Love Box

Each of us are born with a love box. Sometimes our love box is half-filled, sometimes is otherwise. God created us with this box so that we shall learn how to love and how to receive love. Basically, this is the missing link in our lives... only Jesus can fill this link.

God speaks to us in 5 languages of love. Some of us feel loved when someone just willingly spends quality time with us. Their presence keeps us accompanied especially in times of difficulties. Majority of us feel love when people just give us words of affirmation. We all need to be affirmed sometimes.

What about acts of service? Have you come across people who just love to serve others. These are the people who have the servant's heart. I believe we like to receive gifts too. If you like to buy gifts to your friends, most probably this is your language of love too. Last, but not the least, physical touch like a handshake, a pat on the shoulder, and a hug is a form of love in action. Some people just feel the need to have physical touch to feel we are important in their lives.

In conclusion, love comes in 5 ways. Identify your language of love and be a blessing to others. You will never know whose life you're touching.

PUSH ... Are we gonna push?

Resting, relaxing and reclining to my comfort, I couldn't help but to reflect... why the problems seem never ending? What is happening to our society today? Some even dread to think there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have witnessed the rise of skyscrapers, the betterment of facilities and the list goes on. What about the human touch?

Are we PUSHing hard enough? Are we Praying Until Something Happens enough? Deep within, I believe God is still in control. He is there to watch and guide. No matter how hard the situation is, no matter how impossible the outcome is... we need to Pray Until Something Happens.

Behind the mask

People walk pass by us day after day. Some of these will leave their footprints in our lives. Some will just remain our close bosom buddies for life. Some are just making indifferent marks on our hearts (after some years, we tend to even forget their names) Of all these, I would rather have a few close friends, few those who don't put on their mask. They will be so real that they will stick closer than brothers in times of adversity. At times, I think I have found these close buddies. At times, I wonder where they've gone to...

But all in all, I couldn't help but to realize that people come and go. We can only make one good journey. This journey of life, what is more important is not what comes along the way.. it is how we choose to travel on it is all that matters. People may wear mask. We too can put on our masks. But, to some people, we really don't have to wear that mask. By just being ourselves, we are wearing masks too.. the only difference is these are real masks..

So, if you need to wear mask, wear that real mask. Don't pretend to be someone else. Just be true to yourselves, be true to friends, be true to your companions at arms, be true to Him who is watching over you.

High Touch Teaching and Learning

Some time back, I wrote about having to balance high tech living with high tech teaching. The good news now is that we also need to have high touch teaching and learning. Pastor Pam Yeang talked about The Seven Laws of Teaching. This is what I refer to as the essence of high touch teaching and learning.
#1 : The Law of the Teacher
The teacher must know the lesson, truth or art to be taught. He is to be familiar and know the subject thoroughly. Thus, he will teach with a full mind and clear understanding

#2 : The Law of the Learner
The learner must show interest in the lesson. As the teacher gains and keeps the attention of the students, students should make the effort wanting to learn.

#3 : The Law of the Language
The language used as a medium between the teacher and the learner must be common to both. Common terms, phrases and sentences which the teacher and the learner will understand in the same way. Remember the KISS principle?

#4 : The Law of the Lesson The unknown must be explained by the means of the known. Sounds philosophical. It simply means begin the lesson with what the learner already known or experienced. From there, proceed to the new material by single, easy and natural steps.

#5 : The Law of the Teaching Process
Teaching must arouse the students to learn things for themselves. Teacher is to stimulate the minds of the students to action and to encourage them to think of themselves as discoverers.#6 : The Law of the Learning Process
Learning is thinking into one's own understanding a new idea or truth, or working a new art or skill into a habit. This is related with Law #5.

#7 : The Law of Review and Application
Teaching wont be complete without review and application. Thus, the lesson needs to be completed, confirmed and tested by review, rethinking and application. That's why examination is required.

The Great Teacher of all, Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who has mastered these laws effectively. Let's all work towards high touch teaching and learning.

