KK Mother's day gift tag

KK Mother's day gift tags with Bible verse:

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverb 31:10

The sound of piano

Yesterday night while Gab and I on the way home from my brother's place, he asked in the car: 'Ma, can you play piano tonight?' I was a little curious about why he is asking me to play piano, I thought he might have something he wants to listen, then I asked: 'What song do you like to listen?' . And Gab said any song, those songs I played during teaching, or pieces I play for pleasure, that pondering me, I thought he has something in his mind that certain piece he wants to listen, but found out later after his explanation, he said he misses the 'sound of piano'.

Gab went back to Melacca with his dad last Friday, and spent time with Ah Gong (Grandpa) only back on Sunday night, and Monday went to school early in the morning, I went teaching in the afternoon where he was home alone, then maternal grandpa brought him for dinner in the evening, after I came home to pick him up at my brother's place it has already night, he misses the sound, he wanted to listen to me playing now.

I told him that he didn't like me playing piano when he was young, I knew the reason, because I usually did my practice for hours, hence whenever he saw me sitting down at the piano side, he will walked to me and pulled me away from piano, haha, indeed, I was quite dislike his behavior at that moment, but I knew the reason.

And think through, I may be very busy with lots of thing, like house chores, teaching, church activities, preparation for Sunday's school materials, I seemed like not giving him enough time, at times I felt bad about it, and condemned myself for not taking good care of him. But I realized, it is not quite true, we have quality time, which is during most of our ride in car, whether it is going out or going back home, we talked a lot, sometimes I give him 'lesson' lah. Those are the time we learn to know each other, and appreciate each other.

Praying for a Wounded Soul

A wonderful article shared by my friend, read on.

Praying for a Wounded Soul

David Burchett

Author and Speaker

Most of the responses to my humble ramblings are encouraging and gracious. Sometimes the spiritual hall monitors smack me with their "ruler of truth" if they disagree with my theology. They seem to love that a little too much. But some responses stick with me and pierce my heart with sadness. I received such an email recently. The writer only identified himself/herself as "collegestudent" and gave me no way to respond. So I hope the writer is still checking in now and then. This is a place where I hope you can find grace and encouragement. Here is the email I received.

your blog has brought me some measure of... peace? hope? some kind of positive emotion amongst the intense turmoil i have found myself in lately.

I've known may ex-Christians. most of their reasons for not attending church, though most still believe in God, consisted of basically "bad Christians".

I regret attending a.... religious... college. I've never been around more lying, cheating, hypocrites in my life. and for the most part that doesn't bother me. we are all human. we make mistakes. but the back-stabbing, holier-than-thou attitudes, and lack of mercy and Christianity love for one another is the final straw. I am disgusted with my fellow believers. but i fear punishment for calling anyone out on it.

I am hated. for things and reasons i do not know. all i have shown others is love, and in return i have received hate.

all i can do is run to God. and try to ignore people who have nothing better to do than to tear others apart. christians is a term used to describe saved/born again believers. not people who claim to be christian because they went to church every easter sunday until they were 12.

That makes my heart hurt because I know this note represents thousands and thousands of others who feel that pain. I know the responses that this wounded soul would get in some churches.

"Suck it up. Try harder. Read the Word more. Do a Bible Study. God has not left so it must be you. Be more disciplined."

I know that is what they would hear because that is what I heard when I struggled. You need to do more. And the implied message was that I wasn't worth enough for them to walk through the valley with me. "Try harder. Good luck!" My message to "collegestudent" is that you are worth it. There is a better place.

Legalism/moralism takes the sweet Gospel of Jesus Christ and mixes in some "churchified" version of the law. Church by-laws occupy equal footing with God's Word. Righteousness is no longer about Christ but about right behavior as only they define it. Moralism cherry picks verses that support behavioral control while conveniently ignoring dozens of verses about grace, forgiveness, kindness, love, gentleness and forbearance.

