Two Invincible Men

The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. 

-Billy Graham-

Eulogies and Tributes have become surreal to me as I wonder why we only say all these things when these invincible ones leave us. In the last 2 weeks, I've had given 2 eulogies at the wake of 2 truly invincible men. Invincible not because they were successful, rich or made amazing noble prize winning discoveries. Invincible because of the lives they lived, humble and gentle, godly and righteous, loving and compassionate and with the integrity so founded in the truth as they touched the lives of many around them.

One of them was my grandfather, who went home to His Lord aged 83, just 2 weeks short of his 84th Birthday on 18 January 2009 after he had gone to worship His Lord in the morning, came home and had his lunch, chilled out on his chair by the window and moments later passed on as he was getting ready for a game of dominoes with my grandmother. God loved him so much to take him home while he was dozing off and as he awaken, imagine the amazing sight of Paradise with His Lord welcoming him home.

The second person was my friend Markus Ng, who went home to His Lord aged 23, also in his sleep on 4th February 2009 after returning home from a fruitful day of planning for his many projects aimed at transforming lives, and a treasured time with fellow "history makers" for Jesus praying and committing to being that light of the world in their workplace.

We often remember the good memories and the things these good men fought for. We see the way they spurred us on and encouraged us. And they did it without an ounce of pompousness, but with great humility. 

I feel the loss of both men, both I would say really lived a very full life in all sense of the word.  And they leave families who are shocked and surprised by their passing on because both were so unexpectedly sudden. I think it would take me a long time to understand what it means to grieve and rejoice at the same time. 

Losing Markus saddened me because I felt we loss a dreamer, leader and a fighter - for freedom, justice, the underprivileged and for a nation with integrity - all these spurred on because of his love for the Lord. God knew his heart, and his vision but unlike us, so did Markus and he meant business. I remember teasing him, that he may well be Malaysia's very own Barrack Obama someday, and though teasingly - I really believed it, that if there was one person to go all the way - it would be Markus.

Markus and I met at the Malaysian Christian Conference in London and we instantly resonated with our shared passion in the maxim "you must be the change you wish to see in the world" because Jesus Christ called us to be salt and light of the world. Our authentic conversations and dreams turned also into chats surrounding music which then led on to the privilege I had when he played on my worship team throughout MCC. What I treasure most about him is his fresh insight, blending idealism and realism but most of all his humble disposition yet firm love for His Master. His legacy and hope for a better world is one we must carry on (excerpt of my eulogy to Markus read out at his wake service 5th February 2009)

The sovereignity of God is as such that we never know or fully understand completely why except that He does everything out of love and He knows best. But, this also means that for people like me who are still here on this earth, God still has a role for me to play - to champion the things these great men stood for and to multiply the rich legacy they leave. 

For Koong Koong, there is too much to say because I knew him all my lifetime. For those 83 years, it would take a forest of papers and perhaps more than a decade before the works of the life of Mr Chew Kim Soon would be completed. Victor Hugo took 16 years to write Les Miserables and if I were to write about Koong Koong, I anticipate it would take me alot longer than that. But, instead of just words about this invincible man whom God chose as my grandfather, I want to honour him not with words but in the way I live my life the way he had lived his and would want me to live mine - passionately loving Jesus and serving Him unreservedly.

Two Invincible Men. Two Incredible Legacies. 

By The Grace of God

My heart is so proud.
My eyes are so unfocused.
I see the things You've done through me
As great things I have done.
And now You gently break me.
I cry just like a baby.
You hold me as my Father,
And mold me as my Maker.

Chorus:
And I ask You 
How many times will You pick me up.
When I keep on letting You down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness abound?
And You answer, "My child, I love you,
And as long as you're seeking My face, 
You'll walk in the power of My daily sufficient, grace."

At times I may grow weak.
And feel a bit discouraged.
Knowing that someone somewhere
Can do a better job.
For who am I to serve You?
I know, I don't deserve You.
But that's the part, that burns in my heart,
And keeps me hanging on.

And You are so patient with me, Lord.

As I walk with You, I'm learning
About what Your grace really means.
How all of my transgressions
Were paid at Calvary.
So instead of trying to repay You,
I'm learning to simply obey You.
By giving up my life to You
For all that You've given to me.

"My daily sufficient grace."

What December Brings

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

~Maya Angelou~

Anticipating it to be a great week ahead - I'm all cheerful, bright and shinny.