We have to FOCUS

Coming back after a hectic day, finding time to relax my mind and soul. The week had been hectic. Thank God that the exam was finally over. Now is the part two of the "tough time" ... to finish the assignments and hand up on time. One classmate dropped out from the course. While another lamented shouldn't have signed up for the class. The class was tough..too much to bear. Imagine having to finish a course that normally would require 3 months.. and you only had 3 weeks to finish it?!

Frankly, the Pen sighs a bit regret as the commitment is high. No doubt we learned a lot from one another and from the lecturer. No doubt the class was interesting and helpful. Still, it is too much to bear.

Alas, a small still voice, in the deep heart's core, singing softly to the ear "Take heart. Just focus."

Telling myself and my fellow comrades, we have to Find Our Calling Until Sunsets. Once we do that, we will be Fulfilling Our Calling Up-close Success.

Being busy is being lazy ?!! ... ep 2

Previously we discussed that being busy for the wrong reason is being lazy. By now, we should have known that we all need to have goals and directions in our lives. Yes, I know that you heard this phrase many times over, but are we really practising it? Look at the wonders of God's creation. Aren't you amazed that all these creations have a certain order in their lives? Bible says consider the ants; they are always on the move storing food even they don't have a leader to tell them what do.
Look up to God who has given us life. Look in within us what we can do for Him in return. Look out for those who need His love through us the ambassadors. We need to be busy for God's purpose. That is the sole reason we are created - to know Him, to serve Him and to love Him deeply. If we just live our lives idly, no matter how busy we are making ends meet daily, we are in fact being lazy. He definitely wants us to be busy for God's Kingdom. Let's be Busy Until Surrendering Your lives for Him who holds the key to the universe. So, the Pen signs ...

Immanuel

Today's sermon was on Immanuel. What does it mean to have God walking with us? As we look into our world today, the streets are no longer safe for us, even kids will be kidnapped. We boast ourselves of the high-tech facilities that we have, but are there really anything that is worth our boast? Gadgets are getting more complicated, more sophisticated, smaller palm-size. Buildings are getting more spacious and higher. Are these needs or wants in life?

Think about it.. what does it matter if Jesus is not by our side? People are turning in to churches for help. Even so, when all else fails, His hands are always there. Back to the basic. We are in need of more human touch than machines. Friends are worth more than riches. But God's presence is the still the best we could ever have.

A Seed, A Family, A Book

"What are your goals in life? What you want to see yourself achieve in your lifetime?"

Now, how many of us really know how to answer these questions? Not many I presume. I'm sure many will give answers like "I want to earn as much money as possible", "I want to travel all over the world" or "I want the whole world to know who I am".

Okay.. here's the trick. I want to have a seed, a family and a book. Of these three items, I think the family is very clear. But why a seed and a book? Do I want to plant a tree? Do I want to be an author who writes bestsellers? The answer is yes and no.

The seed I'm talking about is the niche in my life. I want to find something that is worth of my time in doing; something that is of my strength that I can work at it all with my heart, strength, spirit, time and effort. In short, to discover and to strengthen my calling. Praise God, I can see some light at the end of the tunnel now! Boy, I'm getting exhausted... I need my inner circle to stand by me.

The book is not exactly a book I want to author. It is a legacy I want to leave behind when I'm well advanced in life. Whatever that I've learned throughout the years, the people that I have coached, the accomplishments that I've achieved, the failures that I've made.. all these I want to tell to the next generation. In a way, I'm writing "a book", aren't I?

At this juncture, I think I've found my seed. God, I need your hand.. I need you to walk with me to water this seed, to nurture it and watch it grows up strong and healthy and be a blessing to many. I'm coming back to the heart of worship...

Being busy is being lazy ?!! ... ep 1

As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. (Proverbs 26:14)

Read between the lines. What do you read? We were all asked the seemingly simple question. To some, being lazy is just being not hardworking, refuses to do anything, just wanting to relax, lazing on the bed. But guess what .. that is not what the verse means!!

