Bible College part 3

Yesterday (Thursday), was the last day of our Pastoral Epistle class. It has been an interesting journey of learning more about life, Christianity and how could we be better Christians.

Next semester, I would not be taking any bible college classes as I would be working as a service engineer in Puchong. That requires a lot of travelling outstation, and at times, I might come home late. Though, looking on the bright side, it would help me find more interesting makan places in the Klang Valley *grin*

So, how was the day? I had a hard time finishing the assignments. Guess I read too much and wrote too little until the dateline loomed around the corner. Then, it was a tough decision between salad and mashed potatoes, considering I was still finalising the assignment on the day of submission. We had pot bless as part of the final class you see.

Hah, had a fun time making mashed potatoes with Mich, though I ended up late for the pot bless. Thank God for the amazing food everyone prepared, it looked like it was prepared by some professional food catering service! Really had a great time eating the food and chatting before the lesson began.

And after class, well, it was goodbye and well, I do hope that there would be a chance that God will make our life's journey intertwined, so that we could meet again later on in life. For those of you who plan to enter full time ministry, may God continue to guide you and lead you. And as for me, there's still a long journey to go, learning to die to myself on a dailly basis. Being a godly Christian is never easy.

It's been great, my fellow Pastoral Epistles classmates!




p/s: Was really tempted to bring over some peanut butter and goober grape as my portion of pot bless, hehe. Perhaps with bread too.

David Crowder Band

It is insanity. Been listening to David Crowder Band's Illuminate album over 20 times now in a span of 4 days. But it's awesome creative stuff that brings you closer to God. One Christian music website even mentioned that it's the best thing to come out in the Christian worship scene since Delirious' Cutting Edge albums. And for me, it's the best thing since Delirious' Live in a Can album and Sonicflood's debut album



What are you waiting for? Go grab your copy from the nearest Christian bookstore. And don't wait, do it as soon as possible~!

p/s: It received great reviews too, from secular rock stations. Simply amazing

The Vomit Story

When finding for a church a year ago, I wanted a church that went for lunch after the service. This is so that I could get to talk and know the rest better during the lunch. And it was a pleasant surprise when I found that in this church,we would have lunch in church after the service.

Lunch today was Nasi Lemak with curry chicken. And being the lazy and greedy person I am (yes, I admit I'm lazy and greedy *blek*), I took 4 pieces of chicken, thinking it would be easy to finish them. But never did I know that they were extra spicy. Never did smell hot to me though. (Could you know a chicken is hot by just smelling the gravy? Hmm, I wonder)

So, halfway through the 1st, I gave one piece over to Xavier and was huffing, puffing and coughing in a vain effort to finish the rest. And along came Jeffrey and he went

'Hey dude, are you ok?'
'Erm, yea, I'm ok *cough cough* (whole church notices the bad cough)'
'Hey, here's some water. Take it slowly dude'
'Yea man *cough cough cough*'
'Are you sure? Drink the water first lah'
'Shure *drinks water*'

then suddenly...

'Errghhh~! *Vomits unto the church carpet, of all things*'
'Hey dude, you just vomited! Are you ok?'
'Aiks, how's the carpet doing?'
'It's not important how's the carpet, how are you feeling dude?'

Man, it was the first time a stomach upset ever got to me in church. Haihh, gonna swear off extra spicy stuff next time. Still can remember the funny face Lin Li gave me when she wiped away the vomit. And then, the left hand that smelt of vomit when I blew my nose half an hour later. Apparently, I forgot to wash my hands with soap, of all things.

Arghh! Enough of vomit stories for today~

Hope you don't vomit reading this. Heheh. *Grin*

Hope

Isaiah 40:29-31-He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It's a verse that has been playing through my mind since yesterday, when Rebecca and I dropped by Canaanland to take a look around. There, in Canaanland, was this cross with an eagle on it and these very meaningful verses.

Hope. Hope in the Lord when everything seems to go wrong, to seem bleak and to seem too hopeless. Sometimes, I look too much at myself, my weaknesses, my faults and how much I lack when compared to others. I'll never be good enough, strong enough, smart enough nor funny enough when compared to others. Not on my own strength anyway.

And when this happens, I seem like crap, never good enough for friends around me, getting depressed and all. But God has given me and you a way out. Hope in the Lord and you'll soar on wings like eagles. Cast your eyes upon God and not upon the scars that you've been through. After all, Paul mentioned setting our eyes upon the goal, the finishing line, even though it might cost the body

Everyone has been through some crap in life, it just depends on how you deal with what life throws at you. What's life without the local spices and salt? Help me focus on You even more God and soar like the eagle out there, above the troubles and the crap, but keeping my eyes up upon you. 

Amen~

God sized plans

Jeremiah 29:10-12 - This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

I woke up to this words. It was early, 6 am and we were due to go for Bak Kut Teh with a bunch of insane young people (yes, if you're one of them and you're reading this, you're insane! Hahahah). Bak Kut Teh is a hellish portion of unhealthy pork and soup that is bound to make you fat, good news for those trying to put on weight. And as I sat in bed, half asleep and as blur as a sotong, these words kept ringing in my head. 'For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'

What plans God, what plans? Sometimes God's plans seem so far away, so far fetched and so unlikely, especially when we're still learning to trust in Him in everything we do. And sometimes things seem to go awfully wrong when we least expect it.

