Pre-Mission Trip Reflections! (TRACkers 2013)

It's been about 6 weeks since TRACkers 2013 have begun, and it all started with youths from different methodist churches gathering together for the first time at a 3 days boot camp at PLMC on 9 Jan 2013. And although i'm one of the new mentors for this batch, I've never been through TRACkers myself, and walking through this past 6 weeks with this group of passionate youths almost every single day have made this such an amazing Journey of Faith for me thus far and i've no regrets agreeing to come on board this team!

  

 10 Jan 2013 (Day 2) of Boot Camp

Just like the rest of the trackers, the mentors were told to go through the listening process to God's heart for the nation that we are led to go out of this 6 different places. And as we were looking at this World map, somehow an impression of mountains first hit me.

In that process was led to 2 particular countries. So I decided to just pen down what ever thoughts that came. I prayed for a word for each of this 6 nations, and Isaiah 40 was the first that came to me for Nepal.  

Isaiah 40:3-5, 9-10

New International Version (NIV)

A voice of one calling:“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is you God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

Day 3

The mentors came together to each share the countries they were led too, and after much shuffling around both for the Trackers and mentors, I was finally allocated to Nepal. Where the mountainous image that first came to me came was confirmed. 

The following week our team came together for the first time and spend some time praying and listening to God, where after a while we decided on this scripture text below as our theme verse...

Psalm 43:3

New International Version (NIV)

"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."

The preparation stage towards our Mission Trip! (5 weeks) 

Fund Raising! 

Thank God for the many supporters who supported us financially for this trip! I'm really grateful for those whom God actually led to supporting us. This love gifts has definitely encouraged us tremendously as we were a little fearful at the beginning for the large amount we had to raised.

Training Runs!

We were told by the missionaries that the physical conditions will be really tough so we decided to prepare some training runs to at least condition ourself with a decent level of fitness in time for the mission trips! 

The last 2 weeks have been crazy where our preparations have geared up, where we rehearsed and prepared our various ministry tool box, from skits, to dance, to games, to crafts & even a music gig! And coming to PLMC at 730am everyday to pray when Trackers actually starts at 9am has definitely been a huge spiritual discipline to us. And to be honest, I felt really tired at times to wake up early the next day especially when I had meetings at church the night before, but felt that prayer in itself is a spiritual discipline. And I can definitely say those prayer meetings have definitely prepared us much to really trust and depend on God as the one leading us. 

And now just 2 days to go, will be flying off this coming Monday morning, for 12 days, from 18 Feb to 1 Mar 2013 to Katmandu, Nepal! Will really seek your prayers for both physical & spiritual coverage as we begin this misison trip where physical conditions are tough, with drastic temperatures from 17degree in day to 2 degrees in the night. 

Besides that! Hope to share more again when we are back 2 weeks time! :) 

Have you taken your Sabbath?

What's Sabbath to you? Some take it as a Saturday, majority of Christians will say its a Sunday, while others say it can be any day set a side in a week for rest, or perhaps it could it be just a period of time more than a day set aside, and then there's a more radical view where its beyond a time or set day but actually an "attitude of the heart", where one come to a place of trust and surrender before the Lord?

Well's not starting a theological discussion on Sabbath here, but just felt convicted today to share some personal reflections on it after a discussion on it at Disciple 1 class yesterday and one crazy past 3 weeks where my body was telling me to take a break and rest. 

The last 3 months since Nov 2012 till today has been one of the most craziest period of my life. Had countless of camps & retreats back to back both coordinating and participating. Ended 2012 with a 7 days mission trip, came back & began 2013 the next day with the first session of Disciple 1 for the new batch as a facilitator. Trackers Boot Camp began the following week, and realised on hindsight that in the span of the first week of Jan of 2013, had 2 retreats & 1 camp in 7 days! 

