Cooperate Image

On Thursday, while I was going through training with my boss. She suddenly stop and commented on the lanyard that I was wearing. I was wearing a Nike lanyard that I got it during my previous department Christmas Celebration and it is yellow in color. Thus I thought it is okay as I have seen others doing so. However, my current boss wants me to replace it with our company lanyard. Initially, I have resistance within myself. I kept asking myself why, to me it is just a lanyard. There is no different a lanyard is just a lanyard. After I came out of the room, I went directly to change it because I do not wish to go against her.

After work, as usual I went to the gym with my colleague and while we are changing. I took the opportunity to complain to my colleague about the lanyard issue. There in the changing room was a senior operation guy who heard our conversation. Thus my colleague turn to him and asked him. He explained to us that even in operations they are suppose to be prim and proper in their uniform. Even their hair cut suppose to be short. However, there are some of them who kept long hair and even dyed their hair color. As these days the discipline have been loosen.

I have realize that the reason for all this discipline is because of cooperate image. When we are put on the lanyard or the uniform, we carry the authority to represent the company. We might not feel that because we often feel lightly and are not concern about it. When anyone approached any individual they are communicating with the representative of the company. Basically, we are who we represent. When we walk into a shop to buy something, how do we identify the shop assistance, by their uniform, by their staff pass, and so on. Holding up your cooperate image is very important in the business world. I saw once a staff from a transportation company, I could Identify because he was wearing the uniform. And he was talking very loudly over the phone, this first thing came to my mind was, “so this is how they talk”. Now their image to me is most of their staff if not all are rowdy people.

From the experience that I had. I felt convicted to looking into my Christian life. How am I living it? How am I holding up to my Christian Image?

In Matthew 5:16, Jesus says:

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We are Christians, the “ian” means that we are followers. Thus the word Christian means we are Christ followers. Being so we are Christ representative in this world. If we are Christ representative which means we have a Christian Cooperate Image to up hold. What is that image?

The image that we have to carry is the one that Christ have shown us through his 3 years of ministry in this world. When we looking at the 4 Gospel we can identify several key things that Jesus came to do.

He came for the sick, the poor and the needy. There are so many people in this world now that needs Jesus to save them. We as Christians are the ready vessel for God to use us to touch the life of others. All we need to do is to shine and the world will see the difference with in us that they will know Jesus through us. How do we shine?

Doing things that are different in value compared to the world. There are certain things in life that do not even require us to pray about it. No means no. We must exercise self control. Basically, we need to be Godly. We need to be holy because God is holy. There are several things that I can quote within my life. Firstly, prayer, fasting and devotions. How often do we do it? Are we practicing it in our daily life? I do not want to sound legalistic, however we all know that this is part of Christian life and we know that it help us to grow in the Lord. Secondly, do we live life in anticipation of the second coming of the Lord? If the Lord were to come today, are we ready? Finally, we are called to make disciple of all nations, which means bring the gospel to the ends of the world. What have we done to the great commission that God have for us? Think about it.

In 1 Timothy 4:7, it says:

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

The word that I would like to point out is “train”. Godliness need to be train and so you need to do it little by little. It is difficult but we must first try to do it. Once we try then we realize that it is not difficult. I would like to challenge all of us to live a Godly 2010. As we look forward to this new year, begin my consecrating ourselves for God. Doing things the God way not the world way. We are in the world system but remember we are in the world but not of the world. So live differently, live life worthy of God's glory. :)

Masturbation, my giant or is it?

Masturbation is one of the word that have been consciously removed from Christian dictionary and been place in a shhh! section together with words like sex, homosexual, lust and so on. I have decide to take it out and discuss in the open. The reason why I bring this up is because I am a man, I am facing this problem too. If I have this issue I know there are many others who face it but are not able to discuss openly it due to the nature of the subject.

Main Entry: mas·tur·ba·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌmas-tər-ˈbā-shən\

Function: noun

Date: 1603

: erotic stimulation especially of one's own genital organs commonly resulting in orgasm and achieved by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse, by instrumental manipulation, occasionally by sexual fantasies, or by various combination of these agencies.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Masturbation

This is what I gather from www.merriam-webster.com and as you can see the explanation itself is very clear that as Christian we should not be doing it. The reason is because it is a stimulation which means it gives you the satisfaction of the actual act itself. In order for any men to have such a stimulation they will have to imagine. And that it self will be a sin. The bible did not really mention about masturbation except for the most quoted verse Genesis 38:9.

However, I would like to bring our attention to what Jesus Himself says. In Matthew 5:27-30, where Jesus talks about adultery.

²⁷"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. ²⁸But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Here we understand that committing adultery is not only by the act itself but by the intentions that come from within.

