A Love Story

Prologue: I was asked to do a write up on the last CA meeting of 2010 (yes, last year was also me! But it was somehow not posted, haha~), so basically I did one blog post the day I started as a CA leader. One year later, I was asked to do the same. And Beatrice suggested, “Why not do a reflection of the past 1.5 years? What had you learnt in both as CA leader and INTEC as a whole? What is God doing in your life?” So yeah, this came out. I try to merge all experiences of an ordinary INTEC student’s life and the extraordinary encounters of a CA leader into one song, and so maybe some scenes are fictional. But allow me to journey you through the ups and downs of this amazing phase of life. So here goes…

 

We were all young when I first saw them
I close my eyes
And the flashback starts
I walked in there
In an Atmosphere of smart alecks

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

The flashback naturally started, and my very first CA meeting surfaced in my memories. Oh, I sure can recall that night very much! The people, the food, and the atmosphere in the Atmosphere. The seniors were performing a skit, and it’s about this guy who finds no friends in INTEC, yet in CA he has a family. Yes, a family is very much what we all need when we step foot in this foreign land, especially for those who came all the way from East Malaysia. I hope that you Juniors felt this way too when you first walked amongst us. And I hope the many generations of Juniors to come will always feel that warmth too. As for myself, I dreaded coming to INTEC. Those who knew me well these 1.5 years will know that I missed INTI so much! I had fun there, was just chosen to be part of the INTI Christian Fellowship (ICF) committee, and life was just about to get even more interesting when I received my JPA offer. I was like: “INTEC? Where on earth is that?” Friends were giving all kinds of rumours, wishing me luck coping with a completely Malay culture with very bad food. Really, at that moment, I would die to reject the very offer so many people would “die” for. I asked God, “Why!? Now what!?” That’s all I could ask. I’m not even sure what to ask for…

See the lights
See the party disco ball
The ushers make their way through the crowd
And say hello, oh I wished I knew

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29: 11-13)

We try to figure out God’s mind, cracking up our brains to guess what may be in store. But God made it crystal clear that He has plans, as what was stated in the Scriptures above. Too often we use this segment out of context, and we forgot that God also say that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. In those relatively devastating moments of my life, I guess I just have to submit. Through ICF, I met Huey Huey, who over time I realized were good friends of Jan and Grace. So in 2 separate events organized by ICF, I met Jan, Jien Lee, Philip, and a few more INTEC seniors. This gave me something to look forward to, because though adventurous I may be, fear of the unknown still grips the curious heart. They were in a sense the very first ushers of both CA and INTEC. We become ushers of God’s Kingdom when we stretch out those hands of love! So when I walked into the Atmosphere filled with scholars of all kinds, I kind of asked God again, “Why? Now what?” But this time the tone and attitude was different. During my childhood, I was trained through a church program called Royal Rangers to be “Ready for Anything”, but who can be ready when our God is just not a tame and boring God? Oh I really wished I knew what was coming…

That this is CA, they were children of God
And my buddies said stay away idiots
And I was crying in my exams
Begging it “Let me go!”, and I prayed

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1: 7)

Very quickly we were entangled with assignments and examinations which basically took up all free time for entertainment and relaxation. And here comes the struggle once in a while we all face. “I want to go to CA, but I got a test coming up on Friday, and 3 more reports due this week! How? Haiz…” Well, my friends never objected me coming to CA, but we know all too often when Christian youths leave home, enter college, or started working, we backslide. I didn’t want to be like that. We all don’t want to be like that. Claim all we want, but how sure are we? It’s only when circumstances piles up against us that we are put to trial. Well, I learnt that when it comes to dilemmas like this, we should always remember what our main priority is. We were created for God’s glory (Isaiah 43: 6b-7), and as students, we give glory to God by excelling in our studies. Yes, keep the core, mainly going to church, daily quiet time, prayer, reading the Bible, and personal time of worship. Of course try to engage as much as possible in camps, seminars, activities, etc. to equip yourself for the work of the Kingdom. But do not equate any of these with God. He should be our one and only focus. So if going to CA is too taxing on your studies, no worries, take a break! Talk to your leaders to examine what went wrong (This once again points out the importance of having mature and godly people that more than eager surround you with wise counsel). Realign your self-management. But trust me, put God first, and He will put you first…

“Dear Father take me somewhere we can be alone
I am waiting for someone to let me breathe
You’ll be my Guide and I’ll gladly follow
It’s a love story Jesus please say ‘Yes!’ ”

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6: 6)

Growing up ain’t easy, increasing responsibility, rising expectations, unforgiving odds, and much more. Jesus grew up and went through all of that too. He may not have studied in college, but his life was not any easier. It must be a so agonizing to know that your mission is to die. It’s not like you go into a battle, and if you are lucky you come out alive, maybe a few scratches here and there; if not so fortunate a broken limb or two, and worst case scenario a paralyzed body. Hello, people! Jesus fought a huge part of the spiritual warfare here, and a major victory can be stamped in history IF AND ONLY IF He was pronounced dead (of course He needs to resurrect, and fortunate for all of us, He did). How did He manage to remain sane knowing what was to come? The Bible tells us that He was not alone, because He always find time to be alone with the Father (Google “and Jesus prayed”, read up on how, when, where, and why Jesus prayed). It was during those silent moments between all the hectic ministries when He gets to catch His breath. If Jesus needs that, what makes us different? Don’t get me wrong here, Jesus did pray aloud and in groups sometimes, but what I’m trying to say here is why not amidst our classes, go to a secluded corner in the library to pray? God made communicating with Him so much easier when He tore the temple veil, but yet we are hesitant to just basked ourselves in His light. So instead of rushing to write your name and ID on your next exam cover page, let me suggest shutting your eyes…

