Summary of 2011!!

Can you believe it? It’s already end of 2011! Do you remember what happened in this year? Here are some of the events that happen this year~ Do you remember these: Osama Bin Laden killed, Wiki leaks, Charlie Sheen, TWO royal weddings and of course the Tsunami and Earthquake hits Japan! Those are some News headlines of 2011.

What about the on-line community? Youtube, Facebook and other online community has been integrated into our daily life! We’ve spent so much time on them! Why do we spend so much time on Youtube? I reckon it’s cause we know that it only takes 1 video, and you’ll become an celebrity! You remember videos like Friday by Rebecca Black? Yes! It’s was only uploaded this year!

2011 was also a huge year for Sydney!~ Many stars entered Sydney for a concert, and of course, a lot of people that I know went… For example: Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Usher, Eminiem, ACDC, Kpop concert featuring SNSD, KARA, B2ST (just to name a few) Joseph Vincent, Nigahiga, Kevjumba, David Choi, and of course jayesslee (even though they’re Sydneysiders)!

What about closer to home?! Where else to start but the start of the year? The NYE party was at my house! I was totally surprised that my house can fit 60+ people, and still got room to spare! Man! It sure was awesome to spend the night with heaps of my friends! It was also awesome to be able to start and end the year by thanking God!

At the start of the year, we had the first Commtreat! I was one of the organizers for the Commtreat, and wow! It was totally awesome to have everyone gather together to start the uni year with a camp! A camp that promotes serving and spur-ing each other to be more like Christ! I don’t know about you~ but it’s definitely a highlight of my life that I will never EVER forget!

2011 was also the first year where they have “Connect!” where finished year twelve gets connected before University! At the start of this year, when I did O-day, I was stationed at Central station with Ken and Rachel. It was pretty awkward for all of us to be welcoming them… They were all talking to one another, and it seems like we were just like crashing their conversation… but then~ isn’t that exactly the same as Walk-up evangelism? It’s been an awesome year getting to know the first years~ just like every year! If you guys are reading this! Keep growing in Christ! You guys will be the bigger sis and bros! It’s your turn to keep making disciples!

The University year then started with an amazing and tiring O-week. I’ve spent the entire week at Dan’s place. O-week is where new students come unto campus first time as students, and our job is to invite them to join us in studying God’s word -the bible with us! Man! Every time approaching to a person is like getting ready to be rejected! Well, Jesus said that we will be rejected, cause he was rejected first! It gets pretty depressing… but in the end, God is the one in control! He knows how much we can take~ He always provided me to sign someone up, or to be able to encourage a fellow brother/sister in Christ at the right timing, just as I was about to give up!!

Semester 1 was pretty much a cruise, except for the weeks leading up to the mid-sem break, where I was plagued with 6 assignments before, and 4 assignments after the break! To make things worse, I have to go to HK cause my parents saw half-priced tickets. It’s crazy! Seriously! I was already dying from the tiredness… and I need to go to HK in between! Can life be more hectic?

Then it was MYC! We learnt what it means to be human, that we were made in the image of God! That Work and rest is equally important! During MYC, I found the most important thing was actually the electives for once! The first elective, I’ve learnt that I’ve actually showing signs of depression. Depression sucks… your life energy away. Seriously! Talking to people helps a lot, but more on that later! The second elective, I’ve learnt what it means to take leadership as a man! It cleared up a lot of leadership issues that I was personally struggling with… and gave me a lead as to how I can be a better man to lead, both as a boyfriend/husband and how to man-up and “lead” ministry. It’s still in progress. XD

I’ve mentioned that during MYC, I believe that I was experiencing depression. I believe it’s mainly caused by my lack of sleep from exhaustion. Thinking back, I haven’t “rested” properly all the way back since November of 2010! With Xmas work, Commtreat, Oweek, Sem 1 assignments, more work, then straight to MYC! It’s not that difficult to see why I’m slowly exhausting myself. Waking up seems like a drag, talking to people seems like it took all the energy out of me! Definitely can say that it wasn’t fun, and sometimes “escaping” would be the easiest method! But don’t worry! Even though it was on my mind~ I would’ve immediately dismiss it, as life is way too precious to just be thrown away.

