Personal Reflections

Work Matters - God Given Work by R Paul Stevens

2011-06-19T11:03:00.000+08:00

The Bible is “an album of casual photographs of labourers…. A book by workers,

about workers, for workers – that is the Bible.” Paul Minear1

The Trinity and Human Work

The relational character of God has implications for work.

First, human work, shaped by the Triune God is essentially personal. Just as each person of the Trinity brings otherness and difference—origin, implementation and empowerment—so each human being has a distinctive work to bring to the world. .

Second, human work is God‐like when it is relational. This means that we are designed to work together, each person’s work is to be enriched by and intended to enrich his or her neighbour.

David Jensen describes this beautifully: “The work of creating, redeeming, and transforming the world is not a one‐time fiat of a divine monarch or the result of three separate decrees, but a movement of distinctive personal work sustained by a community of love.”

7 Gone, or rather, never to have been invented in the first place, is a hierarchy of occupations with the pastor and people‐helping professionals at the top and the ditch digger and stock‐broker at the bottom. Each person has something to give and each person needs others to complete their own work. This is something revealed throughout the first five books and the stories of workers contained in these accounts.

Money Matters 4 - BELIEFS

2010-02-16T23:15:00.001+08:00

The late Dr Edwin Louis Cole has cogently and potently put it :'your beliefs has the greatest potential for good or evil.' Our beliefs can directly affect our effectiveness and productivity which God both demands and deserves from us.

Money Matters 3 - TOP TABOO TOPIC

2010-02-16T14:10:00.006+08:00

Money matters are fragile, sensitive matters as it remains one of the most difficult issues to openly deal with in Christianity today.

5 reasons for the tabooness of money...

1) The Evil of Money

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith...

1 Timothy 6:17 - Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

Many Christians have been conned into believing that God is against riches and against His people being rich. For far too long, sincere but foolish Christians connect and label wealthy people including rich Christians as being ungodly and worldly. This is the first reason why money issues are sensitive issues. Anyone who keeps talking about money is almost always regarded, at least subconsciously as being evil or wicked.

2) The Misuse of Money

Money has been abused and misused. Sadly, the perpetrators include Christian ministers who have not broken out of the grip of covetousness and materialism.

People fully receive ministry when they can believe the integrity of its main leaders. When trust is violated, any ministry will spiral downhill, and if necessary changes and rectifications are still not made, that ministry will disintegrate.

Over the last 2 decades, we have seen the general trust between church leadership and laity erode because of the abuse of money, especially by church leaders. Much of the abuse centered on extravagant living, misappropriation and mismanagement of church funds. Today the Church still carries the ugly scars of resentment, hostility and skepticism caused in the first place by greedy ministers.

3) The 'Virtue' of Poverty

Proverbs 6:11 - your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

In many Asian countries today, poverty is stll celebrated as a virtue. Here, it is honourable for young children to go around in the cities, barefooted, bald, clad in orange robes and begging for their food from pathetic looking, dirty bowls. To many here, it is a sign of great spirituality and considered sacred. This is still a prevalent practice in countries like Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, India and China and Many other Asian countries. It also prevails in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and other eastern religions too.

Poverty is linked to virtue, holiness and great spirituality. The minds of these Christians have not been renewed.

Many Christians today still believe that true Christianity must embrace the 'holy suffering' of poverty and lack.

The people of the world have great difficulty believing God is love because they keep seeing Christian unnecessarily suffering poverty, insufficiency and debt. They Church often forgets that the world only walks by sight, sense and circumstance. They don't know anything about faith.

4) The Privacy of Money
Since the fall, man constantly hides and runs both from God and his true self! He became more self-conscious than God-conscious. It is common fact that everyone of us wears masks to hide our true selves from others. As one has aptly put it, there are 3 persons inside of us :
i) the one we think we are
ii) the one others think we are
iii) the one God knows we are

One of the surest way to discover the true character of a person, beneath his facade is by noting the way he uses his money. Money issues are undeniably personal issues. The way a person uses his money can and clearly reveal his true life-values and his character.

It's all My Money - Every working person legitimately thinks he is entitled to spend his hard earned money any way he thinks right and proper. It reasonably follows therefore that a person's money represents his very life. It is something personal and very close to him. The fact is money issues are heart issues! How we spend 'our hard earned' money reveals our innermost values, priorities and beliefs, ie what we consider to be good, evil, right, wrong, human and inhuman, etc are revealed through how we spend money given or entrusted to us.

Money in itself is amoral, that is, it is neither good nor evil. However, it only becomes good or evil through its use. A man's life values, convictions and heart are revealed through the way he redistributes the money in his possession.

The Bible teach that the worker must be paid his wages. This is non-negotiable payment made to a person in exchange for his labour and value added contribution into an industry or business. This payment is not a gift. It is a person's salary. Every hour a worker contributes through his work in a company represents a part of his life. In short, time really represents life. This is obviously something personal - it is his life.

5) The Misconception of God
This final and probably the most widespread cause of financial breakdowns in Christianity today is the ignorance of God's stewardship or management plans for His resources on earth. It is our ignorance of God's ways, will and word that is the root cause of our many defeats and destructions. The church is attempting to serve and work with a God of Whom she knows nothing or very little about. No wonder she did not boasts of great exploits except for those who know their God shall be strong and do mighty things.

In other words, only those who keep seeking will find. Those who keep asking receive. If saints are not going to grow up through actively pursuing truth in and for their lives, they aren't going anywhere in God.

Misunderstanding God
The prayer of faith is one that must be based on true revelation of God - the One to Whom we pray. One who does not believe, will have difficulty making his prayer effective. When a saint prays according to this true revelation, his prayer becomes effective because his faith can then be released. It suffices to state that without an accurate revelation of God, no saint can ever breakthrough in any matter, let alone money matters.

Our perceptions and attitudes in life generally determine our approaches and responses in life. This is especially so with God - the Source of all things!

In confronting our true conditions, we are enabled to confront our mountains. Remember, we cannot conquer what we are not willing to confront.

Summary of Principles
1. Money matters has been a neglected issue in the Church because of its sensitivity. In order to conquer the territory of money, the Church must first confront it. To defeat the enemy, we must be willing to deal with our weaknesses and the enemy's strengths.

2. Money is a sensitive issue because of the evil element attached to it. It is the love of money, not money in itself that is evil. Money is amoral.

3. It is sensitive also because of its misuse and abuse especially by Christian ministers. The issue of trust, credibility and integrity of ministers is a key issue for breakthrough in these times.

4. Thirdly, poverty has been wrongly connected with virtue and spirituality. Dealing with it can be quite ugly or unwelcoming because of religious spirits that have been allowed to breed like lice for decades under the carpets of the church.

5. The private nature of money is such that the way it is used unmasks the real worth and character of its users. Hence, it's sensitivity.

6. Finally, money is sensitive because sincere but misled saints still do not understand their God for His true character and nature. To talk about money requires knowing the true prospering, increasing, blessing nature of our God. Many will be faced with the reality that they have been dealing with a 'wrong God' in these lectures on money.

Money Matters 2 - LOCATING THE LYING LOSER

2010-02-16T12:44:00.010+08:00

Revelation 20:1-3 - Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven... He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the devil and satan, and bound him for a thousand years... so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished...

Defeated But Still Deadly?

