tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11947060038859572542024-03-13T09:35:42.789+08:00No Little PeopleWong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-18263018569988129082014-07-07T21:07:00.002+08:002014-07-07T21:07:58.788+08:00The Strange Church Anniversary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When Samuel invited me and church leaders to come to the
front for a photograph to commemorate the 14<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the
church, I hesitated for a while feeling a bit weird. I just did not want too
much attention on us. The church is the whole congregation and each one has a
part in building the church to what it is today. Everyone should share in its
honor. As Samuel nudged the congregation to sing happy birthday song to CDPC,
Julia, a long-standing member of the church, whisked a blue color cake on a
four-wheel cart to the stage. It was a like a crescendo, the worship service
reached its height, because the congregation was soaking in the atmosphere of
praising God for his faithfulness. I was given the knife to cut the cake. I
thought to myself: “Are they testing me to see whether I could multiply the
cake like Jesus feeding the 5000?” True enough, everyone had a piece to sample
and I wonder how it happened that a small cake could feed 200 people.</div>
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Suddenly something completely unexpected thing occurred.
Samuel again invited the congregation to sing birthday song to Nagarajah. Again
a chocolate cake was brought to Nagarajah who was seated at the back row of the
church hall. Nagarajah, a homeless poor Indian man, who has been coming to the
church for a year now, was completely bowed over by the generous gesture of the
church. Never in his wildest dream could he imagine that a middle class church
comprising mainly Chinese would welcome him like Jesus welcomed the marginalized
of the society. Probably no one has ever celebrated his birthday for him.
Nagarajah speaks only a smattering English. Yet he felt so loved by the church
people. Almost every Sunday, different members of the church would take him to
where he stayed. His home is at the corner of the shopping mall where he could
go to the toilet for bathing. There is just enough covering to shelter him from
the rain. Nagarajah is a very clean person. He would put Talcum powder before
he comes to the church. He would also wear a white T-shirt and a short trouser.
He walks with a limp because of an accident several years ago that rendered him
jobless. He would sit quietly at the back of the church hall and worships God
with us. We usually give him essential items for him to take home. After the
service Nagarajah stays back to have a meal before members take him ‘home.’</div>
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To me the celebration of the church’s Anniversary reached
its climax when the church honored this homeless poor publicly, one of the
least in the society who is considered by some to be unworthy to live in our
beautiful and affluent city. This young church made me proud. </div>
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I firmly believe that the greatness of a nation is not about
its military power, technological advances, economic prosperity, or highly
educated populace, but rather how its citizens treat the weakest, the
voiceless, the poorest, the marginalized and the scum of the society. </div>
<br /></div>
Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-84682057261627463652013-12-25T08:50:00.001+08:002013-12-25T09:08:47.384+08:00The Amazing City <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Kolkata</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I handed two
cones of ice-cream to the two Bengali girls who were squatting in front of the
hotel entrance, you should have seen their eyes sparkle and glitter, their mud-stained
faces beam with smiles. The shopkeeper probably overcharged me. RM 10 does not
mean much for most Malaysians. But one can get a lunch for RM 2 in Kolkata. The
older sister gingerly tore open the ice-cream cover for her sister. They both licked
the ice-cream slowly very much like the way I lap Haagen Daz. They know how to
savor every moment of it. The children in Kolkota seem happy even though they
live in abject poverty. On several occasions, some of them pulled my hand and
asked me to take photos of them. They would pose for me and after that want to
see the photos. But they never once want me to give them some money. They were
just satisfied to look at their faces in the photos.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When the taxi sped
past the street teeming with people, I saw a woman washing her hair by scooping
the running water from the drain. She was happy to wash away the dirt from her
hair with the not so clean water. It’s all she could afford. Every now and then
we see men bathing in the public from the tap and some women washing their
clothes downstream with the bathed water. No one seems to complain. The Bengali
in Kolkata are able to take whatever life throws at them. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There is something
about this city that had produced 5 Nobel Prize Laureates. Mother Teresa who
won the Nobel Peace Prize (1979) came to Calcutta in 1948 and worked among the
poor. She started the Missionaries of Charities, a small Order of 13 people
which now consists of 4000 nuns. The Missionaries of Charities believe in
caring for the unwanted, the uncared and the unloved in society. Kolkata
streets are full of people making the five-foot ways their homes. I saw a family
of 3 generations living under one roof that has no protection from strong wind
or torrential downpour of rains. I visited the home which housed many unwanted
children and infants. I was talking to a nun who has been working there for 15
years and all I could see is a woman of faith, of love and of hope. Many of
them go about their work, doing mundane things without drawing attention to
self because they have seen Mother Teresa living her faith, loving Christ and
serving the least unassumingly for 49 years. When Mother Teresa said that she
is just like a pencil in the hand of a mighty God, she meant it with all her
heart and lived it out beautifully. When she said that “we must do small things
with great love”, we see her feeding the poor and caring for the dying day in
and day out for nearly 5 decades. Her words take on new meaning.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Being a tourist in
Kolkata for 4 days and living here for 5 decades is a world of difference. One
can stomach the filth, the stench, the noise, the pollution and the crazy
traffic in Kolkata for a few days but to work here for a few years is a
different story. I began to understand why hardly any Malaysian Christians ever
felt called to migrate here. We neither have strong stomachs nor great hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stepping into the home
turned museum of Rabindranath Tagore immediately made me feel that I am in a
totally different environment from the world outside. Within the enclave and
inside the many rooms hang Tagore’s personal paintings, manuscripts of his poems,
prose and the music he composed. The first question that came into my mind was
how a place like Kolkata could produce and nurture a polymath who had
profoundly impacted not only Bengali literature and music but also its region.
Tagore was the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize of Literature (1913). When I
saw the oil painting portrait of Tagore in Victoria Memorial Hall, I had goose
pimples all over me. He looks like Jesus of the Western paintings. </span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sarah, my daughter,
laid her hands on whatever Tagore books she could find in the second hand book
stores or the first class book room in the streets of Kolkata; in the process
she helped me to empty my wallet! When Sarah was born, I gave her the name in
Chinese meaning poem/literature and melody/music, hoping that one day she would
use literature and music to serve God. It has become a reality. When she said
yes to Rema to bring 75kg of English Literature books (mostly Shakespeare) to
be given to Jadavpur University where her late husband Professor Lim Chee Seng
once taught as adjunct professor, little did I know that it turned out to be an
adventure of a significant kind. We were impacted by this great city Kolkata
which has produced 5 Nobel Prize Laureates. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-16876724116807166092012-09-07T12:24:00.002+08:002012-09-08T09:28:00.248+08:00The man who walks with a limp <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I met
Nagarajan as he was holding on to the walking chair about to cross the road
with cars speeding by. It was a hot afternoon and nobody took notice of this
insignificant, unemployed Indian young man who lives at the edge of society. I
called out his name: “Hi, Nagarajan.” He
turned his head when he heard his name.</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> He gave me a broad smile.</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"> I told him that I would like to give
him some food items. For several months I have been
taking the food from the church CareBank to give to the poor, a person like
him. Nagarajan met an accident few years ago and his one leg was badly
crippled. </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">I discovered that a freak accident affected his mobility severely and reduced him to poverty because he could no longer work. </span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">He told me that a stranger rented a room for him just opposite the church building. I first noticed
him last year when I saw him often sitting at the corridor of a walk way alone. He wasn't begging for money. He wasn't seeking for sympathy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">After receiving
the food items, he pulled me aside and told me that he would like to come to the
church. I told him the he might not be able to understand the sermon in English
(we converse in BM). He looked at me puzzled and asked me “you mean Jesus
cannot understand my Tamil if I pray to him. I want to come to your church to sembayang.” Then it dawned on me that he
wants to come to church to worship Jesus. He wants to just sembayang (worship).
