To Quit Or Not To Quit, That is the Question!

Since I am the admin of the care group, I was 'forced' to remember what was said on Tuesday night.

That hypothetical question of getting blessed but then have obstacles at work got me really thinking. This is just sharing but do put in what you think if the Lord leads.

This is what I think and also through the sharing, after going through 9 years of working life.

* Bite the bullet but through God's strength (Uncle Chris)

"having been proved through fire, may be found to praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" (1 Peter 1:7)

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Php 4:13)

* Ask for favour (Sista Win-Win-Beloved)

For You, O Jehovah, will bless the righteous; You will surround him with favor, as with a shield.
(Psa 5:12)

* Quit (Me!)


Upon reflection of what I did (quit) let me share to you how I go about the last job. Yes I was really happy that I got this job because of a good boss (he sponsored me to go for a Christian business seminar on the first week of work) and I got a raise within the first year.

Then things started to get really bad because
- I do not have a mentor, basically I am by myself 75% of the time through self learning, asking questions despite being a nuisance and to help others so that I can learn through OJT
- There's no sales manager, so there's no sales planning and thus no sales
- Immediate boss was good with the technical things but when it comes to selling, he really has no idea at all.
- He knows what he is selling, but there's no concerted effort to grow the business in the new direction.
- colleagues wise, all are ok except one that spews nonsense that even the cobra would lose to her.

With the above, I go through it with the Lord's strength as much as I could and also ask for favour which the Lord do give graciously through customer contacts. Somehow or rather, the results ain't that great so sales target did not hit.

In short, no direction but pressure to sell sell sell. I still remember Vincent asking me at that time, who is the one that gave me the job and why am I so fearful? (that's what happened on that small piece of paper) so that's the start of 'pushing' the Lord for His Provision and also for me to metanoia on God's ability to sustain me and my family

Right after one year anniversary at this job, things took a bad turn. My boss just out of a crunch time after setting up the new passport system for the government suddenly find that he has no business so the screw turns much harder. Plus he was getting stubborn and basically trying to do somethings that is going no where

Slowly, I am unable to sleep well, appetite grows because of stress and pretty depressed because of the stupid sales target hanging overhead.

Cut the long story short, Abba starts sending people along my way to say something to me. Thanks to brother Albert and a brother Sam (who sells cameras) and also some remarks from other people during the course of my decision making process, I realised I am capable of doing things but definitely not in sales. Plus the fact that a book has showed me that the place I am at has no wisdom in doing business, that cement the decision to quit.

What I am saying here is quitting do not really show that one has no faith in God. Sometimes, quitting is also a direction from God through the people He sent. God will put people in some place to do certain things or to learn certain lessons, but when the lesson is learnt, the mission is accomplished, guess what, time to move on...If this is not true, then I guess the Jews would still be wandering in the desert.

I always have this belief about God's blessings. Fact is I am trying to find this verse because I remembered the Chinese version of this verse at Ruth's old place at Bishan but somehow I cannot find it for a long time. But TODAY, it just popped up.

The blessing of Jehovah, it makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.
(Pro 10:22)

I guess, this was my measuring stick in the things that I am blessed with. If the 'blessings' I got causes too much pain, then I know I am doing a lot of things wrong and also means that this particular 'blessing' is really not from God! That's maybe the reason why I am so ready to quit the old job because it was just too painful to the point of worshiping mammon through the sales target.

Ultimately we must always defend this truth that it is God's will for us to dwell in the land of milk and honey. To be blessed so that we can be a blessing for others.

But I have said to you, You shall surely possess their land; and, I, I am giving it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey; I am Jehovah your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
(Lev 20:24)

Hear, then, O Israel, and take heed to do it, that it may be well with you, that you may increase greatly, as Jehovah the God of your fathers has promised you, in the land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 6:3)

And He has brought us to this place, and has given to us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
(Deu 26:9)

in order to establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then I answered and said, Amen, O Jehovah.
(Jer 11:5)


And so I am of the opinion now, I am NOW in the land of milk AND honey and I am rich according to the riches of Heaven through Christ since Jesus has already establish the oath which God swore to our spiritual fathers through the cross.

