transit at Dubai Airport
I'm in transit at Dubai airport. Local time is 5am...
After meeting X2 ULs and praying together and dinner, thanks to Andrew for carrying my luggage to the cab. It was a heavy luggage...
frankly speaking, i like the part of traveling but not not keen in flying long distant flight. Many of you can share the same sentiment, dry air, small leg space, not comfortable sleepling position. :):)
Thank God the flight from S'pore to Dubai was a pleasant one. I met a guy who sat besides me. He is from Deli and he graduated in Master in Computer Science in Melbourne. He is returning to India for a 21/2 months holiday and will return back to Melbourne. We had a reasonable conversation and exchange email addresses and we hope to stay connected.
I got enegerise talking to him. I think this is how I was wired up, that's why I'm in a people ministry... phew!
I gave a miss on the plane food. I don't quite like it except the warm bread...hohoho! Joel shared the same sentiment as me... I told me he got to prepare SIA plane food when he was in attachement. :):):)
I prayed on the plane that I will have a super dooper fruitful time in London and Berlin. As I refreshes others, I will be refreshes as well!
I prayed for Christmas as well! Poly will reach beyond 600 (it's so within our reach of visitors) and may those who attended the CL camp will be a leader of 7 and 15 after Xmas!
I will updated my days in Europe and stay tune....
last thing... I forgot to bring my camera!!!!!!!!!! man, this is terrible as I want to capture good moments of people and places.... I must get help and borrow from someone in London...
winter wear
i'm busy with getting ready for the winter trip. I remembered the last winter trip was in 2003. Few of us went for a mission exploration trip to Ireland. It was 1st week of Dec and was winter time. It just felt not very long time ago. That was my 1st time wearing really thick jackets, gloves and woolen hats and with multi layers of sweaters...hohoho! I like Dublin as i recalled the richness of life of Irish. I enjoyed so much in this mission trip, we learnt to share, give and tolerate with one another in a new environment and accommodation and weather.
This Sunday, I'm flying to London for a personal trip. 3 weeks ago, I got a nice cut winter jacket. Then week after, I got a pair of gloves and scarf. Then today, I got 1 sweater. I need to get a thermo wear and probably 1-2 more sweater as I'm afraid of cold. :):) ( alittle kia su...)
On sister from Hope London emailed that to get ready a super cold winter when I reach London this Sunday... Maybe it will snow... I have mixed feeling... I wish to see snow yet I'm seriously afraid of cold... God, possible to see snow and I'm feeling warm? (I think I can work on my outfit...)
Now, I'm slowly packing my luggage and hope I get everything that I need for a super cold weather... :)
I'm looking forward to meet many friends in London and Berlin.
JB LC
I reached home at 1030pm last night after the pastors' dinner at JB LC. it was BBQ by the pool...I sat besides James Loke and mandarin church pastors and pastors from Manila. It was a good time for sharing and fellowship...
I love LC because I can get to catch with many leaders from all over the world. It's just good to fellowship with these spiritual gaints...
I love this LC because I got to spend time with Jeremiah and Leanne 1 day before the LC. Ritchie was unable to join us last min...sorry bro...
anyway, it was Jeremiah and Leanne 1st time trying pedicure...what pedicure does is to remove the deadskin of the sole and cut all unwanted or dry cuticle aruond the nails. they will do a good scrub on your feet and calves. Also they shape your nail in shape.
i think they enjoyed themselves as their feet are cleansed thoroughly... :) I enjoyed it so much with my manicure and pedicure... whoo!
jer's 1st time....
clean feet...
In the LC was Joshua aka Wenjiang's birthday. It was on the Wednesday and then on Thursday was Ps Marcus (Hope Germany)'s brithday.
We had a simple celebration for him and had a great time with Vincent (Hope London pastor) as well!
Look at this cute photo... sat cheese, bdae boy....
friends from London, Germany, Brisbane and S'pore!
There are around 150 people for this LC. There was a invited Indonesian pastor who preach in one of the slot. His is a humble man and he pastors a 20,000 church in Solo. He is 55 but doesn't look like one and his son is also a pastor in another city of a 7,000 church. What encouraged me was he sat in my workshop on How to revive a stagnant group. I was humbled and I casually told him I should be sitting down and he should teach the workshop. He just smiled. whoo, what a man....
To me the highlight is all the meal times including the supper time with different leaders and hearing their updates of their lives and churches. It just so good as we are living for the common thing and focus in life.
The next one will be in Manila in Feb - A theological integrated church....
sleepless night in JB
Now, the time is 4.44am...I'm blogging this entry in my hotel room. I was not able to sleep though i tried to for the past 3 hours... So I decided to go for a hot bath and then surf some good website.
I'm in JB with few other poly leaders to attend the leadership conference. I met some leaders that have known for few years in s'pore before I come to JB. I also met some new leaders too. The conference is starting in another 5 hours...
The theme is planting the kingdom. I'm looking forward to meet more leaders for catch up and also to hear different stories from different continent.