Renewal of friendships definitely, and deepening of shared journeys.

A and I had our sip of Chai tea latte, in a little catch up time before her big day this weekend, yet it wasn't the typical conversations on weddings and picking out things or fussing over any last minute stuff. 

Resonance in friendship like that is like finding a needle in a haystack - by that i mean with those who you know are friends for keeps and for life. Funny how a bride to be and I would be chatting with deep passion about the devotional life, oikos evangelism and theology. 

As God has put in her heart and mine that this season, the turn of the New Year is going to be one of Renewing Friendships Intentionally and Embracing New Friendships Responsibly. Jesus himself taught us from Scripture to Love our Neighbours all through the gospels. Solomon's wisdom in Ecclesiastes reminds us that a cord of 3 strands is not easily broken. More importantly, we see ourselves as agents of the gospel as per Jesus' Commission to us in Matthew 28, bringing good news to those whom we interact with, and whom God has put in our paths so that we too can appropriate Romans 1: 16 as Paul did - "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes"

Ah, just am excited about the weekend and the many things that are on this Christmas season, from weddings to evangelistic musicals to feasting and reunions!

Time for me not to get lazy, and start getting the camera out to capture such treasured moments!

A, thank you for making time to catch up despite your overwhelming errands and schedules this week leading up to the wedding! Its gonna be a day of joyous celebrating and declaring God's goodness!

A New Day Has Dawn

“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.”

“This is our time to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.”

~Barrack Obama, President of the United States of America~

"Yes We Can"

Famous 3 words on plague cards , t shirts , commercials and chants of voices....

Of the people, By the people, For the people...and glides in an amazing day in History, in honour of one man who made the impossible a reality. His name, Barrack Obama. His mission has just begun on this day...

His victory speech in Chicago truly moved me, and reassured me that there is hope yet for a better tomorrow, not just for the people of America but for the world.  Staying up to hear the election results and the acceptance speech live made my day! 

Particularly, what strikes me deeply is the massive turn out of the American people who voted at this year's elections on Super Tuesday. Over 68% of people turned up at schools and churches all over the US because they believe they were part of this American Dream...and because they wanted to make history together with the one man they believed was the right man for the job! Wow...it helps us see the heart of people - that they really really CARED and they knew their voices really mattered! Its the same feeling I felt when Malaysia had her elections this March, and we saw a rapid increase of voters and the swing in key states and seats going to the opposition.

One thing that we were discussing last week in our Ethics Lecture was - Do you change the society (or an individual) to change the culture, or do you change the culture to change society? And here we see an interplay of both strands...

A new day has truly dawn...and shouts of "Yes We Can" encourages me even in the very thing we do each day and our dreams that we sometimes write off, that perhaps what we need is resilence in a conviction so deep to believe the impossible and do our best to be change agents because "Yes We Can",  even when we doubt, when we are cynical, even when others tell us we can't. YES WE CAN!

It is that time for and of "POSSIBILITIES"

The process of our own dreams or a revival in our churches is possible, and a God filled city with God filled people is possible...It may not be today or tomorrow or even in 2 years to come. The road is indeed long, but we will get there - as a united people who seek to reach each person for Christ and to make a difference!

“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.”

Congratulations Mr Obama...and God Speed!

And that's not it...

Secondly, what struck me really deeply was Mc Cain's concession speech - it was one full of grace, integrity and support. He recognise that America had made a choice they can be proud of. So much emphasis can be put on Obama's victory speech yet I feel that credit needs to be given to Mc Cain in the way we lost, but with his head high, and with so much grace and support to his President, and once rival. These kinda things don't happen often. It is not a norm. And it should happen more. Mc Cain's speech really silenced me from the ra-ra  ness rather it was very refreshing. Something we as Christians or just human beings can learn. I respect McCain because he responded with grace, and inspired others to support the man chosen to lead America. And he recognised that it indeed today was significant. History has been made. And a new day has indeed dawn.

For what its worth, I think both were good men. I believe they are both winners as they provided LEADERSHIP for their country today, in the way they won and lost. They both FINISHED WELL! McCain reflected his heart when he ended  his speech brilliantly in saying "Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant"

"To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.

This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.

I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too."

~John McCain, Presidential Candidate 2008~

Me Church

Where Church is all about "YOU"

How true isn't it sometimes that we want church to be all about us, and to fit our kinda fit.

Is this what we all prefer? 
And is this true of churches today?