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.