Church History & Sedaya CF

Sedaya CF door

It was kind of interesting to be invited to talk about "church history" for a change. So, the last two Fridays on the 15 & 22 I tried to do my bit for the University College Sedaya Internatinal (UCSI) Christian Fellowship.


Sedaya CF worshipping through songs!

For Session one I did a Formula-One attempt speeding through 2000 years of church history trying to highlight key turning points and some reasons behind them. I think many were just overwhelmed with the info. Most Christians know very little about what has happened through the ages. Session two I did more of a Q & A style where they could ask questions and I tried to give "generous" responses while connecting them to a simple timeline I put on the board to summarize the overload the other Friday. It was nice to have Untamed Vessels join me for both days, they only managed to sing for the second sessions.

Satisfying a hunger ....

the road to STM

I spent more than 6 hours at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia's Seremban Campus yesterday. Thanks for all your prayers and support. Three papers completed on Monday and three exams completed at 5.45pm yesterday. All this just to see whether I can start studying again (as if I don't everyday but you know what I mean!)

I never had the chance to study in this beautiful new campus because I aready graduated the year before they moved (kind of couldn't enter the promised land huh!?)

I have very fond memories of my time in seminary, lots of stories to tell - some more profound, a lot pretty silly but all in all part and parcel of my growth.

It also has become for me a symbol of creating a "hunger" in me to be a life-long learner. It's during my time here that I started to begin appreciating good reflective reading .. better late than never in my case (I had to move beyond my Asterix comic diet - which I still enjoy!).

For those who are interested to take some kind of extension course you can check out what they did in 2004 here

Of course if you're not ready the BLC Christian Discipleship School is a good place to start (Evangelism for Dummies coming up on 5-7 November!), but there may be some courses offered by them that you can do in parallel. let me know of your interest.

It's more than a piece of paper!

I talk marriage; they talk weddings!

~ Robert Farrar Capon


Rev. Chan scaring the couple


Making sure the walk is cool!


It's not over yet, the adventure has merely started!

The Return of the Sign

Indiana Joo at work

A recent storm broke our "beloved" sign board. But, now it's up again ... reminding us to be a sign pointing to God's Kingdom especially in the darkest of nights!


BLC sign up again!

Sun-Fun-Day :)

It was a really fun Sunday wasn't it? Well some of us who were at BLC sure felt that i hope. I wish i hadn't expired my flickr account so i could photo-blog here on this post :P But i'm sure Pastor Sivin would have some 'interesting' photos to post once he is free ;)

After this morning's prayer breakfast, i said to John just before service was about to begin, "How shy it is for us. Our guest speaker is here and the church is almost empty. BLC always packs up by 10.30am when service begins at 10am!" Now, before i am bashed for making any comments, first of all, i do not think it's wrong for a speaker to speak the word of God to just a very small number of people. No problems there. However, i was just thinking and saying to John and Su Shen, why do people always have to make God wait? Or how can we be late, on Sabbath Day, the day for God, all the time? Do we say ok to waiting for God to answer our prayers? I don't think so. I think if God made us wait all the time, we'd be pissed off and blame Him for whatever goes wrong with our lives. Now isn't that unfair? :) Not bashing anyone here alright? Just some thoughts based on some observations.

It's interesting to see the kids in BLC grow. They grow up so fast! And we have so many of them! The babies are currently toddlers, the unborn are now babies, the bigger kids, well...they're bigger now! The young adults? Urm...let's not even go there! *haha* But the best part about all this is the fact that we're all growing together as a church, a congregation. We have a very family, close and tight-knit thing going on for us at BLC and it's great. I think even guest speaker, Herman Shastri enjoyed the ambience of the church and the styles that we employ here at BLC :)

Garden of delights

Wahhh...is this a library? It's awfully quiet here :) What happened to all the blogging?

