Hong Kong 4-8Sept!

It was a really an enjoyable and unforgettable trip to Hong Kong this time. I really enjoyed the contents of this trip, though I wasn't exactly excited about the container (the place itself). Basically Hong Kong really looks like what I see on TV shows!

It was great to know our brothers and sisters from this place. Most of them can speak English and some fluent Mandarin too. One of the things I discussed with a brother called Alex is that we need to have Cantonese praise and worship songs. This might be a way that can attract Hong Kong-ers to church to worship :)

I really enjoyed all of the teachings and worship time as well as times spent talking with the pastors and leaders. I've had the privilege to ask our Hope Manila to pastor out for dinner. We had to miss that night's worship time though.. but it was truly worth it to "suck" as much as I can from him; his spirit, his life, his ministry etc.. Also gotten a few contacts from a few other leaders. Really appreciate their open heart. I really thank God for keeping me focused and my eyes fixed on the LC for the first 3 days yupp. God really spoke alot alot, God indeed moved in the spirit of many people. God touched my heart. How much more should we be faithful to God!

Acts 26:19
"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.

Paul proved himself obedient and faithful since the day he received that vision from God.

Wow, though we've only been at HK for a few days, I really miss the bros and sis' in Singapore and they were on our mind in prayers. I will think of how is caregroups, service, are they ok, leadership etc... haha but I know in such situations, we can only count on God and commit everything into His hands!

A number of people fell sick during the trip too. Yeah sometimes it is our responsibility to ensure they have rest also and not just being concerned of their fun itinerary because primarily, health is more important than the fun right? Protection. Though this is the first time for most of us to HK but there will definitely be opportunities in the future; this I'm just pretty certain.

There is a lot of work to be done - we r truly excited about the Great Commission. I've seen so many people excited about the vision and they are so serious about it. I no longer feel overly burdened anymore because all of us are determined to finish the cake, the world. There are so many more people who are going through tough times and we all rejoice because "consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.." it develops our character, our skill in building the church, our faith and our victory!

A few people asked me about Scotland. It seems like whenever people ask me about my plans after NS or what is the country I have burdened for, it will always link back to Scotland as one of the options. It is an opening door for me. I have never thought of going Europe before because it is really expensive and I ain't particularly drawn to the Western society because I feel the Africans need Jesus more. However if it is really an opened door right in front of me, I think I should not choose but walk into it in obedience to the Great Commission. But who knows? God has great plans and I never say anything is confirmed until it is confirmed. We should not just go to countries we like or cultures that interest us because if we don't book any available country then we'll never be able to finish the "cake". We book the "piece of cake" of first - by prayer, by preaching. If someone goes ahead of us, praise God! If there is no one else but us, then hallelujah we r counted into this great plan of His!

Won't the vision be a piece of cake if everyone thinks this way?

And what we all ought to do is to be faithful in the little things and God will add upon us! Be a shepherd of one to three persons if you are not yet a shepherd. Be a shepherd first! Shepherd and follow up faithfully. Be dilligent and faithful in prayers of people and ministry + our own spiritual life, very important. Samuel as a leader considered it a sin to not pray for Israel! We have to pray!

With God, we can! See u all on the 14th Sept alright!

Perplexed

Today in DMM, Huimei taught a timely lesson about Determination, Dillgence and Perseverance. I feel we haven't been determined enough in terms of goal setting and reaching for the goals. Yeah we shall be more single minded in serving Jesus! It reminds me of everything we do, we should do it for God. Whether eating, resting, cutting hair, we do it all with people and to win people! Winning inside and winning outside.

If we set out to do something, we must finish it. Missions!!

I don't know if this is humility or pride. Its kinda both. I wanna change something because I feel its not up to standard and its not God's way yet. Because a lack of this thing, many problems arose that I can feel is also causing a misbalance in the way we apply truth. But I feel that people ought to accept what I suggest since its clearly in the Bible! (at least to me!!)