The first half of semester two was pretty hell-ish for me. Thankfully, I’ve got so many bros and sis around me all the time. It’s sooo amazing what a phone call, or a text, or simply asking “how you’re going” will change things! It’s surprising how much impact a little action can create! That’s why in the second half of semester, I’ve tried to be the person that does the giving, the person that goes one step further and help out whenever I can.

However, the biggest lesson learnt in semester two has to be being humbled and realizing that God is the one in control, that he knows how much we can handle. Once again, I’ve got to relate back to my depression case. When you’re going through depression, a small event that went wrong will appear to be the end of the world! I’m so thankful that every time a bad news was announced, God always provided me a fellow brother or sister in Christ. Not only do they listen to what I’ve got to rant, but they also remind me that God is the one in control. Literally, my heart is filled with thankfulness!

In the middle of semester two, when my depression seems to be “healed,” there would be times that I would just walk around and enjoy God’s great creation. It reminded me of Psalm 8:3-4. “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” There were times that I would just walk out of the ASB and into the Quad, and it would seemed that my eyes were open and able to see how great God’s creation is! Amen!

Over the September long weekends, I went to a camp called “LIFT”, which stands for Looking Into Full Time! It’s a camp to check out what it means to do Full-time paid ministry. I’ve shared all my learning in previous blogs. Please look for them… they should be just below this blog…. I’ve still got to write up my “5 year plan.” However, after much consideration, I think it would be better if you ask me, and I’ll tell you instead. Please feel free to ask me!
Then the rest of semester two was one of the best times I have at uni – student wise. I was getting pretty good marks, I got to know students from my course, and yea~ generally having fun times! I guess time just flies so fast when you’re having fun!

Lastly, I’ve been working for my parents the last couple of weeks. I’ve been trying to find spare time to write this blog, so that’s why it’s so fragmented. I probably managed one or two paragraph per day! Anyway~ this last couple of weeks has been insane! I’ve been working like 18 plus hours. Get home, shower, and then check facebook, then pretty much time to sleep! Sleeping 3 hours so isn’t enough! Anyway, I’ll end it here, as this is pretty much the summary of 2011 for me! It has its ups and downs, but this year, there was so many things that I’ve learnt, so many things that I’ve experienced. Thanks heaps for everyone just always being around me, and able to consul, teach and rebuke me!
Peace!
Andy~

LIFT: Electives

So during the LIFT conference, we manage to get two 1 hour electives. In the first hour, I went to “What is this MTS thing (guys)”? And then spent the next hour going to “Why you should get the best theological education you can”? So let’s just dive right in!
What is this MTS thing??
Carl was the chairman~ and we get to interview Sam, Iggy and Dan.

1. Did you choose to be a MTS? Or suggested to? What were your views then?
Sam – wasn’t positive, but keen to do ministry. Want to serve and grow, they are a lot more about people
IGGY – thought it was a waste of time, then talked to a few MTS, see that it’s a different ministry field
Dan – was part of UNSW, 7 years ago, then work, not really convince as well….then talk with older people.
2. Is MTS a decided ministry or seeing if you are suitable for ministry?
BOTH. College doesn’t give you experience, you will have a head full of knowledge, but won’t know how to do the ministry
3. What does an MTS actually do?
Hands on ministry, and meeting, admin stuff 10+ 121
It’s your paddocks. Don’t really have to meet up with non-Christian
4. What do you do during summer holiday??
Uni church still meet up. Planning, NTE for December, and then 25th JAN for stuff like O-day, o week…. Struggle sometimes with resting??? Learn to be not a control freak. (said no to engage)
5. Why choose CBS? Why not a church?
Training… Who is your trainer? Ministry philosophy
We (CBS) care about theology…. Compare to others
We are taught why to do things, not how to do things
So like myc is not the same pattern each time
6. How many hours is MTS? Church?
Usually go to unichurch (2 years)… 1.5 Hours men, 2 HR staff meeting, 1 tbt, bible studies…… Carl say they do about 60 hour week, but want them to do less
7. Go to work? Or straight to MTS
Depends on Maturity and life experience
8. How much training do you get?
Once per week to one and a half…. To trainee
During the men training, you do a sermon and then critique together

