Carrot, Egg or Tea Leaves

I just read an article today. As a matter of fact, I read this article few years back and now it is being published again. It all goes like this ...

One day, a daughter comes back and complaining how hard the day has been for her. Her mother was sitting quietly, listening and comprehending her complaints. When the daughter has finished her complaints, the mother took her into the kitchen and asked her to boil three pots of water. All along, the mother was smiling. Puzzled as she were, the daughter just did what the mother told her.

When the water has boiled, the mother had her daughter to put a carrot into the first pot, an egg into the second pot and some tea leaves into the third pot. Then, the mother asked her to let the pots simmer for some time. They just waited for the three pots to simmer. About 20 minutes later, the mother asked the daughter to turn off the fire.

"Take out the carrot, dear. Tell me what does the carrot feels like" "It is soft, mum"

"Take out the egg and tell me what it feels like." "Well, the egg is now hardened"

"How about this pot?" The daughter replied, "Wow, what a nice smell." "Now dear, pour out some tea and tell me more about the tea"

The daughter poured out and drank the tea. She was smiling and said, "Well, mum. This is oolong tea. Very nice. But what are you trying to tell me, mum?"

"Well, you see. The water is the same in all the three pots. These three things went in the pots containing the same water and being treated the same. The carrot went in strong, but it came out soft. The egg went in soft, but the inside of it became hard when it came out. The tea leaves, on the other hand, mixed with the water into nice aroma. Not only it smells nice, it also tastes nice."

"The water is the problem of life we all have. Some of us faced the problem the hard way, but in the end we became tired and burned out. Some of us faced the problem easily, but in the end, our hearts were hardened. Some of us are able to turn the problem around. These people are able to see blessings in every problem, they see problems as challenges not as obstacles."

The daughter finally learned one lesson today : treat problems as challenges, as blessings in disguise. Do you see the same? carpe diem ^^

If only I were ...

If only I were an eagle
I would have flown high across blue skies
Gazing at the heaven's eye, flaming my wings of freedom
Diving into the clouds that would cross the horizon
Displaying the beauty of aerodynamics

If only I were a dolphin
I would love to dive deep into the oceans blue
Shaping even the sand on the deep floor
Swimming gracefully alongside with the marine friends
Displaying the beauty of aquatics

If only I were a horse
I would have galloped deep into the green forest
Passing across running waters, breezing grass
Dashing through even my shadow as far as my legs could carry
Displaying the beauty of athletics

If only I were a lion
I would enjoy to roar, to listen to my roars of victory
Commanding the creature of both great and small
Protecting the weak, establishing my kingdom
Displaying the awesomeness of God's creation

The splendour of His Majesty is displayed through the wonders of His creation
How majestic is His vast knowledge
How magnificent is His rich wisdom
He who fears the Lord will be wise

Discipline or Punishment

This week's Sunday School was one of the most interesting that I've ever had. Sis Ai Ling taught about the book of Hosea. This is one of the books that depicted the love of God so much that we could actually see the salvation plan of God goes beyond the four walls of church. Imagine God actually told Hosea to marry an adultreous woman just to display the extent of His love.

We have heard many times God disciplines those He loves. Now, how would you expect how God dealt with these people during Hosea's time? First, Hosea had to marry an adulterous woman. Then, he had to name his three children according to what God has called : the first born son is named Jezreel (to mean God's punishment), the second is a daughter whom he named Lo-Ruhammah (to mean not loved) and the third child, a son whom he named Lo-Ammi (to mean not God's people). Later, his wife left him, and he had to buy his wife back from prostitution.

Now, the question is : was God executing punishment or discipline? Make a wild guess.

Discipline is meant for restroration, is a process that is carried out hoping the individual will come to repentance. Punishment is, on the other hand, is painful and is a consequence of not obeying rules.

So, was God punishing or disciplining Israel? The answer lies in the book.

