Will take a short break from blogging about Philippines and blog about Singapore instead, as tomorrow is Singapore's National Day and I'll be too tired to blog.
It's my 5th year in Singapore now and I'm very thankful to be moving around circles of Singaporean people and friends who do not have (or do not openly have) hostile feelings towards foreigners. Unfortunately this feeling of unease/ repulsion/ discontentment towards foreigners coming to earn Singapore dollars (thus taking up resources for job openings, health care, public transport and housing etc.), and later retiring in their home countries is very real. And I can't exactly say I blame them for that either.
Anyway, I studied, worked, and lived here as a Singapore permanent resident (PR) thanks to the opening in this system. In which the Minister Mentor, Mr LKY himself said that Singapore is in need of the talent and economical contribution of its immigrants, because Singapore cannot afford to progress at a slower rate due to it's naturally vulnerable conditions.
I would not compare Singapore and Malaysia and say which is better. Because 'better-ness' depends on many factors, and what is 'better' from my point of view may not be that so for others. But I would say this: As a foreigner working and living in Singapore - I am thankful for what is being offered to me here. Convenient public transport (breakdowns or not, I believe this is something to be appreciated), reasonably efficient public service, public security, a stable job, a place to stay, and acceptance as who I am.
With all political and non-political grouses and small complaints aside, I believe every Singaporean should be proud what Singapore is today and how far she has come. No system is perfect, and all man-made systems are always interjected with a fair amount of injustice, selfishness, and lack of appreciation, some more than others. Singapore's laws and policies are no exception. But there are still many things in this country to be thankful for - especially for people who love and appreciate the country, who are working hard for it, who pull together for it.
You can say I'm looking at things through rose-tinted glasses, or through the glasses of a foreigner who has but to gain from the current system. You may be, and are probably right, But as I've been working in my job for the past year: I have been consciously telling myself this - I work for the glory God, for the organization I am in, for the end users of the drugs my organization produces, and last but not least, for the economy and progress of Singapore - a country which I owe a fair amount to.
Happy National Day Singapore!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
[The Negros Chapter]: He Can, and He Will
This is the second part of a series of posts about my evangelistic-campaign trip to Negros, Philippines (link to first post here). The campaign is actually 6 weeks long, but I only went there for one week. Was really a blessing to be able to serve together with the Campus Ministry this year, as well as many others from different churches around the world. We would travel to different high schools (secondary schools in Malaysian terms) in Philippines and share the gospel with them; either class-to-class or through a mass evangelism in a school assembly. I joined the campaign in Week 3, and we went to Negros (both Occidental and Oriental).
I remember a Year 4 class that I had finished (ages 15 - 16). It was a rowdy class, the students were distracted, but some of them made an effort to listen. I had varied responses. Some students professed to believe in Jesus "today". Others were sure they believed, but not sure if they were going to heaven. But the ones that really broke my heart was those saying that they did not think Jesus would want to save them, 'because my sins were too many'.
During our practices before e-campaign, before we call for decisions, we would ask three questions to see if the students understood the gospel presentation. The first: Do you believe Jesus can save you? The second: Do you believe Jesus wants to save you? The last: Do you want Jesus to save you?
Everybody will answer "Yes!" to all three questions without a moment's hesitation, but then again, they may not really understand. In Singapore and Malaysia, perhaps the hardest is to get people to answer "Yes" to the last question. In the Philippines, they heartily answer yes to the last, but are not sure of the first two.
The next class I entered in another school was a Year 2 or Year 3 I think. I finished the first half of my gospel of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Then I looked at the students and asked them: "Guys, are you afraid? Are you afraid that God doesn't want to save you because you have sinned too many times? Or are you afraid that God is not able to save you because you have sinned too many times?" Fervent nods and echoing 'yes-es' were returned to me. Some were listening attentively for the first time.
