in my life. For the past 10 to 15 years, God has actually been preparing me for this day, just like how I’ve read in Our Daily Bread in Ecclesiastes 3. I’ve gone through a season of trial and error. Then a season of learning and a season of harvest. 2009 will be a season of serving, not only to my family but most importantly, to others. This year I have to learn to let go of what I have now as what God told me in Philippians 3:14 – to let go and press on. So, it will be a tough decision for me to leave LE but I will have to trust in God and make that decision.

I’m glad that ever since I have a goddaughter and we decided to pray every week, not only on Tuesday at prayer meetings but also on Friday prayers as well as the monthly fast, it is a good decision. We see all the prayers we have been praying, all the fasts we have done, all coming true one by one.

Thanks Dad!

Now I truly know the power of prayer! Well, I just have to continue to pray and trust in God and let God lead me and my family.

2008-12-24T14:21:00.001+08:00

at last ah neh know liao
and it took her 23 days to find out...
lousy lah...

2008-12-04T17:36:00.002+08:00

just finished our sales planning meeting
looks like next year is not going to be easy
i siao man ......boss say target $300000
and i end up to doing ....................................
.........................................................................
$451000!!!!!!
and this figure came from me!!!
what am i doing man!!!!

all the best to you man......

DAD!!!! HELP!!!!

2008-12-03T22:39:00.002+08:00

oh dear....oh dear

i hope i'm doing the correct thing

just met m..... and the rest today

the meeting was very serious and tense

but im glad the whole meeting went well

but i really really need Your help DAD!

guide me to help m.....

2008-11-25T13:19:00.002+08:00

OHH NO!!!
MY BLOG GOT HACKED!!!

2008-11-21T11:50:00.003+08:00

just got gabriel PSLE results yesterday
he got 4 As with 221 pts.
im happy with his results
but he is abit disappointed
can't go to the school he wants.
now we have to re-look which school to apply

he has been keeping his feeling yesterday
until this morning in the car...... cannot tahan liao....
his cried.... well he got to learn how to face the truth....
well im glad he did that and shared it to me.

arh!!! another computer problem...
lately many many many computer problem
my desktop crash, my portable hard disk crash too
now the laptop i use also crash.... and i did back up my doc
ah!!!!! siao liao lah......
now im lap-topless

2008-11-03T17:10:00.003+08:00

i think i'm over work .....
i need sleep ......
i need rest .....
i need to stay away from photoshop......
i need to stay away from microsoft word .....
i need to stay away from adobe audition .....
i need to stay away from acrobat .......
i need to stay away from computer .....
i need to stay away from my office .......
basically i need to stay away from work .....

Arh!! Stress ah!zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2008-11-03T16:50:00.004+08:00

Breaking Through the Sound Barrier
by Rick Warren

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
*** *** *** ***
Poor communication is the most frequently mentioned problem in marriage counseling. To really communicate, you must give up three things.

You must give up your assumptions. We get into trouble when we start assuming we understand the meaning of what people say to us. The truth is everything you hear goes through a filter. Your filter is determined by your past experiences and your unique personality.

You may not be hearing what the other person is really saying. Therefore, it’s smart (and safe) to ask for clarification. There are six possible messages every time you speak:·

What you mean to say and what you actually said.·

What they heard and what they think they heard.·

What they say about it and what you think they said about it.

Proverbs 18:13 (NLT) says, “What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!”

You must give up your accusations. You never get your point across by being cross. Anger and sarcasm only make people defensive and that kills communication.

Here are four common forms of accusation:·

Exaggerating – Making sweeping generalities like “You never” or “You always.”·

Labeling or derogatory name calling – Labeling never changes anyone. It only reinforces the negative behavior.·

Playing historian – Bringing up past failures, mistakes, and broken promises.·

Asking loaded questions which really can’t be answered, like “Can’t you do anything right?”

You must give up your apprehensions. Fear prevents honest communication. It causes us to conceal our true feelings and fail to confront the real issues. The two most common apprehensions are the fear of failure and the fear of rejection.

But real communication can happen when you face your fear and risk being honest. Freedom is the result of openness. Jesus said, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NLT).

Ah neh this is good for you........

2008-10-15T09:56:00.002+08:00

How to Overcome Discouragement

by Rick Warren

Then the people of Judah said, “The work crews are worn out, and there is too much rubble. We can’t continue to rebuild the wall.” Nehemiah 4:10 (GWT)***

*** *** ***

Discouragement is curable. Whenever I get discouraged, I head straight to Nehemiah. This great leader of ancient Israel understood there were four reasons for discouragement.

First, you get fatigued. You simply get tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10. We’re human beings and we wear out. You cannot burn the candle at both ends. So if you’re discouraged, it may be you don’t have to change anything. You just need a vacation! Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to bed.

Second, you get frustrated. Nehemiah says there was rubble all around, so much that it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. Do you have rubble in your life? Have you noticed that anytime you start doing something new, the trash starts piling up?

If you don’t clean it out periodically, it’s going to stop your progress. You can’t avoid it, so you need to learn to recognize it and dispose of it quickly so you don’t lose focus on your original intention.

What is the rubble in your life? I think rubble is the trivial things that waste your time and energy and prevent you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.

