Friday, April 29, 2005

Happy Birthday Samuel Seo

Samuel Seo celebrating his first birthday.

This is my nephew who by His grace was born on 29 April 2004. Watching him growing through the past one year is the most exciting one more over for his parent. Well I have not been a parent but thanks be to God, that I am an uncle to my nephew.

I took most of his photos whenever i see him and some little cute action he did. Perhaps one day I can show those photos to him.

May the Lord continue to care for him and that God's grace be revealed to him in a special way that he can know.

This is my beloved nephew... in whom I take joy in him. Happy Birthday Samuel. God bless you

Some of his photos :

Picture taken when he was 2 days old



Still with his drypers. Learning to look at his uncle

Am i cute?

He is crawling and learning to stand

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Visiting the left behind community



The recent visit to perkampungan orang asli has built a good fellowship and relationship between us the city folks and orang asli. 9 of us from CDPC went there to further enhance our relationship by rendering our small service to this people. Thanks and appreciation to Kok Wai and Su Mei who have provided us and drive us there using their own 4WDs. Thanks Kok Wai! Thanks Su Mei!

Love for all in regardless to ethnics and languages. There were so many things we can serve them in developing this community. Our humble Lord Jesus who once washed his disciples feet has echoed into our life in rendering our service to this community. Though we are from educated background and from civilized community, we are no more or no less different with these people. Yet the Word has spoken into my heart to look see - look see our neighbours.

The construction of fish ponds for orang asli community is a joint effort from various churches e.g. CDPC help the orang asli to feed on protein. We also helpout in the home rental for workers. This is the mark of true discipleship of Christ - caring for one another. Yet I can see that it is not the financial that matters as whole though it does in part. There are more into this. I was thinking of giving and provide them skills of 3M (Membaca, menulis dan mengira).

To match them into our development society may be far for now. But I believe now is the good time for us to build them their basic necessary skills e.g. Membaca, Mengira, Menulis (Reading, Counting and Writing) before they can go on into further education. This basic skills may helped them in their daily life especially when interacting with people in the city..

As we interact with them on that day, they were so happy especially children. We helped to wash their hair and give them a hair cut. Pastor Wong was so efficient in cutting hair. When he wants to cut my hair, I refused caused I scared...but after I saw his skill... I have confident in him. I can see there lots of things we can helped them...like educating them in basic health care, teaching them the basic farming and rearing lives stock plus carpentary. This is teached in our national education which is called Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu for Form 5 . Why I say this is that with this skills they can make an daily earning for themselves and who knows they might be employed by factories and with salary they have, they can improve their living standard.

Back to the trip... those kids enjoyed themselves having their hairs being washed with shampoo. Many were shy but we reached out to them. Later we gathered all children and their mothers to be entertained with the puppet shows. Alyster and I played the puppet show. Script was drafted by Wai Fong. I have to admit that we did not well prepared for the show. We did it last minute. But thanks be to our God for His grace who look through our presentation that day. With this puppet, I hope that children will find us easy to talk to. It is our job to build friendship with children. We prayed that the little and simple message, for this time Noah's Ark will mark into their heart that Tuhan Yesus yang menyelamatkan mereka. Though they are not educated and do not know the written Bible, at least in their heart is written the word Yesus whom they can pray and refer to at all times. I was humbled when they eager to ask to be prayed for whether for their health, life, children etc. Every item whether it is small matter or big matter they bring it before God. Their simple faith, would seek Jesus in any situation.

Walking up the hill to another kampung was indeed a good exercise. I admire those who can walk up the hill every day. Well me being fat and big size, makes me tired. I must do something lah but until now never do something to reduce my size. Pendeta Sim was like a Moses as he hold his staff and lead us but too bad lah he cant depart a small river. I have to wet my shoes as I walked across. He sang hymns as he walked up. I could only sing in my heart as I was nearly breathless.

Brother Christopher shared with me that they can walk with their feet to a kampung for 2 and half hours. When asked how can he do it. It is by faith that drives them to walk for 2 and half hours. it is by love for their neighbours, they walked. This reminded me of a song in Handel Messiah's album which says "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel of peace".

We joined their service in singspiration. I am so thankful to be in the midst with other races. In the book of Revelation, there are will be people from every tribe, nation, language from different background sing praises to the Lamb. We presented our puppet show again and Pendeta Sim shared a good sermon. We sang a Malay hymn... "Hanya dengan darah Yesus". These people are eagered to be prayed. Like no one else they can turn to but by prayers and in the Lord they are clinging their hope on. I prayed that the Lord will use these people and the whole kampung mightily for His glory. Later as usual we have dinner together.

Looking through their lifes, more works need to be done like caring and enhacing their way of living e.g. healthcare, education and spiritual needs. With these efforts must be put that one day this community able to cope with the development of the society without endangering their cultures.

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Hymn's Reflection : Grace Greater than Our Sins

Words : Julia H. Johnston
Music : Daniel B. Towner



Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Exchange of Cup

Refusing the cup that would deaden the pain
To drink the cup that meant our gain,
He, Servant of all, trod a thorn-girt path
To bleed and to die and give all that he hath,
His soul crushed down in grief’s dark hour
That others might gain by his sacrifice power,

His priestly garments he laid aside
To wash the feet of the weary and tried,
His Majesty linked with service so low,
He dared to stoop, that he might show
His power to bend, His joy to serve,
And touched His cup lip to the cup’s cold curve
(Author unknown)

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Pope John Paul II Remembered



Yesterday night I was watching VCD on the life of Pope John Paul II to know him more of his work, how he was ordained as a Pope and contributions made. As I watched, I really respect Pope not for his contributions but his humility and has heart for people like in Malay saying "berjiwa rakyat". And the next day, while my way to church in the morning, I heard over the broadcast in radio announcing his death. He died on April 2nd, 2005 7.37 p.m. GMT. I joined the world in mourning for his death

He was unafraid to challenge the Nazi regime and later the Communists in Poland and stood strong with President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when they worked together to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union. His faith in Jesus Christ was what motivated him to speak out fearlessly about tyranny and to always defend the right to life of the unborn and those who could not speak for themselves. Though he faced many retaliations yet he stood firm in combating mafianism etc.

He was a man who played a significant role in liberating millions from the slavery of Communism and was deeply concerned about the third-world countries and the millions who went to bed hungry and had nothing but poverty in their way of life.

Pope John Paul was a man of peace; always concerned when there was physical conflict and violence. So much so that he even visited and blessed the man that attempted to murder him at one time.

He was also a man of righteousness, never wavering in his belief that the Holy Scriptures were to be obeyed in matters of morals and human sexuality. He spoke out clearly that homosexuality was not a gift from God, but could be healed through the Gospel.

He once stood up against immorality and cruelty done to children. He spoke up against child slavery and prostitution.

Though I have different theology with the Pope John Paul but humanly I see him as a leader, a good man who has make impact to the society in this world.

Yet the world must turn to one man that is Jesus Christ himself who is the mediator between God and man. And also His revealed Word in the Holy Bible. Even Mary, His earthly mother submit to Christ being her Saviour. Only in Christ can man be saved. Peace only comes through Christ alone. In Christ alone, can man find joy. He is the Way, The Truth and The Life and no one comes to the Father (the only Holy Father who art in heaven) except through Christ.

In Christ alone

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Being miracle yourself

Do not pray for easy lives!
Rather pray to be stronger people.
Do not pray for tasks equal to
your tasks! Then the doing of your
work shall be no miracle. But YOU
shall be a miracle. Every day you
shall wonder at yourself at the
richness of life that has come in you
by the grace of God.
Phillip Brooks