Ninety

Going home for my home church for her 90th anniversary. I regret to say that I didn't do anything much for this year's celebration except copy out Psalm 90 by hand. Wanted to compose a song for the event, but did not do it eventually due to lack of inspiration and time constraints. Also, I couldn't think of a better song than Keith Getty and Stuart Townend's O Church Arise. Seriously, each time these two work together, wonders happen.

Rich, pertinent, and heart-touching lyrics. Wonderful melody and accompaniment. And as usual, passionately sang by Kristyn Getty. May it be a reminder to our Church and ourselves today. May the bride vigilantly prepare herself to meet her groom who bought her with His blood.

O Church Arise and put your armour on
Hear the call of Christ our Captain
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love
Reaching out to those in darkness

Our call to war to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valour
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure
And Christ will have the prize for which He died
An inheritance of nations

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet
For the Conqueror has risen
And as the stone is rolled away
And Christ emerges from the grave
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him

So Spirit come put strength in every stride
Give grace for every hurdle
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful
As saints of old still line the way
Retelling triumphs of His grace
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory

Changing teams

I just said goodbye to a few more of my colleagues from the production side of my team today. From 23 September onward, I will be moving to join a team that I am barely familiar with for good. Will miss my team, for their trust and friendship built across these two years of familiarity. Some things are hard to let go of.

Moving to this new team would be one of the greatest challenge in my working year. I will have to start from scratch to build a close working relationship as I have with my current lab and production team mates, and take in a new subculture unique from team to team. I will also need to stand in for my team leader when he is not around, and train up a new junior. 

Yet I have comfort in through all this God is intentional in leading me this way. I passed many forks along the road that may change the fact if I was to be transferred or otherwise, and each time the path to my transfer was unbelievingly smooth. So smooth that it drove my heart to a strong realization that this transfer has the will of God in it for me, just as He intentionally gave this job to me. I draw comfort and joy from that. I believe He will grow me through this.

So these two weeks I say my goodbyes when getting ready to embrace yet another change in my working life. May this be for God's glory and His kingdom.