If satan was defeated by Christ on the cross 2000 years ago, why do we still need to deal with him anymore? Why does he still have power over us?

It is true, Christ defeated satan. Jesus totally stripped satan of his stolen authority to mess up people's lives. The devil is indeed a defeated foe.

In the Garden, Adam lost his authority of dominion over the planet to the devil who took over and unlawfully, became the 'god of this world.' The human race came under the spiritual slavery of satan. Every facet of human life - political, social, spiritual, economic and the educational spheres came under satan's evil influence through his lies and half-truths.

Through the cross, Jesus Christ took back those keys of authority from satan who stole it from Adam its rightful owner.

Luke 10:19 - Behold I give unto you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Since the devil and his cohorts have all been defeated, how can he possibly have anymore hold or power over the saints?

Satan's Pseudo Power

Though satan has been denuded of all authority to hurt and harass people, it does not mean that he sits idly by, giving up further attempts to thwart God's plans and purposes. He is not going to roll over and show himself dead. No, he still persists in destroying the destinies of man.

Satan exploits the ignorance of the saints on Christ's finished work and devour those who live in ignorance of the victory of Christ over him. The devil cannot harass just anyone he sees or he wants. He has to carefully seek and particularly select potential targets. These targets must always be those who are unaware, ignorant and oblivious of the truths concerning the cross and satan's utter defeat.

Destruction from Ignorance
Hosea 4:6 - for My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge

The greater the ignorance in a person, the greater is satan's advantage over that person. When people are ignorant of God's ways and will, they become vulnerable to enemy manipulation and domination.

Satan's Only 'Power' - Deception!
The 'power' satan has over anyone is released by his getting the person to believe his lies. The devil actually activates his victim's spirit and soul against himself. This is so because God designed a man to thrive when his life is based upon truth. He self-destructs when his life is based upon 'lies' because he was not designed to function on lies.

The devil is not the roaring lion. He only tries to sound like one. He paints a picture of himself as a powerful lion that can destroy people's lives and families. The truth is he is not! He is a totally beaten, toothless little wimp! The actual roaring lion is Christ Jesus - the Lion of Judah!

Satan is a Liar!
The devil lies about everything - about God, about himself, about people, about heaven, about hell, about the earth, about the Church and so on. It is in satan's nature to lie. He can only deceive those who listen to his lies. The devil himself knows - If you can be deceived, you can be defeated.

John 8:44 - You are of your father, the devil, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires {which are characteristic] of your father. he was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a falsehood, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar himself and the father of lies and of all that is false.

Some vital truths from the passage of scripture...

1. All that is false and untrue is sourced in satan. All that is true is sourced in God. Satan is called the father of lies. Jesus is the Truth.

2. Truth gives us access into God's life. Lies forces us into the devil's domain and therefore his dominion.

3. Satan's quest to kill the life of Christ in believers is done through lies and all that is false. He is a murderer or a taker of life. God is Author of Increase in and for believers. He is the Prince or Author of Life.

Only God Reveals Destinies
To fulfil one's destiny, one must first know it. A person's destiny was ordered in eternity, before time, by God Himself. Unless the person is reconnected and stays connected to the Creater, he can never discover his true purpose in life. The connection is only possible through a living, heart relationship with Him. This life is the very thing satan seeks to kill - the life of God flowing in and through the saint - satan seeks to murder the life of God.

Word Looters
How then does he accomplish this murder? It is by stealing the word or rhema - the specific message that God speaks. God has placed His life in His word and satan knows this!

Specifically, the devil's focus is to stop the beleiver obtaining revelation knowledge. It is revelation knowledge that produces faith and without faith, a person is disconnected from the Power of the Life source - God himself!

Hebrews 11:6 - For without faith, it is impossible to please God...
Romans 10:17 - Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
John 16:13 - When He, the Spirit of Truth has come, He will guide you into all truth...

The Weakened Church
As far as money matters go, satanic deception has spanned many decades now on the church of Christ...

a) The Boxed-In Church
Much of the Church is boxed up today. She has not been 'allowed' to fully express herself, optimising every gift, talent and ability resident with her. God being the increase demands that His people multiply and prosper and manifest His manifold wisdom to the world. Since everything in His kingdom operates based on the law of increase, members of His kingdom will necessarily and resultantly be advancing in an upward, increasing direction for all areas of life.

God wants His people to be blessed in all areas of their lives. When the saint is powerfully plugged to the God of Increase, he cannot but increase!

b) The Holey Christian
Much of the church still hold to the lie that God wants them saved and then to wait contentedly - either for the rapture or their death, whichever comes first! While waiting, they believe, Christians are to be contented with what they have and not to shoot for the top, or excel in becoming their best, in contributing to human society. All such quests are deemed ungodly, unholdy and worldly.

c) The Low Life Christian
Many believers have believed that God frowns on such 'ambitions and desires' to be great and successful. So they remain stuck at mediocrity or low level of life. They substitute godly contentment with ungodly complacency and lethargy all in the name of being holy or humble.

The gifts, talents and abilities resident within the saints are rarely allowed full expression. Mediocrity and low-living seemingly praised above the spirit of excellence or the desire to breakthrough in life. The Church is thus boxed up and shamefully limited in her expression of the God of Increase to the world.

d) Molested and Beat Up
The Church believes 'money is the root of all evil' wrongly connects evil to money and consequently avoids all money issues fearing she will become evil.

Last Day Apostasy
The last day Church is prophesied to be an overcoming and triumphant one-in all aspects of life. The Church will again be the world leader in all spheres of life - socially, politically, economically, spiritually and educationally.

The greatest key to experiencing God's promises and power in our lives is to have a listening ear. We need to be plugged into God continually and this comes through being tuned in to God's frequency instead of the other frequencies of the world, satan and man.

John 10:3-5 the sheep hear His voice... and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES

1. Through His cross, Christ totally stripped satan of his authority to oppress or enslave people again. It is a done deal, a completed mission, a fulfilled victory.

2. The only 'power' satan has over people today comes through his lies and deceptions. Ignorant Christians are vulnerable and easy victims of satan only because of their ignorance of truth.

3. If you can be deceived, you can be defeated.

4. The success of satan's battle against the Church is tied to his stealing the word or message of Christ to and for the Church. No word (rhema) means no life. No life means unfufilled destinies.

Money Matters 1 - VISION OF VIOLENCE

2010-02-16T10:48:00.011+08:00

A Vision

The hideous tyrant appeared both enraged and jubilant. With deadly force, he was tirelessly lashing out his long whip against the people. Loud 'whacking' sounds could be heard. Each time the whip cracked, loud shrieks echoed through the enclosed place. The people were panting, gasping and screaming in terror as they ran amok and around.

A unique feature of the vision was the fact that none of the victims could tell from where or from whom the beating was coming. The evil torturer was invisible to them. Yet they were experiencing unbearable, even excruciating pain all the time. All they could do was to keep on running mostly in a circular direction. Yet, no matter where they ran, the whip seemed to follow them closely. They just keep endlessly running around amok endlessly.

It was upon seeing a black colored dollar sign inscribed on the forehead of the demon that I began receiving some clear words from the Lord regarding the meaning of the vision.