Third, you think you’ve failed. Nehemiah’s people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They were thinking, “We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall.

”But you know what I do when I don’t reach a goal on time? I just set a new goal. I don’t give up. Everybody fails. Everybody does dumb things. So the issue is not that you failed – it’s how you respond to your failure.

Do you give in to self-pity? Do you start blaming other people? Do you start complaining that it’s impossible? Or, do you refocus on God’s intentions and start moving again?

Finally, when you give in to fear, you get discouraged. Nehemiah 4 suggests the people most affected by fear are those who hang around negative people. If you’re going to control the negative thoughts in your life, you’ve got to get away from negative people as much as you can. Maybe you’re discouraged because of fear. You’re dealing with fears like, “I can’t handle this. It’s too much responsibility.”

Maybe it’s the fear that you don’t deserve it. It’s the fear of criticism. Fear will destroy your life if you let it. But you can choose to resist the discouragement. Say, “God help me get my eyes off the problem – off the circumstance – and keep my eyes on you.”

Busy Busy Busy

2008-10-12T22:03:00.004+08:00

Another month has passed... long time no blog.
Busy busy busy;
Stressed stressed stressed;
This is the time of the year to use my creativity brain juice;
*(you got brain juice de meh)
argh....
Gotta edit the recording for the concert;
Gotta finish the marketing booklet for LE;
so much work to do;
so little time.
There goes all my beauty slp
*(ya ya ya)
Just had our company retreat a wk ago.
For the first time, i see my boss very emo - liu yan lui
But it was a good retreat where all the lameness comes in. from all 6 men
The session with John was good.
Now i know what i'm designed for - is to be a busybody. hahahaha

Back to my calling for next year...
Have been searching, thinking, dreaming very hard, very seriously.
*(how in the world do you search, think and dream hard? it's all in the air one leh)
Waiting for the right moment now.
To sound out to my the other half.
I guess He is preparing me since day 1.
This day will come soon.

That's all folks!
cyu next mth! hahahah
*(you better dont hor)

*words of wisdom from ah neh
**(wat nonsense)
**words condeming from ah neh

2008-09-17T23:33:00.000+08:00

2008-09-17T00:29:00.012+08:00

two weeks ago, my "new" portable hard disk which is abt 6 mths old went @!#%&* sighhhhh

now the desktop pc that i'm using in office went #@%$!& too......

arhhhhhh........... what happen!!!

all my latest data backup in my portable hard disk, gone!

worst, my company pc's data not updated since 22 aug.... now .....gone!

arhhhhhhh!!

i feel so jobless in office.......without my pc....sian ah

but thank God, repair man say can get back data but desktop gone.

But what about my portable??????

i think i talk too much today

ah neh very quiet today...

maybe im being too sensitive....too.......

i think she is ok.....i busy body lah

i think better not ask anymore........

wait she.........

must give her room to............

sooooo.sorryyyyy...

2008-09-16T09:25:00.008+08:00

We Serve God by Serving Others
by Rick Warren

Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.

Mark 10:43 (MSG)

*** *** *** ***

We serve God by serving others.

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you’ve arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.

Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not status. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you.

This is so contrary to the world’s idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, Christian leaders still jockey for position and prominence in churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.

Thousands of books have been written on leadership, but few on servanthood. Everyone wants to lead; no one wants to be a servant. We would rather be generals than privates. Even Christians want to be “servant-leaders,” not just plain servants. But to be like Jesus is to be a servant. That’s what he called himself.

While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important. Remember, God shaped you for service, not for self-centeredness. Without a servant’s heart, you will be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain. You will also be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs.

God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in ways we’re not shaped. If you see a man fall into a ditch, God expects you to help him out, not say, “I don’t have the gift of mercy or service.”

While you may not be gifted a particular task, you may be called to do it if no one who is gifted at it is around. Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape, but your secondary service is wherever you’re needed at the moment.

Your shape reveals your ministry, but your servant’s heart will reveal your maturity. No special talent or gift is required to stay after a meeting to pick up trash or stack chairs. Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.

It is possible to serve in church for a lifetime without ever being a servant. You must have a servant’s heart.

How can you know if you have the heart of a servant?

Jesus said, “You can tell what they are by what they do” (Matthew 7:16 CEV).

2008-08-29T12:32:00.000+08:00

When Tempted, Seek Support
by Rick Warren

You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone . . . . If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (CEV)

*** *** *** ***

When you’re tempted, reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group. You don’t have to broadcast it to the whole world, but you need at least one person you can honestly share your struggles with.

The Bible says, “You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone . . . . If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 CEV).

Let me be clear: If you’re losing the battle against a persistent bad habit, an addiction, or a temptation, and you’re stuck in a repeating cycle of good intention–failure–guilt, you will not get better on your own! You need the help of other people.

Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable.

God’s plan for your growth and freedom includes other Christians. Authentic, honest fellowship is the antidote to your lonely struggle against those sins that won’t budge. God says it is the only way you’re going to break free: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16, NIV).

Do you really want to be healed of that persistent temptation that keeps defeating you over and over? God’s solution is plain: Don’t repress it; confess it! Don’t conceal it; reveal it. Revealing your feeling is the beginning of healing.

