Calling all those SPM BK students out there ! If you need BK trial papers from MBS to work on – check out this Bible Knowledge blog (http://spmbk.blogspot.com/ )
It has study tips and past year papers – so download what you need from this very resourceful website. You will be sitting for your BK paper soon in November so study hard, pray and do your best for Him.
All the best 
IPIN Pastors’ Wives Retreat ( 19 – 21 February, 2009)
Swiss Garden Resort, Damai Laut
I came home feeling so blessed after attending the pastors’ wives retreat . NECF and IPIN (Impacting Pastors Impacting Nation) had organized and chosen the pastors’ wives to honor them with a 3 days 2 nights retreat at the beautiful Swiss Garden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut. This is the first of its kind and fully sponsored retreat for the wives of Malaysian pastors.
IPIN is a ministry founded by Pastor Roland Seow of FGA Melbourne. He and his wife Evelyn Seow have been running similar retreats to refresh and strengthen pastors in Australia and elsewhere. Having been a senior pastor’s wife for the past 20 years, Evelyn understands the many challenges and struggles pastors’ wives experience in the ministry. She was a great encouragement at the retreat and demonstrated the power of prayer over the flies at Damai Laut. Incidently the resort has plenty of houseflies that comes from a nearby chicken farm. On our last day of meals, (after her prayer), there was not a swap or ‘flapping’ of hands to drive the flies away. We ate our meals in peace.
pastors’ wives
I would like to acknowledge here my heartfelt thanks to all generous sponsors and people who had contributed sacrificially (in various ways) to make this retreat a success and blessing to the Malaysian pastors’ wives….
Pastor Roland and Evelyn Seow from FGA Melbourne who first birthed the ministry of IPIN to bless God’s battle-worn servants.
Evelyn Seow for her bubbling joy and cheerful spirit at the retreat. Her ministry was an encouragement to many wives. Inspite of her grandson, Joshua (who was born pre-mature) being in the ICU in the US..she was present with us and ministering at the retreat.
(*Evelyn, I remember your words to us… “Help me keep focus in You, that I will not miss your signals as to my move in the ministries…You are the initiator and perfector of our faith…” Thank you for declaring Isaiah 61! His words are indeed powerful !)
Andrew Wong who has a big and generous heart to sponsor all the rooms at Damai Laut. The hospitality and food was good for a 4-star hotel…. Place ok..except for too many flies on the first 2 days-stay.
NECF (SangNgan and Kathryn, Patrick Cheng, Mr. Samuel Ang) for coordinating and organizing…arranging our bus transport for many ‘poor wives’ who were not sure of getting their way to Damai Laut.
Our wonderful guest speakers :
- Mrs Jeanie Mok (Internation City Church, Brisbane) who is always well-groomed cos she visits her hairdresser everyweek….for her ‘spiritual makeover’ message and tips on the physical ‘ makeover’ for looking good.
- Mrs Koh Poh Kim ( FGA KL) for her wonderful testimony….of her ministry with the late Dr Koh Eng Kiat.
- Datuk Dr Chiam Heng Kiang for her wide knowledge and experience in helping children. She shared many ways on how to bring up children in troubled times.
- Pastor Dr Lew Lee Choo (SIB KL) who gave an inspiring message and her testimony of being a pastor and a pastor’s wife.
Sally Koh, my fun-loving companion in the bus journeys, who kept me awake with her testimonies and laughter.
Mr Cheok, our bus driver who was careful and patient ferrying us to and fro.
and all pastors for releasing and encouraging your wives to this retreat..
And all others who have helped, contributed in one way or another ( whether big or small) in prayers or finances to make this retreat a spiritual landmark for me. It was a joy to glean from the various speakers.
Thank you.
-an Aesop fable
A HEAVY WAGON was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly, when the oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: Hallo there! Why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labor, and we, not you, ought to cry out.
Moral:
Those who suffer most cry out the least.
The ox symbolizes diligence, reliability, sincerity, strength and sound judgment.
So here’s wishing you and other readers of this blog an Ox-picious and Ox-cellent year. May our faith in Christ continue to be strong and firm in the times ahead.
Happy Chinese New Year…. ‘ Xing Nian Ping An’
My students during a BK test in Puchong…
cracking heads on a test on parables……
a prayer as you prepare for the finals….
“Lord, give me peace as I open my books and notes.
Grant me a clarity of mind as I prepare.
Give me insight and wisdom to understand those things that are not clear.
As I read and learn – this is a part of my discipleship.
If I am tense, worried and anxious, I ask for your peace and calm.
Let my mind be rested, my body energized
And my spirit inspired for this exam I have to take.
Give me peace and confidence to do my best.,
So that I can reap the rewards of my study.
Be with my fellow students too.
Thank you, Jesus.”
Amen.
‘Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a workman who does not need to be ashamed
and who correctly handles the word of truth’
~2 Timothy 2:15 (New International Version) ~
Our hearts are grief but also find relief – because pain comes no more in Mom and Pa. We have lost both parents in a short span of time, within 3 weeks. Mom went home to be with the Lord on 29th May and Pa, today morning. (20th June). Though our hearts are very sad and we feel emotionally and physically exhausted, we are relieved to know that their toil, pain and suffering from illnesses have ended. They have now enter into their eternal joy and life with our dear Lord and Savior Jesus.
“Mom and Pa, we deeply missed you both.”
When we asunder part
It gives us inward pain
But we shall still be joined in heart
And hope to meet you again.