It's all about Maths

Someone said learning is lifelong. This is especially true in the 21st century. There are just too much learning to be done. Won't you get bored and tired of learning? Well, if there are new things to learn, it wont be that boring and tiring. Anyway, if we stop learning, that is the day that we stop growing.

It's all about MATHS.

What has Maths got to do with learning?

Well, learning is about Message Acquisition Through Holistic Studying.

Message Acquisition means the lessons demand our attention, that require us to really look at them, read them and then understand it. We will able to acquire (remember) these message (lessons) if we work hard and work smart.

Holistic Studying deals with we have to read broadly. The Internet is our greatest friend as it is the largest library that we could ever asked for. Information is just at our fingertips. The more knowledge we have, the more we will be mature.

So, remember learning is Message Acquisition Through Holistic Studying.

Are you seeing stars?

Just came out from the class. Week after week, lesson after lesson, they are seeing stars under the bright light. I wonder was it my lesson was so tough that caused them to see stars or they are that weak in that subject? Sometimes, they themselves are making me see more stars than they are seeing. How I wish that I can draw the lesson in their minds.

So, until and unless they master the concept, until then I would have to toil with them. To them, these are Some Tough Areas Recurring Steadily. To me, these are Standard Technical Areas Revisiting Students. Carpe diem.

Coin View 2

There are always two sides to a coin. I wonder what do students really learn nowadays. On one hand, they seem to be learning and understanding. On the other, they just can't be bothered with reminders after reminders. Maybe when they reach my age, they will start to appreciate what they have been taught since young. Maybe they just want to continue being indifferent.

They are just giving us Challenges Obstacles Indifference Naughtiness. Sometimes I just wonder what on earth are they here for. But then, education is all about teaching people to learn, to think and to work. My question is "Are they really learning?" or should I ask "Is it my fault thay they are not learning?"

Well.. my only conclusions are as follow

1) so long as there is at least one person who is willing to listen, to give us the due respect and to really try to learn, there will always be a teacher there

2) so long as there is a lesson to be taught, no matter how impossible it is to drag our feet in to teach, we have to deliver the lesson

3) so long as there is a need to carry on teaching and explaining despite the hurdles of life, we need to move on and try various methods with the hope that one day the lesson will deliver a punching power into their minds

4) so long as there are Challenges in subject preparation, Obstacles in lessons delivery, Indifference attitude and Naughtiness of the flesh, we would be reminded that we are not alone in this task

Above all, we need to be like eagles soaring high above the high skies of problems. We need to have vision such as an eagle's - a vision that sees through the problems and to see that God is above there.

Winds of Change

Just sat back relaxing after finished one of my three assignments. I can't help but to think of one particular dialogue I had and some emails that I had read. I think the only phrase that would explain this is Winds of Change. The society is looking for change. People are looking for a change in their lives. We have experienced changes in many ways, be it in our country, our ministry, our family, our friends and the list goes on. It all reminds me of the story of two frogs swimming in a pot of water.

Two frogs were relaxing in a pot of water. They were enjoying so much that they began to doze off. Suddenly, one of the frogs began to feel the water temperature is getting warmer. "Hey, dude. Do you notice that the water is getting warmer now?" "Why bother," came the reply "Isn't warmer better?"

"Well.. warmer is definitely better. But, it is getting hotter now. I think I better get out of here."

"Out you may go.. but I'm enjoying it here"

And so, one frog jumped out, leaving his friend enjoying swimming in the pot. Soon, the water is so hot that the poor frog couldn't save himself. He had been cooked alive. The moral of the story is : Once you notice there is a change, don't be indifferent. If you think something is wrong, better do something and not wait as if nothing happen.

Winds of Change are coming intensely. Those who heed the warning will be saved.

10/40 Window

This month is the Mission Month of my church. We had a 3-week series of sermon related to mission and outreach projects. First week started off with one of our senior leaders in the church who shared with us the meaning of witnessing. Last week, I was away, but I heard the speaker talked about e-witnessing. It simply means reach out through websites and articles posted in the internet, using internet to witness. Today, another speaker talked about raising local evangelists and missionaries.

