Been a busy week, and more busy weeks to come! Heaps on my plate at the moment, but enjoying all of it :)
- Apologetics assignment on science & Christianity
- Lunch & movie outing with the girls tmr. We're watching WALL-E! YAAAY! Finally!
- Watching Mummy 3 next Tuesday with David. Go Brendan Fraser!
- The evangelistic talk I'd be giving next Friday (3rd Oct) at OCF Murdoch's Social Night.. PLEASE PRAY!!
- More Assignments x 7 (too lazy to list them all down)
Phew! Learning to take it day by day & entrust it all to God!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
update...
Yes, my sister asks for an update.. so she shall get one!
Now what have I been up to lately?
Had a chance to do an inductive BS with some OCFers on Monday. I honestly think I probably tortured them by asking them so many questions... Hmm... while I was glad I made them think, I wasn't too happy about the whole flow of how I conducted the study.. so there's plenty of room for improvement!
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Otherwise, have been thinking & wrestling more with the news of the recent death of the 17-year old son of Daniel & Suzanne Prak, missionaries in Cambodia. He went into a diabetic coma (first presentation of the illness) and went to be with the Lord after 4 weeks.
Reading the book of Job in the past few weeks have also raised those questions and issues. Why do good people suffer? And more specifically, why do the people who are the most faithful to God, seeking to serve him, the very ones who seem to have to suffer?
I didn't realise that the question had been niggling at the back of my head all this time, particularly since David first went to Cambodia & shared about another missionary couple whose child had some terminal illness. This recent incident with the Praks just brought it up to the fore.
Was encouraged by a letter from the Praks in response to all that has happened. In it they give thanks and praise to God, that for their prayers were answered. They prayed for complete healing for Andrew, and he's received it. Nothing can be better for Andrew than to be with his Maker.
I find that mind-boggling faith. I guess I know the answer intellectually. I know in my head that God is good, that He is trustworthy, that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, even though we don't understand it at times, and even if it comes at great suffering in this present life. But put in the same situation as the Praks, I don't know whether I'd be able to respond in that manner. To be able to have that kind of strength & deep trust in God. I just don't know whether that "knowledge" has passed from my head to my heart.
------------------------------------
On another note, I got invited by a friend at Seminary to preach at his father's church (his father was ill) this Sunday. It's a small congregation of about 30-40 people. Got a bit of a shock, and was struggling to get to a decision. Wasn't quite sure I was ready to be preaching at a formal church service yet.. Well, final verdict is that I'm not taking it up. Couldn't get to a decision by today, and he needed to get someone ASAP.
Phew.. on one hand, it's a sigh of relief. On another, I'm wondering whether I missed out on an opportunity? Oh well, there'd be more to come. Just not sure whether I'm quite ready yet at this stage.
Now what have I been up to lately?
Had a chance to do an inductive BS with some OCFers on Monday. I honestly think I probably tortured them by asking them so many questions... Hmm... while I was glad I made them think, I wasn't too happy about the whole flow of how I conducted the study.. so there's plenty of room for improvement!
------------------------------------
Otherwise, have been thinking & wrestling more with the news of the recent death of the 17-year old son of Daniel & Suzanne Prak, missionaries in Cambodia. He went into a diabetic coma (first presentation of the illness) and went to be with the Lord after 4 weeks.
Reading the book of Job in the past few weeks have also raised those questions and issues. Why do good people suffer? And more specifically, why do the people who are the most faithful to God, seeking to serve him, the very ones who seem to have to suffer?
I didn't realise that the question had been niggling at the back of my head all this time, particularly since David first went to Cambodia & shared about another missionary couple whose child had some terminal illness. This recent incident with the Praks just brought it up to the fore.
Was encouraged by a letter from the Praks in response to all that has happened. In it they give thanks and praise to God, that for their prayers were answered. They prayed for complete healing for Andrew, and he's received it. Nothing can be better for Andrew than to be with his Maker.
I find that mind-boggling faith. I guess I know the answer intellectually. I know in my head that God is good, that He is trustworthy, that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, even though we don't understand it at times, and even if it comes at great suffering in this present life. But put in the same situation as the Praks, I don't know whether I'd be able to respond in that manner. To be able to have that kind of strength & deep trust in God. I just don't know whether that "knowledge" has passed from my head to my heart.
------------------------------------
On another note, I got invited by a friend at Seminary to preach at his father's church (his father was ill) this Sunday. It's a small congregation of about 30-40 people. Got a bit of a shock, and was struggling to get to a decision. Wasn't quite sure I was ready to be preaching at a formal church service yet.. Well, final verdict is that I'm not taking it up. Couldn't get to a decision by today, and he needed to get someone ASAP.