Then the second elective that I went to was called, “Why you should get the best theological education you can.” Peter bolt from moore college came and visit. Basically he said the opening day was on the 24th September, and we should visit.
The seminar said we got 2 choice (Mark 8:33), Think like man… or think like God. If you think like man, you’re on satans’ side, and if you think like God, you’ll be on God’s side. Your choice. Oh~ and moore college will cost us around $15000 per year…. GG~

LIFT: 10 GOOD REASONS……

Let’s admit it… there are countless reasons as to why we should do ministry… and that’s why we shouldn’t need convincing to do full time paid ministry! But surprisingly, there are so many reasons people use to explain why they’re not suited for full time ministry… let’s take a look at a few… and see if they’re good reasons or if they’re bad excuses.

1) I Haven’t been called by God….
Traditionally, it’s a good reason. Full time ministry is not the easiest job, and there will be times when we’ll be discouraged, but if we remember back to God’s calling for us to do Full time ministry, then we won’t just give up. But it’s just a bad excuse now… People DEMAND a supernatural call.In fact, we’ve already been called!!

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Some people use Ephesians 4, as an excuse, saying that if God wants us to do full time ministry, there will be a calling! But if we read it more carefully, the calling is not a call to do Full time ministry, but a calling to follow Christ! In OT, there are a lot of prophets that’s been preaching, did the bible describe how they’re called to God’s service? I can only think of a few, such as Moses seeing the burning bush and Samuel been called by God in his dream! Let’s take a look at NT, the only person that I can think of is Paul, and the calling was from Jesus himself!!! Then think of others, none of the people in the NT got a calling to do full time ministry! So how come you still want a calling? Is that a real reason for you? Or is it just an excuse?

2) I don’t have the gift
Some people tried something once, and then give up, and saying they’re not suited. Who do you think you are? Who on earth knows how to do everything right off the bat? Some people are even more ridiculous~ Never ever tried something, and they somehow KNOW that they don’t have the skills for it…. Sometimes you have to trust others, we usually under estimate ourselves.Is that a real reason for you? Or is it just an excuse?

3) I don’t have the desire
This reason is basically saying, I don’t have the desire to do full time ministry, and it’s a good reason to NOT do full time ministry. Don’t be parts of the crowd, Don’t do it, because it’s someone’s expectation. 1 Tim 3 tells us that we need to DESIRE the noble task, and 1 peter 5, explain we should do it out of willingness. Then I guess the question that you need to ask is How come you don’t have the desire? We’re told to not seek for own advantage so that many may be saved! So how come you don’t have that desire?
Is that a real reason for you? Or is it just an excuse?

31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32) Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

4) I don’t think I’m godly enough
That’s another good reason, if you can’t lead yourself, your family, how can you lead the church how to serve the Lord? But If we must be perfectly godly, none of us can be full time ministers, it’s a work in progress!Is that a real reason for you? Or is it just an excuse?

15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save) both yourself and) your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:15-16

5) I can be just as godly being a “lay” person
When we’re talking about “lay” we’re talking about Non-full time ministry person. It’s true~ No one is more holy. We already established that. What’s your point?
Is that a real reason for you? Or is it just an excuse?