I could identify with this. I could identify with this because that was me when I was 7 or 8. At the stage where I was voluntarily or involuntarily a 'naughty girl'. Who was always lazy and selfish, and somehow managed to create trouble here and there, somehow or other. During the nights before I sleep - I would pray to God telling Him that I believe in Jesus - and could He save me? But deep down in my heart I wondered if He wanted to. I wondered if He would save someone like me - someone whom I myself didn't really like.
But back then I didn't know - it wasn't about who I am. It is about who He is.
To the students, I quoted the all-famous John 3: 16, "For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son", and Romans 8: 38 - 39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I also quoted that Jesus died and rose again on the third day, thus conquering sin, death, and hell - making Him not only willing to save, but able to save.
Many believers place 100% of their trust on Christ, but are not assured of their own salvation. I believe God wants us to have that assurance of salvation. For it is said in Romans 8: 30: "And those He predestined, He also called, those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." God saves and sanctifies and glorifies to the end.
I remember Chris (a guy from my church in my team) likes to tell people that 'Gail's sharing makes people cry in every class she goes in, including the teachers'. He then said that he only 'managed to do that' in a few of his classes, but at least he was glad that there were people who shed tears.
I was so happy to see those tears too. But after the second day, when Chris said the same thing again, I replied him with a pang in my heart: "We can't be sure that every student who was moved to tears is saved." Chris asked, "But why are they crying?"
I answered: "They were crying because they were convicted of their sin. But we can't tell if they could really understand how is it to be saved."
Indeed with the vast cultural and linguistic gap between ourselves and the high school kids - I could only pray to God to grant true understanding, for the truth to set people free. For the truth to be understood from the head - and in the heart. The joy on the faces of the students when they receive assurance and understanding is really a beautiful picture to behold. I pray that such joy abounds as the love of Jesus is known, and above all, Christ be magnified.
I remember a Year 4 class that I had finished (ages 15 - 16). It was a rowdy class, the students were distracted, but some of them made an effort to listen. I had varied responses. Some students professed to believe in Jesus "today". Others were sure they believed, but not sure if they were going to heaven. But the ones that really broke my heart was those saying that they did not think Jesus would want to save them, 'because my sins were too many'.
During our practices before e-campaign, before we call for decisions, we would ask three questions to see if the students understood the gospel presentation. The first: Do you believe Jesus can save you? The second: Do you believe Jesus wants to save you? The last: Do you want Jesus to save you?
Everybody will answer "Yes!" to all three questions without a moment's hesitation, but then again, they may not really understand. In Singapore and Malaysia, perhaps the hardest is to get people to answer "Yes" to the last question. In the Philippines, they heartily answer yes to the last, but are not sure of the first two.
The next class I entered in another school was a Year 2 or Year 3 I think. I finished the first half of my gospel of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Then I looked at the students and asked them: "Guys, are you afraid? Are you afraid that God doesn't want to save you because you have sinned too many times? Or are you afraid that God is not able to save you because you have sinned too many times?" Fervent nods and echoing 'yes-es' were returned to me. Some were listening attentively for the first time.
I could identify with this. I could identify with this because that was me when I was 7 or 8. At the stage where I was voluntarily or involuntarily a 'naughty girl'. Who was always lazy and selfish, and somehow managed to create trouble here and there, somehow or other. During the nights before I sleep - I would pray to God telling Him that I believe in Jesus - and could He save me? But deep down in my heart I wondered if He wanted to. I wondered if He would save someone like me - someone whom I myself didn't really like.
But back then I didn't know - it wasn't about who I am. It is about who He is.
To the students, I quoted the all-famous John 3: 16, "For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son", and Romans 8: 38 - 39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I also quoted that Jesus died and rose again on the third day, thus conquering sin, death, and hell - making Him not only willing to save, but able to save.
Many believers place 100% of their trust on Christ, but are not assured of their own salvation. I believe God wants us to have that assurance of salvation. For it is said in Romans 8: 30: "And those He predestined, He also called, those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." God saves and sanctifies and glorifies to the end.
