“It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black.  The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of the solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose.  And so I choose.

I choose love… No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness, I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy… I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.  I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…the tool of the lazy thinker.  I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace… I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience… I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.  Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so.  Rather than complaining that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray.  Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness… I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.  Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness… I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.  I will be overlooked before I will boast.
I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness… Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust.  My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love.  And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness… Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.  If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.  If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control… I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.  I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God.  I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace.  And then when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”

-Written by Max Lucado

10Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions–if he comes to you, welcome him), 11and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15Give my greetings to the brothers^[d] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

 18I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

—Why ESV? http://www.desiringgod.org/library/topics/word_god/esv.html —

Reading all these names of fellow servants of Paul, it’s amazing to read about what great works God was doing through all these people.  Imagine, one of us writting a letter to Christians in a far of place, say Somalia….and mentioning the names of us who are praying for them, still remembering those whom we’ve touched in the past: it’s quite an encouragement.

There is signifiance I find in verse 17.  We’ve all been taught throughout our years as young Christians that our ministry given to us from the Lord, but in the end, it is up to us to perform it. And just like many of todays issues in this Christian life, we must see that God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility need to work hand in hand.  When God calls us to ministry, it is upto us, as the fruit of being graced by Him, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  From faith, to serve Him obediently with our hands and feet as He’s called us.

Consider your own call to this year’s CC ministry.  I’ve been considering my own, and also in the process, screening candidates for Worship Team.  Many have been graced with the “gifts” of ministry (and musical worship), but only those who are specifically “called” by God will be serving.  Without the call from God, we don’t serve by faith, and anything done without faith is sin.  But knowing we are called to serve and being affirmed of the calling from brothers and sisters, let us obediently let God use us as He rightfully requires.

Gung hey fat choy ;-P

I think over lunch my brain was really ticking and I had a bunch of things to say, but I think a lot of it has slipped into my unconscious already… 

Today, was the 1st day of the Chinese New Year, year of the Dog.  I led the first English Worship @ church the 1st Sunday of the solar New Year, and just led the first English Worship of the lunar New Year… so it’s been quite a privilege to lead my church at such monumental times of the calendar.  Recently, since I took over lead worshipping on our team from Nathan (English Worship Coordinator, Deaon and PK pastor’s kid of our Senior Pastor Rev.William Yung)…week after week, I’ve gotten many words of encouragement and thanx for leading, “good job leading today.”  I’ve always taken a humble attitude towards it, and still continue to do so.  My response: “Yeh, it was alright today, thanx;-1″  Coz honestly, this week, I didnt feel the groove.  Songs I picked out early, and had a theme moving–Lost in the Wonder + Wondering about the Lost.  Friday’s practice everybodyelse was a bit late, so we didnt have much time to rehearse, and didn’t really learn “God of Justice (We Must Go)”, so this morning I ended up counting it out of the set first thing in the morning.

Nevertheless, things turned out gloriously despite my not-totally hotness, maybe because I felt very unprepared even though everything was prepared.  The set went fairly smoothly, the Psalm reading inbetween songs was good, as was the Prayer….and the last song before Dan’s sermon, “I Stand Amazed In The Presence” we ended up singing verse1 + chorus accappella at the end, and then as planned I left everybody standing for like 10seconds in silence after the voices faded out before walking off the stage.  I think I coulda and maybe shoulda left it hanging for a bit longer…but still, the standing in amazement of God was quite an act of worship.

Sharon played fairly well;-2 We haven’t played together for the past 2 times our team was up to lead; her cousin Catherine took over.  On Friday’s practice, it kinda seemed like she wasn’t totally in the groove yet either, but today she sounded much better, I guess after a bit more practice.  We’ve missed her on the team; we’ve got lots to work on for the rest of the term as a team of lead worshippers.  I hope to dialogue more with our team, and with the other worship teams too…in order to figure out a general strategy, a direction we are moving towards, in terms of musical worship.  coz a lot of the times, i’ve a hard time trying to figure it out.  I tried asking the other teams for set lists from the past 6months–and Holly’s team doesn’t have a record…which to me, ain’t too good.  In order to figure out where we are going right now, we need to know where we’ve been.  In terms of songs, especially new ones, it is especially a sign of unpreparedness if we for the reasons of bad communication and not being on the same pag” overly repeat various songs, or for new songs, there is no continuation from the other teams.  All in all, we just need to dialogue I think…to bounce ideas of each other, to plan together (also with Pastor Arthur).