Focusing on right behavior can make you moral and perhaps a good person. It does not make you righteous. Such focus is not much different (if at all) from an agnostic or sporadic church-goer who really tries hard to do right and moral things. Tim Keller wrote this provocative thought about legalism in his wonderful book The Reason for God.

The devil, if anything, prefers Pharisees—men and women who try to save themselves. They are more unhappy than either mature Christians or irreligious people, and they do a lot more spiritual damage.

Without a doubt. I have been damaged. I have seen loved ones damaged. I have damaged others. I hate legalism but I don't hate legalists. I hurt for them. I suspect they are as tired, miserable and wondering what happened to their once joyous message of the Gospel as I was. What happened is that we take God's amazing grace and mix in our own interpretation of the law. Never watching an R-rated movie or touching alcohol does not make me righteous. Going to church six times a week does not make me righteous.

Righteousness is entirely because of Christ. Nothing I have done or will do will make me righteous. I spent three decades trying to be "righteous". When I hit a dry spell I would try harder, read more books, buck up and beat myself up because I felt so distant from God. When I failed again I disliked myself more and tried harder and God seemed even more distant. I wrote a book about what to do with lambs that are wounded by the church and THEN I got wounded again by the church. It was like God was mocking me. I had reached the end of my spiritual rope. I cried out to Jesus something deep and insightful along these lines.

"I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!" (Jane: ooh, I love this passage)

God does not get insulted by all-caps. In fact, I imagine that Jesus smiled at that point because I was finally ready to trust Him and not myself. I had reached the point of brokenness that allowed me to really let Him into my heart. I reached the point where I no longer had to be right. I had reached the point where I didn't want to wear a phony mask of holiness. I had reached the point where I was willing to trust God completely with everything about me. I had reached the point where I was ready for grace. I had reached the point where I was willing to believe what God says is true about me. That I am completely forgiven. I am completely loved. I am completely changed because of Christ. I am completely empowered with the Holy Spirit to mature into all of those things that are already true about me. I am righteous not because of anything I have done but entirely because of Christ. God used a book called Truefaced to teach me these truths. Please read that book or the novel Bo's Cafe that also communicates the theology of grace. You can download the introduction to the message for free. Please check it out.

If you are tired enough, discouraged enough, wounded enough and ready to scream you can't do this anymore then I have good news. You are ready for grace. God is waiting for you with arms wide open to love you and to refresh you with His grace. Moralism is a dead end street to misery. There is a better road. What have you got to lose?

Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award winning television sports director, author, and Christian speaker. He is the author of When Bad Christians Happen to Good People and Bring'em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for those Wounded by the Church. You can reply by linking through

CLCN 2010 April

Charismatic Local Church Network 灵恩地方教会网络Members of CLCN (By Alphabetic) :
1. Amazing Grace Christian Assembly (AGCA)
2. Charismatic Church of Penang (CCOP)
3. Church of Singapore Balestier (COSBL)
4. Church of Singapore Bukit Timah (COSBT)
5. Church of Singapore Harvest (COSHV)
6. Church of Singapore Marine Parade (COSMP)
7. Church of Setiawan (COSTW)
8. Church of Singapore Woodlands (COSWL)
9. Full Gospel Church Ayer Tawar (FGCAT)
10. Full Gospel Church Ipoh (FGCI)
11. Full Gospel Church Johor Bahru (FGCJB)
12. Subang Christian Fellowship (SCF)
13. The Rock Christian Center (TRCC)

Purpose Statement
The Charismatic Local Church Network (CLCN) was created to pool together the resources of sister churches situated throughout Malaysia and Singapore for the purpose of strengthening our historical relationships and expanding our partnerships for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ

This year is the 9th year of the network is formed, I've attended a few of children workshop and trainings that were subsidized by CLCN since last year, and joined a mission trip to Cemara Island two years ago, but only found out this time what CLCN is about.

For whatever reasons that made me joined this camp, thankful for God, it's a divine appointment I believe, again it is such pleasure to be able to meet these great men of our mighty Lord, those who have been laying down their lives to God, to serve the nation, salute to them and at the same time encouraged by their sacrifices and touched by their passion and love.

