What Are The Odds?

True happiness. Wondering how you can get it? You're at the right blog reading the right post at the right time. Check out the odds. You're probably the 0.001% of the entire world population that is reading this post right now. Feeling happy already?

Many people find happiness in different things, such as, occupying themselves with fun filled activities (watching a movie or hangin' out with friends or going on a window shopping spree or just sleeping) or spending quality time with their love ones, or planning for a tour to the Caribbean islands. Some depend on good luck or good fortune to bring them happiness. Some pick up a hobby, like learning a certain musical instrument or learning how to cook, doing some gardening, and our all time favourite, collecting stamps (as if anyone still does this, but if you do, please contact me, I can give you some of mine). Some go on to simply do what they love doing, such as, eating, going for 'makan trips' (best related to Malaysians), reading a book of a fictional nerd wizard boy turn hero (yeah right), watching a favourite movie (studies show that people enjoy watching things that are not real, that will never happen, or anything related to blood), or the all time most popular pass time, sleeping (again?).

All the above are true. People do get happiness in these various ways and probably many other weird and not so common ways which we will not mention about today. But, mind you, all of these have just a temporary effect in bringing you happiness. Temporary pleasure isn't the same as lasting satisfaction and happiness.

I have learned and found out through the years that TRUE happiness can't be found, it can't be earned by what you do or generated emotionally. TRUE happiness is given. It is receivable as much as it is rejectable. Happiness isn't TRUE happiness but TRUE happiness will bring happiness. TRUE happiness stands the test of earthquakes (shaky times in life and surroundings), it defeats defeat without words, it makes you have inexpressible emotions and it even stands the test of test itself.

'WORDS OF TRUTH'

He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heir according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7 NASB)

Dear reader, if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ (TRUE happiness) into your life. You need to do that right now. The happiness of your life will no more depend on the happenings around you or what you do but it will be found in Jesus Christ (TRUE happiness). And when there is TRUE happiness how can there not be happiness that follow? So take a step of faith and receive Him (TRUE happiness) into your heart. He loves you as much as anytime He has ever loved you no matter what you do right now.

If you want to receive TRUE happiness today, read this following statement with all of your heart,

Jesus Christ, come into my life. Even though I don't know much about You, but with all of my heart, I receive You into my life and this gift of eternal life. Jesus, I feel so stupid doing this, its like I'm talking to this brainless computer, but I'm sure You're listening to me somewhere. Thank you for Your love even though I'm not perfect. 谢谢耶稣 ^_^

If you have read this with a believing heart, congratulations, you just prayed and you just got a new life. Your sins are forgiven. Now, you must contact a Christian friend or you can also call me so that we know we have a new brother/sister.

'WORDS OF DESTINY'

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible)

The Game of Life - Part 3, Focus On Your Career

my all time favorite football player, David Beckham

In football, a footballers career is around 10-15 years, depending on what position they play and when did they turn pro. They give all that they can, put all their efforts into training, sometimes even jeopardising their relationships (friendship and etc.) just because of their intense passion and commitment to their career. Players want to look back on their careers and know that they have given their best and be remembered by fans for their achievements not only as a football player but as a person who benefited and impacted the sport. On the other hand, players that get caught up in relationships and in the heat of all other things that has nothing to do with even a ball, often are players that are not remembered by fans or even recognize as a player. They are often remembered as losers! A football great has always been measured by their loyalty to the club, their focus on their career and their achievements, which we all know will follow when the first 2 things are accomplished.

So come on people, let us learn from these football players. Know that our time in this world ain't that much. Its much shorter than you think it is. Let us be giving our hearts totally to "football" (God. For those of you that are offended that I've equated football with God, please get angry with the devil, he deserves it more than me) in this short time and reap our rewards in eternity. Let us not be caught up in the things of the world and lose focus of what we are to do for such a time as this. I'm sure you don't wanna look back and regret on wasted opportunities. Trust me, you will regret if you aren't living right baby! I'm not saying that having friendships are wrong, certainly not, I would be a fool if I was meaning that, and my mama raised no fool. I'm saying, don't be caught up in it. Well, only you and God know whether you're caught up in something. So focus on your "career".

P.S. - This is a gentle reminder to all you blind dingbats that have actually already figured out your purpose of life and yet not living it and doing it. You're welcome.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV)

'FUN FACT'

God looks at the intentions of your heart more than you know it.

Daniel Wong, Ministry Assistant of WHC

The Game of Life - Part 2, Listen To Your Manager

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and manager Arsène Wenger

Every football club is different. They have different styles of play. Some play 'direct play', some play 'counterattacking play' and etc. Managers are the factor for this. The quality of a team is often determined by the quality of the manager. We often see that when players start to forget their role as players and start to think that they are in control of the team, they not only slump in their personal performance on the pitch but they cause their entire team to lose matches. On the other hand, we also see that when players respect their managers, they begin to learn and mature fast as a footballer and as a person. They start to perpetuate in their improvement of their skills and technique. Not only that but they start to understand the vision of their manager as well and start to play beautifully as a team. When all the players of the team start to obey and listen to their manager, the manager begins to enjoy his time as a manager, the players enjoy playing together and the fans enjoy their time watching and cheering their team on.