*Originally from 'The Hiking Path Meant For One' - For a nice photograph, do visit my blog :) Sorry i didn't know how to put the picture here! Still learning this HTML nonsense!*


We had combined life groups yesterday at church - Daniel's group with ours, James' group. It's always nice to see more than your own members for a change. The sharings, fellowship, worship, comments, ideas, insights etc are given a new lease of life, intergrated too you could say. It was good to see most LG members from both groups show up and thank you to Daniel's life group for being so hospitable with us :) Even baby Natalie joined us - she eventually slept though but was a part of the study of the word throughout, while sleeping on her daddy's shoulder :) It was encouraging to see everyone share throughout. Sure, we might have taken some time to warm up, and needed some encouragement from Daniel and John to speak out, but i think as time went by, the speaking out was good and so were the volunteering :) It was very encouraging to see everyone chip in and feel right at home with one another.

God sure is just and fair. He loves all of us but He will also punish us for our wrong-doings. We live in a wicked, cynical, individualistic world. But we can always seek refuge in God. We have an impression of what God promises for us after life but i guess more often than not, we are too caught up with this earthly world and what we tell God we want Him to do for our lives to realize how beautiful the promise will be. But our hikes with God and this life, every step of the way till we reach the kingdom is what matters most. If we follow with Him faithfully, spiritually and prayerfully, we will indeed grow stronger in Him. It's easier said than done but it's important to be a mirror of what God is, and when we fall, to always cling on to Him and seek Him, not turn away from Him. Our hike is a long one, one with many obstacles. But we have the comfort of knowing that we can stop at God's Garden of Delights or Refreshing Springs to rejuvenate ourselves and carry on with the good fight. Let us not be selfish Christians. Our walk with God is not a self-centered one but a God-centered one. Many Christians accept their salvation and forget that that's the beginning of our walk, not the end. We also tend to forget that we are not put here and saved to be just that. We are also here to save others, not ostracize them. Let God be the judge, let us not be the one's trying to play God. Lord, humble us and soften our hearts. Let us not assume that being a Christ-follower is just about giving in terms of dollars and cents, not cheating, not sinning, not commiting adultery and fasting. These things are good values but these aren't the only things God has called for us to do.

These were among the many things reflected and meditated upon the study and sharing of the Word. I couldn't help but feel thankful to God for the members of BLC, whom are as always a tight-knit group of people, appreciative of what we have, and what we can share with one another. Not just a bunch of people who come walking in and out of church on Sundays, forgetting all about fellowship and genuinely being...friends.

Letter to An Emerging Leader-Church

Messages for the last lap of 2004 

I'll give a prize to the first one who can spot a little "error" in this jpeg picture :-)

We're going to work through some issues raised in a wonderful letter from Paul to the younger leader Timothy and allow the scriptures to "surface" matters than concern us as a young church with a "a-hem" young pastor

Practices inspired by what we heard in 1 Timothy 2

Here's the practices (assginments for the next two weeks) suggested in response to what we heard last Sunday from 1 Timothy chapter 2.

1. For those born from January - March

"Cut out news that has caught your attention during this time (1 per day is a good start) and use the news to help you pray and intercede for Malaysian as well as International concerns"

2. For those born from April - June

"Commit to join the BLC's Prayer Breakfast at 9.30am for the next two weeks. And offer to lead in prayer in your LiFE Groups as well."

3. For those born from July - September

"Practice good works by offer one act of kindness to 1 family member/relative, 1 friend, 1 less-know friend (even a stranger), and one fellow BLC'ian."

4. For those born from October - December

"Find at least 1 or 2 passage(s) that you find difficulty understanding (I'm willing to help please email me) and really try to study the passage and see its relevance for today."

Share with your LiFE Group or anyone in BLC your experiences and learning while "practising" the assigned task.

Before 10am Sunday ...

Musicians arrive at 8.45am for set-up

Maybe some might wonder, "what is the "build up" to the 10am worship gathering?"



