Friday, August 08, 2008
Stolen from my own blog:)...
WARNING!!! VERY LONG POST AHEAD! COULD BE LIFE CHANGING:)!
No no I am not talking about
planetshakers the
Christian worship group. I am talking about us. Who is us you ask? "Us" as in the Christians of the world. Isn't there something in you which wants to "change the world"?
Well I have always had a Macro view of what it means to be a
Planetshaker. I always love to look at the big picture. It could be because its in my own culture to see things as a whole rather than always looking at things individually. Also, its a possibility that I look at things in a big way because I always(since young) had this thing about conquering the world, or being the worlds best at something.
However, these past 4 weeks in school has let me look at the word 'world' in a very different way. Through the learning of cultural safety in
BNCC 500, or our Cross-cultural Communication paper, I have come to view the word Culture in a different way. Which in turn, lead me to look at the word "world' in a more micro view, or the supposed smaller picture.
I always thought of Culture as Ethnicity and the "culture" we practice with in each ethnic group. Yet CC(Cross Culture) taught me to look at that word in a whole different way. Culture isn't just your own ethnic background, it also involves your age, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, education, where you live and every little factor that makes you YOU!
While reading an article for my Annotated Bibliography(an assignment in my
BNKH500 course), I started to think about individual cultures. I thought about how our own
indivudual cultures were in fact worlds of their own. We
EACH had a
DIFFERENT culture of our own(Isn't that an amazing thought?). Which means we all think and do things in different ways and for different reasons.
This happened to be the time I was listening to my extensive and exclusively
Hillsong collection(need to widen my range) and started to think that impacting the world isn't just about impacting the world in general, but impacting a
PERSON's world(probably not a new thought for everyone). Why am I waiting till
I'm old enough, have reached a high enough social and financial position to change the world? Must I be Prime Minister or something to really change the world? Must i even set up some huge world organisation to do that?
My answer is
NO! We can do it in our everyday lives. Just by helping your friend print out notes that they need, or even helping an old lady carry her groceries up the bus. That's changing a persons world.
Just imagine your that old lady, and your struggling to carry that heavy basket or trolley up the bus, and even the
bus driver just stares and does nothing(not true in NZ, a lot of the time, the bus drivers are MOSTLY very helpful). Wouldn't you feel helpless and alone in the world at that point? Wouldn't you want someone to help you?
I know, some of you may ask me, "Isn't that what we are supposed to do as Christians anyway?" Do you really do it? Honestly?
A lot of times I pass by chances to help people, because I'm too lazy, afraid, don't notice and many other reasons. I'm not scolding anyone(or even myself), its just human nature to care for one's self more easily that helping a stranger or even someone we call a friend. I'm just saying, look at it in a different way.
Lets go back to being that old lady, with loads of groceries to carry. What if someone did help you? Wouldn't that just make your day? It changed your world, even if it is just for the rest of the day. Instead of feeling frustrated, alone, sad and many other depressing feelings, you feel happy. You feel that people do care and that there is hope in this world(well some of you wouldn't think that much, but I would).
You ask me, "isn't that just a small thing?" To me it isn't, every small thing you do is changing the world(
someone's world) in one way or another. Let's look at another example if you want. Do you ever remember that lonely boy or girl that is basically alone nearly ALL of the time in school or church(shocking eh)?
Well when I was Primary school(school from 7-12 years in
Singapore), I used to be very much bullied. Used to be called fat, smelly and stuff. That didn't do a lot for my confidence. Never liked school much for that reason(and others). Was lonely
a lot of the time. Never spoke up, had not much self belief.
One day when I was 9, a very good friend of mine changed my life. I had missed the beginning of school because of returning from holiday a few days after school started. I was introduced to my teacher and this boy(my good friend now) just took me in and said, "hey buddy, lets be friends! Don't worry I will take care of you!"(Can't remember exactly what he said, but it was something like that)
For once, there was someone to take care of me, someone to watch my back, someone who believed in me.I started to believe in myself. I liked school more(still skipped, never liked school as a child:p), joined my friends playing basketball, had confidence to enjoy playing soccer. I basically changed. From 9-12 years old, those were some of the happiest times in my life.
My world changed. I was no longer alone and
unconfident. I no longer had to walk around school on my own and feel lonely during recess. I could play catching, basketball and soccer with my friends. My results improved, I had enough belief to want to play rugby in secondary school and I can go on and on. My
WHOLE world Changed! I thank God that He sent my friend into my life! I can't imagine what a depressed child I would be without my friend coming into my life.
All through my life, I have been blessed so much to have these kind of friends
EVERY step of the way. Friends who bring out the best in me! I thank God for all of my Friends:)! I'm sure
a lot of you have these kind of friends who changed your life in one way or another. Imagine being able to do that for someone, changing their
lifes forever!
Well your not going to have those kind of opportunities all the time, to make a wholesale change in
someone's life, but you could nevertheless impact a life/world in someway or another. I'm just saying, don't wait till your "ready". Just go out to your everyday life and make a difference in
someone's life! Don't let anyone tell you that its just something small. NO it isn't! Every bit of love you can share, makes the world go round:)! I'm not saying its going to be appreciated by everyone, but just do it. We all can't be harvesters, some of us have to be seed planters too! Now go out there and change
someone's world:)!
P.S. Do it with a smile(or at least a grin:p)!
