Entries for September, 2006

September 2nd, 2006

these 3 months, oh glorious 3 months!

this wednesday that just passed WAS MY LAST BOTAK HAIR CUT!!!!!!!!!!

i can have hair now! well, at least a bit.

i am going to pass out of BMTC, Basic Millitary Training Centre, and go on to other operationally ready unit.

im a trained soldier? hahaha.. and proud of it, giving glory back to my Tower!

just somethings i have done AND BEEN THROUGH these past 3 mths -

LOTS OF PUMPING. well if i can count, it would be roughly 60 per day? there are days when we hundreds of course.

grenade throwing! i got thru safely! how great! its once in a lifetime experience that all men would agree to share!

rifle range! what was unforgettable were the red trailers encompassed in our first bullet. once shot out, it leaves a red trail to guide our next round. (like star wars)

24 KILOMETRES ROUTE MARCH! with field pack weighing more than 7kg? webbing with 2 full water bottles, raincoat, helmet, rifle. boots. and a very wet long sleeve army uniform. go and find out how long 24km is if u are not sure. haha

field camp. 7 days without handfone. 7 days with camouflage cream on ur face. 7 days eating combat ration sticky food. 7 days without proper shower. 7 days of tekan sessions. 7 days of sleeping on muddy ground. 7 days of hugging rifle to sleep sessions. 7 days of worrying whether to "shit" or not because we have to dig holes to do it.

SOC, standard obstacle course. this one builds ur confidence and courage man. try going up pyramid log ladders, climbing over walls, balancing on narrow high poles, plus a 1.5km run. and do it all under 11 minutes!

missing my family, church mates! and surprisingly, my MOM'S NAGGING. i actually call sometimes jus to hear her nag. can u imagine how pathetic that was? hahaha. shh dun tell her k. hahaha.

sharing the Gospel with my bunkmates! bringing John to church! building up a weaker brother in christ!

Posted by christ_knight at 10:17 AM | knockknock

September 7th, 2006

a barren tree speaks a thousand words


christ_knight

Habbakuk 3:17

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habbakuk3:17 remains my favourite verse, a verse that God has specifically given to me, for me to remember.

perhaps God fully knows my weakness : to despair in times of troubles.

just a few days ago, i was having my 24km route march. we marched on tracks beside forests, pathways and roads. with full battle order on me; the rifle, the field pack, the webbing, the helmet. it was really tough. the weight was too much to bear and to top it up, my uniform was sweaty and smelly.

i kept thinking, "will i ever make it to the end of this march?"

and i was only at the first 8km of the route march. to give you a rough idea of how far 24km is, it is roughly the distance between CHOA CHU KANG to Central Singapore (Redhill?).

and then as i was despairing, i lifted my eyes.

i saw a barren tree silhouetted against the evening sky. somehow, i could not take my eyes off the tree, even as i was beginning to march past it.

my eyes followed the barren tree intently until it was finally out of sight.

and then God spoke to me, "though the tree is barren, and you might be going through challenging times, remember, rejoice in Me. remember Your Salvation. "

my spirit was lifted up. and deep in my heart, i thanked God for His unfailing promises and faithfulness.

you see, Habbakuk 3:17 is a really difficult verse.

a farmer with no crops at the end of the year because of a drought.

a student who just missed his O levels examination because his father is in critical condition in hospital.

a girl who just realised her boyfriend wants to be with her just to have sex with her.

a cell group leader who is going through a period of time when members are leaving the flock.

a mother whose son has rebelled and left home.

a businessman who just became bankrupt.

a Christian finds out he has cancer, or AIDs.

put yourself in any of these situations.

will you still jump like you jump for God?

will you still say, "God You are marvellous!"

to be able to practice Habbakuk3:17 takes a lot of faith and trust in our Saviour.

and that is what exactly Jesus wants us to do: to love Him, to rejoice in HIM! to trust Him when everything around us is fading away.

thats the difference between our faith and other religions.

thats the beauty of our faith.

to rejoice in God when there is pain.
Posted by christ_knight at 08:31 AM | knockknock

September 9th, 2006

the experience


christ_knight

 

 

 

 

Amos 5:21-24 (New International Version)

 21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
       I cannot stand your assemblies.

 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
       I will not accept them.
       Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, [a]
       I will have no regard for them.

 23 Away with the noise of your songs!
       I will not listen to the music of your harps.

 24 But let justice roll on like a river,
       righteousness like a never-failing stream!

 

i saw these verses in the latest Hillsong album, Mighty to save, where Darlene was teaching about worship.

these verses are especially relevant in a time when people are always yearning for an "experience".

in a time when many christians are concerned with the latest Hillsong album or the latest conference or concert, these verses serve as a reminder for us on what true Christian worship is.

when we go for a "live band" worship service or conference, what are we looking forward to?

the band?

what songs are going to be played?

who is playing?

the experience?

the drummers? guitarists?

their skills?

 

if these are things that we are looking forward to when we slip ourselves into the service hall, its HIGH time we repent.

because Amos tells us clearly that God DETESTS and HATES insincere and false worship.

 

think about this:

do we still sing out loud, raise our hands and jump for joy when the song that is playing is not our "favourite" song?

do we kneel down during service when God prompts us to? or will we care about how people will look at us?

do we fix our eyes on the guitar frets, the percussion drums on stage instead of Jesus?

are we distracted by the lights, smoke and effects?

do we get high on the experience? instead of the very fact that God has set us free?

 

if you go into the service hall, with a heart that is humbled, and yearning to have more of Him, you are worshipping in truth.

 

if you jump, sing and lift your hands even though when u feel tired, even if the songs are not your "favourite", then God delights in it.

 

but if u bring in half hearted worship, or worship that is distracted, you can be sure God would not hear or accept any bit of it,

even if you are the greatest pastor or musician around.

 

Posted by christ_knight at 12:23 AM | knockknock

September 25th, 2006

dim in His glory


christ_knight

Phillipians3:7-8

However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.

Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ...

 

 

all that this world reveres, and wars to own, all that this world loves and fight after, i have counted loss now that i have found Christ.

my soul is set upon the beauty of the Lord.

it is just so amazing.

things that were once precious and valuable to me, seem to be so dim in the light of His Love.

money, power, status, acceptance, materials, attention, fame.

they have lost their hold on me.

 

it is a process of coming to terms that Jesus did really went through so much just to set me free.

His sufferings, and the toring of the veil, all speak of one thing, that He loves me with an unfailing love.

never in my life would i think that i would forsake so many things just to know the Lord more.

pleasures like clubbing, smoking and drinking. hatred, unforgiveness. greed for power and fame. my "achievements".

all these are loss now, compared to knowing Christ.

so now i am set upon the race for an incorruptible crown. one that i can attain not by my own effort and righteousness, but because of the Blood of Christ, that has made me righteous in the sight of God.

you know, it is not easy to give up things that the world reveres and loves.

when i gave up these things, it made look like an alien because the world cannot fathom what the Love of God has done for me.

it is hard for the world to comprehend.

but my soul knows.

it is a struggle to give up alot of things, but i will count all of this as nothing, because He did so much for me.

His voice, His presence in my life, His touch, His guidance, is more precious than gold or silver.

money? power?

i would rather go to Him empty-handed than to be far from Him. 

 

 

Posted by christ_knight at 01:04 AM | knockknock
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