Reason and season for friendships

Everyday we are making new friends. At our age, often we get news of another friend has passed away or 'promoted to Glory' or "gone Home to be with the Lord forever."

Some of our friends are unable to connect with us through e-mail or snail mail. They are too old, too frail or the mind has gone. We know they are still alive, but we cannot communicate, but we continue to pray for them. We thank God for  they came into our lives for some reason or season.

In my note book I found the following poem by an unknown author and I would like to share with friends who read this blog.

Reason, Season, Lifetime (Poem)

 People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you figure out which one it is,

you will know what to do for each person.

 When someone is in your life for a REASON,

It is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and  put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

 

— Unknown

 

 

When We Cannot See Our Way (Lyrics) - The International Staff Songsters

Give thanks to God for his guidance

Sixty one years ago, yesterday I received my commission as a Salvation Army Officer  and took up my first appointment to pastor a church in Malacca, then Malaya. A young lady named Fong Pui Chan was commissioned the same day and appointed to assist a very saintly officer Captain Agnes Morgan a New Zealander.

Fifty seven years ago on 7th June 1958 we were united in marriage. We have always worked as a team raising a family and proclaiming the gospel in word and in deed, the Lord helping and blessing us.

We have no regrets and will continue to love and serve Him till He calls us Home.

Today we are enjoying our retirement with no official duties as far as The Salvation Army is concerned. However ministry never ends. I still preach in churches when invited to do so. We still hold Bible class and fellowship groups in our home and receiving much blessings doing so.

"The STOPS of a good man, as well as his STEPS are ordered by the Lord" (George Muller)

"The Lord who planned the route in general has also arranged the steps in particular, and the stops in addition." Fred Mitchell.

When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go,
Cannot fail the way to show.

Though the sea be deep and wide,
Though the passage seem denied,
Fearless, let us still proceed,
Since the Lord vouchsafes to lead

Though it be the gleam of night,
Though we see no ray of light,
Since the Lord himself is there.
'Tis not meet that we should fear.

Night with him is never night,
Where he is there all light:
When he calls us, why delay
They are happy who obey.

Be it ours, then, while we're here,
Him to follow without fear,
Where he calls us , there to go,
What he bids us, that we do. Thomas Kelly.

Wisdom from Catherine Booth

God does not change. He is Sovereign so His authority remains the same. The fundamental truths from His word that makes life worth living do not change.

Our culture is constantly undergoing change; for the way we do things today is different from our ancestors. Read Catherine Booth's wise words written many years ago.

"God prescribed the machinery under the old dispensation; but Jesus Christ and his Apostles left us free as air to modes and measures, that we may provide that kind of organisation most suited to the necessities of the age. There is not a bit of “redtapeism” in the whole of the New Testament. God does not care about forms or modes, so that we have the living spirit in them; and all forms are but corpses when the spirit has gone out of them. Nevertheless, we must have forms and methods; and the more intelligently planned and the more widely adapted, the better they will succeed. Haphazard, fitful, unreliable action fails everywhere, no matter how good the cause in which it is engaged."

Through all the changing scenes of life,
  In trouble or in joy,
The praises of my God shall still
  My heart and tongue employ   (Nahum Tate/Nicholas Brady)

The Big Pineapple in Queensland Australia

I went into this Big Pineapple!

Cherished Memories of Australia

Our grand daughter Cheryl was in Gold Coast, Australia on business for about a week. Last Sunday 18th October, she made her way to The Salvation Army Gold Coast Temple. She found the meeting quite traditionally Salvation Army singing songs and hymns accompanied by the band or  piano. She sent us some pictures of the building and meeting. I don't think the folk knew she was sent  by her company to do business at the Gold Coast. They must have mistaken her for a young school girl. I understand there was a lady named Dot who spoke to her and gave her some souvenirs.

Her visit brought back memories. Way back in 1975 my wife and I were invited to conduct an evangelistic campaign at Petersham, NSW.  My wife could not go as there was no one to look after our special daughter Dora Poh Chin. So I went on my own.

I left home on 9th October 1975 from Singapore and arrived at Sydney the next day.The evangelistic campaign lasted ten days at Petersham NSW. The Corps Officers (pastors) were Major and Mrs. Ivan Rees. Their twin sons John and David with their respective wives Narrelle and Christine while stationed in Singapore worshiped at the Singapore Central Corps (church) where we were pastors and gave excellent support.

On 20th October, I left for Queensland where I was warmly welcomed by my host the Divisional Commander Lieut.  Colonel George Godkin. He and Mrs. Godkin drove me to Nambour where I gave the message.