It's been one year since I shifted myself out of an abusive, hurtful & unaccepting situation. And at times, my past tends to catch up with me. I'm not used to crowds, being so used to sitting alone, just observing people joking around and teasing each other. To me, it's much easier to be an observer than to go in and stand a chance of getting hurt.

And I guess, that's the source of my depression. Unless I'm sure of our friendship, I would just sit behind and observe, then getting upset with myself for not participating. The past tends to catch up with you sometimes you least expect it.

And it was interesting, when the speaker for CF on Tuesday mentioned about forgiveness. Forgiveness also includes accepting yourself as how God sees you instead of looking at how others have mistreated you. Forgiveness also means being secure of who you are in Christ and not letting the hurts affect you again.

God mentioned plans, plans to prosper and not to harm us. And it's times like this when hope dangled down seems so powerful, so wonderful and so awesome. God indeed has plans for this wretched life of mine. I just need to keep focus on Christ, the author and the finisher of our faith.

Maybe perhaps one day in the future I could look back at this and laugh at the past. Just maybe, if God wills it...

God Bless~

Unstable emotions

Today was an awesome day. However, at the end of the day, I felt down, depressed, broken and like crap. I don't quite understand why. Perhaps it was the expectations, the hormones, the big group settings and also the past. Or perhaps it's just me.

But examining the day, like any other mood-swinging day, everything ran fine, good and better than expected but ended with a feeling of depression. And at times like this, I just wished that those emotions, those feelings would go away and leave me alone. Why the feelings that don't make much sense? Why the heart that does not listen to the head?

But maturity comes when we're able to be temperate, self-controlled instead of controlled by the heart. Guess that it's a process that I need to learn to submit to Christ to be put on the altar. My rights, my wants, my hopes. Just like Abraham and Isaac.

God help me take this emotions away~!

Malaysia vs Norwich weekend

It was an awesome weekend, where it was about hanging out with some good friends and topped by the Malaysia - Norwich soccer match! And to think of it, we had VIP seats. At halftime, we went in for a meal when we found Malaysia's most famous soccer export, who is non other than Mr Shebby Singh!



Heh, for those of you who are wondering, Shebby Singh is a soccer commentator with the English Premier League. And those things we're holding, they're super loud horns *evil grin*

Bagai Rajawali

Just a song that inspired me so much recently. A song that drives on Psalms 36:7 'How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings'

BAGAI RAJAWALI

Aku ingin selalu berada di hadirat-Mu
Aku ingin selalu berlindung dalam naungan-Mu
Di bawah kepak sayap-Mu
Kau bawaku terbang tinggi
Melintasi langit biru
Bagaikan rajawali

Bagai rajawali melintasi gunung tinggi
Bagai rajawali melintasi badai hidup
Di bawah kepak sayap-Mu
Kau bawaku terbang tinggi
Melintasi langit biru bagaikan rajawali

First Love

I have to admit. I was tired. Tired of our Friday Cellgroups that are far away. Tired to drive around so much. Tired of being a nice Christian guy. Just tired. And to think of it, it's sometimes much easier to be another guy out there, free to do what I feel like doing, not caring less of what's gonna happen next.

But then, as I ask myself again, 'What's my life ambition?' To please God 'What's my dream?' To see breakthrough happening in Malaysia. I won't settle for anything less than this, for God has brought me through so much and given me so many promises.

And as I was contemplating writing this blog for a few days, God kept pointing me towards the word 'First Love' Everything I encountered seem to point towards the message First Love.

Jim Elliot once wrote, 'A man is no fool to let go of what he cannot keep and to hold on to what he can' Jim Elliot died holding on to his first love, killed by the Aucas in the mission fields of Ecuador.

At times, I do ask myself,'Am I a fool?' At times, it would seem so. Just a fool dreaming a dream so big that he doesn't know how God's going to use him. Just a fool driving around, doing things for the church. Just a fool, trying his best to be a good, Godly Christian in everyway he can.

Reading the book, Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster, Richard mentioned that it's so easy to say 'yes' to God for the big things. To give up our lives on the battle field, to change the world and to make an impact. After all, they don't need much follow up. But true discipline, true serving comes not with a big decision, but small decisions to serve God in small things. That's when the true sacrifices come in.

And to me, there's where First Love comes in. Are you willing to be a fool? To make such sacrifices, even if there's a chance no one notices, no one cares and no one says thank you? It's hard, it's tiring and it's unrewarding. And people might even call you a fool for a lost cause.

First love comes with putting God first in everything you do, even when things don't seem to work out. Let us also not fall into the trap of just doing ministry. (Revelations 2:2-5)

First love. Let me be a fool for something I know I can hold on to.

God Bless~

BCM's campus day

Just got this email back. Anyone's interested to stay in BCM and attend it's lectures for it's Campus day?

