Worship Vs. The Mission

Heard an interesting statement today from Christian writer John Piper. He wrote:

"All of history is moving toward one great goal, the white-hot worship of God and His Son among all the peoples of the earth. Missions is not that goal. It is the means. And for that reason it is the second greatest human activity in the world."

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is.

Missions exists because worship doesn't."

Mission is the vehicle to bring people to the altar of worship because Mission is about man, worship is about God. Man is finite and God is ultimate, hence worship to God is ultimately the greatest human activity in the world.

Worship.

Not the doing...

not the programme...

just worship of God.

An Old Lesson Revisited...

Okay, so its been awhile again! Well, am now lecturing at School of Design and its really a cool place to be.

Just this week, God reminded me of something Don Badham shared almost 10 years ago. Don was an elderly gentleman who had spent decades in walking intimately with God, and whom I had the privilege of knowing and being under his wise and learned teachings and impartations for 2 years.

After spending more than 30 years on the missions field, he came to this simple principle in life that for him the bible reduced to its bare essentials is this...Love God, Love People.

Nothing poetic or philosophically astounding, and perhaps it may seem rather banal to some, but its pure simplicity has a jarring discordant ring to the ears that itch for a sophistication and elegance that somehow modern society demands of new ideas.

Was in the midst of struggling with frustrations with situations and people when He brought this to mind...Love God, Love People...Love Him, Love His People, because His people are the church.

Its a nice place to be....in His presence, and to draw forth from His presence that love that is needed.

And in all these, the greatest is Love...=)

Time Flies....

And now for a quick recap of the last 10 months! Hahahaha!

March 2008- Got married and had a wonderful wedding!!! =)

April 2008- Went Japan for honeymoon! Woo-Hoo! Really fun and we wanna go back again, and again, and again, and again...you get the picture

July 2008- Grace, my sis-in-law accepted Christ!

Sept 2008- Celebrated 6 months anniversary! So fast! And also went to Hong Kong LC! HK was fun and had loads of roast pigeon and goose! yummy! Also more significantly manage to meet up with Torchie and Chris Bee and Lisa Toh fro Brissie

Oct 2008- ME Birthday!

Oh, oh oh, had a really touching birthday present from Pris. Since words of affirmations are one of my main languages of love, Pris got all of my close friends and CG to write a birthday affirmation and compiled it nicely into a book! That was so thoughtful and so much efforts. And thanks to everyone for writing what you did!

Very soon it'll be November and then December and another year.

Was listening earlier to Rev. Edmund Chan's sermon on Entering His Presence. (God's that is and not Rev. Edmund's! But I'm sure you already know that. heh!) In the last sermon he was describing about a time when his friend was in the tangible presence of God and you could not help but fall prostrate on the ground. This aspect has interested me a long while and hearing it again has rekindled a deep long lost fire for the seemingly impossible. In my heart I ask, why not me? Why not our Church? Why not here? Why not now?

Up Till Now...

Woah ho ho! its almost Christmas and 4 months to the Wedding! Okie, I've been virtual-ly silent for some time now and so now for a quick recap of the last 9 months!

Well, as known to most, I proposed to Pris and thank God she said yes! heheheh! Did it over dinner in the cable car where I could kneel down (on my good) knee and propose. Heh! Also because the nearest exit would have meant a 100m plunge into the sea below so there was no escape for Pris....or so she tells everyone!

Since then we've gone ahead with the wedding preparations as well as growing deeper in our relationship and understanding one another more and more. Just recently we were asked to help share at the last MPC on wedding preparation and it was really good to minister together as a couple for the first time. Thought she shared really well and passionately about getting God involved in our wedding preparations and indeed He hasbeen faithful and true to ALL, yes ALL His promises.

Last week we just finished our wedding shoot and contrary to what alot people say, it was actually really quite fun. We went to an ice cream parlour as well and had ice cream with our photographer Ben who was caught in between eating wonderfully yummy (and free!) ice cream while taking candid shots of us. Ok, need to add, I had the macadamia caramel ice cream with butterscotch and macadamia nut toppings....it was pure HEAVEN!!!! Think of it as Almond Rocca ice cream in all its wonderful complex flavours.

We didn't feel that tired but were really enjoying ourselves and laughing alot. During the studio shoots, I was amazed at how Elson, the make-up / hair stylist literally transformed Pris into so many different apparitions of beauty! Heeee! okie, guess it sounds biased, but really, i thought she looked really stunningly beautiful in the various hair style creations he did.

We went back that evening and were taking our own pics before finally washing off the hair spray, make up etc. heheheh!

And so now we continue to prepare as we slowly draw near to our big day. I look forward to starting a new life with her as husband and wife. I like what Proverbs says that it is better for two to be together, when one falls the other can pick the other up. Over the last year plus, its so blessed to have some one share your life with you, encouraging you on, cheering you up, laughing with you (and at you!) and sharing your deepest thoughts and cares.