Understanding the Vision

The Lord showed me that many of His people, including and especially His ministers were under the cruel dominion and control of the Spirit of Mammon. Untold numbers, entrapped by Satan, interlocked in a deadly whirlpool of financial hellholes, have become emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually fatigued. This has paralyzed any will in them to fight back. Some have become resigned and indifferent to believing any hope of a turnaround in their adversities. Many are already swept into increasing cycles of defeat, depression and destruction. Also, many have compromised their faith by going back to their past ways in making a living, having lost many more hope in God and believing the like that He has forsaken them or that they are no longer worthy of Him.

The Word of The Lord

And the Lord said to me, "This is one battle Satan has scored well against My people. He

has fortified his walls, building it upon lies and half-truths. My people have been deceived for too long and have therefore become greatly overwhelmed by their many breakdowns in the area of their finances. They have been misinformed and misguided and deceived regarding my divine plan and will for their finances. It is high time for My people to arise from their stupor and identify the real enemy. It is time for My Church to arise and to face and fight off this enemy that has too long held them in the bondage of lack and insufficiency. It is high time for My people to truly know Me as their Sole Source of continual provision and unlimited supply of all things for their lives and destinies. They have been faithlessly crying for so long for their financial freedom but do not see that I have already answered them through My Son Jesus.

It is time for My people to cease from their vain and faithless moanings and start taking action. I am weary of their futile praying and crying. I desire to see the obedience of the faith so I can release My power for their breakthroughs.

The Key of Knowledge
The Holy Spirit is speaking to the Church on all issues of life, including the Father's plans and patterns and purposes for His wealth and resources on the earth. We must position ourselves to receive so we can respond accordingly and appropriately.

Summary of Principles
1. For God's people to overcome in any area, their leaders must first overcome in that area. Everything rises or falls on leadership.

2. There is an urgent need for Davids to rise up to defeat the Goliaths intimidating the company of God. To enter and live in the land of giants, the Church must herself become one - a giant!

3. God is always moving. God is always speaking. To move with God, we must know what He is saying to us. God's moves always follow God's word. His word in the spirits of men precedes His work on the earth.

4. Truths on 'money' are just as spiritual or anointed as any other Bible truth. Money matters is a critical, end-time message for the Church.

5. The last day Church is becoming a righteous, relentless confronter of unrighteousness. She will assume her rightful position as world leader.

Blessings for your life - Wisdom and Intelligence by Rev Melvyn Mak

2009-11-04T13:44:00.002+08:00

Proverbs 30:24-28 (this chapter is not written by Solomon but by an elderly man).

So much intelligence but very little wisdom. Now there is an explosion of information. Lawyer Razid run away. Wisdom is the ability to know what is true and right.

Wisdom is a skill for living and what God intended for our life. God wants to bless us with wisdom. James 1:5-8, 1 Cor 1:27-29

#1) ANT - Strategic Preparation - It's about timing! v35

#2) CONEY - Secure Place - It's about obedience

#3) LOCUST - Strong Purposes - It's about teamwork

#4) LIZARD - Special Position - It's about Grace

#1) Ants are hardworking, they are able to overcome. Ants prepare for winter. The ant creature of little strength yet the store up in summer for winter. Someone who is wise,will prepare himself. Luke 16:8, Matt 5:25-26

#2) Prov 30:26 Coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags. Matt 7. All of us will hear the word of God - some will choose to build the house on their rock, and some to build it on the sand.

Building on the rock = more costly for obedience and wise

Building on the sand = short cut and foolish

Psalm 62:6-7, Prov 9:10

#3) Locust - Strong Purpose v27. Locust have no king, yet they advance together in ranks. When they have a fix focus and power, nothing can stop them and they move in power.

Lev 26:8 Certorn - Lie low and stitch. Family means nobody left behind.

Group - just gather together to meet. Team has a goal, will run together, locust have ownership of their purpose and there is always one person where God will identify to lead with a strong purpose.

#4) Lizard - Special Position Prov 30:28

Creature that can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in King's palace. A lizard and a palace is about grace.

A Place to Be - by Ps Eugene Seow

2009-10-04T13:38:00.002+08:00

4987600 - Last Tues - Singapore Population as at June 2009. Are you just one of them.

Question - Why am I here in Singapore? Is Singapore save forever? Is this the PLACE to be? Acts 17:28. God has determined who you are and where you are. God has a wonderful place in your life.

Matt 22:37-40, Gal 5:14 = 'To love Your Neighbour is the Place to be." How can I fulfilled God's greatest commandment / purpose in the place He has placed me. The Place to be Acts 17:26

#1) When you ACCEPT your Place in God's Plan. Gen 1:28, Gen 12:1-2. Gen 35:11-12. God is concerned about the land. 1 Chron 4:10, Jer 29:4-7. God wants them to appreciate where He has placed you.

Destination => Destiny and Nation

Committed to your land - pray for your neighbour, pray for your land.

#2) When you ALIGN God's Plan in your place Acts 17:27

If you want to live in God's purpose, you need to align to HIM. Matt 5:13. Not so much about salt but it is being salty.

Step 1 - They would seek Him - be a bridge of Blessing (make a difference). Ps 16:5,6 - Ps Julie's favoriet

#3) When you ACT in faith - believe God for transformation.

Acts 17:28 Luke 5:17-26

Jesus does not respond to need, but respond to faith. God will move on your faith. All this God is moving us from being salt to light in this land. Matt 5:16

Sermon by Pastor Ashley Evans

2009-09-19T16:53:00.003+08:00

Leah => Ruben

Gen 29 - Leah had another son - Simeon where it gives birth of the Levites tribe

Gen 29:35

Praise always come first before breakthrough. God's divine order - praise comes first. Blaming others about her circumstances. Focus on alot of things - your career, being a parent, your studies.

4th Child - Judah, it is not man's first but God's first choice. Gen 37 - Judah is the one who protects his brother, Joseph.

1) Praise Protect the dreams and dreamer

2) Praise protects you when you are vulnerable Gen 44:14-18

3) Praise puts pressure on the problem. Praise begins to put pressure on the problem, issue.

4) Praise changes you

5) Praise was chosen by God to welcome a new day Ps 118:4

6) Praise was chosen to attack the enemy first - Judges 1:1-2

7) Praise says you expect to win

8) Praise declares that my destiny is in good hands

9) Praise is the cure for discouragement and depression Eph 5:4, Be thankful for all things

10) Praise releases the power of God

Staying Fresh For God - Daniel 6

2009-09-13T17:08:00.001+08:00

Sermon by Ps Lawrence Khong

Daniel Chapt 1 to 6 talks about life of Daniel

Chapt 7 till end => message from God, concerning the end time.

God is concerned about men before the message. God prepare the man, so he can be the vessel for God.

1) We can learn from Daniel's sensational success in his career, v3 Daniel has excellent qualities

2) We can learn from Daniel's impeccable integrity, Chapt 6 v4-5

3) We can learn from Daniel's unshakeable faith even when he is in the Lion's Den

4) The most important lesson is found in Daniel's spiritual freshness for God!

Daniel 1 = reference back - Daniel is about 14 to 16 years old and you can tell his committment to God is the same as Chapt 6 even when he reaches age 80.

Daniel's success and faith is always fresh = 66 years of unshakeable, integrity, etc

We can have a week, a month, but for a man / woman of God can live for 20 years, 30 years, 60 years freshness for God, Spiritual freshness is doubling charming.