It really opened my eyes and reminded me again that the harvest is really bountiful but the workers are few. Some of us feel reluctant to go for mission trips. But now, people are coming to us. There are foreigners in our midst. We even have aborigines in our midst. They too need to listen to the good news. Let's PUSH.. remember Pray Until Something Happens?

No doubt 10/40 window is a hard boundary..but the window is now opening wider. All we need is to just do our part, pray for them, help to finance some of the reach out projects, or help to sponsor or adopt an orphan for good. Once these people obtain access to education, the good news will be within their reach.

FACE

Life is all about excitement and challenges. We live this life once and therefore we should make the most out of it. We all need to have friendship because friendships is what FACE is all about. Friends Actually Create Excitement.

I think many would agree with me, Friends Actually Create Excitement. Friends are the ones that we actually spend almost more than half of our lives with. Some of these are our sparring partners, some are bosom buddies, eventually one of these becomes our spouse.

King David had his three mighty men, Jesus had His Inner Three as well. Even Paul had Timothy. Do we have any of these people?

Be Creative in Life

I just came back from visiting one of the leadership camps held in a campus. This time round it was very differently held. Focus more on outdoor and leadership skills. It was quite fun watching them, the trainees, being trained and drilled and punished. One of the games, they literally had to protect a candle from going off from point A to point B. All managed to keep the candle burning right till the end of the track. They were very creative. All sorts of ways were tried to keep the candle alive, no matter how many water balloons were thrown at them.

When asked what they had learned, they just replied "Be creative". Now, isn't that is also part of life? We need to look at things differently in life. I'm sure many had heard the phrase "Thinking out of the box", "Blue Ocean Strategy" ... all these mean just the same. We need to be creative when it comes to problem solving.

I wish I could stay abit longer... I had to come back. But, the trip was worth all the trouble. After all, next year this task will fall on me.

New Wine New Wineskin

As I mentioned earlier that this year I've met lots of interesting friends and companions. One such friend is such an encouraging youth. We seem to click in many languages and we both believe in the same principle.. contemporary living. Just as we witness how the world around us changes and develops into more and more complicated, we need to learn to adapt and adjust according to the environment. A church couldn't grow much unless it goes out beyond its four walls. People are reaching out for changes. The only thing that remains unchanged is the Word.

The church that grows the most nowadays is the one that emphasizes on contemporary living, a home church. This is liken to the saying new wineskin must be poured into new wineskin. If we pour new wineskin into the old wineskin, the wineskin will burst. Hence, Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will"

Being Comical, Being Different

Isn't life a wonderful journey? Along the path, we meet people of different walks, different races, different personalities, different perspectives, and the list goes on. Some of these will stay through the thick and thin of life while some will just remain as acquaintances. Some will just being indifferent, while some will be good activity partners. A small percentage will choose to be our advocates. In any way, we could not possibly please everyone, right?

One lesson that has refreshed my mind, or rather, life has reminded me once more, that at times we do need to be comical sometimes. Laughter is the best medicine. Not everyone has a great sense of humour, but we can all be comical. Imagine living as soldiers everyday. Everything is so rigid, where all it demands is just obedience and commitment. We would end up worse than robots.

On the other hand, imagine living as clowns everyday. Everything is so flexible, no rules, just laughters. We would hardly ever mature should problems arise. So, in life we need to be comical. Remember Patch Adam? He said, "If we treat a disease, we either win or lose. But if we treat a patient, we win." Now, that is very true.

The society needs good news. The people around us needs laughter. Technology could not provide these. Technology is to help us to connect better with people around us - the human personal touch. So, being comical, being different is reconnecting with people through our laughters.

