The Greatest Sacrifice in History!

"He had to die so that we might live". I know I'm reiterating the famous statement on the right that all of you see every time you visit my blog, but because 4/4/2010 is also Easter Sunday, I felt like emphasizing it. =)

Newaez, Yours Truly juz got back from Easter Sunday service at City Harvest Church JB. It was a good one, and not juz because of the great company (Rachel and Nick... haha sorry Grace, you juz happened not to come with us today, but I understand). Pastor CK delivered a memorable message; and usually, I don't really give credit to sermons on my blog, if there were any to begin with. There were 3 instances in his sermon which really touched me on a spiritual and emotional level, and I'm pretty sure it touched both "NicHel" as well. Haha, kudos if you got that! =D The following is what I mean:

#1: A really powerful, heart-seeking, message-inspiring video about the power of forgiveness. The video showed a man visiting his father behind what seemed like a prison centre, where visitors are allowed to see and make contact with the inmates/death row convicts across a transparent bulletproof-glass-like structure. His father had neglected, rejected and made use of his son, and displaced his trust in the process. The man expressed all these not by verbal words, but by words written on flash cards: "You neglected me", You rejected me", etc. His second last card showed us why: the father had killed his wife, the son's mother. All this while, both parties were in tears and wrought with sadness, grief, and regret. His final card showed that although the son was deeply hurt, he forgave his father.

#2: This is an analogy of God the Father's decision to sacrifice his one and only begotten Son, Jesus, on the cross to pay the price for our sins. It tells the story of a father who worked at a local train station who brought his 6-year old son to work one day. The father allowed his son to play by himself as long as he was within a safe distance from the railroad tracks and within sight. However, the father got tired as the hours went by. What he did not realise was that his son was unknowingly moving closer and closer to the tracks as time went by. When he finally realised this, his son was already at a foot's length away from falling over. Then, the inevitable happened. The son fell onto the rail tracks and his foot got stuck in it. However at that very moment, a train was heading exactly in that direction towards his son. Both father and son panicked. One good thing was that the track leading up to his son was split into two separate tracks (let's call them Track A1 and A2: the one his son was stuck in was A1). The person controlling the flow of trains (which was the father) could alter the wedgie at will to make the train go in the other direction by the push of a button. Also, the train could only be controlled, started and stopped by the conductor inside the train. Unfortunately, Track A2 was closed due to fatal faults to the lining and structure and still under major repair. So as you can see, the father now had 2 options: push the button and let hundreds, maybe thousands, of people die, or not push it and let his son die. He had less than 10 seconds now to decide what to do. With sweat trickling down his face, the father froze in place. Both his heart and brain were in a heated debate: the former telling him to push the button to save his son's life, while his brain sought to reason with the logic of killing 1 to save a thousand. Finally, as adrenaline continued circulating in his body, he did not push the button even though every muscle in his body wanted to... He let his son perish to save the many lives aboard the train.

#3: The final instance is a comparison of humans and sin to ants and honey. Ants, as we all know too well, are attracted to sweet things like sugar. Some of us are like ants too, with a sweet tooth as people call it, but that's beside the point. Honey is a food made by certain insects. It is sweet, and ants love it. However, it is also sticky, and when any ant attempts to soak itself in it, or merely collect a bit of it, the ant will get trapped in the substance, with no chance of escape forever. The life of that particular ant as we all know it, will cease to exist from that point onwards. In the same way, honey is like sin. For humans to resist sinning is like telling an ant to resist collecting honey. Once caught in sin, forever a sinner. Even the strongest-willed of human beings are not perfect, and like the Bible says in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". However, we can rejoice in the fact that the chains of sin binding us are gone when we accept Christ as personal Lord & Saviour for what He did for us on the cross. =D Hallelujah!!

Yeah, so I hope these 3 instances will benefit one and all to rethink Easter as a whole. It's not about Easter bunnies or Easter eggs per se, but rather about the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day. Christ has conquered death, so that through Him, we may conquer death as well! Have a great Easter and an awesome week ahead, dudes & dudettes!!

Blessings,

~Tim~

Looking Back @ 2009; Ahead @ 2010

Well folks, I don't know about you guyz, but it's been an awesome 2009 for me! There's juz so much to thank God for the year that juz passed by, and hopefully 2010 will be more or less the same (although I wouldn't mind if it was better!).

The Word of God says that we should count our blessings, naming them one by one. Phew, I don't even know where to begin. This post will be as short and sweet as possible and not my usual-length posts, which some of my frenz/readers complain are "essays" *ahem at Yin* =p

Well here it goes then...