So I picked up the phone when Jien Lee called
We kept quiet ’cause we’re dead if we chose wrong
I close my eyes
Escape this truth for a little while

He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2: 18)

Be careful what you ask God for, because you may never be able to turn back! Daniel’s request was simple, for God to reveal to him the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar, so that he and his friends will not be literally “dead” like all the wise men who failed to interpret it. Another remarkable young man did not think much when he asked to be freed from jail as he was wrongly accused, a logical and fair request too. It was not recorded that he prayed, but in imprisonment I think that would most probably be his plea to God. (Genesis 40: 14-15, 23)  May it be few days or 2 years, what a great surprise it must have been for them when God finally played his next step of chess! 2 things to talk about over here. First, I believe most of us will at least “consult” God regarding major decisions of our lives, but what happens when someone comes to us for consultation? Do we jump into straight into bombarding our friends with load of advices? We may be a blind person leading another blind to their death, just because of an impulsive suggestion that led to a poorly-made decision. Secondly, I was in INTI for a short 6 months, and I always wonder why did God allowed me to go there. What was his idea of doing so? God put me in the ICF committee for 2 months, and then took me away, put me in INTEC. Did I learnt or achieved whatever lesson or purpose God intended for me? I thought maybe these 1.5 years will be a quieter one for me. So I prayed that I will be given chance to serve God anywhere He would put me, with no personal ambitions of high positions or dreams of exhilarating adrenaline rush. Hmn, what a prayer, and what a phone call from Jien Lee…

‘Cause he said “Lead CA”, I was a JPA scholar
And my parents said stay away from distractions
But this is everything to me
I was begging him “Give me time…”, and I prayed

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6: 6-9)

There are two Bible verses that I had considered putting here, the other one being John 21: 17 which will appear down there later. I finally settled for this over here, let me explain why. Jesus told Peter to “Feed my lambs”, Take care of my sheep”, and “Feed my sheep”. Peter was a seasoned fisherman, but “fishers of men” may sound like E=mc² to him. That pretty much sounded like “Lead CA”, and although being involve with so many leadership roles previously, leading a Christian group was completely uncharted waters for me. Stakes were high, as some will worry. Shouldering this responsibility means stepping out of comfort zones and putting myself under unnecessary spotlight or more pressure. But the most “intimidating” task was to do what the Scriptures above say, which is to help the “sheep” in CA grow spiritually (not to mention that the committee will have to grow even faster, haha~). No, my parents were not against it, but nevertheless I have no idea if I was ready. Junior committee, did you felt the same? But there is one very comforting and reassuring truth, God don’t always call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Just look at Abraham, the father of faith. There were times he had to lie to Pharaoh to keep his head, but God didn’t want him to use his own secular shrewdness to go about life. To be the father of many nations, Abraham needed to set an example for generations to come. And so through many hardships, God slowly moulded Abram to live up to his new name, Abraham. Think of life as a role-playing video game. Every new obstacle you overcome, a new skill is unlocked, preparing you for the next mission…

“Dear Father is this somewhere You want me to be
I’ll be willing all there’s left to do is go
You’ll be my King and I’ll gladly obey
It’s a love story Jesus please say ‘Yes!’ ”

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. (1 Samuel 16: 13)

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. (2 Samuel 2: 1)

It took approximately 15 chapters from his anointing until his coronation, all the while knowing that he is king sooner or later but constantly living under the pursuit of King Saul. Yet, when finally King Saul was killed in action, David did not immediately summon up his loyal followers and crown himself king. He knows that no king on earth stands tall without the supreme authority given from the King above. He is also not sure whether the Israelites were ready to welcome him. His was a well-known warrior, but there was not yet any heartfelt connection between the people. Thus he begins his leadership by example, by asking God where He wants him to be. I have to admit, I can’t remember what happened during my entire Sem 1 CA gatherings! When the senior committee introduced each of us junior committee during our first meeting, that was the first time I saw most of them, and definitely the first time I saw Shu Yoong (speaking of David meeting Jonathan only after he killed Goliath). We were super blur on what to do, we had no sense of directions, and we our hometowns are way apart for any possible face-to-face discussions with either Beatrice or Joash (our first few meetings were redundant Skype calls during the holidays). Seriously, the only thing we can do is ask God whether this or that is the course He wants us to go, and pray that the committee will be one in spirit. In Sem 1, CA and I was obviously a Me & Them relationship…

“Dear Father save me, they try to tell me what to do
This love is difficult, but it’s REAL”
“Don’t be afraid, I’ll lift you out of this mess”
It’s a love story Jesus did say “Yes!”
Oh oh

The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21: 17)

