New Blog Face!

Hi,

Just changed a new blog face! New look New content! My wife commented my blog is very boring and full of theories. I figured that she's right. Blogs should be lively and fully represent who the person is. I'll change my style of blogging from now onwards. Stay tune for more updates!

Send you a photo of the world's cutest baby (At least in my opinion), my daughter Charis!





Enjoy your life to the fullest!

2009!

Hi,

Really sorry for not being able to blog for the last few months. Things have been busy busy busy ever since becoming a new father.
This year has been really stretched for me trying to juggle with ministry, work and family as well in the midst of starting to build my own business.
I will be turning 30 this year. Lots of thoughts are running through my mine. This is the year whereby Jesus also started His ministry. Where will i be 3 and a half years from now?
I believed God knows best what is in store for me.

Matt 6:33

Alvin

PROVERBS 31

The number 1 best selling book in the world is the bible. So much so that it was taken out from the best selling list as no other books can ever come close even till date. It may have been a religious book in the eyes of many, it is undoubtedly a book that contains so much wisdom that many of the businesses, schools, organisations and of course the churches are using it to provide guideline of values and inspirations.

Within the book itself, there are 66 other books, 39 in the old testaments (before the birth of Christ) and 27 in the new testaments. One book which stands out among the rest (In my opinion) is the book of Proverbs which was written by the wisest man in history, King Solomon.

It has 31 chapters to it, every single chapter relates to issues of life ranging from family to finances. It is recommended to read a chapter a day for daily wisdom.

What an amazing Asia Conference!

The curtains has closed for the amazing Asia Conference 2008. 5 days of power packed preaching from some of the top preachers all over the world sure to blow everyone's mind who attended the sessions. Just want to share some of my thoughts from what i've gathered for these days.

Day one:

Tremendous opening sessions with an overwhelming crowd. It's probably one of the largest crowd in Singapore Christian history probably in Asia of more than 20,000 people in a single session. CHC lift up to the expectations of the people by parading the best of all the ministries in church ranging from children church to drama, BBG, CHCSA etc. It reminded me of how i was drawn to the church when i first came during the 12th anniversary. The atmosphere was electrifying and hardly any pauses or dry moments. Heaven is indeed singing during the session. Andrea and i were seated at the last row of the bravo terrace overseeing the entire crowd of the place. My molehill mindset was immediately magnified on the possibility of the ministry that one could have. 30-40 members is not going to be my limit i proclaim. Pastor Kong's message on the 3rd space is a good recap on how Christians should not be boxed up in the 4 walls of the church but to engage the upper class society which will change the world.

Day 2:

Pastor Phil spearheaded this day by moving mightily through the leading of the Holy Spirit, prophesying to the different nations for revival. Tears were seen flowing in the eyes of many. I caught something from this move about the importance of believing in someone and encouragement that will change a person's life. I stood near to the front and it was as through God is encouraging me personally to move on strongly for God. Fear not, for i am with you!

Pastor Ulf Ekman took the later session and evening slots. Again the evidence of the Holy Spirit power was clearly found in this 60 over years old man of God. His zest and energy on the pulpit would have put many youngsters to shame in comparison.

Day 3

Probably the all-time favourite preacher of City Harvest, Dr A R Bernard took the stage delivering which i believed is the most revelational message of the entire conference. He opened with an interesting topic about the recent US election and how Obama's victory signifies the Kairos time where the finger of God is touching the human affairs in a great way. He use a parallel to the book of Daniel whereby the reign of Nebecenezza's(dunno how to spell) kingdom came to an end. He used the term 'Insulation' which i believe is the word for the conference which represent how Christians should be functioning in the world, keeping the warmth and fire of God internally through the layers of Spiritual protections and preventing the cold from entering into the lives of the believer. Wow! How come i can never think like the way he does?