Prayer Request: May the blessings of God through Shalom be upon us and our family NOW because of the completed work on the cross

Shalom Shalom

Wilson


"Life is too short to live it without JOY"

Good Words of Wisdom.

This is from John Piper's father...although a lot is said, still in the light of Lord's revelation in my life, have to take these words with care.

Wilson

Things I have Learned

by Bill Piper
with comments by John Piper

1. The right road always leads to the right place; therefore, get on the right road and go as far as you can on it.

My father was totally persuaded that wrong means do not lead to right ends. Or, more positively, he was persuaded that living in the right way—that is, doing the right things—are means that inevitably lead to where God wants us to be. This is why he told me, when I asked about God’s leading in my life, “Son, keep the room clean where you are, and in God’s time, the door to the next room will open.”

2. There is only one thing to do about anything; that is the right thing. Do right.

This is what one might say to a person perplexed by a difficult situation whose outcome is unknown. The person might say, “I just don’t know what to do about this.” It is not useless to be told: Do the right thing. That may not tell you exactly which good thing to do, but it does clear the air and rule out a few dozen bad ideas.

3. Happiness is not found by looking for it. You stumble over happiness on the road to duty.

My, my, my. How was John Piper born from this? I would never say this. The main reason is that the Bible commands us to pursue our joy repeatedly. “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice.” “Delight yourself in the Lord.” I think what he meant was: 1) Joy is always in something. Joy itself is not the something. So we seek joy in Christ. Not just joy in general. 2) When duty is hard and we do not feel joy in doing it, we should still do it, and pray that in the doing it the joy would be given. But what we need to make plain is that duty cannot be contrasted with joy, because joy is a biblical duty.

4. The door to success swings on the hinges of opposition.

Remarkably, this saying implies that opposition is not just a natural accompaniment or antecedent of success, but that it is a means by which the door opens. One can think of many biblical examples. The opposition of Joseph’s brothers opened the door to his leadership in Egypt. The taxing of the empire opened the door to getting the Messiah born in Bethlehem, not Nazareth, and thus fulfilling prophecy. The betrayal of Judas opened the door to the salvation of the world.

5. God in the right place in my life fixes every other relationship of life (Matthew 6:33).

I wonder if this was tucked away in my mind so that unknown to me it controlled my analogy of the solar system to our many-faceted lives. If God is the blazing center of the solar system of our lives, then all the planets will be held in their proper orbit. But if not, everything goes awry.

6. It is never right to get the right thing in the wrong way—like good grades, wealth, power, position. Don’t sacrifice your principles.

Again, he hammers away at don’t use bad means for good ends. Be a principled, not a pragmatic, person. O how we need to hear this today. Churches need to be principled, not endlessly adapting to culture. Persons need to make a promise and keep it no matter how much it hurts.

7. It is a sin to do less than your best. It is wrong to do [merely] well.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 ). But be careful. Sometimes the “best” is a B+ sermon and spending time with your child. In other words, “best” always involves more decisions than the one you are making at the moment. That one means many other things are being left undone. So “best” is always the whole thing, not just the detail of the moment.

8. It is wrong to be yoked to one who refuses the yoke of Christ.

Don’t marry an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:39). Not all relationships with unbelievers are ruled out. Otherwise we could not obey Jesus’ command to love them and bless them. But “yoke” implies a connectedness that either governs where we go or constrains where they go. And you cannot constrain faith in Jesus. It is free.

9. The part of your character that is deficient is the part that needs attention.

This is the counterpoint to the advice: Go with your strengths. There is truth in both. Yes, be encouraged by every evidence of God’s grace in your life, and use your gifts and graces for his glory. But you will become smug and vain if you do not keep your deficiencies before you and work on them.