I initially wanted to put this Bible verse at the “Lead CA” paragraph, but after some thought it fits this context more. I had also thought of putting Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 here too, because just right before that, in verse 5, God said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Ah, a real love, a REAL-ly DIFFICULT love, isn’t it? But let’s focus with Jesus and Peter over here. Peter really loved Jesus. And you know why it’s a difficult love? Because you love an “internationally-wanted, high-profile terrorist cum criminal”! Jesus warned that the world will hate you because of Him, and note that all 4 Gospels have this reminder (Matthew 10: 21-22, Mark 13: 12-13, Luke 21: 16-19, John 15: 18-25). In Sem 2, Shu Yoong will always say, “Gosh! I don’t know what to do!” And it’s true. We just came back from the R.I.U.T. National Conference, ideas were flooding our minds, everybody from inside and outside was giving suggestions on what we can do. But friends (especially our junior committee), there are many things to be done for the expansion of the Kingdom, but not everything should be done by us! We have to focus on what God wants us to do! (1 Kings 8: 17-19, Acts 6: 1-7, and I strongly recommend studying the entire book of Nehemiah to see how he served in his assigned ministry) Yes, be concerned of what others are doing, so that you can catch a glimpse of the big picture of God’s hands at work, but don’t get carried away. So as the committee quieted down in the chaos to listen to God’s orders for us, we got closer to each other, we trusted each other, we reaffirmed each other. God ministered to us, and we to our “sheep”. It’s now Me & You…

 I got tired of struggling
Wondering if He was ever hearing me out
My faith in Him was fading
When I met Him at the foot of His cross, and I prayed

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and staff, they comfort me. (Psalms 23: 4)

Psalms 23, a beautiful passage, reminding us that our concerns and well-being are in the Shepherd’s hand, and there is no cause for alarm. Christ the Good Shepherd was always there for us. He prepares a feast for us in the presence of our enemies, and goodness will follow us forever, as long as we are willing to dwell in His house. But you see, as Beatrice once told me, sometimes we have all these knowledge about God, but it stays in the brain. And when problems arise, when tremendous waves came crashing down, we get anxious and struggle because we think that our prayers go unheard, and slowly the faith that once held on so strongly started to fade away. No, dear brothers and sisters, merely knowing God is not enough. We need to meet Him, taste Him (Psalms 34: 8), experience Him, encounter Him. Allow Him to take us deeper in love with Him, deeper to the depths of our hearts. God isn’t looking for scholars to debate on tough theological issues to prove that they walk with God (the Pharisees and Sadducees were experts in this arena), but He is looking for people who will humbly and simply surrender to Him (Mark 10: 14-15). Those who went for the tour on Logos Hope, you remember that the captain never steer the helm? Someone else does it, but the captain gives instructions on where to go. God trusted us with our lives, He trusted the committee with the CA ship and all the crew onboard, but it’s not our CA, it’s His! He never expected us to scramble around looking for directions; all He asked for is to obediently wait upon Him, and be at peace. Let Him show us wonders, let Him take us on His magical carpet ride (imagine God as Aladdin singing “A Whole New World” and we as Jasmine, LOL~). Be filled with awe no matter at His cross, His throne, His house, or His battlefield…

“Dear Father save me I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for You but You never come
Is this in my head? I don’t know what to think”
He knelt to the ground and stretched out His arms

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 9)

Finally it was Sem 3. AUSMATians were buzzing around with their trials and finals, ALMers start to feel the heat of pounding stress, ADFPians are full fledge ACTP freshman year degree students, seniors had all left us, Beatrice was busy and she couldn’t make it to our 2^nd committee retreat. We were alone! But we were one. Oh yeah, I can say that again. We were one! It’s no longer  Me & Them, it’s no longer Me & You, it was Us. One for all, all for one. You saw it in the video I made, “A Tribute to The CA 2011 Committee~”. I thank God for the wonderful bonds of friendship that He had blessed us with. And it is also such communion we should long to have with our Best Friend. The toughest time I can remember the committee endured together in Sem 3 was that 5 mind-boggling hours of meeting to decide who shall be our “successors”, plus all the intentional hanging out for meals to dig into the juniors darkest secrets. We cracked our heads to analyze each character; we were shifting people here and there to ensure that the dynamics of the committee will be functional. It really seemed like we kept waiting but God “never came”. Who said so? If we were like King Saul who went ahead to offer the sacrifice, God will definitely be unpleased. Maybe He just wanted to wait until we are in the midst of despair and frustration, when all earthly means have been dealt out, only then He comes over, kneel down, stretch His arms, and say, “Come!” Imagine that joy when our eyes lit up upon hearing His call. I guess we all had that experience before. After school or tuition, we chatted and laughed with friends, and one by one their parents came to pick them up. The numbers dwindled, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5, 3, 2… Then you were alone. You sat at the stairway throwing pebbles (like Romeo, LOL~), chased the cat or dog that occasionally came by, smiled at the passing cleaner or stranger, finally began mumbling to yourself. The sky was growing dark, and a flock of birds flew you over your head to their nests. Then just as you dropped your head in boredom and sighed, a familiar engine sound, and your dad or mum pulls up…

And said, “Rest in me Zhong Xiang
You never was or be alone
I love you and that’s all you need to know
I talked to My Dad, go pick out a Uni”
It’s a love story Jesus just said “Yes!”

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28)

I have to admit, this was the hardest stanza to edit, especially the second-last sentence. So I think I will share tiny little bit on my *er hem* study life here. I did 2 sems of ACTP in INTI, and so coming to INTEC means going back to Pre-U, which is of course intellectually less demanding but much more physically and emotionally draining. I had passion in pursuing my dreams, but drawing energy by believing in that dream is another story altogether. To be honest, I doubt that I ever picked up momentum; and being someone who enjoys reading and learning (as far as my memory dates back), this was the only period which I will describe as “endured the gruelling torment of academic suffering.” But God was gracious, and through many faces and colours He added into these 1.5 years of INTEC life, He had sustained me thus far. Assignments, lab experiment and reports, issue investigations, group projects, research papers, presentations, interviews, quizzes, tests, end of sem exams, trials, SACE finals, they all came and went, but Hallelujah, for Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Mekoddishkem, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Sabaoth, He never budged a single inch (Matthew 24: 35, Luke 21: 33). At this point of writing this post, I am still awaiting my conditional offer from my first choice, University of Queensland. But once again, whichever paths He sets me on, I will surely embark….

