Legalistic?

Can I share from my heart?

 

We have a youth prayer meeting on Saturday. It was initially started by my brother, who is currently studying in Australia, in the old Teng residence. To accommodate more people to participate in this good thing, the time and location was changed. For a while we had many, but now we have a faithful handful, with the rare occasion of others.

 

People just don't come to pray. Leaders don't come to pray. Musicians don't come to pray. Worshippers don't come to pray - what an oxymoron! I've been thinking about this matter since the new year now. Things aren't changing. A major reconstruction of the church is necessary, and it looks like we're dealing with the foundation, isn't it? I try to ask people to come. But because I'm the pastor's kid, I don't understand and it's much easier for me to be actively involve in building the everlasting Kingdom.

 

Should there be a rule for this - All leaders should come for prayer? Will that make a change? Would that be any good? Haha, maybe. Most probably not. It would more likely drive people away from the ministry... It's sad, but it's true. I do sometimes consider personally attack, haha, challenge their priorities. I'm pretty sure I'm going to win such an argument, because I'm good at describing things (not always a good thing), but I fear the consequences of losing a friend.

 

Before the past prayer meeting on Wednesday, as I continue to ponder on this matter, God reminded me the joy of being able to entering into His presence and be at His throne of grace. I need not frown. If my focus is on numbers, then I should focus on Number One.  What a great joy be able to enter into His presence, lifting prayers, petitions, thanksgiving and praise. Having others joining along is an added incentive. God reminded me also of how I was before He did that change in my heart. No one scolded me or challenged my priorities, no one gave me a set of rules. Rules and laws bind the soul, but only TRUTH (that can only come from God and be understood by man because of His grace) sets free.

 

And finally, God reminded me of something really important - I have people around me who share the same convictions. I have prayer partners!! Wow!! So here's my conviction - People don't come to pray. For whatever reason, valid or invalid, most people just don't come to pray. I'll just continue to pray. Sure, I'll pray for people to come. But my focus would be that God will continue to work in my life, that the Dream-Giver would continue to mould me into a runner He can be proud of.

 

God is indeed doing something in the youth prayer meeting. It's hard to explain, all I know God is moving like I've never known before. That's really worth thanking God for.

Romans 2

I was in charge of the SCG class discussion last Sunday morning. Those before just had to choose questions from the study material and bring it up for discussion, but not me. We were suppose to talk about the book of Romans, and the discussion questions prepared in the study material just didn't cut it. There was so much more that had to be talked about and reflected upon.

So I studied Romans 2 - 4, and I had to read 3 different versions of the bible in order for me to understand what Paul was trying to say. I decided that the discussion question for the study group that day would be "What the hell is Paul trying to say??"... I remember studying the book of Romans before and had reached a satisfying conclusion for myself. But nowdays I find myself revisiting many questions of the past.

Romans 2:17-29
'Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the
law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision
merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.'

What I learnt from this passage, is that I am not counted as righteous (in right standing with God) because I became a Christian, joined a church, and praticipated in as many church programmes and activities as possible. This counts for nothing, if we don't practice obedience and follow the footsteps of Jesus out of a repentant heart. I am no different from a non-Christian if I don't practice my faith.

VC06_Teaser 1 - Shoot for the Sky

When I first came up with the storyline, I never thought the video would be more than 2 minutes. Nonetheless, i think it's pretty full. And if you ever notice and glitches in this video, please be assured that those are intentionally placed there. You can make it a game - find the glitches. Discuss with your colleagues and friends, use it to spend quality time with your family. It'll be fun. No prize though. Probably when we get famous.

After talking to several REAL people who actually read my blog, I still find some people having trouble watching the video. I don't know about you, but I follow the steps below and the video plays smoothly.

1. Click on the "play" icon.
2. Click on the "pause" icon.
3. Wait till the the grey line is full, indicating that the loading process is complete. In the mean time, go and read an email or something.
4. Click on the "play" icon again and enjoy.

We played this video in our church on Sunday, and 80% didn't understand the teaser at all. Well, most teasers are meant to be like that. They are meant for teasing. Maybe it's a bit difficult to catch the message at first, but I'm sure you'll get it over time. Discuss with your colleagues and friends, use it to spend quality time with your family. It'll be fun. I hope you get the message, I really do.