If we analyse the door, it would only turn on its hinges. Without the hinges, the door is not a door at all. So the door can only function within the boundaries set by the hinges (which can only either turn left or right or up and down) Likewise the boundaries of a sluggard are just the four sides of the bed. Maybe he will need to get up to go washroom or to eat, but after a while, he will turn in to his bed again.

Well, the verse actually saying if we are being busy, without having a clear direction, we are in fact being a sluggard. How could this be?

Look, if we are just being busy doing the same routines day after day, week after week, aren't we just being busy for nothing. We all have 24 hours to live. Whether we busy ourselves doing something useful or just being lazy doing nothing, we still need to live that 24 hours. Why not we focus to do some things meaningfully? Why not we be busy for the right things?

I choose to invest in people's lives as this is the best investment I could ever have. They may not appreciate this. However, over the years, some do come back and serve the society. The glory and praise is not due to me, however, all these praises must due to God.

... to be continue :)

A Stone or A Seed

One boy was walking along the beach when he stumbled upon a small unusually shiny little rock. He bent down and picked it up. The rock had two sides; one side was white and shiny, the other was wood-like. He began to wonder how did this rock form? Where did it come from? His curious mind began to take him to enjoy the serenity of the music of the beach, as the waves and the breezy wind come along.

"Isn't life such a miracle? Even this little rock can fascinate you this long."

"Yeah, this is the most unusual rock I have seen so far"

As years pass by, the boy has grown to appreciate the wonders of the God's creation and be thankful with a sincere heart. Sometimes, we tend to look at a stone as a stone. Why can't we look at a stone and begin to see a seed in it?

Deep within each of us lies a great giant waiting to be born. A big tree started off as a seed as well. Scriptures record that mustard seed is the smallest seed of all, but when it grows, it becomes the biggest tree of all where the beasts come and find shelter. Now, how many of us can see that "seed" in someone else's life?

Each of us is Special Eminent Energetic and Destined to be somebody in life. Awaken the giant in us to rise above all ...

To live simply .. or otherwise

People everywhere seem to be walking around with a message on their forehead "Life's getting tough. Am I tough enough?" The Pen wonders ...

No doubt the world is facing great weather of change, storm of tribulations now. But, isn't God is still in control of everything. Matthew 6:33 already metioned on this clearly. We are not to worry about tomorrow. What being humane, we still do.

Thus, do we want to simply live our life? Or do we live our life simply?

To live our life simply actually means that we live as a wise man building his house on the rock.
To simply live our life actually means instead of building on the rock, we build on sand, because is faster and easier. Now which one will stand when the flood comes?

So, live our life as simple as it can be, yet we are contended and God's willing, we shall survive the storms of change. So The Pen signs ...

The ABCDE of BB

Well.. yesterday was a day of hectic. All of a sudden, we have become one of the largest. The company is growing so fast. I really can't believe it to see that our Officers' strength stand at 25. Members base is 150++ .. We really need leaders to rise to the challenge. Indeed it is back to ABCDE of BB - Accountable Bold Christ-like Discipline Effective Boys Brigade..

We need leaders, we need members .. now when we are back to square one, I hope it is not square zero!!Commitment is required of you, guys. Dedication is expected of you Officers.

High Tech Living vs High Tech Teaching

Living in an era of high technology, sometimes we tend to forget that we are after all humans. The world has now become a village... thus the term global village. Some people say this is even the fast food era. Every thing moves at such a pace that only those strong in knowledge will survive the rat race.

Come to think of it; are we really living in high tech era? Are we really enjoying these so-called high tech facilities? The world should be a better place to live in - no doubt on that - but is this all we have or imagine that we would ever have? If the world is such a better place compared to ages and eons ago, why we still struggle to earn a decent living? Why the streets are no longer safe at night? Why families are being torn apart? Alas the Pen sighs ...

