The Heavenly Man

Author: Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway

Almost everything in this book was abut miracles which I don't see them happening around me. The book talked about a man named Liu Zhenying (better known as Brother Yun) who faced persecution physically and mentally in China as he spread the Gospel. It was amazing to read how God had actually used his mother whom had only received little education and heard a little about Jesus to lead Br. Yun to Christ. Br. Yun and his family were desperate as they tried many ways to cure his sick father. The doctors even told them it was hoepless. However, Br. Yun's mother actually gathered her children and told them to pray to Jesus and asked Him to save their father. With simple faith, they prayed to Jesus. Miraculously, their father was healed completely in the name of Jesus. From that day onward, Br Yun had committed his life to the Lord and was determined to spread the gospel. During his mission, he faced a lot persecution from the authorities and relatives. He was brutally beaten and the guards even used electric batons to beat him. Behind all these cruel scenes, God actually used him to spread the gospel to the prisoners. During his sentence, he even fasted for 74 days. His wife, Deling, and children also faced a lot of persecution from relatives and friends but the Lord was always with them.
There are some quotes in the book which really opened my eyes for example;

"Don't pray for persecution to stop! We shouldn't pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure"

If I were in Br. Yun's shoes, I would have asked Jesus to take away persecution. But thank God for reminding me that the life of a true disciple of Christ is not easy. From the first page to the last, miracles after miracles happened. The book also mentioned that some Westerners even asked the author why such miracles hardly happened in their country. I can't remember how exactly Br. Yun answered them but he explained that life has been so easy and they lack of nothing. Therefore they become materialistic and they back slided.

After reading this remarkable testimony, I realised that I'm a person of little faith. I've been a Christian for a long time but I've never share the gospel to others. I pray that I'll be fire up for God's mission by His grace.

Goodbye!!! =(

Today Ps. Thomas and his family left TMC for Sibu before going to Asbury Theological College in Kentucky, USA. Gonna miss him and his family... May the Lord be with Ps Thomas and his family. I hope I'll always remember them in prayers.

Also found out that KM is leaving for Korea tomorrow afternoon. NOOO...!!! Why's everyone leaving so soon??? Two departures in one week!!! *So sad* What to do? 'tian sia wu bu san de yan xi' All the best to KM in her exams!!!

Prejudice & Exclusions

Heard that topic in Bethany Youth Centre and heard that topic again during this morning's sermon. Strangely, the sermon given by Pastor James was a bit similar to the sharing given by Pastor Cheli in Bethany Bible study.

The similarities:

• The song 'Jesus loves the little children' is mentioned
• Quote from somebody I forgot. It goes ' I love Christianity, I just don't like christians'.

The topic has really woke me up from my slumber. From the video I've watched in Bethany, I learnt that Prejudice and exclusions occurs in many different ways. The video showed a boy whom was under medication and was weird in many ways. His classmates in school excluded him in every activities, made fun of him and even jeered at a Christian who brought him to his youth group. It's only in the youth meetings that he was belonged. The youth pastor said one thing that really struck me. He said that the boy was no diffrent form us. He just don't know how to hide his feelings and weirdness while we, who claimed that we're 'normal' are better in hiding ourselves. A girl whom the weird boy had a crush on said something which I agreed. She said that 'Some people seemed like they are worth making friends with but they are actually not. Some people seemed like they aren't worth making friends are actually worth making friends with.' Another kind of prejudice could come from racism. The video also showed a man singing the song Jesus loves the little children and the producer of his album actually told him to change the lyrics 'Red and yellow black and white' to 'white and white white and white'. Hmm...weird...

Today's sermon Pastor James shared about how Mahatma Ghandi was excluded by the ushers in a church in England. The ushers refused to get him a seat and told him to worship in another place with his own people. If only the usher didn't exlcude him from the worship, India today might be a christian country.