Since 2013 started the past 3 weeks alone, had non stop activities from morning to night. Trackers in the day, church events at night. Fell sick halfway and realised, I think I've have hit the wall. Although I thoroughly enjoyed participating in all this "spiritual" activities, I knew physically I was starting to feel the fatigue and my body was telling me to rest! And I got to admit, it was my choice and decision that i'm involved in all these activities and had counted the cost when I signed up myself for all this. Although I was very busy, It's has been very fulfilling being involved in Trackers for the first time. And I actually grew attached to my trackers group, "Team Nepal Shan" and it was so hard to take an off day as I just wanted to spend as much time with them. Until i realised, after preparing and sharing a lesson on Sabbath at DISCIPLE class last night. That I better practice what I preach and told my Trackers group that got to miss them for a day, and take a break on thursday. 

And finally today, I manage to block of this day just to take a break for awhile. Started an amazing thursday, catching up with a YM leader over breakfast nearby. And took a nice 5mins walk across my place to my favourite cafe, "Wimbly Lu Chocolates" at Jln Riang.

Spent my entire afternoon "sabbath" resting in God's presence at my favourite Wimbly Lu chocolates near my place. A nice ice caffe latte, a good read & sometime to just take a break & reflect on this exciting Faith Journey!. Really miss my weekly dates with Jesus! :)

And just this afternoon, after a nice good time talking to God, and journalling my prayer with Him. Decided to take a read of this book "Streams of Living Water" by Richard Foster. And the chapter was on the "Contemplative Stream". I was than led to an old spiritual journal which my first formal mentor, Ps Gladwin Lee, gave to me on 28 Feb 2008. Where he challenged me to copy the entire book of "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence.

So what's Sabbath?

The Anglicized term "Sabbath" is in Hebrew Shabbath meaning "day of rest"; it derives from the verb shavath ,defined as "desist from exertion" (often "rest" or "cease"). 

The first mention of Sabbath in the bible began in the Genesis creation story! 

Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Flashback to Disciple 1 last Wednesday night, we had this discussion on Sabbath, should we take it as a literal day of rest after 6 days of work. The majority of Christians would take it as Sundays. Full time church workers like me would probably take it on a weekday, since our weekends are normally busy at church. And then there's this radical approach of Sabbath, that I kinda agree too. That is beyond a "set time or day" but an Attitude of the Heart, to intentionally be in a state of Trust & Surrender, a time to reflect in God and to stop doing the things of the World". And it's not bound by a day or time.  

Having said that, I still believe that however we view what the Sabbath is, all of us should at the very least make a period of time of just resting in God. Where we cease all activities. It can be few days, a day, half day, or just a couple of hours. 

It took one random IDMC conference in 2011 which I attended where my favourite preacher, Rev Edmund Chan challenged the congregation to make a date on our calendars to just spend a time of solitude with the Lord. In response to his message, decided to a save a date on my next off day & commit that day to Him. On 8 Sep 2011, carried out that commitment on my off day & experience an amazing refreshing day dwelling in His Word & being in His awesome presence! A journal entry of it in this link here. Journal of my first "Set day with the Lord"   

Also collated this photo album of my many "Sabbaths" there after "A Day with the Lord"   

Brother Lawrence once said this, "I do nothing else but abide in his holy presence , and I do this by simple attentiveness and an habitual, loving turning of my eyes on Him. This I should call... A wordless and secret conversation between the soul and God which no longer ends."

If you actually manage to reach to the end of this post, let me leave you with this challenge, that I was challenged myself too that change my entire view of Sabbath! 

Look at your calendars today. Save a date right now, it can be a few days, a full day or at least half a day. And make that appointment with Jesus! Or you probably need is to be in a nice quiet place, a bible, a good christian read & probably a journal.

Have you taken your Sabbath?

The Father's Heart of God!- Joseph Chean (Trackers 2013)

Below are the notes taken from the 4 days of deep heartfelt sharing by Joseph Chean, YWAM Base Director at the recent Trackers 2013 at PLMC. Was so inspired from his powerful testimonies of God's faithfullness in his life that it challenged me to reflect if i'm actually taking such huge steps of faith, living on the edge, trusting in God's faithfullness and providence daily. 

We were born on an empty sheet of paper. And our beliefs system & experiences are written on the first 5 years of our life.

