Christmas 2010

The opportunity to listen "live" to Pastor Stephen Tong is definitely a highlight for me on Dec 22nd. Greatly blessed by the message.

Thanks to David & Ah Hui - to their amazing love & energy - for organising a BBQ gathering for the youths. And thanks to Chin for opening up his house for this party.

Merry Christmas All!

AccordanceBible 9

My AccordanceBible 8 has since been upgraded to version 9, and it is awesome. It is just incredible. From doing daily devotion to topical study to preparing my coming "sermon"... it is such a joy to use!

Now if only I can save up for that Graphic Bundle & IVP Reference before Christmas :)

New iPhone 4

Haven't had much time to test out the new iPhone 4 yet, but so far the pictures coming out from the new 5mp camera is "delicious"! The HDR REALLY works!

RL Allan ESVR1R

Last week when I came home...déjà vu... a parcel on the floor...

That was exactly how my Allan Longprimer arrived 2+ years ago... on the floor :)  The dear postman, seeing nobody home, just dumped the parcel instead of writing me a "pls come to collect at post office" ticket. Actually, I prefer getting "dumped". LOL!

* ESVR1 Crimson at bottom.

This is a limited edition (well, at least for now) of RL Allan's ESV Reader bible in Crimson color. Though I have loved red bibles for a long time, and have collected some really nice gems over the years, yet this Crimson bible is extra special...

Since my red bibles are all KJV & NKJV, I praise God for this ESV edition. (Allan has another red ESV - Personal Reference edition which I skipped.) But that's not the reason why this Crimson ESV is special...

This ESVR1R is special cuz this bible is for my beloved wife :)

I don't know about you but I am guilty of buying stuff... and then I didn't really quite like it... so I passed it to *ahem* my wife??? Or worst, using reverse psychology - I bought stuff pretending to be for her, but was hoping she wouldn't like it... and I sorta had to receive it back reluctantly??? U know what I am saying?

So I pre-ordered this for my wife. REALLY!

One major reason why I selected ESVR1 is cuz of the REASON for its existence - note taking. Personally I love to mark up my bibles (except the vintage ones). I love to underline, draw circles, draw arrows...etc etc. And I know my wife loves marking up her bibles too... which she couldn't really do with her ESV3. So this ESVR1R is a perfect gift.

ESVR1R is also generously filled with 32 lined writing pages bound at the back of the bible.

And with an Allan bible, you get so much more. Just in case this is your first introduction to Allan bibles, here is a short list of WHY u should save your $$$ for an Allan that will last you for years to come:

The bible opens FLAT... from page 1. This has a tremendous practical advantage. It adds so much to the daily reading experience.

Another critical advantage to all Allan bibles - sewn text blocks. If your bibles pages are constantly "falling out"in chunks... thats cuz they are GLUED. Urrr... come to think of it, a bible that is "falling out" has a higher "piety-look" index... so unless thats what you want, always get a sewn bible.

* ESVR1R at bottom.

Most Allan bibles are leather lined inside. You don't find too many of that anymore... if at all. Not unless those of the by-gone eras, like this Cambridge bible from the 70s!

Notice the "overlapping" of the cover leather for the ESVR1R at the bottom of the stack? Kinda makes the other 3 bibles on top "naked" & "exposed", right? Allan calls this feature - Semi/Full Yapp. It protects those gorgeous red-under-gold edge lining from being scratched too easily.

Then there is the superior leather binding - probably the FINEST in the world. If you are like me who used to get so frustrated with the quality of bonded leather bibles, or even genuine leather bibles that tend to flake & disintegrate over a short time, you will really appreciate these Allan bibles. I don't have enough adjectives or technical knowledge to explain much here. But pls do check this Bible Design Blog out for your own edification :)

Praise the LORD for these wonderful bibles.

Bearing Fruits

Last Sunday my pastor preached a sermon on John 15:1-8, and I was particularly intrigued by - bear much fruit - in verse 8 since God is glorified by it.