Phew.. on one hand, it's a sigh of relief. On another, I'm wondering whether I missed out on an opportunity? Oh well, there'd be more to come. Just not sure whether I'm quite ready yet at this stage.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Discovery Group
It's been a tiring night at OCF, but an awesome one. Had the chance of facilitating the discovery group going through the "Introducing God" course. Just amazed at how multi-national the group was, especially today. 2 from Hong Kong, 1 from USA, 3 from Taiwan. Am still praying for that 1 Korean & 1 Cambodian to turn up next week. God willing, it'd come to fruition!
Am really enjoying the DVD talks and learning from them. In my opinion, the course is a very faithful presentation of the gospel of Jesus and it tells the Bible story of salvation very well. It's based on the "Two ways to live" presentation of the gospel and so it covers the essential areas of creation, sin, redemption and new life sufficiently well.
Next week would be "interesting" as it'd be a rather offensive session where the topic of judgement comes up. Please pray for God's work by his Spirit to be done!
Time to rest! Zzzzzz....
Am really enjoying the DVD talks and learning from them. In my opinion, the course is a very faithful presentation of the gospel of Jesus and it tells the Bible story of salvation very well. It's based on the "Two ways to live" presentation of the gospel and so it covers the essential areas of creation, sin, redemption and new life sufficiently well.
Next week would be "interesting" as it'd be a rather offensive session where the topic of judgement comes up. Please pray for God's work by his Spirit to be done!
Time to rest! Zzzzzz....
Monday, September 08, 2008
Book Review
Recently had to review this book for one of my assignments. Thought I'd share it 'cos I found it really helpful in thinking about sharing our faith with others. This review doesn't do justice to the book, so I'd recommend that you get hold of a copy and read it for yourself :)
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Dickson, J., Promoting the Gospel (Blue Bottle Books, 2005)
Dickson gives a refreshing insight into what biblical mission entails. Contrary to popular evangelical belief and emphasis (mine included), the means for promoting Christ is not confined to verbal proclamation of the gospel, but also includes prayer, financial giving, godly behaviour, the public praise of God and answering people’s questions.
He begins by presenting a case for promoting the gospel and then examines the challenge of pluralism and the inevitable call for Christians to follow Christ in mission. As he states, “our entire life, including our social life, should demonstrate the Lord’s desire to have fellowship with sinners” (p41). He then proceeds to address the various means in which the gospel can be advanced and people drawn to Christ.
The strength (and thesis) of this book is that it draws attention to aspects of missions in the Bible that have often been neglected or sidelined. Dickson rightly points out that we have often tried to fit people into the role of an “evangelist” while neglecting the other means in which the gospel is advanced. Nevertheless, a chapter is devoted in exploring the actual role of the evangelist.
In particular, I found the chapter on giving “an apt reply” an eye-opener. Dickson contends that while learning to present a gospel outline is helpful and necessary, more often than not our opportunities for sharing our faith come in our day-to-day conversations with people. The power of an appropriate reply or comment should not be undermined and he calls for an emphasis in conversational explanations of the Faith in training for evangelism. Moreover, he points out that the apostle Paul himself makes a comparison between his apostolic speaking of the gospel to the everyday speech of believers in general in Colossians 4:3-6. A review of the Greek used in those verses show
…a thematic parallel between Paul’s obligation to proclaim the gospel word and the congregation’s duty to answer in their everyday word. In effect, what bold proclamation is to evangelists, gracious answers are to believers in general. Both activities have profound missionary significance. (p152)
Another not commonly regarded aspect is the role that the public praise of God can take in advancing the gospel. Surprisingly, this notion is a well-established theme in the Old Testament and inherent in the theology and practice of the Jewish people. The communal praise of God in the synagogue or temple was one of God’s ways of drawing the Gentiles to worship him. This idea is also taken up in the New Testament by the apostle Peter.
In addressing our contemporary context, Dickson maintains that “the number of visitors in our services is directly proportionate to the level of enthusiasm felt by those who regularly attend” (p138). This brings us to consider how our regular corporate worship times in church can be enhanced firstly for the regular worshippers, and consequently for visitors. It also challenges the commonly held view that evangelistic church services are the main means for drawing unbelievers to Christ. On the contrary, he asserts that normal church services conducted exceptionally well will not only inspire the regulars, but also draw in visitors and promote the gospel to them. While Dickson does not go into lengths of what such a service should look like, he gives us a few clues from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians – that it should be an intelligible declaration of God’s wonders for the benefit of God’s people.
