What Dreams May Come

Is there an age where one ceases to dream?
To stop hoping or thinking of fantastic things?
Is there a time when one should just stop thinking of what could have been?
To explore and imagine entire realms of possibilities?

Maybe that's the problem with me. So often do I day-dream and day-dream I do, even as I sit in lectures or while driving up and down the North-South Highway or while standing in the shower. Dreams of glory, of love, of utter fantasy. And yet, reality is reality. While dreams may provide temporary relief and escape, it is still what it is, temporary and unreal. And so often am I left feeling even worse-off then before.

Maybe there comes a time when one should stop dreaming...

On Faith Alone by Robert Pierre

On faith alone I stand.
There is no higher ground.
I give all I am.
for my soul will never doubt.
Though the storms they may be raging.
You have always held my hand.
To thy cross my heart will always cling.
On faith alone I stand.
On faith alone I live.
Not in what I say or do,
But the blood you freely give covers me and makes me new.
For your love is ever with me.
Lord Jehovah great I am.
O my trust grows stronger on my knees.
On faith alone I stand.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah,
hallelujah.
On faith alone I stand.
When I reach my final breath,
and I fall into your arms.
I’ll proclaim with no regret.
On faith alone,
sola fide,
sola fide,
sola fide.
On faith alone I stand.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah,
hallelujah.
On faith alone I stand.
On faith alone I stand.

On Preaching

Just putting a link for future reference

Work Work

Gaahh.... I really can't see myself working. Been going so often to Malaysia now that I think I can finish all the pages in my passport by December. I'm also beginning to drive like a Malaysian as well. :P

Needless to say I am still clueless as to the pipe business, and the fact that my dad does not really explain anything to me makes it even all the more frustrating. Hmmm... Maybe that's why I end up "teaching" the Year 4s / 6s the same way as well. Just do and hope they pick up the necessary knowledge and/or skills by watching, not realizing that they most probably are just as uninterested and/or clueless.

Well with Honours coming up I won't be having to deal with them for long. I guess they'll probably be better off with someone better able to communicate with them.

God and God Alone

Another incredible song by Steve Green.



God and God alone
Created all these things we call our own
From the mighty to the small
The glory in them all
Is God's and God's alone

God and God alone
Reveals the truth of all we call unknown
All the best and worst of man
Can't change the master plan
It's God's and God's alone

God and God alone
Is fit to take the universe's throne
Let everything that lives
Reserve its truest praise
For God and God alone

God and God alone
Will be the joy of our eternal home
He will be our one desire
Our hearts will never tire
Of God and God alone

Quote of the Day

"If I had my way, I would declare a moratorium1 on public preaching of “the plan of salvation” in America for one to two years. Then I would call on everyone who has use of the airways and the pulpits to preach the holiness of God, the righteousness of God and the law of God, until sinners would cry out, “What must we do to be saved?” Then I would take them off in a corner and whisper the gospel to them. Such drastic action is needed because we have gospel-hardened a generation of sinners by telling them how to be saved before they have any understanding why they need to be saved."

- Paris Reidhead

Taken from this blog

1 a suspension of activity: e.g. a moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons.

Here's a link to a post about leading a Gospel-Driven Life. Please read and pass it along.

Christians! This is Our God

From heaven you came, helpless babe,
Entered our world, your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve,
And give Your life That we might live.

This is our God, the servant king,
He calls us now to follow Him, to bring our lives
As a daily offering of worship to the Servant King.

There in the garden of tears,
My heavy load He chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn,
'Yet not My will But Yours,' He said.

Come see His hands And His feet,
The scars that speak of sacrifice;
Hands that flung stars Into space
To cruel nails Surrendered.

So let us learn How to serve,
And in our lives Enthrone Him;
Each other's needs to prefer,
For it is Christ We're serving.

A Time For Everything

" To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace."

- Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

A time to move on, and a time to fade away.

I so often look back to the past and wonder what could have been. So many regrets and dreams. So much joy and despair. So much that could, or rather, should have been done.

As the days and years go by, one sees Life move on and one soon has to follow suit. As the curtain of a chapter of life gone by falls, one awaits with trepidation for the curtain to rise on another chapter.

Well, my days of active service in ACS(I) are coming to an end and one cannot help but look back and wonder what could have been.
What if someone had just been mature enough to step in and stop all the nonsense going on during those dark years of the 12th.
What if there had just been someone who had sat me down to explain to me what ministry and serving in BB was all about.
What if I had not wandered so far from God during the times when I was with the Year 6s.
What if I had just trained the Year 4s properly, to teach them to love and seek God above all else.

I did a lot of stupid things during those early years. And if not for the Grace of God, I would have probably done even more stupid things then. But the time has come to move on and let others take the helm. I just pray that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated among these incoming batch of young officers.

