Remembering your Legacy

"... and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." - Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

"A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received." - Albert Einstein


If we but looked back at the legacy of our Faith, we would realise that we received the teachings from someone who passed it on to us. They in turn had received it from someone else before them. Each of us are links in this great chain of legacy - a chain that stretches back in history to the Apostles and to Jesus.

As individuals, we form current links that could stretch on again as a chain as we invest in the next generation, building into this legacy we have received. We need to exert ourselves in order to give it the same measure as we have received - we can do no less.

Ollie
Feb 2008

Just Keep Swimming...

In the words of the profound Theologian Dory (from "Finding Nemo") :)

"Just keep Swimming; Just keep Swimming..."

Sometimes as Christ-followers we find ourselves on the verge of being overwhelmed in troubled, stressful, stormy seas. And all we can do is to just keep swimming. I wonder whether Peter was thinking the same thing when he floundered and sank in the storm-tossed seas after failing to walk on water towards Jesus? :)

However, we can rest assured that the eye of the One who calms the stormy sea is on us as we keep swimming.


Ollie
Jan 2008

Happy in the Lord!

Just had the Youth Ministry Meeting. 20 people turned up; two others could not attend but said they would help. We have a 5 person Servant Leaders Team formed; and 10 people volunteered for the Youth Committee for 2008. The Strategies and Plans were endorsed; and now it is the time to take action in faith and move forward.

Happy!

"... for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b (English Standard Version)


I pray that we would continue to move forward in Faith, Hope and Love.

Ollie
Jan 2008

The Word - Authority, Growth and Ministry

Heard the late Doug Sparks (Navigators) speak in a recorded message. ((Click on title "The Word - Authority, Growth and Ministry" for link to the sermon by Doug Sparks.)) He presented an overview of 2 Timothy. In it, once again I am reminded and convicted that the basis of (or authority for) what we do in life; the key to spiritual growth; and the foundation for ministry and service remains the Word of God. It is through the Word of God that presents the Living Word that we may grow in our walk with Jesus.

I pray that the foundation of my life be the Word of God built on the capstone that is Christ; I pray this too for all my young friends. :)

Ollie

Jan 2008

Sustaining Grace

Heard this poem by John Piper; I thought that it captures the essence of sustaining grace. ((Click on title "Sustaining Grace" for link to the sermon by John Piper.))

Not grace to bar what is not bliss,
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain,
And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain.
- John Piper

Ollie
Jan 2008

Does Anybody Hear Her?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

Never even met her

Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me

Does Anybody Hear Her? - Casting Crowns

Love God, Love Man and make Disciples. So the mission statement goes. There is much talk of loving man - loving the community, loving our neighbours and loving our friends. There is much planning and discussion - of programmes, of committees and resources. All of which are good and important.

The heart of the matter however is the matter of the heart. Do we as a church community really love others? Are we able to love - to look past the scarlet letter, to really see and hear and to lovingly embrace? By doing so, then we can share the hope that is tucked away in you and me - the hope that is Jesus.

Ollie
Dec 2007

Window in the Skies

The shackles are undone,
The bullets quit the gun,
The heat thats in the sun,
Will keep us when there's none.

The rule has been disproved,
The stone has been moved,
The grave is now a groove,
All debts are removed.

Window in the Skies - U2

Ah... Christmas... with the many activities and giving of gifts. Friends meeting up; the afternoon conversations; the shopping sprees; the late night suppers. Sometimes in the midst of all this activities, we forget the essence of Christmas. That is God becoming man. Jesus became one of us - a baby with ten fingers, ten toes, crying to be fed, burping - human.

Immanuel. God with us. Jesus provided us a Window to the Skies - a glimpse of who God is.

Fast forward 33 years. A Cross. A mother wailing. Disciples despairing. A whisper of "It is finished". A death. And then three days later - The stone that has been moved, and the grave that is empty. The rule has been disproved and all debts removed. Opening a window to the Skies above - the way to God through Jesus.