Eph 1:17-18

" 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, "

"Know"- experience & encounter 

Lies of the enemy- "God is good but he is not good to me"

"Our soul is like a camera, it reproduces what ever that makes a deep impact in our lives.  What we are today is a fruit that comes from a seed that was sown in us."

God end goal is to allow us to be in a place of wholeness  & a place that we can trust Him."

The Belief tree:

a) Roots - Beliefs

b) Soil - Environment & worldview

c) Branches- Processes

d) Fruits- Actions/behaviour

Common areas of Misconception with God

- Authority

- Trust 

- Value

- Affection 

- Presence 

- Acceptance

Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to our lives.

The son is the image of Father

Heb 1:3

John 14:9

Psalms 139- The greatness & goodness of God

How Big is our God?

Isaiah 40:12

New International Version (NIV)

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,    or weighed the mountains on the scales    and the hills in a balance?

The hollow of His hands

Isa 49:16 "I have engraved you in the palms of my hands"

The cross is the greatest act of love

"May our lives be as beautiful as it was in the mind of God when He woven us together in our mother's womb"

Do you know Him as He is?

"Dear Father, How do you see me? What do you feel about me? What do you want to say to me?"

Relationship is God's idea. God made us to relate. 

Maslow

1) Physiological needs (basic needs such as air, water, food, sleep. )

2) Safety needs ( establishing stability & consistency in a chaotic world.  Need a security of a home & family)

3) Love & belongingness (Humans have a need to be part of a club or group)

4) Esteem needs (There are two types of esteem needs. Results from competence or mastery of a task.  Second, there's that attention & recognition that comes from others) 

5) Self actualisation 

it becomes everything that one is capable of becoming 

How this meets are met or unmet? What has it done to you?

Family relationships 

(dining moments)

Are you raised in an environment -

- when you are encouraged to share?

- encourage to try?

-  to receive love publicly?

Family forms in us:

Our identity - who am I? (Self image)

- Gen 1:26

Our sense of belonging - who do u belong to ?(Ownership)

- Isaiah 43:1

Our Security- what is the basis of being loved & accepted? (Stability)

Jer 31:3

Our Destiny - why am I here? (Life purpose) 

Ps 139:16,  Jer 29:11

Family relationship

Deut 6:5

 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."

Matt 22:37-38

37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

Family relationships is the foundation of how we learn to relate, it shapes our world view and our values

Unwritten family rules:

-We don't talk 

-We don't trust ( a repeat lie can become truth to one)

-We don't feel

-We are always in control

-We deny

When we locked these dysfunctional roles, we block healing and cannot experience wholeness. 

Talk about unwritten family rules?

How these rules have impacted your walk with God?

Types of relationships

- interdependent 

- co- dependent 

- co- existence (functional only?)

- independent

How do we view God?

A child's view of God is filtered through his view of his parents

Conflicts between my thoughts and feelings about Go

- With my mind u see what I think , with my heart u see what I feel

- There needs to be link between what we know in the head and the heart. God wants the truth in our hearts in our hearts

His Authority:

Misconception: His a demanding & controlling God 

Actions: rebellion towards authority, feel a sense of injustice, anger & fearful towards authorities

God's truth: Prov 3:11-12, Hebs 12:7-11, Roms 8:28, Eph 2:10, Psalms 138:8

His Faithfulness:

Misconception: An undependable & deceiving God

Action: unable to trust, unbelief 

God's truth: isa 41:10, psalms 145:13, josh 23:14

John 12:24-26

Deut 32:11

His Values:

Misconception: an inconsistent and self centred God

Actions: Do not agree with God's word

God's truth : psalms 32:8, 25:4, Isaiah 55:8-11

His Affections:

Misconception: God is cold

Action: cannot relate to God's love , cannot receive nor give touch

God'a truth: Isaiah 66:12-13, Zeph 3:17, psalms 139:17-18, John 10:3, isaiah 49:15-16, deut 7:7-9

His Presence:

Misconception: a distant God & a God who is too busy for me

Action: fearful or self dependence. Cannot agree to John 15:5

God's truth: mart 6:4,6,18, Isaiah 41:10, Josh 1:9, Matt 28:18-20

His Acceptance:

Misconception: God's love is conditional

Action: always needing to prove, stay ahead or something radical just to catch attention

God's truth: Isa 49:1, isa 43:1, John 14:23, psalms 68:5

His Communication:

Misconception: a silent God & a reprimanding God

Action: struggle with conversing with God & loved ones, either being silent or accusing

God'a truth: isa 50:4, isa 30:21, John 10:1-18

Which of this 6 misconceptions about God have turned into actions/lifestyle?