It's going to be hard for me to learn to accept people who different from me. But I believe that God will give the me strength to do it because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

For the Sake of the Call

Nobody stood and applauded them

So they knew from the start

This road would not lead to fame

All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them

He said "Come follow me" and they came

With reckless abandon they came

Empty nets lying there at the waters edge

Told a story that few could believe and none could explain

How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead

With no thought for what they would gain

For Jesus had called them by name and they answered

CHORUS

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call

No other reason at all but the sake of the call

Wholly devoted to live and to die

For the sake of the call

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea

No turning back for the water cannot help but flow

Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads

Because of the love He has shown

And because he has called us to go we will answer

CHORUS

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call

No other reason at all but the sake of the call

Wholly devoted to live and to die

For the sake of the call

BRIDGE

Not for the sake of a creed or a cause

Not for a dream or a promise

Simply because it is Jesus who calls

And if we believe we'll obey

By Steven Curtis Chapman

Not Home Yet

To all the travelers

Pilgrims longing for a home

From one who walks with you

On this journey called life's road

It is a long and winding road

From one who's seen the view

And dreamt of staying on the mountains high

And one who's cried like you

Wanting so much just to lay down and die

I offer this, we must remember this

We are not home yet

We are not home yet

Keep on looking ahead

Let your heart not forget

We are not home yet

Not home yet

So close your eyes with me

And hear the Father saying 'welcome home'

Let us find the strength

In all His promises to carry on

He said, 'I go prepare a place for you'

So let us not forget

We are not home yet

We are not home yet

Keep on looking ahead

Let your heart not forget

We are not home yet

We are not home yet

Keep on looking ahead

Let your heart not forget

We are not home yet

I know there'll be a moment

I know there'll be place

Where we will see our Saviour

And fall in His embrace

So let us not grow weary

Or too content to stay

'Cause we are not home yet

We are not home yet

Not home yet

So let us journey on

We are not home yet

We are not home yet

So keep on looking ahead

Let your heart not forget

We are not home yet

Not home yet

Words & Music by Steven Curtis Chapman

Starbucks in Kuching

Didn't know that Starbucks is now in Kuching International Airport until today. So 'sakai'. :P
Went there with my family. The place was quite packed. About 99.9% of the customers are Kuchingnites. Kinda weird... Kuching people going to airport just to visit Starbucks. I heard that outlets like Burger King might be coming too.
I had Coffee latte(i think...never know what I'm drinking when going to Coffee Bean or Starbucks :D) and shared a muffin and a slice of blueberry cheese cake with family. The cheese cake was so expensive. RM 9.00 for a slice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The teddy bear dressed in Starbucks apron was sold at RM50.00!!! Stingy people like me will never buy such expensive soft toy unless there's really a good reason why I need to buy it. 'yi mao bu ba'... Overall the drinks and snacks were nice though very creamy.

Book Review

Title: Hidden Sorrow, Lasting Joy
Author: Anneke Companjen
This book talks about the women who were being persecuted because of their strong faith in Jesus Christ in countries like China, Africa, Vietnam and Egypt. These women are usually the wives of persecuted pastors who underwent a lot of mental torture, exclusions from family members and friends as well as the burden to care for the whole family independently while their husbands were in jail because of their faith. The stories from this book came from different women with different background and faced different kind of persecutions. The author's purpose of compiling these stories was to bring our attention to these forgotten women who had suffered tremendously. Often I heard people said to pray for the persecuted pastors but usually forgot to pray for the pastors' family.
After reading this book(read the book in 2004 =D), I felt that I'm very blessed to be able to read my bible, worship God and pray without any restrictions and persecutions. Yet I'm too lazy to pray and read the bible. (Shame on me!!!:P) I hope that I will change this bad attitude and continue to pray for those people who are being persecuted. Those who are reading my blog, I really recommend that you read this book. It's really eye opening and interesting.

Shrek 3

Shrek 3 wasn't that nice compared to Shrek 1 and Shrek2. However, it wasn't that boring or 'themeless'(is there such word? :D)

Usually movies which had part two or three aren't that nice for example Pocahontas 2 and Mulan 2. So SHrek 3 is still not too bad. The new characters like Merlin, Artie, dronkeys and baby ogres have made the movie interesting and hilarious. I like the prat when Puss in boots showed his innocent eyes when he was in Donkey's body. Those eyes were equally innocent and adorable. Just don't know why the guards still say "Kill it". It's worthwhile watching Shrek 3 even though it's not as nice as first two.