I’ve also been UNinvited to the English Ministry visioning meeting coming Saturday.  apparently, Pastor Arthur & our Elder Jody had a bit of miscommunication, and the meeting is for “English Planning Committee” members only.  and as Cat rightfully noted, I’m not on the Committee!  At first I just thought of it as an invite coz of all that I’ve done for the church, being quite an influential member of the English congregation…but Arthur talked to me a bit today, and clarified that he’s inviting me to join a new committee–the “Think Tank”, strategizing /visioning committee that would come up with / figure out conceptually where God is leading us.  I am humbled, and should take some time to pray/think it through before accepting the invitation…but already, I know God is leading me towards this.

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Have mention this, some good links here on a Southern Baptist perspective and McLaren’s on homosexuality.  Quite the contrast I would say.

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Anywayz, with all the talk in Sunday School on Paul’s theology in Romans…It’s all got me thinking more and more, trying to understand God’s message to us His chosen people.  I’ve got so much input into my heart mind and soul right now, that I need an outlet.  I feel like I can explode.  I don’t have anybody close right now to unleash my heart-thoughts on, nobody whom I’ve found that I can be truly free and open to trust.  I think this is the part that hurts most.  A lot of the times, during a meal, after everybody else is finished and it’s just me sitting there–I ponder and think, but have nobody infront of me to share all THIS that God’s put on my heart.  And with what my mother just wished me, for Chinese New Years…it’s funny, and just ~sighs~ agreeable.

I am praying for an outlet to share my life with somebody, best friend, who would understand me, and support me in all that I am and all that I’ve been called to do.
*I’m praying that it would be you, and for opportunities to share with you.

 

YahooPhotos is being REALLY STUPID, check out the attached screenshot!

So much for “UNLIMITED STORAGE” as stated @ http://help.yahoo.com/l/ca/rogers/photos/policy/policy-57412.html **it’s not really unlimited at all :S

Seems I’m just about outta photo storage space;S  I’ve uploaded so much photos that apparently I’m almost totally outta room for any more. What should I do?!? I’m gonna email RogersYahoo Internet support and whine for one!!!

Anywayz, I’m highly considering moving over to FLICKr–I’ve actually started using it already since I’ve got this kool integration with my website. $24.95usd for a PRO Account–anybody wanna gimme a belated Christmas/early bday/graduation present?!? (Click here to buy it for me–my screen name is sixsteps)  Flickr is a Yahoo company, so they technically should be able to transfer my yahoophotos over–if it could do this I’ll really jump on switching over!

“How are you?  How have you been?  How have things been going at church… at home;-?

The other day, when I saw you, and you ’saw’ me…you didn’t say anything to me..and I didn’t try to either. Just know that in my heart I did.   But it’s ok.. I think I understand why you didn’t say anything. I just hope it is helping, that you are well, and getting better Spiritually.  Coz that’s what matters most, your relationship with Christ…it affects everything else.

Whatever reason you didn’t come to fellowship this week… It’s fine.. I mean, it’s not, but if it’s truly necessary then I’m glad you didn’t offer a hypocritical sacrifice of praise to God.  Whatever has been going through your head, I don’t understand, and won’t claim to…all I know is God does, and He feels for you very much.  Put a hand over your heart, and feel it beat.  Feel the heartbeat, the rhythm of the life of Christ that beats inside of you.  Feel His heart…His heart for you.

We had quite a journey in 2005..and 2006 seems to be an even more significant year.  A lot of big thing’s are gonna be happening…I mean, Passion06 already happened and I really wished you could have been there to experience the lifesong of 18,000 students uniting together in one voice lifting up the one name worthy of our lives.  And then there’s CC’06…and Urbana06… And graduating, moving on, growing up, growing old.

Time is passing by, and every second that passes by, I remember all that our LORD has blessed us with in the past–blessings, good and bad, but still gifts of grace–and I am thankful.  Much big things will happen and be accomplished this year, and I prayer is that you my friend would be able to share with me & God in this journey.  There’s so much that God’s said to me lately that I wanna share with you…I just hope you know that, you can still say anything to me.

I’m always here…but the time is coming when I can no longer in that capacity that I have been.  It kinda means I’ll be bending my promise to God. Sacrifices have to be made, I’ll hafta give up a lot of things to go where God desires me to go in this life of mine; and I just beg Him that this does not include our friendship.

As always, for always, through Christ,
-Alex”

SDG