I remember Chris (a guy from my church in my team) likes to tell people that 'Gail's sharing makes people cry in every class she goes in, including the teachers'. He then said that he only 'managed to do that' in a few of his classes, but at least he was glad that there were people who shed tears.
I was so happy to see those tears too. But after the second day, when Chris said the same thing again, I replied him with a pang in my heart: "We can't be sure that every student who was moved to tears is saved." Chris asked, "But why are they crying?"
I answered: "They were crying because they were convicted of their sin. But we can't tell if they could really understand how is it to be saved."
Indeed with the vast cultural and linguistic gap between ourselves and the high school kids - I could only pray to God to grant true understanding, for the truth to set people free. For the truth to be understood from the head - and in the heart. The joy on the faces of the students when they receive assurance and understanding is really a beautiful picture to behold. I pray that such joy abounds as the love of Jesus is known, and above all, Christ be magnified.
[The Negros Chapter]: Only One Way
This is the first part of a series of posts about my evangelistic-campaign trip to Negros, Philippines. The campaign is actually 6 weeks long, but I only went there for one week. Was really a blessing to be able to serve together with the Campus Ministry this year, as well as many others from different churches around the world. We would travel to different high schools (secondary schools in Malaysian terms) in Philippines and share the gospel with them; either class-to-class or through a mass evangelism in a school assembly. I joined the campaign in Week 3, and we went to Negros (both Occidental and Oriental).
Practically every Filipino in Negros (and all over the country) knows who Jesus is, and are Christians of some denomination. So why bother to go evangelizing in the Philippines, you may ask. But when I threw the students a very direct question: "Are you ready to meet God when you die?" Some of them couldn't answer me. They were not sure. And some of them answered "Yes!" But in the end, not all of them were sure too.
I remember Simon told us in our first school a conversation he had with a teacher he met outside a classroom. She believed that salvation was based on works, and Simon shared that it was not through Titus 3: 5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
He then asked the teacher after sharing the gospel: "If you died yesterday, where will you be going?"
The teacher said, "Heaven."
Simon: But yesterday, what were you depending on to save you?
Teacher: Works.
Simon: Then if you died yesterday, will you be on your way to heaven?
Teacher: No.
The teacher then understood that it is not works that save, but Jesus alone.
There are many students in many schools who could recite John 14: 6 to me off their heads. John 14: 6 records Jesus saying "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one goes to the Father except through Me." But not all of them knew that this meant Jesus is not just 'a way', He is 'the way'. There are not many roads to heaven as there are to Rome. There is just one.
When I read the response slips, many believe they are saved by going to church. Some believe they are saved through baptism (they even remember and write the date down). By doing good things. By praying. By virtue of birth in a Christian home.
But all these are works. And though righteous works may be fruits of salvation, they are certainly not the means to salvation. The prophet Isaiah laments in Isaiah 64: 6a:"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness's are like filthy rags..."
What we do cannot save us. It is not what we have done, or need to do. If there is any other way to save us, then Jesus needn't have died. But there is none. Therefore Christ must die - to make the payment for sin, the sacrifice for sin needed to appease a righteous and holy God.
I illustrated this in class by using an example of taking a bus to school (others prefer using ferrys etc.). I asked the class if I just looked at a bus without getting up it, though knowing it will take me to school, will I get there? They said "No." Therefore, it is not enough to know who Jesus Christ is - or to even know He is the Savior of the world. He may be the Savior of the world, but the question for you is - is He your Savior?
My second example was about me trying to board a bus to school, with one leg up the bus and the other leg trying to walk my way there at the same time. (It was not easy for me to do this ok, I'm usually very prim and proper with crowds.) They laughed at my weird jumping, and I asked them will I reach school this way? They answered again, "No."
Then I asked the class: "Do you know many of you are doing this? Is it tiring? Yes! But will it take you to school? No." Many waste a lifetime in trying to do good works to justify themselves, while trying to depend on Jesus too. But split faith, is not faith. I can't believe the earth is round and at the same time believe that it is flat. True dependent faith, is putting all your eggs in a basket, and this is the saving faith that will lead you to salvation.
