The Reason I Live is Christ

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. (1 Tim 4:16)

Sunday, December 25
The Reason I Blog...

With so much issues about blogging, with so much bloggers abusing their rights, not to mention endless potential negative influence it has brought due to irresponsible bloggers, it's not a wonder why when people mention blogging they'll classify it as bad.

Apart from the extremes, common people blog for different reasons. But most just start out simple wrote accounts of what he did on that day, and they gave up after a while and still wonder why their blog no one visit.

For me, the reason why i started blogging is written on my 1st post. I decided to change from a written diary to a blog. Because I wanted to use my life to testify what God has been doing in my life. About who God is as He reveals Himself to me, my personal response and struggles, not to mention ups and downs in the walk with the Lord. Because when people see from outside, they don't see the inner struggles we face at times. I do this to help non believers to see what's it's like living as a child of God. and from the posts, it's obvious that I'm far from perfect. but that will only show our great God truly is as a contrast. So that they will come to see that Christianity is not just about going to church or saying prayers before you eat, but really giving my all and living my life for God wholeheartedly.

So still think that it's weird for a guy to blog? Well, i just like to express myself through here at times.. =) I'm not very vocal u know..

-=P3ng=- | 11:04 pm

What If..

What if one day Christians stop sharing to those who do not wish to hear, who find us a nuisance, who believes that everyone has their own rights to choose what they want to believe, who says enough of Jesus and the cross already can i go now?

Will they thank us for doing so? Sure, they'll definitely celebrate. For they won't understand why Christianity must be so special to be so active in preaching to others unlike the other religions. They won't have to be questioned again and again what happens after death, since that's until then to worry about, since you can't really be sure what really happens. No one has died and came back to tell us anyway.

For Christians, no lost what. I mean since when we are responsible for THEIR salvation especially when THEY choose not to find out about it. We still going to receive God's promise of salvation anyway..... Right?

But... on that day when judgement comes, when you and your friend come before God, are you able to still smile at your friend, knowing that he is not going the same place as you? Sure, you reserve the right to say hey you chose not to listen anyway. But when the time really comes, will you say that to your friend, knowing excatly where he'll be going?

To us who have been loved by God and have God's love in our hearts, we will have compassion on the lost the same way Jesus had compassion on them. To those who rejected Him initially, He did not say fine, be gone with you. Many still came to the truth.
Remember, the lost is blinded by the gods of this age. They NEED the Light.

(i'm writing this post after a personal reflection and thought. I'm sure it's worth sharing)

-=P3ng=- | 10:37 pm

Logic vs Emotion

"Follow your heart" "Let your feelings guide you" How many times we have heard this? It doesn't take very long for anyone to figure out that our emotions aren't correct most of the time. Wisdom is simply learning from experience and a person is not being wise if he makes decisions based on feelings. I'm sure all who really lived on this earth will agree with me. I mean how many times your feelings have failed you, or caused you the make the wrong decisions. And i will not deny that it's seems easier and is smth you want at that point in time to follow your emotion. It is. That's why it's hard to make sensible and sound decision when faced in the situation. It will feel painful to make the logical decision. But when the situation pass, the decision will be worth all the 'pain'.

Sadly, I've been struggling with the 2 lately. It's being made harder when I continue to dwell upon the pain i will feel, and my feelings should "have some say" when i make the decision. Such is the struggle we are always facing. But to those who know the truth, our lives are governed by obedience rather than feelings. So when put into the situation, it's not hard to identify which is right, and because of the hope we have, we know we'll find the strength to make the right choice. May that be so for me in these emotional times.

-=P3ng=- | 10:12 pm

Saturday, December 24
For Those Who Are Lost

For those who are lost
May they be found this weekend
For those who are wandering
May they find direction this festive season
For those who are mourning
May they find the reason to celebrate

Why are there still tears
Why are people still sighing
Why do people worry about their decorations
Why do people trouble over what presents to give

Where's the reason for the season
Where's the reason to rejoice
Is it in the snow, or the presents, or the decorations

It's in the love heaven gave
The night our Saviour came
It's the night, two thousand years ago
When we receive the greatest gift
When we are saved from our greatest peril
That's our reason to rejoice!
Christ is the reason to rejoice!

Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and grace.
It is He we find the reason to live.

-=P3ng=- | 9:15 am

Sunday, December 18
When One Truly Matures

When does one truly matures is not by age nor status nor experience, but it is when he starts to look beyond himself and starts to care about the people around him and their feelings. It is when he stops talking about himself but starts to ask about others. True friends are those who do not abandon their friends for their own interest.

It's just me. I totally hate attention seekers, and those who can't spare a thought for others. Those who are insensitive, who think highly of themselves, and above all I hate those who judge my deeds and actions. It's bad enough they don't think about others, but they just have to put me down.

God help me not let my emotions hinder my love for the lost that You have poured onto me. When You were on this earth, You still showed Your love to us despite our horrible attitude and terrible sins. May Your spirit and not my feelings be my guide so that others will not see me but see You and Your love for them.

-=P3ng=- | 7:30 pm

Saturday, December 17
Avalon - We Were The Reason

As little children, we would dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realised a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason that He gave his life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live CHORUS

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

And ..

CHORUS

He is my reason to live...

-=P3ng=- | 11:29 pm

Sunday, December 11
Anti-Santa!

A simple comparison.

Santa Clause and Jesus Christ

Both are key ppl in this festive season. Yet why isn't Jesus Christ being talk about more than Santa Clause. Jesus Christ is the reason why Christmas ever came about. It's the day God provided an answer to our problem of sin so that we can be with our creator for eternity. Yet, ppl choose to talk about Santa Clause, and his magical sliding down the chimneys to give presents. Such a myth can be used in Christmas themed movies where the child is told to believe in Santa even though it's a children fairy tale. They'll somehow make the moral of the movie to be believe in Santa no matter how old, etc.

Why is Santa so attractive then? I thought maybe it's the presents. Ppl want to receive presents. Ppl like things that are magical. But what about Jesus Christ. He came down to bring us a gift that can surpass Santa's whole bag combined, and that's eternal life! If ppl choose to believe what they hear that is pleasant, why not believe in Jesus Christ when not only it's pleasant but GOOD NEWS to all man?

Because ppl would rather hide from God. They rather be accoutable to themselves and not God. They do not want to come face to face with their sin. Even if a miracle is performed, even if a dead rises to speak to them about hell, ppl won't believe. because for those of us who are saved, it's the power of God.

Comments? Just my views.. =)

-=P3ng=- | 8:01 pm

The Not so serious but still impt post

here is where I blab on and on about what has happened in my life so far... there are a prayer requests and i really hope you join me in prayer esp for my brother.

let's see where to begin.. Ok, after the lost camp, Romans asked me to go thru the Discovery Journey with my bro. Things went really well. Praise God. My bro is interested. He asks quite a lot of questions too. Now there's one more session which I will go thru with my bro this coming friday. btw my family and relatives (including my bro) are now in thailand on a holiday. My church's youth ministry leader, Romans, together with a team of 5 other youths are also in thailand too for their mission trip. Pray that the Lord will guide them and open the hearts of the thai children that the word of the Lord go forth to the foreign land.

erm, so if you realise I'm home alone. But that's not really affecting me except that I don't have my dad to drive me to camp.. So gotta book in le..2hrs plus ride..

and oh ya, Church was interesting today. More and more new faces are joining us. Praise God! And oh, the youths are gonna perform a dance for the Christmas service! Now all working hard to practise the moves. =) There's also floorball today which is always as fun as ever! And there's The Last Supper, an event the older ones are organising on 30th Dec fri nite. We are going to a lot of places to EAT!! and all are GOOD FOOD! it's gonna be overnight somemore.. So many events... And oh ya I'm gonna try invite my parents to CHristmas eve candlelight service and Christmas service! Pray that they will have no excuse and that they will be free to come!