In his chapter “being beautiful”, he points out the fact that people can be won to faith “without a word” through godly behaviour. He provides solid biblical support for “the gospel being a necessary and sufficient cause of faith without always being the primary cause of faith” (p99). This not only stresses the impact that good deeds can have on unbelievers towards the gospel, but also brings assurance to those in positions where it is inappropriate or impossible to speak of the gospel.
To the question, “So where does actual gospel proclamation fit in?”, Dickson remarks:
...speaking about the Faith is the icing on the cake of mission. It may not be where the bulk of our day-to-day mission activity lies but frequently it is the most obvious part of the mission and, once tasted, will often be the sweetest. (p109)
Overall, this book represents a holistic treatment on the issue of Christian mission. It challenges the church not only to view it one-dimensionally, but to consider the manifold aspects involved in it and to encourage all believers to be a part of it.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
baby visit
Went to visit Soong Leng and baby Amy at the hospital this morning. Such a pleasant baby! Apparently she hasn't cried very much since birth.. just a short "WeAH" at the time of birth and that's it! Probably because her mum is a very good natured person herself, so I guess the baby just takes after her :)
Guess I won't be needing those ear-plugs after all :P
Anyway, baby Amy was busy sleeping... only opened one of her eyes for a short while..
Will wait for David to take some photos later in the arvo before I'll have any to post up!
Guess I won't be needing those ear-plugs after all :P
Anyway, baby Amy was busy sleeping... only opened one of her eyes for a short while..
Will wait for David to take some photos later in the arvo before I'll have any to post up!
Monday, September 01, 2008
A baby is born!
She's here! She's here!
Who?
Baby Amy! My housemate (& David's sister-in-law) just gave birth to a baby girl this morning! Hip hip hooray!
Will post up some photos when I get them! Muahahhaa..
Oh boy, it was an agonising morning for me. I knew Jonathan & Soong Leng went to the hospital early this morning (6am), but didn't get any news till about lunch time. Only found out from John Ho over MSN that the baby was already born around 8-9am in the morning! Geez.. all that agonising for nothing! Haha..
Anyway, praise God that both mum & baby are well :)
Who?
Baby Amy! My housemate (& David's sister-in-law) just gave birth to a baby girl this morning! Hip hip hooray!
Will post up some photos when I get them! Muahahhaa..
Oh boy, it was an agonising morning for me. I knew Jonathan & Soong Leng went to the hospital early this morning (6am), but didn't get any news till about lunch time. Only found out from John Ho over MSN that the baby was already born around 8-9am in the morning! Geez.. all that agonising for nothing! Haha..
Anyway, praise God that both mum & baby are well :)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Newsletter #6
Ok, now that I have some spare time in my hands, thought I'd finally post up my latest newsletter.
------------------------------------
Some satisfactions, regrets & lessons
Undeniably, the greatest satisfaction I’ve had so far comes from the opportunities I get to invest in the lives of the students. There is a sense of joy with knowing that in one way or another, there is an influence being made whether the results are apparent at the moment or not.
I also thank God for the few preaching/teaching opportunities I’ve had. Although it is hard work to prepare for a talk/workshop, I’ve really enjoyed them & actually find them quite thrilling.
I could have done more... On the flip side, the dawn of every new semester comes with this sobering thought & confession. My own struggle with laziness has become more apparent throughout the year. There were lost opportunities due to both inadequate planning & a lack of resolve for execution.
Let go and let God... I never learnt a more difficult lesson than this one in the past year. There were many times when I felt helpless & powerless to change things. Giving up & moving on to another area was a very real option, but I have since come to terms with God’s sovereignty & that the battle ultimately belongs to Him. It is a difficult but perhaps a most valuable lesson in the simple act of trusting in God to accomplish His work.
Perseverance... Not only when things get tough, but also when you face rejection from the very people you are trying to serve & help. The experience really highlighted to me the extent of Jesus' love for us, that while we were still sinners & his enemies, when we did not want him in our lives... he served & died for us (Romans 5:8). Where else can we find such love?
OCF - Winter Camp 2008
~Happy Campers!~
Once a year, a motley bunch of Christians huddle away for a 5-day camp in winter. As my disciple Janesa says “Although the weather is freezing cold, we are warm in God’s love...” J The camp theme was “God, our confidence” & the main talks & Bible studies were centred on Romans 8.
It was also very exciting because the non-believers who came for camp learnt a lot from Carolyn, one of our centre advisors who facilitated the group for non-Christians. One of the girls I spoke to is very serious about becoming a Christian & is learning more about God’s love for her. Praise God!