God is ready to give us a freshness. We can stay fresh for God by staying fresh with God. If we draw close to Him, enjoy intimate relationship with Him, He will stay close to you. Chapt 6:10-11

Daniel prayed 3 times/day just as before => lifestyle, Luke 5:15-16

Matt 5:6 => We are not hungry enough but if you are hungry, you will search for your food.

On a Dark and Stormy Night

2009-09-06T17:00:00.002+08:00

Matthew 14:22-36, Matt 5:45

How can I survived in a dark and stormy night?

a) Recognising the voice of God - There is security

b) Responding to the voice of God - There is salvation

Passing to the next generation - is recognising the voice of the Lord. How?

1) Voice of Comfort - You can count on Him - Matt 14:25-27, Ps 8:3-4, 1 Peter 5:7

It is I, God is there. 2 Cor 1:3-4

2) It is a voice of communion. You can COME to Him. 1 Thes 5:19-22. James 3:17, James 4:8, Rev 3:20

3) It is a voice of Compassion. You can cling on to Him Matt 14:30-31

4) Matt 14:28,29 - He humanly stepped out. This is responding in faith. He honestly called out. He humbly cried out.

Normally during storm, we want to defend and take control. What is the best antidote for PRIDE is HELP. Matt 14:32-33

How to run a fishy business - Rev Melvyn Mak

2009-08-30T21:55:00.004+08:00

Luke 5:1-11

How can we become effective Fishers of Men?

1) Overarching calling will define who our Master is

2) Obedient Attitude - Delivers God's Miracles

3) Overwhelming Encounter - Declares Our Message

Luke 5:10b Catch Men, Mark 1, Matt 4 - a word implies Evangelism. Rom 10:13-15

v4,5 Similar passage John 21:1-6

What are these obstacles?

a) Fixed Mindset

b) Fear

v6-9 To do is something that should be driven from inside out

Acts 4:18-20

2 Kings 7v9

Even if you have overwhelming experience, you can still keep within ourselves. Real compassion is more than feeling but just do it. We need to serve direct from our heart.

Success in life is finding a need and meeting it. Matthew 9:37-38

Youth No Take 2 by Rev Eugene Seow

2009-08-23T21:38:00.003+08:00

Ecclesiastes 12:1. 1 Timothy 4:12

Fear God and keep your commandment Ecc 12:13

3 Words

----------

- Opportunity Ecc 12:1

- Responsibility

- Destiny

OPPORTUNITY

--------------------

13/30 Windows => These age group are the Gen Y. If only the church will know what MTV will know. Why can't the church see the MTV see.

- open and flexible, impressionable

- idealistic, capacity for faith

- this generation is a treasure, MTV sees it as generating. Prov 4:23, Prov 4:20-22

RESPONSIBILITY 1 Tim 4:12

-------------------------------------

I am a transformer!!

This age group - Over blessed under tested, over entertained under challenged

Matt 25:14-30

Age of youth is a age of responsibility. Joseph, David and Jeremiah, Josiah, Mary and Timothy = God uses the above. Salvation army - William started age 15. Charles Spurgeon started age 19. John Wesley started aged 26.

"Consider this fact that 90% of all professing Christians come to Christ before reaching 30 and 75% before the age of 25."

"Where there is no young people, there can be no lasting change." Eces 11:9

Youth age is age of learning responsibility. James Dobson - age of transfer from parents to the children.

Destiny - Jer 29:11

Don't ever say There is No You. Destiny .... In God's Plan = COOL. Faith Factor Acts 2:17

What Do You See?

2009-08-02T20:51:00.006+08:00

Today's sermon on What Do You See? by Ps Eugene Seow is very enlightening. He links back to National Day Parade and when I reflected back to the preview that I watched 2 weeks ago, I felt alot of Singaporean cannot see.

He also mentioned about helping the needy. Then I recalled my lunch with Thurga, I remembered she shared that she is very happy that I brought her out that day as this is the first time she went out with friends. Having an autoimmune - multiple sclerosis at 21, life can be very unkind to her.

Due to her sickness, she draws away from her young and healthy friends. Daily, her tears will flow down her eyes and she always ask herself if she has a future. Glad I told her there is and encourage her to give God a chance to heal her.

Glad the 2 topics Ps Eugene mentioned today, I am there to witness it. I pray and hope there are many harvesters in Singapore willing to extend their hand to many needy out from their heart.

NDP Parade

2009-07-19T21:09:00.005+08:00

I thank God for the priviledge to be able to watch the NDP Preview. I went with Clarinda and Daryl.

I must say, the preview is very abrupt for chapters connection, but the last chapter, ie Chapter 10 I was filled with emotions. I remember the reflection questions on the 40-days booklet, dated 15 July 2009 :-

God love the imperfect Singapore, do you?

Honestly I do not love Singapore as much as God loves Singapore. Though me being a party member, I don't seem to flow very well with the party vision. Infact I believe alot of Singaporeans are not connected heart to heart with the government. Here in this show, they are trying to demonstrate the love of our government had for his people, but the people are not connecting with them. I felt very sad and I can only pray that God will open the eyes of Singaporeans and grant our government a more shepherding heart.

Oh Lord, forgive me when I did not love Singapore enough to care for her and do my best to help when needed.

Band-Aids and Bail-Outs

2009-07-09T21:20:00.001+08:00

Today I decided to bring Thurga out. Part of my key purpose I want to do is to minister to people in need.

Wow, when I turn to the 40-day booklet, on 9 July - jackpot!

- PRAY that every day, every where in Singapore, Christians will seize the opportunity to minister to the sick and hurting. Are you personally involved? Or have you conveniently left it all to your church social worker or our benevolent government? Ask God to move your heart with compassion.

YES, on 9 July 2009, I took Thurga (the 21-year old Indian girl out) for lunch and minister to her. Prayed for her and she being young, she was very encouraged that I am willing to help her to chart her career. So I did not leave it to the church, to the government :)

Mad Church Disease

2009-07-06T13:55:00.004+08:00

From the Book - Mad Church Disease by Anne Jackson

Overcoming the Burnout epidemic - Anne Jackson (flowerdust.net)

- I loved Jesus, but his church was wearing me out.

- Since I had allowed spending time with God to be replaced by spending time doing things for God, my spiritual tank had been sucked dry. When that happened, I began to lose perspective on almost every area of my life. My defenses were down, and I allowed myself to start believing the little lies the enemy would throw into my path.

- John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.

- By taking our focus off the dysfunctions of our past, and changing it to how God can work through us as he uses our life journey - our history, our present, our future - we are less likely to burn out. Anytime we become less and God becomes more, it's his power being perfected in us.

Oswald Chambers - My utmost for His Highest

The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and "the lilies of the field" - simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.

- If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on him, and he will make use of you every minute you live - yet you will be unaware on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used by him.

Another night of Interesting Stories in MPS

2009-04-08T20:59:00.001+08:00

Today is exceptionally crowded as minister is around to see the residents. Last week, ministeris not around and alot of people didn't want us to write letter. However today minister came in around 9pm to meet up with the residents. Believe he is away for meeting with Roland.

I have several interesting cases today and it is worth recording of its manner...

Case 1

An uncle who walks in and wants to look for job in Civil Service. Uncle age 56 but looks like 66. He is really old looking. He shared that he is currently working as a taxi-driver and find it difficult to cope as it is very tiring for him to drive 12 hours especially he just recovers from a minor stroke. This is understood but I asked him if he could find relief drivers. He didn't want to answer me direct but keep saying it is difficult to find and wants the government to help him look for a job.

