Wallpaper

Ha! Looks like the internet cobwebs have come around my blog. If you have been coming round for a look, I'm sorry you missed me. If this is your first time visiting, HURRAH!

Anyway, there is so much to update, but in a nutshell:

• I got married
• We're living in New Zealand
• I've been maintaining at least 4 blogs, which explains the slack in this one
• I've been cooking up a storm in my own kitchen

Anyway, I thought I might leave you with something that's been on my mind.

Text: Bible Matthew 10:8

Photo credit: unknown

Butterfly: Courtesy of Creator

Sharing at Holy Family Church

Where: Church of the Holy Family Singapore
When: 29 Aug 2010

The combined catechism classes 10 mins before the sharing.

Serving the children ministry in the Philippines had been such a great blessing to me. Witnessing the spiritual growth of the children and youth, and seeing how God has been moving mountains to see the growth of the ministries have been an amazing journey. From its humble beginnings in 2006 with only a handful of children, we have seen a a big leap till where it is now, 3 sessions of about 30-40 children each.

And so it was with such eagerness to share about the lives of these children, to the children in Holy Family Parish (Singapore). There were about 50 children, a combined session of a few classes.

As image after image and story after story about the plight of these Filipino children was shared, I could see a sense of compassion and solidarity in the eyes of these those present, students and teachers alike. Especially when the children realize that they are about the same age.

Let's pray that in this 'communion of saints', we will all be able to help one another, to honour the dignity of those around us who may have less, and to offer help with compassion and sensitivity. God bless you Holy Family parish!

Update - Teaching at prayer meeting

What: Praise@Work Wed prayer meeting
Date: 11 Aug 2010
Where: St Bernadette Church - AV Room

I was invited to give a teaching-sharing on "Living a Life Holding HIS HANDS". On faith, trust, prayer and abandonment. Thanking God for all faithfulness of His Love, the members of this prayer group was very receptive and participative.

Thank you Praise@work for supporting my fund raising project!

Prayer: LORD, May we be able to abandon our lives more and more into your hands, to trust you even more. Amen!

Update of outreach - ICPE retreat

What: ICPE retreat "To Know Christ and Make Him Known" 

Date: 17-18 July 2010

A retreat aimed at knowing Christ, to grow in faith and nurture our love in Christ. This session was led by directors and missionaries from the different mission centres. An international group hailing from Czech Republic, Germany, Indonesia & Singapore.

ICPE Phillipines Director Esther Fong sharing on Discernment

There were lively sessions and praise and worship, interspersed with moments of praying for each other. It was well attended by more than 50+ people from all walks of life and from the different parishes in Singapore. This retreat was organised by Praise @ work and conducted by the ICPE Mission.

Update on retreat - Cenacle

What: Personal retreat at Cenacle Retreat House

Date: 21-31 July 2010

Thanks for all who prayed. This was a grace filled, spirit filled retreat. Just sharing some of the very precious moments spent at the retreat house. 

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Wallpaper of the month-August 2010

This was created with the photos I took at my recent personal silent retreat. The artwork you see (the 2 red hearts design) came out of prayer. Feel free to download for use on your personal computer. Feel free to link to this post. Wallpaper not for sale. God bless!

Monday, July 12, 2010

Update of outreach

Group: School of Witness alumni

Date: 12, 13 Jul 2010

ICPE session with alumni of School of Witness – 2009 & 2010

Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre (CAYC)

Enthusiastic youth from the SOW alumni.

This session saw about 40-50 youth and youth coordinators from parishes across Singapore.

We were privileged to have ICPE mission's International Directors and Founders Mario and Anna Cappello share what it means to have a vision and how to respond to it. The 2^nd evening saw Esther Fong, a missionary for the past 20+ years share on discernment, while I led worship during the 2 evenings. We pray that the light has been fanned and kept alive for the journey ahead.

Note: These youth have all attended and completed the 6 weeks School of Witness which was a collaboration between the Youth Ministry Office of CAYC and the ICPE Mission, who conducted both the schools. It is aimed at those entering polytechnics, universities for further studies or joining the National Service (compulsory for all male citizens). Since the completion of their schools in Feb 2009, and Feb 2010, the youth themselves felt it was high time to have a follow up session and they organized one! 

