Going the 70's way.

I was reading a friend's blog who posted this article from another source.
Ah, how conveniently timely this article came about.

"During the 70s, responding to the full-time calling as a late teen (between 17-19 years old) was the "in-thing" among the churches I was associated with. Today, many denominations have shyed away from that model, prefering more matured people who holds at least a Bachelor's degree and have worked a number of years in the secular world. Theortically, it seems to be a good direction to go but in reality, how many young adults in their mid-twenties would be able to respond to full-time calling? Reason is very simple: most of them at this age would have gone into the workforce having a car loan to service. For those who are already hitched, they would also be making plans for their big day and possibly have a joint house mortgage to pay back. basing on the present low salary that most churches offer, no sane person in this age bracket would go full-time! Hence, we still need to challenge young people to view full-time ministry as a career path. Church leaders at the same time should draft out a proper career path for them which involves training in theology, management, leadership, etc and also financial remuneration.

I would also like to highlight an idea that I got while reading Fred Smith "Learning to Lead". How can a young pastor help an auto mechanic, a stock-exchange remiser or a sales executive? It's difficult for a young pastor to have the depth of the necessary understanding that can only be accumulated through years of knowledge and experience. But he can point people to the appropriate resources i.e. older in-house advisers esp. if they are elders of the church. In business, they have staff advisers, consultants and specialists that they can call upon to meet particular needs, why can't we apply the same principle in the church? The church board must stand behind their young pastor and groom him to lead the church. Of course he will make mistakes (plenty of them!) but the wise leader will stand with him."

(NECF Leadership Commission - Read the original text here.)

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The Final Period

I was just thinking and it dawned upon me that it's been almost 4 years now since I first picked up a floorball stick.

4 years!
Gosh, how time flies!

Until today, friends back home are still wondering why in the world am I so hooked on to this unheard of sport. My answer is always the same when I face these sceptics,

"Aiya, you never try you never know... Once you try, I guarantee you sure jadi floorball-addict also...".

Nah, kao tim.

I remember the first time I started floorball, I was totally amazed and inspired by many the players in Penang (whom I still do of course :). That was probably the first key thing that really got me into the sport - to see players representing the Penang State and the National, how to not be inspired... Haha. That gave me an extra drive to my interest in floorball. But as I grew in the sport and in the team, I too evolved.

My first floorball major competition - UM Cup!

I recently watched a sport movie called "The Express" (click here to read movie review) about American football. Great movie with issues that I can relate to. Towards the end of the movie, the main character, Ernie Davis, says this;

"But football is just a game.
What matters is what you play for."

The Express.

It's true, isn't it?

Every now and then - when I have a crappy game, when I fail as a coach to impart values and knowledge to my players, when discouragement comes banging down my door, when harsh criticism becomes my best friend - I have to remind myself that floorball is just a game and then asks myself what exactly am I playing for. I'm not just talking about floorball per se, but more than that - life. Because that answer, whatever it may be to you, is the one thing that will keep you at the right track when you hit rock bottom or when you hit the peak of your career;
it keeps you growing while at the same time, keeps your feet grounded.

Floorball is great but life is greater.
And it's how you play your life out that counts when the final whistle is blown.

One main reason why I play floorball is because I want to emulate those players who first inspired me, people who's sheer presence itself brings much inspiration and encouragement (and again, I'm not just referring to the game of floorball, but also in terms of their life). Personally, I believe that that kind of presence is a gift from God. It is not something that you can earned by being the best around the court but something that's been given by the Creator, a 'talent' so to speak. I know I don't have much of that particular 'talent'. I probably won't be a great floorball player in Penang, or Malaysia for that matter, but even with the little that I have, the 1 talent that's been given to me, I sure do what to make use of it to the fullest.

In the movie, Ernie Davis became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy, a prestiges award in the American football arena. However, he was later diagnosed with leukaemia and was never able to play professionally again. Eventually, he died at the age of only 23 (Sorry guys, gave away the ending... Hahaha).