Hiding your hurt only intensifies it. Problems grow in the dark and become bigger and bigger, but when exposed to the light of truth, they shrink. You’re only as sick as your secrets. So take off your mask, stop pretending you’re perfect, and walk into freedom.

2008-08-27T12:28:00.000+08:00

We Move toward Our Focus
by Rick Warren

Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. 2 Timothy 2:22 (LB)

*** *** *** ***

Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself?

That is the power of suggestion. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.

That is why repeating “I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting” is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It’s like announcing, “I’m never going to do what my mom did.” You are setting yourself up to repeat it.

Most diets don’t work because they keep you thinking about food all the time, guaranteeing that you’ll be hungry. In the same way, a speaker who keeps repeating to herself, “Don’t be nervous!” sets herself up to be nervous! Instead she should focus on anything except her feelings – on God, on the importance of her speech, or on the needs of those listening.

Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this,” the stronger it draws you into its web.

Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!

Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation. This is one time it is okay to run away. Get up and turn off the television set. Walk away from a group that is gossiping. Leave the theater in the middle of the movie. To avoid being stung, stay away from the bees.

Do whatever is necessary to turn your attention to something else.

Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. You defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better. This is the principle of replacement. You overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Satan can’t get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That’s why the Bible repeatedly tells us to keep our minds focused: “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

“Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Philippians 4:8 TEV).

If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. The wisest man who ever lived warned, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).

2008-08-27T12:23:00.001+08:00

Defeating Temptation
by Rick Warren

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

There is always a way out.

You may sometimes feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that’s a lie from Satan. God has promised never to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He will not permit any temptation that you could not overcome. However, you must do your part too by practicing biblical methods for defeating temptation.

First and foremost, you want to refocus your attention on something besides the temptation. It may surprise you that nowhere in the Bible are we told to “resist temptation.” We’re told to “resist the devil,” and that is very different (James 4:7).

The Bible says we’re to refocus our attention because trying to resist a thought simply doesn’t work. It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens its allure. Let me explain:

Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting it, you actually reinforce it.

Whatever you resist, persists.

This is especially true with temptation. You don’t defeat temptation by fighting the feeling of it. The more you fight a feeling, the more it consumes and controls you. You strengthen it every time you think it.

Since temptation always begins with a thought, the quickest way to neutralize its allure is to turn your attention to something else. Don’t fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea. This is the first step in defeating temptation.

The battle for sin is won or lost in your mind. Whatever gets your attention will get you. That’s why Job said, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman.” (Job 31:1 NLT).

And David prayed, “Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless” (Psalm 119:3a TEV).

2008-08-24T22:35:00.004+08:00

this whole week.........happening.

1. mess up 2 training schedules, northvista and mgs...........what happen!

2. uncle pass away - another funeral saga....... 2nd such saga this year.

3. did my first sex education in northvista....... sexciting!

4. had a long and good talk with ah neh....... ah neh, well done!

5. had another drinking session with ah neh......... shiok!

6. wife unhappy with me cos gabriel drop the utensils in pasta mania....... ?????

7. wife unhappy with me again cos i didn't buy lunch for her when i came back from church mtg at 4pm and refused to eat even i prepared dinner................why? why? why?

well.... this is my happening week......

2008-08-17T22:59:00.009+08:00

just went for a studio shot and is free.

the shot was ok lah, but the service was not so good.

cos after the shoot, they try to sell us the album package.

(you kinda expected it lah)

im not interested, cos the ablum design ...... lousy..

but im willing to buy the soft copy and they say no they don't do that.

anyway the agreement was that they will give me 2 good shots

from the 50 shots they took with no string attached.

the moment we say we are not getting the package........

wow!..... the facial expression change....... (u know what i mean)

and this is "the kind" of service they provide..... sigh...

they are really "naughty by nature" man. (the company name)

well, is a good experience for the kids

here is the 2 shots we have selected...

2008-08-14T22:03:00.006+08:00

had a drink wth the guys just now.

is Paul's birthday celebration.

(actual day tomorrow)

5 guys (supposed to be more), 2 bottles of wine

and many food.

Paul and me drank alooooooot......like 1 and a half bottle

the rest of the 3 didn't drink much.

but we all had a good time chatting, eating, and drinking.

paul, my brother, my friend, i'm very happy that you are back.

thank God for answering my prayer, is an prayer answered.

all the prayer and fasting was worth it.

thanks God for using Barney and Hock to bring him back.

thank God for Barney willing to be his mentor, meeting every morning to pray.

thank God for softening Paul's heart and to start seeking you even more now

thank you thank you thank you...........

yea!! PTL.

2 down 1 to go, and that is andrew.......

just wish someone can...........................

2008-08-14T13:16:00.005+08:00

The Fight of Faith

Adriel Loh

Mark 4:1-9

1. Only the truth can set you free

* Our most common fear is the fear of not being good enough

* Strip yourself

* Luke 3:21-22

* The Father says “You are my (chosen) beloved (loved) son/daughter(son/daughter of God)”

Chosen – Jeremiah 1:4-8

- I am the chosen one

- “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you” says the Lord.