For more information on attending the next School of Witness (SOW) go to: http://cayconline.wordpress.com/

Update of outreach - Praise @work

Prayer group: Praise@Work

Topic: “Deeper worship”
Date: 7 July 2010

Praise @ Work was started around 1995(?). Through the years, it has seen professionals from all walks of life coming together to worship God and to grow in Christ. I myself attended a Life in the Spirit Seminar co-facilitated by this prayer group and joined it as a full fledged member. And later took a leadership position in the core team. So it was nostalgic to return to this community, though the changing face of the group has filled it this time, it was a privilege to 'give back' to the prayer group that contributed to forming me.

On 7 July 2010, I was invited to give a teaching on 'Deeper Worship'. The session to keyed in to reveal what some of the blocks are, what helps one to enter into worship, and it all boils down to a relationship with God. We ended the session the same way we started it, with praise and worship. We called upon the Holy Spirit and simply worshiped God. Many were touched deeply by God's all consuming love.

“I felt His consumption fire filling the room! Praise The Lord!” - Augustina

“prayer meet at Praise at Work was powerhouse!” - Stephanie

Update of outreach - Mustard Seed Community

Prayer group: Mustard Seed Community

Topic: “Building relationships in community”
Date: 27 June 2010

This particular community has meeting together regularly for the past few years. They are a community of young working adults who love Jesus and have committed their Sundays to come together. They meet for 9am Sunday mass, breakfast, and the sessions proper at 1230pm.

On 27 June, 2010, I was invited to give a session on 'Building relationships in community'. The 20+ members fully participated during the session. There was also a segment of gathering to thank one another, to ask for forgiveness and to pray with one another. I was blessed by their eagerness to grow and move together as a community.

Commandment to love

Recently, one of my parents suddenly developed extreme pain. Unable to walk, sit or even lie down without pain, I can only imagine how limiting life can suddenly become. We take so much for granted,  especially for those of us who do not have constant pain, daily activities like sitting down to eat, to go to the toilet, lying down to rest for the day, cleaning etc.

When pain peaks, nothing else mattered. Mood swings, anger, hopelessness, depression, insecurity, financial drain, just to name a few. But no matter what, my mission is to love. To love without expectations, to serve like the lowliest servant, to cheer like a person with hope,to pray like a person with faith.

Jesus took his own body, and offered it for my sins. The pain, suffering, can only be imagined. They say that in the movie 'The Passion of The Christ', the torture shown was a mere 40% of what really happened.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I lift up all those who are in pain today, those whose pain is not just limited to physical, but mental and emotional pains. Those whose pain cannot be relieved by medicines. Please send your comforting love to them, and let them know You are very near and understand very well. Bless them Lord. Amen.

P/S  If you like to support me in continuing mission, please click here to find out how: 

http://sliceoflight.blogspot.com/p/help-me-be-missionary.html

Virtual families

With so many gamers young and old online, I decided to check it out for myself, to see the impact it is having on children.

The first was 'Virtual families'. This is a simple game where you, as the player, can 'pick up' your little people and 'make them do things'; work at the garden, clean up the house, cook, put away groceries. You can even 'encourage' them with a little pat on the back, these little praises will then 'train' your little people to repeat the work that you want them to do. Sometimes, they simply get distracted and want to do something else, sometimes they get sick and need medication.

What I find most interesting is that:
- This gives a false sense of control. "I can make anyone do anything I want them to do"
- Encouragement can become a 'nag' if it is simply praise to make the fellow do stuff.
- In the game, the more money one has the better, more rare collectables, more money etc.
- In reality, God does not 'make us' do stuff, He gives us choices and corrects us with love, He is also the Ultimate Encourager!

Holy Week 2010

Holy Week in the Philippines is something so different, and so actively participated. As we joined in the 2 hour procession, we see the devotion the people have, the fervour with which they practiced their faith.

To the Filipino people, Mother Mary is an integral part of every season, and so she is right there next to Jesus before He expired and right there when He rose. In the parish this is depicted visually with both Mary and Jesus images near the altar.

Then on Holy Saturday, the ministries continued with the adults and children. Here we acted out a scene when the apostles found that Jesus is gone. (I'm in pink, as Mary) And a rare moment of picture taking with the children (this is only less than half of them)

Ash Wednesday 2010

Every year, on Ash Wednesday, we are reminded 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust', and we shall all return to where we came from.

