Saturday, March 28, 2009

Much of You Lord, Jesus

“a time to kill, a time to heal
a time to break down, a time to laugh
a time to mourn, a time to dance
a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones…” - excerpts from Ecclesiastes 3


i can’t remember the last time i gave all energy i had inside me in a basketball match, to the point i felt like i finished 2.4km or worse..


but it was great.. the sense of using almost all of that bit of spark left in me.. i wonder..
i wonder if i execute as much when it comes to studies
i wonder if i execute as much when it comes to God’s ministry
i wonder if i execute as much, when it should be more in God’s ministry
i wonder if i execute much more than what i have in God’s ministry and having that mission of making much of Christ in my life


“How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
Cause I’m just a whisper
And You are the thunder and

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior


To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You

For all eternity”

-Much of you, by Steven Curtis Chapman

“Models of simplicity are desperately needed today. Our task is urgent and relevant. Our century thirsts for the authenticity of simplicity, the spirit of prayer, and the life of obedience. May we be the embodiment of the kind of authentic living” - Richard J. Foster

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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Where is my group?

So here I am, in the conservatory, in the cold rain, waiting for my project mates to arrive for the meeting. Been 15 minutes already… not a single person ley.. why hur… dun think i got the wrong place.. msged them but no reply.. yet.

The thing about this season of the semester is not unlike those times when I feel there is much to be done, and things are being done slowly but surely. Trying not to be anxious and finish too many things at one shot, cause that will prove to be counter-productive, from experience.

A little lost as to how to plan for the remaining major lessons. Somehow i feel like expanding as many rounds of lessons on the recording, but that has to be done before next Monday, which looks quite impossible now. Sigh… I really need to plan this stuff out. The good thing about being a student in the conservatory is that most of my timetable is flexible, other than rehearsals. So i get to plan what i want to do on not so busy days, like today. The planning gets in they way when I unconsciously procrastinate it, but i guess it’s a good problem to have - learning to overcome it.

Had my exchange interview this morning. Really not sure what to expect. 

As usual, kite was flown by another friend for tonight’s evangelism program, similar to last year. 

And.. here comes my group mates!
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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Sinners

The rain now seems very apt for a time of reflection upon the very harsh-sweet sermon this afternoon.

Today marks the 3rd Sunday of Lent. I believe Church calendars does a very subtle good job in unifying the minds of Christians, right from Pastoral team to music team and then to worshippers in general. Today, we are reminded of the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross which is going to happen very soon. And as we approach the cross, we see our own sinfulness and how it is only by grace that we are saved. The sermon topic was “We are all sinners”

I was expecting some kind of Jonathan E message, especially when the pastor changed the scripture reading to only Romans 3:23-24. But the whole sermon, which incidentally was quite long for a service like today, had a very gentle tone, inviting sinners to repent. Strong theological doctrines were made about the universality of sin and death. Even bringing us back to Adam and then to Christ. The importance of knowing which head we belong to. 

My dad finally came for service today again, after a long time. Perhaps it was to encourage me as i lead songs today. But i am thankful, for today’s sermon. How saved sinners are again reminded to cherish this free gift of salvation by the way we live; and how unsaved souls are invited to respond to the grace of God. 

May the Lord help us all! 
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Friday, March 13, 2009

A day of rehearsal, planning, and thinking

Officially “ponn-ed” my lessons because of a rehearsal that will start in half an hour’s time in victoria concert hall (VCH). Writing this now at the Macdonald’s beside Singapore River, opposite vch. Enjoying the $2.50 Mr Lim breakfast (commercial on tv, if u know wad i mean..). 

Finally submitted my student exchange to peabody yesterday to the office. The possibility to do a semester in America is definitely more palpable than before. May the Lord be gracious and help me to accept and rejoice at whatever the outcome might be. If anything, this process of application has certainly been an exciting one because i have to record many pieces of myself playing into a CD and send over to america within 2+ weeks. Deadline is end of this month and i’m working on it.. all the best derrick.. haha

Weds that just passed marks the start of my another “high key” period for this semester. Rehearsals concerts readings teengames concerts and more rehearsals.. so far so good.. Not sick yet.. thank God.. 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. - 2 Peter 1:2

Understanding God and having a knowledge of God is in itself a grace. Though this understanding will never be complete.

–

And so I was writing the outline out for tomorrow’s band devotion.. the passage for Sunday’s sermon is quite difficult to understand.. John 1:14-18. The process of just thinking about the words however seem very amazing to me as the truths just keep coming the more i re read the words in these few verses.. I don’t intent to do any exegesis, but i was thinking how it is really mind-blowing(!) to think of the “existence” of Jesus Christ. 

I used to explain to people that Jesus Christ existence did not begin in his incarnation on earth, but rather even before time. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. John 8:58 “… before Abraham was, I am.” 

However the use of the word “exist” has a certain discrete implication that Jesus Christ actually came to existence, regardless of whether that is meant by the person explaining. The words “the Word was with God” tells us much about Jesus Christ having no beginning and no end. There is in Christ the same essence as God the Father. 

And so I was thinking how to explain these truths about person of Jesus Christ, and the more I think of it, the more awe there is to marvel at.. 

I believe the hymn 靠近十架 is one way where we as saved sinners can come back to the cross with this truth of Jesus Christ, and stand in awe of He who died for us on that cross.. So that today, we are truly free, free to enjoy God forever, enjoy God - The only one who can truly satisfy. What amazing grace this is, found only on that cross that Jesus died.

十字架十字架
永是我的荣耀
直到我欢聚天家
仍夸主十字架





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Sunday, March 8, 2009

Wonderful Cross

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiTIHdp5NVs&feature=related

One of the songs that I’ll be leading coming Sunday. So deep and fierce. Scary even to be found leading a song with such high calling.. may the message be clear, made possible by Jesus Christ.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Simplicity, not simple

Today’s the first time i visited Trinity Theological College (TTC) library, with the help of pastor Chris. The wealth of books - oh! - so immense that i can’t even start to describe the excitement of contemplating being a student there. I do however recognize the fact of sudden blazes of fire which will die down so that better not be the only reason should i decide to study there. Think it’s important that i pen down some thoughts so i can come back and refer in future.

My chat with pastor Chris this afternoon was really insightful. At least the fears of finding it tough to adjust to a place with different theologies were allayed. Think what was important is that the issues that i will face meeting with different interpretations will definitely rise up whether in a seminary or in real life. So rather than study just one type of theology and “be kept in a box” for years, it might be helpful to be exposed to different “ideologies” and then to know and train myself in responding to them, whether implicitly or explicitly.

I understand the view about having an absolute truth and holding fast to them because it is the word of God. Because of that, I would instead infer that I’m at a better position now because I have some foundational understanding of what I believe is true of the Bible. These things to me are important, but not the point of separation. Essentials and non-essentials, not that the latter is any less important than the former. Paradox? Here we go again… on a side note, i do honestly find it hard to address the other team as family if I’m a hyper.

I hope i can pen down more, but fatigue is getting the better of me. I think these 2 days have been exciting. Meeting Roy, Moo Dean, and Pastor. If anything, I realized that the road ahead of me, whether i enter seminary or straight full time, will be a challenge.. a challenge to learn simplicity in life which starts now.. simplicity, not simple. Simplicity and ecstasy… a life of a great adventure and excitement, of living to the fullest in proclaiming the supreme worth of my master. 

Gonna live out loud
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