Day 4:

Miracle man Benny Hinn! Although this man often found to be controversial in many articles and website forum, manages an entire spirit-filled 4 hour session. Besides the 'usual' miracles seen in the meeting, what was amazing was the salvation message he preached along with the move of the spirit drew the largest altar call crowd i've ever seen and also the challenging offering message which i believed left many pockets empty that day. He further shared about the calling of God which he deemed is higher than family and work, which left me pondering about the basic doctrines i learnt of priorities God, family, work, ministry. Fortunately, this portion was cleared the following day by Pastor Kong. He also gave a prophesy about Israel which left many with great concern about what is going to happen in the next few years, which Pastor Kong also mention to shelf it. Nevertheless it was still a great service.

Final Day:

It's Dr Phil Pringle again. In his last session, he joked that he finally had the chance to preach the sermon he prepared. He shared on the book of Ezekiel about resurrection of the dry bones. How we serve a God that is alive! He continue build on the faith of the congregation about how we can change the nations if only we can take control of our own city. Also he gave lots of praises for what Pastor Kong did for this Asia Conference.

Night session start at 530pm after the beauty pageant. Our CK hunk Ricando won the Mr Asia Conference, unfortunately Cleo dint do likewise. Praise and worship was fantastic as usual. The song 'The God i know' sang into the hearts of many and also sums up the theme of this entire conference. The Church we know is righteous and holy, who strengthens the weak, light of the city... The night stretches with lots of performance from the Choir, orchestra, dance, celebrity performing etc.

Dr Bernard is the last speaker of this conference. Similar theme to what we've learnt. Change a person, change the place, change the nation. The city and nations will only be change by touching one life at a time. Indeed it's through the caring system which our church has adopt caused our church to grow to where we are today. I began pondering about my little cg and ministry. Have i impacted the lives of the members in my cg? Have i met their needs and caused them to do likewise?

Asia Conference has ended, i've benefited much from this whole session. Tired, but the spirit is strong. There are lots need to be done. But right now i'll spent more time on my baby..

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED

In the path of learning especially through the education system from schools, we tend to frame the way of our thinking after some time. Science has taught us about having observations through our 5 senses, seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. And upon every observation, derive certain conclusion about things whether an object is hot or cold, sweet or sour, colourful or dull etc. Similary we applied that to different experiences in our lives. Every situation, circumstances we faced, it will be recorded in our mind and it will ultimatedly form our thinking and affect every decisions we make in the future.

It is important for us to understand this as it will ultimately dictate the kind of life that we can live. A child who comes from a family background that is poor will have a tendency to believe that it is impossible for him/her to ever be rich. To have food on the table is considered luxury to them. In the circus, elephants when they are young are tied to a pole which is able to hold the strength of a young elephant. After struggling for a while to break lose and in vain, the elephant concludes that it is impossible to break free from the pole or the chains tied to him. When it grows up to be an adult elephant with strength 10 times greater, when it is tied to the same pole, it will not attempt to pull it down even if it has the ability to do so!

Today, i daresay many of us reading this blog are bounded with certain fixed belief system. To an average person, if i were to tell you that you can be a millionaire without changing your dollar notes to ruppiah, many would have said that i am crazy. But do you know that every min there are one millionaire sprouted up all over the world? Why can't it be you? If i were to say that you can be the top student in your school right now, will you give me a blank stare?

I have been meditating about this phase ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED this week. From teachings i learnt in church and even the recent speech that Barack Obama gave in Chicago after the elections, I began to understand even more about the power of belief system that one can have? Unconsciously, we allow some of lids to restrict many of the things we could have done or achieve. Dr AR Bernard was sharing about the power of audacious goals. Audacious goals are those beyond perceived capacity which puts you to a place where you have no choice but to trust God. Indeed it is true that many of us including myself have allow ourselves to trap in this comfort zone only waiting to retire!

When you read till this point what comes to your mind? Ask this question, what is the one predominant thing that is running through your mind right now? What is something which you think is possible to achieve? Why it causes to think this way? Has anyone done that thing which you wanted to do? How did they do that?

Our lives will never change if our thinking never change. Your mind is the greatest asset you can ever have. Use it to the maximum!

Alvin

New Birth!

Hi,


I'm excited to write this blog. My first child Charis was born! It was a long 28 hours delivery, but i'm glad it's worth the wait. I recall it was 1030am thurs 9 Oct, when Andrea was pushed into the operating room. In about 20 mins, i saw my baby being push out from the operating room. The eyes were wide open and she is the most beautiful person i've ever seen!