There are 7 ministries all together, pastorals, worship, AIM, working adult, youth, mission and children. The camp started on Mondy afternoon 1pm with lunch gathering at Tower Regency Hotel, Ipoh, and ended on Wednesday's lunch, we are the man for food! starts and ends with food. Love the arrangement! haha.

I was appointed as an official camera-man, together with another 2 sisters Angela Bruyns and Jane Chin. I would say Jane Chin rocks, she rocked in this camp, cruising every where to snap photos, whereas Angela and me have to attend group discussion. Failed my mission.

One of the things that encouraged elders is, there were more young people joining in this year, majority are young adult ages from 18 - 40, that really gives hope to our elderly, which they could pass-down their passion to us.

During the small group discussion, Yee Khim led us, she said nothing much to discuss, let started with eating ice-cream and chocolate then do some sourcing (shopping), that was fun, right? She is a very capable woman, wife of Pastor James Tan. Even so, children ministry is the only one that could give full list of things we want to have at the same time with solution provided, see! how capable she is! Work to enjoy, enjoy in working. Not a bad idea for all 'elderly meeting', perhaps we could import this practice (Which KK SCF is practising in our meeting) eat and talk, more inspiring indeed. :p

The purpose of this camp is allowing all workers from sisters church could have a chance to meet up, to share our problems, struggles, materials, areas that is strong in each church, ideas as well as fellowship. We've brought gifts to exchange to every member, we've brought some of our good idea and craft works to share, some shared new songs that are written by themselves, wonderful time in the room we had had.

CLCN had a closed facebook account, m.. which I think very good, facebook is a good platform to share ideas and information, especial latest activities with photos.

CLCN highlights

Talk about highlights during CLCN Connect Camp, non other than fooooood! We went to 'Tong Sui Gai' for mixed fruit ice-kacang, 'Ai Yuk Bing', 'Jv Ciong Fun', and 'Wan Ton dried noodle', those were not the best, yet already gave us a nice and fulfilled tea-break.

The first day night after last session at 10pm, Jacinta's ex-youth Chi Foo came by with his girl friend Siew Har to take us to the best Ngar Choy Gai and Jv Chap Juk'.

And we covered 'Liu' similar to 'Yong Dao Fu' in KL, we went to a restaurant in a new village, forgot about it's name, and it is famous for 'Gai Geok' chicken feet, and 'Mun Dao fu' bean curd, and others, not to forget about the white coffee in Ipoh, almost every restaurant serves good white coffee ice, very oishi.

CLCN camp for Curry Laksa Chicken Ngar-choy camp

CLCN camp is held in Regency Hotel Ipoh 12-14 April, yes today will be the last day, I am still at the lobby serving net and blogging, I skipped lunch and dinner for sweet and short naps, that is why I am still awake now.

CLCN short for Curry Laksa Chicken Ngar-choy camp..... =.=" haha, na... just picked up this from Pastor Sonny, learn a few of these funny abbreviations from them, another one is C and G, guess what? that is cheap and good!

CLCN is just a network for a few of sisters churches in Malaysia from North to South, and to Singapore. That we will link up and sharing resources, giving inhouse training to the needy churches, to equip and empower teachers and facilitators in all ministries, they are pastorals, AIM, mission, working adults, youth, worship and children.

I am in children ministry, it is the most fun and energetic ministry, that our conversations and meetings filled with laughter and crazy ideas, we always have no enough time for our sharing and fellowshiping.

Now is almost 2am....... I better go, will tell more of the details.

Grace

GRACE

My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.

I see the things

You do through me as great things I have done.

And now You gently break me,

then lovingly You take me and hold me as my father

and mold me as my maker.

Chorus:

I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up,

when I keep on letting you down?

And each time I will fall short of Your glory,

how far will forgiveness abound?"

And you answer:

" My child, I love you.

And as long as you're seeking My face,

You'll walk in the pow'r of My daily sufficient grace."

At times I may grow weak and feel a bit discouraged,

knowing that someone, somewhere could do a better job.