Loved – 1 John 4:17-19

- No fear in love

- Perfect love casts out fear

- When we stand before God, there is no need to fear because we are good enough

Sonship – Romans 8:14-16

- We are not meant to live in fear/ under fear

Unconditional – there is nothing we can do to make God love us less because nothing we did qualified us in the first place. If it depended on us – what we did, then we are screwed. But it did not depend on us because God approved of us. If we are good enough for God, then we are good enough for everyone.

2. You must fight to believe

* Many times I know it in my head but not in my heart.

* Faith does not come cheap

* Mark 4:1-9, Mark 4:13-20

* 3 things that can snatch the word from your heart

i. The lies of the devil

ii. Difficult times

iii. Distractions of the world (cca,grades)

* Luke 4:1-12

+ Are you sure you are a son/ daughter of God?

+ You shall not test the Lord thy God

* Mark 4:20

Accept

® It is your choice to believe the lies of the devil or to stand firm &

say I will not doubt God

Believe not just in your head, but in our heart

® Faith is a choice. Will you say “yes” to God no matter what you go

through?

We are filled, only to be emptied again…

2008-08-13T23:12:00.010+08:00

We Need Models and Mentors
by Rick Warren

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17 (NIV)

*** *** *** ***

For us to mature, we need models and mentors.

Many people make the mistake of thinking all they need to grow spiritually is God’s Word and prayer. But the truth is, we need people to help us grow.

Christlike character is built through relationships, not in isolation. There are many things God wants you to learn about life that you’ll never learn on your own. You’ll only learn them in community.

We always grow faster and stronger with living, breathing examples who can model for us what a purpose driven life looks like. We need more than explanations, we need examples.

Paul realized the power of a pattern when he advised, “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you” (Philippians 3:17 NIV). To grow, we need to see principles in practice. We need to see what beliefs looks like when they are translated as behavior in everyday situations.

When Paul would travel to a city to start a church, he would begin by simply living among the people. He was a “living Bible,” echoing the life of Jesus, where “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 NKJV).

After Paul left a city, he would write back, “Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 NLT).

Who are your models for following Christ? Who are you watching and learning from?

Here’s a tougher question: Are you an example for anyone else? In elementary school, you probably enjoyed “Show and Tell.” As believers, we’re often better at “telling” than “showing.”

In today’s culture, the world desperately needs people who can show us how to love our spouse and make a marriage last, how to relate to our kids, how to do business with integrity, how to handle conflict in the way Jesus would. These are lessons we learn by watching others.

Not only do we need models to grow, we need mentors. Mentors are people who’ve followed Christ longer than we have and are able to share their life lessons. You’ve heard that it’s wise to learn from experience, but it is wiser to learn from the experiences of others. Life is too short to learn everything by experience! And some painful experiences can be avoided if you’re smart enough to learn from mentors in your church family.

Ask yourself this: “What’s been the greatest positive influence on my life?” Most likely it was not a sermon, seminar, or small group lesson. It was somebody who shaped your life through a personal relationship.

Can you see God’s wisdom in creating the church, a family full of mentors and models for our benefit?

That’s why being connected to a small group is so crucial to spiritual growth. It’s a regular opportunity to learn from each other.

Today, spend a few moments getting intentional about this. Write down the names of people in your church and small group that you’d like to learn from. Then identify what you’d specifically like to learn from them. Remember, they don’t have to be perfect to be a model or mentor.

To grow spiritually, you must also be willing to be a model or mentor to others. That may scare you but all it takes is being one step ahead.

People don’t expect you to be perfect – they already know you aren’t. What they want you to be is honest! So let them see your struggles, not just your successes. We usually grow as much from others’ weaknesses as we do from their strengths.

2008-08-13T14:58:00.006+08:00

i love this song, is very meaningful.

just listen to the wording.....

2008-08-13T11:13:00.001+08:00

Something Ahneh

Entering Into the Promises of God

- We are called to GREATNESS, to do great things for God.

- When you stop dreaming, you start dying.

3 steps to enter:

1. A New Vision

® Dare to hope for our lives, our families and our church

® The audacity of faith

® Make a decision that is consistent with FAITH, not fear

2. A New Worship

® Joshua 5:13 – 24

® Stop asking what is it in it for me

® Church is the service provider. It has 3 kinds of members:

i. Consumers – come and go

ii. Club members – pay membership fee. i.e. tithe

iii. Change makers – wants to change the world for God!

® Which kind of member are you?

® Bring back true worship to church – submit your will to His purpose

3. A New Faith

® Joshua 6:2 – 5 & 10

® We need to give God space to work in us

® Until we give up control, God cannot take control

® The battle belongs to God when you lose control and don’t do anything

® Keep still and know God

® The work of man must come to an end before the work of God can begin

2008-08-13T00:11:00.014+08:00

sigh don't don't i sigh God

i know know also sigh pls

feel how what don't sigh tell

so to to know sigh me

. do say what sigh how

. . . to sigh leh

. . . type sigh

. . . . . .

no word say.........

feel so.........until.......sigh.......

i really really feel...................