My conclusion for him is that he did not put in enough effort to look for relief drivers so he can cover his cost at least.

Anyway, decide to write to CDC to ask for Employment Assistance for him.

Case 2

This guy came and insist I have to record everything he says. I told him that I will summarise for him after he shares what he wants. He started off saying he had sexual relationship with this lady Amy Wong several times and now he wants to get intouch with her as he could not reach her. I want you all to give me her address.

With this starting paragraph, I suspect he is not quite sane. Then he continued to ask me to write down 2nd point. I have something very important to tell the Top Leaders and is confidential. Thus I need to see minister.

For sure I can conclude this - this man is XIAO. The volunteer on my right look at me and both of us smiled as this is really funny.

Anyway, alerted the body-guards and Branch Secretary. Straight away BS talk to this man. Thereafter, this man gave BS 2 letters. BS after reading was laughing and said a set of rubbish.

I read thru the letter and this reminds me of someone else I know who always has something important to tell the PM and wants to meet him personally. I could only laugh it off and thank God that I manage to discern thru such cases.

Case 3

When I see this lady, I remembered I wrote her case the last time - court proceedings due to her unpaid summons. This time she came with a different court case. In my heart, I was thinking, why another court case. She seems to be always encountering court cases.

She started telling me a long-story in which I couldn't even understand what she is trying to tell me. Partly I was very distracted because of the earlier 'MAD' resident wanting to see minister and I have to watch over him at the same time because today it is very crowded.

For this lady, I only can ask her to go for legal adviser as we are not judge and can't command the judge to revoke the case or issue a mediation. She refused to go to legal adviser but I insist that it is better for her to go to a professional. Ultimately she has no choice and still wants to see minister.

Looking at her, reminds me of that similiar someone else who always facing law suits. Personally I find they are a problem and not the law. To make matter worse, that case is like 9 years ago and she still wants to pursue. One of a kind!

MPS Interesting Stories

2009-03-24T20:58:00.004+08:00

Case 1
This 62 year old man introduce to me the lady besides him is his girlfriend. I was shocked to hear that at such age, there is still such scenario of boyfriend and girlfriend. Just incase you think the girlfriend is a dragon lady, no. She is a 50 year old well spoken lady.

After knowing abit of their background, I respected that lady because she had taken care of this man for 2years when he was down with stroke. Not only she takes care of him, she also takes care of his nephew who is also down with stroke.

Definitely not after his money as both came to seek financial help and rented flat.

Case 2
This 18 year old boy came to seek for re-admission back to the school. He was apprehensive to share initially but when his mother walks away, he begin to share more from his heart. When I encouraged him not to give himself up, he was really surprised and you should see that lightbulb turn on his face. I suspect his mother is an issue in his life as the reason he gave was not very motivated to go to school. However when I encouraged him, he gave me a smile and I can tell that he is very encouraged.

His mother, another issue. She wants to pursue Psychology Diploma as she believes that it helps in her career. To me maybe more for her managing her family. Her purpose is asking the government to pay the $5000 Diploma course fees. Wow, where got such kind of priviledge in Singapore??

Neighbour's Case
Overheard one resident telling Dr Yong that he will kill himself if government refuse to release CPF funds to them. He will make sure all the reporters are there before he kill himself so that the reporters will tell the world that the government refused to help him. What a threat!

Next is a police case and had written many instructions telling what our ministers should do. Perhaps she should be sitting at the Parliament directing rather than coming here and ask for help.

Summary
Today I had served 2 HDB cases which I hated most, 2 ICA cases asking for PR, 1 Town Council cases asking them to relocate the chairs, 1 youth pleading to return back to school and 1 asking for sponsorship for her course.

Not too bad, with 7 different cases...

Retirees are not any wiser - Extracted from TODAY 09 Jan 2009

2009-01-09T23:29:00.002+08:00

Retirees are not any wiser ESTHER NG estherng@mediacorp.com.sg:

EVEN highly educated people can fall for scams — proof that financial literacy alone is no guarantee against bad economic decisions. Mr Stephen Greenspan, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Colorado, came to this conclusion after personally falling victim to Mr Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi investment scheme.

That is why a psychological understanding of how individuals make decisions is important, in the view of economist Mukul Asher — and it should be taken into account in financial counselling, as well as embedded in financial literacy programmes. The Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy was one of the panel speakers on “Financial Education and Literacy”, at the Reinventing Retirement Asia Conference.

According to Mr Greenspan, said Prof Asher, many people made their decision to invest withMr Madoff on the recommendation of friends or relatives.

“Financial education is required not just in terms how to accumulate it in the best possible manner, but also how to ‘de-cumulate’ the payout in a financially sound manner,” Prof Asher stressed. This is critical because studies around the world show that most retirees spend their pension money within three to five years, he noted.

It is why he disagrees with how pension boards in South-east Asia allow lump-sum pension payouts, because he feels individuals do not have the self-control to make their savings last into advanced old age.

“These funds were set up in the first place because it is assumed that the individual will not save for retirement, because the cost of saving is immediate and the benefits are long term. Now, at retirement, you tell them to take the money (as if) suddenly, when you’re 60, you become wiser. I can tell you from my own experience that I’m older but not wiser,” quipped Prof Asher.

He recommends a one-time payout of between 25 and 30 per cent instead, and subsequent phased withdrawal of pension funds.

He also pointed to shortcomings of provident fund schemes set up by some governments in South-east Asia — such as the fact that these funds do not factor in inflation risk and life expectancy.

In addition, none of these funds have an independent financial board as a “check and balance”. “There is no robust database. Most of the civil service pension schemes do not have actuarial studies that they put on their board. How many of us know independently verified replacement rates in South-east Asia for our provident and pension funds?”

In his speech earlier, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted how some CPF members have complained that investing CPF savings in risk-free Singapore Government Securities yields “too low returns”.

“But in the current unstable financial markets, I believe many are relieved that the Government has been prudent rather than adventurous with their retirement nest-eggs,” said Mr Lee.

To allow members to grow their savings beyond the board’s interest rate, in 1997, the CPF Investment Scheme was set up. Part of their Ordinary and Special Account funds could be placed in shares, bonds or other investments. In 2001, the Supplementary Retirement Scheme was launched, where members could put their money into a wide range of shares, bonds, unit trusts and other investments.

Psalm 20 - Faith's Commanding Position

2009-01-08T20:37:00.001+08:00

Today's daily devotion is from Psalm 20.

Psalm 20 has always a very special attention in my heart. Primary reason is when I go thru the darkest moment of my life, during the crisis of my dad's medical condition and subsequently his passing on, God's encouragement to me is Psalm 20. It is so dear in my heart that I literally cling on to it daily and praying for God to answer when I am in distress.

4 years had passed. Looking back, God indeed answered my prayer when I am distress though at that time in distress, you just couldn't see it. Infact as per verse 2 - May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion, He did send alot of support from everywhere he could bring especially friends from FCBC, Barker Road Methodist and all the Christian friends from my Counselling Class. More importantly, all these years of being faithful as a servant of God is being recognised.

He will reward his anointed one and I believe I belong to that category humbly. God indeed is good and He turned my adverse situation to my advantage. After my dad's passing on, my whole family came to know Christ within 1 year and this is the greatest GIFT I have ever received in my life.