Tomorrow on the 21st June, 2008, it will be a funeral and memorial service at Nirvana Memorial Center for Pa and thereafter for burial at Subang Lutheran Garden. He will be buried by the side of Mom. What a comforting sight it shall be !
Will post more updates later…… 
or check out the other blog.
I haven’t been blogging for a long while. Though I had wished to pen some thoughts or ideas, my heart and mind were too preoccupied with family matters.
My mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer on 3rd April, 2008 and she was called home to be with the Lord on 29th May, 2008 at 7.20pm. When we were informed by the doctor about her illness, we knew then that mom would not live long. The painful ordeal had then begun and it was overwhleming for the family. Surgery and chemotherapy were not the options we took as there were risks involved. Her cancer was the last stage and she survived only 2 months after the diagnosis.
The past months have been trying times for the family. It was not easy to care for a sick dying cancer patient. Nursing, feeding, cleaning and massaging to make mom the most comfortable took a toil on some family members. However we thanked God for His grace and strength to see us through.
Mom passed away peacefully without having to take morphine. Her two son-in-laws and the maid were by her bedside when she breathed her last.
Mom was buried in Subang Lutheran Garden.
Mr David Boler was also buried here not long ago. It was a comforting sight for me! I decided to take a snapshot of his plot. He and my mom are about 6 plots apart in the same line on the burial ground.
“ You are both deeply missed. Departed yet unforgotten..”
“Mom, memories of you will be forever etched in our hearts….”
’ Feel the Nails’ by Ray Boltz… is a good reminder as we ponder and reflect this coming Easter. Ponder on those words – they are so meaningful.
Feel The Nails
(Words by Ray Boltz, Music by Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan)
They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
And that He paid that price
A long long time ago
When He gave His life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there’s something else
I want to know
CHORUS:
Does He still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry,
Crucify, again?
Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I’ve got to change
I just can’t bear the thought
Of hurting Him
It seems that I’m so good
At breaking promises
And I treat His precious grace
So carelessly
But each time He forgives
What if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?
CHORUS
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Have I crucified you, Jesus,
With my sin?
I’m tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt You again
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
1989 Shepherd Boy MusicASCAP and SonWorshippersASCAP.
I was unable to update the blog for some while. There have been much happenings in the home (caring for the sick) and at work and I was experiencing some most stresss-ing and worn out-moments (both physically and emotionally). I also came home from the camp with some skin allergies in the face and neck. I am in a rollercoaster ride of ‘mood swings’ too - up one day, and very down the next! I get irritated and exhausted easily these days. Please pray for me.
I promised to post some shots taken at the recent camp. If you are a member of the Facebook, add me to your friends list and you can check out the photos there. There are also some uploaded to my flickr album.
Grace upon Grace. That was the theme for FES as they celebrated 45 years of student ministry on 27th October in Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall. Stories of Grace were shared and faces of those have laboured in the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s were flashed on the screen. Foot prints of grace..a heritage of faithfulness that had passed on through Godly lives…It was a meaningful celebration evening as all who were invited witnessed the power and grace of God in the work among students.
The song ‘Find Us Faithful’ by Steve Green which was translated into a mime was one of the highlights of item presentations. ‘Long Service Award ‘ were also presented to those who had kept faithful for 10 years and above in both FES and SU. I received mine (served 10 1/2 years). But I salute those who had served 35, 30, 27, 20 years…(Elsie, Pek Heong, Annette, Esther ,you had all press on faithfully and walked a great milestone for Him ..Congrats! )
Find Us faithful (by Steve Green)
We’re pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
REPEAT CHORUS
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
My ‘Long Service Award’ that also came with some cash.. (note: the baton- to remind me in Hebrews 12:2.. to run with perserverance the race marked out for us….)
‘Implores’ and ‘Influence’. I love these two words.
Sometimes Sundays for me just go by without any ponderings or thots of the messages preached. But Sunday (22nd July, 2007) was specially meaningful. Message was hard-hitting. I managed to jot some notes as I listened in wonder to the word preached by Ms Goh Poh Gaik from John 4, “Healing of the Official’s son”. Towards the end of sermon, the church had the spirit’s prodding upon the hearts of fathers in the church to come imploring of God with their needs. I’ve always enjoyed listening to the speaker who’s a gifted teacher and speaker of God’s word.
My notes on the “Imploring father” :
John 4 : 43-54 gives a picture of a man, a royal official, a father who was in desperate need.
His Initiative
He took the initiative and went to Jesus (which was about 15 to 20 miles journey) with his needs. He begged. He came imploring. “Imploring” was the word used. It means “to ask or beg for urgently; beseech.” The father came imploring, not in demand of Jesus but his imploring was in a state of awe and reverence. In verse 50, Jesus then said, “Your son will live. Go on home to him.”(CEV), gave wonderful words of assurance.
A father who implores with a need. The church today needs fathers who would implore or begged Jesus for the needs of their children. Christian fathers should get into the place or habit of “imploring”even if it means inconveniences. To implore and seek Jesus for the needs of the family. To implore for the church.
Illustrations of the “absenty fatherhood” were shared by the speaker. Such cases are very common in today’s family.
His influence
A father who influences (v52). When he asked in v52,”what time was it his son got better”, he inquired. The safety and welfare of the family is the responsibility of the father. He took the responsibility and the decisive act. Finally we see his whole household believed.
We were encouraged at end of sermon to be imploring and influencing for the needs of the young. As wives or children, we are to give the support and pray for fathers that they may be role models for the church today.