Think of it this way... Isn't there something that we can do? The rhythms of the song "Heal the world" seem to be heard in the heart's core. There is one verse that reads "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11-16). These are the peoples that God has given to us to equip and train His people.. especially so in this k-era.

People need to be taught using high tech facilities. However, we still need that human contact. We still need that personal touch. So the battle between high tech living and high tech teaching begins. The question is how much personal touch we need to have in high tech teaching. The Pen wonders ...

Simply do? Do simply?

During one of my night classes at BCM, my lecturer was committed to get us to do assignments that will follow her requirement. After much explanation, as this is just a crash course, things may not be that impossible to accomplish.

"Well, you all don't have to worry so much. Just do it simple. Just don't simply do"

The whole class went high in laughters. A sweet reply came, "Pastor, don't you worry. We are simple people. So we will simply do it simple. But we won't simply do it"

Jaws dropped big? Anyone reckon?

I.G.U.A.N.A - I Got Up-close An Near-death Accident

Today I went for an appointment at my friend's condo. As we were discussing halfway, his friend noticed that an iguana had fallen from on high. We rushed out and saw a beautiful, exotic four legged pet. Later we found out that iguana actually fell from the as high as 11 floor .. and landed outside of the balcony of my friend's condo which is at the first floor. We thought it was dead. It was still alive, but suffered injuries. All we could see was its tail and front left leg was broken. I suspected there might be internal bleeding.

Almost 20 minutes later, the owner came. We had a small chat. She actually reared it since 4 years ago. "It was tame. It fell once when it was still small. I wonder why it jumped again this time after so long." To me, the iguana seemed to be saying "I Got Up-close An Near-death Accident".

The Wedding that's MAD - FBH

Some say that wedding is made in heaven. What's more a perfect wedding? Now, how many would want to see real people getting married twice? Getting married twice? Am I hearing correctly? Well, they just kiss twice .. one on screen .. one in public.

At times, I can't help to think that the one they did on the screen is just a real rehearsal for the real ceremony due in just a few months away. How many would want that kind of life? Just by getting married twice in a year is already a news on its own. Now what does the wedding really mean? Anyone reckons ... The Pen still inks on hard ...

It is matrimony uniting not two individuals, but two families of totally different backgrounds into one big happy family. It is a time where two hearts supposedly to come as one, thinking as one mind, one heart, one soul to fashion a better tomorrow. It is also a time where one would leave his/her singlehood and enter into parenthood, preceeded by adulthood. It is a wedding that's Making A Difference.. Families Become Homey ..

One fact remains, for richer or poorer, in health or sickness, till death do us part.

Now isn't life sweet? The Pen signs ... Happy Wedding !! ^^

Thinking out of the box

Ever heard of the phrase "Please put on your thinking hats, everyone" ? All of us are born with one or two thinking hats. The Thinking Hats basically was Edward de Bono's model of exploring different perspectives.

These are the hats being used for problem solving.

• The White Hat (Observer) will focus on information available, objective FACTS, what is needed, how it can be obtained. It is a neutral hat.
• The Red Hat (Self, Other) will present his/her views without explanation, justification. Most of the time, the thinker is full of EMOTIONS and FEELINGS, basing views with intuition, hunches.
• The Black Hat (Self, Other) is like a stern judge wearing black robe; judgmental; critical; asking why something is wrong. The thinker presents LOGICAL NEGATIVE view.
• The Yellow Hat (Self, Other), on the other hand, is presents LOGICAL POSITIVE view, looking for what's good and beneficial. The thinker is optimistic in nature.
  
• The Green Hat (Self, Other) promotes CREATIVE thinking; exploring possibilities and hypotheses; new ideas.
• The Blue Hat (Observer) is cool looking at the overview; having the CONTROL of PROCESS, STEPS, OTHER HATS. He/She is the chairperson, organizer; thinking about thinking, the steering wheel of a ship.
  

So, this is where we use the phrases "Thinking out of the box" and "Blue Ocean Strategy" hand in hand. I reckon that it is merely Thinking Out of the Box; Blue Ocean Strategy.