National Student Leaders Conference

Was asked to write an article for this event about evangelism that I attended so would like to share with you all too and also so that all of you will have an idea of what's going on with the Christians students in University:) which i thank God that I can be a part of in the front line and so here it is, I hope you all are still reading this blog and keeping it alive ^^:

On the 26th September 2009 this year, FES held the annual national student leaders conference themed Students Reaching Students: Quo Vadis?. It was held in Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Headquarter. About 90 student leaders from Singapore tertiary institutions, Polytechnics and Universities, gathered together in the morning at the Clementi campus. The event started after an opening prayer. It began with a worship of songs led by President of SIM ISCF in 3 languages, English, Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia. It was a meaningful start to the event indeed.

Then the event proceeded with a speech given by Dr Dave Geisler, President of Meekness & Truth™ Ministries who educated the crowd about the challenges faced by a Christian in evangelism over history, from the past until the present. Dr Geisler also analysed the challenges faced by the generation in this era to share the Truth and introduced two main strategies in evangelism relevant to the present situation: to ask questions that probe people to rethink their beliefs and to tell stories about how Christ has changed our life.

Mr Simon Seow, Director of Creative Communication, Campus Crusade for Christ Singapore, during his sharing, shared a video with the crowd and elaborated on the creative communications in campus among the youths of today. And the last speaker,
Dr Stephen Lim, Mission Committee Chairman, FES Singapore gave a personal recount of his experience of a colleague that demonstrated another challenge in evangelism, tightly bounded to the unwillingness of losing one’s culture, family bonds and values and encouraged leaders to delve upon these issues.

Following the lunch after the speeches, student leaders were divided into 6 groups within their respective university to discuss and evaluate the current position of their school in terms of strategies and actions taken in evangelism within the campus. Each school then presented to the floor their strategies and a further discussion was carried out with the rest of the student leaders. Student leaders were challenged to evaluate and improve their strategies. Different approaches to evangelism, from SIM’s lifestyle evangelism through fun filled events that impact the school to NUS’ seminars to change the mindset of Christians and prepare undergraduates for the future challenges in the working, were discussed. Issues and ideas were brought up in the interaction that evaluated the effectiveness of each approach.

Two main case studies were presented during the conference. The first one was on EBS as done in FES Chinese Work and the second, the Friendship Evangelism Programme in the FES Indonesian Ministry which left us with an idea on the programs’ implementation and methods and also, something to carry to God in our prayers.

The conference was a great success. I'm thankful to God for the opportunity to be a part of the event. It was an eye opener. I learnt more about evangelism, about postmodernism thoughts and beliefs that makes evangelism so much more of a challenge in today's world. But God is sovereign and gracious because he brings us brothers and sister closer together and strong as a body of Christ even in evangelism during this time. It is in our hands to make “students reaching students” more than just a feel-good slogan but a reality.

Through this conference, I am also aware of the conviction of other student leaders in their campus and it encourages and heartens me to do more for God. Through the discussions, I have also learnt that there are many ways to spread the gospel, lifestyle evangelism, events and through our talents and capabilities (like teaching soccer). It shows me that God is working in all ways, in many creative ways to spread a common good news, the Gospel. I would love to attend more of these conferences. It was spectacular and it felt like I've grown more as a young Christian. Again, I thank God for this opportunity.

Discrimination

Discrimination have always been existent in the world we live in. In our country, our homes, our schools, even in our very own churches.



Since the sermon(what's your race)(racism issue) that was spoken recently in our church by the speaker, I like to raise up the issue of discrimination and share my thoughts on discrimination and using the biblical perspective to look at this issue.

There are many types of discrimination involve, the more prominent ones are racism, sexism, discriminating of people who are different from us(discriminating the disabled). Along the way, i would just list down examples of our everyday life that could be seen in our society.



For example, racial discrimination is where people of a particular race would start to ostracize the other one. Such discrimination could be seen in America, Australia and even in Singapore. Reason might be just physical. Like black skin and stuff. It might also be religion reason.

Although i think agree that only christianity is the true religion and the truth faith of all faiths, but God created man in his own image. Hate the religion but not the man. Hate the sin but not the created.

God created everyone each in his own image. Each different to what God has intended. If we were to dicriminate people different froom us, what makes us different that we are actually discriminating God?

Likewise, discrimination doesn't only occur in the issue of race, it also occurs in terms of gender discrimination and even people who are of different social status.

Even in churches, we could see that if someone elses is poorer than us, we don't talk to the person, if the person is dirty(i mean physically dirty) we don't get near the person, and even if the person speaks of lousy english, we discriminate him! This is where love comes in. We do not judge a person based on his physical outlook, rather we judge him based on his character. However we do not condemn him, rather we love him and condemn the sin he does.