The Prayer Breakfast is at 9.30am

Last sunday, we shifted the focus to pray for matters outside of BLC using what we read in the newspapers as a springboard for intercession (this was inspired by 1 Timothy 2) Last week, I was delighted to hear about an operation that went well (we prayed for the person the week before - answered prayer!)


The Projector Driver checks all the slides

Ah ... the "window" controller in away ... making sure all the slides are in order. Of course, at times we fumble here and there. Apart from prayer preparation, technical details need attention too.


New Ministry! Altar Decorators ...

This has been a great idea ... I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing others (especially non-musicans) involved in the worship preparation. Of course in the age of digital cameras, people like Chin Hor couldn't resist to take a picture. I couldn't resist totake a picture of him :-)


We start at 10am (we try!)

Actually, like potty training .... we need to move from trying to training ... anyway, whatever it is, where ever we came from, we move forward together as we worship the one who is truly worthy!

Let it set happy :)

*Originally posted on 'The Hiking Path Meant For One'*




"Be angry, and do not sin": Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. - Ephesians 4:26

"Uncle Ray and his wife's formula to a very successful marriage is living by the 'Don't let the sun go down on your anger' theory". This was shared with me about a month ago. Its so true. More often than not, we just unleash the worst within ourselves in haste and during the peak of heightened anger, those awful spur of the moment experiences. But whether or not its a friendship, romantic relationship or family relation; we musn't let our anger overcome us. Take a deep breath, pause for a moment, crack a joke, say something that you know for certain the person u are having a tiff with will laugh at or at least lighten up, whatever...do SOMETHING. More often than not also, it's worth a crack at and wont lead to disaster.

I've had a reputation for being a hot-head; impatient and fiery in nature. However, i recently discovered the joys of taking the effort to make this change. In the heat of anger, i refrained from allowing the sun to go down on my anger. You never know what it might help change :)

By the way, Uncle Ray and his wife have been happily married for decades. Sure they have their differences at times. Who doesnt? Its not what negatives that go down, it's how they are dealt with :)

Sunway Monash Christian Fellowship

Unplugged ...

I arrived 4.45pm. Two students were at the entrance to welcome me (wow!)
One told me I was one of the few speakers who arrives early before the Christian Fellowship meeting starts (oh!)
I had an interesing mini-conversation with a communications major and was intrigued by the exposure he had on postmodern thought and theories in his cultural studies.



Sunway Monash CFers sing!

This is the third time (i think) I've been invited. It was good to see some familiar faces (guess who's brother from BLC is studying there? - prizes anyone?)

My topic was a personal favorite "How not to Evangelize" (not don't evangelize ok?!) and I unapologetically gave due credit to the source of my basic outline of 8 factors - a really good book More Ready than You Realize (of course, there's was alot of adaptation with personal stories and reflections!)



Attentive listening ...

I could only leave at 7.30pm because after the session some people approached me personally and asked questions and we entered into some dialogue (which I always enjoyed). In fact, a few were expecting me to join them for dinner (which I would but promised to celebrate Gareth's birthday early one night!)

As I drove back to Bangsar along Kelana Jaya, the 30 minutes drive was full of thanksgiving for a time of fruitful sharing, ministry, and conversation. I could see in some of them that much of what was said resonated with what they felt and/or "opened up a box of chocolates" of possibilities.

Thank you, Lord for this chance to serve you ... and in some way serve as a "catalyst" for others to get in touch with you and be shaped by your concerns and perspectives!

Library... A Gallery of Resources for the Mind

Welcome all! To the Library bookshelves of BLC.....

There are SO MANY types of resources available to whet your appetite for knowledge....the knowledge about God from the people of God.... Pastor Sivin has put on the shelves the following for the congregation:-

1. Books;
2. Magazines/Journals;
3. Cassettes and CDs (music and songs); and
4. Cassettes and CDs and VCDs (sermons and Q&A).

