We seldom have guests but Darius lead, taught, did gospel illusions, he preached, he danced, he rocked the stage with his team. Most importantly he showed us some children ministry rope tricks (literally and figuratively as well).

Richard and Yuet Mei came over last night because they knew about our torn and ripped piano stool. Richard salvaged a nice piece of leather from an unwanted sofa and thought about us. They came over with their two boys Isaac and Isaiah and we had a great time trying to be first time upholsterers. For slightly more than half an hour, the result was amazing.

This is not the first time Richard has helped us with handywork in our home. Handywork is Richard’s hobby. It de-stresses him and Yuet Mei says every now and then he’ll look for people whose home he can work on. That’s the way he is. I told Richard that he has a very useful hobby as most other people’s are, while not useless comparatively less useful.

At the end of the day, we bought them Richard’s favourite curry fish head for dinner. It was a fair exchange. It is really not about food for service or service for food, but his sincere act of love. The Lord blessed him with something he loves to do that is of service to others.

I’m sure the Lord blessed everyone with something that we love to do that is of service to the world regardless of whether it can be exchanged for curry fish head or not.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock - Matthew7:24-25

Is more about foundation building that it is about the results. We are often outcome driven. We ought to be process driven because the process builds foundation. It’s the everyday small effort of love and gratitute that when mounts up account for something.

And if our foundation is on the rock, nothing can blow it down. This is a meaningful passage to both Mag and myself because we chose this for our wedding.

We are determine to build our marriage and life on the rock of Christ Jesus.

I’m by nature not very organised.

I took sometime to organise and declutter and set the right stage for new beliefs, new dreams and new actions in the new year.

You see, I believe in a vegetarian diet. That is; We should eat more natural food like vegetables & fruits because our internal is more wired up to consume them. But I don’t believe one has to be vegetarian because God allows consumption of meat. (being too chicken to be one is another reason) 

So this note I put on my board a few months ago have to go.

My desktop has been in the worse possible state because I use the desktop a lot to put temporary files. Something has to be done.

The new desktop says “I’m only a desktop, please don’t clutter me”.

I’m moving to work on my table, my cabinets, my drawers, my mind, heart and soul very soon.

Gave away my 20 years “cassette tape” collection to the ragman. I feel so sad yet so free. I’m so into it that I’m infact a lean mean decluttering machine.

In the glitter and lights of Christmas, it is so easy to forget the true Light of Jesus Christ.

If gift exchanges, parties and Santa Claus have robbed the true meaning of Christmas; Our hearts have allowed them to. The true meaning can be diluted and diminished in shops and christmas trees but it doesn’t have to be within us. It can be kept strong all year around through the power of will and free choice.

As we work hard, attempting to engage the culture in the world, let’s remember not to be off the world. For to be off the world we lose control of ourselves and our spiritual hold. The only hope we have is when we devote time to commune with our Lord. Hold on to Him and make it top of all other resolutions, the resolution to “Honor God First”.

It is the priority of our ministry and the priority of my personal self.

We were talking about Yung and her new HopeTots2 / Filipino HopeKids team in the Castle programme yesterday.

It was work worthy of God and worthy of remark. Rock on!

Kids come where there’s excitement! Kids stay where there’s love!

Action point for Children’s Ministry:  
1) Create innovative & exciting programmes, make them come. 
2) When they arrive, ensure God’s love is so evident they will come back for more.

Where’s this God’s love??

Right where you are.

Alvin and the Chipmunk & Popcorns for older kids

+ Castle, Beauty and The Beast for younger kids

+ Sleeping Beauty, Real Life Testimonies In Cardboards and responses for adults

All these with the love of Jesus Christ in all who served =  A GREAT CHRISTMAS Celebration!

This one is taken by Nathan’s parents during their trip to Switzerland.

Just a nice HopeKid photo to say goodnight. I’m dead tired from the strain of helping to carry the 6 feet walls of our “Castle” for this Sunday’s celebration.

Christmas is known to be the happiest time for some and yet the most busy and depressing times for others. I’m just thinking about those who are slightly depressed. 

1. Don’t compare. Whether it is bonus, material things or how much you have achieved this year.

2. Don’t spend time thinking what you can and cannot buy. You don’t need money to enjoy Christmas. You just need to be a good friend… sincere and true.

3. If you don’t have money for gifts, write cards with sincere heart-felt messages. It beats chocolates, mugs and photo frames.

4. Be inspired rather than excited. The testing of whether you are concern about the external stuff or internal values will result in great personal development if you allow it to. So allow it to.

5. Make sure personal spiritual development outweight what you are trying to achieve during the year end. Christmas is not more about what you can give than what God has given you. God has something for you whether in plenty and in lack. Gratitude is infact the best cure for the blues.

6. Decide to have your best year in 2008. Since its not a good time to be productive at work/school, spend more time with God than in parties. Think about great goals for 2008 and look forward with anticipation of a great year rather than regrets in the old year. Evaluate and move on GREATLY.

God has an inspiring life waiting for you. Be committed to find out what that is.

Merry Christmas everyone!