About a Preacher's Invitation

Quote of the Day

"How could we have such a low view of the gospel of Jesus Christ that we have to manipulate men psychologically to get them to come down and pray a prayer? . . . How many times have I heard evangelists say, “It’ll only take five minutes.“? No my dear friend, it will take your life–all of it! “We’re just trying to attract people and then we’ll gradually bring them in further and further.” That is what the cults do, that’s not what Jesus did. Notice that in the gospels every time a great crowd is following Jesus, he turns around and says something so radical to them that most of them walk away. Of course Jesus probably would not get invited to teach evangelism [in most churches today]."

- Paul Washer

From this blog

Video of "Manipulation of the Invitation"

He Holds The Keys

Death rides blackened clouds across the sky
The Son of man lays down to die
With every pounding blow upon the nail
Thunder rumbles all through hell
And from death's barren womb the captives cry
Who is there to free us should He die

His grave becomes a door, He enters in
To face the author of all sin
Defying death and the grave He takes their keys
And with them every captive frees
And from death's barren womb the captives cry
Arise for our redemption draweth nigh

Chorus:
For He holds the keys
He holds the keys
And though we've been held captive
At long last we are free
For He holds the keys

Against the gates of hell I now resist
For the shackles that had torn my wrists
Lay before me now upon the ground
To sin I am no longer bound
For from death's barren womb
He heard my cry
And loosed the chains that bound me to a lie

Chorus

And to all the things that have kept you away
That keep you defeated day after day after day
The heartache that nobody sees
That eats at your soul like a cruel disease
He who set the captives free
It is He, it is He who holds your keys

Quote of the Day

"Both in India and in my travels around Western countries, I constantly uncovered a preoccupation with so-called “ministry” activities operated by Christian workers, financed by church monies, but with little else to distinguish them as Christian. . . . Social concern is a natural fruit of the Gospel. But to put it first is to put the cart before the horse; and from experience, we have seen it fail in India for more than 200 years. Yet while I realized the intrinsic nature of the Gospel involved [in] caring for the poor, I knew the priority was giving them the Gospel. Meeting their needs was a means to share the love of Christ so they would be saved for eternity."

- K.P. Yohannan

Taken from this blog

GDoP & PPP

Went for Global Day of Prayer today and guess what, the place wasn't full. Maybe not even 3/4 full in fact. Amazing to think that for Festival of Praise the place would be full 1/2 an hour before the event started and hordes of people would be stuck outside for want of a seat. But then again, maybe that sums up Singaporean Christianity. People would rather go for an exciting (entertaining) music extravaganza showcasing the latest in Christian Rock (if there is such a thing) rather than go to any event with the word "prayer" in it. We want to be entertained and God is there for our entertainment. We're contented to keep God as a little cherry on top of our mountain of material goods and accomplishments, and woe betide if He should think of becoming anything else.

Which is why I think the last speaker really made a lot of sense when he reminded us that all of our achievements and progress comes from God and are for His Glory and Blessing. As a country awash with affluence (especially amongst the Christian community)how much more should we take care not to forget the Giver. Though I must confess that after about 1 1/2 hours my mind did begin to wander and fatigue began to set in. Oh that God may have mercy on me.

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Potluck at Zhiguang's place went relatively smoothly though firstly, I should have prepared what I wanted to say earlier and secondly, it was a bit disappointing to see the turnout, not least that there was quite a decent amount of food left uneaten.

The number of Year 6's signing up was well..... underwhelming to put it mildly. Maybe one can be understanding since they have quite a bit of studying to do in view of their exams and the programme presented to them was quite demanding (to them). Maybe we're "selling" officership so desperately that people think of us like insurance salesmen who should be avoided and ignored. Maybe six years in BB is too much and one wants to throw off the shackles of regulations and rules and finally be free to do what one pleases.

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I do not know why, but I have a very bad feeling about the next few days. Like a slow onset of depression (which everyone seems to be suffering from recently).

Fascinated by the World

"Is the world crucified to you tonight, or does it fascinate you?"
- Leonard Ravenhill

When one thinks about the 12th Company, one is hard pressed to find God within it. So often we have turned aside to our own separate way, so often we sacrifice Christ for "pragmatic" gain and worldly acclaim. Having a form of godliness, but denying its power.

"Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked"
- Revelations 3:17

When will we awake from our slumber? When will we finally realize the wretched state that we are in? When will we finally throw ourselves upon the Grace of God alone? For we would rather busy ourselves with programmes and planning instead of waiting upon and seeking the Lord, and so delude ourselves by putting ministry above God Himself.

We boast so much in our gold medals. We take pride so often in our long heritage and traditions. We have "methods" and "strategies" to "bring down" the Power of God. We seek the Lord in order that men may praise our "holiness" and "spirituality". We believe all is well, not realizing the boat we're on is sinking and so many are perishing without Christ.