It's exciting to be part of the movement.... Let's see what the Lord will speak and direct us this time...:)
my stomach is groaning!!! I wished I could have a bowl of laksa now....hahahaha! maybe i could taste some later...
anyway, stay tune and May God works in my heart and many hearts again....
superb stories!!!!
as i have mentioned in the previous entry that I will post some more hottie news after we have our CLM last night... I look forward to meet the CLs! It was a great time and PSPT joined the meeting too! PSPT formed yesterday and we prayed for them to grow in courage as they execute the program and anointing as they mobilise different people to be involve! Go abigail, Jorris, Han Yew and Jocelyn go!
alright..here are 3 stories shared in CLM...
Jen said, "Many of the core team caught the spirit of God after the CL camp. After the camp, individual leader plan their schedule what to do and how to maximise their time in campus. The guys leaders were zealous over knowing new friends from accountancy. So when they saw a student carrying a accountacy book, they went to know him. Last week, they had a matthew event and they gathered to set the number of friends they will like to see in the event, they set 41. On the day of their Matthew event - Hello-Freak, they witnessed 41 new friends for their event! It's God! I'm so thankful to all the CLs in TPBisArt. they are committed and diligent. Thank God, today, we saw 2 students crossed the line of faith in service!. I enouraged you with Deu 1:29 and Joshua 3:1... The Lord will fight for us and with us!"Ace said "The Lord spoke to me during church prayer meeting about humble myself before him. He promised me as I humble myself, God will pour in harvest to DI group. He need to use humble vessel. I thought maybe I'm proud so I choose to humble myself. Indeed God is faithful, for the past 4 weeks, without fail, we saw 1 friend crossed the line of faith every week! today, we saw a Mongolia student said yes to Jesus over dinner after the service. I was reminded again today in the sermon to stay humble, so God will use me and the team even greater to receive more spiritual babies!"Donald said "We had this new believer- Edison who came to know God 3 months ago. Through him, he brought close 10 friends to small group or service. Through his connection, 7 of his friends crossed the line of faith for the past 3 months! I saw the CG really united together. We spent time together and usually people meet once a week in NS group. We meet close to 4 times a week (not all can come but usually in 3s). We have no strategy as NS men has very limited time so we can't really strategies. All we know is love our friends and sow on them in camp. I guess that how the harvest came in. Thank God!"We were very encouraged to hear such stories... How can we not be fruitful...it's a matter of time. How can God's church will not grow... it's a matter of time. How can God not bless us who are bunch of people who are committed to him. Yes, he will!
Spread this news and send in your stories as well! we overcome the devil by the word of testimony....:):):)
one of my favorite sermon
enjoy the scripture reading in different version....
Matthew 5:3-10 (New Living Translation)3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.Matthew 5:3-10 (The Message)3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
hotty news on this side of the world
1. Nel 1st day in Peoples' Assoication as Community Development Excutive. She had an orientation at the HQ then went to Joo Chiat Club... She got an assignment - oversee Indian Community events... I guessed must be because of her outstanding eye liner... I pray she will shine in her workplace and inspire more marketplace student leaders like Cols and Abigail, Joel, Huimei...:):)
2. Leanne 1st day in hope Singapore office. Yes, she will be Tertiary staff... She had an orientation with HR Manager and with me, her boss...hohoho.... went through JD and she seems to be serious in what she is suppose to do... ha! we will have a diligent and resilient lady in 412! Great to have her joining the team....Use one and only life to maximise the KOG by touching more PolyDiNs peeps!:):)
3. PSPT CG will be form on 8th Nov, this coming Saturday! Abigail will be leading this CG and PSPT....yeah! It will be a team of 4 whom will be working together as a team and lead and run weekly services... to touch more lives...hohoho! God's anointing, wisdom, creativity will be upon this team and few other ICs! PolyDiNs service!
after the CL camp, I heard many many stories of how the new leaders growing in their courage when they mobilise their sheep to reach other people. I heard those CLs grow in their wisdom as they handle unique issues in the group.
Colin was sharing with us amazing stories of SP... 20 of the workers get to know new friends in the campus and everyone was excited about it, including new believers...hoho
There are more stories and you will hear it in this coming CLM... for those not in CLM, you follow closely my entry next week as I post it there....as for the rest of the CLs, come to hear the mighty things of God has done in the group for the past 3 weeks!
'send the consistent message - Jesus is alive'
his presence
after catching a last part of a taiwan variety show with nel and abigail, all of us went back to our room to rest..
I'm penning down this blog before I sleep...
Today service was great! 2 things were great!
God's presence was evidently strong and clear during worship. Worship team was flowing with the ministering... God have a word and was very specific... then came a chorus of a worship song, I sang! guessed what, it was not the chorus of the 2nd worship song but was another song... I realised it as I sang but continued on as the team can and continue to play.... it just flowed.... then responds and sing again.... only one presence can be felt, God's glory.... (Take this presence with us as we live our lives in weekdays...).
God's word was clearly spoken. I'm so confident of His Word today. (I'm not saying I'm not in other preaching...) But I was so sure of the passage and focus of the message is for us today... As we prepare for birthing Tertiary service. Knowing God's call and responding to his call!
So I realised 2 things as leader, we need to continue to seek and improve (Preaching the Word and God's anointing)... That's what Jesus do on earth...
Matthew 4:23 "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom..."Mark 2:2 "So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them."1John 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him."Let Your Word and Anointing flows in me and through me....:)