There are stuff for adults and children alike.... catering for readers, listeners and watchers....

Being a reader, I want to recommend a few items:-

1. Books by Brian McLaren; A New Kind of Christian, The Story We Find Ourselves In, More Ready Than We Realise, Finding Faith..... (A new perspective of Christianity)

2. Practical Christianity (Various Contributors):- Many issues and situations looked at from different Christian writers' perspectives

3. The Emerging Church (by Dan Kimball):- Many ideas on how one may want to run church in the present day.

Come this Sunday....and I'll show them to you.... God Bless!

Last Sunday - Worship Gathering

Worship Gathering was fun last Sunday ... at BLC.... functioned as Keeper and Communion Helper.....what are they, you might ask?

Keeper:- It is a joy to be Keeper...basically, one is first a greeter....welcoming people at the door with a pleasant smile and a Good Morning, God bless you! Passing them a Life Update, and ushering newcomers to a seat.

When the Gathering starts, one then controls the ambience.... the lighting, and air conditioning.... to help provide a suitable atmosphere for the people to worship God....

Communion Helper:- Buy bread and wine, prepare the bread and wine, wash the cups after communion.... its very fun to buy bread....BLC has seen many many types of bread.... and pouring wine into the tiny cups is so fun... BLC also serves real wine... not grape juice or Ribena, like many other churches I have been to.....

Overall, I currently find so much joy in meeting people and being able to serve them....

Job's Friends...

*~ Originally posted on Confessions of a Mockstar, early 2004 ~*

Reading the book of Job from The Message by Eugene Peterson, I'm intrigued by the fact that reading this book at this stage of my life bears a different meaning from my teenage years.

The advice given by Job's friends sound all too familiar.

"You must have sinned to be going through what you're going through now... go and repent."

"Bad things only happen to those who don't love God."

"How could you question God in such a manner?"

I realize now, the friends of Job are meant to be examples of fellow believers... and how their lack of depth in the understanding of God and faith lead to the unbiblical judgements that they hold.

The truth is... sometimes good people go through shit as well. And the most faithful of God's followers may not have a perfect life. Well, life in the fallen world is like that.

Questioning God the way Job questioned God is part of a healthy spiritual life. It's not healthy or more noble when you don't ask God questions. He was being honest... questioning the logic behind his suffering and why God would allow it.

When there is a sense of injustice, there will be questions, there will be pain, and there will be doubt. Keeping these emotions hidden, pretending that it's all alright, and that you are deeply in love with God every second of every day will only lead to a path of thorns.

We can all be honest with God. He can take it. He can take our doubts and our interrogation. He really can. Isn't that what a real relationship is about? Working through uncomfortable situations, and having uncomfortable conversations... all this so that you can both grow closer together.

Job vs Ministry

From Journey Woman

Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.

What's the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it's a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it's a MINISTRY.

If you'll do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it's a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it's a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.

It's hard to get excited about a JOB.
It's almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.

If our concern is success, it's a JOB.
If our concern is faithfulness, it's a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing JOBs.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

Where do we fit in? What about us?

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.
If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.

God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB, but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.

- Author unknown -

Part-time, Full-time, Some-time?

Worship is an everyday thing. Not a Sunday-thing, nor a 2-times-in-a-week thing. So too is our commitment and faith in our Lord, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Commitment is something we take on and give it our all. The word commitment in itself means dedication towards being a part of or doing something. There is no such thing as half-hearted commitment in my opinion. The day we accepted God in our lives, we accepted to be His humble servants. It's funny how people view commitment sometimes. When we commit to a relationship with another human being (a girlfriend or boyfriend for example), do we commit to them part-time? Do we tell them we only want to see them 3 days in a week and if we have to see them a 4th day in a particular week, do we make a deal with them to see them a day less the following week as a replacement? Does it matter how many days in a row we see them? Should there be a fixed pattern? Same goes with our commitment to God. Do we attend service at church on Sundays because of routine? Because its a corporate or religious thing to do on Sunday? Do we serve at church because we feel obligated to? Because some church member asked us to? Serving God is an honour. It's sad for me to see that not everyone feels as such. It's sad to see that for some, God isn't the true driving force behind our motives and actions as disciples of Christ. Should being commited in our Life Group participation, serving at church as part of the Worship Team or attending service on Sunday be such a 'job'? Shouldn't each be seen as an opportunity to meet with God? Or perhaps sometimes even seen as a place of comfort?

