A Bonsai tree is meant to be a big tree.  It is put into smaller pots so that it’s growth is stunted to fit into a decorative pot … and look pretty.

In life its useless to be manipulated pretty.  We are not to be like bonsais (or poodles?) where there’s a limit to growth.  Rather we are to be strong and courageous like a big oak tree where the potential to grow is as big and majestic as it possibly can to provide food and shelter to many.

True growing accompanied by the development of inner character is a great way of live as there’s no greater pursuit that that towards personal holiness. So don’t go complacent but look to the potential you have in Him. Keep growing as God has placed no ceiling to it. Surely you’ll have a ball of a time doing it.

Was invited to eat at Cut by Wolfgang Puck @ The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Had Colorado Lamb and just too much meat

Ambience is unusual with heavy metal music and large visuals of guys like Jack Nicholson.

Reviews had it that many don’t like it so hard but Wolfgang Puck knows exactly how he wants the feel to be.

It’s crucial to design exactly how its meant to be. If you know the bible, you’ll know God love the details. It’s always exactly how he wants it to be. Every scale and dimension, raw and heart material is according to His own unique specification.

God had fearfully and carefully put us together in the same fashion.

Detail is important in life and leadership, it is important we know and pay attention to what matters.

Rob Bradbury flew in from Melbourne to Singapore for 3 days and created a storm at Ripple Conference 2012. It was great as we only ask for a ripple.

“What have you done” is how adults see God

“Come” is how kids see Him

Wow. That kind of “Imagination” is just one of dozens I learned from him as a leader.

I also learned about friendship with God, tasting how good God is, deliberate blunders, larger than life character creation, secret hand shake and truly making something out of absolutely nothing at all.

Beyond everything, its the spirit of God that made the conference a spirit filled time. Love it not just during conference but the spaces before, after and in between it. Now that the conference is behind us, we will allow God to move and build His kids church, His way.

A – A New Thing

See, I am doing a new thing! 
   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 
I am making a way in the wilderness 
   and streams in the wasteland.  - Isaiah 43:19

Don’t miss it but perceive the new thing that God is doing in your life.

Delegate ministry to others as ministry is not just our own. …. (the people I formed for myself  that they may proclaim my praise – Isaiah 43:21)

Bus are Life Groups, Bus Captains are mobile Life Group leaders.

Roles of Talent leaders  (TLs) is to “learn”.

Roles of Ownership Leaders (OLs)  is to “make a way in the wilderness & streams in the wasteland”
1. LGL (Life Group Leaders)
- Visit weekly to pray for kids/family
- Own 3-8 kids
- Multiply LGs as it reach 8 kids
2. UL (Unit Leaders)
- Coach LGLs for the above

Role of Staff to be active outside the office to pave the way

R – Relational

Be available to lead groups relationally.

As the group grows bigger, we have to grow smaller.

God sent His son not to establish a religion but for a new relationship with us.

All ULs to learn and read a leadership book a month.

Use technology, Twitter, Facebook etc.

T – Thankful Heart

Only way to grow not by our effort but by the spirit living in us.

Keep a prayer/gratitude journal and give thanks in all circumstance.

Use Apps.

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Just came back from planning for 2012 with Pastor Jeff and the leadership team at the D’Kranji Farm. The quiet time in there recapture for me a lot of reason why we do what we do. We are building God’s spiritual legacy to past to at least 3 generations. The two days reignite a certain passion I have within.

This video is special because it captures the dynamics of what it takes to make the dream possible; 1) The dedication of parents, 2) The purpose of our kids teachers and 3) The serving passion of our youth all working in collaboration.

We are grateful for the young minds and heart behind the production of this video for our recent Next Generation Service. I really like this. We all do as we are so a part of it in everything we do right now.

Step 1) Every Sunday look for kids to pray for and pray for them. You have to model loving to pray first.

Step 2) After praying ask “Do you want to pray for me”?

