My Belated RSVP...

In response to situation Hope BK, I've finally come around to putting down my thoughts on paper.. er.. on screen in this case...

You shall have no other gods before me (Exo 20:3-6):

So obviously, we should NOT and must NEVER hero worship ANYONE (e.g. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt or Korean hunks) or ANYTHING (e.g. Hello Kitty, Barbie dolls or Thomas trains) on earth, under the earth or even in heaven. God wants protect us from putting our hope and faith in things that don't last forever.. people who will inevitably fail and hurt us.. and objects that ultimately fade and disintegrate. Should our faith in the one true God be affected just because a Christian leader has seemingly 'gone astray'? Paul said, " Imitate me as I imitate Christ". Therefore, if leaders blatantly disobey the word of God.. then it's a given that we can no longer 'submit' to them. Although David didn't kill King Saul to usurp the throne, he had his own army that didn't answer to the King's command.

You shall not commit adultery.. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbour (Exo 20:14,17):

Let's face it.. MAN.. especially MEN are extremely susceptible to what we call 'the lust of the eyes'. Otherwise, why are billions spent on advertisements that continuously feed us with illusions and warped ideas of beauty??? The Bible is full of such accounts.. King David who slept with his general's wife and Bathsheba eventually bore him a child.. Judah who frequented prostitutes and ended up impregnating his son's widow Tamar.. the woman at the well who had five husbands and was living with a man who wasn't one of them.. (I think Hollywood movies got their ideas from here?). So what happens if a pastor falls into this particular sin? Unfortunately, only God can truly know the heart of men which is deceitful above all things. And that's why God didn't remove David as king after he repented (although as a consequence, their first-born son died).. even though he tried to 'act blur' initially in front of prophet Nathan. Since we can't possibly fully understand the human heart, I guess these leaders do need to show some remorse and fruit of repentance before they can resume their position of authority in the ministry?

God raised Deborah..a woman..to lead His people (Judges 4&5) and placed Queen Esther.. for such a time as this (Esther 4:14):
Admittedly I can be quite a feminist.. although somewhat subdued one! I can't say that I have fully grasped the meaning of 'divine authority'.. but probably come to understand it a bit more with maturity over the years? I believe God designed men and women for different roles BUT with equality in rank and position (i.e. it's not angels.. male.. then the female). As many pshychologists and other researchers have shown.. when men have dfficulties fulfilling their roles adequately.. women have risen up to the occasion and in some instances taken over the helm (e.g. after World War II). So why not have a woman lead the church.. if God can use even a donkey (I mean the REAL animal.. and not the male species) to serve His cause??!! I rest my case.. ha ha ha!

Finally, to the accusers.. these are the words of Jesus.. "Let him who has no sin cast the first stone" and more importantly to the sinner.. 'Go and sin no more...' (John 8:7-11).

Amazing Melaka!!! (Family Camp 2009)

We had the privilege.. or rather 'kena arrowed'.. to organise the Family Camp this year. So with Jimmy at the helm.. it was only natural that I ended up coordinating the praise and worship.. nothing new I guess since I've been doing for the past 3 years anyway!!! We eventually decided on Renaissance Hotel in Malacca.. trust dear brother Loo to strike a good deal..

Ps. Christie Ong, our invited camp speaker and incidentally also my 'Shepherd' in the early days of Hope Church, expounded on the topic of 'Faith'..

• God is bigger than anything I can ever think of or imagine
• God will still complete His work despite my lack of faith
• Live out and grow in my faith one day at a time
• I can ask God for blessings and favours, and receive them by faith
  

On this last learning point.. one of my most vivid memory was of Christie teaching me about the God's anointing from the story of Elisha and the widow (2 Kings 4:1-7).. how she was asked to gather as many jars as she could.. then she was told to pour oil into all the jars.. the oil only stopped flowing after the last jar was filled. The hidden meaning was this: God's anointing (the oil) will pour out and fill us (the jars) only as much as we WANT and CAN hold. As I reflect back of all my years serving in church.. I HAVE asked God for greater anointing as a worship leader.. to help me hear the right notes and harmonise beautifully.. to make me more skillful at playing the keyboard and guitar.. and God did answer my prayers by sharpening my senses.. in a way which nine long years of formal piano training never did!!!

The idea of each family unit leading a full P&W session finally came to pass this time around.. no more miscom.. PHEW! It was certainly encouraging for me to see new folks lead worship and support sing. We had a wonderful time being in the presence of God despite multiple errors in the musical chords (yours truly being one of the guilty party) and sometimes off-pitch notes! Ha ha ha! Ohhh.. and I especially loved rehashing some of the 'oldies'.. This Is The Day.. Lord of Creation.. Awesome In This Place.. Where He Leads Me.. A big thank you to everyone who put in the effort to be part of the ministering teams.. :0)


Some of the highlights include:

1. Our own version of Amazing Race.. whereby groups of 2-3 families need to complete the following tasks...

• Find the cheapest clogs at Jonker Street (winner: RM$1.00 for a key chain)
• Get the lowest receipt at Dataran Pahlawan Mall (winner: RM$0.03 for a piece of A4 paper)
• The most creative photo taken with the statue of St. Francis Xavier at St. Paul's Hill (winner: awarded for display of ample derriere)

2. Q&A game of 'How well do you know your spouse?' and renewing of wedding vows.. (The Wan Leng & Mabel version? Ha ha ha...)

The kids had fun at their 'Heroes' camp adventure too.. although Justin seemed suspiciously more excited about shooting rubber bands at styrofoam cut-outs of Paul, Moses, Esther.. hmmm..??? And on our venture to the Jonker Street Pasar Malam (night market).. Jared had a first-hand experience at rolling cotton candy.. Justin ate a funny-looking, cone-shaped, home-made ice lolly.. and to top it all off, we got to ride in a brightly-lit, colourful and flower-decked trishaw. But it didn't turn out to be quite as fun.. cos the passing cars were too dangerously close for comfort and we even had to get out and walk while the trishaw owner pushed the vehicle up a slope! I don't blame the poor chap for not being able to handle our weight.. and wound up paying extra for that short trip.. ha ha ha! In short.. the facilities were good.. the food was great and the teaching was inspiring.. AMEN!!!