The Keepers of The Father's House

Dear Keepers of the The Father's House,

You will note that in the latest schedule, the role of Holy Communion Helper has been omitted. This is because it has become common knowledge that the Keepers on duty will help prepare for Holy Communion. So it is still part of your ministry scope. Be reminded that Holy Communion is on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. We needed to make a slot for the new Altar Decorators in the schedule.

I was also tinkering with the idea that the Altar Decorators will assist the Keepers on duty and be trained and preened to become future Keepers themselves. This is so that some of you with multiple duties may be relieved to focus on your core areas of service. If the circle of Keepers agree to this suggestion, I will meet up with the Altar Decorators to suggest this idea. If they are also in agreement, we will all meet and decide how we can do this together.

We also need to appoint a Head Keeper, a Lord of the Keepers, one Keeper to rule them all... sorry, got carried away there. I would like for all of you to e-mail me back to suggest who best fits the role. The Inner Circle of Luminaries (Wai Kin, May Chin & I) will make the final decision after considering your suggestions. The Head Keeper will be the person I liaise with most of the time, and he/she will continue to guide you along the right path.

We realized that months ago, the circle of Keepers sat down and made many plans. But most of the plans have not come to past. We'll need to sit down and decide which plans we want to continue with and which ones we don't.

I would like to also remind you of the role of the Keeper. In case any of you have misplaced the document which entails your duties, I have attached a copy to this letter.

Now, I would like to end by saying that overall, the Keepers have been essential in the blood of BLC. We appreciate the help with the Holy Communion, the buying of the wine and bread, the temperature control in the Living Room, the lighting control to suit the on stage ambience (I especially noticed John doing this a lot), and just being there to say hi to everyone coming through that door. What would we ever do without you?! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Much love and gratitude,
j'meS
Chief Luminarian

Worship WArs: No More!

Tonight 5 October & Next Tuesday 12 October 8pm-10pm

I'm pretty excited about tonight with at least 3 other Lutheran churches joining us (there should be about at least 20-25 of us) for this workshop which is facilitated by Wolfgang and myself. The 20 Page notes has just been completed, phew! Off I go to photocopy them in Mustard Seed style! May the wars cease and the construction begin ...

T-Shirt Church Invitation

church invitation t-shirt (via tallskinnykiwi)

I wonder if we could put what we wanted to say about BLC on the back of a T-shirt what would or could we say? Anyone?

Wednesday Evening Support

future teachers sharing

When I was first approached whether we could open up the Father's House for a Christian Fellowship to meet , it reminded me of my form four days when i approached the pastor opposite my school for a meeting place. These values of reaching out and partnering with other Christians go way back more than 15 years! It's deep ... and I'm glad the council supported the idea of allowing them to use our venue on wednesday when they need to (BTW, it maximizes our facilities usage doesn't it?).


future teachers singing

The group in these pictures are specially trained to be English teachers (and possibly other subjects) they are mostly from other states (What happened to those in the rich capital huh? Just a question ... and maybe a challenge?). They come in different cohorts and then leave for another 2 years or more overseas. The purpose of the Christian Fellowship is to help them prepare themselves with a special focuse on "what does it mean to be a Christian teacher".

So apart from supporting them with "space" for their gathering, let's support them in prayer and encouragement! This is our little part to fulfill our vision "to be a catalyst for spiritual and social change Bangsar and beyond."