Updates on the “Being Single” workshop: No, none of the girls have vowed celibacy yet... Phew! :) Handed out a little survey to get a feel of my audience & what their ideas on singleness & marriage were. There were lots of giggles, but also some honest sharing on how we can make the most of our single lives now for God’s glory. We also talked about the temptations & struggles that single girls may face, and the issue of whether it is better to remain single than to marry a spiritually unhealthy person (i.e. nominal Christian or non-Christian). The basic principle we worked with was that God’s ultimate purpose for us is our holiness. Hence, all our behaviour & decisions need to be made in light of that.
On another note, David (my boyfriend) decided to propose after the workshop (not in public though), so we’d be getting married next year! That definitely made this camp an even more memorable one :)
Trip to Canberra
~My usual get-away spot by the lake... a good spot for prayer & reflection~
~OCF Canberra Stall Day~
Thanks to a 10-hour transit in Melbourne between flights back to Perth, I got to spend some time with OCF Carlton’s chairperson & also briefly visited one of OCF Carlton’s meetings. Am inspired & challenged by their “witness pairs” program[1] and their heart for evangelism!
On a more sombre note, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as I met up with some of my Uni friends who were not believers. These are my friends & yet in some sense, I no longer have the opportunity to reach out & share the gospel with them because we are now miles apart. May God send others along their way!
New semester... new plans...
My heart & passion has always been to help students grow in their relationship with God through a good understanding of the Bible. One of my regrets is the lack of opportunity thus far to really achieve that goal by teaching others some of the skills of reading the Bible inductively. I am still praying & hoping that God will open the way for me towards that goal. Please join me in prayer!
[1] At least once a week, OCFers go in pairs around Uni to share about OCF & the gospel of Jesus.
------------------------------------
Some satisfactions, regrets & lessons
Undeniably, the greatest satisfaction I’ve had so far comes from the opportunities I get to invest in the lives of the students. There is a sense of joy with knowing that in one way or another, there is an influence being made whether the results are apparent at the moment or not.
I also thank God for the few preaching/teaching opportunities I’ve had. Although it is hard work to prepare for a talk/workshop, I’ve really enjoyed them & actually find them quite thrilling.
I could have done more... On the flip side, the dawn of every new semester comes with this sobering thought & confession. My own struggle with laziness has become more apparent throughout the year. There were lost opportunities due to both inadequate planning & a lack of resolve for execution.
Let go and let God... I never learnt a more difficult lesson than this one in the past year. There were many times when I felt helpless & powerless to change things. Giving up & moving on to another area was a very real option, but I have since come to terms with God’s sovereignty & that the battle ultimately belongs to Him. It is a difficult but perhaps a most valuable lesson in the simple act of trusting in God to accomplish His work.
Perseverance... Not only when things get tough, but also when you face rejection from the very people you are trying to serve & help. The experience really highlighted to me the extent of Jesus' love for us, that while we were still sinners & his enemies, when we did not want him in our lives... he served & died for us (Romans 5:8). Where else can we find such love?
Will you wash another person's feet, even when they don’t want it to be washed?
OCF - Winter Camp 2008
~Happy Campers!~
Once a year, a motley bunch of Christians huddle away for a 5-day camp in winter. As my disciple Janesa says “Although the weather is freezing cold, we are warm in God’s love...” J The camp theme was “God, our confidence” & the main talks & Bible studies were centred on Romans 8.
It was also very exciting because the non-believers who came for camp learnt a lot from Carolyn, one of our centre advisors who facilitated the group for non-Christians. One of the girls I spoke to is very serious about becoming a Christian & is learning more about God’s love for her. Praise God!
Updates on the “Being Single” workshop: No, none of the girls have vowed celibacy yet... Phew! :) Handed out a little survey to get a feel of my audience & what their ideas on singleness & marriage were. There were lots of giggles, but also some honest sharing on how we can make the most of our single lives now for God’s glory. We also talked about the temptations & struggles that single girls may face, and the issue of whether it is better to remain single than to marry a spiritually unhealthy person (i.e. nominal Christian or non-Christian). The basic principle we worked with was that God’s ultimate purpose for us is our holiness. Hence, all our behaviour & decisions need to be made in light of that.
On another note, David (my boyfriend) decided to propose after the workshop (not in public though), so we’d be getting married next year! That definitely made this camp an even more memorable one :)
Trip to Canberra
~My usual get-away spot by the lake... a good spot for prayer & reflection~
~OCF Canberra Stall Day~
Thanks to a 10-hour transit in Melbourne between flights back to Perth, I got to spend some time with OCF Carlton’s chairperson & also briefly visited one of OCF Carlton’s meetings. Am inspired & challenged by their “witness pairs” program[1] and their heart for evangelism!
On a more sombre note, I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sadness as I met up with some of my Uni friends who were not believers. These are my friends & yet in some sense, I no longer have the opportunity to reach out & share the gospel with them because we are now miles apart. May God send others along their way!