This year (and last year where applicable), I've been blessed because:

• Despite living away from home, I still had the support from family members like my aunt in KL, and the occasional visits by my relatives from JB
• My parents sort of "upgraded" my Honda Accord to a Honda CRV for my 21st b'day, making it my most expensive present yet =D
• I've had the privilege of getting to know many wonderful people in KL, some of whom I can call close friends who have blessed me with their company, insights and social support... you guyz know who you are =)
• I had 3 separate 21st b'day celebrations that I will remember for as long as my brain can store memory of them =D
• I enjoyed holidays with friends and family at local tourist hotspots like Tioman, Redang, Penang, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, etc.
• I had the opportunity to serve in FGT in the transport and evangelism ministries; also established bonds with the youth leaders and pastors there >.<
• The gift of tongues manifested within me even greater this year, and I've never felt more Spirit-led
• I was given the chance to exercise my gift of encouragement on many occasions to different people I encountered (God juz works in so many ways to build us all up =.=)
• I had the opportunity to give back to the community when I donated blood to the local blood bank
• Last but not least, my hard work paid off when I passed Year 2! All the sweat, blood and tears shed were not in vain. Ultimately, all glory be to God Almighty, who is in control of everything!

Of course, there are many other little things to be thankful for, but as my brain's capacity is overloaded with medical information and jargon from 2 years of med school, this list will have to do.

2010 is a new year, and like all new years, resolutions are made. I've made some already, most of them confidential and hence shall not be stated here. Have you made yours?

To one and all...

Happy New Year!!!

~Tim~

Final Sojourn Southbound & Acknowledgements

Aye folks, as you may all well know, Yours Truly has left KL and is now back in his hometown to stay for at least the next 2 years or so. He left the capital city of Malaysia yesterday with a heart that goes out to the many friends that he had made there over the past 2 years. Apart from being "emo" on more than 1 occasion juz before he left (although being emo for him is a rare thing altogether), he is really grateful to have established bonds with so many people there... something he'll cherish forever. Hence, the following are acknowledgements and a form of gratitude to the people he loves there... divided into 3 main groups of people (with some overlapping into other groups but will not be repeated here). Read on to see if you're in it! =p

For starters, let's go with my fellow Monash medical students first: Grace Tay, Jun Yet Wong, Rachel Ooi, Sarah Chan, & Nicholas Hee. Yes, I know that I'll be seeing all of you in a couple of weeks time and for the next 2 years but these are the wonderful people who've been by my side through thick and thin for the past 2 years! Looking forward to attending Monash Clinical School with you guyz! Besides the common things, I am thankful to:

Grace: For making me laugh when I'm around you; for those occasional, happy, inspiring SMSes; & initiating the Snowflake outings that all of us will sorely miss in JB

JY: For the DotA/L4D(1&2)/basketball sessions; and being able to talk freely about certain personal things (e.g. those guy-guy talks; relationships)

Rachel: For being my listening ear, for the sound advice, and for the asking about how I was from time to time

Sarah: For being able to talk about personal and private matters and for entrusting me with them; for showing me the way to UM during the Physio quiz =)

Nick: For bringing out the creative side in me during the time when we were "making" your b'day present; for being someone I can relate to in more than 1 way although we don't speak much

Next up, we have the dudes (& dudettes) of FGT, a church I will always consider to be my "home" in KL. Like they say, the church is not the "building", but the "people". No doubt I received many blessings, gifts and talents here from God e.g. the gift of tongues, the ability to evangelize via EE, the opportunity to serve in the transport ministry, etc.; but more importantly, I will always remember the people who have made this church an entity to remember! Gonna miss you guys loads! I thank God for:

Suyin 'Kaede': My dearest friend in FGT, who has been by my side through the ups and downs; someone I can laugh at who will also laugh with me (or at me :p); someone I can talk to whom I know will always give good, sound advice; someone I can debate with about certain (sometimes nonsensical) issues; a reliable person whom I can trust and confide in; and someone whom I believe has the potential to be a great spiritual leader wherever she goes *hugs* Oh, she was also the BossLady at the "Watchtower"... rawr!

Wilson Soo: My fellow "co-pilot" and best bro in church; someone who can make me laugh and vice versa; and my trusted companion to the CCs in KL (FTZ, Medan, Blitz). He is also a founding member of "The Legacy". Although he is a new believer, I foresee that he has latent yet hidden potential within him. Oh, and thanx for that wonderful home-made bookmark, bro!

Leo Koo: Although I've only known this 'uncle' for 6 months or so, I can see that he has a special calling to serve where the Lord is leading him, the 365 Youth Ministry. Thanx for entrusting me with your concerns and problems, and I will continue praying that your servanthood will bear much fruit.