I stood there speechless. Nagarajan wanted to come to church not so much to
listen to the sermon, he just wanted to meet Jesus to thank Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">Tears well
up in my throat, I knew that the Holy Spirit has moved him through the ‘hesed’ (loving
kindness, grace, mercy) that God has shown him through me over the months. It
dawns on him that the Jesus Christians follow and preach about must be real. Why
would anyone bother to talk to a person like him let alone share food items
with him repeatedly? Why would anyone show him respect and treat him as a
person of worth and dignity? Nagarajan knew that the Jesus I preach in my
sermon on most Sundays is the God who cares for the poor. The church that I
serve is located above the five foot ways (pedestrian walkways) that Nagarajan
sits there every day alone. Hundreds of people would have walked past him every
day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">One day as I
was walking on the way out of the office complex to find a place for my lunch,
I heard a loud voice calling out may name: “Pastor.” I turned around and saw
Nagarajan beaming with a broad smile walking with a limp while holding on to
his walking chair toward me. He was happy to see me. He didn't ask me for food or money. He was just happy to see me. I broke out with a grin as wide as the five foot ways. I am proud to be a friend of Nagarajan. </span></div>
</div>
Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-66216495763017099972012-03-01T13:19:00.004+08:002012-05-28T18:12:12.878+08:00Homeless Poor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ";"> On the night of Feb 27 2012 after bidding farewell to Yong <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yi</span> and Sharon who were flying off to Beijing for their new posting by Shell, Sarah, Sam and I walked to the car park machine to pay the coin. I discovered that the coin chip kept falling off from the slot. Both Eu Joe and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Beng</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kiat</span> had earlier paid their money and used the machine and there was no problem. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Beng</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kiat</span> told me to press the “<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Batal</span>” button. I pressed the cancel button sign and suddenly I saw $5 dollars note kept coming out from the machine and dropping into the trough. I took out a stack of $5 notes from the machine and Sam counted that there were altogether $75. I told Sarah and Sam that there were not for us and we need to return to the owner. At that hour, already past 12 o clock midnight, the airline authorities’ personnel was nowhere to be seen. We waited for a while and no one came back to claim the money. The rest of the party who came to say goodbye to Yong <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">YI</span> were slowing moving away to their cars. As we walked to car park, we discovered that we came to the wrong block. Earlier I parked my car at Block “C” and we came to block “A” to pay for the car park. I have been to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">KLIA</span> countless time, and there is no way I could have make such mistake. Beside Sam was with me and Sam is noted as someone who possesses a better sense of direction than the best of GPS. Sam was also bemused. Beside, Bernard, Olivia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Chiam</span> and Julia whom we met earlier at Block “C” when we first arrived at KLIA carpark went back to Block “C” and they saw us moved to Block “B” and none of them said anything or told us that we had gone to the wrong place. I believed there is only one explanation. The Holy Spirit directed us for a purpose. Someone else had been careless and he might be in a hurry to go off, being rich he just could not border about the change and he left the money in the machine slot. This is my speculation. Sarah and Sam and I decided that we will give the money away to someone needy and we were thinking about the homeless people.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ";"> The next day when I was in the church office, I received a call from a missionary friend from Finland who said that he is bringing along a friend to come and visit me. In the afternoon at 3pm, "V" came with 2 persons, a man about 50 years old and a woman in her early twenties. When they walked in, there was a strong Talcum powder smell mixed with some odor which I could not quite figure out what it was. "V" introduced his two friends to me and I found out from their stories that they are homeless poor who sleep in the shop walkways in Kota Raya, Kuala Lumpur. I asked how they get money to live. They both answered that they scavenged for tin cans, cardboard and metal things to be sold and each day they can get about RM 20. With that they buy food. I asked where they take their bath. “Satu ringgit bayaran unto mandi di public toilet.” In Kota Raya alone there are 300 homeless poor living there eking out their existence each day with very little.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: ";"> I told them my story how I got RM 75. I proceeded to give the man RM 40 and the woman RM 35 and told them that its God who gave them the money and not me. They were both very touched. The missionary was also very moved because God has called him to reach out to these homeless poor. He felt its God’s affirmation of his calling. These two homeless poor were in a daze that God could do such a thing like this that he loves them enough to look into their needs for that day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 17.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"> When they left, I knew I was standing on holy ground in my office. The presence of God was real though the office was filled with a mixed sense of odor very much like the one when the Son of God was born in the manger.</span></div>
</div>Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-12520144379061952862012-01-28T13:06:00.006+08:002012-01-28T14:14:04.323+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPSDO18ai4uR276dR70q70eQ1Z90VjEQMSnXX3nHq8e9PagEyAgs13DSGdqgkbnRK-h99V4x5b58pv2t885bS72KlhFKHApfPYek_E3E8ybsGTQPRcVfKmZJlliCFq_pWrVlOlr7_Su0/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPSDO18ai4uR276dR70q70eQ1Z90VjEQMSnXX3nHq8e9PagEyAgs13DSGdqgkbnRK-h99V4x5b58pv2t885bS72KlhFKHApfPYek_E3E8ybsGTQPRcVfKmZJlliCFq_pWrVlOlr7_Su0/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702562217799112978" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Turning 21 marks the beginning of a new chapter in life. It seems not too long ago when I pushed Samuel then aged 3 into a 20 feet long concrete tunnel for him to walk through on his own without me at his side. </span>He already showed sign of bravery at that age. But it also revealed that he trusted his dad. When Samuel was 5, I took him tho the park and cajoled him to climb to the top of the fishnet-like structure that was about 18 feet high. Without second thought, Sam climbed up nimbly like a monkey. To this day, rock climbing is his favorite sport. His friend commented when they saw him climbed the wall: "You mean this is the first time he is doing the climbing? He is like a pro already." Sam always thinks that he was born with the natural ability for parkour and climbing. My view is that nurture takes 80%.<br /><br />Sam has a unique gift of assembling things. When we brought back wooden shelves be it bed or book shelves from IKEA, before I could finished reading the instruction manual, Sam usually finished assembled the whole structures. He is DIY person. Most of the handy works stuff in the home were fixed up by him. His adeptness and love for assembling things also originates from the earlier years of training. I gave him complex gazettes and toys to assemble, difficult puzzles (Complicated pattern and design) to solve. Sarah normally could reach level 4 whereas nothing to stop Sam from attaining the highest level that even adults sometimes found them difficult. His brain works in a spatial concept. Take him into any new city, he can remember exact location and place and finds his way back. Sam is our sure bet whenever we have difficulty locating our car in a huge car park even without any clear sign. Sam thinks that he was born with that natural instinct. But my view is that nurture accounts for 80%.<br /><br />When comes to cooking, baking, Sam excels. He approached these activities like a scientist doing his experiments in the lab. Because he is daring, adventurous, creative, he is not afraid to try new things and new ways of doing things. Not many of his friends know that Sam is an Origamist. The origami that Sam did are usually intricate and exquisite. If grade 8 is the highest that one can go in Origami, I would rate him as level 7. I told him he could make a living out of this trade.<br /><br />Sam learns most things on his own through observation, reading books, asking good questions (soliloquy). When I found him day dreaming, he was actually spending time thinking aloud of projects that he wanted to embark on. He aspires to be a polymath. That itself is a worthy pursuit. Constance and I pulled him out from school when he was in form 1. Since then he has been pursuing knowledge through reading books, learning through Google and You-Tube and having interesting conversation with people who are knowledgeable. Sam is so knowledgeable that sometimes I thought he was bluffing his way through! But when I checked the subjects that we discussed, I discovered that he knew far more than me. His education came mainly from non formal and informal learning. Ask him why he is so good in photography and cinematogrpahy. His answer might surprise you. Sam is full of surprises. There is never a dull moment with him. The only problem is that you will wonder how come Sam knows so much given that fact that he did not even go to University.<br /><br />He is a bundle of joy and the live wire in the family. If I were to be marooned in a deserted Island, I would love to have him with me. So I can be entertained by him, I don't have to cook, I don't have to worry how to build a wooden house. We can just talk all day and all night and drink coconut juice from a straw made from the leaves. Sam would make all kinds of Origami and build obstacles for sports. He might even make a wooden golf stick for me to tee off a wooden golf ball. Sam showed me the other day how to light a fire using two sharp objects that he bought from on-line. 10 times out of 10 when he struck the objects against each other, spark of fire flew before my face. "How does this work?" I asked him. He gave me a 5 minutes scientific discourse that impressed me.<br /><br />I did not choose him to be in my family. God did not give me a menu to choose what I want for a boy. In His wisdom and graciousness, God gifted Sam to be my son. A loving brother to Sarah, Sam and his sister often sings duet beautifully. I would normally sit in a corner, savor every moment, thanking God for these two wonderful gifts.<br /><br />I would not trade Sam for any boy in the world.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-70860130077968509142011-10-26T15:56:00.006+08:002012-05-03T20:28:15.869+08:00The End of the World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NBTk5e9sNbBblUKf62B1IK-Opfu3R7-1b30mp-SMJ2NE9S5ksfb8LLq-PMRTUB8dNeu_yxO2qmWajGoMws_ihqiJGDj98SHjIChvKtG_M3zF1Y6Usp_4ffo-1vE1ZLJO-bEfsEOqdyw/s1600/IMG_0991.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667709573867516722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NBTk5e9sNbBblUKf62B1IK-Opfu3R7-1b30mp-SMJ2NE9S5ksfb8LLq-PMRTUB8dNeu_yxO2qmWajGoMws_ihqiJGDj98SHjIChvKtG_M3zF1Y6Usp_4ffo-1vE1ZLJO-bEfsEOqdyw/s200/IMG_0991.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 134px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
Sarah graduated on May 21st 2011<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
My host Jim Rouston showed me the news paper that had the caption "End of the world on May 21st 2011 at 6pm." I told Jim that I would be attending my daughter, Sarah's graduation on that day as predicted by Harold Camping to be the end of the world. Many of Harold Camping's church members sold off their houses and property and camped in a remote place in America waiting for the end to come!<br />
<br />
As the plane flew from Billings to Grand Rapids, I knew that the end of the world would not happen for the simple reason that no one will know the sudden coming of Christ. Jesus already told his disciples that "no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matt 24:36-42). It is baffling to me how a veteran pastor like Harold Camping could come up with a calculation of the exact date of the return of Christ. It is equally mind boggling to see so many mindless Christians who bought in Harold Camping's prophecy when the teaching of the Bible is so plain for all to see.<br />
<br />
