Club PATI.....Charity Drive....

It has been almost a week since I last updated ViveAlive. The year 2009 brings along lots work load and much less time for me. Well, I hope I would find some time after office hours to catch up on what is happening around us and to update this blog.

This year our social club, Club PATI, have decided to adopt an underprivileged children home and plan to organize monthly activity. As a club, we try to meet the needs of this precious young people and focus our giving in the area where people don't normally give.

In January, we decided to bless the home with Milo and Milk Powder that can last for at least two months. Surprisingly the children home do not get enough sponsors of Milo and Milk powder supplies. They have ample supplies of Rice and other provision. We thank God for a generous soul that gives us a sum of money and ask us to bless any children home. They found out our involvement in supporting this home. It came as a surprise. I have not seen or talk to the person for ages. The donor just walks to me and give the cash. Amazing Right!!!

The project for February is to supply undergarments for the girls in the home. One of our members manage to contact a prominent manufacturer of undergarments. We (mean the ladies in our club) took the measurements and we provided it to the manufacturer. The manufacturer has agreed to supply us with 42 sets of undergarment of various sizes. This translates to almost two pairs for each girl in the home. We will be sending over the undergarments in first week of February. When we mention the brand name to our friends, lots of them almost fall down from their chairs. It is one of those well known up market brands.

I realized that giving is something that no one can take away from us. The rewards of giving go far beyond money and material things. Giving is something that we will be able to take with us wherever we go for the rest of our lives.

Isaiah 1:17 instructs us to Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Then James 1:27 encourages us with a simple, yet thought provoking understanding of what pure and lasting religion is in the sight of God. He said, “…we must care for orphans and widows in their distress...”

David Livingstone, who served as a Scottish missionary in Africa, said “I will place no value on anything I have or possess except in relation to the Kingdom of Christ. If anything I have will advance the Kingdom, it shall be given or kept whichever will best promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes both for time and eternity.”

Be Blessed.

The Rock Cries Out

Over the weekend I was busy clearing some old stuffs at home. While cleaning, I came across an old cassette that I purchased in the early 1990. It was my first Christian rock music collection and it was a compilation of songs from a group called themselves Petra. Talking about purchasing music album, it is something precious to me in my younger days. I need save enough money from my pocket money for school and normally I am able to buy a maximum two cassette year. It was not easy to find much money those days. The cassette becomes so precious.

Anyway, back to Petra. Petra was a prominent Christian rock band, regarded by many as a pioneer of the Christian rock. I love their music as it is a mixture of traditional and original praise songs with a rock style of music. Furthermore rock music was the trend for music during my teenage days. The title of my first Petra's album was "The Rock Cries Out". It is the eleventh release of Petra and their first praise album. It was released in October 3, 1989. The music is mostly a collection of traditional praise songs with a rock style. However, there are two original songs, both written by band founder Bob Hartman. I remember I would listen almost every day to their songs. Such an inspiration.

There was strong opposition from within the churches when Christian rock music was introduced especially in the 80's and early 90's. In fact there was a lot of comment given those days. Terms like Devil's music and so on was the common remark made. Some even stop their members from listening to such music. I am glad our church leaders taught us the importance of discernment.

Petra was formed in 1972 and after 33 years of music and ministry, Petra decided to officially retire the band. December 2005 marks the end to a ministry that has boldly and consistently proclaimed the gospel in the United States and abroad. The decision to retire the band was mutual by all members.

The band has impacted generations of musicians and fans alike over the years with over seven million CDs sold, four Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards and an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Petra Praise paved the way for the rock genre perhaps more than any other in the Christian music industry. Though a rotating cast of musicians comprised Petra's lineup over the years, the band is closed strong with over 20 albums to its credit. I am glad to see Petra's album is still being sold in our local Christian music stores.

To all of the band members of Petra, thank you for being a blessing.

Be Blessed.

Busy...Busy....Busy

Sorry for not updating this blog for couple of days. Been extremely busy with some urgent stuff at work recently. Manage to find sometime at home to browse the internet. Here I am sitting at my sofa set and having some thoughts of some of the current world news.

I am having a good laugh in some of the comments made by one of our past leader (no name will be given but you know who lar) with regards to protest against Israel aggression in Gaza and against their strong ally, US.

The leader suggested that we should quit working from American firms......Ah?? Quit? What joke!!!! I wonder this leader will feed us and our family when we follow his advice especially when jobs are so scarce nowadays..!!!! Come one... give me a break!!!! Sometimes I wonder whether this leader actually think before he speak out. Hopefully no one take heed to that advice.

The second action item is to discourage Malaysian from using US products. This is lagi funny.....looks like sooner or later companies like MAS will run out of business if Malaysian take heed to this advice....mine you that MAS is using Boeing as part of their fleet of aircrafts. Boeing is an American company....!!!!! How about Personal Computer.......the two largest PC Microprocessor manufactures are American based company.....looks like all government office, banks and others will have to halt their operation because they are using American products.....!!!!!! There are many more examples I have but I guess I better stop here.

Sometimes, we also need to remember Newton's 3rd law of motion......"Every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." What happen if the American reacted to our suggestion? What happen if they stop buying our products? I guess they have much more stronger buying power than us...just compare their population against us. One good example.....our seafood export industry almost crippled when the European put a temporary ban on our seafood products.