2008-08-09T23:47:00.006+08:00

at last can rest liao. im very tired.

some how suddenly got ling gan to blog

anyway we had a big gathering today....BBQ

and today is the 1st time in my life that i fried

like 4.5 kg of rice. WOW!

that is my beijing 2008 record. ha ha ha

what's amazing is these group of friends that i have,

we are together for 28 years! since secondary school!

some of them longer, like 34 years, since primary 1.

and our friendship still as strong. one of them flew all

the way back from U.S. to join us.

ha ha just kidding, actually just happen he is back for a short

holiday.

i just want to thank God for this group of friends.

because of Him, that why we are together till now.

well, we all enjoyed the food,the games,the jokes and of cos

the fellowship together.

that it for now. ya ya before i forget.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINGAPORE!!

Ah Neh software is back

2008-08-06T00:08:00.008+08:00

Somehow, the ahneh software can type on its own now, without the owner instructing.

The software's decided to be nice and help post something just to let ahneh's dad know the software isn't on strike and will NEVER be on strike.

Oh wells, the dad's got a sexy voice at the moment.

For 3 days now.

His voice is so sexy until it's so super low...

Low as in the bass low, not the tenor low.

The kind where you go "do do do do do" in choir and his is the FIRST do!

The dad said it's not very often that I get to hear this sexy voice of his, so we wanted to record his sexy low voice to set as my ringtone just now but didn't have a chance to.

Will find another chance next time.

Anyways, the software hopes her dad's voice will find its own way back to the voicebox and return to its owner soon. She also hopes he will not bully his voice again and will get more sleep. =)

[Type by ahnehsdad]
i upgraded my software a more advance one....is call Ahneh software MKII
BTW hor, i where got bully my voice.... their went on strike......just like someone lah

2008-07-27T17:26:00.002+08:00

went to riverlife yesterday to help gabriel.
we are to run some games for the senior citizen.
we took like a week think of some games .... not easy
you know ....old people......
and this is mine or our first time get SC to play games

whats more challenging and interesting is that i am suppose to do it
in Hokkien or Cantonese.......AH!!!!!!!
not problem for gabriel lah....but ME?!

Siao Liao lah!!!!

anyway i SURVIVED!!!
i started with a bit of cantonese then back to mandarin
haha.... Siong Man.....

but i glad that they like it ...... and we made it. Yeah!!

2008-07-19T00:25:00.003+08:00

ha ha at last. my kids finally found my blog

and they are so proud of it.

ha ha.......hao lian.......

had our regular prayer session today with ah neh

i was right and im glad that she shared.

ah neh, keep it up, you can make it by sunday.

2008-07-18T11:29:00.001+08:00

A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless. —Anon.

It is better to bite your tongue than to let it bite someone else.

2008-07-16T10:03:00.004+08:00

ARE WE OBEYING WHOLEHEARTEDLY OF PARTIALLY?

God Smiles When We Obey

by Rick Warren

Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. Genesis 6:22 (NLT)

*** *** *** ***

Noah obeyed completely (no instruction was overlooked) and he obeyed exactly (in the way and time God wanted it done). That is wholeheartedness. It is no wonder God smiled on Noah.

If God asked you to build a giant boat, don’t you think you might have a few questions, objections, and reservations? Noah didn’t. He obeyed God wholeheartedly. That means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation. You don’t procrastinate and say, “I’ll pray about it.” You do it without delay. Every parent knows that delayed obedience is really disobedience.

God doesn’t owe you an explanation or reason for everything he asks you to do. Understanding can wait, but obedience can’t. Instant obedience will teach you more about God than a lifetime of Bible discussions. In fact, you will never understand some commands until you obey them first. Obedience unlocks understanding.

Often we try to offer God partial obedience. We want to pick and choose the commands we obey. We make a list of the commands we like and obey those while ignoring the ones we think are unreasonable, difficult, expensive, or unpopular. I’ll attend church but I won’t tithe. I’ll read my Bible but I won’t forgive the person who hurt me. Yet partial obedience is disobedience.

Wholehearted obedience is done joyfully with enthusiasm. The Bible says, “Obey him gladly” (Psalm 100:2 LB). This is the attitude of David: “Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey” (Psalm 119:33 LB).

James, speaking to Christians, said, “We please God by what we do and not only by what we believe” (James 2:24 CEV). God’s Word is clear that you can’t earn your salvation. It comes only by grace, not your effort. But as a child of God you can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father through obedience.

Any act of obedience is also an act of worship. Why is obedience so pleasing to God? Because it proves you really love him. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments” (John 14:15 TEV).

2008-07-15T13:31:00.003+08:00

Silent Helper

READ: Isaiah 25:1-9

I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things. —Isaiah 25:1

The discovery of penicillin revolutionized health care. Prior to the 1940s, bacterial infections were often fatal. Since then, penicillin has saved countless lives by killing harmful bacteria. The men who recognized its potential and developed it for widespread use won a Nobel Prize in 1945.

Long before the discovery of penicillin, other silent killers were at work saving lives by destroying bacteria. These silent killers are white blood cells. These hard workers are God’s way of protecting us from disease. No one knows how many invasions they have stopped or how many lives they have saved. They receive little recognition for all the good they do.