6) God needs Christian Witnesses in the workforce
That’s a good reason! If we’re all ministering, who’s going to approach the ones who never come to church? But let me ask you, how come only people in the high-skilled, high trained jobs says that? I don’t see anyone who works in Maccas saying they want to work in Maccas so that they can be a witness there?! How come it’s only people who spent 3-6 years of education says that? Is it an excuse? Only you and God would know! I’ve also mentioned before that you won’t have the time~ you’re paid to work, not to evangelise in the workforce.
In fact, if you think about it, if you are doing full time ministry work, you are training others, so they can be good witness in the workforce; you are planting the seed as well!!! I’ve also mentioned before, when Paul was in Corinth, he worked as a tentmaker, he didn’t work to meet non-Christians, (in fact, most of the time, he was surrounded by Christians!). He didn’t become the best tentmaker to glorify God… but he does it so that he doesn’t become a burden to others… he spent non-working hours proclaiming God in the temples! Is this a real reasons? Or is it just an excuse?

7) I can give financially to Christian ministry instead
This is literally my personal favourite But it’s so true!
If we are all ministering, how are we going to be supported? Who’s going support us?
This is Phillip Jensen’s response to those who used this reasoning…
Go and find out what an average pastor earns….then give everything else away to missions.
Let me tell you~ A Mts earns around 20K, a pastor earn a bit more, and the Anglicans pay 60K to their pastors…. an average graduate earn 40-60K…Are you willing? Is this a valid reasoning? Or is it just an excuse?

Number 8- I have family responsibilities
Once again~ It’s a good reason. If your wife doesn’t support you, talk to them. IF your girlfriend doesn’t support you, break up/ talk to them. (Proverbs 31)

If you can’t support your family, don’t do it

8But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 timothy 5:8

If you have kids… women… think of it as your husband is paying you to do full time ministry at home! Yes! It’s a ministry in itself! (Titus 2)

What happen if your parents are against it? Sure, we’re told to listen to our parents, but in Eph6, I’m pretty sure it’s referring to children children, not Adult children like you and me (NO! I’m not saying you can now dishonour your parents!) Jesus said that he will didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword!

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:34-38

9) Maybe later, when I’ve….
This reason is like, “I need to sort some stuff out first”, “ I want to be more mature first,” I want to be more financial stable first,” “I want to learn how to relate to different people first.”
It can be used as a delay tactics by parents, they want you to do it “Later”, not now~ and then keep delaying you…..
People also said that Moses didn’t begin his ministry till he was 80!! SO why should I start mine now?
It’s a good reason… but at the same time, it means you need to do something now!
If you feel that you need to be more mature – Be proactive, learn more
If you feel that you want to be more financial stable – Work, talk to your friends, ask them to support you
Do something, otherwise this delay tactics will simply slow you down, days comes month, and months comes years!

10) No one encourages me
When I say this, I don’t mean people are discouraging you! I mean, there’s no one actively coming towards you, and encourage you to do Full-time ministry! You’ll probably think that it’s not your gift.. but heck! There are some pastors that are in their office praying for you, waiting for you to ask the question about full time ministry! People are different. Some people maybe upfront and ask you the question, but most of us are waiting for you to come and ask us about full time ministry!

The way forward!!!
I guess, I really want to write this blog, to challenge you! I want you to ask the difficult question… you know your reason for NOT doing full time ministry. Is that a valid reason? Or are you using that “reason” as an excuse?

Let me tell you a story~
One day Jesus took the boat, and got to the other side of the river. When he got out of the boat, he saw a man with many demons in him, and call themselves “Legion.” They asked Jesus not to punish them, but to send them to the pigs that was grazing nearby. Jesus allowed them, and over 2000 pigs ran straight down the hill and into the rivers, and all died.

If we take calculate it, 2000 pigs and adjust it to modern prices, it’s something that we will never earn in a life time!! But Jesus thought it was worth it!

It’s a hard decision in the beginning, but eventually it will work out! God is looking after us!

