Clear Blue Skies

GetLife09 was awesome!! So awesome that it has restored my faith in camps. Thank God for open heavens at youth camp '09 & beyond.

Looking back now, God's hand had been with us all along. Yes, there was a dark cloud hovering above us - but our God is King above the storms, & He is Emmanuel, God with us. Throughout the camp, we prayed for open heavens & praise be to God for answering our plea. I praise God for the work He has done amongst us in this youth camp. Lives were touched, & 1 soul was added to the Kingdom!! YAY!!

1 thing that amazed me was that everybody that should have been at GetLife09 were there. And I'm happy to have witnessed the display of excellence by all campers, especially in the 3 days Amazing Race. Kudos to the camp committee for creating a race that drew the best out of everyone, & congratulations to all participants for their passion & enthusiasm.

There's really no telling what this generation can do in God - the sky's the limit. And personally, it's both comforting & scary. Comforting, because I know that this generation is in God's hand & God will use us to do great things; scary, because as a leader, I have the responsibility to lead without overshadowing or hindering the growth of each individual - finding that balance has been a challenge I knew I had to face. But this is a sign of critical mass, a place where small moves will determine if we leap ahead or fade away.

And therefore, now more than ever, is our time to do that one thing that's needed, that one good, noble thing - to sit at the feet of Jesus, to draw joy, peace, strength; to get life from the everlasting source.

Get life, till our cups overflow.

Parents' Appreciation Day 09

TOUCH's Parents' Appreciation Day is here again & I'm getting really excited about it. Things are starting to fall into place & at the moment, we have 22 adults confirmed to attend this event. We do hope for more parents to make it, as we have really great performances lined up to bless our parents. Yesterday while we had our final briefing, I just sense the excitement from those performing special numbers. What pleases me also is that this year we won't be re-using the songs from Mothers' Day & Fathers' Day (last year we used our Sisters' Day & Fathers' Day songs), as those songs were really unique & special, and should remain as such. There's even a possibility of yet another original song!! That would be great addition to an already wonderful event.

Do pray for me as I will once again be giving a speech as youth leader. I rarely get an opportunity to speak to an adult audience over the pulpit (so far this is my 2nd time). But I really desire to be a blessing to them through my words & also let them experience a little of TOUCH. I hope I succeed.

The Joy of Youth Ministry

I was just thinking about how awesome it is to be a youth worker in a local church now. Especially now - in this time of age where youths are despised & generalized negatively (yes even in the church) - it feels awesome to be the few who understands enough to stand by them through this crazy stage of their lives. It's such a great honour, joy, privilege, and responsibility!! Too many people choose to dwell on the little things that supports their childish, unfounded prejudices. With that they miss out on amazing things that God will do in & through this generation, and for that I pity them.

To the people of TOUCH, I want you to know that I love this youth group very much!! I'm so thankful for your trust towards me, allowing me to walk with you & participate in your life journey. I've been amazed by what God has done in your lives & I'm extremely excited about what He plans to do amongst us. The world & even people in the church may despise you - let them be - the important thing is that you don't despise yourselves, because you are the apple of His eye. Don't ever forget that.

Galatians 5: 1 - 6

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,^[a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Galatians 5:1-6

If you read in context, the freedom that Paul was talking about is freedom from circumcision, from keeping the law, from being justified by law. Wow!! The audience to whom this letter was adressed somehow had a liberty that isn't really liberty, a freedom that isn't really freedom. It sounds weird, yet many Christians have settled for that sort of 'freedom'. I've been guilty of that myself. That's why the writer had to emphasize on the need to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. 

Verse 2 & 3 says that if you try to be justified by fulfilling the law, the sacrifice of Christ would be of no profit to you, & therefore, once again, you become a debtor to keep the whole law. And if in case you didn't notice, no one in the bible could keep the whole law, except Jesus. Even Pharisees come to Jesus to ask for a way to enter into heaven, because they KNOW they can't keep the whole law & calm the warth of God. Wouldn't it be foolish of us, to not accept the free gift of God - eternal life by faith in Jesus - & subject ourselves to the punishment of the law?

Verse 4 is a shocker too. It says if you try to be justified by law again, you would have fallen from grace!! How can anyone fall from grace? Isn't grace unmerited favour - given to those who don't deserve it? How far or deep can a man fall that he would completely severed from grace? Could Paul be saying that judgement will fall upon those who think they can keep the law & fulfill it on their own efforts? 

Friends, our righteousness comes only by faith in Jesus Christ. And in Him, the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself through LOVE. 

More to come...