The Lord gets similar treatment. He often gets blamed when something goes wrong, but He seldom gets credit for all the things that go right. Every day people get up, get dressed, drive to work or school or the grocery store, and return safely to their families. No one knows how many times God has protected us from harm. But when there is a tragedy, we ask, “Where was God?”

When I consider all the wonderful things that God does silently on my behalf each day (Isa. 25:1), I realize that my list of praises should be much longer than my list of petitions. — Julie Ackerman Link

God’s goodness undergirds our lives
In many silent ways;
His blessings are beyond compare—
For them we give Him praise. —D. De Haan

God keeps giving us reasons to praise Him.

2008-07-14T17:25:00.004+08:00

just came back for kunming.
feeling very tired since i got back.

the trip was FANTASTIC!
a very different one. like the kids
we all enjoyed it alot
both my arms, badly burn by the sun
but nice weather there.

i must say that......
DAD IS REALLY REALLY REALLY AMAZING!!!

and yesterday i did something i have never done
in church before.......
.......i went up to share about this trip.
Shocking rite... i felt the same too. ha ha

now back to reality......WORK....
got many thing to catch up and do....

Here is something taken from todays QT.

A life given fully to God is at the heart of true sacrifice.

2008-06-29T22:22:00.008+08:00

oh.... im so super super tired.

all the cooking, eating and drinking.

celebrated nick birthday today

actually 1 week early cos next im out of town.

went marketing and bought a cake for nick

started preparing food after church.

nick invited some friends over for dinner

anyway his friend parents happens to be

my close friends too ha ha...

we had a good time together

sang birthday song to nick

but gab say should also sing birthday song

to me too. mine is closer.

got this present from my best buddy (guess who is he?)

a p3 boy. he got his parents to bring him to 3 Toy R Us to

find me this.

his dad my good friend felt jealous.......

he even finished up the fried bee hoon i cooked and

i was told by his dad he dont really like fried bee hoon.....

.............im very touch....

What can i can.....he is my buddy man...

btw his name is wayne. very cute and friendly boy

realized i have been receiving toys lately.

emmmm..... i think im getting younger. LOL

2008-06-28T23:16:00.007+08:00

ok......! i'm 41 liao.....

have been eating alottttttt lately

i must say i had a good time

both yesterday and today.

dinner and dinner and drink

yesterday, ah neh give me a pillow

and a longgggggggggggggggg letter

thank God it is easy to read.

she told me she took a while to prepare it

thanks ah neh, i'm very very very very happy

thanks for the words of encouragement and

assurance. thank you thank you thank you........

........many many many thank you to you.

we had a great time together, the ribs and the cheese.

and ha ha 1st time i got my daughter to go drinking

and we went post bar and drank 1 bottle of wine....... amazing...

and we took some pictures

me and my daughter

2day had a good time too with my family

had a good talk with my mum too.

coffee with paul and andrew....the chat....

went swensen to eat with my family and i had free ice cream.....

He he.... sound so cheat.....lol

we really enjoy the ice cream.

and i had durian! have not had durian for a longgggggg time.

Shiok Man.

Thanks DAD!

2008-06-25T10:11:00.004+08:00

WOW! i just had a shocking nite.....or rather....morning
last nite got headache.....i think ah neh spread to me
so i slept early like 0015h.
woke up by a call at 0125 from a long lost friend

And for the 1st time in my life
i was asked to go to CPIB to bail him out.

i got a shock! quickly change and go.
shock that he did such a thing......sigh

after that we had coffee and had a chat near he place.
well just pray that i can help to get back to the right track.

i think there is a reason why Dad got me in
So Dad guide me......

Now got to make sure to go report to CPIB every month till the case is close.

BTW, CPIB is Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

2008-06-17T09:07:00.005+08:00

Check this out. I think this is good.

Whitewashed Walls

Marybeth Whalen

"Then Paul said to him, 'God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck."

Acts 23:3 (NIV)

Devotion:

Have you ever painted over a dirty wall, only to have more handprints and marks appear just days later? I noticed this recently after we had some interior painting done in our home. The painters had painted the wall that leads down our stairs--the same wall that our kids drag their hands across as they race up and down the stairs. This wall had grown dingy gray from years of dirty hands, stray pencil marks, and the occasional crayon scribble. After the wall was painted, I admired how clean and pristine it looked. Ahhh, I thought, at last.

About a week later, I discovered marks on my beautiful wall. While the wall had been painted over, the habits had not changed. The children were still racing up and down the stairs, dragging their dirty hands behind them. Making what was once white and clean, gray and dirty all over again. As I looked at that wall, the Lord showed me that I am like that wall if I am not careful. I can cover what's there--wear the cool Christian tee shirt, carry my Bible, smile like everything's great and talk a good game about my walk with the Lord, but deep inside the ugly old habits are still there, waiting to be revealed the moment life gets messy. If I am not careful, I can become a modern-day Pharisee who focuses on the whitewash covering and ignores the dirty stuff underneath.

In Matthew 23:27, Jesus called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs because they appeared perfect on the outside, but inside were full of deceit, lies and hypocrisy. In Biblical times, tombs were whitewashed to make them attractive and visible, but that didn't change the death and decay they held inside. Jesus compared the religious Pharisees to these tombs. He knew the danger that lurked inside an overly religious person who spends more time perfecting how they appear than working on the condition of their hearts.