With so much things happening this month, the more impt I should pray to God. Depending on Him, especially when doing His work is not jsut important but necessary. For we are but instruments to be used to bring about His perfect will =)

-=P3ng=- | 7:35 pm

The More Serious Post

So now that I love God, to the point where He is my everything. So how far am I willing to go, how much am I ready to do, how much am I ready to sacrifice for God?

It's only big and important things. It is even applicable in what seems small matters but still means a lot to God. I have found myself untrustworthy to abstain from a horrible sin I keep committing. Despite hating the sin, hating myself committing it, totally guilty and depressed, I can't be free from it.

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is
better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be
thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw
it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30)

So how much am I ready to do? God already showed how serious the matter is that it's better for you to lost one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. I'm not sure about the context but i'm very sure I'm not far off from what God meant.

No more compromising. No more never mind, it's smth minor only. No more never mind God will still forgive me. It's not about us being imperfect so sin is ok. But about how much we really want to live a righteous life for God. It's in the heart, not the deeds. That's what God's gospel always been driving at.

-=P3ng=- | 7:06 pm

Sunday, December 4
2hr 12mins

That's e time i took to complete the Standard Chartered Half Marathon this morning.. waking up at 5am, sleepily ate breakfast and a banana and some tablet dissolved drink that supposed to allow my body to realease my carbos that i should have been loading.

Thx to my dad i can afford to leave home at 530 and still be on time for e race. The half marathon(21.1km) started later than the full one (42.195km) which was 630 and 6am respectively. I was late by a few minutes so i missed the countdown to the flag off. But it didn't matter because after the flag off, there were so many ppl there's hardly space to walk. Everyone is just waiting for the front to move on.

The race by itself was an experience. Before the race, the furthest dist i ran was 15km. and for the past few weeks due to my lack of discipline and LOST camp, i didn't train as much. So I really had to depend on God. Throughout the race, i kept wondering why I joined! Spending $40 just to suffer was how my fren put it. But aside from running for an experience or because my OAC friends are all joining, i thought it's a good time to find out more about myself and my relationship with God. The race started out ok. With my mp3 and my bro's watch, I started out overtaking ppl for the 1st 10km. Ok basicaly there were more ppl i overtook than ppl overtook me. hehe but that was misleading. Cos it seemed i was fast but my pace was just right for my target of completing it in about 2 hrs. from the 5km to 10km it was my fastest pace at 5mins per km. but after that was pure suffering especially from 16km onwards! Each step was painful as my knees and ankles hurt with each impact and well, my mind becomes weaker. The whole race God had been with me but towards the end it was Him who really carried me through. He gave me my mp3 to distract me so that i can focus on completing it. Thankfully I did manage to complete running before giving up and started walking and thus might have missed my target.

THANK GOD I MADE IT!

Doubt i'll ever run so much again. Not helping in getting me fat when i keep burning everything(both fats and muscles) away. The race was an experience. Seeing 500ml ice mountain bottles flying out from the pack of runners to the side of the road, disgusting toilets, long queues for baggage collection, seeing international marathon runners running, meeting my JC fren Denis while running. The event was really cool.. K shall not spend more time blogging.. Got loads to do.. =)

-=P3ng=- | 6:57 pm

Saturday, December 3
Loving God's Blessings more than God

Perhaps my recents posts had showed part of my recent struggle to grow and move on in life. here's e conclusion of e matter, an extract from my november reflection letter =)

This had to do with loving God’s blessings more than God Himself. If I treasure the fun, and enjoyable times so much until I dread moving on in life then will I hate God if one day He takes all these away? It is easy to confess how much we love God but the nature of the human heart is not strong. Will I be like Job and be found blameless even when all I have is taken away? Or will I curse God like what Satan predicts?

Perhaps understanding humility is the answer. To realize how undeserving of God’s love we are and yet He gave us His blessings. To remember what is given is all God’s grace and accepts God’s choice. Perhaps then, I can focus more on God and let go of the blessings. So that in all situations which God places me and with whatever He gives me, I can still be joyful knowing that He uses them to will and work in me for His good pleasure.

-=P3ng=- | 9:43 pm