I remember visiting the the  Big  Pineapple, quite a landmark on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland on the way to Nambour preach. I was guest of a lovely couple Brigadier and Mrs Drew, the Corps Officers (pastors.)

Gold Coast Temple (church) was my next destination. That evening of the 22nd October there was a special evangelistic meeting and I was the preacher. I remember being given the delicious meal of roast lamb chop which I could only eat half of it. The portion was very big. I was taken for the tour of the holiday resort of Gold Coast.

On 23rd and 24th October, I was the guest speaker at Gatton run by Captains John and Narrelle Rees, our old Singapore friends. I preached at the Corps and outposts - which formed in Salvation Army terminology Gatton Circle. We had a great time of fellowship. Time passed very quickly and I had to go to my next destination.

Ipswich Corps Anniversary and I was the guest speaker for the weekend's meetings. I was billeted at the home of the Whybird family. They own the well known packing and removal company in Australia. Major and Mrs. Everett and the folk made me feel very welcome.

Mr. and Mrs. Whybird had visited Central Corps one Sunday evening. After the Sunday night meeting, we invited them to our quarters for supper. They sat till quite late for they seemed to enjoy the fellowship. When they went back to Australia they wrote to thank us and we kept up our friendship. They even invited us to go to Australia to stay with them.

On 28th October I returned to Singapore. This was the first of my several visits to Australia - Twice to conduct Brengle Holiness seminars; later as the International Secretary we were there to conduct meetings and Army business - in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Canberra and many other places.

Forty years ago - and what memories of that friendly country. As age catches up with us we have called it a day - our travelling days are done.

Ten months in our new home

We moved from Upper Bukit Timah on 16th December 2014  to Changi- exactly ten months ago. No regrets but full of thanksgiving to God for His Divine planning.

We have been able to see our special daughter Dora Poh Chin everyday and pray with her. The rest of the family visit us regularly.

We are surrounded by beautiful caring friends - the Administration Staff, the nurses, therapists and other workers.

"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." Jeremiah 29: 11

Praise be unto God and to Him be the glory.

Get on with the job

I recall reading an old story about four men - their names were Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was work to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody assumed Somebody would do it. But Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about it for it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it. But Nobody realize that Everybody would not do it. It ended up with Everybody blamed Somebody and Nobody did the job then. Anybody could have done it in the first place. (Anonymous)

When there is work to be done, let's get on with it. I am glad I am kept busy always doing something everyday. I feel fulfilled. Thanks be to God.

Work for the  night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work 'mid springing flowers;
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work for the night is coming,
When men's work is done.  (Annie L Coghill)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

General Frederick Coutts warned of the danger of fixing one's eyes on the caricatures of holy life. For example the holy life is sometimes portrayed as being grim, sanctimonious and humourless.

Many people gaze too long at the television or internet, become too occupied with sports and games, sexual exploits, and material things and fail to fix eyes on Jesus for anywhere near the same length of time.

The thoughts came to me during this last week; I sang several times during worship at church, and at prayer meeting with the Peacehaven Nursing Home staff my favourite song.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

It's my prayer as a pen this message.

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

My home is in Heaven

Everyday the pages of our newspapers and television screens portray the sad plight of refugees fleeing their own homeland for a safer place.

The 1951 Refugee Convention spells out that a refugee is someone who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

Looking back, my ancestors were refugees. Not much is known of my mother's side, but her father was from China. He died long before I was born back in his home town in China.

My father escaped from poverty and ill treatment by this adopted parents in China. At the age of 12 he joined a group of people at the Swatow (or Shantou)  pier and boarded a ship not knowing where it was heading to. The ship arrived in Singapore and when passengers disembarked, he joined them. He was alone and made his way to a construction site where he found work.

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform and here I am today.

During the course of duty, my wife and I visited China several times, but not once to Shantou. There was no craving to search my roots. Where I am heading is more important than where I came from.

My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world. _ Dr Billy Graham

 

Lieut. Colonel Jose Aguirre - Promoted to Glory

This morning when I turned on the computer received news of the Promotion to Glory of another friend. This message appeared on Facebook.

"The Aguirre Family would like to inform our friends and loved ones that on 01 October 2015, at 7:12 P.M Lt. Col. Jose A. Aguirre Sr. was promoted to glory. He was 78 years old."

He was my Chief Secretary when we were appointed as Territorial Leaders for the Philippines in 1990.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die" John 11: 25

"For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:21–23)"