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

(John 15:8 NKJV)

But exactly what kind of fruit are we talking about here? How does this fruit look like in real life?

Using my Accordance bible software, with only the downloaded version as the DVD is still en-route, I decided to do a bit of word search on "fruit"... particularly in the New Testament.



What I found is there are 60 hits in 52 verses for "fruit" in the NKJV (NT only).



I can even visualise the spread of "fruit" with the help of a graph :)

Eventually with the full installation (can't wait for the DVD to arrive) I can do more in-dept word study - from Greek to dictionaries to commentaries... and so much more.

But a quick glance at the 52 verses, already I could pick out a few relevant verses related to John 15:8. Here are some examples of the GOOD FRUIT the Apostles admonish us to bear:

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”

(Romans 6:22 NKJV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

(Galatians 5:22 NKJV)

“(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),”

(Ephesians 5:9 NKJV)

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

(Hebrews 12:11 NKJV)

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

(Hebrews 13:15 NKJV)

This is FUN!

Accordance Bible Software

Finally took the plunge to get a "real" Bible software for my Mac. And I choose Accordance.

EBC Line Dancing

Latest Line Dancing outreach on July 4th... testing YouTube in HD :)



Praise the LORD for the Line Dancing Ministry in the church.

True Riches

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

(2Co 8:9)

Recently someone "preached" to me about how Christians should be rich - in monetary terms - because of this verse (2Co 8:9) above. This verse is of course one of the favourite verses for Prosperity Gospel preachers, and many of their "misled" sheep.

Now, let me say this carefully - I have no issue with Christians who are rich in worldly wealth (praise the LORD for them)... but I do have concerns with Christians pursuing worldly riches as a "right" bought by the precious blood of Jesus.

Is 2Co 8:9, therefore, a proof text verse for Prosperity Gospel preachers?

FAAAAAAAAAAAR from it. Let me show u.

If we read 2 Corinthians chapter 8 & 9 carefully, we see that this is a section about GIVING - and not just "anyhow giving", but giving GENEROUSLY & SACRIFICIALLY with LOVE.

Apostle Paul was boasting to the Corinthian church about this amazing spirit...this amazing GRACE of giving the Macedonian church was showing - a clear PROOF of their salvation & genuine love - not because the Macedonian church was rich, but they were in EXTREME poverty.

Paul was admonishing the church to give...to excel in this act of grace...JUST LIKE how Jesus gave His life for us...so that we too can imitate and GIVE RICHLY to others who are in need.

Please read verses 1 to 9 slowly to see this vital point:

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you--see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

(2Co 8:1-9)

Paul was not teaching "HOW TO GET RICH" to the Corinthian church via the means of giving. Nor was he teaching about this "divine right" we have as Christians that we should all be rich in monetary terms.

On the contrary, Paul was very much AGAINST "prosperity gospel":

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

(1Ti 6:6-9)

So was Jesus in many places. Here is just one example:

For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

(Rev 3:17-18)

What is "true riches" above? Here's how Apostle Peter put it:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(1Pe 1:6-7)

Conclusion: 2Co 8:9 is NOT a license to monetary riches. And prosperity gospel is a false gospel.

Seeing is Believing?

In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

(Psalm 78:32)

One of my biggest struggle in reading thru Exodus was - HOW can the Israelites NOT believe in Jehovah God despite ALL those signs & miracles?! WHY?!

More than once, deep in my heart, how I wish I could literally go into the pages of the bible and SHOOK UP those blind fools! I wanted to scream: "CAN'T you SEE that God is REAL?!"

Yet, despite the 10 plagues...despite the parting of the Red Sea...despite hearing God's thunderous voice on Mount Sinai...despite ALL the signs & wonders, Bible says: "They DID NOT believe."

Now, forward the time to the time of Jesus... Again, we see a period of time whereby God fully manifested His glorious power in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ through such an outpouring of signs & wonders.