Sam and I sat there in the sport stadium where thousands of parents, friends of the graduands and the graduates eagerly awaiting the commencement of the opening service. When Sarah's name was called and she went forward to received her scroll, I clapped the loudest and shouted for joy unashamedly. That's what parents would do that for their children. Sarah had done us proud. She has always been a high achiever in schools. She graduated with honors degree and was on the Dean's list for every semester in all the four years! Her professors were full of praise for her, not only her academic excellence but also her attitude and posture of learning. Sarah is a keen student, possesses sharp mind and yet humble. Calvin College professors had shaped her mind and heart to love God and to serve others with humility.<br />
<br />
I thought I would never be able to send my children overseas for their tertiary education. God had demonstrated his faithfulness by providing more abundantly than I could imagine and ask of. God poured down his blessing from heaven and we were soaked in His grace.<br />
<br />
Since coming back on May 2011, within half a month of her return to KL, Sarah was offered a job in a local college as a lecturer. She has always wanted to teach and to mentor students. She knew her vocation and she is passionate about teaching English literature. I am so glad that she has found her sweet spot. I know that even if the end of the world would come tomorrow, Sarah would still methodically, joyfully drive the old Proton Wira that her mum has kept for her to the college early in the morning, beating the traffic jam and fulfilling God's calling in her life. Never mind the meager salary, never mind the long journey from home to the college, what matters is God has called her to be faithful. I too would want to be found faithful, devoted in preaching of God's word, the shepherding of God's people, mentoring young people and planting churches even if tomorrow is the end of the world.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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</div>Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-40833924093346414932011-04-18T21:13:00.004+08:002011-04-18T21:43:03.806+08:00Do Small Things With Great Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlJ5A1GbFglmJZKNGBkhDVVobIL_0d1aOXwtNcyA_ZK2m-vJqtzCBMJXtPNLMmkWyUE6a7N2d4obKzV9t0u2RSDmqo3ynqcje_-o-7XTaxyy6PljFl9m5pOjj_GbLR8o9DvcGWnE1JIE/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlJ5A1GbFglmJZKNGBkhDVVobIL_0d1aOXwtNcyA_ZK2m-vJqtzCBMJXtPNLMmkWyUE6a7N2d4obKzV9t0u2RSDmqo3ynqcje_-o-7XTaxyy6PljFl9m5pOjj_GbLR8o9DvcGWnE1JIE/s200/IMG_0156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596916621327954434" border="0" /></a>
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margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Cambria","serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Many people want to attempt big things and achieve great success, Christians are no exception. I find that many Christians would not want to do small things in the church. Mother Teresa’s philosophy of life came as a big shock to many. She advocated that “one can do no great things, only small thing with great love.” She was merely echoing what her Master had said long ago. “If you are faithful in little, you will be faithful in much.” If we can do little thing with great love, we will invariably be found faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">When I first conceived the idea of starting a Children’s library for Puchong Community, a handful of women were supportive. Little did I know that when I handed the book “1001 Children’s books a child you must read before you grow up” to Alicia, the passion rubbed on her. She spent countless hours from designing the logo of the library, buying books and cushions, wrapping nearly 1000 books, labeling them, getting book shelves from Ikea, arranging the books and doing thousand of little things with joy and gusto. I can’t ask for a better church administrative assistance than Alicia. Other women came around and make the dream comes through. These are the quiet disciples of Christ who show their love for their Master by doing small things with great love. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Children’s Library was launched last Saturday. Many parents brought along their children and they were not disappointed. Colorful, high quality and award winning children classics lined up the brand new bookshelves. Amidst the noise and adults chattering, scores of children sat on the rug and couch engrossed in reading books. The younger ones had their mum and dad reading to them. The highlight of the day was the story telling session. Joshua Lye was in his element, reading the story with animation and sound inflection that had the children mesmerized. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The church served plenty of yummy kuih and cakes. No one asked how much he must pay. It is absolutely free of charge. There are no fees for borrowing the books to read, for listening to the story narrated, for a cup of hot coffee or tea with curry puff and kuih. The ambience is great although the noise level is a bit high for a library setting. No one was complaining, as the celebrative mood was obviously loud. I overheard someone commented: “How I wish I had all these books when I was a child.” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">While many are lamenting that the English standard of Malaysian students is appalling, this small church (City Discipleship Presbyterian Church, Puchong) that was started a year ago, embarked on a journey to inspire lifelong readers, one child at a time. Imagine the children from Puchong Community who walk in to the Children’s Library, who are enthused by the great stories of the children classic and begin to develop and acquire a love for reading, invariably their proficiency of English will be raised. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Manning the library, reading story books to little children, picking up books from the floor and sorting them out and putting back on the shelves, buying refreshment, cleaning up after the library hour is over, these are so mundane and nothing great about them. But when they are done with great love and with great passion and vision, the ripple effects on touching the lives of the children cannot be measured. <o:p></o:p></span></p> Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-27189625347656082822011-02-03T12:34:00.003+08:002011-02-07T11:58:41.854+08:00The Man to Watch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqP3pjWQ3FZlAxrrEG1eqYpaPLar9LQS0wWhAfJDROw3xXrejo7d5hu8mz20oVCH5AtMavAqnRannGKdwcOxpZ2EVBt2lFVLlcZYuvMMiNdxjMzH_daxUqbUsg93AFBOFuoBEJMHAnP0/s1600/179309_10150121364716320_723556319_7663122_5891646_n.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqP3pjWQ3FZlAxrrEG1eqYpaPLar9LQS0wWhAfJDROw3xXrejo7d5hu8mz20oVCH5AtMavAqnRannGKdwcOxpZ2EVBt2lFVLlcZYuvMMiNdxjMzH_daxUqbUsg93AFBOFuoBEJMHAnP0/s320/179309_10150121364716320_723556319_7663122_5891646_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569317289846105906" border="0" /></a><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">The Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng was full of praise in his speech for this young man at the wedding dinner. It was a heartwarming evening for me to hear several politicians praising Steven Sim.<span style=""> </span>These were not political speeches but wedding addresses. These were expressions from the hearts with no garnishing. I cheekily posted on the facebook my prediction that in 20 years time Steven Sim will take over Guan Eng as the CM of Penang. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the age of 29 Steven possesses 3 qualities that we look for in our politicians: <b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;">intelligent, passion and integrity</span></b>. When Steven was studying in University Malaya for his Computer Engineering degree, he was also reading Law as a hobby. The articles he wrote reflect his mental sharpness and his girl friend then thought that Steven plagiarized some authors from Oxford University. He was that good. Joreen, his girl friend fell in love with his mind. There is such a thing called ‘beautiful mind.’ Steven is now reading Master of Philosophy. This is not a surprise as I have noticed his love for philosophy since in his University days. He is incredibly intelligent. He learns fast</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many years ago, I ear marked Steven to either be a pastor or a seminary lecturer. I encouraged him to study theology. What I did not know was that his theological knowledge and thinking was already way ahead of an average pastor. But God has a different script for this young man. Steven gravitated more and more to politics. Pastor John Newton, who initially wanted William Wilberforce to study theology to become a pastor, recognized that God had called William Wilberforce to politics. His friend William Pitt assisted William Wilberforce in making the decision. Good that William did not become a pastor, otherwise slavery trade might continue unabated to present century. I affirmed Steven’s calling to serve God in political arena. That explains his passion. Steven is the youngest Councilor ever appointed. He was so eager to get back to work that he wanted to postpone his honeymoon. Can you beat that? He did go for his honeymoon after the wedding as I told him that this is non-negotiable.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Steven is a man of integrity. His political mentor Chong Eng attested to his character. I could see that this man is uncorrupted because he is a God fearing man. He is surrounded by a group of DAP comrades who are uncorrupted. Such political culture of not taking bribery but serving the rakyat with humility, influences Steven to be the kind of politicians that the nation most needed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">People often asked me what is it that kept me going as a pastor, what brings joy to my heart? It is this: to see your mentorees found their calling and serving God faithfully and doing little things with great love for the people.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-68181943953051549082010-12-22T23:08:00.004+08:002010-12-22T23:41:07.612+08:00<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The ultimate test of faith is to receive nothing in this lifetime and yet believe in Christ that he is faithful and that he will fulfill his promise.</span><br /></span><br />God will make everything right in the end. It may not even be in this lifetime. Many of the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 did not receive the things promised, all these people were still living by faith when they died. They lived with the end view in mind- that there is a better city than the present one. So they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one.<br /><br />These heroes of faith were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated...they wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.<br /><br />These Christians would be looked upon as pariahs, as abandoned by God by today's Christianity.<br /><br />Yet the verdict of God is that these were commended for their faith.<br /><br />So what is faith?<br /><br />Faith is believing in Christ even when walking in darkness - when the reward of faithfulness is more darkness.<br /><br />Faith is clinging on to Christ even when the bottom fell out - when the reward of faithfulness is calamity and tragedy.<br /><br />Faith is trusting in Christ even when the peers turned against you - when the reward of faithfulness is rejection and betrayal.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.</span><br /></span>Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-55458498448868079932010-10-11T17:17:00.003+08:002010-10-22T07:11:25.864+08:00In sickness and in health....<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal">When I see illness ravages her body, my heart breaks into thousand pieces. She is no more the same. No matter how severe the contortion, nothing can hide her inner beauty. She has never murmured a single word of complaint against God. In her condition, any lesser person would have whined all day long. <span style=""> </span>She just goes about her daily chores with the strength that God gave, though now taking much longer time than before. Throughout 26 years of ups and downs, I seldom see her cry nor crumble under crisis. She possesses that quiet confidence, I know it’s the faith that is forged over long years of walking with God. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then she broke down and cried. I know it’s unusual. I saw for the first time her vulnerability. She began to take step to slow down her work. I have taken her to physiotherapy, chiropractic sessions hoping that the condition can be corrected. Each day is a daily battle against deterioration of her condition. Strangely, I find those times to be faith building and relationship deepening. It’s easy to make the vow ‘in sickness and in health’, but when one is being confronted with reality, that is when rubber meets the road and the traction will reveal the true character of one’s commitment. I discovered that I love her dearly and would gladly step down from my ministry to care for her. That day might come sooner than I can prepare for it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have always long for a community that cultivates and reflects a deep faith. So much of what I see is shallow. We know how to celebrate victory of healing, but inept when healing does not take place. We display our lack of pastoral sensitivity to those who continue to suffer because our theology compounds their guilt. Many in the church go through suffering silently. The theology of triumphalism may appeal to the crowd, it will certainly precipitate crisis of faith to the undiscerning.