This is particularly poignant this year. A friend passed away recently. As I read how so many of her friends and family continued

Mothers; pain & perseverance

Just the other day, I experienced a bout of the stomach flu. As i continued to feel nausea, purging everything I ate that day, I consoled myself that this pain in my abdomen is nothing compared to the millions of women who are going through child labour pains at the same moment.

I kept praying "LORD HELP ME!"

Immediately I realised HE IS helping me! All that needed to be purged out is coming out of my system! When i acknowledged that this purging is 'good for me', i had a greater acceptance of it. And even welcomed it.

Labour pains: hours and hours of pain Resulting: Gratefulness; Miracle being born

Stomach flu: very temporary pain Resulting: Gratefulness: No need to suffer more pain

In our lives, we often see something at face value, it looks painful to

Bringing forth a heritage

My dad’s heart is not doing well these days. One of the side effects of this new drug is that it makes him feel dizzy. Dad had a heart attack when he was just 65, he underwent an open heart surgery, and doctors say it is just too early for him to have such a heart attack. That was 2004.
This October, dad will turn 70. There will not be any 5 star sumptuous meal because of his dietary constraints. But I want to be here for him.

No Super Typhoon!

Typhoon Parma did not hit Metro Manila! No further devastation is a cause for celebration!

We are still packing more relief packages of rations. The people's lives are forever changed. You can see more details on the official blog of ICPE Philippines, please see http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com

Here are some photos that a colleague of mine took with her mobile phone. These photos were taken on 4 Oct 2009 near the

Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana)

Dear friends, as we in Manila are preparing and bracing ourselves for the next Super Typhoon (so called because of its speed)

At the moment, we are ok. In fact yesterday we packed another 300 packages ready for distribution, but as weather station has advised us to stay indoors we are following it for safety reasons. So far, we have distributed 800 packages, and preparing to buy more neccessities like bedding, blankets, medicines which they really need and have requested.

For more photos and updates on what our mission is now and if you want to be a part of the urgent aid needed, there is information on the site. Go to:
http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com/

Please also note that though we are an international Catholic community, we are helping everyone and anyone affected regardless of religion.

God bless!

When the storm became the killer

These days are hard. We are safe here in the centre, but the storm has affected more than 2 million people. News reports have said the flood have taken the lives of just a few hundred, but in reality, i am sure there is so much havoc that, numbers are unaccountable.

The last few days have been spent working as

My just-for-fun ear rings series

I simply love the idea of being able to make something practical and beautiful! This morning, i made a set of ear rings and bracelet called 'unending love' just before mass. And wore them to church! This idea was something that popped out of my mind when i woke up this morning! Anyway, here's a small selection...just for fun! However, if you are interested to help out with my fund raising effort, these are available for a small donation.

Day of recollection for Youth- 14 June 2009

the Joy of baking!

My latest venture into the 'unknown' is baking. Who would have guessed?

Lately I have been watching Martha Stewart on TV. I'm amazed at the talented personnel she has on her staff roll. And I appreciate all the people who love what they do and do what they love for a living! Whenever I wanted

Youth ministry!

A picture speaks a thousand words! We just recently started a new series of teachings : Be all you can be! based on a book written by John Maxwell, that i have been reading and still being very inspired by. Thanks Audrey for the gift of the book!

Creative things!

Part of my time is spent on creatively using limited resources to create things for birthdays, festive meals, welcome cards etc.

Here's my first foray into 'Quilling'. Its been hiding from me all these years! Its so easy! This is absolutely the first thing that came out from twirling small strips of paper around a paper clip (i didnt have the quilling tool). And they turned out so delightful! I dont know what i will do with them yet, but i'm thinking of door notices, cards etc. It can also be made into script (like calligraphy) but mine didnt turn out so nice. I'm excited!

Making a new lampshade!

The life of a missionary is not confined to just going for outreaches and preaching.

Recently, I was energised and determined to use my energy to explore new ideas and practical ways to improve things around the house. (since i'm also the house manager) And we have a big mission centre!

This lampshade has been in disrepair (see left). No one knew how to repair a broken lampshade. While researching for something else, i chanced upon this 'lampshade slip cover'. And see what a transformation!

All that was needed:
Paper
twine
cutting materials and board
single hole puncher

And here's the 'new' lamp in its old place.

For more on this:
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/lampshade-slipcovers?autonomy_kw=lampshade%20slipcover&rsc=header_2

Photo of the month - the simple bulbul bird

This is the most common bird in South east asia (i think). A bird watching told me that there are so many of them, keen bird watchers cant even estimate nor count them.