The Rocks

In conjunction with Teachers' Day & in our attempt to be a blessing to the secondary schools around Jalan Ipoh, TOUCH will be giving gifts to 120 teachers in SMK Raja Ali. We chose Raja Ali because it's the nearest school from our church., & we chose to bless the teachers because... what better way to penetrate into a school than to first touch the hearts of teachers, right?



Yesterday (Thursday) a bunch of helpful volunteers came over to my humble room to make beautiful paperweights. It took us (9 people if you include Rebecca & I, missing from the picture) 4 hours to complete 52 paperweights, simply because we (by that, I mean they) put our hearts & souls into each one - we want every teacher to be blessed by this small little gift. Tomorrow, we'll hope to finish another 68 more paperweights, while making another 120 handcrafted bookmarks. I hope that tomorrow's bunch will be able to give as much passion & enthusiasm as those yesterday.

Oh, in order to fund this community project & also others to come, we've started selling car stickers with our (new!!) TOUCH logo & our blip.tv link on them. Hopefully as we document our God-given ventures, www.touchpictures.blip.tv will create awareness towards our cause. I've recorded yesterday's paperweight-producing moments, that video will be up soon.

Many thanks to those who have given to help out in this endeavour - your talents, money, time, petrol are well-invested. THANK YOU.

Community

Last Saturday I had an interesting & refreshing encounter. I forgot when was the last time I invited some of the youths to stay over at my place. We watched a bit of football, played Boggle, & then settled down in my room (which amazingly can still host 4 people!!). Very intentionally, I kicked off the conversation, trying to make the most of the night. But I found out that they were much more eager to use that time to be involved in a meaningful conversation. And boy, I really admire the openness, transparency, & honesty of those young men. I've never been as opened as they were with my youth leader or in a group. And I don't think it's because I've presented myself as an approachable guy (I try to though). I believe it's a work that God is doing in our young people in FCC. Among many things, we talked about girls, salvation for friends, disappointments, frustrations, hope, heaven, death, dreams & ambitions...

Oh, last Friday's cell meeting was quite cool as well. We celebrated April birthdays with Anna, Chi Wing & Michelle (who wasn't there). Everyone had to think of a question to ask both Anna & Chi Wing, & boy the questions were really interesting & smart. In that time of Q&A, we've really got to know the birthday boy & girl in greater measure - and I felt that it was a really beautiful time.

I really treasure that few hours we connected on a deeper level. I believe God showed us a glimpse of true communion in the fellowship of the body of Christ. & I love this community God has created me in.

Quick Update on TOUCH

Sisters' Day has come & gone. Thanks to all the people who helped out in the kitchen, preparation & serving of food & the performances... Josephine documented the whole event on her blog. For videos, you'll have to wait... But you sure can look forward to our next big event:

There are about 40 guys in FCC, but we only have an average of 15 per youth service. Hopefully all of them can come & be a part of our first ever Brothers' Day!!

Perhaps this video will encourage you to come...

Invitation: Sisters' Day

For the very first time, TOUCH will be having special events in appreciation of brothers & sisters in this wonderful family we have. First up is Sisters' Day, where the guys will work together to give a memorable evening for the lovely girls of TOUCH. There are some really cool programmes arranged for that special event & I'm really excited. I can't wait to see the smiles on their face. It's going to be amazing.

Girls, you're gonna love us... MUAHAHA....

TOUCH Channel

Out of random inspiration I've decided that TOUCH should have a youtube channel of its own. Now with http://www.youtube.com/user/touchpictures, our friends who are now overseas can have a glimpse of home. It's just a great way to keep everybody connected lah, you know?

Anyway, this is May's recording (from her digital camera) of 1 part of our youth service, plus some editing from me. This video just shows how much fun we do have in TOUCH (and how sporting Samuel Young is).

Christmas Skit 2007

Kudos & congratulations to everyone of the production team. It was a great effort, & hopefully time will let us record everything VIDEO - that would be really cool.

Back & Gone Again

I've just came back from Taiping about 5 hours ago. HUGE camp 2007 was wonderful. There were some things that I wished would have been different, but I'm glad to say that I was blessed indeed. I'm very excited about writing on my experiences in HUGE here, but time doesn't permit. I will be on another bus in about 9 hours' time, this time the destination is Johor Bahru. Hopefully I'll have some time alone to pen (type) my thoughts down during my 4 days' stay down south. In the meantime, you can check out the videos below.

Gosh I'm missing TOUCH already...