This thing is not even new lol! I'm not being creative, just trying to be faithful. So the pride comes when I feel I do not need to explain or persuade because this is something they ought to do. But I'm constantly reminded to deny my rights. If I do not deny, nothing will be done. Yet at this time when the results look so blur to me, I'm trying hard to give my best even though I couldn't see what's coming ahead. Then there comes a time for me to be humble and ask God to work instead of I work.

Its times like this I'm perplexed of the things I'm pursuing. But I'm still pursuing it. Haha.

Indeed today 5th July, there's so many things to rejoice about!!

First of all, wanna wish Weikang a happy joyous 17th birthday! Yeah its your first birthday in church, I hope you feel touched by the love and the smashing of cake by your own beloved shepherd hahaha I really thank God for a soft heart you have for Jesus and a strong desire to know Him! The things you are going through now is very real. I believe God wants to show you that He will be more real than anything else. He will help you overcome the problems you face and even use you to become a shepherd. Trust God for big things yea, thank God for ya!!

The CLM was cool. There was no teaching but the testimonies really encouraged! I think both of the testimony sharers are not afraid to share their 'down' sides, they were very frank. I believe God wants to inspire hope to everybody. Like what Jasmine said, I fully agree with not letting tertiary ministry be just a passing route for members of the church. There should be a long term training and growing going on then people graduate and plant church. We are not going to be members forever because someday we hope to play a part in God's drama of the world!!

The video being played on the missions of Africa by Hope Pictures really inspires me. I am humbled by the Hope Bangkok RL who is being used by God to do such a great work in Africa. He said something like "the people there were very poor and in poverty but on the spiritual side, it is in contrary. They were very open to God." I never doubted the quality of churches being planted by Hope Bangkok... I saw their spirit in Bangkok, they never have fancy tricks or gimmicks to build church or start groups. Whatever they do, they do to their best in making it a biblical church. If you teach biblically and expositorily, I think we have a higher chance to send most or all of them to heaven and they last while they are on earth too... hahaha, I wanna start praying for Africa too...

And last thing is thanks guys for staying late to wait for me... really appreciate that. You guys are the bunch of people I really wanna spend birthdays with because all of you matter alot.

Thank God for people who walked up to me for their words of affirmation and encouragement. I will really strive to grow in relationship with God more and be a Spirit-filled person this coming year. This brings back the idea of "anointing" which I've been pondering about every qt in camp for the past week!! I really wanna be anointed! (not just on my email address) Anointing is something I haven't fully grasp or fully experienced I guess. Anointing comes from God so our relationship with God is very important (Thanks Joy for reaffirming this truth to me) and that includes our regular quiet time and prayer life. How much we pray is how much we depend on God. That is where God's strength is made perfect in our weaknesses too... Then we'll all be Whoo, anointed!

Anointing is God's enablement, through the Holy Spirit, to do works of God. It will not be our works, but God at work in us, then through us His work is being done! Amen.

Anointing really makes a difference. That's why two person, both can do the same things yet see different results. Why? One has anointing which allows God to carry him to do and complete God's work. The other will make many futile efforts with his own strength. I would say in Hope church, there are already many anointed people. Peter Truong, Pastor David Chen, Pastor PN, Dr Joseph and many more whom I don't even know their names! In this movement, it is really possible to see Great Commission fulfilled when anointing flows down, when biblical churches are being built and will eventually multiply everywhere!! That's the kind of church I long to build for Christ' return... Ohhh so excited. I wanna love You more Father, help me to keep me in your ways always.

oh, one more little nugget of good news. there is this very famous person in youth last time who had made a great impact in her school but eventually left somehow. I don't know her personally but I prayed for her before. Today amazingly saw her outside Nexus, I suppose is to go to service. Let's not be stingy with prayers because you never know how God works in the future! It's a pity when leaders leave because they are already agents of change and pioneering spirit is in them and they have followers etc. When people leave, the Kingdom will get affected. I hope not only this person but more and more who have left will come back. It requires humility and courage to come back ya know. But we'd like to help those who fall to stand up once more! Come back stronger and with a better perspective, clearer vision too. There are quite a few examples of people who have left and came back stronger too...

Let's really grow NYP strong and never stop growing ok. I'm sure we can do it with all of you guys in prayer, in deed and in spirit :)