Yup, coming to the end, it’s time for the long list of THANK YOUs again. A heartfelt gratitude to supportive Pastor David & kind Aunty Phebe, humourous Pastor Joshua, helpful Pastor Liew, trusty Uncle Yong, generous Pastor Ryan, talented Joash & shy May, wonderful Beatrice, cute Melvin, wise Xiu Ying, efficient Huey Fern, random Shin, caring Yoke Ping, charismatic John, cool Suyen, goody-goody Luke, cheeky Shiau Xian, charming Sing Kiet, loving Tricia, sexy Matthew, blur Jayn, artsy Bell, lady-like Caryn, angelic Jane, nerdy Alan, amazing Simren, awesome Kenneth, CA’s very own ecstatic Shu Yoong, all the speakers invited to share in CA, every “sheep” else who made this a dream come true, and especially our Daddy in Heaven! The committee wouldn’t have done it if not for you guys, and in fact I even have thought of doing it if not for you guys~ It was a roller coaster year full of thrill, and we indeed have all grown… Do I still miss INTI? Yes I do, very much. Do I miss INTEC? Be rest assured that I do too, very much more. This is one place I will never regret coming to, and if given a chance to live life once more, I definitely want to replay this scene. So yeah, may all of you grow from strength to strength (Psalams 84: 7) to soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40: 31), be hinds’ feet on high places (Habakkuk 3 :19), and let CAMPUS ALIVE continue to shine for Jesus! Don’t stop sharing the Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace, for His is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever, AMEN~

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (Revelation 22: 20-21)

Oh, oh, oh, oh
‘Cause we have all grown when I wrote this blog

 Epilogue: Finally, it’s all over! And by this I mean both INTEC days and this long post. What has God done to me through INTEC and Campus Alive? A Love Story, that’s what. I don’t write much, my language is so-so, my grammar was kept in history books, and I believe both Medic students or not can diagnose that I suffer from severe “Vocabularia Deficiency” (thanks for your unending patience to swallow and digest this blog). It was tough trying to be serious meanwhile retaining my signature lameness. I dug out my previous post on last year’s last CA, I’m not sure if the junior committee will upload it, but if they do, checkout another fun-packed day of CA gathering at our blog post titled “The Junior Committee First Self-run CA (14 Oct 2010)”. And to myself, go in peace, and come back in one piece~ See you when I see you …

Zhong Xiang

The Junior Committee’s First Self-run CA (14 Oct 2010)

It was 25 September 2010, a normal, uneventful Saturday morning, when my phone rang. “Hello, Zhong Xiang, I have something VERY important to ask you…” Jien Lee’s voice echoed in my head throughout the whole weekend, it still does now. So here I am standing before God and man, my first trial. Haha! Dramatically exaggerating…

Coordinating the 1^st CA event as a leader surely has its challenges. Not only me, but everyone in the new committee. And how did it turn out? I shall say that it was quite an adventure indeed. It started with a couple of meetings, many phone calls, and much more confusion, excitement, anticipation, suspense and comedy, but God was there for us!

“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5, 9)

Yes, God saw us through it.

Even before the clock struck 6pm, scholars start gathering from far and wide (Hallelujah!) at the famous Akasia bus stop, and so the “human trafficking” began. All went well until Jayn told me that one of the vans was not available so soon, and I went: “WHAT!?” It is last CA of the month/semester/year, we’re expecting higher attendance, people are flowing in, and now she tells me this? Not long later, Jan called me to say that a MSU guy who wants to go to CA was stranded in Seksyen 2 McD, the Cendana van was suppose to pick him up. And worse of all, we lost contact with Matthew (the other transport coordinator, who so happen to be the one fetching the Cendana boys). But thanks to God’s grace, the last shuttle left about 7:15pm.

Arriving at New Life, I was greeted by the sight of Matthew struggling to park his van (it kind of went too close to the other car, 5cm max). I explained to the growing bunch of uncles that it was not that easy, as that van had some problems with the gear. Yet they tried to be smart, “interrogate” us if we even had license, gave a lot of suggestions but sneered at each other’s comments by calling them fools, and one even took the wheel, he failed to help too.

 “He mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)

In the end, with much anxiety, perspiration, and of course prayer, we got that settled on our own too. Talk about God being an AWESOME Father…

I spend some time trying to shoo people upstairs (I understand that it is very difficult when we have to say goodbye to good food). Praise God that there were quite a large number of newcomers, but Tricia, Sing Kiet, and the ushers quickly looked into that with those broad smiles on their face. While Simren and her team were bustling around the kitchen, Veronica was conducting some AMUSING ice-breaking game which ended up with people walking around with each other’s shoe high up in the air. Worship was simply amazing, thanks to the Senior band and Alan who handled the PA. Just when I was about to heave a sigh of relieve, a few pretty ladies walked up to me with another shocking news… (the frown which immediately surfaced on my forehead even fogged my memory of who those girls are)

“Pastor David will be here only after 20 minutes, think of a way to stall them!” I quickly dived into my mental entertainment database and thank God that he gave me enough resources to pull through. I got Philip to conduct his trademark Pictionary game, and was glad to see the crowd had a really stress-free time trying to express their imagination and creativity. A few moments later, someone told me that Pastor had arrived, and right after the MCs, Royston and Rachel announced his arrival, another person told me that Pastor went to the restroom. “Oh no, you gotta be kidding me!” Well, this time Shu Yoong was quick enough to suggest that we celebrate the October, November and December birthdays first, so that was it.