Well, 4 months to go! Till next time...=)

The Mayang Sari Email

August 23rd 2006...I remember that date as it was the first time we started our string of email correspondences, almost like the opening steps of a dance.

During the 2 years that lapsed till this point, we didn't have much direct interactions though we had opportunities to observe each other from a distance. It was like an odd curiosity that played out, wondering occasionally in a way an inquiring mind would, what she might be thinking in certain situations. I think it was only at a common friend's wedding 3 months earlier that i really begin to notice that she was quite attractive and the neutral factor begin to lean towards a keener direction.

It so happened in August, she was tasked to organise the unit trip to Bintan and after her initial research she shortlisted the list to two hotels. At the discussion to decide which hotels to choose from, yours truly opened his mouth and asked why don't we consider Mayang Sari resort. That being said, I happened to take my personal retreat there the year before and had the luxury of enjoying a chalet all to myself for 3 days! (yes, yes, yes, its quite a Mel thing ain't it? hahahah!)

Well, that suggestion of Mayang Sari was greeted with an icy cold stare and an even colder, "OK" OOOPS! oh well...anyway, after the meeting ended, she walked up to me and thrust a piece of paper and a pen into my face and asked for the travel agent's contact for the Mayang Sari package I took. Well, I really couldn't remember as it was a year ago and so i told her I need to check my records and see if i still had it. So I took down her email address and she stormed off in a huff. Apparently I had given her extra work to do...heheheh! Not that it was intentional!

Anyway, the next day, after checking for the travel agent's contact, I emailed her and told her that i couldn't find the contact anymore and curiously asked what her Chinese name meant. I found it was very unique. She replied and explained it along the lines of a "winter bell" in direct English translation. She asked in return what my name meant and i explained and so on and so forth the emails bounced back and fro and the opening steps of the dance had begun without realisation....well, almost not much realisation.

First Impressions

Someone just posed this question to me, "What was your impression of her when you first saw her?"

I chuckled to myself as I mused over that question to myself. Visages of a long ago memory swirled within my mind’s eye. It was in 2004 around August that I first saw her in church...and sorry to disappoint the romantics but no, it wasn’t love at first sight, rather quite the contrary actually. Hehehe!

She was Japanese looking and quite attractive. She sported a black top with dark coloured jeans. Everything about her then seemed dark, even her countenance. It was almost as if every fibre in her body screamed out “DON’T COME NEAR ME!” and she wore a dark cloud over her head. When I told her later about my first impression of her, she quipped without batting an eyelid that the dark cloud over her head was called “Hiroshima” =) And so being one tuned into my inner senses, I stayed far, far away indeed! Hehehe! Little did I know what God had in store 2 years down the road!

During a brief chat about new visitors that day, someone mentioned that there was a new visitor to one of the CG’s. I asked, “Was it that girl with the black face?” and the person I was talking to replied, “ Ya, ya, that one!”.

I think that impression of “stay away from me” lasted quite some time...like 2 years? Yup, about 2 years till that fateful email on 23rd August 2006...

(to be continued....Hahahah!)

First Contact

And so as things progress in a new relationship, the time comes when you meet your significant other’s family. It’s a meeting mixed with a little anxiety, a little excitement and curiosity. Questions that run like a freight train through your mind inquire about matters pertaining to if they will like me, how will I find them, will we get on together, what if they don’t like me, what if....what if...what if....etc. heh! I guess you stop wondering about it that much and just go with the flow and tell yourself that you’ll just enjoy the time.

So there we were, parking the car along Serangoon Road in front of that little quaint, red French Restaurant. Side note, the food was REALLY good and it was REALLY value for money unlike the other upmarket French Restaurants! Anyway, back to my tale of first encounters....ahem!

As we walked to towards the restaurant, I looked at her. She seemed somewhat calm yet an undertone of anxiety left its trace marks at the edge of her mouth as she smiled at me. It was amusing for me...the whole situation that is...to meet her family for dinner for the first time. We both wanted each side to like and accept each other and that’s why there was a touch of anxiety and excitement in the air. Before we turned the corner, we said a short prayer together asking Him to bless and to be there. After all, He brought us both together in an amazing way so we didn’t think He’ll leave us on the lurch cause our God is faithful! (must blog about how He brought us together one day! Hahaha!)

As we turned the corner, we saw the clan seated at a table and polite introductions were made and the New Year gifts of bah kwa were given. Hehehe! As we all started talking and eating, the atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly. It was a pleasant evening of talking, chatting and joking. I liked it that her family was open about things and revealed “deep, dark, family secrets” about her past, much to her somewhat embarrassment and chagrin! Ah, the truth be told when you meet one’s family! (heeeheee!) But jest aside, there was nothing dark or sinister just closely knitted family members ribbing one another!

I think what I found really amusing was when I excused myself to go to the gents and sms’d her for feedback on how things were going. I like that aspect of us...we support each other and put the other first and encourage each other on.

And so, the pleasant evening came to an end and we parted ways. First contact was made and hopefully it will be the start of more good times to come.