Just life

Managed to browse through a bookstore in IOI mall during dinner time, in between work and my meeting at 8pm. It's been a while since i last picked up a book (and actually finish it). Quite a few books caught my eye, but i decided not to buy after thinking about the list of books that i have yet to finish at home.

Life's been busy last few weeks and just trying to breathe. With the year end deadlines and traffic caused by heavy downpour, life as a working adult in KL can be difficult in general. We had prayer meeting yesterday (and i was greatly refreshed) and i received various sms-es saying that they were caught up with overflowing workload.

I'm looking forward towards end year when I could just slow down a little, rest and relax. and maybe catch up on my reading and evaluate the year and think about next year.

Looking forward to this weekend!

Crooked - Relent

Just saw this today ... Greater things to come! :)

Recap

It's been a while, much has happened since then. let's see if i can do a recap:

• Kristen's recovered from her fever rash. She's back to her cheerful self!
• We screened Indescribable last sunday. It was mind-blowing!
• We had someone song leading first time, playing guitar first time ... the church is made up of volunteers. God is looking for willing and available people.
• Postponed tennis for the nth time, due to the monsoon rain. Yesterday, finally got to the court ... and enjoyed 15 minutes of the game .. and then .... oh well, i guess only then the guys will talk.
• It's good to see someone who's been away from church a long time visited our service last sunday.
• Our church is turning 3 years old next week! wow!
• Such a joy to see someone less than 2 years in her faith helping someone who's just starting out her faith.
• Had Steamboat twice within a week ... it was good! especially on a cold rainy night.
• Kristen is turning 1 next week. wow.
• Eaglepoint Damansara is turning 3 next week. double wow.
• I'm tired ... not sure if it's the steamboat, the tennis ... or just age catching up.

Till then.

Sunday brain dump

Putting a Sunday night brain dump at half-time Arsenal 2-0 up against West Ham! :)

• What a weekend. Plesant drive up to Genting on Friday night. Starbucks on the mountaintop. Relaxing.
• Enjoyed Ps. Tim sessions at another church's Young Adults Camp. Always a joy listening to the wise man.
• Miss wife and Kristen in my 2 days at the camp.
• Encouraged to see new believers at the camp. Some were as young a 1 month old believer. The weather was chilly and nice.
• Spoke 2 sessions on Arise in our Purpose. Humbled that God will us me to minister.
• Back down in PJ, Discovery God session was powerful. It's always a joy to see someone giving their life to Christ. And even more joy seeing the fruit of labor and prayer of come of our campus students and leaders. We praise God for the salvation today!
• Preached about Daily Grace of God. We need God's grace.
• Grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them – St. Augustine
• Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon - John Piper.
• Had Vichudda and my Tom Yum fix with some young adults after church.
• Spend some time with Kristen after dinner. She's growing by the DAY!
• Thank you God for a great weekend.

You don't want to miss this series!

The Tale of 2 Sales Men

Was doing groceries with my family today after dinner with a couple. While we were about our things, I was approached by 2 'sales' person - one was rallying me to give to an established worldwide humanitarian organisation and the second one was rallying me to sign up for a credit card.

The first one was an middle-age man who explained to me the cause with conviction and passion. The credit card guy on the other hand, was a young chap who also relentlessly tried to pursue me (or my signature rather).

I told my wife - i bet the first guy is a volunteer and is probably not getting paid (maybe just meal allowance). He sacrifice his Friday night and probably time with his family. He probably has a day job and decided to live his life for a greater cause. And he's doing it even though he's not getting paid. And i'm pretty sure the second guy will not be selling card if he's not getting paid ... hey, let's volunteer ourselves to help banks sell credit card. Very unlikely i would say. (Disclaimer, i'm not in anyway dis-crediting credit card sales man, in fact, i dedicated a post to them a while ago).

I believe that's how you know you are living for something. That you are willing to do it:

• Even if it means sacrificing your time, energy and resources
• Even if it means you are taking your own initiatives without being told to/ or forced to
• Even if it means you live beyond the norm
• Even if it no one else is doing it and you're doing it alone
• Even if you are dead tired from the day job but the fruits of your labor and seeing the difference that you made to eleviate suffering in this world makes it worth it ... and you'll be doing it all over again.
• Even if you have to go through tremendous obstacles to do it
• Even if you are not paid to do it (in fact, in most cases you actually give financially to the cause)

I think that's how you know you are living for a cause.

Donut Sunday praise

Last Sunday, we had Donut Sunday - Life without God is like a Donut. We served 100 J Co Donuts - Delicious! Thanks to the volunteers who went to buy the donuts, served them and made coffee/ tea and drinks for our guests.

Alex did a great job leading the band through a story describing how great is our Creator.

I preached from the verse :

He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to the end." Ecclesiastes 3:11

The truth is, at the very core of man - there's eternity set in our hearts. Why else does the temporal world promises so much, but fail to deliver? Because temporal things (however good and useful and pleasurable they are ) could never fill an eternal void that only an eternal God can fill.

"There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus."- Blaise Pascal

We were created by God to have a relationship with Him for eternity. There's only 1 response - to invite God into our hearts to start the relationship and live our life in light of eternity.

We saw 2 people gave their lives to Jesus. The whole heaven rejoices! And another 2 whom indicated they really want to know God. Life without God is like a Donut - it's empty in the middle.

I'm excited about what God is going to do in our midst the remaining of this year! C80!

This Sunday, 5pm starting a series - Rich God, Poor God (what kind of God do you have?)