John 3:17

Alpha @ NanoChurch once again brought up an issue (read it here)I have trouble applying in my life with balance. And my balancing act is way far from perfection. Here's the imaginary conversation between God and I on the matter::

 

me: Ok. So that's what You do.

God: yes, and you can do it too.

me: But You're God. Your ways are so much higher than mine.

God: Sure You can. I say so.

me: Well, it's easier said than done. I guess I'm still processing the idea.

God: You'll get it.

me: How do I apply this here on earth? It's so hard to find the right balance.

God: What makes you think there's a balance?

me: There isn't?

God: What's My motto?

me: erm... Love no matter what??

God: See, I told you I didn't make you dumb.

me: But I'm missing something out, right? Or else we wouldn't be having this conversation... How do I love? How can I love the way that You do?

God: What is love?

me: Is this a trick question?

God: Play along, son.

me: Well, YOU are love!!

God: That's right. And I can love the way that I do because....??

me: Because You are love??

God: And you know that if I do something, it's out of love because...??

me: Because I know that You are love??

God: So what is your question?

me: In order to love, I first need to BE LOVE?

God: Yes, you need to be all about love. Everything about you, must be about love. I want you to think about this.

me: You know I will. But this matter sounds harder than it was before...

God: Who ever told you following Me will be easy?

me: I followed You because I know You're the way.

God: Right, the narrow way that leads to life.

me: Right.

God: You'll get it. I want you to.

 

Experimental Grounds 2nd wave

We had our ExG 2 last Friday night. It's really nice to see young people expressing themselves in worship unto God. Some of them were absolutely inspiring. I'll be writing about it later. I'll be making the video on the event and post it on the internet. You'll be able to find it at the sidebar link "My Videos". For now, i'll just show you my piece.

This is only the first version. I had to rush through the ending, as it was really late already and I know it was going to be a long day ahead. As I was lying on my bed I actually had to force myself to stop thinking about ways to improve the video. I've decided to get back to this project after I have completed the church videos. I think there's 5 videos that need to be done. So that will take 2 weeks.

Feel free to give comments. And if you're rich, you may want to consider being my producer for my movie. Haha. Enjoy.

The Baptism

It has been thirty days since our church's family day cum water baptism. More than 20 people gave their testimony of Jesus. Each were given 3 minutes to speak, but the existence of an interpretor ( a.k.a interruptor) to help all English speaking, Chinese speaking, and Bahasa Malaysia speaking people understand the message backfired as the time was almost doubled and the crowd grew restless and noisy.

 

I wonder if they heard the testimonies but I certainly did - I was the cameraman for the day. Each one had a special story about how they met Jesus and why they want to be baptised. There were little, but significant, victories that day. Some actually had their non-believing family to witness their baptism. WOW. That is just mind-blowing. God is doing a great work indeed. As they submerged in water, I felt that they weren't too concerned about the unattentive crowd. They knew their story was sounded and heard - by their family, by the devil, and by their Saviour.

 

I felt excited for them, especially those who were close to my heart. Dad came back this week and we saw the video. And I was again amazed by God's work over their lives. I have this tendency  of getting frustrated at the rate of their growth(pride and ungratefulness getting the better of me), but I don't want to doubt God's hand over their lives again. I must let God be God, and learn to love no matter what. I pray that they cherish this wonderful beginning. I'm so excited. I know God has something special planned for them.

 

I pray next year we'll be baptising some of my friends who have yet to believe.

A Time of Repentance

At our last prayer meeting, the Holy Spirit led us to a place of repentance. We asked God to forgive us for placing Him in a box, in spite of all our good intentions. For so long we have been asking for all the "good stuff" - revival, healing, breakthrough, salvation - but we have not seeked God's heart. We prayed according to what we thought was necessary, needed, or missing in the church today. We asked God to conform to our desires, assuming that He would deliver according to our timing.

 

And because of this attitude, we have belittled this Dream-Giver. We made Him too small in our eyes. We forgot that He's the so-much-more God. We form our ideas of Him base on what we hear from pastors, elders, people we admire, and books. We did not seek Him. We forgot that He can do exceedingly and abundantly far greater than our hopes and imagination. We leaned on our idealisms, and disregarded His grace. His grace is sufficient, right? By our actions, we projected our disbelief. We couldn't lie to God. He knows it all.

 

There were prophesies. We needed to be set apart unto holiness and good works, and we needed to return to our first love. We were encouraged to place our worries at His feet and exchange it for His yoke and burden, which is light and easy.

 

Our prayer that night, and even now, is that God be magnified, and He take us deeper in love with Him. We desire so much to be by His side, in His embrace, listening to His voice, feeling His heartbeat... Take us there, Lord. Take us there. We want to be your partners in prayer.