These are my thoughts for today. Correct me if i am wrong :)

How George Whitefield Studies the Bible

"There he is at five in the morning . . . . on his knees with his English Bible, his Greek New Testament and Henry's Commentary spread out before him. He reads a portion in the English, gains a fuller insight into it as he studies words and tenses in the Greek and then considers Matthew Henry's explanation of it all. Finally, there comes the unique practice that he has developed: that of 'praying over every line and word' of both the English and the Greek till the passage, in its essential message, has veritably become part of his own soul."

Arnold Dallimore, George Whitefield, I:82-83.


I realised that in some ways I actually studied in about the same manner as him:
1. first reading with my English NIV bible
2. checking key words in Greek on www.blueletterbible.org
3. picking a good commentary, or sometimes just the notes of a study bible.

But I don't wake up at 5am or pray through every single word :)

Tim Keller on Outward Looking Christians

"Christians should be a community radically committed to the good of the city as a whole. We must move out to sacrificially serve the good of the whole human community, especially the poor… the ultimate purpose of redemption is not to escape the material world, but to renew it. God's purpose is not only saving individuals, but also inaugurating a new world based on justice, peace, and love, not power, strife, and selfishness."

Agape: God's love

I used to think that I had the know-all when it comes to love - I even proudly parroted the famous definition, "Love is an intelligent willingness to do what is best for the other person" - until I had to face up to someone whom I find so difficult, even impossible at times to love.

I mean, how do you love someone who takes your kindness for granted? How do you stay patient at someone who shouts at your parents one day and asks for money the next day? How do you bear with someone who lies to you repeatedly, is unrepentant and malicious in words and action? How does anyone find in themselves the capability to love someone like that?

I thought it impossible and beyond me to do such a thing. Until I witnessed my own longsuffering parents continually opening their arms to embrace a unpenitent child. Time and time again, they did so in spite of their own misgivings and heartaches - knowing full well that by doing so, they are exposing themselves to more pain. I couldn't understand why. One night, in exasperation and anger, I retorted to my father, "Do you know how hurt I am [because of her actions]?"

My father answered, "She hurt me more. I am the one who gave her life and brought her up."

And I kept quiet because it was true. The pain I feel now is nothing in comparison to my father's. At that moment, I asked God, how is it even possible to love an unlovable person like her? Why is my father so silly?

Then I thought of myself. How filthy, how sinful and how depraved I am to demand for answers when I myself am not any better. Each time I sin, I turn away from His loving gaze to hanker after the fickle, temporal pleasures of the flesh. Each time I sin, I spit in contempt at His Son's work on the cross. Each time I sin, many times consciously, many times deliberately, I grieve God more than I'll ever know. And yet He never lets up. He even sent His beloved Son to die for the sins of such as me, someone so unworthy, so filthy, so repulsive.

My earthly father's love, however impossible a standard I think it is, is ultimately imperfect and impermanent. My heavenly Father's love in comparison is perfect, and eternal. Today, I get a glimpse and a better appreciation of His love for me. Maybe He has put me through this difficult trial in order to transform my theoretical understanding of His love into one that I am truly convicted about. I'm just getting started; I'll take eternity to learn and cherish His love for me.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That he should give his only son, to make a wretch his treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turned his face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one, bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon his shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ; his death and resurrection
Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart: his wounds have paid my ransom

Ruth: Providence

One major theme of the book of Ruth, which SG Charis is learning now, is about God's Providence, His wonderful blessings (culminating in King David and Davidic King) for a seemingly hopeless Naomi and Ruth (and for the rest of OT and NT believers including us!) This is William Cowper's hymn, sung in contemporary fashion. Beautiful song: Enjoy! :)

William Cowper - God Moves in a Mysterious Way





Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His works in vain
God is His own interpreter
and He will make it plain.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a smiling face.

Computers and Transcendence

Throughout my work in Acer, I have been wondering about computer systems. Well, not exactly the kind of questions that one normally asks. It's not about how certain software or hardware works, but rather the most basic idea:

What exactly happens at the most basic level? How do tangible things, metal parts, wires all work together to produce something complicated and intangible like what appears on the screen?

Of course, we take everything we see on the monitor screen for granted. I scrutinize the internal system, and all I see are simple computer parts. Physical parts that can be easily manufactured. But somehow there is some sort of transcendence there. From simple metal parts to... images, videos, movement of the mouse, typing of the alphabets etc.. How does that happen!?!

We all know it has to do with binary, the "1"s and "0"s, but aren't you amazed at how it works? I'm amazed at how people first thought of the computer idea.

Then I liken the computer system to our own body system. Like the computer, we are all made of simpler physical things called cells, which are made of molecules. Somehow these molecules and cells all add up together to form one big part that's me... Isn't that amazing by itself? And to add to all these, I am also a thinking and spiritual person. I have intangible thoughts, motives, emotions, affections, desires that have transcended from mere physical things.

If the human mind that makes, explains, constructs and troubleshoots the computer system is so much greater that the computer system, I shudder at how much greater the Divine Mind is that created the human mind!


"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- Isaiah 55:9