The nurse took down her weight and measurement. She weighs a good 3.245kg, considered amazing for a small tummy Andrea has. She's 50cm long, with long beautifully defined toes.
From the picture below tells it all.



Now i'm busy taking care of her. Will write more in my next blog.

Rgds
Alvin

Encounter with God

Hi friends,
The time now is 3.31am in the morning. Just came back from fellowshipping with some of the cell mates earlier. Today was the day of SOT graduation. 3 of my cell mates had graduated from SOT this year. Today's service was special to me. Pastor Alex Abraham shared a message which impacted me a lot about encounter with God.
Some people would often ask me why i love God so much or spend so much time serving in ministry. I would often smile at them. I know the reason is because of my personal encounter with God. Perhaps it's good for me to write my personal testimonies in this topic.
I came to know the Lord when i was 21. I remembered before i knew the Lord, i was often found alone at a park or playground in the middle of night gazing at the sky whenever unpleasant things or problems happened in my life, asking this question "is there a God, if so why this and that can happen to me?" Although i came from a buddhist family, besides enjoying to play with the joss papers, lighting of fire, burning joss sticks at designated hours each day. I never seriously pray to the idols in the house. I recalled i was made to kneel in front of the altar for more than 2 hours for something which i did not do. Cut the story short, i was never interested in spiritual things and i always considered myself a free thinker. I remembered once during my JC time, i was invited to a Christmas evangelistic session by a school mate, me and a friend laugh so loudly at the end when all were closing their eyes praying. God indeed is the one eventually laughing.
It was when i was in Army time, i had a real encounter with God. I was participating in a race when i collapse at the end point. That was the time when fear stuck me real deeply. Totally unconscious, i felt completely helpless. I saw myself as if in a long dark tunnel with no end to it. I thought to myself, am i dying? I kept thinking, i'm so young to die, only 21 of age. I want to get married and also take care of my parents. Please don't let me die.. At that moment, something struck me that i should pray. Having attend a period of Sunday school when i was young. I know about Jesus existence. Helplessly i started to pray to Him. God, if you exist, don't let me die! It was the moment after i said this, a ray of light came from the dark tunnel and stuck me in the face. I immediately shook myself up. I'm alive! From that day onwards, i knew God exist. I went to attend a church near my house. For weeks, i felt that there's peace. But too peaceful till i nearly fall asleep at times. I went to my first cell group meeting just opp my block and i never want to go back again. It was a one hour session, half the members came late. We played scrabbles for 15 mins, sang one song and hear a probably unprepared 5 mins message. I stopped attending the church after sometime.
Things took a change when i went to University. I was at an orientation camp, 2 girls from my orientation group had 'plotted' to invite me to their church. It was at Indoor Stadium. City Harvest was having their 12th anniversary celebration. The moment i stepped into the stadium, i felt an undescribable presence in the place. I was also impressed by all the ministries displayed. Poh looked like the taiwanese singer 'Zhou Hua Jian'. During the last part, there was an altar call given by Pastor Kong (at that time i didn't know who he was). I felt that every word he said was talking straight to me. I raised my hands in response to the altar call. Afterwhich, i was encouraged to go down to the front. I still remembered every step i took, my heart was pounding. Tear uncontrollably rolled down my eyes. God has touched me and my life was changed since. I continued to be planted in the house of God. Although there are ups and downs in my walk with Him, i stood on. I enrolled myself to SOT in the 2nd year, 2003 and thereafter i became a cell group leader till now.
Today God reminded me through Pastor Alex about encountering with God. If not for this experience with Him, i would never be doing what i'm doing now. Indeed His grace is sufficent for all. I know of many Christians who backslidded after some disappointments in life or their walk with God. It quite sad to see how their life move on without God. I pray that one day all those who have left will turn back some day. God, please show them the way of how you have shown me.
There's still a long way for me to go. Career, family, financial challenges are still ahead. I pray that i'll never lose my fervency for God. Let His kingdom come and His will be done in each and everyone of our life! Amen.

Rgds
Alvin