My Casio caught about 200 shots of these simple birds, thanks to a steady pillar and high speed continuous photo snapping capabilities... and of course a super 10x optical zoom.

Movie clip of the month -Is it a bird, a plane, a PYTHON!?

No, i did not catch this reptile. But i did see an armed bodyguard going through the gates and pulling this humongous reptile out hanging from a 3 metre stick. (on April 18, 2009!!)

Point to note:
When asked, someone said it ate only insects.

The bodyguard said he doesn't yet know what to do about it, and then proceeded to mend the basket which previously held the snake...with the snake just a metre behind him.

i took the photo with the maximum zoom. And admired the beauty of such a reptile!

someone else might said 'Eeeeee, dont come near me!!!'.

well, one man's meat is another man's poison.

Heart wrenching True Story of the month - Life and death

Just want to share a happening here with the poor we work with in the Philippines. This just happened in the last few days.

One of the earliest friends we encountered is a lady who i shall call 'Julie'. Though she's a nice lady, it was the choice she made which we could not understand, nor can we change. She was separated from her husband and went to live with a another man and had children with him. He is an alcoholic and from what we know, has been showing very young children pornography movies.

'Julie' though barely in her late 30s already has a daughter who is barely 20. we shall call her 'Ann'. Ann already has a 'husband' whom we suspect is also

Quote of the month -Catherine of Sienna

'If You Can Be What You Are Meant To Be, You Will Set The World On Fire'

It's Ash Wednesday.

These links have been very helpful, sharing it here with you.

Our Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=6099&page=2

What's fasting and abstinence got to do with it?
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/fast-abstinence.html

Beginning new patterns
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/patterns.html

= new = Stations of the CROSS
http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2007/documents/ns_lit_doc_20070406_via-crucis_en.html

Air Pollution and other stuff

I have not been blogging for some time. For those who have been asking why... well, I've not be well. If it's not a consistent cough, it's an infection of some kind. Feeling healthy is a bonus, and each day that I'm healthy, I'm grateful.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about air pollution. What kind of sicknesses are directly linked from it. A check on Wikipedia defines air pollution as :
.." the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause

Our weekly children ministry!!

This week we had 120 children. In this particular session there were around 80 of them. In case you are wondering, yes, that is me in the black teeshirt leading action song. hehehe.

Christmas pageant

For the first time, the children wrote their own script, directed themselves with a little help from us. Their costumes were clothes with a hole cut out for their heads and a little sash for the belt, doesnt look that bad at all. And make up courtesy from our own make up palettes.

For more photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=78172&l=3d4ae&id=588321659

(Reverse) Carolling 2008

This year, my team of 6, together with other teams went out caroling to the poorest families. These 100 plus families were recommended by our own Balikatan members in the adults ministry.

The families my team visited this year truly opened my eyes to what Mary and Joseph could have experienced. Everything looked so make-shift, so temporary. I can only imagine that even with their ‘home’ they could easily be looted from all that they own. There was no lock in place, sometimes the main ‘door’ was only a curtain.

Many of them were living in conditions that most people would not consider staying for more than a few minutes. Some homes do not even have walls, their ‘walls’ were made up of whatever they could salvage. Pieces of old material, wood, metal. It was only slightly better than a tent. Many of the children looked malnourished evident in their protruding stomachs and bulging eyes.

All of the families prayed for good health and joy in the family.

As I tried hard to hold back my own tears, the Balikatan members themselves could not hold back theirs. One family said they wanted to pray that they get to keep their home because there’s news that the land will be cleared for development. And one of our own members said “same situation as my family”.

Our loving Father really knew how to bring hope to the poor, Jesus came into our world in similar conditions, with no pillow to lay his head. Constantly on the move.

My prayer is that the poor will be empowered, those in authority will uphold integrity and look into ways of providing a better world for its citizens to live in. With job opportunities, with relocation possibilities that will enable the poor rather than place them in a position that might prove to be worse than before.

Christmas, a very good time of the year

This the season, which in Philippines has been preparing itself since September. Carols, Christmas decorations have been donning buildings since 4 months ago.

This year, we outdid ourselves in all our ministries.
Balikatan (adults) ministry packed food 150 hampers and gave them all out during the reverse carolling
Children ministry similarly packed 150 presents ranging from bibles, dictionaries, stationaries to toys.
Youth ministry had a very simple Christmas get-together for the first time.