Psalm 20
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah
4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
9 O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call!

Financial Crisis Forum by Finance Minister

2008-12-13T19:39:00.001+08:00

The Political Education Committee (PEC) will be organizing a talk on the Financial Crisis by Comrade Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Sat, 13th Dec 08 from 2.00pm to 5.00 pm, at the PAP HQ Auditorium. The talk will cover the following areas: (i) Prospects for the Global Economic and Financial Crisis (ii) Impact on Singapore and Our Responses (iii) Lessons that we can draw from this crisis This will be followed by a Q & A session.

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Briefly, the Finance Minister shared with us that there are 4 bubbles burst at the same time in this round of Financial Crisis.

Bubble #1 - Sub-prime Mortgage Meaning - Houses are mortgage without the ability to pay up the mortgage loan. In other words, we bought big houses with very little cash we have

Bubble #2 - Security Crunch Meaning - Each bank may package 5 mortgage housing loans and sell to another bank which in return will add-on another 3 mortgage loan and package it + interest, sold it to another party. Then another party, take these 8 mortgage loan + a few more mortgage loan + interest and sold it to another party.

Bubble #3 - Credit Crunch Meaning - People spending more than they have by signing credit cards and not able to pay.

Bubble #4 - Asian Bubble Meaning - Alot of Asia export depends on USA. With USA economy down, Asia will be greatly affected. In summary, the interest had escalated and reaches a ceiling that the debt incurred is just impossible to pay off. Every country is in deficit except for 3 countries - China, Germany and Middle East. Middle East is not cash rich but asset rich like oil, etc. Germany refuses to help the economy by purchasing the goods because they felt that the issue is created by USA and they should solve it within themselves. China is kind and willing to take out some cash. But China itself cannot save the whole world.

Finance Minister also commented that there are 2 ways to resolve this financial crisis :-

1) We just allow a very Sharp V shape to take place. A Sharp V meaning, let everything drops back to bottom and let things pick-up by itself again. Thus companies that are not performing, we just have to let it wind-up. Advantage of this is things will pick-up faster.

2) A U shape approach, is a gradual process but it will be a very slow economic recovery which may drag to 3 to 5 years. Basically no one has the answer to this financial issue.

He even commented that thru this crisis, there are opportunities except Singaporeans are not in the international standard to compete. Singapore may be very strong in structure and systems, but the Singaporeans are not competitive enough to compete.

Personally having walk thru the ground for many years, I realised alot of us are very shallow and do not had much depth and survival skills as compared to the foreigners.

Now is the time to rebuild our skills and other aspects and go in depth in this crisis, is what Finance Minister Tharman urged us to do.

And yes, let's seize opportunities in the midst of adverse situation and of course God has the answer only.

Chapter 2 - The Kingdom Minded Church

2008-11-24T20:43:00.003+08:00

from ChurchShift - Sunday Adeleja

Church reformers like Martin Luther in previous ages had this national focus; they wanted to bring nations to their knees before God. But today too many Christians have scaled back their ambitions. It's time to be ambitious again. It's time to shift our churches! Until the children of the almighty God act like His representatives on the earth, nothing will change in our countries. The destiny of OUR LAND is in the hands of the church and the willingness to declare the position of God in OUR society.

The real focus of every Christian's life , and of all our church activities, is promoting the kingdom of God in every sphere of our nations.

Christians have to walk in power. Every gift and talent we have is to be exercised in service of the kingdom.

Chapter 1 - People Power

2008-11-19T23:17:00.005+08:00

from ChurchShift - By Sunday Adelejay

God opened my eyes to see that to complete the Great Commission, we must have impact upon nations, not just people in churches.

Transforming nations requires bold steps. Great Commission really means as believers, our mission is to save nations, not just evangelise individuals and build churches. God is not terribly concerned with church size and church ministries. His main goal is for all nations to walk after Him in kingdom principles. The church fulfills its mandate when it changes society, not when it's confined to its sanctuary and Sunday school. The church is to build the kingdom of God in a nation.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLES

1. The church fulfills its mandate when it changes society, not when it is confined to its sanctuary and Sunday school classrooms.

2. This isolation of the church from the world has led to ineffectiveness and failure to carry out the Great Commission.

3. The Great Commission mandate is to go out and disciple nations.

4. Ministry is what you do to bring your life and your sphere of influence under kingdom rule.

5. We are not called to huddle inside the church sanctuary but to restore the kingdom of God to the world.

6. God holds the church responsible for societies.

7. The church is to be the training ground for people who will impact the society around them.

Church Shift - Sunday Adelaja

2008-11-19T23:09:00.003+08:00

From the Book Church Shift

Even though Ukraine was not officially communist anymore, the people of the nation still lived under the mindset of oppression. For many years the Soviet Union had taught the Ukrainian people to unquestionably submit to authority. Though the Soviet Union was gone, people still couldn't imagine a government that respected them. So the government felt free to treat people as sheep and servants. There was no accountability in the leadership as there is in a democracy. People continued to hide their thoughts and feelings deep down inside and pretended to agree with the government.

Question - Are we those people who always say YES but deep down do not agree and resent decisions made by government, leaders? Why didn't we speak out in a positive manner that can contribute to an organisation, government policies or even in church?

The Healing Apostle - John Alexander Dowie

2008-10-20T23:09:00.008+08:00

From the book - God's General by Robert Liardon

An extract from the chapter - While in Edinburgh, Dowie became the "honorary chaplain" of the Edinburgh Infirmary. It was there that he had the unique opportunity to sit under the famous surgeons of his day, comparing their diagnoses with the Word of God. But as patients lay helplessly under chloroform, Dowie heard these surgeons could not heal, and that they could only resort to removing the diseased organs, hoping for a cure. He watched many surgeries end with deadly results. As he heard from the lips of these medical professors the confession that they were only guessing in the dark, and witnessed their experiments, Dowie developed a strong antipathy to surgery and medicine.

Personal opinion - I think it is still true today in the 21st century. Doctors are merely guessing and cure only the symptoms but not released the actual healing!

Extracts from the chapter - John Alexander Dowie was a reformer and a revivalist. This kind of calling has to see results because of the passion for God that burns so strongly within them. He loved people, but his commitment to the truth caused him to focus only on groups that would respond.

Another extract - Despite the tight financial situations that John is in, he told his wife that "I can see that future far more clearly than I can solve the mysteries of the immediate present."

Every ministry has a future. But we must believe in that future or we will never take the first step. Like Dowie, we must determine to hold fast to the Word of God and fight for what is ours in the earth. Setbacks are always present, but we determine if the problem is to remain permanent. Even though we are called, we still have to war against spiritual evils that are sent to destroy our vision and to discourage us. God's angels can help, but the war for our destiny is a personal responsibility that we must win.

Misreading the Call - Dowie was an apostle who didn't have the complete understanding of that office. The anointing he carried pierce the religious theocracies of his day, but there were few who understood him, including himself. As a result, he misunderstood several administration that came with the passion of his office. One passion was in the area of politics.

Dowie's leadership was gaining a strong national influence. So seeing his potential and knowing his stand, the Temperance Society asked him to run for Parliament. At first, he opposed the idea. But he later changed his mind, thinking he could possibly influence more in the political arena and decided to enter the race.