Recording this video was fun. Having Jason, Joseph, and Brian to contribute and build upon the original idea gives me such great satisfaction. It's good to know that I can't do it alone, and it's so much better doing it together with others. And I thank God, for this wonderful family.

Cast: Jason Kang, as Pablo, and Brian Ong, as concerned housemate.

Cameraman: Joseph Teng

Director and Editor: Joash Chan

VC_Teaser 4 - It's here

Ok, so this is the last teaser for Vision Cast 2005. I know it's been hard for everyone to download and see my videos. I thank you for those who persevered and was nice enough to give some encouragement to me. It means a lot.

Anyway, we'll be doing the first teaser for Vision Cast 2006 this weekend, and I'll be posting it up here next Thursday. Hopefully it'll be better than last year's.

VC_Teaser 3 - Sense the urge?

This 3rd teaser of VC05 was designed to keep you guessing until the very end. So if you find yourself frustrated before the end, take comfort that it was meant to be. Ni'h. This time, there won't be Caleb the Sudden-Appearing "Ghost".

Not sure if there's any connection with this video, but I want to share with you what my mom taught me recently. Yeah, both my parents are pastors. At the end of John's gospel, Jesus restored Peter. He asked Peter, "Do you love Me?"... He had a task prepared for Peter, but He didn't ask if Peter sensed a burden to feed His sheep or preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. He just asked, "Peter, do you love Me?"

Maybe too many times we want to sense or feel a burden before follow the footsteps of Jesus in loving, giving, blessing, encouraging, serving. Jesus only said, "If you love Me, feed My sheep". Our love for Jesus should be compelling enough.

Again, here my reminder :: for best viewing, click "play" and then "pause". When the grey line is full, that means that the loading is complete. Click "Play" again and you shouldn't face any trouble while watching the video. ENJOY.

Death (1)

Last weekend I attended a funeral, again... I don't like facing death, it's such a horrible thing. At times it comes without warning, you can barely hear its footsteps. This time it's a friend's grandfather. Before his fall and admission to the hospital, he was ok. You couldn't tell that he had cancer. The doctor said there was a 80% chance of survival. But now he's gone, and his wife and the rest of the family mourns. My friend tells of how he had to watch the grandfather's heartbeat drop gradually... Heartbreak. As I threw the flower and sand onto the coffin, I say a soft "thank you, Jesus" for saving his soul.

 

The burial service was held at the same graveyard holding the physical bodies of my grandfather, grandmother, and my best friend, Josephine. I called her by her chinese name. Soo Fen became a follower of Jesus when she was 16 years old. Along with her mom, they somehow found their way to my church and ever since worshipped with us. She participated in our Christmas skit, the one I wrote with Joseph. The next Christmas eve she was involved in a car accident, and she wasn't with us no more on Christmas morning.

 

The thought that grips my very soul right now is "What fruits do I have to show for Jesus when I meet Him face to face?". I know that it's not by works that I am saved, only the grace and blood of our Lord can do that. But can I smile before I die? If I would think that material wealth could give me that smile, then count me the dumbest guy alive, my friends. I'm pretty sure that before one's death there would not be any thoughts like "Oh, I'm so glad I bought that 3G phone" or "Yes, my BMW has indeed completed my life"...

 

Can I smile before I die, knowing that I've lived according to the Master's plan? Can I say that I've fulfilled my God-given dreams? You know, for now, i think that is what I want to say before I die. And I won't just be hoping that I'll be able to achieve that. No no, not me. I'm going to RUN WITH GOD-GIVEN DREAMS.

VC_Teaser 2 - God's calling

Many atimes we wait and wonder where is the voice of God. We want revival, sure. But we just do our thing and hope that one day God will come down with a big bang and our lives will never be the same. We forget that it's a 2 way thing - this relationship of ours. We forget that running with a God-given dream doesn't mean that God will drag us through the tracks. He could, but He wouldn't. Then 1 day when God really call us up, we get all shocked.

This is teaser number 2. Remember, for best viewing, click "play" and then "pause". When the grey line is full, that means that the loading is complete. Click "Play" again and you shouldn't face any trouble while watching the video.

VC_Teaser 1 - TOUCH?

This is the first teaser we created in the build-up to our main event, VisionCast 2005. I got this idea from Jason, who shared his experience with our youth ministry's logo when he was younger.

Cast:
Jason, blur dude
Caleb, the "ghost"
Allyssa, the passserby