Jesus touched the lives of thousands & hundreds of thousands. From the poorest to the richest, from the outcast to the most educated...Jesus touched the lives of all classes of people. His fame went throughout Judea & Samaria. Everywhere Jesus went, Bible says MULTITUDES followed Him.

Yet, despite ALL that, Bible says there were ONLY 120 disciples in the Upper Room, in fear, awaiting for the "promise of the Father". ONLY 120 out of the thousands & thousands & thousands who had been eye witnesses of Jesus' miraculous ministry.

ONLY 120.

Measured against much of today's "corporatized" churches, Jesus was a DISASTER, a MAJOR FAILURE! What happen to the "convincing" power of signs & wonders? It defies logic, doesn't it?!

What then is the purpose of signs & wonders? How are they applicable to the Church today? Well, these questions are beyond the scope of this article.

What I want to say is: When we, the Church, is seeking signs & wonders as a means to making believers...as a means to convince an unbelieving world... it is DOOMED to failure. And extremely dangerous. But most importantly, it isn't biblical.

There is ONLY one way - by the preaching of the Gospel.

Yes, it sounds like such foolishness. Yes, it sounds so weak & beggarly. Yes, it sounds so naive. Yes, it sounds so boring. Yes, it sounds so low-tech... Well, at least thats how it sounds to unbelievers, that is.

But what does the Bible say?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is THE POWER OF GOD for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

The Church is called to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ!

And that is the ONLY way God has ordained to save souls!

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

(1 Corinthian 1:21-24)

Seeing is NOT believing, but the righteous shall live by faith.

T4G 2010 - Adjusted Gospel, How Does It Happen?

T4G 2010 -- Session 3 -- Al Mohler from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

T4G 2010 - Theology of Sleep

T4G 2010 -- Session 5 -- John MacArthur from Together for the Gospel (T4G) on Vimeo.

Rachel's 1st Day at Church

Very good good girl...didn't cry or complain... :)

Greater Works?

How many times in your life have you wished IF ONLY you could perform some REALLY COOL miracles by the power of God (ok, may be a small one will do also lah)... how much EASIER it would be for you to convince others that God is REAL?!

Have you? Well, I confess I have. Many times.

I mean don't you wish God could somehow anoint you with the kind of power Moses had? Parting the Red Sea? Calling down plagues? Turning water into blood?

Dude! Thats SERIOUS attention getters, won't you agree? You will be like the HOTTEST ticket in town!

Lets consider Jesus' ministry while He was walking the streets from Judea to Samaria. Bible says everywhere He went, HUGE crowds followed.

How come? Well, I think a big part of the reason was: Everywhere Jesus went, miracles - signs & wonders - followed too. He healed the blind, cast out demons, raised the dead, turning water into wine, multiplying bread & fishes... the list just goes on and on! In fact, apostle John wrote:

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)

HOW COOL was THAT?!!!

Now, imagine TODAY. Imagine if the Church could DO all that TODAY... Gosh! You will be making converts in no time from your neighbors, your stubborn relatives, your irritating friends....even your enemies! ;)

That would be like THE ULTIMATE REVIVAL Christendom has been waiting for! Woohooooo!

So, the million dollar question is... IF I, a mere lowly mortal, could think of such a scheme, how come God doesn't seem to "get it"?

Why is God not pouring out MORE of His signs & miracles in the Church? Doesn't God want to see the world converted? I mean, we NEED all the help we can get, right?

After all, Jesus did promise saying:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (John 14:12)

Today, according to surveys, we have like 1 billion Christians world wide... 2 billions if you add in the Catholics!

My question is: How come we don't see the "GREATER works" happening yet? (presuming greater works mean greater signs & wonders) I mean, I do hear scattered reports of the blinds receiving sights, cancers healed, the lame walked, deaf ears opened...even some dead were raised! (Praise the LORD for all miracles great & small!) But NOTHING on the scale & scope that many have been led to believe...

Are we lacking faith? Lacking true believers?