Pastor shared on “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” based on Matthew 6: 25-34. Next on the list was the farewell for the AUSMAT and ALG seniors. The seniors shot an undeniably Hollywood-standard video titled “The Last Run” starring the Oscar-winning Royston and a senior Broadway cast, voice by Luke and XXX (didn’t get to see who the other guy was). Then there was a short presentation of Mark Harris’ “Find Your Wings” (or Cari Kepak Kau) by both the senior and junior committees. The atmospheres fluctuated around laughter and tears when the outgoing seniors shared their “final words”.

After the wonderful sushi refreshment, Matthew, Jerald, and Jessica started sending the kids home. After witnessing Kenneth single-double-triple-quadruple-quintuple-check that all switches are off and there floor is dust-free, I went down to drive the last shuttle to Cemara. It was near 11:45pm when we arrived, the gate was closed, and we went: “Whoops~” But as the Psalmist say: “Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” (Psalm 139:4-5) The gracious Lord only allowed the guard to “torture” Melvin a little by asking him to sing “UiTM Di Hatiku” because forgot his student ID.

Well, all is over now, and I drove back to New Life, expecting to have a good night sleep and sweet dreams soon. But to my “dismay and HORROR”, Jessica didn’t know that she was supposed to come back for one more round to pick up the drivers! (actually there were another 7 Cendana boys with us) So there we stood, 10 pathetic scholars left in the cold and dark street, so hungry, so lonely… At that moment, Pastor David came by to pick us up! Apparently, someone got in touch with him to inform him about our terrible predicament. And so when the car pulled up the driveway in front of the Cendana guardhouse, the time was way pass 12:30am. We walked in to our respective rooms, and amazingly, the guard didn’t even look up!

This is how I shall end my brief account of the rather turbulent 14 Oct 2010 CA (will be able to write a book if I was to go into every detail). But the conclusion is: Mountains may tremble, oceans may roar; but no matter what happens, don’t worry, trust it to God in prayer, and be happy.

 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)

Thank you once again to Shu Yoong, Xiu Ying, Melvin, Sing Kiet, Tricia, Kenneth, Yoke Ping, Alan, Shiau Xian, Bell, Caryn, Simren, John, Jayn, Matthew, Huey Fern, Luke, and the SENIORS for making this CA a huge success.

Zhong Xiang

The Cobbler and His Shoes

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalms 139:14)

Early evening, the student left home with a pair of new shoes. Not brand new, but it was on his feet for the first time. No sense of pride, but just hope that the previous pair had held on a little longer. Rain trickled down the windows of the bus; he shuts his eyes to catch a wink or two.

But at last, no sooner after he hops off the bus, the sole gave way! Irked, disappointment and frustration filled him, maybe even slight anger. He asked around, he searched around, he walked around. And there he was, the Cobbler, lonely, skillfully mending his shoes. His customers’ shoes, treated with such care, just like his own shoes.

The student skips across a puddle, treaded towards the Cobbler. The shoe can be mended, he was relieved. He sat down, observing. The Cobbler was quick, his hands darting here and there. Shoes and soles, brushes and glue, needles and strings. Cars zoomed by, people walked by, rats dashed by, cockroaches scrambled by, time slipped by. The world was busy, the Cobblers hand was busy. Nothing slowed down, everything was fast. Yet there was silence. And peace.

Had a chat with the Cobbler. He was happy. His life was simple. He left Aceh in 2007, to find a job here. His family was affected by the 2004 tsunami. But the huge waves did not sweep his passion away. Neither did it sweep his character away. Caring and considerate, he was thankful that he has been given the second chance.

Late evening, the Cobbler had worked over time. Darkened sky, lit city. The job was done, the Cobbler packed. The student paid the fare, bought him dinner. The money was worth seeing the smile and gratitude on the Cobbler’s face. Back in hostel, the student wonders if he will meet the Cobbler again.

The Cobbler love his work, he is gentle with his shoes. Wear and tear of life may wear them away, but he knows what to do with them; he knows how to mend them. They are his masterpiece. The Father in Heaven is no different. The Cobbler is His masterpiece. Wear and tear in life had worn him out, but He knows what is best for him, He knows how to mend him. He loves His work, He is gentle with him. The Father is the Cobbler’s COBBLER.

As for the student, he wonders no more. Meet the Cobbler or not, he knows that He watches over him. In Him the Cobbler will find rest. And PEACE.

Psalm 139

¹ You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Zhong Xiang

Proud to be a Christian

Hey guys, I haven’t actually done this before but I just felt the urge to after everything that has happened yesterday. Anyway, here goes my testimony:

Fear. Over the past 2 months, I have been under an incredible amount of stress, and I don’t mean just in academics. With finals just around the corner and the mounting pressure of doing the best I can in my assignments, the additional stress from across the miles that I was facing surely did not help. I was constantly distracted and worried.

While I succeeded in keeping it all to myself earlier in the months, it became evident later on that I wasn’t doing a very good job at it. I was fearful of my CGPA for this semester, considering the fact that I did not do well in one of my pre-calculus tests and was still struggling to even get a satisfactory score afterwards. I did practices but I could see only minimal improvement, if there was even any. My self-esteem was so low at that moment it was to the extent where I felt trapped in my own fears and self-pity. There were moments when I felt as though I was too caught up in my worries, I forgot about God. I attended services on Sundays but I tend to be unfocused during preachings, always thinking about the problems I thought would never be resolved. I started drowning gradually as the days went by.