But Dowie suffered a sound defeat in the elections. The local newspapers that had been so damaged by his ministry, waged an all-out attack against him. The politicians and alcoholic beverage industry paid untold amounts of money to see him slandered and defeated. After the election, Dowie had wounded his church and disgraced his ministry.

Dowie was moved by such strong spiritual yearnings that he sought to fulfill them in the natural. I can only speculate why he made his move. It could have been because the church world wasn't grasping the truth fast enough to satisfy him. Whatever his reason, he misread the timing and plan of God for his ministry.

We need to understand that God has a central point from which every aspect of our lives operate, whether individually or corporately. That area is called "timing". From the operation of that one word, lives can move forward with God or be hindered. Nations can advance spiritually, or regress. Life in the spirit realm has a timing to it just as life in the natural. Therefore, it is vitally important for us to follow the leading of our spirit. We must learn that it's not always right to move into action because it seems like the thing to do. This kind of obedience only comes from seasons of prayer and intercession.

Politicians and the political arena have never changed the world. Only people whose hearts are changed by the Gospel can transform civil laws and regulations. Politics were meant to compromise and please as a whole. The apostolic office presents the Word of the Lord, then it is up to the people to conform to and follow it. The apostolic and political don't mix. Dowie with his calling, should have never resorted to a political lifestyle.

While campaigning for office, Dowie also neglected his commandment to preach divine healing. He simply steered away from his calling to pursue a personal goal, thinking he could reach a greater mass of people. And as a result, the rest of his time in Australia was spent in darkness and futility.

Three Core Competencies of A Mentor

2008-10-05T20:22:00.005+08:00

Shepherd, Teacher and Leader

from Ps Edmund Chan's Mentoring Paradigm book

1) The Mentor Who Shepherds

The mentor who shepherds knows the condition of the flock. He is sensitive to their needs. Not just the felt needs but the real needs as well.

3 aspects to this shepherding role ...

a) Caring - This is primarily edification through words and presence. As the saying goes, people do not care how much we know until they know how much we care.

b) Counselling - This takes some training and skill. The wise mentor goes for the root rather than the superficial branches.

c) Coaching - Involves discerning the spiritual direction for the people and coaching them with the principles (why) and the skills (how to).

2) The Mentor Who Teaches

Different people learn in different ways. Thus, the mentor who should also teach in a variety of ways :-

a) by doing of project together

b) by reading and personal reflection

c) by discussion or interaction

Best teaching mentors are the ones who seek efficacious teaching for all the learning types. They look for teachable moments. Best teaching mentors do not merely give answers but rather they ask the right questions and give Word-centred principles.

3) The Mentor Who Leads

Those who intentionally lead their mentorees towards a destiny are a rare-breed of mentors. They lead them towards transformational Kingdom engagements and all that God has called them to. They are not just mentoree-centred, they are God-centred!

Mentor who lead inspire hope and faith.

Mentors who leads challenge mentorees to embrace the work of God in their lives, these mentors model the way. They lead by example. There is a clear sense of passion, purpose and pursuit in the mentors' lives. These are visionary leaders who mentor.

Personal prayer - God, may you guide me to be a God-centred mentor who shepherd, teach and lead the mentorees that you have placed under me!

Nothing to Prove, Nothing to Lose and Nothing to Hide

2008-09-21T15:15:00.006+08:00

from Ps Edmund Chan's - MENTORING PARADIGM-4

Nothing to prove is a state of deep security in God

Nothing to lose is a state of absolute surrender to God

Nothing to hide is a state of true integrity before God

The key to living with nothing to prove is humility.

Which in my own opinion is very difficult because everyone of us wants pride. I like what Philippians 2:3 says :"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." This verse could be tough to exercise because most of us wants to be the FIRST and with that we have never thought others better than ourselves.

The key to living with nothing to lose is giving-up your rights, which is giving-in to God.

The root cause of our inability to reach this blessed state is our lack of inner security. Insecurity causes us to fall into performance trap which inreturn leads to fragile egos. Insecurity leads us to FEAR and FULL SURRENDER to God too! In truth, we become possessed by our possessions. Controlled by our need for control. We miss the point that true security comes when we find satisfaction only in Christ and with that includes giving up your rights!

Finally, insecurity also causes us to camouflage our sins with artificial, guilt-soothing human constructs. We hide our heartaches, sins and pains behind smiling masks and ministry activities. We focus on temporarily managing our sins thru excuses instead of completely repenting of them.

When we walk in true repentance, then there is nothing to hide. Isn't this wonderful as believers we are taught to confess our sins to one another so there is nothing to hide.

Will remember this 3 principles and follow closely as I believe God will use someone who has nothing to prove, nothing to lose and nothing to hide. More importantly we will have absolute peace as we have nothing to prove, nothing to lose and nothing to hide :)

Status, Stature and Substance

2008-09-20T14:28:00.007+08:00

from Ps Edmund Chan's book of MENTORING PARADIGM-3

Following up on the previous chapter, it is the Substance of a leader that ultimately defines the leader.

Sometimes we comment :"He has the status of leadership but not the stature of a leader." Even so, it is the substance of a leader that ultimately defines the leader.

Status - Refers to the leadership titles or positions that we hold.
Stature - Comprises two aspects of our leadership - our credibility and confidence
Substance - Most importantly it is our substance that God views us and matters most to HIM.

In our performance driven society, people are only interested in our status - the titles and positions that they think represent us. As a result, we focus our efforts on striving for higher status. We often miss out on developing the stature which builds confidence and credibility. Surely, status without stature is hollow.

When we are people of substance, we live beyond mere status and stature. We cultivate an emotional stability and restedness, security and humility, which enable us to handle crises, criticisms and compliments well.

At the heart of our status, stature and substance lies our sense of security. But true inner security, where we can be small yet secure, is the true expression of substance in leadership.

Ultimately, God is more interested in 'what we have become' rather than merely 'what we have accomplished for Him'. When we develop and grow in substance, the status and stature of leadership will be built on solid ground. We will then live with :-
Authenticity in our worship
Brokenness in our walk and
Courage in our work.

Personal thoughts - Reflecting back on one incident when my ex-boss says that he would like me to take a bigger role of leadership in one of our company's subsidiary. He further explained why he had chosen me to take up this challenge over the other manager. He said, "It is how you handled a crisis that I saw determined to give you this opportunity. Both of you (referring to myself and the other manager) faced crisis at the same time in your family. You have demonstrated strong coping skills and strength while the other manager, continued to wallow in self-pity and push the blame to everyone else instead of himself."

Indeed, it was an encouragement from him inregards to how we handle our crisis. I only have God to thank for, because it is through all these years of walking closely with HIM that HE has helped me to develop substance and depth within me. Though still not complete, but will continue to work deep within as a leader because I want to be a leader that has the substance and the stature.

Superstructure, Structure and Substructure

2008-09-20T13:43:00.008+08:00

from the Ps Edmund Chan's book - MENTORING PARADIGM-1

In life, we gravitate toward the visible and the spectacular. We judge and pride ourselves upon our influence and accomplishments. That is what we call Superstructure that is easily visible.

It is the Substructure, the unseen foundation, that our true strength lies. Without a deep and stalwart substructure, the Structures cannot hold. And the superstructures cannot rise to great heights without peril. Thus is it important to spend time to build on the foundation of substructure than on the superstructure.