LIFT: TALK 3 – Calling, work and a life of ministry

1) SO what is work?
Can work be fun? Can work be enjoyable? Can work be unpaid? What is real work?
In fact, let’s have a look at Luke 3:10-14. John was baptising people along the Jordan River, telling them to turn their back to God. Essentially he told the crowd to love one another, by sharing the stuff that we own. But let’s take a look at two specific jobs.

The first one is tax collectors (v12). Everyone hates them, and everyone sees them as “sinners”. What does John the Baptist say to them? “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” John didn’t tell them off. He didn’t tell the tax collectors to change jobs. In fact, he said, go on, collect tax, but only as much as you are authorised to do.

The second example is soldiers. Essentially they kill for a living. Surely, killing is bad right? But what does john say? He said, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, any be content with you wages.” Once again, John didn’t tell them to change careers, but to be content with whatever they have now!

2) Luther, vocation and us
What is a vocation? The definition that we got from dictionary.com was, “a divine call to God’s service.” However, let’s go back a few centuries, and what is the definition of vocation? We found out that it is a strong impulse to follow a particular thirst.

According to Martin Luther, a calling isn’t limit to ministry, or job! It can be a calling to be a husband, a wife, a calling to circumcision, a calling to be an accountant or calling to do any other thing, so we got multiple callings in life.

What does the bible say about calling to a life of good works? We know that works alone can never save us, and that Jesus died, so that we can work, to glorify God.

8Forby grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

12Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 peter 2:12

16In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

We’re told by the world that works = paid employment, but the bible doesn’t care about it at all! Therefore:

31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

3) Putting it all into practices
Let’s take a look at Paul. Paul worked as a tentmaker in Corinth (acts 18). He didn’t work as a tent maker to meet non-Christian. He didn’t work and train up his skills to be the best tentmaker to glorify God… but he worked so that it won’t become a burden to others. So what are your reasons for working?

Is it to meet non- Christians? Yes, there are opportunity in the workplace, but while working, you’re paid to work, you won’t have the time to do both! Is that an excuse for not doing full time ministry?
Is it to be the best that you can, so that you can glorify God? No matter what we do, we already are glorifying God~ Is that your excuse for not doing full time ministry?

Check out the next blog, so see the top 10 reasons that people use to NOT do full time ministry.

LIFT: Talk 2 – People, work and equality

1) Is work valuable or what?
What do you think? What work is the most valuable? CEO (cause their decision affect the company?) Full-time ministry (cause they’re doing the work of God)? Are there any job that is “on another level”?

2) Dominion in this present age
Do you think Jesus have dominion over the world.

“18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Hebrews 1:3

13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

3) Function and value, we just don’t get it!
Nobody is more valuable than anybody else! Take a read at 1 Corinthians 12:12-31! What does it say? We’re all parts of the body of Christ!! It’s a false sense of pride! It tells us that everyone has the same value. In the talk, Grimmo gave us an example. Imagine you’re at your own church. Now imagine a disable person in a wheel chair, and s/he can’t speak at all… what can they do at church? In this passage, we’re told that the disable person is just as precious as everyone else in the eyes of God!
BUT!!!!!
If eye was just as important as the leg, then… seeing should equal to walking right??
WRONG!!! Take a look at verse 27-31. Some gifts are worth more!!! And if we continue to the next chapter, we know that Love is the most valuable!!

“13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

Let’s continue on to Chapter 14, Paul explained that the ability to speak to tongues is speaking to God, and it grows yourself, but the one who prophesy speaks to men, and it grows others.

“4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4

So what does it all mean? Tongue speakers has the same value as prophets in front of God, but prophesying is greater than speaking in tongues!!