COIN view

This holiday doesn't seem to be one of the best as I'm working. The only difference is that I get to finish any pending tasks and clear piles of files on my desk easier than the normal days. Normal days, I will be even busier with daily class management, student management, you name it. I must say this is one of the toughest and challenging jobs in the world, but it is very rewarding at the end of the day when you how some one's life has changed for the better. The fact the transformed individuals would walk out into the society to contribute to the development of the society really encouraged me to move on.

Few major events happened this week that demand my attention. Deep within I realize that I have matured more but also I have become more task-oriented and perhaps self-centred. On one hand, some say I have done a good job, on the other, some are in doubt. Personally, I always try to look at two different perspectives. One thing that I can praise God is that I have found few close buddies who would stand by me at all times. They are bold enough to stand in to correct and are daring enough to admit their mistakes. After all to err is human, to forgive divine.

Now, this is what COIN is all about ... Crises, Opportunities, Individualism, Niche

Crises - allow us to view problems either as obstacles or blessings in disguise
Opportunities - allow us to assume new duties in job, ministry that enhance our knowledge, skills and attitudes
Individualism - allow us to recognise the uniqueness in each of us, that we are all playing complementing roles in a team
Niche - is the word that describes what we are good at, our strong points, our unique talents

Greatest Love of All - AGAPE

The greatest love of all happened when one would go to the extent to die for His friends. The Greek word for this is agape. As I watched the drama "The Greatest Love of All", I can't help but to reflect on this. The world around us seems to view love differently. It is always easy to love someone that is lovable... but not so when it comes to those who are not lovable.

It is said that if we love only those we like, we are no different than those villians or criminals who would do anything for their friends. However, if we are able to love even our enemies, our love is deemed to be great and this makes us different.

So, the greatest love of all happened when the Above God Actually Paid Everything for us. He has "paid" for our debts of sins, that we are no longer slaves. He has "paid" with His life. In the end, only these remain :- love, faith and hope ; the greatest of these is love.

FEAR

There are times when we are just fearful, but many times fear is just False Expectations Appear Real. When was the last time you were afraid of something or someone? Have we asked ourselves, can we ever overcome our fears? Frankly, I do have my own sets of fears too..yet I wont let my fears hinder me from stepping forward. Over the years, I overcome my fears one after another.

The times spent at the camp seem fresh in my mind, spirit and heart. That was one of the best camps that I have ever conducted. They were just very obedient. Some were so encouraging. They testified to us that they have overcome their fears by just obeying instructions and doing what they were supposed to do. Now, this has proved that FEAR is just False Expectations/Experiences Appear Real.

Discipline

What is discipline all about? Let's read the following

1 Corinthians 9:24-26
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training…therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

2 Timothy 2:4-6
No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive the share of the crops.

I shared this in camp. As I ponder on it, few things I noticed from the passages. Discipline means the following :-
(1) Having a clear sense of direction, sense of purpose
(2) Having a strong passion and determination to finish a task
(3) Having a willing heart to sacrifice and to obey what has been instructed

Success does not come easy without sacrifices... This is a fact every successful person will agree on. Carpe diem...

TEAM

Together Everyone Achieves More

Finally, I'm back from the camp. Almost always, after every camp, I would always wanted the camp to be longer. Longer camp would actually allow members to bond closer and to get to know them better, not as individuals, but more as companions in life.

I will never forget this camp, as this is the camp that I punished the Camp Committees despite the fact that they really have done a great task. But the fact that they stood as ONE TEAM ONE VOICE, and not as individuals, I gave them the due respect. This is the team that I can really see, when they realize what has gone wrong, they just speak up as one - one down, all down. Now, the next phase would be to coach them to coach the younger members.

One thought remains haunting; deep somewhere, there is still an element of self-centredness in each of the campers.. in fact, we all would be self-centred in some way.

Camp

Holiday is starting again!! Well, to many it is a holiday, to me is still work and work. But I really enjoy it, though sometimes just tired and just want to rest and relax, spend time with people that I can work with. But, this is not the main key of this post...