Where did that come from? What/when/how was the original seed (circumstances) that was sown in you?

Identity your fruit

Ask The Lord to show you the roots & the seeds

Recall what happened , feel the emotions & identity what lies you have believed.

Once you identify the lies, ask The Lord what is His truth 

Replace the lie with the truth/ ask God how you can live out the truth: when can u start to do, stop doing or continue to do.

After 4 days of a deep heartfelt powerful sharing by Joseph Chean on the Fathers heart of God, the trackers came before the cross in bended knees in surrender to our Lord!

Les Miserables!

Just watch an amazing movie of the famous musical Les Miserables today & was moved by the powerful message behind it! Its one movie that really depicts how one act of grace & mercy to one person can impact the life of many others later on. And this story just reminds me of that ultimate grace from our Heavenly Father, who sent His one and begotten Son, Jesus Christ to sacrificially die for the Sins of the World! That's the ultimate act of grace & mercy that will transformed us too if we just received it freely in open arms like the main character in the story.

Reflections of 2012 & New Year Resolutions for 2013

Spent my New Year of 2013 overseas for the first time in the midst of our Mission Trip in Cambodia. Where the 6 of us from our mission team WWW.TBG.CO aka  Wenshien, Wanlin, Wesley. Tiffany, Ben (Myself), Ganchai had our final debrief in this coffee room in the Methodist School of Cambodia, and spent the last 5mins of 2012 having our own quiet watchnight service. And spent the rest of the night of 2013 having our reflections of 2012 & resolutions of 2013. Below is a quick glance of the key events of 2012 & resolutions for 2013!

Flash Back to 1 Jan 2012...

New Year Resolution from 2012 (*Reflections in Italics/Bold)

 1. To go into FAITH adventures with the Lord where I have never been before! (Many! :D, especially my recent Cambodia Mission Trip which I will share more in my next note!)

2. To spend more time with my sec 4 youths (G.E.L), plan a small grp retreat with them! (Definitely had! & finally had our first ysg retreat together)

3. To read the entire bible cover to cover! (Completed the NLT Chronological bible reading plan, supplemented by D1 where we read 80% of the bible, so almost read it twice in one year)

4. To complete the 9 months DISCIPLE 1 course! (YES! :D)

5. To go Hillsong Conference 2012 (YES! :D)

6. To get IPPT Gold!  (YES! :D Got it twice on 28 Jan & 1 Sep)

7. To reach out to at least 10 friends (Didn't really take count)

8. To focus on mentoring & discipling (Peer leaders in GEL & some YMers) (Definitely had the opportunity for it the past year :) 

9. To be exposed to more social outreaches. (To the least,lost & last) (Had a few opportunities for it participating and organising the local community projects in YM)

10. To continue to live each day with the JOY OF THE LORD! :)

Looking back 2012 has been another amazing year where God has shaped & grown me so much both theologically & in ministry. Ever since YM Camp 2011, i've been learning what it means to live that Spirit Filled empowered life, and 2012 has been a follow up of it, also understanding the heart of what Discipleship really is. Having gone through an intensive yet fruitful 9-10 months of Disciple 1, covering 80% of the bible has deepened my walk & foundations of Scripture. Another milestone of 2012 was going for Hillsong Conference for the first time in Sydney in July where it has been my best holiday yet in the 23 years of my life! Besides the holiday with this amazing team of 10 other youth leaders, had an enjoyable insightful conference where God just changed and opened up my theological understanding of Him after that. And somehow people have mention to me that i've a renewed spirit after coming back from Sydney, I guess it might have been my renewed theological understanding of God which affected how I interact with people,response to situations and serve in ministry too.

