The days, months, years and decades roll on with increasing speed. Hard to believe my wife and I have been retired almost 17 years. We locked our office doors at International Headquarters London at the end of May 1997 to return to our home in Singapore to continue with our ministry.
Age catches up on us; the different parts of the body are weakening and need repair, I mean medical attention. Thank God we have excellent medical facilities in Singapore.
I had a bad toothache for a week. This morning I went to see the dentist and she advised that it should be extracted. So one more part of body has gone - yes my poor tooth. Everything has its limited shelf life. There is an expiry date written on life's package.
As I sat in the dentist's chair the words of John Henry Newman's hymn "Lead kindly light" came to my mind. I was staring at the dentist's light above me and singing in my heart.
"Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene -
One step enough for me.
We must accept the fact that we are but dust and to dust we shall return Genesis 3: 19. I want to live well the remaining days of my life, one step at a time. Frankly I don't worry about money and material things. I live one day at the time and like the poet, admit, "I do not want to see the distant scene, one step enough for me."
"Lord, thank You for giving me these eighty plus years; well past the 'three score years and ten' as stated in Your word. Thank You for the days of sunshine and the days of shadow and darkness. I do not ask to see the distant scene, for I know with You I am safe. Lord, I give you back my life now to guide and control. I am in Your hands."
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
The Outstretched hands
I recall reading the story of a man who had a nervous breakdown. On his doctor's advice he went to a quiet resort to rest. But worries kept flooding his mind. He could not sleep, so in the middle of the night he got up and went to the swimming pool to have a swim. He stood by the pool, stretched his arms wide and was on the point of diving into the pool when he saw his own shadow in the pool resembling a cross.
Memories came flooding his mind. He recalled his Sunday School days; then days when he was with the Youth group. He remembered the days when he was an active Christian. Somehow the years had taken their toll. Materially he had done well, but spiritually he felt empty.
Suddenly in the quietness the words of the old hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" came to his mind. He decided not to swim but get back to his room to pray. He would commit himself to the Lord and let Him take over. He then fell asleep while meditating on the cross of Jesus.
He got up early in the next morning and went to the pool. He looked into it and received a great shock, for the night before the caretaker had emptied the pool and left it completely dry. Had he dived in it would mean serious injury or even instant death. The shadow of himself with his outstretched arms in the form of a cross saved his life. He was saved by the sight of the cross in the pool.
From that day onwards, whenever he went to swim he would always stretch out his arms and look into the pool, as reminder of the night he was saved.
Dr. Isaac Watts the writer of the hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" was a short man, only five feet tall with a large head, hooked nose and frail sickly body. It was said that when he proposed to a lovely lady, she refused him and said, "I like the jewel, but not the setting."
He was often ill and for most of his 30 years was an invalid. Despite his frailty he had a brilliant mind and wrote more than 600 hymns.
One Sunday after morning worship he complained to his father about the type of hymns sung in the church. He felt they were so tuneless. His father smiled and suggested that he provide something better. That afternoon he wrote his first hymn.
"When I survey the wondrous cross" is an excellent hymn. I love to sing it. The cross is 'wondrous' and Jesus our Saviour is described as "Prince of Glory." The hymn reaches its climax with our submission, His amazing love "demands my soul, my life, my all." Some hymn books have the words "His love shall have my soul, my life, my all."
His love 'demands' but I need to do my part and submit by saying, 'shall have." I can rebel and refuse love's demands, or I can submit and surrender by praying, "Love so amazing, so divine shall have my soul, my life my all."
Memories came flooding his mind. He recalled his Sunday School days; then days when he was with the Youth group. He remembered the days when he was an active Christian. Somehow the years had taken their toll. Materially he had done well, but spiritually he felt empty.
Suddenly in the quietness the words of the old hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" came to his mind. He decided not to swim but get back to his room to pray. He would commit himself to the Lord and let Him take over. He then fell asleep while meditating on the cross of Jesus.
He got up early in the next morning and went to the pool. He looked into it and received a great shock, for the night before the caretaker had emptied the pool and left it completely dry. Had he dived in it would mean serious injury or even instant death. The shadow of himself with his outstretched arms in the form of a cross saved his life. He was saved by the sight of the cross in the pool.
From that day onwards, whenever he went to swim he would always stretch out his arms and look into the pool, as reminder of the night he was saved.
Dr. Isaac Watts the writer of the hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" was a short man, only five feet tall with a large head, hooked nose and frail sickly body. It was said that when he proposed to a lovely lady, she refused him and said, "I like the jewel, but not the setting."
He was often ill and for most of his 30 years was an invalid. Despite his frailty he had a brilliant mind and wrote more than 600 hymns.
One Sunday after morning worship he complained to his father about the type of hymns sung in the church. He felt they were so tuneless. His father smiled and suggested that he provide something better. That afternoon he wrote his first hymn.