Alright, so CGPA was one thing. Then came SAT which was drawing nearer. Aware of my lack of practice, no wait, my NON-EXISTENT effort, I was sick to my stomach already fearing the worst. I had intended to get myself well-prepared for SAT since I decided to take it in Nov but nooooo, I ended up occupying my time with other assignments and test preparations. The week before the finals and the SAT day, I was beyond tensed, tired and was on the verge of giving up. I even did, at some points. But with constant encouragement from a friend I hold close to my heart, I turned back each time I did and attempted to do better, although I am still not sure until today if I actually made any progress. :)

That weekend, I decided to leave my worries for one night and just give my all to God at the Planetshakers concert. Little did I know, that night was all it took for me to snap out of my reverie and sort out my priorities. I could feel God’s spirits as we sang worship songs but nothing could make me feel the warmth of God’s love and His power as what I was able to witness after. Touched by God’s love for us, a dear friend of mine who was a non-believer, gave her life to Him there that very night. And that was a wake-up call for me.

I came to fully realize and remember that our God is truly an awesome God and that He would never forsake us.

I went back that weekend, strong in my faith in Him. I prayed, I started reading my Bible every night no matter how busy I was in my final preparation for the exams. I put complete faith in Him that He would be there with me as I walk into the exam hall. I was no longer afraid of my results after, I told myself that I will be grateful for whatever God gives me because it is what He knows is best for me. Although I was concerned and worried about SAT that weekend knowing I should have put in more effort, I still left it all to God and kept Him close even as I was answering the questions. Yesterday was the moment of truth. PRAISE THE LORD for I was overwhelmed when I received my scores for SAT and also my CGPA for my finals. I was overjoyed with my CGPA and my Pre-calculus GPA, both of which had exceeded my expectations. And when I received my SAT scores, I KNEW God had heard me and I knew it was He who had made all that possible. It may not have been the most amazing score, but it certainly wasn’t a bad one either. He had rid me of my worries and had given me the strength I needed to do my best in all that I was most fearful of. For that I am grateful.

I am not here to testify that God will bless you with things you hope for but may not have worked for as hard as you should have to attain, but I am here to testify, as many others have, that God listens and that He knows our desires and dreams. He is always here for us, even when we sometimes forget that He’s there. I can only say to all to always have faith in Him.

Never once doubt Him, never once push Him aside, and never once forget Him because our God never doubts us, never pushes us aside and most definitely NEVER forgets us.

All glory be to God for the wonders he has done for me this semester and will continue to do in my journey ahead as a proud Christian.

Karen Ho

Experience Being Lost and Found

Everyone has had the experience of losing a precious item. Once we discover that it is lost, the next thing is hormone adrenaline will turn our mind into a confused state. We will be frantically searching for it high and low till we find it. However, if you find yourself lost in a cross road, how many times will the degree of fear in us rise especially for a person who gets panic easily like me.

Miraculously, I didn’t let panic triumph on that day neither did I break down. Surprisingly, I calmly controlled the steering as I drove in the heavy downpour at twilight.  The downpour started after I dropped the future drivers at cendana and its intensity reached its peak during the moment when I was lost. Maybe due to the poor vision I turned into a wrong direction. Alone in the van, with my stiff and icing-cold fingers, I drove carefully searching for the words ‘shah alam’ on every sign board that I came across though. The words ‘shah alam’ became my newfound hope. The battery in my handphone was running low. I don’t know who to turn to. Millions of thoughts ran through my mind : fail to attend the homes on that night is the first one, unable to make it to kolej akasia is the next and more importantly was ethics final test paper on next morning.

 The only thing that I could do is to turn to Jesus Christ, who has His cellphone that will never have battery running low and who is an alert shepherd who knows when his sheep goes missing and where to find it before lions or wolves able to engulf it. 

It was really on cue for the CA old van to break down in front of kolej akasia at the beginning of the first driving lesson for the future drivers . The van stalled and refused to start again in front of the side gate of kolej akasia before making a U-turn.  I was shouldered with responsibility to send the future drivers back while the seniors dealt the van with a mechanic.

I believed this was the longest period of driving I ever had.  I miscounted how many times I turned as one road led me to another road to Shah Alam. My biggest fear was that I’m no longer in Shah Alam region. Once I turned wrongly into a road which had only one way but could lead me to another main road. The wheels of the van went up the shoulder of the triangular separation. The impulse when the van went down sprang me from the driver’s seat a moment. Another fear rose up in my mind : what if I met an accident, being called to heaven is considered lucky but what if I survived and had to suffer from long-lasting injuries…. Though its only lasted for a few seconds, the shock from it lasted till now.  When I finally made into the main road, my sufferings had not ended. The main road was so congested with cars that it was a slim chance for me to slip in between the cars.  The extreme situation forced me to be daring and went in between the cars regardless of how the drivers had blasted their horns.  My only wish during the period was to get back to Shah Alam and despite of the accumulated fears, deep in my heart, I knew that Jesus will fulfill it and death is not in the hands of Satan but in the hands of our savior who had died and resurrected.