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I revisited the Book of Revelation for strength and solace. I have preached this Book many years ago but nothing comes close to seeing and feeling its impact upon the suffering church. The vision was given in the context of a suffering church. John himself was exiled in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Patmos</span> Island without the possibility of coming out alive. It seems that life does not make sense, a faithful disciple of Christ who had served Him for 60 more years was now discarded in a God forsaken Island. John saw a vision of Christ and the word that Christ spoke was most comforting: “Do not be afraid, I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” (Revelation 1) The vision of God sitting on His throne in heaven was shown to John. John saw myriads and myriads of angels worshiping God and the countless host of angels celebrating and exalting the Lamb who was slain to purchased men for God (Revelation 4 &5). Revelation 6 to 19 describes the war of Satan waged against God’s people and the injustices inflicted by the inhabitants of the earth on the saints. God’s people greatly suffered because of persecution of their faith. Many were killed and seemingly defeated by Satan and his hosts. God meted out his judgment upon the earth through earthquakes, famines, sea pollution, earth being scorched & plagues. I would not want to live in the time that is described in Revelation 6 to 19. Revelation 20 is a breather, an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, which is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. After the thousand years are over, Satan is released and goes out to deceive the nations and then he is thrown in the lake of burning sulfur. Satan will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away. He saw the Holy City coming down out of heaven from God. God tabernacles right in the middle of his people and he lives with them forever. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It dawns on me that we have complicated our interpretation of the Book of Revelation.<span style=""> </span>All that we need to know its quite simple. And it is this:<br /><br />In life we will have suffering and even defeats (Rev 1)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We need to know that Jesus is the author of life and he is the living Christ who holds the key of life and death (Rev. 1). We therefore do not need to fear death.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We need to constantly lift our eyes upward and see that God is still sitting on the thrones with myriads of angels worshiping him and that Christ has already purchased us with his blood. We belong to God forever. No one and nothing can touch our lives unless permitted by God. Even if persecution, illnesses ravage our bodies, God sustains us by his grace.<br /><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We will go through great suffering because of our faith in Christ. The final script has not been written yet. Satan may have temporary an upper hand over us. But his time will soon run out when God wraps up history.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We all look forward to the day when God ushers in the new heaven and new earth. The paradise lost shall be regained. We will learn to get use to the new existence where there is no sicknesses, no pollution, no moral impurity, no injustices, and no death. The lame shall walk, the mute will speak, the blind see, the deaf hear.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everything good, beautiful, wholesome that takes place now and here on earth is only a foretaste of what is to come.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Anything bad, ugly, broken even beyond repair will find its full redemption and restoration on that Day.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, I still need to routinely take my wife to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">UMSC</span> for medical attention, the unending rounds of chiropractic sessions, and the ferrying around to do errands. Life has to go on but we look at it in a God-centered perspective.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-4626985615561261562010-04-28T23:13:00.003+08:002010-04-28T23:50:01.307+08:00Not Guinness Stout<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoxf_t7gIUEIjLkg4a_ptz86so7i0wQ4pxp-guONLMfjYKZcbBy-9mOaR9QqOXAiz7QqSLfhV8mrtQ_IiWb2cElmPT1XvjUTJj4yc9cs35R-keM4QDKtoprWW3QxGEOWaTPPIszBLpqo/s1600/DSC03848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoxf_t7gIUEIjLkg4a_ptz86so7i0wQ4pxp-guONLMfjYKZcbBy-9mOaR9QqOXAiz7QqSLfhV8mrtQ_IiWb2cElmPT1XvjUTJj4yc9cs35R-keM4QDKtoprWW3QxGEOWaTPPIszBLpqo/s320/DSC03848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465207659985463826" border="0" /></a><br />When I first met Dr. Os Guinness was in Singapore Bible College many years ago, his public lecture was thought provoking and intellectually challenging. He is a first class social critic. He has not changed much when I met him at Edinburgh during the World Reformed Fellowship General Assembly. He delivered an inspiring lecture on the topic "Standing Fast in faith in the Advanced Modern Global Era." What caught my attention was his warning to the Global South Church that one day we will face the similar issue of declension like the church in the West.<br /><br />I am reminded by Paul to guard the gospel because the message of the gospel can easily be distorted, altered to suit the itching ears of the modern generation. All it take is one generation of neglect to preach the unadulterated gospel of Christ, the next generation will reap the consequence of dilution, distortion and perversion of the gospel. The gospel of health and wealth may help to grow large churches but what kind of churches are these? Will these Christians still follow Christ, worship Him and love Him if their health and wealth were removed from them one day?<br /><br />Henry Guinness lost his inheritance when he became a missionary to China. Guinness Stout beer has been in existence for more than 100 years. Os Guinness would have been a rich man if his father had not gone into mission field. He has a brand name but without the wealth associated with it. Yet Os Guinness is contented and at peace with his Maker for the circumstance that he found himself in. Os is a prolific writer, a great thinker. In my brief encounter with him, I found him to be warm and personable. He has a brilliant mind and he uses his intellect to glorify God.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-59052157945885515442010-04-24T22:30:00.003+08:002010-04-25T21:03:37.942+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DIVisvlFcTyfMsyTiE20vid39WogBlXI4d7T1ZpG7q2rgqHDZ6EPl5CKrheM2HU_Yk93k2aJIVm43ph1kp2htutZFodYLdo2sNWron0zIiOPQONP13MtKC5i9kREHmReUSAASuSibuk/s1600/DSC03852.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DIVisvlFcTyfMsyTiE20vid39WogBlXI4d7T1ZpG7q2rgqHDZ6EPl5CKrheM2HU_Yk93k2aJIVm43ph1kp2htutZFodYLdo2sNWron0zIiOPQONP13MtKC5i9kREHmReUSAASuSibuk/s320/DSC03852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463712415420518338" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/fywong/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In Christ Alone</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>
<br /></b>Sitting in the front row with the full view of Kristyn and Keith Getty leading the worship was like being transported into the throne room of God. “In Christ Alone” is my favorite song. Kristyn has an angelic voice but what came across powerfully is the way she expressed her devotion to Christ. It just comes from within and flows out naturally to the external. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I chatted with Keith and Kristyn and found them to be friendly. Keith co-wrote the song “In Christ Alone” with Stuart Townend when he was 25. Ten years later Keith is an accomplished modern hymn writer. His musicality through the piano playing is unique. I invited them to come to Malaysia and to conduct hymns and songs writing workshop. They responded enthusiastically. I told them to come for holidays. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">They left for home in Ireland after the concert, which they hosted for the World Reformed Fellowship General assembly. Two days later the airport in Edinburgh was shut and no fly zone was imposed throughout UK. We were stuck in Edinburgh but her songs and hymns reverberated in my mind and heart for a long time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kristyn and Keith are both young and God is using them to bless the church worldwide. The songs are theologically sound and with depth, poetic and catchy. They grip your heart and move your emotion. They bring you closer to God. I never expect to meet them at the World Reformed Fellowship General Assembly. It is a treat from God. </p> <!--EndFragment--> Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-1345959309069491242010-04-23T00:12:00.002+08:002010-04-23T00:13:16.000+08:00 <meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/fywong/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.0pt 842.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Stuck in London<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I would have enjoyed London given a different circumstance. The art galleries and museum here are world class standard but sadly I lost all interest. All I wanted is to go home. Heathrow airport remained closed. The feeling of being trapped in an expensive place without money and credit card is unnerving. I had moved three times and lived in three different homes in a span of 7 days. Each host was kind enough to house me. The last one, Lai Meng and William, overwhelmed me with their generosity and grace. They told me I could stay as long as I like.<span style=""> </span>The last two days I spent my time in CWM office. Tried as hard as I could, my mind just would not absorb any things I read. It was so unreal that I sometimes felt lost. The newspaper reported that it is unsafe for the airplanes to fly as the plane engines would suck in the volcanic ash and turned the silica into glass and crippled the engines completely. BBC daily news added to the fear of flying as it continually showed the ferocious volcanic explosion shooting the ash into the sky 5 miles high. Any plane was to fly into the volcanic plumes would be suicidal. The scientists and mathematicians in UK use the mathematical model of probability to calculate the risk factor of flying. The model together with Satellite mapping is able to project the area of coverage of the ash cloud. It is also able to tell the different zones of density of the volcanic ash. Using this model of projection, the Civil Aviation Authority decided to go for a blanket ban for all flights. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think so much about Constance, Sarah and Sam. I think about church and the people who are close to me. I reflect on my life and ministry. Ironically I am due to preach the topic in CDPC this Sunday: Leaving and Living the Legacy. When one is facing with the possibility of death, many things become insignificant, only a few things matter. My mind suddenly becomes crystal clear on how I want to live my life and on what I will change the way I do ministry. This is a whole new experience for me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The book that I read last month “The Last Lecture” by Randy takes on a new meaning. Randy had only six months to live when he was diagnosed with cancer. He prepared his last lecture and it was intended as his legacy for his children. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was alone in the CWM meeting room. I read the Scriptures and prayed. I poured out my heart to God and I cried unashamedly. The emotional upheaval was too much to bear. I could identify with the psalmist who lamented:<span style=""> </span>“Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Every alternate day, I had to take the underground train to Earl’s court and then walked to MAS office to rebook my flight. The MAS telephone line was impossible to connect. Thousands of passengers jammed the phone. Every time when the flight is cancelled one has to go to MAS office in Cromwell to rebook the flight. No one in MAS management or in any airline has come up with a system that can help passengers during crisis. Every other airline faces the same problem.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since the British government dispatched its warships to repatriate those stranded, I fantasize that Malaysia PM would send his submarines to rescue Malaysians, I was jostled to reality when I called the Malaysian Embassy in London only to be greeted with the voicemail. Voicemail is a great modern device to deter people from being reached. I kept calling; the same voicemail repeated the same thing all the time. In time of crisis, I discovered who my true friends are and that I don’t matter to my country. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am now in Heathrow terminal 4 with 9 hours to kill before the flight would take place. What a relief when the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis announced that all UK airports will be reopened for short and long haul flights last night. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Reading Psalm 40 reassures me: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I know that my feet with touch Malaysia soil when I woke up tomorrow. God is great and he is good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-57640020298837904162010-01-08T18:19:00.002+08:002010-01-08T23:04:34.229+08:00The Allah Controversy<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>What is the crux of the matter? Has the Catholic Church “Herald” the right to use “Allah” as the name of God in Malay language? The Home minister revoked the license for Herald publication. The Catholic Church brought the case to the court for hearing. The Federal Court ruled in favor of the Catholic Church.<br /><br />Following the ruling of the High Court, there is an uproar among the Muslims. Three churches were attacked on Jan 8. The Metro Tabernacle church was torched. The home explosives did not detonate on the front door of the Assumption Catholic church and also the front door of Life Chapel Protestant church. Clearly some extremists expressed their anger through violence.<br /><br />Why is there such a reaction from certain section of the Muslim community? Today (Jan 8) the Muslims were protesting in the mosques across the country. PM and Home minister gave them the green light to voice their upset but told them that their gathering must not be out of control. Wisdom dictates that such sanction will lead to serious repercussion. PM failed to seize the moment to lead the nation with courage and wisdom.<br /><br />In the midst of religious conflict that might lead to bloodshed like so many countries in the world – how can Malaysia with moderate Islam as the official religion of the nation model moderation? How can a nation with diverse cultures and diverse religious faiths model civility? In the words of Os Guinness, in a world torn apart by religious extremism…no question is more urgent than how we live with our deepest differences- especially our religious and ideological differences. Its time we think about civility. Civility is the ability to live with deep respect for one another in the midst of severe differences. A civil person or community is one who appreciates liberty, diversity and unity. We owe it to our children to build a nation that every Malaysian can be proud of. If we cannot resolve the religious differences now, we can certainly help make the nation safe for diversity.<br /><br />Three things for any society to practice civility – understanding, respect and yielding of rights<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Understanding</span><br />It begins with the voice that articulate understanding. The Christian community needs to tell the Muslim community that we understand your fear and concern – the fear of confusion and the concern for conversion. To the Muslims who do not have any knowledge that the name “Allah” predates Islam, and that the Arab Christians had been calling their God “Allah” for centuries, they felt that the name “Allah” is being hijacked by Christians. They felt that “Allah” is the personal name of the Muslim God only. Even for those who may now came to know the historical context of the origin of the name “Allah”, they felt that the political and religious context in Malaysia requires that the Christians to be more sensitive. They insisted that the Christians stopped calling their God “Allah.” Just as the name “Allah” is personal to the Muslims, it is also very dear to the Christians in East Malaysia who have been using that name even before Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaya to constitute the Federal Malaysia. The Sikh community in Malaysia has also been using this name all these while. The Sikhs chose to maintain their silence and do not wish to be drawn into the controversy.<br /><br />There is only one God who is the creator of the universe. The Scriptures of Muslims, Christians and the Sikhs may have different revelations of “Allah”, each group worship Allah and follow Him in the ways that they understand from their respective Scriptural revelations. There is absolutely no confusion at all. The Sikh will never think that “their Allah” is the same as the Muslims or the Christians. No one is confused except the politicians.<br /><br />The fear of conversion is understandable. But the Muslims have the Constitution to protect them. They have the government machinery to their advantage. The conversion of Muslims to Christianity is very negligible in Malaysia as compared to the thousands of Sabahan and Sarawakian Christians who converted out of Christianity to Islam. It is an open knowledge that Muslim missionaries are sent to the schools in East Malaysia for their Dakwah movement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Respect</span><br />For civility to flourish in any society, deep respect must be accorded to every single person regardless of whatever faith he or she professes. The greatness of a nation is how the powerful protects the interests of the weak, how the strong take cares of the welfare of the weak, how the wealthy share its wealth with the poor, and how the majority esteems the minority.<br /><br />Respect means that we do not force our views on anyone. We can accept that others do not share our views, whether be it politics, or religions. We give the other persons or the group the freedom to practice their faith. Even God does not force anyone to believe in Him or to worship Him. The freedom of choice is a great gift that must be respected.<br /><br />The moderate voice of some Muslims like Marina Mahathir, Tenku Razaleigh is to be lauded. The Christian community needs to also convey its deep respect for the Muslim faith. Malaysian history shows that there is no incident of Christians bombing the mosques. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Yielding of Rights</span><br />If every community insists in its right, then conflict will escalate. Yielding one’s right is much more difficult to do. It involves humility, and self -denial. In this case of the Allah controversy, it is much more difficult to do. The Muslim Ummah and the Christian churches need to come together more often to build relationship. There are common projects that both communities can work together for the good of the nation. When there is friendship, there will be trust and when there is trust, fear will not present.<br /><br />The way forward is for the two communities to have interreligious dialogue. Study each other Scriptures, examine history and look at other nations how Muslims and Christians have lived harmoniously together. Yielding to rights mean that I do not insist my way is the best way and I do not insist that you must follow my way. What it does mean is that I give you the space to explore the truth and allow you to hold on to your religious conviction.<br /><br />The way forward is for PM and his cabinet to model humility and deep respect for the rights of each community in this land. Their voice will have moderate influence over the general populace.<br /><br />For the Christian community, we must continue to do good and we must never repay evil with evil. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.<br /><br />It’s a challenging time; let us love the Muslims and this nation.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-34948739867351068862009-12-09T09:44:00.008+08:002009-12-10T23:00:37.871+08:0025 years before and after<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uKsspvN_p8k4GGPHGufph8QO15Dl6cETu1iSL3aK7uAGMt152_9T_m5SIcooDFRH-y2RUd4iULzmgzZUzz2cIB4e-4rx8nJ59yo1TfnlM2kj9HMaEsZlC4tximVddUv19GuWSchtmhw/s1600-h/DSC02907.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uKsspvN_p8k4GGPHGufph8QO15Dl6cETu1iSL3aK7uAGMt152_9T_m5SIcooDFRH-y2RUd4iULzmgzZUzz2cIB4e-4rx8nJ59yo1TfnlM2kj9HMaEsZlC4tximVddUv19GuWSchtmhw/s320/DSC02907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413052948765889698" border="0" /></a><br />While waiting for Constance to wash her hair at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bianco</span> hair saloon, I took a diagnostic test for my hair. The hairstylist used a gadget, which has a magnifying power of 100 X, and he placed it gently at the spot of my head, which I would not be proud of. What I saw on the computer screen was a picture of arid desert. It looks like ozone with a hole in it. At the rate of hair dropping, in the next 5 years I would resemble a Franciscan Monk. The hair saloon has gigantic mirror as a wall. Everywhere I went, it reminds that I have my prime, once upon a time. Mirror does not lie to you.<br /><br />The hair stylist ably covered Constance sparse hair with curly perm. The brunette look dye on her hair makes her young. She is elegant.<br /><br />The one thing I kept reminding myself is to grow old gracefully. Something else is much more important as one aged.<br /><br />I dated Constance yesterday evening. It was our 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> wedding anniversary. We invited our son Sam to come along. Sarah and Sam always remind us that they are part of the package. So we celebrate anniversaries & birthdays as a family. Sam was at first reticent about the idea of him coming along. He felt that he might intrude into our romantic evening. Obviously we have different definition of romanticism. We went to a Hakka restaurant, nothing romantic about the place. But the food, we both enjoy. The evening went by so quickly. When the waitress came with the bill, Sam offered to pay. Constance and I were touched by his gesture. It is not a small amount for an 18-year-old boy. Sam is generous. We wish that Sarah were here with us.<br /><br />Later in the evening we spent our time in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">IKEA</span> testing out potential chairs for the new church. The price is fabulous – RM 35 per chair. 9 years ago we bought the customized chairs for RM 90 when we planted the first church. This one from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">IKEA</span> came without cushion but it is no less comfortable than the previous one. Alvin and Fern, a young couple from the church planting team, were with us in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">IKEA</span>. Their wedding anniversary happened to fall on the same day as ours. They were excited too about the church plant.<br /><br />It was twelve o clock midnight and yet Constance was wide-awake. She kept engaging me with the design of the layout for the new church. I was worn out after a long day. Never a night person, I struggled to stay awake. She turned off the light and finally I went off into the dreamland. Constance is as every bit as engaged in ministry. For 25 years she has been a great companion, a faithful ministry co-worker, a trusted confidante, a wise counselor, and a supportive wife. She helps me to raise two wonderful children. Sam and Sarah arise and call her blessed; I also, and I praise her. She is the Proverbs 31 woman. Each day it dawns on me that I married a great woman. People said that I should thank my lucky star. But I said that God is gracious. He gave her to complete me.<br /><br />Now 25 years down the road, at an age when people think we should be easing up, Constance and I are on the verge of planting another church. Our passion of serving God deepened as the years go by –undiminished. We are undaunted by the task because of the grace of God in our lives. I am strengthened in my resolve in planting a church because I have Constance by my side. For we know whom we believe. Jesus never fails us.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-68423738456968619342009-05-16T11:00:00.003+08:002009-05-25T21:47:01.237+08:00A dream half comes through<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61G-i58eI1-ngOzDSTHivnGFFA1NBzy0z5uw6GOYaqWqT_b7XH7KgSKoDp2A2e4Mwk3ciB8reVLAnw8c1LyN4dWZUgN7gvNdTLlRS-Pwnb49r6UiqQV9l_SZyET_UFAh9TaoSSEmdG9Y/s1600-h/DSC03173.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61G-i58eI1-ngOzDSTHivnGFFA1NBzy0z5uw6GOYaqWqT_b7XH7KgSKoDp2A2e4Mwk3ciB8reVLAnw8c1LyN4dWZUgN7gvNdTLlRS-Pwnb49r6UiqQV9l_SZyET_UFAh9TaoSSEmdG9Y/s320/DSC03173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336253134358811314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3jXxbCAf3qKHKW9DkLt6V5ccW1UDzXvjJ8uT384api-zjlrvBIqj-_DbxEnBQZnpx40-bKZRdVvwzXmxPlbkW22iorpV0LN55fDyl81a-gua2p9i7VpzgC15ot84mqsjwAj5FITjXGo/s1600-h/DSC03161.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii3jXxbCAf3qKHKW9DkLt6V5ccW1UDzXvjJ8uT384api-zjlrvBIqj-_DbxEnBQZnpx40-bKZRdVvwzXmxPlbkW22iorpV0LN55fDyl81a-gua2p9i7VpzgC15ot84mqsjwAj5FITjXGo/s320/DSC03161.