10. Don’t quit. Finish the job. God can’t use a quitter.

Warning: “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). Promise: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

11. Anything you do that hinders your progress for God is wrong.

O how thankful I am that this was the dominant way my father pressed me to pursue my sanctification. He did not mainly impose lists of don’ts on me, though we had them. And they were clear. Mainly he said: Maximize your progress in knowing and serving God. That ruled out a hundred foolish behaviors, some bad and some uselessly innocent.

12. Beware of any society in which you feel compelled to put a bushel over your testimony.

This implies that you can go into a group of people who are evil if you are willing to open your mouth and take a stand for Jesus and righteousness. Nevertheless, 1 Corinthians 15:33 stands: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”

13. It isn’t enough to be good. Be good for something. The essence of Christianity is not a passionless purity.

This is what I have meant in talking about a merely avoidance ethic. Don’t just think of righteousness or holiness in terms of what you avoid, but what you do. As my father said in another place: Don’t be a don’ter; be a doer.

14. Positive living produces negative effect[s].

This is wise counsel that affirmation of the good always implies negation of the bad. If you think you can live your life without negating anything, you have lost touch with reality. “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). You cannot love without hating what hurts the beloved.

15. Learn to be sweetly firm.

This was what he said to my mother over the phone when she was exasperated with her one disobedient son: Be sweet and firm. I think she succeeded.

With abiding and deep thankfulness for my father’s wisdom,

Pastor John

Another Berean Posting that Irks Me

Here's another "The Berean" Email Posting that got me..well..heated up.

The main gist of brother Earl Henn thoughts lies with this paragraph

"In this verse (Romans 7:1) , Paul explains how the law has "power" over a human being only while he lives. He means the law has power to condemn us as a sinner and, consequently, condemn us to death only as long as we are alive. Once we have died, the penalty for sin has been paid, and the law has no more power to condemn us."

Oh WOW! So that means Jesus Christ's death on the cross has no power over us while we are still alive? And that Jesus Christ's redemptive work will only happen when we are dead to our body?!

What twisted theology is that?!!?


Using Amplified version of Romans 7:1

Do you know that, brethern - for I am speaking to men who are acquainted with the law - that legal claims have power over a person only for as long as he is alive?

I will categorically state here: the power of sin through the law has NO power over us NOW! The death of Jesus Christ has rid the power of the law and subsequently its effects, which is condemnation and death, when we accepted Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour.

It is through the Lord's death, that His will to allow us to obtain the sonship of God is able to be exercised.

I am of the opinion that brother Earl is thoroughly wrong in his interpretation of this verse and the way the Letter to the Romans is trying to convey.

The verse that confirms my view on this lies in the preceding verse Chapter 6 verse 22-23 and Chapter 7:6

But now having been set free from sin, and having been enslaved to God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life.
(Rom 6:22)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 6:23)


But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
(Rom 7:6) (Emphasis mine)

Dear brothers and sisters reading my blog, I have highlighted the word NOW in red to show that our salvation is NOW. Our escape from the effects of sin, and the demands of the Law can happen NOW. We need not wait till we die to receive the eternal life. We NOW serve through the Holy Spirit, and NOT through the demands of the Law.

Brother Earl says "Some have interpreted this to mean that, now that we have died with Christ, the law is no longer binding on Christians."

The true meaning of this is that the effects of the Law and thus condemnation through Law has no effects on us now. That does not mean we are not following the Law. We follow the law through the Holy Spirit, in that we love God, we love our neighbour as ourselves....even when we failed to follow the Law, the demands for breaking the Law is taken over by our Saviour and Abba God's forgiveness is ready for us to take when we fail.

In effect, when we receive Christ, we have already fulfilled the law and we become better persons because we already been forgiven for our trespasses in the past, the present and the future.