HUGE pictures

Cell Potluck

Our cell group had a potluck gathering at my place last Friday. Our teenage members brought their friends over for food & games. Maybe it was awkward at first but later everyone was at ease. The "ha" & "what" game certainly broke the ice. I believe that our 21st Christmas party will be a greater success, now that our friends are familiar & comfortable with us.

And it was a really nice feeling for me, a 23-year-old. Somehow, in spite of the age gap (it's not that big), we could connect with one another. I didn't feel too old in their presence & they didn't feel too young or small to communicate with me. And in a small but significant way, that night comfirmed my ministry to the young people.

Joy of Christmas: Log 1

It feels like it's been a long time since TOUCH has attempted a skit. We're making a comeback this year, and I see that we're breaking new grounds. This time around Ken Chung is leading a team of 7 writers to produce a story of 3 friends, who seemed to have forgotten the true meaning & joy of Christmas. I'm helping out with the script, the videos & will oversee the practices, supporting Ken Chung in his first attempt at directing. May on other hand will be helping Jacklyn with props. But more significantly, she'll be assisting Rachel in creating a whole new element to our skit. It's exciting, nerve-wrecking & worrying at the same time, but we believe it's a risk worth taking.

Most of the script has been concluded (just a few hours ago), and tomorrow we'll be having our first practice. It'll be interesting to work with the 3 main character, all of whom will be performing a lead role for the very first time. Can't wait.

PK Gathering 3

9 PKs came together. We sat around the dining table & tested each others' food. It was homely, it was warm. Oh ya, we had pictaboo (combination of pictionary & taboo) too. Everyone was connected. It was good. Let's do it again.

Bowling with TOUCH

It was a really good time. The cheering for one another, the stunts & different styles, the celebration dances.... The only regret I have is that I've learned that I should never play bowling ever ever ever again.

What A Buzz!!

That's right, it's just been a buzz here in TOUCH ministry. First there was Andrew & Daniel, Lim brothers who have been attending Segambut cell for the past 2 Fridays. And even though there wasn't any newcomers in first youth service after the BBQ, I was still very much encouraged by the attendance of the Rooftop BBQ - we can get 54 youth to gather in one place, why not in youth service? Last Saturday we had several newcomers in our youth & there was MUCH REJOICING!! God was faithful & He's telling us that we're still very much in His thoughts.

Right now we must continue to work on the foundation of the youth ministry in order that we'll continue to have growth & fruits from our efforts. We must not just stop & dwell upon this
little success (comparing to what God wants!!), but press forward with greater focus & intensity, knowing the victory that is ahead of us. I believe it was no coincidence that during the week where we were feeling down, God led me to share on Joshua 3, when the Israelites finally crossed over Jordan River & begun their conquest of the Promised Land - how they took 40 years to cover ground that was actually a 2 weeks' walk. It was their unpreparedness that
has caused them that.

My desire is that we would move out from that small hang at the back & into the 2nd floor hall for our youth services - it's within 10 seconds' walk of each other, but are we able to get there by year end? Together, we most certainly can.

Snail Mail

I forgot who came up with the brilliant idea of sending snail mail with a photo to all the newcomers who came for the BBQ, but Joseph & Caleb got the stuff printed out and both of them came to my house to finish up the letters... you know, cutting out the letter, putting into the envelope, sticking on the stamp...

the letter

Check out our envelope with our new logo!! Yes, we can print our very own envelopes!!

May saw the letters & said that she wished she was a newcomer. I share the same feeling =)

Rooftop BBQ: YATTA!!

Thank you everyone for coming to our first ever ROOFTOP BBQ!! Your presence has enliven the atmosphere & I'm looking forward to more good times with all 53 of you!! And in case you're wondering - YES, the fireworks was most certainly part of our plan (not)!!

Now imagine all 54 of us coming together every week...

Visit to Subang Cell

Last Friday (28/09) I went to Subang cell meeting. May was suppose to come with me, but she was ill. Being alone & quiet in the train brought back a lot of memories. I don't remember what was before, but I remember Barbara was the one who felt the need to start the Subang youth cell. I joined her in starting up the cell group & when she left, I continued serving with Debbie. I remember coming with Joseph and also with May - I believe that was 5 years ago.

Now another cell leader has left (Jason) and that night was the first time I see the new leadership in place. I reminded them of the significance of the moment - that now is the time to make the necessary changes. Re-evaluate - take the good, throw the bad, & FOCUS. At the end of the night, I felt that they too sense the importance of the moment. And I believe that they would rise to the occasion & be an example to all the other youth cell groups of our church.

Take them flying, Ben & Jac!! Hebrews 12:1-2

Rooftop BBQ

This is history in the making. You won't want to miss it.