New semester... new plans...
My heart & passion has always been to help students grow in their relationship with God through a good understanding of the Bible. One of my regrets is the lack of opportunity thus far to really achieve that goal by teaching others some of the skills of reading the Bible inductively. I am still praying & hoping that God will open the way for me towards that goal. Please join me in prayer!
[1] At least once a week, OCFers go in pairs around Uni to share about OCF & the gospel of Jesus.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Apologetics... exciting!
Been sick sick sick... flu & fever... I've been sleeping so much the past few days that my head hurts everytime I wake up. I even coined up a phrase to describe how I've been feeling..
"I feel like my head is jam packed with SNOOZE BUBBLES!"
Anyway...
Recently reviewed a book by Ravi Zacharias (he is slowly but steadily rising up to be one of my favourite Christian apologetics authors...) called "Can man live without God?"
The book is basically an offense of atheism and a defence of theism, particularly the Christian faith. One of my favourite parts of the book was this illustration arguing for a logical (& positive) connection of religious beliefs & moral ethics (vs an atheist saying that ethics can flow out of reason alone and that you don't need God). There's this story of Dennis Prager (social critic) debating with the Oxford atheistic philosopher Jonathan Glover:
"If you, Professor Glover, were stranded at the midnight hour in a desolate Los Angeles street & if, as you stepped out of your car with fear & trembling, u were suddenly to hear the weight of pounding footsteps behind you, & you saw 10 burly young men who had just stepped out of a dwelling coming towards you, would it or would it not make a difference to you to know that they were coming from a Bible study?"
Quite good don't you think? :)
"I feel like my head is jam packed with SNOOZE BUBBLES!"
Anyway...
Recently reviewed a book by Ravi Zacharias (he is slowly but steadily rising up to be one of my favourite Christian apologetics authors...) called "Can man live without God?"
The book is basically an offense of atheism and a defence of theism, particularly the Christian faith. One of my favourite parts of the book was this illustration arguing for a logical (& positive) connection of religious beliefs & moral ethics (vs an atheist saying that ethics can flow out of reason alone and that you don't need God). There's this story of Dennis Prager (social critic) debating with the Oxford atheistic philosopher Jonathan Glover:
"If you, Professor Glover, were stranded at the midnight hour in a desolate Los Angeles street & if, as you stepped out of your car with fear & trembling, u were suddenly to hear the weight of pounding footsteps behind you, & you saw 10 burly young men who had just stepped out of a dwelling coming towards you, would it or would it not make a difference to you to know that they were coming from a Bible study?"
Quite good don't you think? :)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
More photos!
University Avenue... the path I used to take to the city...
Chifley Library..
Towards Hancock library...
View towards IEO building...
Oooh... this is new in John XXIII College! A lift for disabled people... how thoughtful!
At first, I thought it was cute that this swan started coming out of the water...
And then I started to freak out because it was coming towards me!
This bird was better at giving me more space... haha...
Finally! Good riddance!
Love the "white" trees...
Captain Cook & the bridge!
More "white" trees!
OCF O-week booth in MCC... students in action...
Last lunch in Canberra - Sashimi Zen! Slurrrp!
Chifley Library..
Towards Hancock library...
View towards IEO building...
Oooh... this is new in John XXIII College! A lift for disabled people... how thoughtful!
At first, I thought it was cute that this swan started coming out of the water...
And then I started to freak out because it was coming towards me!
This bird was better at giving me more space... haha...
Finally! Good riddance!
Love the "white" trees...
Captain Cook & the bridge!
More "white" trees!
OCF O-week booth in MCC... students in action...
Last lunch in Canberra - Sashimi Zen! Slurrrp!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sydney/Canberra photos
Apple strudel (from Perth) cutting ceremony...
Some home cooked food... guess which one I cooked? =)
(YP, Jess, Stevie.. in that order...)
Dinner at Din Tai Fung.. Xiao Long Bao etc.
At our Paramatta accommodation...
Some "scenery" shots...
The iPhone craze in Sydney... observe the number of people queuing up!!
Jason's birthday...
Finally! The food I've been missing... black sesame seed ice-cream & pollo funghi from Zefferellis...
Some home cooked food... guess which one I cooked? =)
(YP, Jess, Stevie.. in that order...)
Dinner at Din Tai Fung.. Xiao Long Bao etc.
At our Paramatta accommodation...
Some "scenery" shots...
The iPhone craze in Sydney... observe the number of people queuing up!!
Jason's birthday...
Finally! The food I've been missing... black sesame seed ice-cream & pollo funghi from Zefferellis...
Canberra...