4) A truly valuable work!
A common mistake that we usually fall trap to is to put a monetary value on everything! But the thing is, Valuable isn’t equivalent to monetary value! Especially about work! Who contribute to you more? The CEO of some company, or the guy that empties the bin? According to the monetary value~ CEO is more valuable, but we don’t feel that way at all!
So everyone is equally valuable, but some tasks are more valuable!
Let’s take a look at why God gives us so much gifts… Ephesians 4:7-13. What does it say? It says he gives it to people who preaches, teaches, so they can pass on the knowledge!

Peace out! Look forward to the next blog~

LIFT: TALK 1 – Work from beginning to end

TALK 1 – Work from beginning to end
This is the first talk from LIFT: NEXT.
As mentioned before, LIFT is looking into Full time. I admit~ Full time ministry is a scary thing, and hence we want to ask God, “Is Full time ministry for me?” Do I have enough skills? Is it really suited for me? Do you (God) want me to do full time? Give me a sign or something?

But let’s just say~ God does give you a sign~ Which answer are you more scared of?? Are you more scared that God tells you, “Sorry, I don’t want you to do full time” or are you scared of God saying, “ANDY! I’ve choose you!” (sorry~ I got to write that XD). Which response are you more afraid of?

1) God’s purpose for humanity
What does God want us to do? Like everything, let’s start from the very beginning, Genesis. In Genesis, we found that the world that God created require humans to exist.

“When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground” Genesis 2:15

And what is the role of man? We found out that God put us there to WORK and keep it. He wanted us to have dominion and work…

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” Gen 2:15

The dominion has been fulfilled though Jesus. We found out that Jesus delivers the kingdom of God, and it is God’s promise as well.

“25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.” 1 Corinthians 25-27

Paul interpreted Psalm 8, the same way as Genesis 1-2. When Psalm 8 refer to man, it doesn’t just refer to us, it also refer to Christ.

“You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,” Psalm 8:6

2) So how we share Christ’s rule?
1)We’ll be judges with Christ (we get to judge angels as well)

“1When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!” 1 Corinthians 6:1-3

2) If we endure then we’ll reign with him

11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 1) if we are faithless, he remains faithful—“ (2 Tim 2:11-13)

3) We’ll be in the kingdom of God, and we’ll be priest.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

4) And we can’t wait for it as well!!!

“18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time(A) are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

3) So what does Jesus ruling got to do with work?From the beginning to now~ We’re expected to work! In fact, if we’re not willing to work, let him not eat XD

“10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10

By working, we can be gracious and love each other

“28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” Ephesians 4:28

Another reason that we should do work, is that, people who see our good deeds, and glorify God!

“11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:11-12

In conclusion, the bible doesn’t tell us what we should “work” as, we’re just told that we need to work, and we should remember that God already planned for us to rule the world!

LIFT:NEXT An overview

WOW~ I just had a hectic week~
Just by itself is worth a blog… in fact, the last weekend, it can be a series of blog itself… and that’s right! I’m going to do a series of blog on LIFT: NEXT. LIFT stands for “Looking into Full Time,” and NEXT just happen to be a camp. As the name suggested, it’s a camp for people who are looking into full time ministry. The first blog will be talking about my expectation of the camp and a general description on what happened during the camp, to give you a general overview. Then I’ll spend the next few blogs on each of the talks. Then I’ll give a blog on the electives, and finally a blog on the general outcome and reflection. So don’t expect a 1000 + word for each blog. It’s going to be concise. So~ enjoy this series!

LIFT: PART 1
Around a month ago, Alan asked me the tough question, whether I’m thinking of full time ministry. Full time PAID ministry. The first week, I just said No… Second week comes along, he asked me again, this time, I told a story. I told him that I did consider full time ministry a year ago, and if you asked me a year ago, I would’ve easily said yes! But after some stuff happened, I considered full time ministry… and I’ve decided that I don’t want to do Full time ministry because of a few reasons…. He didn’t push any further…