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336252024007232626" border="0" /></a><br />Education is more than shaping the mind. Calvin College in Grand Rapids has consistently produced outstanding graduates in America. But what I like about this college is also its ethos of molding the hearts of the students. John Calvin’s words are imprinted on the wall plaque “My heart I offer to you Lord, promptly and sincerely.” The mind and the heart redeemed by Christ and offer back to Him in loving service are what John Calvin expounded in his theology. John Calvin is noted for his brilliant mind but not many know that he has a great heart. In the 16<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> century he reached out to the thousand of refugees who flocked to Geneva. The legacy of his reformed theology has influenced the world until today.<br /><br />I never dreamed that Sarah would one day be studying in Calvin College. I had the rare opportunity to observe her professor lecturing Russian literature in her class. Soaking in every word the professor said, I realized that God has chosen the college for Sarah. My desire is that Sarah’s mind and heart will be molded according to God’s purpose and to become competent intellectually and compassionate emotionally. Education is more than downloading information and scoring with distinctions. All the professors I met praise Sarah for her academic excellence and her lovely character. I was joyful but humbled by the grace of God. I know the destiny that God has for Sarah -to walk in His way, to make Him known and to glorify Him wherever God may call her to be.<br /><br />Seeing Samuel walking side by side with his sister Sarah in Calvin College gave me immense joy. Sam is intelligent, witty, creative and fun to be with. He has a kind heart. I found out last night when I was driving him home that he spent hours just to be with his friend consoling and counseling him. His good friend went through some tough time because of family problem. Sam would often help strangers in the public place when he saw their plight. The other night he was queuing for a taxi so that he could allow a Malay woman with her children to get into it. Others jumped queue and deprived the woman a chance to get a taxi home. Sam did not need the taxi as he was waiting for me to ferry him home. I still remember an incident in which Sam asked me to stop the car so that he could get out to retrieve a ball that was lying on the road. No passerby bothered to help while the children inside the police compound looked on. Many nights I overheard conversation that Sam had with his friends counseling them. One time he talked his friend out from committing suicide. He gave sound advice to his friends who went through puppy’s love.<br /><br />I believe that Calvin College will be a perfect place for him. Sarah concurred. The admission director, Rosemary interviewed him and was impressed with this young man. It will be my dream comes through if I can take another photo with Sarah and Sam walking side by side in the campus. This photo posted is just a rehearsal. I will take exactly the same pose at the same spot on another day. It will certainly be my day.<br /><br />“My heart I offer to you Lord, promptly and sincerely”Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-54870893332432773382009-05-15T23:31:00.006+08:002009-05-25T21:42:31.288+08:00No Little People in Bozeman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMgJQVkjo0WWtjLaRAQQelS25hSHmUVOCXn-nqDKkl3bAKFK1kTfs6-9Rh-CbSynEHCdHoDmWE_gYhRAex77vTY_9YkbFE1zHn5jZYIAFuMeZ4D43EMVIsY9t5f0i34Jm-DA0pZSxkBc/s1600-h/DSC03101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMgJQVkjo0WWtjLaRAQQelS25hSHmUVOCXn-nqDKkl3bAKFK1kTfs6-9Rh-CbSynEHCdHoDmWE_gYhRAex77vTY_9YkbFE1zHn5jZYIAFuMeZ4D43EMVIsY9t5f0i34Jm-DA0pZSxkBc/s320/DSC03101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336074432699029794" border="0" /></a><br />The first time when I set my eyes on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">snowcapped</span> mountain in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bozeman</span>, I was captivated by its majesty and awesomeness. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bozeman</span> is literally surrounded by mountains. It is naturally a touristic town. Winter is giving way to spring and holidaymakers are still coming to ski and to snowboard. The more serious mountaineers are scaling the steep slope, challenging nature with the view to conquer the summit. Such a place normally produces tough-minded people.<br /><br />Having conversation with Pastor Jeff <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hamling</span> in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">café</span> was a delight. I was intrigued by his story of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">pastoring</span> a church in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bozeman</span>. Jeff was a youth pastor at Rocky Mountain Community Church in Billings. He left Billings to plant a church in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bozeman</span>. I could see in his sparkling eyes that he enjoys what he is doing. Church planters are no ordinary people. They have to surmount unbelievable obstacles in order to see a church planted. It is equated as a spiritual mountaineering, only the determined one will want to venture out to the unknown. Jeff presented to me a DVD of a 5-day vacation Bible School Program “Peacemaker Clubs for Kids.” He has been conducting the Vacation Bible School for the kids in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bozeman</span> since he came to this town. He loves the people particularly the children. He is helping the children to be peacemakers, teaching them to deal with conflicts in their lives. His is a quest for transformation of the town- one child at a time. Such calling causes him to stay on passionately doing his work. Jeff’s story was not known and was not told. But there is another story which was written into a book and it became the US No. 1 bestseller.<br /><br />The first time when I saw the cover of the book “Three Cups of Tea- One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace One School at a time, I knew intuitively that this is not an ordinary book. I bought it and I have been reading it and enjoying it immensely. The author <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mortenson</span> is from Montana. When I googled to find out more, I discovered to my pleasant delight that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Mortenson</span> is also from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bozeman</span>. It’s a fascinating story of how the failed attempt to climb K2, the second hardest mountain to climb in the world, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Mortenson</span> drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Karakoram</span> Mountains. Little did he realize that his encounter with the hospital village folks in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Korphe</span> changed his life forever. What he saw was the pathetic condition of the village school, in which the children studied in the open space without any proper facilities. The children <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">didn</span>’t even have pencils! Touched by the inhabitants’ kindness, he promised to return to build a school. For more than a decade <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mortenson</span> worked <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">tirelessly</span> raising funds, buying building materials, sourcing teachers and he succeeded in building not just one but fifty-five schools in this forsaken region of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here is an American who through education counters the forces of terrorism. He offers every student an opportunity to be educated, to know what is good from evil, rather than to be influenced by the extremist <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">madrassa</span>. The war of terror is not won through military might but by winning the hearts of these Muslims children one at a time.<br /><br />I find the moral and spiritual congruence of these two ordinary men who hail from the same town, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Bozeman</span>. They give their lives that others might live in peace.<br /><br />God brought me to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Bozeman</span> that I might be changed.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-90063618962980363212009-03-31T12:29:00.002+08:002009-05-15T19:20:04.712+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEAgomZ3aHYzRy-VLA0hHanVWZ9bHxnJi91QLTvNxtzitq7r4plQAbBXy7dITytuOfPxUxdUlZ2L7mQaJvENN0ZPbH5tmvMNZ2YOk5nb-kwMWFhB8Y6QB_-JvhoMkO5RoKDIDKWS6Ses/s1600-h/DSC03015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEAgomZ3aHYzRy-VLA0hHanVWZ9bHxnJi91QLTvNxtzitq7r4plQAbBXy7dITytuOfPxUxdUlZ2L7mQaJvENN0ZPbH5tmvMNZ2YOk5nb-kwMWFhB8Y6QB_-JvhoMkO5RoKDIDKWS6Ses/s320/DSC03015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336008912723805890" border="0" /></a><br />Danny Martin talked about his past how as a young boy he was sexually abused. He had been in jails for 13 years. As he shared about his time in Vietnam War, I could sense his deep pain. Danny is a big man and he was crying throughout the time when he narrated his story. On several occasions, he nearly died because of reckless driving. He came to Rocky Mountain Community Church and the gospel of grace had impacted him.<br /><br />Trey too went through traumatic period when his parents divorced. He was only four years old. During his teenage years he rebelled, smoked marijuana, and used alcohol as a form of escape from the reality of pain. He was diagnosed with cancer but God healed him. Then he heard the gospel and responded to the grace of God. He came to Rocky Mountain Community Church and found grace among God’s people. Just as he is getting on in his Christian life, the doctor discovered that his cancer came back and has spread to his lung. His cancer is at an advance stage and the prognosis is bad. I could see his calmness and restedness. He is obviously not afraid of death. He kept thanking God for forgiving his sin and giving him life. He does not blame God at all.<br /><br />Bill was also traumatized by the Vietnam War. His friend who was suppose to return from Vietnam stood in his place for the last duty got himself killed. Bill lives with great sense of guilt. He hated the government for the war. Since then he withdrew himself from people. A member of Rocky Mountain Community Church reached out to him and extended her friendship. He joins the church and the small group. He feels totally accepted by the people in the church.<br /><br />Jerry was once a pastor. He spoke with great pain about his marriage failure. He lost his ministry and had since carried the guilt. He is also impacted by the gospel of grace through the preaching ministry of pastor Alfred, the pastor of Rocky Mountain Community Church.<br />One by one in the room, the twelve men took turn to share their stories. Each has a common thread and a common theme. All have gone through brokenness and all have experienced the healing touch of God through the gospel of grace. Christ came to us at the intersection of life when hell broke loose. Sin is not just a doctrine to be studied. It is real because it ravaged our lives. But God’s grace abounds.<br /><br />We ended the evening session praying for one another. It is the highlight of my time in Billings, Montana. God showed up tonight.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-67528697712833213662009-03-25T15:56:00.006+08:002009-05-15T19:40:47.627+08:00The End of One Chapter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhEJTxp8k_m0o1Gw_Uzk-M1lv2gfE2cQtd13cQJSoTzKAE6MOQ0GQFqqOVndiwWHSYsQhuUEizcXJHQAuuiSrg5IF_66AmtAYcq9tdseKCVbKCSvkxsG3_RVv3g80D9lB1I6WHrj738/s1600-h/DSC03175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuhEJTxp8k_m0o1Gw_Uzk-M1lv2gfE2cQtd13cQJSoTzKAE6MOQ0GQFqqOVndiwWHSYsQhuUEizcXJHQAuuiSrg5IF_66AmtAYcq9tdseKCVbKCSvkxsG3_RVv3g80D9lB1I6WHrj738/s320/DSC03175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336011679335438562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYu39P0Ot-CsIre1URd9E-4g8Rsq2vqK3URRDAy_VTD-b13t7ggTQSnYe1S75pQXg0X7xNvnI8Wu6n_W9Bs95_L-wRGcfxgPJzuxc_WJA5Vy1qeUVd-a83VA1zOK4ujx4tsX14FQu2YY/s1600-h/DSC_0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYu39P0Ot-CsIre1URd9E-4g8Rsq2vqK3URRDAy_VTD-b13t7ggTQSnYe1S75pQXg0X7xNvnI8Wu6n_W9Bs95_L-wRGcfxgPJzuxc_WJA5Vy1qeUVd-a83VA1zOK4ujx4tsX14FQu2YY/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336010404459615858" border="0" /></a><br />Standing at the Podium and with a sense of great relief, I handed over the Synod seal to the incoming Moderator, Rev. Kong. Yesterday afternoon marked the end of a significant chapter of my life. This was my second term as the Moderator of Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia. The first time when I was elected as the Moderator, I was relatively young.; perhaps the youngest Moderator in GPM history. That was 12 years ago. The learning curve was steep then. The stress was unbearable. I could hardly sleep the night after I was elected. I had a great team and we had brought significant change and impact to GPM.