And our small community celebrated together in our usual way of celebrating life, with members and guests coming from nations:
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Indonesia,
Philippines,
The Netherlands,
Czech republic,
Korea

At the end of the day, after all that is said and done, after all the presents are given out, all the food handed out, we only need to look back at the simplicity of our Lord.

He was born in darkness, in a small smelly cold place, with only animals as witnesses.
Will he be born in our hearts, in the darkest places where no one knows? It's our choice.

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com

as defined by wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Christmas_traditions

Parol
Though not strictly a custom, every Christmas season, Filipino homes and buildings are adorned with beautiful star lanterns, called parol (Span. farol, meaning lantern or lamp-Merriam Webster - English English- Spanish Dictionary). The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper (known as "papel de Hapon") or crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. The most base form of the lantern is a 5-pointed star with two "tails" at the lower two tips. Other variations are 4, 8, 10 pointed stars with the rarer 6, 16 and so on pointed stars. The parol is also traditionally made of lacquered paper and bamboo, but others are made of cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell and a wide variety of materials. Making parols is a folk craft, and most Filipino kids have tried their hand at making a parol at one time or another, maybe as a school project or otherwise. The most basic parol can be easily constructed with just ten bamboo sticks, paper, and glue. These lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings (Tatlong Hari in Tagalog). Parols are to Filipinos as Christmas trees are to Westerners- an iconic and beloved symbol of the holiday.

This is a small group of the children we work with. The Çhristmas tree is made out of string and straw and whatever material they can find.

Doing something new

The gift of self

This is one of our children (the older sister) who regularly attends the weekly children ministry. She is one of many children who bring their younger brothers and sisters to the sessions even though these sessions are prepared for their (9 and above) age group.

While the teachings, activities, singing is happening, these older ones take care of their younger ones as a parent would take care of their own. Often they cannot participate in games, sometimes while doing the activity, they run off halfway after the younger ones, sometimes running home for a quick change of clothes once the young ones soil them.

All part and parcel of life here.

These older ones are giving the gift of themselves, learning from this early an age the gift of self sacrifice. Often I think of children of the same age in other more progressive countries, where all they need to concentrate on is their school work and how sibling rivalry is so rampant.

2 lizards in a sink

The other day, we woke up to find 2 mature size lizards in our sink. They probably fell in and couldn't climb out of the slippery sides of the sink. When we gave it a gentle probe, they didn't move, they were not dead yet but they are probably very tired from trying to escape.

Then we had a grand idea, since none of us were brave enough to handle them, and they couldn't get out, we gentle placed an old chopping board sideways into the

a great day for families

We had a session for families to help prepare for Christmas. Children from our children ministry brought along their parents and brothers and sisters.



We prayed for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all the children.


The Emcee (me) welcoming all who came.


Giving a hand to families to make their wreaths.


Each family made their own advent wreaths. It only took 4 toilet rolls, some crepe paper and a paper plate.


A drama on the real meaning of Christmas.

'Mariella' - a single mother's story

A few days ago, i had the opportunity to chat with 'Mariella' (not her real name). She's a lady in her mid 40s with a nursing baby at her side. As i shared my story of not experiencing Christ personally in the past, she opened up to share hers.

When she was expecting her child, she tried to abort him with all the medicines and drugs that she could get her hands on. She figured that since the child will not have a father who is available to love and care for him, and she has another daughter from another relationship, the child would be more of a burden than a gift.

The biological father of the child has another family which he is responsible for.

Now they, like many others who don't have jobs, no opportunities, have problems putting food on the table. Some of these families only eat once or twice a day. Mariella's child survived, all those drugs did not affect him, he is born healthy, with all parts intact,and no complications during child birth. He has a big will to live for his mother. Through this little baby, Mariella found joy, knowing that God provided for him while he is still in her womb, that God protected him from all effects of the drugs. The child is lovely, and very handsome, he was always smiling all the time we were talking. She gave him a name which meant 'God's gift'

My heart was so broken from hearing these stories. But also filled with hope.

So many are so broken inside, so in need of love that we (humanity) are willing to love at all costs. Even love the unavailable, emotional, physically etc To subject to risk of diseases, danger, more pain and suffering, uncertainty and hunger.

Humanity is hungry.

Mother Teresa once said 'Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.'

How do we quench this hunger?