For those of us who are in the church and living committed Christian lives, I think it is easy to slip into the mindset of the Pharisees. The more comfortable we get in our Christianity, the more tempting it is to think certain ways and allow that thinking to supersede grace, mercy and compassion. So, how can we stop that from happening? We can stay in the Word, concentrating on what Jesus taught as He walked on this earth and connecting with who He ministered to--the broken, the less-thans, the lost and lonely. We can focus on being thankful and rejoicing in Him. We can pray often, asking God to reveal any patterns of behavior that are more surface-oriented than heart-oriented. We can surround ourselves with friends who are real and transparent and allow us to be as well.

Most of all, we can admit that, while we are saved, we are still sinners who struggle with bad habits and bad decisions just like everybody else. In a world that is mostly based on appearances, it is easy to become concerned with how we appear to others. We have to daily depend on Jesus to bring us freedom from striving and peel the whitewash away.

Dear Lord, Help me to remember that it's not the outside You care about, but the inside. Help me to be more concerned with what You think of me than what others think of me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

2008-06-15T21:58:00.009+08:00

To All Dads.... Happy Father's Day

Well, this are the things i got from my kids

Gab and Nick got me the 5 x 5 rubik's cube

they heard me saying that i want to get one

and try. Cos during my time there is no 5 x 5.

and i must say.... is it not easy ah!

Ah neh go me this wallet.

she said my current one, see liao very gao wei

i told her my old wallet very special

it was............................................................

....................................................................

.............................................................

.........................butt sweat smell.....ha ha.

and look! these are the papers she used to wrap the

wallet and ask me to open my eyes big big to figure out

what she has written. seow liao lah.

total 20 pieces....

gab sms ah neh something like this...

"look what you have done. open your eyes

big big and see what you done to mother nature."

LOL

My wife see liao very jealous complained she didn't get any present

on Mday only a card. Ha ha ha

anyway this year's FDay is special to me.

for the 1st time, Gab and Nick used their own $

to buy me FDay present and also my 1st FDay

present from ah neh.

A BIG THANKS YOU to all of you XOXOXO

2008-06-12T22:59:00.000+08:00

Arghhhh my neck ah..........

SIAN AH!!!

2008-06-11T11:57:00.042+08:00

Which Chair Are You Sitting In?
Mark 10: 35 – 40

If Jesus were to stand in front of you, what would you ask Him for?

· James & John asked for chairs so they could sit at Jesus’ right & left hand

· You can determine your place/position in the kingdom of God

4 different colored chairs – You will occupy one, but which one?

1. Red Chair - Passion for God

- On fire for God
- Life passionate for God
- Connected with God (know that Jesus is EVERYTHING I don’t have)
- Nothing else matters besides God and His plans for me
- Fire is so consumed

2. Green Chair - Personal growth with God

- Abiding in Christ
- Discipleship chair
- Wants to grow closer to Jesus (found in prayer and reading of the word)
- If you abide in Christ, He will cause you to bear fruit

3. Grey Chair - Neither hot nor cold (lukewarm)

- Tired out
- Chair of comfort, chair of compromise (doing external things but heart don't really match up)
- Started on fire for God but slipped away (If I don’t do something about it, I will fall into the black chair. Submit my life to God)

4. Black Chair - Death chair

- Sinful chair
- Shouldn’t be sitting on this chair

Which chair are you sitting on?

- Allow God to reignite the fire in your heart today
- Do something that allows you to grow – do it from your heart
- Check frequently if your life is far from God

2008-06-09T23:19:00.003+08:00

anotherweekhaspast

lastweekendwastiringalotofrunninghereandthere

lastweekgoodandbadthingshappens

firstgoodnewswasmywifewenttochurchatlast

lookslikesheenjoyithopeshewillcontinuetogo

secondgoodnewswasihadmyreviewdonelastfridayatlast

andidonothaveanypaycutPTLbutmoreresposibilities

nowiamtroubleddonotwhattodoshouldiorshouldinot

thirdwasihadanothergdsessionwithahnehprayinginthecarpark

natlastihavestickthepictureontoherlaptopyeh

badnewswasiheardmoreproblemsinchurchsianman

dontknowwhattosaysigh

mustcontinuetoprayforchurch

2008-05-29T22:18:00.005+08:00

had a good week and is only thursday.

pray a lot this week.....and is wonderful

every day something new and something good happens

monday the session with ah neh...Shiok

tuesday at renewal.... Wow

wednesday, good reflection session with ah neh

lesson learned....Powerful

today at uncle koh place..... the food,

the sharing, the prayers..... Fantastic

what's more important....my wife is going back to church

and i'm surprise to see her dig out a book that i had since

secondary school...

what every christian should know about growing

YEH! YAHOO!

THANKS DAD!! You are the GREAT ONE man!

2008-05-26T22:47:00.000+08:00

Wow! today is a special

after a longggggg wait at last ah neh tell me

what is happening.

well, we had a good talk and prayer.

a special and unforgettable one...

well done ah neh! im very happy n proud of you. ;p

you grow up liao. keep it up babe.

today, office very bored.... sigh

i stick more than 1000 labels today

boss look very troubled today

don't know what happen, should i ask him?

i think i will sms him.

maybe because of him leaving...... Must pray for him

2008-05-22T18:27:00.000+08:00

Ah neh sent me this.