Romans 10: 9 says: " If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." It is believing that saves. And to go to school through taking the bus, I need to get on the bus, and sit down, having faith that the driver will send me there. It is not what I do myself - I don't drive the bus. But it is the dependence on the driver that makes me put the whole of my self into the vehicle and sit down.
Not by works - not even by church going, prayer, or baptism. The Bible said it is through a heart of belief only. And as I have asked the students - do you know Jesus with your heart, or just in your head? What were you depending on to save you yesterday? Jesus is the only way to reach God. Only Jesus saves.
Practically every Filipino in Negros (and all over the country) knows who Jesus is, and are Christians of some denomination. So why bother to go evangelizing in the Philippines, you may ask. But when I threw the students a very direct question: "Are you ready to meet God when you die?" Some of them couldn't answer me. They were not sure. And some of them answered "Yes!" But in the end, not all of them were sure too.
I remember Simon told us in our first school a conversation he had with a teacher he met outside a classroom. She believed that salvation was based on works, and Simon shared that it was not through Titus 3: 5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
He then asked the teacher after sharing the gospel: "If you died yesterday, where will you be going?"
The teacher said, "Heaven."
Simon: But yesterday, what were you depending on to save you?
Teacher: Works.
Simon: Then if you died yesterday, will you be on your way to heaven?
Teacher: No.
The teacher then understood that it is not works that save, but Jesus alone.
There are many students in many schools who could recite John 14: 6 to me off their heads. John 14: 6 records Jesus saying "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one goes to the Father except through Me." But not all of them knew that this meant Jesus is not just 'a way', He is 'the way'. There are not many roads to heaven as there are to Rome. There is just one.
When I read the response slips, many believe they are saved by going to church. Some believe they are saved through baptism (they even remember and write the date down). By doing good things. By praying. By virtue of birth in a Christian home.
But all these are works. And though righteous works may be fruits of salvation, they are certainly not the means to salvation. The prophet Isaiah laments in Isaiah 64: 6a:"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness's are like filthy rags..."
What we do cannot save us. It is not what we have done, or need to do. If there is any other way to save us, then Jesus needn't have died. But there is none. Therefore Christ must die - to make the payment for sin, the sacrifice for sin needed to appease a righteous and holy God.
I illustrated this in class by using an example of taking a bus to school (others prefer using ferrys etc.). I asked the class if I just looked at a bus without getting up it, though knowing it will take me to school, will I get there? They said "No." Therefore, it is not enough to know who Jesus Christ is - or to even know He is the Savior of the world. He may be the Savior of the world, but the question for you is - is He your Savior?
My second example was about me trying to board a bus to school, with one leg up the bus and the other leg trying to walk my way there at the same time. (It was not easy for me to do this ok, I'm usually very prim and proper with crowds.) They laughed at my weird jumping, and I asked them will I reach school this way? They answered again, "No."
Then I asked the class: "Do you know many of you are doing this? Is it tiring? Yes! But will it take you to school? No." Many waste a lifetime in trying to do good works to justify themselves, while trying to depend on Jesus too. But split faith, is not faith. I can't believe the earth is round and at the same time believe that it is flat. True dependent faith, is putting all your eggs in a basket, and this is the saving faith that will lead you to salvation.
Romans 10: 9 says: " If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." It is believing that saves. And to go to school through taking the bus, I need to get on the bus, and sit down, having faith that the driver will send me there. It is not what I do myself - I don't drive the bus. But it is the dependence on the driver that makes me put the whole of my self into the vehicle and sit down.
Not by works - not even by church going, prayer, or baptism. The Bible said it is through a heart of belief only. And as I have asked the students - do you know Jesus with your heart, or just in your head? What were you depending on to save you yesterday? Jesus is the only way to reach God. Only Jesus saves.
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