This line popped up in my head while in Shangri-la, at our foreign team meeting.
The spiritual climate was rich and we really felt God moving among us all. I saw changes in different ones, growth and God birthing things in their hearts. Funny though, when someone shared about an area of dryness or family not turning to God, a particular line reiterated strongly in my head: "EVERYTHING IS SPIRITUAL."
For example, when we don't start off with prayer and worship, it's not about us lacking spirituality or the absence of the spiritual. It's about what spirit is perpetrated here. The act of not being spiritual is, in itself, spiritual. What we're doing is continuing a dry spiritual climate and not enthroning God to lead us - a spirit of self-sufficiency and lack of intimacy with God.
You not doing your QT is spiritual.
So, it's a matter of discerning what spirit you're engaging in your life, or ministry. A Godly spirit, or an ungodly one? A spirit that gives God the focus and glory, or that gives your flesh or the enemy first place?
Discern and be very careful, guys......
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Everything Is Spiritual
God, You Chose Me. And That Blows My Mind.
One fine winter's day on the recent trip, I was preparing myself for teaching. To do that, I decided to read the ubiquitous Bob Sorge's Exploring Worship to infuse myself with the aroma of a worship-centric spirit, so I would give out that aura during my teaching. (Yes, foolish as it may seem, I try anything to be effective in my ministry ;p)
I came to a section on "Qualifications of A Worship Leader". Sounds mighty meritocratic huh? And then there was this shortest paragraph that in all of 2 sentences merely said,
"The second requirement, which goes hand in hand with the first, is a deep and a proven spiritual walk. We do not need spiritual novices leading our worship services."
I don't know what happened, but within a nanosecond of reading that, I was in tears.
It was a revelation of how far I've come with God, from being the least likely candidate/feeling totally like the last guy in spiritual standing among my peers in church..... and a deep humility that God chose me. Why me, and how much of what I do is me, are unfathomable questions.
The affirmation that I am no longer a spiritual novice, and have a deep and proven spiritual walk, is something I had not fully grasped until this moment.
I'm humbled that God chose me to do this. Terribly, utterly humbled.
Mothers, Daughters and Our World
I read this in today's Life! section ('Read', pg. 23) of an interview with Chinese author Xue Xinran. Her book, Message From An Unknown Chinese Mother, tells stories of Chinese mothers who had been forced to give up their daughters for adoption and for some, *horrors* murder them by drowning in pails.
As I read this, my heart ached to comprehend issues facing women in our world. In cultures like such, brokenness, questions and pain haunt its inhabitants every day of their lives, for decades. Neither daughter nor mother are spared from dealing with senseless separation, identity diaspora and endless 'whys?'. How far cultures have strayed from kingdom values and Love.
She mentioned some truths that echo the needs of our world:
The latter states a profound truth that I myself, as a Singaporean, face in tackling issues of my cultural identity. The past year or so, I've been impassionated by a thirst for all facets of our past - positive or negative. I want to know what really happened, outside of the textbooks and dominant discourse we're presented with. I want to know the alternative reality, the strongholds and mistakes, and why we are the way we are. I want to learn from it, not erase the treasure trove of our culture and history. It resonates with one of the strongest beliefs I hold:
Kawaii Bentos
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Shangri-La So Soon
This is a quick post! Off to Shangri-La again for 2 weeks, pretty hastily put together. I'm actually looking forward to a break from the crazy schedule I have in Singapore.... started 2 programmes at NUS and another school on Monday and it's gonna be a commitment for the year.
On the homefront, Base Worship has been changed to Mondays 8.30am-9.30am. It's a new season of having a new attitude towards meeting as a base, for all staff and students. Been hearing pretty exciting things as the worship team shared their convictions about this new thing with me. Come and join us for a fresh start to the week every Monday, with our dearest God!
See ya later!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
He Hearts Us
Oh wind of change blow through this temple
Sweet Spirit of God, come and mend our hearts
For all we have are songs
Unless You come
Awaken what’s inside of me
Tune my heart to all You are in me
Even though You’re here God come
And may the vision of You
Be the death of me
And even though you’ve given everything
Jesus come
Come free us, King Jesus
It’s the only way that freedom’s given
From You and You alone
In the work You’ve already done
For all we have are songs,
Unless You come
Here we are, Lord
In this place
Crying out for
Your embrace
To hear Your voice
More than songs
Please come
Jesus come
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Little Nyonya in Shangri-La
Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM Asia 2010)
I'm going for GCoMM Asia this July! Usually held in the US, it's a standout chance to be part of this international consultation since it'll be held in SINGAPORE this year.
There're 6 tracks with altogether 36 modules for missionaries, musicians, creative communicators, creative artists, ethnomusicologists and Chinese ministry. You can take modules interchangeably - across tracks - so that's a plus to me who's into cultural relevance/music/ethnomusicology/arts. Examples of modules read like this.....
"Thinking outside the church box: How can we break out of our musical ruts by looking at a wide range of needs that can be met through song, thus discovering new themes, new purposes, and new contexts for a wider variety of music styles?"
"Cultural redemption: biblical basis for and practical application of cultural redemption in traditional music and dance. Pastor Ed Lapiz and his team will share about spiritual victories with tribal groups of the Philippines..."
"Movies. Stories. God.:Which movie should you invite your friend to watch: The Jesus film, Fireproof, or Batman? WHY? Discover the power of stories through motion pictures (both short and feature-length films), and how you can use them to start and engage in profound spiritual conversations...."
PLUS Dance! Children! Digital & Internet! Check it out for yourself.
The purpose of the Global Consultation on Music and Missions (GCoMM) is to bring together mission and music leaders from around the world to explore how God is drawing the nations to Himself through music and related arts.
In the year 2010, the Consultation will gather for the first time in Asia! To many, Asia is known for its diverse form in both cultural and racial settings. By God's grace, GCoMM Asia 2010 will use this initiative to form friendships and partnerships so as to identify strategies and models as well as to gather resources to meet both the challenges and opportunities present in Asia and beyond.
The theme for the consultation is "Many Tribes, Many Songs, Many Peoples, One Saviour" and we are inviting Christians around the world to come to learn and appreciate the use of culturally appropriate music and creative arts to fulfill God's call to evangelize to every tribe, people and nation.
With more than 30 seminars from which to choose, be prepared for a rewarding and enriching time of learning from one another.
Flashes of Shangri-La