All praises and glory be unto God.  While approaching a Petronas station, I could sense that the Lord’s Spirit was instructing me to stop there. After halting the van, I used my handphone with limited battery supply to call one of my seniors. According to his instruction, I sought the address of the petrol station and was so relieved to realize that I was still in Shah Alam region. Thanks God for sending two ‘angels’ whereby one of them is a living GPS to bring me back to Kolej Akasia without any harm.

Whenever I recalled this situation, I truly believed that God’s hands were in control of it.  Usually when I lost something, I would become frustrated, panic and occasionally broke down without able to do other things. I’m so surprised under that situation I was able to drive calmly. Everything is God’s doings.

Sharon Tan

You Preach It!

I have been to CA for a few times in last sem. As a non-Christian, I always regard CA as a place to meet up new people and mingle with friends from different programmes. When Victoria and Zhong Xiang asked me to come over this last CA, I hesitated as I need to prepare for my final. At last, I decided to go and my decision has turned to be a wise one as I have gained a fruitful experience from it.

The sharing session has made me realize that life is not just about studies, family and relationship with friends.

One’s spiritual growth is also very important. I was amazed when I saw how people are so brave enough to voice out their thoughts and awed by their mature thinking. During the worship and praying session, I felt touched. Never once in my life did i feel so near to God. When I looked back, God did listen to my prayers. I tried to pray during my trial, and God brought me peace and took away all my anxiety so that I can face my exam confidently. Thank God. God is amazing. I’m glad that i went. Special thanks to the ex-committee and junior committee for making this last gathering a successful one. I enjoyed it. Wish you all the best in future.

Jamie Chan

 

Close friends around me know that I am a buddhist, but religion will never hinder me from getting to know Christian friends. In fact, quite a lot of my close friends are Christians. I am glad that I nodded when Jayn invited me over for the first (and last) CA in my life. It was fun and well-conducted, *applause for the junior committee*, I enjoyed the music and the sharing session a lot. I’ve gain some insightful thoughts, and am awed with your participation in CA.

It gives me a feeling of family.

I love the place and the people. I am glad to meet Pastor Joash and all of you! Last but not least, thank you for the “farewell”, I feel the warmth even though it’s my first time here!With this, I wish all CA members, all the best in your future undertakings.

Mx Tan

 

I’ve never been to CA before for this 1.5 year and I’m glad to have attended the LAST CA of the year which was my FIRST and of course the BEST of all! I really appreciated                         everything and everyone’s effort in making the last CA a successful one. Thank you all! I really feel the warmth there and it is like a big family. Even though i didn’t                         know most of the CA members but all of you made me feel like I’m a part of this big family too! Thanks a lot for everything especially the junior CA committee! You guys                         have done a great job and keep the momentum up! Lastly, hope all of you enjoy your time in INTEC .

We have got to know the people but not just focus on studies only.

All the best! =)

Chern Chee

 

I went to CA for several times. What can I say? The last CA was a blast, filled with touching moments. I can truly feel the love from brothers and sisters in Christ. It was kind of regret that I don’t really appreciate every single moment I was in CA. I wish I can attend the upcoming CA(s)! Bravo to the ex-committee! You guys have really made CA a fellowship place, with God as well as with friends in INTEC. You guys are truly amazing people!

Campus Alive has inspired me to grow.

All the best to the junior committee! You all are chosen ones in INTEC to spur the Christ-like environment. God bless!

Victoria Yap

Reaching Out

I believe we are all drama kings and queens.

We complain way too much and we are never satisfied with life. We are seldom grateful for what we have and instead, we question why we are not given more. We whine about how life is terrible and how unfair life is for us. Whether it is a test that is coming up, or a pile of untouched assignments, we complain. But have we actually thought about how fortunate we already are? What about the people out there who doesn’t even get the opportunity for education? Next, we complain about our parents being too strict and not understanding enough. What about those people out there who are orphans and who would die to have parents who can nag them and care for them? To us, life may suck. But that’s only because we haven’t seen the lives of those less fortunate. Why compare ourselves to those that are rich and live lavishly? We should instead look at those who are less fortunate and reflect on how lucky we are.

That is the message I got from the sharing from Pastor Elisha last Thursday. He shared with us about stories of people who are grateful just to have a place to stay, people who are so poor that their entire house is the size of some of our living room, and also people whose parents are drug addicts. Upon hearing this, most peoples’ first thought would be that these situations are probably happening in all the poorer countries such as the rural parts of India or perhaps Africa.

But no, it is in fact happening right in front of us, right here in Kuala Lumpur.

This brings us to a call. This calling may not have to be a calling for us to give up all we have to be the next Mother Theresa or to give up our comfortable life and become a volunteer in some remote place in Africa. Instead, this calling is to ask us to do what we can for those in need. It may be in the form of money, help or just time. It also need not be only limited to visiting crisis homes or orphanages. I believe that even simple gestures like sharing your food with your poorer friends who can’t afford to eat a good meal or encouraging someone who has family problems are ways of giving back to society. It is all these small things that touch peoples’ hearts in a big way.

Start reaching out to those next to you! Care for the less fortunate and most importantly, ask the Lord for guidance always as we ask him to break our hearts for what breaks His. =)

Hannah Chen

Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours

What an inspiring and touching sermon! I can feel the Spirit moving around the place, moving everyone’s heart, moving me… For the past few weeks, I had been carried away by the hectic schedule and events. I really had a bad month, emotionally and spiritually. I felt that I am losing heart for God, no longer placing Him first in my heart. Before I came to CA tonight, I stared at my calendar, wondering how much time I had allocated for God. The answer was disappointing, He was not my priority. I felt sad, really bad. But God was so real, He spoke to me through the message!