Over the past decades, we have certain circles of Christians who have developed certain theologies - under the guise of many names - that basically says there will yet be a "Golden Era" in the near future, in the last days, whereby God shall pour out SUCH anointing, SUCH abundance of signs & miracles, that it shall overwhelm even those recorded in the Bible in the early Church.... so much so that even Apostle Paul would envy from heaven... (hypothetically, that is lah) ;)

And there will be SUCH harvest of souls through these outpouring of "greater works"...

I used to buy that wholesale. But now, I have second thoughts.

to be continued...

Easter Sunday

This year the church has the Easter service at MBKS. Totally cool.

Anna of course couldn't join us...after all, she is STILL doing confinement with her baby lah.

After attending the Mandarin congregation for more than 1 year...somehow, we do find ourselves gravitating towards the empty seats closest to the bro & sis from Mandarin church ;)

As a Bible geek, I purposely brought along my burgundy calfskin bible this morning to match the occasion...but unfortunately there was "no opportunity" to even open the Word of God :(

The auditorium styled seating arrangement was excellent. Those seats were really good too. Tax money well spent ;)

Happy Easter!

Saved by Grace...ALONE...

Amen and Amen.

Remembering Dad

It has been exactly four years since my dad passed away. I remember he was looking forward so much to see his "newest" grand-kid then. But as God would have it, my dad didn't get the "chance" to see Bethany.

Four years is quite a while in the passage of time. Long enough for many things to happen... expected & unexpected things. Like, Titanic was dethroned by Avatar...or the election of Obama...or my hair turning silver :)

But I bet if my dad were still alive, his BIGGEST surprise & delight would be to see Rachael been added to the family!

Rachael, born on March 11th, would be his 8th grandchild. She is such a beautiful girl! Absolutely gorgeous! Praise the LORD!

Having 8 grand-kids might sound like a "nightmare" to some, but I know for my dad...he wished for more. So I know for sure he would absolutely be blown away with the arrival of Rachael.

I used to listen in disgust and horror the philosophy of having a largish family - all under one roof - from my grandmother and my dad. It was the aspiration of all traditional Chinese men. It just sounded so tribal & primitive ;)

But recently I think I am beginning to see the "wisdom" in having such a "community"... especially when I see THIS pix:


My beloved Ah Lung kuku has 16 grand-kids!!!!

Well, it seems like our hope of EVER surpassing that Mt. Everest figure lies with...


(urrr...no, that baby is not Rachael...that was Bethany)

Yes, my brother, you can DO it!!! ;)

Praise the LORD for my dad & the largish circle of relatives that I have!

Doctrine of Predestination

As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

(Rom 9:13-24)

Benny Hinn Against Joel Osteen!

There is HOPE for Benny Hinn!!! (And yes, Mr Osteen, REPENT!)

CNY 2010

Some "firsts" this CNY:

First HK movie(s) for the past 10 years (or longer)...and enough to last for another 10 years easily... ;)

First time at bro Liew's house...Amazing hospitality!

First time at bro George's new house...

First makan at bro Simon's house. Most awesome home cooking!

First group photo with cousin Ah Mui & her family from HK!

CNY at the Church

First thing first: Praise the LORD for this CNY which is on a Sunday! So we had a combined service together.

Praise the LORD for elder Phang who is feeling much better now...though the wife still look "concerned" ;) Bro Phang had been labouring nonstop for the gospel of Jesus Christ past few months...so this CNY will give him a much needed break and rest...I think....

Praise the LORD my buddy Johnny is looking more "prosperous" than ever ;) I will talk to him about the virtue of fasting soon...I hope :P

The kids from the Chinese Youth Group were performing once again...some were clearly excited, while some were still sleepy :) After all, they were expected at the church a full hour earlier.

Praise the LORD for the fine performances by the youths.

Praise the LORD for the CNY-ified line dancing performance... :)

Praise the LORD for the worship team...

But MOST important of all, praise the LORD for His words as preached forth by Pastor Kueh. Pastor shared on 2Samuel 9...I am still digesting some fresh insights from the sermon...