Ollie
Dec 2007

Keep on Pressing Onwards

Come this November, it will be 10 years since I've been baptised into the Faith. I've been a Christ-Follower longer, but 10 years ago I decided to commit to follow after Jesus with my all. It has been 10 years - with its numerous ups and downs and varied life experiences, and I'm still continuously learning some simple lessons. Lessons which I discovered when I was newly baptised and which I realised will take me a life-time to learn.


Keep On Keeping On

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
- James 1:2-4 (The Message; emphasis my)

As James so aptly put it, your faith-life matures when you are under pressure from tests and challenges. We will ALL face difficulties in life; it is inevitable. Sometimes it is even more trying when we do not have answers to the why. I find that as I get older, I've more questions then answers.

However, I choose to keep on keeping on, I believe that ALL things, both the happy occasions and the difficulties, are all gifts from God - to develop and mature my faith-life. I remember the number of past times when God came through for me.


Keep Doing the Simple Things Again and Again

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it. - 2 Timothy 3:14 (English Standard Version; emphasis my)

I remember Kim Meng's 50th Birthday at the Mori's residence, he shared his journey as a Christ-Follower. He said that in his years, he has to continue to re-learn and re-do the simple things - to forgive often, to love often, and not to get bitter.

In my 10 years since baptism, I continue to struggle to learn and apply this simple truth. Sure, the big things and events are useful standing stones - markers of God's grace, but it is in the doing the simple things again and again in all of life that defines your character and walk. It is tempting to focus on the big events like conferences and camps, but to be honest, I think many of us struggle in the in-between. To love and forgive those who has hurt and offended you, to continue to read and study the bible and do devotions, to pray continuously, and to continue to love God with our heart, our mind, our soul and our strength. It is difficult, but we need to keep on doing the simple things again and again in the mostly mundaness of life.


Keep the Hope

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." Hebrews 6:17-18 (English Standard Version; emphasis my)

The last lesson that I've learnt and continue to learn is as the author of Hebrews said, to "hold fast to the hope set before us." To hope. To look expectantly to the future glory set before us. This too is a continuous response; we live in a world where discouragement and hope-killing situations are common occurances - harsh words and discouragement from friends and family; overwhelmingly difficult situations; failure in studies or work; loneliness and broken relationships. I believe most if not all of us have at one time or the other abandoned hope or have been sorely tempted to do so.

Therefore, I often have to respond in belief again and again in God's promise - that God has set a hope before us - a hope of future glory; and that this hope lies in Jesus. And we have a responsibility not only to keep the hope but to pass this hope to the generation that comes after us.



Ollie
Nov 2007

Guan Huai Fang Shi

Guan Huai Fang Shi - loosely translated "Way of Caring" - that's the song my colleague convinced me to sing at the farewell lunch for my AD and friend who is leaving the branch this year end. I think it is going to be funny on two counts. Firstly, they have gotten me to sing this in Mandarin - me whose spoken mandarin sounds like an American Born Chinese, with the accompanying slang. And secondly, I've to with all passion and conviction, speak out the English translation during the musical interlude. If the translation was good and poetic, I think I can pull it off with some flair, but it is a loosely translated version which make me sound like a bad English-translation of a 70s Chinese Movie. Sigh... all in good fun. I think it'll be quite funny. :)

Ollie
Nov 2007

Celebrity Collage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Beyond Leadership

I just came across an article I wrote when I was involved in student leadership back when I was teaching in a secondary school. It has been at least four to five years back when I wrote this reflection essay on leadership for my students. It is heartening to see that my thoughts on leaders and leadership though developing then, still remains congruent - that the beyond leadership skills and techniques, the main essence of leadership was the character of the leader. I've reproduced the article in full below for readers' reading pleasure.

Beyond Leadership

Oliver Chia

“Character is Destiny”

William Hundert (Kevin Kline) in The Emperor’s Club

In these times when everything seems to be reduced to techniques and methods, leadership too has often been seen as learning a series of skills and management tools. Being a good leader then means a mastery of these techniques and skills. True, a mastery of these skills will aid in the science and art of leadership. However, being a great leader means possessing certain attributes that is beyond leadership skills.