“The choice of life is in my hands.”

It really struck me that I can actually do something to fix the problem I was facing. It refreshed my mind, reminding me on what my purpose is in INTEC, my calling in my future career. I want to make a difference for Him! Actions speak louder than words, please do pray one another and me as well that we will focus on God and finish our race here, and also encourage and support each other.

God bless,

Rachel Chong

The Private Room.

Its funny looking back, I have never felt nor seen the significance of this blog till now. I regret not having to put my utmost effort of fully utilizing this sphere of media to spread God’s daily bread to the people. Glad to see the new Board of Directors picking up the pace to keep this blog alive. Sorry for crashing the blog without informing you guys; I really wanted to share something of great importance to you but posting it on Facebook seemed too inappropriate; you can imagine the look on my face when I realized how you guys were still using the same password and username. Praise the Lord for providing His way!

Hello, my beautiful people from home, (:

I woke up today feeling extremely drained. In the midst of having my midterms, with projects and papers up to my neck this week, the tension mounted and it didn’t help that I’m slowly beginning to feel the pangs of homesickness hitting me day to day. Reinventing my life here, making new friends, finding a new home – nothing seemed harder than to find God in this place where I now live, alone and all by myself. It has been a month or so since I’ve reached Los Angeles, but nothing has yet to register to be “familiar” to me. Everything is (still) so new, and so strange to me. Meeting new people and learning about the many lives of others is what I do every single day. And finally today it hit me. I got out of bed this morning, I felt the stark emptiness filling up the gaps deep in my heart. I didn’t know who I was, what I was supposed to do, how I was supposed to live my life. But God did. I sat down in the dark on my bed, with an overwhelming urge to cry and go home. Praying in silence because my roommate was still asleep, I sought Him to guide me. I prayed for answers – and I was given one. Not quite knowing what I was supposed to do, I went to my weekly bible studies on campus, and there, I was given my answer: Matthew Chapter 6.

I was given this material that said,

SHUT THE DOOR

The Lord said, “But you, when you pray, enter into your private room, and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” The private room is the place you fellowship with God in secret; it is the place where you pray without trying consciously to exhibit your prayer. This means to shut out the world and shut yourself in. In other words, it is to ignore all the outside voices and to pray to God quietly and alone.

I was rendered speechless at how apt and precise God conveyed his message to me through his words. Even more, as we got into reading Matthew 6 out aloud.

“Therefore I tell you: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matt 6:25

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matt 6:27

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Matt 6:27

“So do not worry, saying “What shall we eat? or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” Matt 6:31

“Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matt 6:34

He knew and He delivered me from my helplessness just like that. The power of prayers really manifested before me, and I was reminded by how we so often ask ourselves, if God knows what we need before we ask, then why should we even ask? Its simple. My bible (New International Version) answered the query by asserting, “Prayer was never intended to inform God of something he doesn’t know. The point of prayer isn’t merely to get what we want, but to NURTURE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. As a result, the prayer can change US rather than the SITUATION, reinforcing our confidence in our God’s sufficiency and realigning our will with His will.”

So turn to Him, build your own private room and strengthen your relationship with God by prayer. For when a true man of God prays continuously for His name, kingdom, and will, the Lord takes care of the man himself. Hallelujah.

Best,

Bell.

Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours…

As I write this, it has officially been a week since I’ve answered the call to be CA guy leader-in-waiting. The past week has been a time of learning, both about CA and how it works, as well as the people who I will be working with.

Thursday’s CA was a real eye-opener.

It is not the first time that I have listened to Pr. Elisha’s stories but I am touched each time I hear them. Coming to CA and hearing his stories on how he has encountered the marginalized has awoken in me again this desire to just do something for the people in need. Pr. Elisha really challenges me. How many times as a student I gripe about what I have? I complain when it is to hot in the hostels. I complain when my lecturers are not very good. I complain when the food is not nice. But, have I ever thought about those who don’t even have food? Have I thought about those who don’t even have a proper place to stay like I do? Have I thought about those who don’t even have a chance to learn to read and write?

It is really an eye-opening session where I started to realize that, I am blessed beyond measure by God.

What am I doing with what I have been blessed with? Am I changing lives? Am I impacting lives? What am I doing for those who encounter injustice? God’s heart breaks for those who are treated unjustly. Does my heart break when I see injustice? Personally, yes it does. But what am I doing with it? Am I acting on these feelings where my heart is broken because of this injustice that I see?

I came out of that sharing with a heart, a will to make a conscious effort to help out those who are treated unjustly or those who are marginalized.

Hopefully this is one way I can do it: To continue on with what Zhong Xiang has been doing, which is, to visit homes like Shelter, Crisis Home and so on. There was this discussion when I was with Pr. Elisha, chatting with him as he ate. He asked Zhong Xiang what he has been doing concerning reaching out to the marginalized this semester. Zhong Xiang explained what CA has been doing in the visitation of homes. Pr. Elisha commented back and asked, “So, is this just a one off thing?” At that point in time, I knew that I was to continue on what Zhong Xiang has been doing. Hopefully I will be able to continue this activity of bringing CA members to visit homes to learn more about the marginalized and to show them how they live in order that they might come to know God’s heart for the marginalized.

I think another thing that impacted me was the fact that Pr. Elisha said we will be the generation that will help these people. It’s a long hard journey to do so but I believe that if I am commit my heart to it, by God’s strength I will.

Will you join me in helping these people who are less fortunate than us?