<br /><br />Now at the age of 54, although gained more experience in the ministry but in no way less stressful. The Presbyterian system is queer. A Moderator is expected to function in full-time capacity and yet his main work is with the local church. Bishops of other denominations serve full-time and they do not pastor the local church. No one will understand the difficulties face by the Moderator of GPM except the previous Moderators. But God’s grace is totally sufficient for His servants.<br /><br />Rev. Kong shared his story with the delegates that must have sent chills to our spines. Just a week ago before he was inducted as the Moderator, he found out that his blood pressure shot up unbelievably high. When he was smiling, he noticed that one side of his face was stiff (expressionless). He did not realize that it was a sign of stroke. The two years ahead will be daunting. This is his second term too as the Moderator.<br /><br />I am on my way to Billings, Montana. It’s not frequent that an Asian pastor gets to be the keynote speaker at the Mission conference. The PCA leaders are gracious and they give me the privilege to take the rostrum. Their gesture speaks more of their graciousness than my ability or credential. I am looking forward to speak what God has taught me all these years in His mission. It will be a great time to do networking for my church CDPC.<br /><br />The bonus of this trip is that my son, Samuel will accompany me. We will be camping at Changi airport tonight before the next flight at 6am. We have a lot to talk and to catch up. Sam is expecting me to let down my hair. Good thing that I still have much hair. I will compensate for the lost hours during my tenure as the Moderator, its pay back time.<br /><br />Sarah is at Vancouver representing her college in the women chorale. She is having the whale of time. We will see her soon in Grand Rapids.<br /><br />Constance is just contented to be at home. She loves her work at the Pre-School. She tries to learn the computer at the last minute hoping to catch us in Skype. We manage to get batik silk for our hosts in our last minute frantic shopping. She is ever so thoughtful.<br />We will miss her.<br /><br />NB: The article was written just the day I stepped down from being the Moderator. The same night Sam and I flew off to Billings. But the photos were uploaded after the trip back to Malaysia to show the great time Sam and I had in Billings and Grand Rapids. What a big load was off from my shoulder. No more carrying the burden of the denomination!Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-65485909966810235202009-03-10T23:06:00.004+08:002009-03-10T23:18:39.191+08:00The Precious Thing Called Friendship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55iav0KK1Xl9QUI53lY4hcJdjrY1oG8pCbPEBy8JrEu36jm6mn-ug4xdaxfeswh5rthUGlbLisCQ-80foN0UK6hyxUTereOHtP1k_rahKikZPTGFaxPYA-ZprdaNNrjycNLU7iSLpm_w/s1600-h/DSC02707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55iav0KK1Xl9QUI53lY4hcJdjrY1oG8pCbPEBy8JrEu36jm6mn-ug4xdaxfeswh5rthUGlbLisCQ-80foN0UK6hyxUTereOHtP1k_rahKikZPTGFaxPYA-ZprdaNNrjycNLU7iSLpm_w/s320/DSC02707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311576953606588674" border="0" /></a><br />30 years ago we graduated from the same university and on the night of Valentine we met at the Cricket Club in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hong</span> Kong for a reunion. These are my friends since Dundee’s days. Some of us were even baptized in the same year by the same minister, Rev. Eric Watson. Edward, a dentist, pulled out a photo of Eric Watson and his letter, brought us back to the good old days. Eric Watson, if he knows that we are still keeping our Christian faith, will be beaming with pride. It’s all about God’s grace that has sustained us through thick and thin. I was a fresh convert in 1977, and I have been a pastor for 22 years. I never have imagined that one day I would become a pastor instead of being an engineer. Nothing in those days had prepared me for the ‘Full-Time Christian Ministry.’ Nobody in those times had any inkling or premonition that I would become a minister of the church.<br /><br />I noticed that Edward, Peter and Yip’s hairs are greying. They insisted that I must have dyed my hair black. I told them that it’s the genes. But they finally concluded that it has to do with my vocation as a pastor – stress free. Pastoral ministry is not as easy as people think. They are many pastors whose hairs are white as snow and bald as a balding eagle (no offense to the pastors who are bald). The deduction is simply not full proof. I feel good after seeing their white hairs. We did let down our hair as the evening glided on. My friends were very generous in treating me with sumptuous meals. These are difficult times economically.<br /><br />Edward remarked: “We may have lost financially during global economic crisis, what has not been lost is the precious 30 years friendship.” Something in life cannot be placed on the economic scale. I went back to YMCA hotel pondering over what he said about the preciousness of friendship. That night I offered my thanks to God for his grace. I randomly chose Dundee and met these friends in the Christian Fellowship when I became a Christian. I look back I know now that it is never by chance. God engineered the whole thing.<br /><br />Our children are about the same age. Some of them are studying in the universities. We have common topics to talk and common worries to frown upon. Yip has one girl who just went to England to study. Edward’s two girls are also in England. Peter has three girls, all studying in England. Two of them have graduated. They all have girls and deduced that it has to do with Dundee’s water. I think it has to do with stress – a dentist, an engineer, and a microbiologist’s profession is more stressful than a pastor. I have a girl and a boy. So I conclude that my work is 50% less stressful than theirs. What has stress got to do with all these stuffs? Everything. Ask the doctors, there is medical reason for it. When you have stress, you get a girl!<br /><br />I was particularly touched when I heard that James, an architect, rushed back from Beijing to attend the dinner function. The gesture speaks volume about his value system.<br />My friends are successful in their careers. They have raised wonderful families. They are also greying gracefully and with godly wisdom. I am glad for my friends. Who said Valentine Day is for the couples only. I had a good time with them.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-26949350690470798522009-03-06T20:38:00.001+08:002009-03-06T20:43:06.986+08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw1Sa1gqg4bkAF_JwcWfiVV9uP1rxeOF5ltREXksDM2cHqLMQWXHheBiUffQpm3bmFidZ2GG9E1XQvcfbkhiahdStAsLzV-LNUiXVd4Y9_FNywjAuIkY5pCisIgB8ghb4rg8liekI48s/s1600-h/DSC02743.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggw1Sa1gqg4bkAF_JwcWfiVV9uP1rxeOF5ltREXksDM2cHqLMQWXHheBiUffQpm3bmFidZ2GG9E1XQvcfbkhiahdStAsLzV-LNUiXVd4Y9_FNywjAuIkY5pCisIgB8ghb4rg8liekI48s/s320/DSC02743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310054251914587746" border="0" /></a><br />The man endured the cold, sat forlornly on a bench and dozed off in the morning. It was winter in Shanghai and passers-by hurried off to work. I noticed that no one bothered to stop to find out what happened to him. Did he have a family? Was he out in the street to beg? Why was he dozing off so early in the morning? There are hardly any beggars in Shanghai.<br />I stopped and wanted to chat with him. The group I was with was moving very fast in front of me. They were heading off to the headquarter of Three Self Patriotic Church. My colleagues were calling me to keep pace with them. I knew that if I lingered on, I would have lost sight of the group. Reluctantly I moved on and took a picture of this lonely old man. I could not even see his face as it was covered.<br />When I was in Shanghai 14 years ago, during those days the streets were teeming with cyclists wearing Mao’s style of dress – drab navy blue dress. Gone were the cyclists and the communist dressing. Now I could not tell the difference between Shanghai and other modern cities in the world. I thought I was in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.<br />Shanghai is modern and sophisticated. High-rise buildings dotted the skyline. Women adorn fashionable dresses rivaling that of Paris cat walking with elegance. I was told that Shanghai is an expensive place to live. That old man was a rare sight.<br />When we reached the headquarter of the Three Self Church, we were warmly received by the host. The president was a young man who spoke English fluently. Later I found out that he had his theological degree from a seminary in America. Three years ago, I was visiting the same place and the president was an elderly man who needed an interpreter to communicate with us. What a change. English is more widely spoken in China these days. Some of them are well versed in English. I shudder to think what might happen to China when the majority of its citizens are conversant in English. One does not anymore need to learn Putonghua (Mandarin) in order to do business with the Chinese. Some of them speak better English than the Malaysian students.<br />The Bible Press had printed and sold 60 million copies of Bibles. There are just simply not enough Bibles in China. The hearts of the Chinese hunger for the living word of God. The Cultural Revolution that took place 40 over years ago had left a huge moral and spiritual vacuum in the nation. Christianity is growing so rapidly that there are not enough pastors, seminarians to train the people.<br />Our mind was overloaded with information from the Three Self representatives. Every one was eager to ask questions. We wanted to reach China for Jesus. But I think sometime God just wants us to reach one person at a time. I thought of the lonely old man.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-83345258642993287662008-10-26T17:28:00.008+08:002008-10-27T10:04:46.581+08:00I love my son<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW8aClSGzhtjlkaSGwMSDRjYJ9xhfo3ZPLviPVfxANFEANNS94lvg8sRvHdMWc-ZjILYVBWPQyxyPvUPJeEQCsVvysIdiUUK0ajB1DA55Vp8l4xwd1h5ggJ8qjWdOhFNA3nmxnjQQrmI/s1600-h/DSC02233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdW8aClSGzhtjlkaSGwMSDRjYJ9xhfo3ZPLviPVfxANFEANNS94lvg8sRvHdMWc-ZjILYVBWPQyxyPvUPJeEQCsVvysIdiUUK0ajB1DA55Vp8l4xwd1h5ggJ8qjWdOhFNA3nmxnjQQrmI/s320/DSC02233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261648631706365970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dbW8Q09mzGyChoj7VgUlWLt6emnyCikb8qNstrZuzK6EItN3-vjvufevG-FfvNw9-7AaB3vTyIfVDtCz8KwEl5GHQoDgDRkPEBpMx1Eu7MqJ3nFHX_7ZrdfyytciGOqeQQ_BmEszsVQ/s1600-h/DSC02145.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dbW8Q09mzGyChoj7VgUlWLt6emnyCikb8qNstrZuzK6EItN3-vjvufevG-FfvNw9-7AaB3vTyIfVDtCz8KwEl5GHQoDgDRkPEBpMx1Eu7MqJ3nFHX_7ZrdfyytciGOqeQQ_BmEszsVQ/s320/DSC02145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261393528364902354" border="0" /></a><br />“When I see David Blaine, I will say hello to him for you” I half jokingly told Samuel, the amateur card magician, my son, the day before I flew off to New York. Did I really believe that I would meet up with the world-renowned street magician and endurance artist? Not in a million chance would I have the opportunity to meet David Blaine in New York. But I half wish that it would happen. Sam and I used to watch David Blaine’s card magic on TV. We both enjoyed watching him doing street magic to entertain the crowd and also some of the ‘pushing to the limits’ endurance stunts. David Blaine is a unique person who is out to prove something to the world. He has a message to tell the world.<br /><br />Imagine my joy when I read in the New York Post that David Blaine will be in Manhattan Central Park. He will be hung upside down for 60 hours, which medically is impossible for his body to endure. The pressure will be so enormous that he would go blind. I told my friends that I would be going to Central Park to get his signature for my son. It so happened that there were no classes on Wednesday, the day where David Blaine supposed to end his stunt and take the ‘dive of death’ at 11pm. I joined the long queue just to take a photo and signature of David Blaine. I did it for Sam. Its kind of silly, an oriental man in his 50s taking a digital camera in the crowd of mostly youngsters, wanting a photo with David Blaine. It was a sunny day, quite hot on that mid morning; I patiently waited for my turn.<br /><br />My Philippines course mates were wondering why I was so eager and determined to get David Blaine’s signature. “You mean you did this for your son?” They were obviously touched by what I did for my son. I told them that this meant a lot to Sam and he would really be thrilled.<br />“Hi, David, My son Sam says hello to you. He is also a card magician.” I unashamedly greeted David Blaine with those words. “Urgh, urgh…” David was groaning. I could see his face was reddened with blood pressure.<br /><br />I got a photo taken with David Blaine and also I got him to pen his signature on a card signing upside down.