The character William Hundert played by Kevin Kline in The Emperor’s Club, in the initial introductory narrative pronounced, “Character is Destiny.” All too often in the quest to become better leaders, the need for character is often glossed over or ignored. Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mendela – the honors rolls of history of great leaders all possessed one thing in common, impeccable integrity and character. The quest to be a great leader necessitates that we simply cannot ignore the character development of the man or woman; that which is foundational to being a leader par excellence.

What then are these essential characters? I proposed three key characters for anyone seeking to be a leader: Humility, Integrity and Compassion. To be humble means a freedom from pride. It means having a learning heart. A humble leader is able to assess a situation rightly, free from pride, and make the correct decision. He would also be able to learn from all situations. The world would be his teacher. Integrity has been variously defined as wholeness, soundness or honesty. To be a person of integrity means to be a whole person, there is no discrepancy between heart thoughts and outward actions. He or she is a person of sound character. This leader is honest and is trusted by all. A compassionate leader is a person who is genuinely passionate about people. He leads out of a motivation to care and serve others. He, through who he is, builds strong loving relationships with people. He serves well before he leads well. Humility allows you to continue to learn to be a great leader; Integrity enables people to trust you; and compassion allows people to know that you care for them and then they will follow you. All these are foundational to leadership.

And how do we develop and cultivate these characters? I suggest three practices that could be adopted to help develop these characters. The first is to keep a reflection journal or simply to set aside some time for reflection in solitude. To learn to be humble means to be in a state of continual reflection, see what you can learn from every situation. Having a journal and writing in it will prompt you to reflect and learn. To have integrity means to be consistent in thoughts, words and actions. Do not say or do things you do not mean. It is difficult, but we have to examine our every motive. In this respect, it helps if you spend some time reflecting on your motives for your actions. Another practice to adopt in developing character would be to have a small circle of peers form an accountability group. In such a group where honesty and openness is practiced, valuable feedback can be obtained. This can put you in a posture of humility and learning from your peers. Also having a small group of two to three help check your pride and motives would be useful in developing humility and integrity. It will help you not to esteem yourself too highly and adopt a gracious attitude to everyone about you. Of course in such a small group, a covenant of secrecy must be maintained, whereby matters shared should not be disclosed to others outside of the group. Finally, to be compassionate means to live in an authentic community of people, having caring relationships with other. It also means seeking to give of yourself to others: your time, energy and resources. It means making a contribution to your community. In this respect, to cultivate compassion then would mean that you have to seek to contribute to the community. This can be done if you deliberately set aside time, energy and resources to help in a cause, be it volunteering to help out in an old-folks home, seeking to better the quality of life in the community by taking up environmental causes or simply set out to do a random act of kindness a day.

To go beyond mere leadership then means more than just learning leadership tools and techniques, it means building of the right character. It starts from the inside out, and the time and energy spent in investing in the building of character forms the foundation of a great leader. Remember character is more important than competence. Develop your character.

~ The End ~

After note:

Two years after, as I look and reflect on the words I had written, I am still convicted that Humility, Integrity and Compassion is essential to the character of a leader. To these I would add brokenness; a person made weak or infirm or subdued completely by the Spirit of God. The ever present danger for a leader is that he or she would serve for the sake of the ego. Being broken in spirit would bind the ego and allow the Spirit of God to work mightily in the life of the leader.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

Ollie

Nov 2007

If I were the Rain

If I were the rain
that binds together the earth and the sky,
who in all eternity never mingles.
Would I be able to bind the hearts of people together?

I like this quote from the anime "Bleach". :)

Ollie
Oct 2007

Not all those who wander are lost

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crown-less again shall be king.”

- J.R.R. Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings

Ollie
19 Oct 2007

Writer's Block

Writer's block. :(

I wanted to write on my experience a couple of weeks back walking alone along Changi Coastal Walk or my sleep improvement now that I've bought a CPAP but nothing flows from my pen...

Dryness...

Ollie
Oct 2007

Lifehouse Everything Skit

Remembered our first Youth and Young Adult first Missions Exposure and Experience Trip to Thailand in Dec 2004. We did a similar skit like this. Sarah was the girl in the spot-light for ours. :)

Ollie
Sep 2007