I think this is good, Thanks Ah neh

God, Could You Please Hurry?
Amy Carroll

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."Ecclesiastes 3: 11 (NIV)

Devotion:Those of us that have lived in rural areas know that tractors on the road are a fact of life. However, just because they are a fact of life doesn't make them any less irritating if you're in a hurry! I followed a tractor down one of our narrow two-lane roads recently. At one point I completely lost my patience for its pace and started yelling (unheard--thank goodness), "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" It didn't speed up the tractor at all.

How many times have I approached God's timing the same way? And it never hurries Him up either.

I admit God often does not operate at a pace that pleases me, and I want Him to hurry, hurry, hurry! I'm thinking Sarah, Abraham's wife, felt the same way. After waiting 10 years for a baby that God had promised Abraham (read Genesis 12-21 for the complete story), Sarah decided to "help" God. Surely 10 years was too long for anybody to wait. So Sarah gave her maidservant Hagar to her husband, and the two of them had a child. Soon the two women were at odds. Talk about a soap-opera! Finally, fifteen years later, the child promised by God to Abraham and Sarah was born. God was not late. His timing was perfect. It was Sarah who was in a hurry and rushing things, but she found out that there was a price to pay for manipulating her circumstances.

I know Sarah and I are not alone in our desire for God to hurry up. I once heard it said that we are people with gods on our wrists.

In Isaiah 55:9, God says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV) God's timing is part of His ways. I may be tapping my watch, but He is never late. He may seem slow, but He is always right on time.

Has God made a promise to you that is slow in coming? Has He planted a dream in your heart that has yet to come to fruition? Don't give up hope! God is faithful, and you can rely on His perfect timing. Fix your eyes on Him and enjoy the journey to your destination. There are things to be learned along the way that will enhance the joy of a promise fulfilled.

2008-05-21T18:56:00.000+08:00

.liao past week another
.flies really time boy

lately tired really really feeling i
thing any do or work to motivation much not
.DAD my from......direction for waiting and searching
soon come will answer the hope

.lately neh ah to alot typing be should ermm....talking been have

...argh !yet anything me told not have still she now till and

!man can the is she

.liao go cannot now ,july in china go to suppose anyway

.ah sian ......approve not leave

2008-05-16T00:36:00.000+08:00

Wow May liao

Time really fly man.

Very tired, things in office not smooth..

Have been thinking and praying for His

direction. Need to know what to do next.

anyway....i will wait.....

Talk about waiting........

Ah Neh has been showing my photo....ah.....to ....her......

she is so evil. got things want to tell me yet let me

wait for so longggggggg still don't tell me.......

one more thing...MY CAR GOT.........

tell you another day... to sad to talk abt it........SIGH...

2008-04-28T17:36:00.002+08:00

Ah Neh still busy.... Sigh... got to do it myself..... (She's on strike)

Busy Busy....Ah

Had a challenging day in church yesterday
My turn to do AV and i have only ONE guy to help me to do sound, easy worship projection and sound & video recording.

But after worship the ONLY guy helping me say he got to leave.

AH!!! Seow liao lah...

I stared at him for awhile...no word say...
Anyway, never mind... I SURVIVED!!

Siong man....

Have be touching up the photos i took in xinjiang
Just realise i took more than 1000 pictures. WOW!

deleted many too....

People have been calling me for the photos liao..

Stress....

here are some more photos to hao lian :)

Sand Storm coming!!

Tashkorgan Road

guess what is this

Yeh... I'm Back Liao!!

2008-04-25T09:21:00.000+08:00

Yo Yo Yo.. I'm back (he... he.. 2 day ago)

Sigh... got to type myself.

My DEAR Ah Neh broke down need to service...

Well, nevermind... Anyway enjoyed my trip to XinJiang, beautiful place.

Took a lot of pictures, about 600. Shiok man!

Don't feel like coming back....

This picture... butts for sale.

The weather was good from sun shine to snowing to sand storm to rain. All bao ka liao man.

More photos to come... working on the video too.

STRESS AH! I hope got enough time to do the video...

AH NEH HELP AH!!!

Many things to do ah............

AH NEH! they are so cute rite! HA.. HA..

I just LOVEEEE this kids man!!

My First Blog; Full of Dots

2008-04-12T00:46:00.000+08:00

Yay!

At last...

I've a blog... of my own.

With the help of Ah Neh.

Ah Neh is MY... Don't... Tell... You...

Ah Neh who is typing for me now say is so me...

So good to blog when I don't need to type.

Just say what I want and the words will appear.

Got a remote typist... Called Ah Neh typing machine.

Oops not machine, is software.

Machine is way back my time. LOL chio ka peng....

Today no mood to work.

Body in Marine Parade.

Mind in XinJiang.

Can't wait to go and have my break.

Ah Neh... my software (very advance software) say go eat Kit Kat lah.

Next blog will show you pictures of Jiang Jiang.

Ah Neh feels very jealous; refuse to type now...

... to be continued... typed by ME. AH NEH Hang Liao!!!!