Let us learn from this on honour and respect, submission and teachability. Often we forget that our leaders are doing everything in their ability for our well being. When we start to think of ourselves more highly then we ought to (not that we're not suppose to think of ourselves highly just that not more highly then we ought to la), our efforts in "training" (good works) are wasted and the whole team (cell group/church) becomes handicap because of our patheticness. Our perpetual success is then hindered just because of the 'I think I'm very smart' attitude.

We can learn from countless stories in the Bible about honour, respect, submission and being teachable. The story of Elijah (big shot manager) and Elisha (big shot manager's butler) is a classic example. For 11 years Elisha was doing nothing related to performing miracles or anything of the sort which we know that he did later on in the story. He got the double portion of anointing from Elijah not because he had already 11 years of experience in the ministry or he was praying consistently for 11 years but it was because he was simply submissive, teachable and gave respect and honour to his manager (Elijah). Am I saying then we should not pray? Certainly not!

Whatever Elijah told him to do he did it. Can you imagine what would've been the things Elijah told him to do? "Hey stack the chairs" or "Make sure the toilets are clean when I get back from raising the dead". Notice that he wasn't even a football player (a prophet in training). He was the manager's butler. Nothing to do directly with football. He probably didn't even know he was gonna be the successor of Elijah. Honour, respect, submission, being teachable plus passion was what eventually made Elisha a footballing legend.

So, LISTEN TO YOUR MANAGER...... LA!

'WORDS OF FAITH'

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give account. Let them do this with joy and not grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17 NASB)

The Game of Life - Part 1, Teammates

picture of Manchester United vs Malaysia by Bong Yang

Football, a communicative language that doesn't require you speak. The most popular and competitive sport in the world. The game which makes us, sometimes, dream and think we can play just like the guys on TV. For some reason I think God loves football too. I think He created football to show and teach us the meaning and purpose of our lives and to show us how much He loves us. There are so many values and lifestyle principles that we can learn from this sport. From every angle you would to look at football, there is always something you can learn from it, be it the fans, the managers, the clubs, the football superstars or legends, the list goes on, you are sure to find a valuable lesson. Wondering how I came up with this conclusion? Here goes...... (I'll be using some football terms along the way)

When financially not so rich clubs (like Arsenal) are unable to buy ready made good players (superstars), they stick as a team and work with what they have to be better and win. Despite their differences, they look beyond each others weaknesses and look at the positives of each other, seeing what they can benefit the team with. Accepting the fact that they are not as good as the other clubs, they work and train even harder than the others, hoping that their efforts will pay off at the end and be good enough to win the championship.

What does this tell us? Shows us that despite our differences, we should look beyond what people can't do and start to find out what people can do. I read something a friend posted up recently, it goes something like this, "Instead of changing the place, why not I just start to change my heart". Sometimes when we're struggling at a certain place and it seems like we're not 'winning enough games', the easier (cowardly) thing to do is to escape the problems by "transferring to another club". Come on, let us learn from the poor football clubs. Let us stick together, press on, push forward and finish this long season together. No matter how hard or tough its gonna get, we're all still, teammates.

To be continued......
Stay tuned for more on 'The Game of Life'.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)

'WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT'

God does not reward us base on our hard work and results but base on our obedience and faithfulness.

Daniel Wong, Ministry Assistant of WHC

No Purple Dinosaur

Some people think that Christians "imagine" their God up and the Bible is just some man created book that supposedly contains some sort of ancient holy writings. Sometimes you just can't help but wonder what is going on in these peoples minds. I'd really like to find out.

Just last year I was on a 3 day camp and we were to camp in the jungle on the first day. But I only knew that after we camped in the jungle on the first day. What an experience it was. Bathing in the river, brushing teeth with river water, having only 1 pair of extra clothes and half an hour of sleep in the night. In such a situation, you can't help but to just look around and know that there must be a Creator, a Designer for such beautiful things.

God ain't no purple dinosaur but if He really was my imaginary friend, He must be one hack of an imaginary friend since He can heal the sick and raise the dead. So keep on being confident in the one whom you have believed in. He is so God, that He can't help but to be God and love you.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

God said to Moses "I am who I am". (Exodus 3:14 NIV)

'FUN FACT'

God is so secure in His sovereignty that He doesn't mind appearing not sovereign.

Kris Vallotton, author of best-selling 'The Supernatural Ways of Royalty'

Smells Like Fried Chicken

Last week, I was seriously ill and having symptoms of the all popular and dangerous H1N1 that have been circulating round in the newspapers. I was worried and scared somewhat yet still not really giving much thought to it. It was a really suffering time but as always when I'm not well physically I see things that don't usually catch my attention.

