In Carlisle

After more than 28.5 hours of traveling, I finally arrived at Carlisle. I did not get my luggage, I've missed the train and there's nobody to pick me up at the train station. Jet lagged and tired, I managed to called the personnel manager, Torlief, apparently I've got the time mixed up and gave him the wrong information. But that's okay. He's willing to put me up for one night before I get to stay with the my host family for a couple of weeks. The place whom Torlief stays is beautiful, it looks like a castle. This place was made available by the Cathedral in Carlisle to OMers. Torlief's family wife and 2 teen-age kids stay in this very unique house.

The house is walking distance from OM office. It's very close, it takes about 5 minutes walk. The house was built for minister who works in the Cathedral and has some history.

主我跟你走

主我跟你走
Music and Lyrics: 游智婷 Sandy Yu

主你跟我走，往普天下走，
天涯海角緊緊抓住我。
主我跟你走，往普天下走，
死蔭幽谷緊緊跟你走。

因你是萬王之王，萬主之主，
有你跟著我，我讓怕什麼？
因你已戰勝死亡，得勝君王，
這信心的路我永不回頭。

開啟我眼，信心的雙眼，
看那天使天軍在身邊。
塑造我的心，謙卑地聆聽，
你的話語深植我心。

Last days in Melbourne

"When are you leaving?"
"Are you all packed?"
"What's going to happen to your house?"

Here are some of the few questions that were asked by my friends. Yes, I am leaving Melbourne for UK. One of the goals I aim to do this year. The trip to China to see my father's house, and mission work with OM.

My feelings at the moment are quite mixed. I am going into something so big for me to describe. It's very much like riding a 100M wave in context of surfing. Not only your heart rate goes up, but your adrenaline is pumping like a V8 engine.

It is like the moment before you set your foot off the platform of bungee jumping. That moment, the only thing you can feel your blood rushing through your whole body. You hear beat is so loud, it almost like a rock concert. You could no longer hear your friends cheering you on to take the step for the fall.

Everything is silent.

Everything slows down.

The noise that you hear is slowed down and becoming blurry.

You know all the safety harness are intact, everything is ready. You just need to take one step in front of the platform. One step into the unknown.

One step, that step.

Heart Of Worship

Lately I have been thinking about worship. I was reading a book about how many churches have moved away from the Biblical truth. If you are interested, please check out 'This little church went to market' by Gary Gilley.

I just want to talk about worship here.

The Bible says in John 4:23
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Sometimes, I questioned myself whether I am doing what the bible says when I worship God.
A lot of the time when I hear people say 'The worship was so good!.' I wonder what it means. Why? Did the person actually say the music was good? Or the atmosphere was good? Or I feel good in the worship.

After serving many years in the music ministry, I want to ask a few questions.
1. Are we worshiping God or worshiping music?
2. Do we have to feel good during the worship session?
3. How do you feel the presence of God in worship? Why do I have to feel the presence of God?
Why is it all about ME feeling the presence of God?
4. Is worship session a therapeutic session for me? (Be honest)!

I think you'll probably starting to get what I'm trying to say...
It's not about me, but all about Him.
Our worship should be God focused, we all know that. Sometimes, we really need to honestly ask ourself when we worship, who is the centre of the focus when the phrase like "meeting our needs" come into picture. Since when do we need the worship (music) to meet our needs?

Unless we go back to God focused worship, we will never be the true worshipers that the Father seeks. Notice that I did not say we never experience what true worship is.

I wonder why when Jesus said, "Yet a time is coming and has now come ...", in the verse.

Kiasu again?

On the topic of 'Kiasu' again, I was reminded about a Bible passage, Mark 9:33-35.

33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

Why do we always want to be first? Can't we just be a servant?

Another passage, Mark 10:35-45
The Request of James and John

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."
36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."
38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"
39"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."
41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So, any thoughts?

Kiasu

I am sure some of you may heard of the Asian slang, "Kiasu". Wikipedia describes it as "fear of losing". It is a social attitude in a very competitive world that we're living now. Someone said that competitiveness brings out the best of us. I tend to disagree with the person who said that. The person may have the spirit of "Kiasu". I don't think competition can bring the best out of us because we are always afraid of someone who will be better than us. You don't always win when you try your best. And when you actually win, it doesn't mean that you've given your best.

We strike for excellent not to win but to do our best. Is wining that important? May be in sports event. Yes, in that context winning is important, but it must come with sportsmanship and integrity, otherwise the victory is without hounour.

The Bible speaks about being faithful servant and how to use our talents.

Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Talents

14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Imagine these servants have the "kiasu" attitude, what will happen? I always believe in being faithful doing the things that you've given and do it to your best ability. This is what pleases God rather than achieving something great with the "Kiasu" spirit.