Chinese New Year Family Reunion 2008

Chinese New Year was great! Lots of food, lots of Ang Pow, and lots of relative and friends to visit. I traveled down to JB first to visit my father's side family.



We had 'lou san' during our family reunion dinner. You can see how big our family is, in fact what you see is only the half of it...

Here's some family background on my father's side. My grandma bored 3 sons and 9 daughters, totaled at 12. My dad is the second and also eldest son among the family. Most of my aunties are married and had an average of 3 kids. We went back every year, and there will always be new babies born.

This year, it’s my uncle's turn to bore a child. He just got married last year. His daughter's name is Li Yue, cute and adorable as always. Indeed, it is God's blessing.



We also had our own family dinner at JB Korean Restaurant. It was delicious and the service was great.

Also would like to post our CBC church early CNY reunion at Ah Lee's house...





Thank God for giving us such wonderful time to spend with families and friends. Hope this year is full of blessings as always!

Share the Love

I watched an English debating contest on Astro last week. There is an open-ended question posted to the contestant: Do you choose to love others or being loved. The contestant chose to love, but it was a disastrous debate as she simply cannot defend himself when posted questions from the judges.

She was making a point that by doing good and by loving others, you will get peace and feel happy in return. She also stated that mothers have a natural instinct of loving their children unconditionally and that they will always feel better loving the child no matter what happens. The judges then reacted and asked: What if the child doesn’t love the mother in return? Will the mother still be happy if she continues to love them unconditionally?

Will you feel happier if you have someone who is by your side cares and loves you, or in the opposite and be a lover instead?

I agree from the judges that being love is more important than loving someone in the beginning. The Bible stated that "For God so love the world that He send His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die for us, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

By understanding and experiencing God's unconditional love first, then we are able to bring His love to others. Valentine's Day is not just about romantic dinner or roses, it's about sharing the love. And the source of love is no other then from God Himself.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Ultra New Year!

Wish everyone a strong, healthy and blessed Chinese New Year! Just like Red Underwear Ultraman=)

Missed Sheffield Castle Market

I came across my photo album and found some colorful pictures taken from Sheffield Castle Market. We used to shop for the freshest meat and vegetables there. The people, the smell and the atmosphere, it all brings back memory...

What kind of world are we living in?

Stephen Baldwin:

I certainly need you in the future for one challenge I have in mind, Pierce, and that’s you really give your life to Jesus…

Piers Morgan:

I’m a Roman Catholic educated by a group of nun, so don’t start preaching to me preacher boy…
I could just do less preaching when the behavior doesn’t live up to the preaching. Your life is just sickening into praying, you have to somehow craw out a bit and find something peaceful in your life.

We are living in a world where materialistic things and entertainment consumes our mind. The world is coming to a point where we can ignore God’s teaching and continue to live the life that we think is the best, as long as we follow the earthly law.

It even comes to a stage where sinful behavior like gay, lesbian, adultery becomes a norm.

In Genesis 18:20, the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous…”

When God sent the two angels to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham ‘negotiated’ with God to spare Sodom if there’s at least 50 righteous people living in there, then 45,40,30,20, and finally 10.

In fact, God knew what Abraham was thinking. Abraham’s nephew Lot and family are living inside Sodom. Gen 19:29 so when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

In the process of rescuing Lot, we can see that the people in Sodom have reached a sinful level of no return. “All men from every part of the city of Sodom – both young and old – surrounded the house (Gen 19:4). The people of Sodom demands Lot to bring out the two men (angles) so that they can have sex with them. After some struggling, even Lot himself offered her two daughters to the people outside “Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them” (Gen 19:8).

They are so used to the world they are living that they hesitate to leave their comfort zone (Gen 19:16), even the angles need to grasp their hand.

In order to preserve the family (Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt), the two daughters get Lot drunk and slept with him, and later beared a son each, which lead to the two clan Moabites and Ammonites of today (Gen 19:34-38).

In Deuteronomy 23:3, “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, even down to the tenth generation”.

After hearing a sermon from Pastor David Chee, I am really amazed how deep and amazing God’s work is. The plan to rescue Lot actually leads to the birth of generations like Ruth (a Moabite), King David, and eventually, Joseph, who married Mary, and Mary, as a virgin, give birth to our Lord Jesus Christ. It tells us that as long as we have faith in the Lord, no matter whom and what we are, we will be saved and blessed in His name.

This is how God’s perfect plan works. Abraham’s prayer was heard, and indeed God blessed Him and his family for the generations to come, and to the salvation of mankind.

Don't Give Up

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had adifferent Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up
For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

Welcome Home

This is a very touching video. Always love your parents and spend more time with them.

Footprints - Part 1 & 2

To all bro and sis from SCCC, still remember the days when we made this video? It took us 6 months to create. Thanks for all the hard work that made this video possible. I've uploaded part 1 & part 2 so far, did some re harsh to it by adding subtitles and lighting adjustment. Will upload the rest soon. In the mean time, enjoy!

In memory of our late Philip Goh

This video is made to commemorate our late brother Philip’s one year anniversary being with the Lord. Indeed, with God’s blessing through Philip, our CBC Chinese congregation has seen tremendous growth in ministry. We can see that God has always be with his family through tough times and today they stand to testify His great works. 主的喜乐是我力量!

Thank You For Your Time - A Touching Story

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?" .

"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was the thing he values most," Jack said. It was gone.

Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.

Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life."

A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes,! Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.

Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was...my time." Jack held the watch for a few minutes then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my mum,dad,sisters and brothers," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."

Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.

"Thank you for your time."

The time we spent in fellowship, enjoy and in pain - in all circumstance.