I'm in Canberra! Actually I've already been here for a week now. Haha...
First few days were spent mainly hibernating cos it was raining and I was also down with flu & cough (from Winter Camp). Did watch 2 movies - Pride & Prejudice, and Sense & Sensibility to wile away some time.. haha..
Been a good time catching up with some friends - Chiew Yean & Fang Yaeu, Roy, and needless to say, the OCF mob! Even managed to squeeze a short trip down to Sydney for the weekend & met up with Roopesh. All in all, been a productive time catching up with some people and having some meaningful conversations.
Stevie & YP's apartment is just so cosy and nice. And there's a gym too, so been quite convenient to do some exercising =) Weather's pretty good today, sunny and warmer than usual.. so might just go venture around Lake Burley Griffin & jog there.. yay! Brings back lots of nice memories!
OK, I will post up some photos soon... (yes, I always say that but never really get down to doing it.. haha.. )
First few days were spent mainly hibernating cos it was raining and I was also down with flu & cough (from Winter Camp). Did watch 2 movies - Pride & Prejudice, and Sense & Sensibility to wile away some time.. haha..
Been a good time catching up with some friends - Chiew Yean & Fang Yaeu, Roy, and needless to say, the OCF mob! Even managed to squeeze a short trip down to Sydney for the weekend & met up with Roopesh. All in all, been a productive time catching up with some people and having some meaningful conversations.
Stevie & YP's apartment is just so cosy and nice. And there's a gym too, so been quite convenient to do some exercising =) Weather's pretty good today, sunny and warmer than usual.. so might just go venture around Lake Burley Griffin & jog there.. yay! Brings back lots of nice memories!
OK, I will post up some photos soon... (yes, I always say that but never really get down to doing it.. haha.. )
Friday, June 27, 2008
Prince Caspian...
Watched Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia) TWICE at the movies =)
Fantastic story in my opinion, even more so with the many theological themes woven in the plot.
The one that really stood out to me was how in the end, the battle really belonged to Aslan (the lion). Military strategy, strength, numbers really didn't matter if you had Aslan at your side.
I love the scene where Lucy appears at the other end of the bridge in the face of a storming troop, tranquil and smiling as she pulls out her short little dagger. Then comes Aslan at her side, and as the enemy troops charged against them, he just does his thing (well I shouldn't say more in case you haven't watched it!)...
That scene really hits home with the message in Romans 8:31
"What, then, shall we say in response to this?
If God is for us, who can be against us?"
So often we lack trust in God who can do so much more than we can imagine. We have such a great God, yet we insist on fighting our battles with our own strength, wisdom, strategies etc. Perhaps it stems from an attitude like that of High King Peter - to prove ourselves worthy of our status as co-heirs?
No, no. God needs no proving. He merely asks for humble reliance and seeking after him. The battles belong to Him alone. We can rest in His mighty power and perfect purpose.
Fantastic story in my opinion, even more so with the many theological themes woven in the plot.
The one that really stood out to me was how in the end, the battle really belonged to Aslan (the lion). Military strategy, strength, numbers really didn't matter if you had Aslan at your side.
I love the scene where Lucy appears at the other end of the bridge in the face of a storming troop, tranquil and smiling as she pulls out her short little dagger. Then comes Aslan at her side, and as the enemy troops charged against them, he just does his thing (well I shouldn't say more in case you haven't watched it!)...
That scene really hits home with the message in Romans 8:31
"What, then, shall we say in response to this?
If God is for us, who can be against us?"
So often we lack trust in God who can do so much more than we can imagine. We have such a great God, yet we insist on fighting our battles with our own strength, wisdom, strategies etc. Perhaps it stems from an attitude like that of High King Peter - to prove ourselves worthy of our status as co-heirs?
No, no. God needs no proving. He merely asks for humble reliance and seeking after him. The battles belong to Him alone. We can rest in His mighty power and perfect purpose.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Prayer for V
Please pray for V - my Cambodian friend to come to the OCF Winter Camp next week. Just found out that she'd be in Perth during that time due to some changes to her previous holiday plans. So I extended the invitation to her. Please pray that God will lead her to come for the camp.
It'd be a really really good opportunity for her to be exposed to Christianity in a communal context. The theme for the camp is "God, our confidence" based on Romans 8. It's one of the most amazing passages in the Bible, and pregnant with the gospel message. Please pray for V to have the opportunity to hear the gospel again and again!
It'd be a really really good opportunity for her to be exposed to Christianity in a communal context. The theme for the camp is "God, our confidence" based on Romans 8. It's one of the most amazing passages in the Bible, and pregnant with the gospel message. Please pray for V to have the opportunity to hear the gospel again and again!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Back in KL...