Step 3) If he says ‘yes’, guide them to a great praying time. If they say ‘no’, say “its okay, next time?”

Step 4) When next time comes, again pray for them before changing your script slightly and say ”Do you want to pray for me? I’ll help you?”

Helping kids be a minister isn’t natural but its possible when we are persistent.  So rise up to start kids praying and keep doing it until its second nature. You’ll just finding yourself having lots of fun starting more kids praying in your ministry.

I am a parent of 12 years,  so I must be old enough to know a thing or two about habits!

Of all the habits I’ve developed (some proudly and some not) these are 7 of saying I love you to your child that I find is so easy to do that it can be easily tried and be made into solid habits that works for you.

You can start your habit forming project today and develop …

1. The habit of saying “I love you” regularly

2. The habit of hugging longer than 5 seconds.

3. The habit of enjoying being close without talking for not lesser than 5 minutes and see what happens.

4. The habit of bring them stuff they like that cost you close to nothing.

5. The habit of pouring them a cup of water(or ribena) to drink when they are doing homework.

6. The habit of looking into their eyes & smile everytime you walk past.

7. The habit of regularly praying with them and for them.

Habit #1 says I love you for kids who’s love language is words
Habit #2 says I love you for kids who’s love language is touch
Habit #3 says I love you for kids who’s love language is time
Habit #4 says I love you for kids who’s love language is gifts
Habit #5 says I love you for kids who’s love language is service
Habit #6 says I love you, accepts you and you have my full approval
Habit #7 says I love you and I care that ‘God loves you’ too

Note: This works for your spouse too (except that 4 & 5 will cost just a little bit more).

What do you think? Any other good and easy habit forming ideas how to say I love you?

Every so often I will lurk outside Kidology.org. I like the Kidologist himself, Karl Bastian for all the fun he is made of and also kids ministry we can learn from him.

Well, today I was lurking (If you don’t want to be a lurker, being a member maybe worth it) and saw the poll on the front page which ask “How often do you serve in children’s ministry?” I selected my answer, submitted it and boy was I shocked by the outcome…
Why! so many people serves most weeks! 70% of the 1,500 who responded so far serves most weeks!!

Shocked because I was expecting more ‘once a month’ or ‘once every fortnight’ type of deal.

The result made me both happy and sad!

1) Happy that we aren’t the only ones with the commitment of serving most weeks.

2) Sad that the outcome may be because kids ministries are lacking vision, leadership and resource that those in it have no choice but serve most weeks.

What do you think? How often do you serve and why?

Starting a new series of 6 lessons on Titus and the book of Titus in line with our adults series. The series explore transformational leadership featuring Paul’s leadership over Titus and Titus’ own leadership. This week’s Big Point: I am a Godly Transformer

Yeah baby, our kids can be Godly leaders in their environment (especially to younger kids). Yes they can lead beyond what we can imagine. Yes they can be the church today.

I’m so excited that our oldest kids aren’t consuming a service this week but will be visiting our younger kids services as volunteer leaders. It’s a brilliant idea by our star staff. I know it’ll work as this is the very idea proven to work by another level leader who made her kids volunteer in our younger kids services a regular feature in her discipleship plan. See such brilliant action leaders we have!

You cannot be anything less than jubilant when LOVE is made into pure action. Love it so much, pumped to the max and so so looking forward to tomorrow!

Bring your kids friends!

I realize there’s always much greater value in stuff we carefully take care of.

Didn’t stay long but had a great conversation with Boshari the owner of Vinyl Lucky at Adelphi about music and faith. We shared our love for music and favourite bands since young. We also shared about our faith where I learned very interesting things about his life as a Muslim and he did the same about mine as a Christian. I shared what’s different about Christianity and why I chose to go into it.

I left without buying anything but I gained a friend. I’m so glad I did because relationships are one of the most worthwhile things to take care of on earth. Keep taking care of your marriage, friendships or whatever are important relationships in your life.