God bless,
Charles.
Labels: Charles
home is HEAVEN-
6:59 PM
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Hi, Its been such a long time since we have all crossed each other's paths.. I am sure many of us have grown and moved on to different directions since 4 years ago! Time flies.. and I hope that all of us still carry within our hearts the many blessed moments that God used to shape us while we were at CITYteens. God is simply amazing, and just hearing how God is leading each of u to different paths to fulfill your God given potential is just really encouraging. =)
My life now compared to 4 years ago is really different. I am in a completely different country for 1! But one thing I have learnt is that God is not so interested in the DESTINATION, but in your journey.. and how u grow through that journey. Let's be open to God, and take out as much as we can on this journey. "Its not the dream of a life time, but its the dream that takes a lifetime". Take care everyone!Labels: Andrea
home is HEAVEN-
4:14 PM
Friday, May 30, 2008
When I say, "I am a Christian" by Carol Wimmer
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting, "I've been saved!"
I'm whispering, "I get lost! That's why I chose this way"
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak with human pride
I'm confessing that I stumble-needing God to be my guide
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong
I'm professing that I'm weak and pray for strength to carry on
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting that I've failed and cannot ever pay the debt
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I'm worth it
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority--I only know I'm lovedLabels: Jeanette
home is HEAVEN-
4:25 PM
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
An Email Jeanette sent me. Thanks Jeanette:)! Its short yet so very powerful! Enjoy:)!
Purifier of Silver Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered,
'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire , remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
P.S. I would like to thank Ben, Liane, Andrea, Wei Jun, Gab, Daph, Sherry, Cyn, Jeanette, Matt C. and anyone else(many posts dun have names:p) who has contributed to this blog from 2004 till now! Without knowing it, we actually managed to keep this blog going from then till now, 2008! That on its own is a testimony of how God is still working through our lives all the way till now:)! Add oil bah(jia you:p)! Lets keep encouraging not only those who were from CT but everyone we can!
Tough times are times God is putting you into the hottest part of the fire. He does it so that one day He can look at you and see His image in you:)!
God bless,
Charles.
home is HEAVEN-
7:59 PM
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
CITYTeens was a time that many of us shared together. We had our good times, we had our bad times. Some of us had a great CITYTeens experience, probably some bad and even for some a mixed one. Yes I know, many of you will tell me, "Charles, don't hang on to the past!" I know that we shouldn't. However, this is not all about hanging on to the past.
The thing is, we were all brought together for a REASON. No it wasn't a reason, such that we were supposed to stay together forever. No. We were brought together so that God could change each and everyone of our lives in some way or another.
Just look back, when were the times most of our lives actually changed? When did God really touch us and move us into serving Him? I really don't know about you, but for me, it was during CITYTeens.
It was the time I fell madly in love with Him, and wanted to change the world for Him(I still do:p)! All the things I did, I did trying to honour Him as much as I could. Yes I was over Zealous a lot of the time, nevertheless I was trying to do the right thing for Him! We all were in our own ways trying our best to serve Him in the ways we knew best.
No, we shouldn't worship the moment or the time or even the organisation. We should worship God! He was the one who brought us together so that we could fall in love with Him and allow Him to use us to touch each others lives:)! Its not something to be forgotten. Its a time we remember so that we can learn from the good things and the BAD!
We build a monument(Genesis 12:7), of our time there. So that we remember God's Greatness during that time, of how He touched and called us in each of our own special ways. That in itself is great, He didnt do it the same for everyone of us, He did it such that He touched and called everyone one of us in a special way.
I look back and now see that many things I did could have been done in a much better way. I don't look back at it in regret. No, I look back at it and learn from the many youthful mistakes I made and try my best to learn from it. Such that I may run the race in a better way.
Not only do I look back at the bad, I also look back and remember all the good times. All the laughter, all the friendships that grew during that period. I look at all the good things that God did through my life and remember how powerfully God can use me if only I give it all up to Him!
I'm not reviving this blog so that I can spend more time remembering the past, no I do it such that we can share our experiences, in doing so, letting go of pains and sharing our joys with each other! I do it such that we can share what God has done in our lives even after we left CITYTeens behind. I do it such that we can treasure our friendships together even now. I hope to see all of you here:)!
God bless,
Charles.
Labels: Charles, Revival
home is HEAVEN-
10:41 AM
WOW! I really can't believe that the blog is even still alive!!! Its as much as I still can't believe John Terry missed his penalty in the Champions League Final! Does anyone still view the blog? Let us revive it shall we? Not only as a way we can share each others wonderful memories, but also a way to keep in contact with each other and to even share God's experiences with one another:)! Well I really hope we keep this blog alive!!! ask me to give you admin power if you are interested in following me:)! It will be hard, but we can do it if we really want! Hope to see all of you here soon:)!
God bless,
Charles.Labels: Charles, Revival
home is HEAVEN-
4:20 AM
Monday, April 02, 2007
happened to stumble onto this again...HAHA I still miss cityteens, even though its been so long. I guess its unhealthy for me to still keep thinking about the past, but I'll never forget the times I spent here. Haha love you guys. =)
-weijun
home is HEAVEN-
1:58 AM
Monday, May 29, 2006
http://www.syfc.org.sg/events/dvc/cinema.html
home is HEAVEN-
12:52 AM