Come the third week, we really spent the whole hour talking about the reasons why I don’t want to do full- time ministry, and they include:
1) Scared that Parents will say no, or they will object me doing full time ministry.
2) Scared that when I’m doing full time ministry, I can’t support myself and my future family financially.
3) We can also do ministry at our workforce….so why should I go and do Full time ministry

Well, I was scared… and hence I start to give myself excuse, Alan exploited the weakness in my points… and yea, really got me out of my comfort zone, and force me to put things on the table, and work it out. This will be talked a bit more later in the series. I then spent the next week, praying to God, talking to Brandon and Charlie, and yea more prayer to God… funny how we become more prayerful when we need him.
Then two weeks ago, there was an opportunity for me to ask my parents. (Ask and you shall receive! Amen!), We just had dinner, bro just went back to the room, parents drinking coffee, relaxing in front of a boring tv show… and just before dinner, I even prayed that I can ask what they thought about me doing full time ministry. So I asked, they were a bit disappointed at first, but after a few days of talking, we were able to get to a consensus that whatever God wills, then they’ll let me do it. Thank God for that!

I didn’t even know much about LIFT, I didn’t even know it was on this week, until last Sunday, when QON told me that LIFT is on this week…. I was like, “O, u serious?!” We had to take a leave from Sunday School. So, yea~ come Thursday, me and Qon packed our bags, and left it with Boris (he was driving us)…. then on Friday afternoon, after my class, I bus it to PWC (cause that’s where Boris worked. He end up driving Me, CC, manson, and Qon all the way to the TOPS (the campsite).

We got to the tops at around 7:15, just before the first talk, where we discuss the idea of work. It was a pretty interesting talk, find out more in the next blog. After the talk, we decided to play Emperor Scum. Essentially it’s Big 2, and the Scum have to give their best card to the emperor, and the emperor can give any card to the scum. Why did I mention that? It’s because, the players aren’t just commerce, it also include engineers, scientist, arts students, MTS-ers, and Full-time pastors.

At around 11, we all went back to our room, and prepare for our sleep, (yea we’re all good kids). Dan was the only person who showered at night~ and everyone else in our room was a morning shower~ so he was pretty lucky. I guess I should also say who was in my room, and it includes, DK, Manson Cooke, CC, Jasson, Josef and well me.

Saturday was pretty Jam pack. Had breakfast @ 7:30, then had our second talk on work and it’s value (look for the 3rd blog in the series.) We were then told to do an exercise of planning for the next 5 years (last blog in the series), and we had around one hour to plan ahead, and one hour to talk in small groups about our plans.

After lunch, we had free time. I firstly played Bball, then changed to play footy, and then finally soccer. Man! I’m so unfit >. After afternoon tea, we all went to electives (another blog), but here are the list of electives
The first session includes:
1. What is this MTS thing anyway? (guys and girls panel)
2. Honour thy parents
3. “Will my spouse double or halve my ministry” & other great ways to make ministry into an idol

The second session includes:
1. From CBS and into all the world
2. Why you should get the best theological education you can
3. Choices for women for a life time of ministry
4. Staying at uni (on Purpose!): The university as your long term mission field.

After Dinner, we had a session on 10 Good reasons for not doing Full time ministry! It’s was done by Josh, and he literally just trolled the whole way through. Look forward to this blog! Trust me~ you’ll enjoy it! After the talk we had a Q&A session, where we get to ask ANY question prose to Paul, Tracey and Josh. Afterwards, everyone broke off to have a dnm catch up session, so I just went back to my room and sleep~ I needed it anyway. I end up sleeping for 10 -11 hours, and in camp standards, that’s HEAPS!!!!

We then had our final talk, and this time on the idea of “calling” and a little bit on Martin Luther King. (this one will be a short blog). Afterwards, we had another group discussion and then lunch, then home bound!!!!!

Boris drove me and Qon home, and yea~ that was how I spent my weekend @ LIFT: NEXT.
Look forward to the next blog in the series
Wow~ so much for a short blog… it’s already over 1000 words!
Peace out!