A few days into my illness, I went to the doctor and got some medicines. After taking them for the next few days, I really got weak and tired due to the after effects of the antibiotics. I didn't feel like talking or praying or reading the Bible or worshiping. But there was a period of time after taking a dosage of medicine, I felt alright and I went to read the Bible. After that day, I started getting better and I wasn't worried or fearful anymore. There was peace and I just felt joyful, for awhile.

Often when we talk to God, we're always just asking for something we want or need but we forget we're dealing with a Person and often treat Him like a furniture or a vending machine. We've got to begin to cultivate His presence and be aware that He is near. When we do that, all the goodness of His nature or His "aura" will just rub on to us whether be it healing that we need or finance or joy or peace or faith. Just like having fried chicken in our house. When there is fried chicken there, obviously you'll be able to smell fried chicken right? You don't have to tell yourself "I must smell it, I must smell it", you'll just be smelling it. But when you don't even have fried chicken at home, how in the world are you going to be able to smell fried chicken? Imagine the smell ah? So you can't get the promises of Jesus or the Holy Spirit's attributes if you don't have Him. When you begin to just be aware that Jesus is near and here, the very thing that you need or want will be there too. If you're having a presentation in college and you need courage, just worship Him and just be in His presence, faith will be present with you can we know that faith carries the element of courage. If you need love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control (or all of the above), just call Him and when He arrives in your house, you'll just be getting all of these. You don't even have to ask for them! If your dumb and do idiotic things that you regret later on and you really want wisdom, read His Word, the Bible, and you'll get smarter.

As you're reading this, you can be anywhere, at work, at school, at home. Jesus is there right now with you. Smells like fried chicken doesn't it?

'WORDS OF FAITH'

The distance around the city shall be 18,000 [4 x 4,500] measures; and the name of that city from that day and ever after shall be, THE LORD IS THERE [Jehovah Shammah]. (Ezekiel 48:35 Amplified Bible)

'FUN FACT'

God desires intimacy, He desires intimacy, He wants intimacy. He's 'into me you see'.

Russell Evans, founder of Planetshakers

The Christian F Word

Faith, the Christian F word. Recently I've been searching for the meaning of this word 'faith', and through some sources these are some definitions I've found.

faith [feyth]

-noun

1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability
2. belief that is not base on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact
3. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty
4. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims
5. a system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith
6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith
7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc.: He is the only one who proved his faith in recent troubles
8. Christian Theology. the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved

All of the above are somewhat correct translations of the word faith, but which one actually is the real deal? Or in other words, which one is the faith that was described and used by Jesus or Paul in the Bible? Or is it none of the above?

The answer is ....................
Faith has many dimensions. In the Bible we find out that faith is a substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). We also know that without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Also in Ephesians 2:8, we understand that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.

I've learned some dimensions of faith as well through teachings and preachings and also revelation from God Himself. Here are some cool explanations.

1. Persistence isn't faith, neither is patience faith and neither boldness and courage faith, but faith has the elements of persistence, patience and boldness and courage.
2. Faith isn't a feeling but when you have faith, it feels good.
3. When we look at grace (a.k.a Jesus) in any time, whether good or bad times, Grace looks back at us and says that is faith.
4. Mustard seed of faith also can move mountains.

Awesome isn't it? When we start to understand the meanings of what God's actually talking about, we have a new perspective of things (read 'All Eyes On You' post for more insight).

Here is a joke to highlight this post.

A man was drowning in the sea. He shouted and screamed with all of his heart and might, "God save me!!". A few minutes later, a boat passed by. Men threw life rescue tubes and shouted,
"Grab on, grab onto the tube!". The man answered, "It's ok. Don't worry about me. I've prayed to God and He's gonna save me. My faith is in Him!". The boat left. After some hours another boat passed by and men threw life rescue tubes to him and shouted, "Grab on, we're here to save you!". The man answered, "Don't worry about me. I've prayed to God and He's gonna save me. My faith is in Him!". The man died in the end and went to heaven. He then asked God furiously, "Why didn't You save me? Didn't You hear me?". God answered and said, "I SENT YOU 2 GIANT BOATS YOU BIG DUMMIE!".

Sometimes we want God to show up in the way we want things to happen and finally miss the very thing we actually prayed for. 'It's my life, I'll do what I want' attitude or 'I don't care what people think about me, I'll do it my way' attitude will only lead us to the destruction of ourselves. Sometimes people think that faith is being stubborn, and the truth is that stubbornness is not at all a dimension of faith.

Get in focus people, look at grace (the gift of God, Jesus) and grace looks back at us and says that that is faith and He is pleased in the end because you have just used faith and faith pleases God.

'WORDS OF FAITH'

When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!". (Matthew 8:10 NLT)

'REVELATION'

We look at grace and grace looks back at us and says "That is faith".

Joseph Prince, author of best-selling 'Destined to Reign'