Why all the arguments? Why all the "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos"? Why all the disputes over who gets the credit for what ultimately belongs to God alone? Why all the petty arguments over small personal sleights? Why the chasing after of what the World deems as success? Why all this foolish and meaningless boasting? Fools! Do you not know that all our righteousness are like filthy rags? What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul. Will God, the creator of the UNIVERSE, take a look at all your gold medals and accomplishments and be impressed? Meaningless, meaningless, all of these are meaningless. Why worry over one's "ricebowl", position or career? Is not the Lord mighty enough to provide for those who seek His Will? Or is your god so weak that you must fend for yourself.

I know of my own struggles. My struggles with pride and self-righteousness. My life-long struggle with lust and sexual immorality. The times when I have relied on my own wisdom and strength and chased after what the World says I should chase.

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
- Gal 6:14

When I think of the generations of BB Boys who have passed or will pass through the doors of the 12th, how many will be secure in their faith? How many will question their faith after going though IB and all its godless studies on "philosophy" and Buddhist-like texts. Of those who return to serve, how many will do so out of a desire to be "respected" by the Boys or because they want to exercise power and authority over others and feel good about themselves?

Did not Jesus Himself come to serve rather than to be served? Did not Jesus wash the disciples feet and command them to do likewise? It's either Christ or nothing! One does not come back in order to have one's needs met. Indeed, one serves only so that Christ may be glorified and that the Gospel may be preached. For what else is there besides Christ?

In Christ Alone, I place my trust
And find my glory in the Power of the Cross.
In every victory, let it be said of me,
My source of strength, my source of hope
Is Christ Alone
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I Surrender All - Clay Crosse


I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land
Raising strong and mighty fortresses, that I alone command
But the castles I've constructed, by the strength of my own hand
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand
In the middle of the battle, I believe I've finally found
I'll never know the thrill of victory, 'till I'm willin' to lay down
All my weapons of defense, and earthly strategies of war
So I'm layin' down my arms and runnin' helplessly to Yours

I surrender all, my silent hopes and fears
Though the price to follow, costs me everything
I surrender all, my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires
That all my kingdoms fall
I surrender all

If the source of my ambition, is the treasure I obtain
If I measure successes, on scale of earthly gain
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain
So I lay aside these trophies, to pursue a higher crown
And should you choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay down
I surrender all the triumphs, for it's only by Your grace
I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise

Everything I am, all I've done and all I've known
Now belongs to you the life I live is not my own
Just as Abraham laid Isaac, on the sacrificial fire
If all I have, is all that You desire
I surrender all

It belongs to Christ

Part 5 of 6 of "I am under obligation"



Part 6 of 6

"But if they say they know they are a sinner and they say they want to go to heaven, then we do the greatest of all travesties. [We ask them] Would you like to open the door and ask Jesus to come into your heart...... Listen, its Christ's door and if He wants to come in He will kick the stinkin' door down......"

-Taken from Paul Washer's sermon "I am under obligation"
*Start from 1:54 of part 6*

Arrested while Preaching

To think that such a thing could occur in a "free" country.

Will Singaporeans be willing to go through the same thing?

For All Women (and some Men) to Watch :P

Proper advice regarding BGR

An End & A Beginning

Well the Year 6 have finally been released from their obligations to the 12th and the pioneer Primers Programme has reached its final conclusion.

Looking at these bunch of Year 6s, one cannot but feel the years which have passed by. When they entered in 2003 as Sec 1s, I too had just returned to the Company following my Seniors' years in ACJC as and when I could with my NS commitments.

The camps and hikes of those initial years. Oh how I wish I was so much wiser back then. That someone had sat me down and explained the mission of the 12th. Someone who would have walked me through and guided my faith. I never understood the purpose of BB and of the ministry of service in the 12th during those first few years. Looking back, I regret the immaturity of my faith and of not having the conscientiousness and mindfulness to truly reach out and understand them. To tell them about God and the wonderful things He has done. To support Ivan during those tough times.

And so now, as some consider BB life after Primers, the mission must be laid clear before them. Their faith must be strengthened and matured through mentorship, the reading of the Word and by prayer. The mistakes of the past cannot be repeated again. Just as no Boy enters BB by chance, no Officer or Instructor serves in the 12th by chance, for all have been assigned and designated by God.

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As I count down my days of service in the 12th, and consider the Year 4s that the Lord had placed under me, there were so many things that I could, and should, have done better. My weaknesses and failures remain so glaring in my life. My inability to push through policies, to communicate properly with the Year 4s or to practice what I preach, my readiness to compromise on values, my tendency to idle.

And that is why TA Camp 2008 is so special. For I finally came to the realization that if there is anything I should boast in, I will boast in the Lord.

Our God Never Sleeps

We must perservere in prayer.

" Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer."

-Romans 12:11-12

Busyness and Lethargy are a bad mix

Busy busy busy, yet feeling so tired and restless. Am I suffering from post-TA and pre-projects/assignment syndrome?

The 4 (unofficial) Core values of the 12th

1. No Boy enters BB by chance

2. Discipline, not regimentation

3. Christian Leadership is key

4. Service to the community

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Lest we forget.