Yes, back to the hot and dusty land of good food! Yo!! And good shopping! Double Yo!!
One thing great about the hot weather is that my laundry actually dries within a few hours! Such a contrast to what happens in Perth - having to wait for 2-3 days (especially if it rains) for my clothes to slowly dry...
Didn't bump into many of my friends at church yesterday... I wonder where they all are? Perhaps attending another service.
Been distracted from preparing for the Winter Camp workshop - Oh No! Better make good use of all those library books I lugged from Perth, and have to lug them back again. Otherwise, been spending too much time on computer games and snoozing!
Hopefully tonight will be more productive! I must remind myself that I am STILL being paid to work! Haha...
One thing great about the hot weather is that my laundry actually dries within a few hours! Such a contrast to what happens in Perth - having to wait for 2-3 days (especially if it rains) for my clothes to slowly dry...
Didn't bump into many of my friends at church yesterday... I wonder where they all are? Perhaps attending another service.
Been distracted from preparing for the Winter Camp workshop - Oh No! Better make good use of all those library books I lugged from Perth, and have to lug them back again. Otherwise, been spending too much time on computer games and snoozing!
Hopefully tonight will be more productive! I must remind myself that I am STILL being paid to work! Haha...
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Exam fever... then party!
One down, one more to go! Whoopieee.. then it's pack pack pack and off I go...! Did I mention I'm going back to KL for a short little holiday? Yipppee...
Well not quite a complete holiday since there's still that workshop to get ready for... but still it'd be good to be back in dusty old KL! Haha.. ok, maybe I'm not missing the dust that much.
Before that, it's back to the Old Old Testament... so old... yet so new (i.e. new lessons to learn!)
Well not quite a complete holiday since there's still that workshop to get ready for... but still it'd be good to be back in dusty old KL! Haha.. ok, maybe I'm not missing the dust that much.
Before that, it's back to the Old Old Testament... so old... yet so new (i.e. new lessons to learn!)
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Newsletter #4
(I have removed some photos from this blog version of my newsletter, either because I've already posted it somewhere else on my blog, or didn't want some photos to be public. So, if you want to see the photos and read the slightly "fuller" version of it, please read the original pdf version)
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Dear friends,
Time sure marches on when you are having fun! The past few months have been fairly enjoyable, despite the constant challenge to weigh up the different opportunities and needs that one should answer to!
Overseas Christian Fellowship
Starters group for young or non-believers: I have recently started leading a group of 3 students, exploring some basic beliefs of Christianity from the Alpha course. It’s been very challenging due to the mix of the group (& my lack of ability!) – two (not very inquisitive) young believers and one non-believer. The (unfortunate) outcome of the discussion is that the one non-believer feels as if he is the focus of the group!
The annual Winter Camp is coming up soon! This time I will be running a workshop with the girls, on the topic of “Being Single”! Please pray for the preparations of this workshop and faithfulness to challenge the girls as to how they can best use their lives for the glory of God.
As you may recall from my e-mail, I gave my first public talk at the OCF Murdoch Quiz Night. Here are some photos from that event!
Vose Seminary (Formerly BTC)
*It is named after the college’s founding principal, Noel Vose.
My Bible College has changed its name! This name change from a “theological college” to a “seminary” has been very significant for me. Theological training is so much more than learning doctrines and quoting theologian after theologian! More importantly is the shaping of one’s life in light of God’s character through the study of theology and to GROW in all areas (mind, heart, soul) as a disciple of Christ. Current challenges include not just how to think and act theologically, but also pastorally (i.e. with caring for people in mind).
DISC profile - the verdict! According to the test, I have an Influencer-Steady personality. Some attributes are: possessing a casual poise in most social situations; tend to withdraw in a serious conflict; need compliments for assignment well done. Did you think the test got it right? :)
One interesting assignment has been on a case study providing pastoral support to someone in crisis & evaluating the actions taken. Plenty of things to learn in retrospect! To be a better listener is top on the list!
Pray, Pray, Pray!
Due to the increasing (though very slow) awareness that ministry without prayer is futile, coupled with my own foolishness in persisting in ministry without prayer (!), I’ve recently enlisted two of my good friends from Canberra as prayer partners. So they call me on alternate fortnights (so I get a call once a week!) to pray together using our mobile phones. Thank God for technology and free calls! This has made prayer more intentional in my life, both in the time set aside and the things prayed for. Thank God too for another bunch of friends in Singapore who have also agreed to pray for me and my ministry here regularly!
As I’m nearing the half-way mark of this two-year traineeship, the “What’s next?” question is becoming more pertinent. No answers yet, but would appreciate your prayer for discernment of God’s will! Love to hear from you too!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear friends,
Time sure marches on when you are having fun! The past few months have been fairly enjoyable, despite the constant challenge to weigh up the different opportunities and needs that one should answer to!
