Thank You, LORD YHWH for 2007

This year was a full year of working life for me. No major changes as compared to 2006 (Went from student to army to working life). I was working for the whole year, was working on New Year's Day 2007, eve of Chinese New Year and 1st day of Chinese New Year and even Christmas Day itself. Worked for the whole year but thanks be to God that I will be able to make it for watchnight service this year as I need not work on New Year’s Day 2008.

As per my usual feeling upon reaching 31 Dec every year, I always feel that the past one year has gone by in a flash. Time flies and who knows, it is going to be 2008. Looking back, it was indeed a year, once again with some of my new year resolutions fulfilled while the others unfinished. Nevertheless, it is time to put those unfinished new year resolutions onto this coming New Year 2008.

What are those new year resolutions which are fulfilled for me? Number one in the list according to priority is my baptism. Thanks to my great Savior, Jesus that I have finally been granted the permission by my parents to declare my faith publicly. It was amazing that they were present to witness the event too. Amen! After going through water baptism, I feel a great sense of gratitude towards my Heavenly Father. The moment of me being raised up from the water after fully immersed has enlightened my mind spiritually to be united to my Lord Jesus. I want to always remember this special moment in my mind for the rest of my life here on earth. This feeling is very unique and I am unable to explain it myself. I strongly encourage those whom has not taken this step of obedience to pray and consider it seriously for this coming year as it will definitely be a very unique experience.

Number two new year resolution which has been fulfilled this year is the completion of my 1st marathon in my life. A great distance of 42.195 KM and I must say that it is quite an achievement for me. Running a marathon is definitely not easy and preparation cannot be neglected at all. I regretted that I have not delegated much time in preparation but thank God that I can manage to complete it eventually and received the much coveted T-shirt.

The new year resolution which was unfinished this year was the promise which I have made to God - that is to be completely pure in areas of sexual sins in preparation for my baptism at the end of the year. 2007 has passed by and going on to 2008, I will like to rededicate myself to God once again and resolve to make this promise to Him praying for His Grace to stay completely pure sexually for the whole New Year ahead. This is one area of my spiritual life which I hope to see changes and maybe this is also the main reason why I am still single today.

A brand new year resolution for 2008 is to devote myself in studying God’s word more diligently. I am still praying to God in asking for specific areas of my spiritual life to develop, of one which I am determined to see changes is staying pure for Him. Devoting time to study God’s word truly also need lots of personal perservance on my part. Remembering what Rev David Wong has mentioned in our church retreat back in June, it is indeed very critical to persist in obeying God’s word. A brief recap of our church retreat where we studied on Mark 13, Rev David Wong mentioned about these six steps of obedience before the actual bible study itself.

The Six Steps of Obedience:
I hear
I understand
I remember
I decide
I do
I persist in doing (the real test of obedience)

It was a very memorable experience when we had our church retreat in Melaka Water City Resort. I think TPBC members will always remember this special experience and encounter with God, right? Ultimately in my opinion, the more I understand where my Lord Jesus is coming from where He mentions about not even a hint of sexual immorality (Eph 5:3), not to worry (Matt 6:24), not to serve Money (Matt 6:25), etc, it gives me the motivation to persist in obeying His word. After going through water baptism, I begin to realize about the truths in the Bible. Amazingly as I connect them with the attributes of my Lord YHWH, my eyes are opened to see that my Lord is asking me to obey His truths simply because He wants to protect me from harm. It is as simple as what is mentioned in Genesis – it is all for our good.

Let me continue to fall deeper in love with Jesus in this coming New Year 2008. Let me continue to be touched by His finished work on the cross on a daily basis and be so passionate for Him that my family and the people whom I meet will also be touched by Him. All praises go only to Christ alone.

May Christ Jesus guide your way in 2008.

Have a blessed new year ahead.

Getting Baptised...

Analyzing My 1st Marathon

My Testimony for Christ Jesus

Before I trusted Christ
Before Christ came into my life, I was a perfectionist. I took things very hard and in whatever I did, I would always want to win. From primary school to secondary school days, I always aim to go the “best” class. In addition, I always go all out to win my friends in all things that we do. For example, exam marks, physically etc. In my life, everything that I do was for I, myself and me. This is also the reason why I cannot face failure at all.