23.
I'm 24 this year.

The thing about life is this - we will never know how much more of it is in front of us.
I may well be in my 1st period, 2nd or maybe even the final period of my life. Who's to say, eh?

What have I done so far?
Have I encouraged anyone in my team?
Have I inspired players around me?
Have I given my all for the team?

Often, people say life is too short, so we must live by the moment - Enjoy while we can.
I say life is too short, so we must live in His purpose - Make Him famous while we can.

I just hope that at the end of the final whistle, my coach will walk up to me, puts his hand around my shoulder and say to me,

"Son, you played well."

(Wah, check out the player's number... 14!
Haha.
My jersey number... Freaky stuff)

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What's the time??

I don't usually take off my sports watch whenever I put them on. But last Thursday after playing a short game of floorball with my USM mates, I decided to take it off a little while.
And I can't find it since then.

:(

This simply means I'll need to save up for a new one. Craps.

Aduh, gotta ikat perut lagi.

*Stretch*Stretch*

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The Sun will Rise.

We all go through some form of trials every single day, big or small, we face them nonetheless. However, (correct me if I'm wrong) there's always a time in our lives when a certain form of trial seemed to be the height of it all, the one that truly tests us in every sense of the word.
Such times are surging forth for some. Recently, a friend shared with me about the trying period in which she/him is going through.
Difficult times are ahead, times when the sun seemed to have shield its warmth from us and when night seemed to have gain a foothold in our lives.

But the assurance is this...

No matter how dark the night may be, at the end of it all, know that dawn will break forth and light will shine its beauty in its most glorious form.

It's like this;
We all know that the sun is always there. Even when night comes, the sun is still there just that we don't see it. Similarly, God is always there even when times of difficulties flood into our lives. God may be overshadowed by the circumstances around us but that doesn't mean He is not there.

Last week, my pastor shared about his experience one early morning in one of the mountain tops of Hawaii, standing there and waiting in the insanely breezy and cold weather just to see the morning sunrise. Nobody in the right mind would stand in a cold weather, what more on top of a mountain early in the morning to see the sunrise unless he is sure that the sun will rise, correct? I thought about it and something spoke out to me.

Many times, we stand at the mountain top when darkness is still looming above us and we fight this wickedly cold weather with all our might. We wait for the sun to arise from its sleep but nothing seems to happen, so what do we do?

We walk off.

Many will walk off the mountain top because the weather is too cold and some will say that's it's not worth the wait...
But only a few will remain there, waiting... believing... trusting that the sun will rise. And the moment the sun breaks the darkness of the sky, that's when the light of His grace embraces them, these few who remained in the cold weather. Are we those few?

During Jesus's final hours on the cross, darkness came over all the land. That was the pinnacle of His trial and yes, it almost seemed as if the sun had totally disappeared from the universe. But what happened on the Sabbath morning?

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week... "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen.." (Matthew 28)

When the sun appears, something amazing is going to happen!

The simple fact of life is this - we will face difficult times. Period.
Big or small, that's besides the point. There will come a time when night will fall on us.
My encouragement to those who are facing the pitch black darkness of night right now in your own lives is this... remain in Him.
Because He knows, He sees, He hears, He reigns.

He reigns
(Gateway City Church Worship team)

Verse:
You see the fears of my heart,
You know my every need,
You know the pain to these tears,
You hear my every cry,

Pre-Chorus:
I run to You my Lord,
I’m desperate for Your touch,
Fall on my knees I pray,

Chorus:
I surrender my all to You,
I’m placing my trust in You,
You are my strength, my song and my salvation,
I lay it all down to You,
Giving all praise to You,
I’ll remain in my God
My God who reigns
Oh He reigns

Bridge:
Though night will fall on me,
I will trust in Him who sets me free,
The sun will rise up high,
The light of His grace embraces me

"Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation."
(Isaiah 12: 2)

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