In my personal opinion, there are many other ways to show our support to those who are being oppressed rather than the suggestion made by our past leader.

Have a great week.

Where God guides, He provides!!!

Dave Demola says, "Where God guides, He provides." If you're doing all you know yet nothing's happening, it could be that:

(a) it's your season for sowing, not reaping. So be patient;

(b) you're in a time of training and preparation. So learn each lesson well;

(c) you could be off course, doing something God didn't call you to do. So go back and check with Him.

Moses told God: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us" (Ex 33:15 NIV). If God's not behind it, you don't want to be involved in it. Humility demands that sometimes we stop and say - "Oops, that was me, not God."

Does this mean it's always smooth sailing in God's will? No. Even when God is in something you'll still deal with delays, discouragement and setbacks.

Paul wrote, "A great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me" (1 Co 16:9 NIV).

Opportunities and obstacles, they go together. What you don't want to do, however, is allow it to become a self esteem issue: "Does God love me? Has He really called me? Am I in His will?" Jesus took His disciples on a trip that involved going through the worst storm of their lives. All you need to know is that He's on board. Why? Because He's promised to bless His plans, not yours. If God's guiding, providing and blessing you in spite of the storm, rejoice. If He's not, seek fresh direction. Ask Him what He wants you to do. God will bless you every time - when you're doing what He's
told you to do.

Note: Article is taken from "The Word for Today" by Rhema Broadcasting Group, a provider of daily devotional email service.

Slow Down!!!!

In a world of chaos, spiritual emptiness become so evident. We maybe active in church activities but deep within us, we maybe empty. We live in a chaotic world where there’s no time or emotional energy to sit down with our Bible and to read and to reflect, to consider how God might be wanting to talk to us and guide us and lead us. As a consequence of spiritual emptiness, our hearts are shrinking. Our desire for worship is disappearing. Our compassion for the needy, for the poor, is nonexistent. This might be described as an inner erosion of our soul, where our spiritual life is malnourished and starving. We are spiritually empty.

We might be living a life of a fast pace, sometimes cranking up the RPMs. Maybe it is time to pull back on the throttle a little bit and re-examine your life.

Jesus said something that applies to us today. Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.” Jesus says, “Come to Me! You’re tired. Let Me give you rest. My way will lead to rest.” That if you follow God’s way, God wants to simplify our lives. He doesn’t want us to live life with the throttle all the way to the ground. He can give us rest.

The study of the life of Jesus, look what Jesus had time for deep relationships, rest, influence and above all Jesus had time for God.

I believe it is time re-examine our values. When we live our life by the world’s values, we are going to be hurried.

But I pray that we would align our values to the values of God. He is our Creator and He created us in His image. He knows what is the best for us. Let's align our life and direct our life based on His values. Let's learn His values and draw closer to them, and those are going to be the guiding forces of our life.

Is God tossing me?

Many times in live, we maybe wondering why we are tossed from one side to another. Sometimes we wonder whether God is toying with us. Have you felt like you are walking from trap to trap? Maybe sometimes we feel the God who calls us to be holy, perhaps He is putting us in moments of temptation and lead us to sin. Have you ever doubted the goodness of God?

Today, I want to assure you that God will not, he won't seduce, attract, or woo you to sin. Why? It would be a horrible violation of His very character!

James 1:12-15 "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:12-15).

James stressed “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He himself tempts no one.” Notice what James does. He makes a critical distinction. He teaches that God will try you for the purpose of your growth and refinement because God knows that you will only experience true righteousness when you come to the end of yourself, but He will never tempt you to do evil, to sin.

God will not tempt you and lead you to sin. He would never do that. He is holy, loving, gracious, faithful to His promises. He would never do that. That would be a violation of His character and His plan. He is a trustworthy God.

Be Blessed.

Christmas Drama

This is the first posting for 2009. Last Christmas, I was given the honor to direct the Christmas play for our Christmas Musical Night. The interesting part of this Musical Night is the entire program is for our Hokkien speaking congregation. Here am I, an Indian man, directing the drama for a Hokkien program........I was wondering how am I going to manage it. Language is the biggest barrier.....how am I going to understand what the actors are saying.....The Lord is gracious. We selected a mime and went on practicing. The cast for the mime includes Uncle Adrian, Rachel Ruth, Derrris, Jane, Valarie and Joseph supported by a great ground crew that includes BA Lim (co-director), Jessy, Sathy, Alyna@Tiormm, Esther Tham & Aunty Joyce.

The team practice pretty hard for couple days especially to perfect the coordination between the body movement and background music. Some of them cast have to sacrifice their other programmes to join the practice. I thank God for their dedication and commitment.

I did not have the opportunity to view the mime on the actual day performance as I was away to Kuantan. The feedback I receive is that it was an awesome play. All Glory to God. I pray that many lives will be touched by this mime and the rest of the performance.

I learn one thing throughout this event. When we are willing to give ourselves as a vessel to be used by God, He will honor our willingness and use us to bring Glory to His name. God can use imperfect vessels like us. In fact, He often delights in choosing the most unlikely people to accomplish His purposes in this world. Everyone around us may consider us the least likely job candidate, but fortunately, God works as His own employment recruiter! No matter who we are, if we will yield our life to God, we can become a vessel God can use.

Be Blessed & have a great weekend.