How I came to know and trust Christ
I did not accept Christ the very first time that I hear of the gospel. In fact the gospel (good news of Christ coming to save us) was shared to me a total of three times by three different persons.

The very first time was during a casual meeting of a stranger who came to share to the gospel with me in the street. He was in fact doing what we call “Street Evangelism”. However, like most people I did not respond to the gospel but I did pray that particular prayer in Four Spiritual Laws (4SL) to accept Christ into our lives with him. This is because I did not want to disappoint him. He did invite me to his church but I rejected him after a few phone calls.

The second time happened just after one of my close friend, Stephen accepted Christ and was baptized recently. He specially bought a bible for me (This is the same bible which I am still using today) during a time when I was feeling down and moody because I was just declared out of course in my BMT (Basic Military Training). He also shared Christ with me and told me different analogies. One of it was about the pilot and his commander. One day, the pilot flew into the enemy’s territory and his plane crashed. Will he trust his commander to send soldiers to save him out of the territory? Or the commander will leave him in the lurch? The pilot was us, the commander was God and the enemy’s territory was this world. Of course, the pilot has the faith that his commander will save him out of the danger. This should be the same faith that we should have in our God. However, I still did not accept Christ into my life.

The third time happened because this time round, I took up my first step to find out more about God. I contacted my secondary school friend, Albert through ICQ and confided in him about the problems that I faced. That time, I was recovering from heat stroke suffered during my SOC (standard obstacle course) in BMT. I was feeling totally defeated and disappointed in myself because I was put out of course and I could go to neither SISPEC (School of Infantry Specialists) or OCS (Officer Cadet School). I was taking things too hard as I saw that I was losing out to my friends.

After confiding with Albert, he brought me to his church (The People Bible’s Church) worship service. He also shared the Four Spiritual Laws (4SL) with me. I felt that God was leading me to Him through all these three experiences I have with the gospel. He has been planning all the circumstances which I faced! At that moment, I prayed with Albert that same prayer which I had prayed before and accepted Christ into my life. The rest is history.

Now that I have received Christ
With Christ in my life now, I have learned to take things easy. My name has also been detached from the term “Perfectionist”. I became a person who can carry things up and put things down. (Chinese Saying). I am able to face failures now and I do not feel awkward discussing Christ with my friends. I also realized the importance of turning from self to God. Jesus has not only been my most trustworthy friend all these years but most importantly, He is the only one True Living God who has saved me from my bondage of sins. Amen.

Marathon Aftermath

Thinking back on my 1st marathon which I have finished on Sunday, I remembered very vividly that as I was running through East Coast Park, it was very agonizing. The spirit was really low because all I see ahead is a long stream of guys and girls running ahead with no end in sight. Furthermore, where is the U turn point? It seems so far ahead.

I started to despair and thoughts came flooding my mind. Why do I want to run a marathon? Waking up at 3am on a Sunday morning just to torture myself? However, I know that I have to press on because the race has started and I am now in the race itself. I need to run with perseverance because I know that if I am able to reach the finish line, the much coveted t-shirt will be mine (see previous post).

Before the race, I have prayed for my church brothers and myself that God may see us through the entire 42.195 km. Thank God that in spite of my lack of sufficient training and preparation for the race, He sustained me through the 1st 21 km without my legs cramping at all after the 15 km mark. Amazing!

The real test came at the East Coast Park area. We are required to run the whole stretch of East Coast Park and by the time, I have reached the place, the sun is already up and shining. It was indeed tough. Pushing myself to go on at this moment now is my mind which is constantly filled with the image of the coveted t-shirt.

Run to walk and walk to run is the subsequent moving pattern for me to cover the whole distance required of the East Coast Park area. Reaching Fort Rd, I started to see my spirit up again as I know that it is about 9 km back to the finish line. Hence, it’s time for me to start a slow jog back all the way.

Of course all is not so smooth as my legs are starting to cramp by then and even brisk walking is beginning to arouse my nerves to cause pain. Have to endure and press on all the way to the end. Thank God for all the various supporters of runspiration to give me the additional encouragements which were much needed.

In the end, I managed a net time of 6 hrs 16 min to reach the finish line. Here is the entire torturing route which I have taken -> 42.195 KM

Starbucks Christmas Open House

My 1st Marathon

Finally, I made it to the finish line after struggling for some 6 hours plus. Need to really train hard for the next marathon. Cannot slack anymore and I am not kidding!