Overseas Christian Fellowship
Starters group for young or non-believers: I have recently started leading a group of 3 students, exploring some basic beliefs of Christianity from the Alpha course. It’s been very challenging due to the mix of the group (& my lack of ability!) – two (not very inquisitive) young believers and one non-believer. The (unfortunate) outcome of the discussion is that the one non-believer feels as if he is the focus of the group!
The annual Winter Camp is coming up soon! This time I will be running a workshop with the girls, on the topic of “Being Single”! Please pray for the preparations of this workshop and faithfulness to challenge the girls as to how they can best use their lives for the glory of God.
As you may recall from my e-mail, I gave my first public talk at the OCF Murdoch Quiz Night. Here are some photos from that event!
The church is painfully in need of leaders...
~William Sangster~
People I meet with
(V - my Cambodian non-Christian friend; as I mentioned in my other blog post)
I haven’t been able to catch up with her regularly this past month. Please pray that she will continue to hunger to know Jesus.
J - my “disciple”
She is a friendly, bubbly girl from Singapore studying Media Studies at Murdoch Uni.
I meet her weekly and we think about what it means to be Christ’s disciple.
She’s keen to grow in her relationship with God, which is encouraging!
Please pray that she will seek God’s kingdom first!
I meet her weekly and we think about what it means to be Christ’s disciple.
She’s keen to grow in her relationship with God, which is encouraging!
Please pray that she will seek God’s kingdom first!
Vose Seminary (Formerly BTC)
*It is named after the college’s founding principal, Noel Vose.
Did you know that the word Seminary
means “a seed-bed”,
a place to be nurtured & to grow?
means “a seed-bed”,
a place to be nurtured & to grow?
My Bible College has changed its name! This name change from a “theological college” to a “seminary” has been very significant for me. Theological training is so much more than learning doctrines and quoting theologian after theologian! More importantly is the shaping of one’s life in light of God’s character through the study of theology and to GROW in all areas (mind, heart, soul) as a disciple of Christ. Current challenges include not just how to think and act theologically, but also pastorally (i.e. with caring for people in mind).
DISC profile - the verdict! According to the test, I have an Influencer-Steady personality. Some attributes are: possessing a casual poise in most social situations; tend to withdraw in a serious conflict; need compliments for assignment well done. Did you think the test got it right? :)
One interesting assignment has been on a case study providing pastoral support to someone in crisis & evaluating the actions taken. Plenty of things to learn in retrospect! To be a better listener is top on the list!
Pray, Pray, Pray!
Due to the increasing (though very slow) awareness that ministry without prayer is futile, coupled with my own foolishness in persisting in ministry without prayer (!), I’ve recently enlisted two of my good friends from Canberra as prayer partners. So they call me on alternate fortnights (so I get a call once a week!) to pray together using our mobile phones. Thank God for technology and free calls! This has made prayer more intentional in my life, both in the time set aside and the things prayed for. Thank God too for another bunch of friends in Singapore who have also agreed to pray for me and my ministry here regularly!
As I’m nearing the half-way mark of this two-year traineeship, the “What’s next?” question is becoming more pertinent. No answers yet, but would appreciate your prayer for discernment of God’s will! Love to hear from you too!
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers & requests.
With this in mind, be alert & always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel...
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:18-20
With this in mind, be alert & always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel...
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:18-20
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
trip wasted? or maybe not...
Guess what?
Rocked up to college today and... not one, but TWO of my classes were cancelled because the lecturer/facilitator was sick! Haha.. what are the odds of that happening?
Did get a missed call on my mobile this morning, but didn't know who it was from. Guess now I know who! No wonder I kept having that nagging feeling that I should have returned that call.... drats...
Anyway, comforted myself with the thought that I needed to return a library book that was due, as well as managed to sell some of those fundraising chocolates to hungry but unsuspecting students while I was there too! Hehe... fruitful time...
Oh well, back to working at home then! Heigh ho Heigh ho!
Rocked up to college today and... not one, but TWO of my classes were cancelled because the lecturer/facilitator was sick! Haha.. what are the odds of that happening?
Did get a missed call on my mobile this morning, but didn't know who it was from. Guess now I know who! No wonder I kept having that nagging feeling that I should have returned that call.... drats...
Anyway, comforted myself with the thought that I needed to return a library book that was due, as well as managed to sell some of those fundraising chocolates to hungry but unsuspecting students while I was there too! Hehe... fruitful time...
Oh well, back to working at home then! Heigh ho Heigh ho!
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