Guess what.. holiday now means camp .. Creating Adventure Making Preparation for Christ's Accomplished Mission Post-discipleship plan .. Sounds so philosophical, right?

Well, isn't holding camps liken to creating adventures for youths, preparing them for something bigger in mind that not only they will have fun, they will also be life-transformed, ready for God's mission in their lives? Christ has accomplished His mission, so it is now post-discipleship plan - that we are the post-discipleship team (as we are called to take His light to the world). Yes, that's right. It sounds tough and may sound scary to some, but we are not alone. God promised that never shall we walk alone. He is always there to guide.

So, let's go CAMP ..

Putting in Order

Looking at some old pictures from the camp we had at Dusun Eco two years back. The memories just came back, as if the camp was yesterday. And guess what .. I'm going there again this coming weekend.

Now at least I'm going in as Camp Advisor. This year is really a happening year to me personally. Let me list and name them one by one

1) Taken new role at State level

2) Assumes new offices locally

3) Sitting in the Council besides holding few portfolios

4) Advising few camps here and there

5) Has met new interesting people, thus enlarging my circle of influence

6) Being blessed to further studies

7) Being remembered deeply and encouraged

and the list is like can go on and on. Indeed, the blessings come. People investing in my life, I investing in other people's life and the process is repeated in God's grace and timing.

Lord, I only pray that You grant me the wisdom to handle these wisely, administering the gifts You've given me in times such as these.

We Are Not Mad Enough

Are we MAD enough for Christ? Are we even dare to call ourselves disciples? I was reminded again by the saying that "never put new wine into old wineskin" at least twice for the past few days. Reading news daily, seeing how the world around us has turned into these days really makes me think "Are we MAD enough?"

What? Being MAD? Are you out of your mind?

No I'm not out of my mind ... I just want to be MAD .. Making A Difference .. to be MAD as much as I possibly can.

After all, we are the SALT and the LIGHT ... aren't we?

Crash Boom Bang

Sometimes we all just wonder how could such thing happen? We saw this on our way back from Subang. All I could just do was hope and pray that no serious injuries. Since there were quite a number of people who were helping the driver, I suppose everything was settled. We were rushing back to KL, so couldn't stop either. We were travelling on our friend's car.

It was like CaR Accident Shouldn't Happened ...

One year wiser

Just celebrated my big blessed day. One more year has gone by. To some, it is no big deal. To me, it is just another event that seems to be so significant in my lives. For the past 2 years, it has really made me to really count and name my blessings one by one. The best gift so far is being able to further study. The blessing just comes and for that I can find no words worthy enough to record my appreciation and thankfulness.

Indeed I have now one year wiser, one year older ... now to get to studying again, will I triumph? So, the Pen wonders ... ponders deeply.

Wishes come true ...

Have you ever heard sometimes your wishes just come true? To me, many of these are coming to past. God has time and again proved Himself to be faithful. Not only I'm seeing myself expanding into uncharted territories more, I'm seeing His hand in all that I do. And now, He has provided a means for me to further my study into my area of specialization. That is like getting a bonus in an unlikely time.

In term of ministry, people are rising to take on more responsibilties and I must say that they are really doing very well. Stepping back to watch them really has been encouraging. A word of thanks is just not enough to express the appreciation.

Wishes do come true, again. I just hope I will have the strength, wisdom to handle these. Perhaps, sharing these with my significant other.

Carpe diem

Wow.. time really flies! We have now come to the month of March and holiday is like just around the corner. No wonder Scripture says a thousand days with the Lord is just like a day. He has been good to me this year. Exciting news one after another.

Now I really hope I can enjoy the day. Enjoy the serenity of day, with the company of good friends and buddies. Nothing worth much more than just carpe diem. Look up... we would suddenly realize that we are nothing but a tiny speck of dust lying in a vast universe. Look within .. we should be encouraged to know that we are the apple of His eyes.

Great is our God!! So, carpe diem!!