<br /><br />Later that night I watched live telecast on David’s ‘dive of death’ at Central Park. The TV also showed some of his stunts that he did previously. David shared about his life story and what he said caught my attention. When interviewed who influenced him the most, David unhesitatingly mentioned the name of his mum. “My mum taught me two things: First, if I put my mind to do anything, I could achieve it. Second, she taught me unconditional love.” Probably his mum’s teaching had shaped his philosophy of life. David constantly pushes himself to the limits in those stunts that he did that no one would dare to do. “If you make up your mind to do anything, you can achieve it.”<br /><br />David was found doing card magic’s to cheer the victims of Katrina Hurricane. He was also giving away money through his magic to the destitute. Could it be that he who has experienced unconditional love is now able to show it to others. David often does his magic to strangers in order to bring cheers to them. He likes to make people happy through surprises that came from the art of magic.<br /><br />That Sunday I heard Dr. Tim Keller preached on the Parable of the Lost Son. How the father ran to his wayward, scoundrel son threw his arms around him and kissed him. It was so undignified for an elderly Middle East father to pull up his long dress and ran. This younger son who had taken his share of the inheritance and spent it all on wild living. The father threw a party to welcome his home coming without a word of rebuke. The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, Quick! Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ SO they began to celebrate. The father showed his son grace and unconditional love. His son wanted to be treated as his father’s hired servant. But to his father he has never ceased to be his son no matter how wayward he had become.<br /><br />The parable reveals God as a heavenly Father to us. We are more loved by God than we ever realized.<br /><br />I love my son, Sam. But I can never outdo God’s love. The extent I go to show my love for Sam is nothing compared to what God did for us.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-50980103316354134422008-09-21T06:18:00.002+08:002008-11-01T16:49:38.601+08:00The Unforgettable Night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eMam-j0gNWt1NrTeeuYMmmhHfwYew2zkDq1ruKDt_P16FjYjkKIbp1ZouIWh6o5MxwYgftqpCfxR1XsZhuk53GjMhPXX5IYobNtNCI4lnYiS9rQCRJ-Fl5mfNulVTrDf7yfjIjVQkIY/s1600-h/DSC02102.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261619120913114802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eMam-j0gNWt1NrTeeuYMmmhHfwYew2zkDq1ruKDt_P16FjYjkKIbp1ZouIWh6o5MxwYgftqpCfxR1XsZhuk53GjMhPXX5IYobNtNCI4lnYiS9rQCRJ-Fl5mfNulVTrDf7yfjIjVQkIY/s320/DSC02102.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Listening to Frances Hesselbein’s keynote address was most refreshing. Frances Hesselbein, (Chairman & Founding President Leader to Leader Institute & Former CEO, and Girl Scouts of the USA) a diminutive and frail looking woman spoke gently and yet with authority at the podium. She challenged the Christian leaders of New York City who gathered at the Launch Dinner of The New York City Leadership Center to lead the city with courage, integrity and mercy. She embodies the spirit of volunteerism and summons leaders to give their time, energy, creativity and talents to be volunteers to serve society. Hesselbein was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America’s highest civilian honor, in 1988. She was also the Founding President of the Drucker Foundation. The audience gave a standing ovation at the end of her speech. This is the woman who walks the talk. She had led the Girl Scouts of the USA from 1976-1990. She took over the helm of the Girl Scouts movement as Chief Executive Officer when it was fast declining in numbers. She was able to bring the movement forward and did so with much courage and wisdom.<br /><br />Hessebein had neither led an academia or big corporation. Leadership is, as far as she is concerned, expressing oneself through one’s character. The late Peter Drucker spoke admiringly of her: “This is one woman who knows what she is called to do and where she is going. She will not deviate from her calling.” She does her work with excellence, courage and wisdom. She was a volunteer and probably was not paid to do her job.<br /><br />The moment Marie Barlow Martin stepped forward to sing a repertoire of Broadway songs; the audience was mesmerized by the beauty of her voice. You could hear a pin dropped on the floor. Marie is an international singer who has performed before hundreds of thousands in over 30 countries for theatres, orchestras and churches with a voice described as a “national treasure.” She responded to God’s call recently and left her very successful career living in Manhattan as a musical theater singer and actress in the Broadway community to begin a music ministry with her husband Gordy. She felt that she could express her faith more fully now than ever before. I was simply bowed over by her voice.<br /><br />I was not supposed to be there at the dinner event. I was invited by RCPC as a guest and it came as a surprise. Listening to these two outstanding women, one through speech and the other through songs, both equally compelling and forceful, not by brute strength but by sheer elegance of their character, commitment and courage, I knew God showed up that night.<br /><br />Outside the Marriot Hotel, thousands of New Yorkers have to go through nights of uncertainties. Many lost their jobs because Wall Street stock market suffered its biggest fall since 9/11. There were groans, howling, moans as many lost their lifesavings. Outside the Manhattan headquarters of Lehman Brothers Holding Inc., Geoffrey Raymond, a 54-year-old Brooklyn artist urged passers-by to sign his latest work, a painting of the bankrupt investment bank’s chief executive, Richard Fuld. New Yorkers filled the canvas from edge to edge with comments about greed and comeuppance. He was paid handsomely as CEO but the lack of character led to his downfall.<br /><br />It was an unforgettable night for many.<br /><br />“Leadership is simply an expression of what one does through his or her character” – the wisdom of Frances Hasselbein rings loud and clear.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-71449828575338707222008-09-14T03:36:00.002+08:002008-10-27T08:22:52.623+08:00Gospel DNA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CEWzZicYE5WgffaPD9r4mDmg8kHXN9LHaiZVIPQD5-Ck3vr3pz_0eSxnbac0npzXhkmz5AQO1jY3tHE9yn-DPSmIwlAiRBS4eu4EssO8GVnMfeFOgt-jwZ2dQoIFjauqvm3XJ7cK3d4/s1600-h/DSC02245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CEWzZicYE5WgffaPD9r4mDmg8kHXN9LHaiZVIPQD5-Ck3vr3pz_0eSxnbac0npzXhkmz5AQO1jY3tHE9yn-DPSmIwlAiRBS4eu4EssO8GVnMfeFOgt-jwZ2dQoIFjauqvm3XJ7cK3d4/s320/DSC02245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261373134808324194" border="0" /></a><br />Redeemer Presbyterian Church is a mega church with 5000 members in its multiple services. The worship services are traditional and contemporary depending which service one attends. I found that both traditional and contemporary worship services of RPC convey the sense of the worth and beauty of God through thoughtful liturgy, kingdom-centered prayer, Christ-centered preaching and joyful music. The worshippers are not particularly expressive type. Given the intellectual culture of Manhattan and the professorial style of preaching by Dr.Tim Keller, Redeemer church naturally attracts the professionals, the academia, and the college students who appreciate content rich sermons. It is not a Charismatic church and yet the growth is phenomenon.<br />I interviewed a few members of the church to find out what made them want to come to RPC and the consistent answer I got is this: “Tim Keller’s sermons touch our lives. Redeemer has a balance gospel ministry. The church is able to reach out to secular people. RPC knows how to engage the culture without condemning the evilness of the culture.”<br /><br />So what is the real secret?<br /><br />Tim Keller is able to make the truth of the gospel clear and real. His expository preaching consistently shows how all Biblical themes climax in Christ and his work of salvation. His teaching on the gospel of grace is a death blow to legalism, moralism and relativism. If gospel is clearly preached, the church will not produce self-righteous, judgmental, self-centered Christians.<br /><br />Secularism tends to make people selfish and individualistic. Religion and moralism in general tends to make people parochial and self-righteous.<br /><br />But the gospel however humbles and affirms us at the same time, since in Christ, we are simul iutus et peccator. In the oft repeated famous phrase of Tim Keller “At the same time, we are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, yet we are more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope” Such gospel truth moves people to holiness (not legalistic, pharisaical self-righteousness type of holiness) and service out of grateful joy for grace, and out of love of the glory of God for who he is in himself.<br /><br />RPC has a ministry called Diaconate where the deacons and deaconesses carry out the ministry of help and mercy to those needy members in the church so that there are no needy persons among them. The volunteers serve joyfully out of a deep sense of gratitude to God’s redemptive grace in their lives. The artists and musicians convey truth, beauty and excellence in their professions. They express their creativity through music and worship service in such a way that the beauty and worth of God is seen and felt. The members are passionate about justice issues and engage the New York culture with the aim to transform with the power of the gospel.<br /><br />Redeemer Presbyterian Church is certainly impacting Manhattan and other major cities of the world. My 6 weeks here with Redeemer Church Planting Center will certainly be and has already been a life and ministry transforming experience for me.<br /><br />God in his graciousness has given me this exposure to see how Tim Keller builds that kind of church that impact and influence the culture of cities and nations.<br /><br />CDPC already share many aspects of the DNA of Redeemer Church. We need a united and strong team who share the same vision to take CDPC to another level.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1194706003885957254.post-11201912695923804082008-09-05T10:20:00.004+08:002008-10-26T17:49:10.251+08:00The three men who influenced meLooking back the last three decades, I could see the unseen hand of God moulding my life for his purpose. He used three men in different periods to shape me to become the kind of person that God wants me to be. I am grateful to them and thankful to God.<br /><br />Dr. David G, a protestant, was my first ‘boss’ in church. He was the first church leader I worked closely when I came back from UK. He had helped to shape my spirituality and mission consciousness. He demonstrated quiet and gentle leadership, no less impactful in Christian ministry than charismatic and forceful leadership. One does not need to be platform leadership and yet can be greatly used by God. His love for mission is infectious. He loves mission because he loves the God of mission. He taught me consistency and resilience. He was a skillful dentist.<br /><br />Chong Nik Seow, a Catholic, was my boss in engineering department when I started my first job. He showed me how as an uncorrupted government servant, one could be a blessing to contractors. He taught me thoroughness and meticulousness in engineering work without which it could have serious consequences. He did his work well and set high standard. He was a skillful engineer.<br /><br />Dr. Chuck Lowe, my lecturer in SBC and now a good friend. He taught me exegesis. He is a first rate theologian. He is skillful as an exegete of God’s word. After having served God in Singapore for 16 years, he moved back to USA and settled down in Boston and worked as a pastor in a Chinese Church. Travelling 23 hours in the plane was tiring but the confined space and enforced time gave me the opportunity to reminisce 30 years of my life to Sarah. I outlined the three periods and the influence of these three great men in my life as the plane sped on at 960km/hr. Having landed and collected our luggage at the baggage conveyor belt, I saw a man from a distant walking toward me, instantly I recognized him. Balding, putting on weigh, Chuck looks more like a business man than a pastor-theologian. The last time when we gave him the farewell was 8 years ago. This is the man who imparted the skill of exegesis. He reinforced further what Chong Nik Seow had done the significance of thoroughness and meticulousness. This is amply seen in my research. We had great time talking. We talked about church works, we discussed theology, and we ate Tuscanini ice cream which is better than Haagen Dazs ice cream. We walked for more than one hour just to look for the Tuscanini ice cream (because I told him that Haazgen Das is the best ice cream). New York Time declared that Tuscanini is the best ice cream in the world.<br /><br />All these three men share common traits: hardworking, good workers, thoroughness, skillful in their trades, great love for God, uncorrupted, men of integrity, faithful men, and willingness to impart skills…<br /><br />I am indebted to these three men.Wong Fong Yanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14330445410777053306noreply@blogger.com2