=============================================
Dear Leo,

How have you been?

Our newsletter is ready and I have made the arrangement to mail it to you. You will the info and registration form for Campus Day. Please feel free to contact me or you may contact the person-in-charge, Pastor Florence Teh 03-79565621.

Thanks and God bless you!

May
-----Original Message-----
From: Leo Koo [mailto:leokoo@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:00 AM
To: mayobt@myjaring.net
Cc: biblecm@streamyx.com
Subject: Re: From BCM

Ok

xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx (ehem, private! If you need it, email me ya)

Thanks again

Leo
--- May Ong wrote:
Leo,

Please give us your address so that we can mail you the newsletter regarding our campus day on 22-24 Sep 04. The newsletter (with relevant info on how to register) will likely be out by the end of July.

Regards,

May Ong
Assistant Registrar
Bible College of Malaysia
Tel: 03-79565621
Email:

Hairy Story

Was helping out on day at Grace Community Center when I bumped into an old friend during lunch. As we were talking, a bunch of home schooled kids (more like 12-14 year old girls) were looking and suddenly developed an interest in us.

So then I asked my friend
'Hey, those are your students?'
'Yep, all those girls'
'What's with them?'
'Guess they've never seen their teacher chatting with a guy with dyed hair'

Man, guess home schooled kids are kinda too overprotected huh? Heh

Inspired

One of my dreams is to see revival breaking through Malaysia. Perhaps we could form a band that plays malay songs that will touch the hearts of the millions of ethnic Malays living here. If only and if only it's God's timing.

Here's a song that has truly inspired me throughout the last 2 months. May you be blessed by the lyrics

Mengejar HadirMu

Dekat padaMu itu rinduku
Setiap kataku Kau pun menunggu
Tak kusangka kutemukan
Satu kasih yang abadi
Kini kudatang dan kubawa hidupku

Memandang wajahMu
Mengikuti kebaikanMu
Mengejar hadirMu
Dalam hidupku
Membawa sembahku
Menyatakan kebesaranMu
Mengejar hadirMu
Dalam hidupku

©2001 giving my best music / true worshippers productions
Music by giving my best; Words by Sidney Mohede

Baby Sister

Was driving around Klang Valley with a friend, when we came across an interesting signboard. It read

'Baby Sister'
'012-xxxxxxx'

What? Baby sister for rent/sale?

Haih~~ Manglish to the max.

Blood Brothers

1 Corinthians 6:6-8 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!

One of the interesting things about Bible college, is that we learn part of the bible in Greek as part of the class. And an interesting feature in the Pauline Epistles (letters written by Paul) is that when Paul uses the word brother and brotherhood, Paul wrote it in a way gave the meaning 'blood brothers' and not just cousin brothers or brothers by agreement.

And when we think back, what does the term blood brothers could actually mean, we find that it's powerful stuff. Don't all of us, at certain times find that we couldn't get along with someone else (and perhaps, it's not us that doesn't want to try), or maybe we get worked out over the fact that some other Christian had dissapointed us, failed us, frustrated us or even cheated us (!)

And at times like this, we tend to draw swords, and its not the sword of the spirit mind you but swords to slash and cut the other person. We tend to gossip, slander and even talk bad about others. And sometimes, we tend to do it without noticing we're actually doing it. (Correct? Come on, admit it, most of us fall to it)

When God gave us the command to not forget meeting up regularly, God knew there were going to be problems of humans and egos getting in the way. Fellowship is good, but all the backbiting and politics that comes with a bigger church does not. (Not that there isn't church politics in a smaller church, but mostly, it's more controlled)

But then, if you look at the word brother, that appeared 34 times in the Pauline Epistles (NKJV), you find that Paul mostly wrote on how should we treat a fellow believer, a brother in Christ, a blood brother.

And he even wrote on the issue of sueing a brother. Would we sue if we're cheated? (though the issue of murder and rape are altogether different things, they're criminal~) And what if the amount is substantial? Or we're being slandered? Do we just let it go? Forgive? Isn't that unfair?

But when Paul used the word Blood Brothers, and blood is thicker than water, how than should we go about it? And even in this, how then do we treat our fellow Christians? As normal friends? Or do we really see them as our brothers and sisters. Maybe it's the fact that we've gotten comfortable and there isn't any REAL persecution around.

And then, we could apply this in our churches and CFs. Let us overlook minor offences and discuss the major ones, instead of backbiting and gossiping. Sometimes, people do not do things to offend us on purpose. Perhaps it was their upbringing or their past. Let us love even the difficult ones with compassion, cause God had loved us 1st.

And finally, a thought for you to ponder as you leave. If we can't love one another while here on earth, what about eternity with the person you hate?

God Bless~

Spiderman 2

Have you watched Spiderman 2 yet? If you haven't, catch it~ It's one of the best movies around this year, with a solid storyline, great cast, good action and special effects. Heck, even the comedy parts of the movie came alive!

And btw, if you do watch it at MINES, Serdang, you would be able to catch Spiderman in person! (ya, he's fake, but who cares...?)