We can start by giving kind attention to someone who needs it today. A neighbour, a class mate, a long lost friend, a family member.

We can listen, smile, give a gift of ourselves by being present to them, doing a kind act, a pat on the back, spending quality time. One never knows what an hour can mean to a lonely person.

"Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity."
- Henry Van Dyke

Just a page off my journal

Psalm 37 was a reading for the day

DESERT (ED)

When the heart is hard and parched up,
Come upon me with a shower of mercy.
When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song.
When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides
Shutting me out from beyond, come to me,
My lord of silence, with thy peace and rest.
When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner; break open the door, my king,
And come with the ceremony of a king.
When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust,
O thou holy one, thou wakeful,
Come with thy light and thy thunder.

Rabindranath Tagore
Gitanjali – “Song of offerings”

Why are we friends?

Excerpts from ‘I love you, I hate you’ by Carlos Valles

‘As our personality is varied and complex, we need different persons in our lives to respond to the different aspects of our character. We may find one friend more amenable to discussing our ideas with, while another may be a genial companion in games but may not respond to an intellectual exchange of any kind. One friendship may be more affective, another more entertaining, a third one more cerebral. We like to joke with some of our friends and be serious with others. IN fact, one good way to measure the closeness of a friendship is to see how many aspects it covers, how many facets of our personality are reflected in that friend, in how many of the circumstances of life we seek his or her company. We are many things to many people, and the more things we are to one particular individual, the closer will he or she be to us, and we to him or her. The ideal friend covers all our life with his or her affection, understanding, patience, silence, conversation, sympathy, criticism, partnership in games, company in travels, care in sickness, echo in laughter. The more of our life we can share with a single individual, the more intimate the friendship will be, and since often we may not find that universal response in one person, we widen the range of our friendship and open up different angels of our life to different people to fit into them and complete between them the circle of intimacy we need for our happiness and well being.

Photo credit: Therese
Place: Tagaytay, Philippines

Teeming with life!

My reflection on Ezekiel 47: 8-12
“This water flows … and flowing into the sea it makes it waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows.”

In many tribes, whenever they settled, they would choose it to be near a river. The river brings much needed water and food. The river provides a place to meet while doing the laundry. A place to play, to hunt.

Is it any coincidence that 80% of our bodies are made up of water?

Christ has Himself said “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” John 4:14

This river of life is very much available to us, whenever we partake of the Holy Eucharist, whenever we let the Word of God sink deeper into our souls, when we keep our focus on Him, when we look at our future with hope (in Him), we are opening ourselves up to ‘LIFE’. When i was sick, i had no life in me, i was 'teaming' with disillusion, disappointment, anger. Why do i need to be sick at this important time? But even then, i can either choose to use my waking hours to read on spiritual books, pray OR sulk and pout. I wanted to choose life.

‘Fish will be plentiful’. God has, out of his generosity given us each unique gifts. ‘What do we have that He has not give, what do we have that is not already Yours?’ Our ‘5 loaves and 2 fish’; the gifts which He himself has given us are meant for sharing, for building up his Kingdom. And in this light, our little ‘fish’ (gifts, talents) will be plentiful as we gather in one body to serve Him. ‘To those who have, more will be given’. My piano playing skills are not up to scratch, i am self taught and i often feel self conscious playing in front of people who are trained to played Bach and Tchaikovsky, but i relented and started playing for my community. Many have since told me they were ministered to during those moments. God multiplies! i only need to put in my small part, and big effort.

‘It brings health’. More than physical health, we will have emotional healthy, spiritual health!

We have great opportunities in our midst!

Story of the month - Carl's garden

Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much. He would always greet you with a big smile and a firm handshake.Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no one could really say they knew him very well.Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning. The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us.He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in WWII.Watching him, we worried that although he had survived WWII, he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.


When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, he responded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.He was well into his 87th year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened.He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gang members approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidate him, he simply asked, 'Would you like a drink from the hose?'

The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, 'Yeah, sure,' with a malevolent little smile.As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the ground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to gather himself as the minister came running to help him.

Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it.'Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?' the minister kept asking as he helped Carl to his feet.Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking his head. 'Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday.'His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick up the hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, 'Carl, what are you doing?' 'I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately,' came the calm reply.
Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the minister could only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time and place.

A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before their threat was
unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink from his hose.This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water.When they had finished their humiliation of him, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling over one another laughing at the hilarity of what they had just done.

Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth giving sun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.The summer was quickly fading into fall. Carl was doing some tilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someone behind him. He stumbled and fell into someevergreen branches.As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.

'Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time.'
The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the man pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl.'What's this?' Carl asked. 'It's your stuff,' the man explained. 'It's your stuff back. Even the money in your wallet.' 'I don't understand,' Carl said. 'Why would you help me now?'

The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. 'I learned something from you,' he said. 'I ran with that gang and hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and we knew we could do it. But every time we came and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to give us a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showing love against our hate.'He stopped for a moment. 'I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back.'He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing what more there was to say. 'That bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess.' And with that, he walked off down the street.Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly opened it. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on his wrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled back at him from all those years ago.

He died one cold day after Christmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral in spite of the weather.In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life.In a voice made thick with unshed tears, he said, 'Do your best and make your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forget Carl and his garden.'

The following spring another flyer went up. It read: 'Person needed to care for Carl's garden.'The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a knock was heard at the minister's office door.Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred and tattooed hands holding the flyer. 'I believe this is my job, if you'll have me,' the young man said.The minister recognized him as the same young man who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl.He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around. As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, he said, 'Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honour him.'

The man went to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.During that time, he went to college, got married, and became a prominent member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have kept it.One day he approached the new minister and told him that he couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, 'My wife just had a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday.'

'Well, congratulations!' said the minister, as he was handed the garden shed keys. 'That's wonderful! What's the baby's name?'
'Carl,' he replied

Thought for the day

We are ever being born, or dying, and the thrill of choosing which is ours. Only once must we be born without our own consent. Only once must we die without our own permission.



-Calvin Miller

Being a light

I had been making dipping candles. They are so-called because the way to make them is to dip it, wait a few seconds for it to cool and then dip again. And this goes on for 20 dips.

A revelation came to me.

As we are called to be the 'Light of the world'. We are the wick, we could easily just burn down as quickly as we are lit (without the wax). But God is the wax that surrounds us, layer by layer, with love, patience, grace, delight, mercy etc.

And so only with these can we burn more brightly, with His grace, his wax. Burning slowly, brightly.

At the end of my life, with his grace, encouragement, mercy, we would have been able to be His light. And even after we are totally gone, He would still be there, the wax still there at the bottom of the candle.

Without him we can do nothing.

Above all Powers

My room is on the fourth floor facing a little road where telephone poles line the streets. After rainy days the little bulbul birds like to ‘sit’ along the telephone lines. It’s almost like gathering of friends after a storm to share a sigh of relief. There is one particular pole that seems to catch my eye every time I sit down to write or work on my computer. Atop that wooden beam, I often see two of these birds perched. Sometimes they disappear into the pole, and so my only guess is that they’ve got a home, a nest right there at the top of the hollowed pole. This is the monsoon season, it rains daily sometimes all night and all day. And I wonder whether the little home is flooded, whether there are little chicks there and whether they are warm enough.

But as these photos will tell you, they are very resilient. But more than that it is a reminder of God’s providence. “You made us, we belong to you” “You made all living things and you constantly provide for their growth.” Even on cloudy days, rainy days, extremely hot days, everyday, we are well taken care of. No doubt about that.

God Provides

For the past few weeks, due to some administrative problems we had not been able to use the usual venue for our children’s ministry. From week to week, we have been praying for God to provide a way for us. We have 3 sessions on a regular Saturday and it’s not an easy task trying to secure one venue for it. Having a regular venue also means that all the children will know where to go, since for the most part, we only know where we are going to hold the sessions when we arrive.

Last Saturday, one of the children’s lola (grand mother) offered us their simple home. It’s a 3 x 4 metre room which doubles up as a living room by day and a bedroom by night. At a corner is the toilet, covered by a small curtain. And in this simple home, we had our session.

With 27 children, 6 adults, furniture, a cat and a rooster at the back yard. Most of the children sat on the floor, some sat on the stairs leading to the attic.

In this space, we praised and worshipped God, we learnt about being a ‘Disciple of Christ’ a teaching by Celine. We shared about our World Youth Day experience in Australia and shared snacks. We even managed to have small groups sharing, and a presentation of skits that the children came up with. What a gift! To be part of the lives of people, to be offered their homes when we had no where to turn to, to have warm shelter while a storm is happening outside. God hears the cry of His people, and He alone provides all our needs.