If we receive eternal life NOW, so how can we die in Spirit so that we take it up again when our body is sleeping (Paul did not say Christian will die, we are all but asleep because of the eternal life that is given to us).

If we follow brother Earl's explanation, then the sacrifice on the cross has no effects on our lives now and for the future. So what is so good about the news if the benefits of following Christ is of no use until we die?

Although brother Earl has gone to the Lord, but his erroneous teaching still permeates the mind of Christians and thus rob the JOY in having the Lord in our Lives. In brother Earl's quest to debunk Christians that law is not important anymore, he has in effect marred my Lord's work on the cross.

We must remember, without the law, we shall never know that we fall short of the glory of God. Without the law, we shall never know the standards of God. Without the law, we shall never know how to treat others with love and respect. Without the law we shall never know how much Jesus loves us.

Rejoice that the punishment demanded by the law is now being met through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. So that we can live life to the fullest without feeling guilty. We need not wait till we 'sleep'.

Contraceptives At the Top of Students' Mind?

Goodness gracious...I read this article from AP

"Birth Control Prices Soar on Campuses By JUSTIN POPE , AP Education Writer"

Are students going to school to study or to have sex?!? This is ridiculous to the point bordering on nonsensical!

Instead of worrying about grades, these people are actually worrying about getting pregnant? Oh goodness, is this what sexual education is all about? To have sex 'safely' without the license (read: marriage) to do so? So much so education priority is devalued?

Call me old-timer, call me conservative but if we use of minds at least for practical uses not just for remembering facts, I guess this is getting ludicrous.

Let me tell you a cheaper option, make that a FREE option: Just have a good sexual relations with your MARRIED partner.

Save your hard earned, two jobs for tuition pay on what is needed the most: Get your brain educated and hopefully, be wiser for the betterment of your life.

Being wise is not about knowing everything, being wise is about knowing what is necessary to get the most of your life. Getting birth control so you can have 'fun' isn't wise.

Dreadfulness Healed by 1 Peter

Today...all of a sudden, depression sets in. It was some feeling of dread. I could not shake it, I could not exorcise it nor can I actually pin-point what is the shitty bloody wrong with me. I feel restless, I feel wasted and I certainly feel not really up to it in a lot of things. Things just doesn't feel right. Business moved but somehow, things ain't going what I thought would be ok.

Goodness. I got a lot to be thankful for because this is the month where I got to finish recording in pictures, 2 beautiful weddings, got a good pay cheque for writing reviews for the press and lastly, my E-commerce class has just ended. So what more do I want? Sometimes I feel that Abba can be really frustrated for having kids like me. I mean, He gave good things in accordance to His riches in Heaven but we who are on Earth, the Royal Priesthood, would feel dejected, down, frustrated and depressed...exactly what I am feeling now.

Guess what the Lord has spoken, "Go to E-sword and type in devour and lion" and He lead me to this verse

Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
(1Pe 5:8)

whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.
(1Pe 5:9)

Hmmm....be stedfast in faith as my brothers are suffering the same things as well? So does that mean that the depression is of the devil?

Now I read the verse before these verses and this is what the Bible says

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
(1Pe 5:6)

casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
(1Pe 5:7)

Oh.....humble before God's hand and He may exalt me in due time. So cast all worries upon Him because He loves me enough to care for me! Let God work His hands for me so that He is able to elevate me!

Wow! Revelation! And you know what? That depression was lifted, a joy surpasses all understanding welled in my heart. And then another confirmation..

Now the God of all grace, the One calling you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, you having suffered a little, Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen, establish you.
(1Pe 5:10)

And then all of a sudden, a power swept through my very being, a current, a flow...it clears my heart, tinge my head and suddenly eyes clouded a bit...

It is not so bad after all! Abba Father does look after me, as He has looked after countless others who put his trust in HIM!

To Him be the glory and the might forever and ever. Amen.
(1Pe 5:11)