Abel Cheah: My CF KG leader, this year's Youth Camp commandant, my "Angel" at the CF Camp this year... born leader with the gift of leadership... what more is there to say that we don't already know about him. A strong-willed & committed brother-in-Christ, too bad ladies, he's already taken! =p Sigh, was looking forward to the showdown or re-enactment of "Angel" vs "Mortal" at this year's YC. Oh, and he's also my L4D2 buddy! =.=

Ryan Teoh: He was my EE Trainer last year; drove me to the shop where I bought an uber-AWESOME mask for the FGT Christmas Dinner, and is also a fellow DotA player.

Wui Jia: My co-trainer when we were training 2 others in EE. Continue persevering in your faith girl... the battle may be tough, but the rewards in heaven are great for those who have faith and exercise it.

Kar Kien: The "funnyman" of FGT's 365 and fellow brother-in-Christ, FKK will be remembered as well no matter where he goes to precisely because of "The Kar Kien"! =p With both his eyebrows inverted inferomedially (sorry medical jargon has to be used here =.=), this "dude" (I'm starting to doubt his gender ever since this year's camp =p) is a trendsetter in his own right!

Terence Tan: My fellow super-duper hardcore gamer friend... Enough said! Appreciate the fact that you consider me to be one of the greatest blessings in your life this year! =)

Evonne Teoh: Who could forget the person who introduced me to FGT in the first place? =p Sweetheart of both med school & 365, one that is loved by many and hard to forget. She is the person with whom I share the most mutual friends with on Facebook lolz... and that is due to the fact that she is actually in all 3 groups of people!!

Lame: My fellow Cell leader in FGT --> Future pastor with a great potential and a huge heart for people. And yes folks, that IS his name... Lame! (pronounced lah-may)

Ps. Richard & Louisa Evans: Last but not least, our very own youth pastors deserve much credit for their efforts in doing God's work and reaching out to many people all over KL and it's satellite cities. Personally, they have been my mentors throughout the 2 years I spent in KL, and I will treasure knowing them. The greatest thing I learned from them is integrity. God bless them and their family! Will be looking forward to their next visit to FGT JB in the months ahead!

Finally, there are the people from the CF in Monash who in one way or another, have made an impression on me:

Kenson Low: Fellow bro, CC companion & founding member of both "Watchtower" and "The Legacy". Had much fun with you at the CC, at parties, at CF, and those late night dinners and suppers! Thanx for seeing me off yesterday... Really appreciate it! Thanx also for the invitation to extend my stay in KL next month... We'll see how it goes yea. =)

Andrew Chua: Once joked to almost the entire CF that this fella, Li Wen & I were family juz because we shared the same surname! Fooled some people and got a laugh over it! Known to many as "The Bear" and known to some as "Boomer", if his fake Irish accent doesn't kill you, his weight on your abdomen surely will! =p Oh and never leave your Facebook account on whenever he's around, he'll make sure you suffer!

Jared, YY, Cheng Hong, Jarrod: These guys (and a girl) never backed down from a game or two of L4D2 and were one of the last few people from CF that I managed to catch a game or two with.

Japheth Chew: Known Japh since last year's CF Camp. Has a heart for God and a zeal that I hope will burn for as long as the Lord wants it to burn. He is also the new CF President... also a founding member of "Watchtower". Enjoyed the time we baked Shepherd's Pie & lasagna at your place during the "Anti-Ball party". Really appreciated your prayer for me the other day when you came over to collect your guitar.

Karl Edward: Only got to know him better towards the end of the year but he's a cool guy to be around with, partly because of his sense of humour. The last founding member of "Watchtower" and it was saved on more than 1 occasion thanks to this brother-in-Christ. =_=

And finally, last but not least, there is a special group of people to whom I will forever be eternally grateful for... my aunt and her family. If you're reading this MKKK, THANK YOU for helping me settle into a new environment in KL, for helping me get the furniture when I had to move to Sunway last year, for sending your maid to help clean my place, for providing that extra cash every month, for sending over food and drinks from time to time, and for inviting me to stay over at your place many times over the past 2 years.

Well, that's about it, folks. To all the people mentioned above, you have been a blessing to me in one way or another, no matter how big or small. Likewise, I hope that I was one-to-remember to each of you too. For all those whose names are not in this post, it's not that I have forgotten you intentionally, there's juz not enough space to put in every single person I know in KL... don't worry, you will be remembered still lolz! To one and all, I pray that the Lord will make His face shine upon you and give you all peace. I know the road ahead is unpredictable with many trials and tribulations to come, but I pray that each of you will know where you stand, and stand strong no matter what the world throws at you! Before I end this long post of gratitude, I'd like to leave you and all my readers with a piece of Scripture, taken from Colossians 3:12, "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."

Enjoy your holidays while you can and Blessed Christmas & Happy New Year to one and all... in advance! =D

Blessings,

~Tim~