"When I survey the wondrous cross" is an excellent hymn. I love to sing it. The cross is 'wondrous' and Jesus our Saviour is described as "Prince of Glory." The hymn reaches its climax with our submission, His amazing love "demands my soul, my life, my all." Some hymn books have the words "His love shall have my soul, my life, my all."
His love 'demands' but I need to do my part and submit by saying, 'shall have." I can rebel and refuse love's demands, or I can submit and surrender by praying, "Love so amazing, so divine shall have my soul, my life my all."
Monday, May 12, 2014
Mother's Day
Last Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day in our church. We were quite touched when a number of people came with flowers for my wife whom they recognized as one of the spiritual mothers.
My own mother went to be with the Lord in 1982 shortly before we were appointed to Hong Kong. She had a very difficult life. She married my father at the age of 16; he was much older than she. In those days marriages were arranged by parents. She saw my father for the first time at the day of the wedding.
My father at the age of 12 had run away from his adopted parents' home in Shantou, China. They had badly ill treated him. In desperation he ran to the harbour, joined the crowd boarding the ship and travelled as a stowaway. He was unaware of the ship's destination. On arrival he followed the other disembarking passengers and came ashore. He worked at a construction site and became a bricklayer.
It was not a good marriage as my father loved to drink and gamble. So the family had a hard time and Mum earned money by washing clothes. She brought up a family of four children - a girl and three boys. I was number three and Mum was only 24 years of age.
All my siblings have gone and I am the sole survivor in the family. God has blessed me and my family of three children and six grand children.
On Mother's Day I remember not just my own biological mother but also the many women who came into my life, Thank God for spiritual mothers.
My own mother went to be with the Lord in 1982 shortly before we were appointed to Hong Kong. She had a very difficult life. She married my father at the age of 16; he was much older than she. In those days marriages were arranged by parents. She saw my father for the first time at the day of the wedding.
My father at the age of 12 had run away from his adopted parents' home in Shantou, China. They had badly ill treated him. In desperation he ran to the harbour, joined the crowd boarding the ship and travelled as a stowaway. He was unaware of the ship's destination. On arrival he followed the other disembarking passengers and came ashore. He worked at a construction site and became a bricklayer.
It was not a good marriage as my father loved to drink and gamble. So the family had a hard time and Mum earned money by washing clothes. She brought up a family of four children - a girl and three boys. I was number three and Mum was only 24 years of age.
All my siblings have gone and I am the sole survivor in the family. God has blessed me and my family of three children and six grand children.
On Mother's Day I remember not just my own biological mother but also the many women who came into my life, Thank God for spiritual mothers.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Near to the heart of God
Saturday evening and I am in my little room I refer to as 'office' and 'sanctuary.'
This lovely song written by Cleland McAfee came to my mind.
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Saviour meet,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
The writer was a pastor in Chicago. In 1901, he went through much sorrow when he received within the space of twenty four hours the sad news that his two nieces he loved dearly had died of diphtheria. In his sorrow he wrote this poem to comfort himself.
On the day of the double funeral he stood with his choir in the home of his brother and sang this song.
I mentioned that during the week we went to our Salvation Army Nursing Home to conduct chapel services and also visited the residents, many bed ridden. Our forty five year old daughter Dora Poh Chin is one of the residents. She has never uttered one word in the whole of her life. Whether she recognizes us or not, we don't know, but I believe the Lord has her own way of communicating with her. After all He created her.
We've prayed for her healing for years, but for some reason the Lord has allowed her to remain wheelchair bound, unable to communicate her needs. We still love her, visit her and believe the day will come when we shall meet in heaven and hear her call out to us "Mummy, Daddy" We will then say to her, Dora, we love you as we have always done." She is our eternal innocent child. She was born in sin, but she has never wilfully committed any sin. She is our Precious Treasure. And she is near to the heart of God.
Lord thank You for giving us Dora - Your precious gift entrusted to us.
This lovely song written by Cleland McAfee came to my mind.
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain:
O Jesus blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Saviour meet,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
The writer was a pastor in Chicago. In 1901, he went through much sorrow when he received within the space of twenty four hours the sad news that his two nieces he loved dearly had died of diphtheria. In his sorrow he wrote this poem to comfort himself.
On the day of the double funeral he stood with his choir in the home of his brother and sang this song.
I mentioned that during the week we went to our Salvation Army Nursing Home to conduct chapel services and also visited the residents, many bed ridden. Our forty five year old daughter Dora Poh Chin is one of the residents. She has never uttered one word in the whole of her life. Whether she recognizes us or not, we don't know, but I believe the Lord has her own way of communicating with her. After all He created her.
We've prayed for her healing for years, but for some reason the Lord has allowed her to remain wheelchair bound, unable to communicate her needs. We still love her, visit her and believe the day will come when we shall meet in heaven and hear her call out to us "Mummy, Daddy" We will then say to her, Dora, we love you as we have always done." She is our eternal innocent child. She was born in sin, but she has never wilfully committed any sin. She is our Precious Treasure. And she is near to the heart of God.