For who am I to serve You?

I know I don't deserve You.

And that's the part that burns in my heart and keeps me hanging on.

Chorus*

As I walk with You,

I'm learning what Your grace really means.

The price that I could never pay was paid at Calvary.

So, instead of trying to repay You,

I'm learning to simply obey You

by giving up my life to you For all that You've given to me.

Chorus:*

Custom-made

Adjective

Made to order, according to the customer's specifications.

Most of owned home will have custom-made cabinets and wardrobes, just wanna to make full use of the space and awkward design of rooms. The concept is perfect to everyone, but not hard to imagine, some might not have a good taste though they have made 'full use' of space, some made wrong decision when they initially planned out wrong. It is very much depend on the person who handle it, the background, the knowledge, the culture, the understanding, the practicability and so on.

You may be scratching your head by now, what is this Jane up for? Going into a custom carpentry business? Na, I am talking about homeschooling, indeed I have a post on-hold with the same title, have written quite many lines.....but, anyway, I decided to keep on hold, come out with this short and sweet 'Custom-made'.

There is nothing wrong with the concept - homeschooling, forget about the pros and cons, which I spent quite long time reading those articles, until my black ring under my eyes appear to be that dark! ( what for? Don't understand why I read that many?)

Again, nothing is wrong about this concept, but the person who handle it.

There are pros and cons in public schools, so do in private schools, and homeschooling has no exception.

There are no lack of proofs and successful stories you could Google-search, as well as not less of the sequels. (You will find the positive side's of stories more as those 'publishers' and 'runners' are putting in tons of advertisements to make it works!!)

Where your children will ended up to? The successful side or the failure side? Depend on who you are!! (indeed!)

If you are a religion fanatic, you will want to make everything framed and boxed 'beautifully' and 'nicely' to your child, in order to keep them 'safe' in your custom-made 'space', go ahead with your thoughts, you are not wrong, indeed very right! This was the very very first reason why homeschooling concept is formed.

If you are creative, energetic, Mean thoughts, positive, extrovert (well, introvert is also acceptable though, but it gives credit to those who are extrovert in character), educated (sufficient education), not anti-social, not anti-innovation (for some I know of, they are!), 'Congratulation!', I am glad for you, and your child, most likely they will be in the good side, and become one of the successful 'product'.

what about......

If you are merely a follower, beware! Maybe you need to put into serious consideration. Because not many follower could really lead to the result. Your personality is the key though. (Solely my point of view, not arguments.)

"Many are called, but few are chosen." (please excuse me by using this Bible quote! It's best describe what I want to express.) Not only considering about your child's character, the teaching materials, and most important is your capability. As I mentioned earlier 'Merely writing and talking' are different from practicability. Most books will talk about ideal thoughts and plans.

"Yet, while those who favor home-schooling quite reasonably point to the successes of such programs and to the geniuses who have emerged from them, the fact is that parental guidance is not always what it should be and that laxity has, in many cases, produced less than spectacular results."

Once again, I am not against it, let me make myself clear about it once again, it is a good concept!

'As you are always right!'

I was chatting with my friend in Skype one night, we discussed about the attitude and behavior of a person should have, and way of settling some issues, and my friend seemed to be quite agree with what suggestion I gave and my friend said: "ya, as you are always right!", I paused for this sentence.... I didn't make a respond, this got me thinking.

Ya, no matter how, I am always right, because I used to analyse and think: 'this should be that.', 'that should be this.'... and slowly I build up this habit subconsciously. I started worrying myself, it might not seems horrible to you, but it does to me. There is one famous quotes on this:

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

As I was driving, I remember an incident when my ex-husband was sitting in the passenger side, I forgot what was the situation, but I remembered that I was quite rude and harsh to him as I am always right, so sorry, and this was reacted out of my conscious, that is ME, it has became my character, "As I am always right!".

Oh no, that was bad, God wants us to be humble, I knew it, and have trying to learn this, and that took me long time, I thought I am, now I know I still have long way to go, I feel ashamed!

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another,

because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5