So what exactly is Superstructure, Structure and Substructure?

Superstructure - represents the outward accomplishments of our life, work and ministry. It is built by competence and skill. It is worthly only when the substructure is solid and the surface structures are set in place.

Structure - the supporting beams and columns which fit together to form the framework around which the facade and usable floor area are built. These structures are the areas that we need to guard in our personal life. Time with God, family, friends and community. Without these, the building would be haphzard jumble and shaky.

Substructure - Who we are, what we do when no one sees, form the substructures of our life. A life of worship, lived before God in the fear of Him and held together by humility, wisdom and perseverance, constitutes a foundation that will withstand immense stress and strain. The continued maintenance and growth of this substructure, firmly anchored in God through the practice of the spiritual disciplines, is the work of a lifetime.

Summary - When we take care of the depth of our lives, God will take care of the breadth of our work and ministry.

Food for thought - Where is our time spent? Substructure, Structure or Superstructure? Personally I felt most of us spent alot of time in Superstructure and neglect the Structure and Substructure. Same goes in church, we may focus alot of time in DOING various ministries and neglect in building the BEING, which is the depth of our character. I remembered sharing with a friend, "Do not judge based on the outward form of management or skills of a leader or the number of people in their group, It is when one goes through a crisis then the true depth of a leader surfaces. Of course, God is a gracious God, it is also through a time of shake-up in a crisis that a leader grows in depth to build the Substructure."

As a reminder to myself as a leader to many ladies - do not neglect mentoring the substructure in their life as I built substructure in my life too!

PART ONE - LAYING A PERSONAL FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS

2008-08-15T09:50:00.004+08:00

From the book Management by Proverbs

PRINCIPLE ONE - A PROVERB IDENTIFYING THE REAL CEO

In all situation of uncertainty, we usually choose to fall back on our own wisdom. This becomes all the more likely as the stakes escalate. However, it is for such moments - the times when we are most likely to depend on our instincts, the times when we are most prone to invoke the 'business-reality' rationale for compromising our faith - that Proverbs 16:3 was written:

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3)

The verse contains a basic biblical principle. All of the work that we do in life, indeed every endeavor we pursue, is ultimately to be performed for the glory of God.

In Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working fo the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Proverbs 16:3 "Your plans will succeed." Sound pretty straight forward, isn't it?

When we commit our work to the Lord, when we acknowledge Him as the real Boss to whom we ultimately report - our perspective on what we're doing and why we're doing it changes dramatically, as does our potential for success. Our 'thoughts' about the purpose are no longer shaped by our peers or the corporate culture. Instead our thoughts and plans are 'established' by God. They become divinely anchored rather than dependent upon circumstances. God's will now preoccupies us, displacing former priorities of expediency, control, promotion, power and job satisfaction. Even pay raises and job security become lesser priorities; the choice first and foremost remains God's will.

Once this new perspective is established, the ground is made fertile for us to 'succeed', not necessarily in the eyes of the world, but certainly in the eyes of God. We can succeed in our reputation, esteem, integrity, and relationships. At times, this success comes at the expense of more tangible outcomes, such as pay and promotion. Most important though, the Christian manager succeeds in the workplace as a living testimony to the truth of the Gospel.

PART ONE - LAYING A PERSONAL FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS

2008-08-14T10:04:00.007+08:00

From the book Management by Proverbs

PRINCIPLE ONE - DEVOTE YOUR WORK TO THE REAL BOSS

CASE STUDY

In 1946, Truett Cathy, a young and ambitious entrepreneur, took out a small loan to open a restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia. The Dwarf Grill consisted of a mere ten counter seats and four tables, but the tireless Cathy steadily grew the business by serving up quality food and friendly service twenty-four hours a day, six days a week.

In this modest setting, Cathy experimented with faster ways to prepare chicken and creative ways to season it. By 1963, his persistence paid huge dividends as he developed the winning taste combination that would come to be known as the Chick-fil-A sandwich. Business took off and within a few short years, Cathy was pioneering inmall fast food, peddling his novel sandwich to the rave views of hungry shoppers.

As a devout Christian, Cathy had refused to operate on Sundays ever since he opened the Dwarf Grill. Although the policy occasionally created difficulty securing mall contracts, his recipe was in such demand that the malls simply could not say no. Fifteen years later, Chick-fil-A annual sales would top US$100 milion.

And then came the economic threat that would test Cathy's faith. During the deep recession of 1982, demand for Chick-fil-A sales begins to decline for the first time. To add-on, other competitive chains of fast food restaurants became the direct competitors with Chick-fil-A. Chicken prices were soaring and the company was beset with heavy debt with interest rates hovering around 21 percent for building a five-story office complex. Financial crisis, it seemed was imminent.

Here at the crossroads lay the specter of what had been non-negotiable for decades: opening on the Sabbath. Adding one day of operation - especially a day where mall traffic was so high would add at least 16 percent to current revenues. A policy change might therefore mean a difference between the mall's center court and the government's bankruptcy court.

Profitable solutions ... God's will. Often they intersect, sometimes they do not. And it is in the latter tension that the Christian manager's faith is ultimately tested in the divine crucible. Cathy's dilemma revolved around maintaining a profit while honoring God by doing what he believed was God's will. Both those in senior management and in supervisory roles often must choose whether what they learned in business school must always come first or take second when it clashes with God's guidelines.

In effect, one must weigh the promises of the corporate culture against the promises of Scripture. And it is here that top management must decide whether the organisation's direction will be charted using God's compass of a gauge of their own creation.

Book of Proverbs on Management

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From the book on Management by Proverbs

OVERVIEW ON BOOK OF PROVERBS

Proverbs is a philosophical book that seeks to answer question on 'How should we live?'. Primarily it contains the sayings of King Solomon, Israel's third and wisest king and majority of its contents are traditionally dated to the 10th century B.C.

The book of Proverbs speaks to every life issue of consequence, and, not surprisingly, it affords us an impressive amount of guidance in business matters. Borrowing from the work of Roy B. Zuck, the contents below summarizes those themes with the most patent application to management.

PROVERBS THEMES APPLICABLE TO MANAGEMENT

Advice to Leaders

Be honest, humble, just, reliable, self-controlled and sober

Money

Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, unfair pricing, charging exorbitant interest rates, and bribery; recognise consequences of gaining money dishonestly, money's ability to motivate people to work; share money liberally with the poor.

Proper use of words

Use words to impart wisdom, encourage, protect and nurture.

Improper use of words

Avoid lying, slander, gossip, false witnessing, mocking, perverse talk, boasting, flattery, or quarreling.

Virtues

Show courage, diligence, humility, generosity, honestly, integrity, kindness (to poor, to needy, to animals), love, patience, self-control, reliability, sobriety, teachability, and truthfulness.

Vices

Don't acquire money dishonestly, be angry or lose temper, bribe, be drunken, envious, greedy, hypocritical, unjust, jealous, lazy, oppress the poor or be proud.

Work and family

Be faithful to spouse; show priority of spouse and children over work.

When we apply Proverb's principles for human relationships to the workplace, they offer guidance for

Building a competitive workforce
Cultivating a culture of commitment
Evaluating and rewarding performance
Minimizing strife

SUMMARY

The goal in Management by Proverbs is to spotlight those principles of human relations found in this practical Book of Proverbs and show how managers and organisations can tailor those proverbs to their particular needs.