Below is a quick glance of a busy yet fulfilling year with a recollection of 28 key events of 13 Retreats, 9 conferences, 4 Camps & 1 Mission Trip in 5 different countries! Where each of them had impacted me in someway or another and have grown & learnt so much from each of them. :)

4- 5 Jan- God's Clay Small Group Retreat, Nacli, Singapore

11-14 Jan - International Sports Leadership Training Camp (ISLT) Level 1, Navigators HQ, Singapore

22 Jan- UNDIGNIFIED, CAC Youth Conference 2012, Grace Methodist Church, Singapore

17 March- Kingdom Invasion Conference, EXPO, Singapore

26-28 Apr- YM Staff Retreat in Melaka, Malaysia

3-5 May- YMove Retreat in Phuket, Thailand

12-15 May- TRAC Youth Workers & Leaders Retreat, Batam, Indonesia

19 May- SGL Retreat, Botanical Gardens, Singapore

26-28 May- YM Sec 1-3 Camp, Praisehaven, Singapore

2-5 June- Wesley Church Camp 2012, Melaka, Malaysia

7 June- Ignite Conference 2012, Emmanuel Assembly of God, Singapore  

23-24 June- YM Leaders Retreat, JB, Malaysia

30 Jun- 10 July- HILLSONGS Conference, Sydney, Australia

14 July, Fusion, TRAC Youth Conference, PLMC, Singapore

19 July -  Living Word Conference, at St.James Church, Singapore

2-3 Aug - SBC Pastors'/ leaders' Conference 2012 , SBC, Singapore

17 Aug- Kingdom Culture Conference, PLMC, Singapore

18-20 Aug- Men’s Spiritual Retreat 2012, Blue Mountain Kelong, Batam, Indonesia

11-12 Aug- YM Committee Retreat, JB, Malaysia

5-7 Sep- Young Methodist Leaders Conference 2012 (YMLC), Batam, Indonesia

19-20 Oct- Disciple 1 Retreat 2012, Seventy-Seven retreat centre, GMC, Singapore

27-28 Nov- GEL Ysg Retreat, Home Team NS, Singapore

30 nov -3 Dec- YM Combined Subministry Retreat, Nacli, Singapore

12-16 Dec- YM Camp 2012, Singapore Sports School, Singapore

19 Dec- God's Clay 10 Years Anniversary Celebration, Laura's place, Singapore

22-23 Dec God's Clay SG Retreat, Praisehaven, Singapore

26 Dec - 1 Jan 2013 Mission Trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Looking ahead in 2013, can foresee new transitions and yet another packed schedule at least for the first half of 2013 where I will be stretched quite a bit. Will be involve in TRACKERS, this 3 months Discipleship programme which leads to a mission trip with a batch of youths from different Methodist churches from Jan to March. At the same time, will be beginning another year of Disciple 1, this time as a Facilitator. Will also be doing the Alpha programme with my own small group from Feb onwards! And if my application goes through, will be studying in TTC come July. Where it will be a totally new season of my life going back to studies again, and learning to drop all my current ministries to focus on my time in Seminary for the next 3 years. 

New Year Resolution for 2013 

1. To get into Trinity Theological College (TTC), and begin a new season of my life in Seminary for the next 3 years come July.
2. To find a successor to lead my youths small group (GEL) before I leave for my studies.
3. To embark on the TRACKERS programme (Jan to March)
4. To embark on Disciple 1 again this time as a Facilitator.
5. To embark on the Alpha programme with my own small group and inviting a friend for it.
6. To go Israel and experience Biblical History coming a live!
7. To attend the Global Discipleship Congress (GDC) in Manila
8. Get IPPT Gold again for my next window.
9. Go for an adventure trip in Bali!
10. To sign up for another half marathon this year! probably sundown?
11. To improve on my handwriting! :)
12. To continue to live each day with the JOY OF THE LORD! =)