Lord thank You for giving us Dora - Your precious gift entrusted to us.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
The Old Rugged cross.
Yesterday my wife and I were at Peacehaven to conduct chapel service and also visit staff and residents. It was our second time to meet the Assistant Pastor of Wesley Methodist Church Pastor Jeremy Ong who had come to visit a member of his congregation now resident in our Nursing Home.
The Pastor with his two helpers took this elderly man to one corner to have holy communion and a time of prayer and fellowship. He was thoughtful and did not want disturb the other residents.
Then we heard quiet strains of music on the guitar and soon they were singing, "The old rugged cross." I could sense interest in some of the residents who were Christians. Spontaneously I joined in the singing and one or two who knew the hymn also joined in the chorus. Somehow I felt the Lord was blessing us. Later when they sang "To God be the glory" some of the residents started to clap. We could sense the movement of the Spirit of God. The pastor and his assistants left us and we continued with our short chapel service.
It was a great morning for us. We go to the Nursing Home to share our blessings but in turn we are always blessed by the staff, residents and visitors too.
The composer of the hymn "The old rugged cross" George Bennard was an officer of The Salvation Army. He and his wife served as Salvation Army officers for eight years. Then they resigned and joined The Methodist Church and he became an evangelist.
He went through a trying experience that led him to reflect seriously on the significance of the cross and Paul's writings about entering into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. We do not know what Bernard's trial was, but out of it came this conviction that the cross is not just a Christian symbol, but the very heart of the gospel.
He later wrote "The words of the hymn were put into my heart in answer to my own need." Out of George Bennard's trial and pain, this beautiful hymn was born. It has blessed countless people and I certainly am bless every time I sing it. And that's often!
In 1958, Bennard exchanged the cross for a crown. Be faithful and you and I too when the times comes will exchange the cross for the crown.
Another thought came to my mind as I write, William Booth left the Methodist Church and founded The Christian Mission which later became The Salvation Army. We are closely linked with the Methodists. I know a number of Salvationists who after leaving the Army have gone to join the Methodists. When we get to heaven there will be no denominations - we are all followers of Christ.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
The Pastor with his two helpers took this elderly man to one corner to have holy communion and a time of prayer and fellowship. He was thoughtful and did not want disturb the other residents.
Then we heard quiet strains of music on the guitar and soon they were singing, "The old rugged cross." I could sense interest in some of the residents who were Christians. Spontaneously I joined in the singing and one or two who knew the hymn also joined in the chorus. Somehow I felt the Lord was blessing us. Later when they sang "To God be the glory" some of the residents started to clap. We could sense the movement of the Spirit of God. The pastor and his assistants left us and we continued with our short chapel service.
It was a great morning for us. We go to the Nursing Home to share our blessings but in turn we are always blessed by the staff, residents and visitors too.
The composer of the hymn "The old rugged cross" George Bennard was an officer of The Salvation Army. He and his wife served as Salvation Army officers for eight years. Then they resigned and joined The Methodist Church and he became an evangelist.
He went through a trying experience that led him to reflect seriously on the significance of the cross and Paul's writings about entering into the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. We do not know what Bernard's trial was, but out of it came this conviction that the cross is not just a Christian symbol, but the very heart of the gospel.
He later wrote "The words of the hymn were put into my heart in answer to my own need." Out of George Bennard's trial and pain, this beautiful hymn was born. It has blessed countless people and I certainly am bless every time I sing it. And that's often!
In 1958, Bennard exchanged the cross for a crown. Be faithful and you and I too when the times comes will exchange the cross for the crown.
Another thought came to my mind as I write, William Booth left the Methodist Church and founded The Christian Mission which later became The Salvation Army. We are closely linked with the Methodists. I know a number of Salvationists who after leaving the Army have gone to join the Methodists. When we get to heaven there will be no denominations - we are all followers of Christ.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.
2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
God in control
Someone asked me, "What is your favourite text?" My response is "It depends on the occasion."
I have so many texts that I love.
This is one of my favourites "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 6
Those periods of my life at which I acknowledge the full control of Christ in my life are the times when I clearly discern the direction of God.
Sadly there have been times when I do my own thing without seeking His direction. That's when I fail Him.
I need to pray daily, "Search me O God and know my heart today." I need to maintain the right relationship with Him at all times.
I need to remain alert at all times. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.
I have so many texts that I love.
This is one of my favourites "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 6
Those periods of my life at which I acknowledge the full control of Christ in my life are the times when I clearly discern the direction of God.
Sadly there have been times when I do my own thing without seeking His direction. That's when I fail Him.
I need to pray daily, "Search me O God and know my heart today." I need to maintain the right relationship with Him at all times.
I need to remain alert at all times. Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.
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