Coming back to our subject of Masturbation, let us be really honest with ourselves. Can we masturbate and not even imagine? The answer is NO.

I have been bonded by this problem since the time I was not a Christian until recently God have help me to overcome this problem that I have. I have always find it very difficult to stop myself from not doing so. And everytime I manage to endure for 2-3 days, then suddenly it I just cannot resist it and did it. After doing it then I regret and repented. However, deep down inside I felt that I could have just resisit it.

I apologise to my readers who are not comfortable. I have my reason of telling this, alot of Christian men are facing the same problem but they do not know how to deal with it.

Thus, one day as I was reading a book entittle "Battle Ready: Prepare to be used by God". In this book, it talk about circumsion. The Israelite was given this commandment as a mark that they are God's people. Wait!!! I am not asking every men to do it, not literally at least.

In the Romans 2:29 say, "No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."

I strongly believe that to be a man that love God and wants to be used by God, should circumcise their heart to God. By saying that I mean that we, men should circumcise the following:

• Our thinking
• Our looking
• Our speaking
• Our touching/handling
• Our movement

I would like to share with you, how I overcome my masturbation issue. I have several methods the first one is very simple.

"Do something else"

It is easy for us to not think about it during the day. The struggles usually comes during the night where when we are alone and we think that no one is looking.
I suggest that we channel our remaining energy towards something else. Like reading, something that will not simulate our mind further and help us to get into our sleeping mode.
Journaling could be a good way of acknowledging the situation and committing it to the Lord.
I would also meditate in the word of God while in bed. Example, reciting Psalm 23 over and over untill I fall asleep. The key is not to think about it. I use to masturbate just to fall asleep but now thank God I am free of that bondage. Praise God!!!

Secondly, we men face giants everyday. Can any one tell me what is your giant today? I can hear things like Lust, Pride, Masturbation, Pronography and the list goes on and on. I tell you all this is not the real Giant with the capital "G". The real Giant is GOD, Himself. We often magnify our sins, our problem. Yet we forget that GOD is bigger that all this that we are going through.

"GOD is the BIGGEST GIANT"

Whenever I have situation that I cannot overcome. I acknowledge that I am weak and ask GOD to help me to overcome it. God have created me with desires and I thank him for that. Now that the devil have pervertise it and use it to commit sin I believe that when I call upon God he will come and rescue me. Thus I would like to encourage all who have this problem begin to declare to the situation that you are facing today that,

"God have won and satan have lost, Hallelujah!!!"

My prayers to all men that wants to be Godly that we live our life, Holy and pleasing to God.

God bless!!!

Excuse me, are you the one?

It have been a while since I last write. Things have been kind of emotional and uncertain for the pass weeks. I have never wanted to write anything that is personal here. However, I feel that the things that I am going through now could be useful to others who are facing the same problem as I am.

I have been single for almost 5 years now. Before I am a Christian I have often focus on the the object of love itself, i.e the girl whom I like. And I do not care if I get hurt because it just make me stronger. It was literally like going after a prize. I would try until I lose it or I get it. When I became a Christian initially I was afraid to go into relationship and hide behind a curtain and say that I am called to celibate. However, I have been told that celibacy is a gift and not a choice. When it is a gift you will not struggle but when it is by choice then you will struggle. Thus that part have been affirm, I am struggling thus I do not have that gift.

Then come to the part of find the right girl to be in a relationship with. I often ponder whether this is the one or that is the one and so on. Sometimes I pray to make this the one, I also pray that that will not be the one. Then I realize that God knows and allows this desire within you so that He can somehow test you. If He gave you this type how would you react to it and how would you react if its the other type. I have been searching for my Miss Right for quite a while now. Yet till today I have not found it. And I have realise that I am looking for the wrong things. I am someone that love to look at beautiful things and that is my weakness. I believe God is molding me in that area. We all like beautiful things and it is not wrong but what we are concern now is it love or lust.

I now realize that the foundation of a relationship MUST be based on Christ and nothing else. A good relationship will draw you closer to God and not pull you away. Look at the things that you do before you met him/her and ask yourself are you doing it now. Do you wake up early for your devotion? Are you sleeping in a little more just because you went out late last night? What is your converstion all about? It is okay to talk about each other and things around you but the conversation that you have does it edify youselves or glorify God. I remember that Jesus spoke of this parable of a house that is built upon a sand and the other upon the rock. Ask yourselves what is the foundation of your relationship today? Does that person help you to draw closer to God or away from God?

Today, I feel that this person that I have liked might not be the one as I have been pull away from God. She have been in the center of everything and not God. And I have to stop it not only for my sake but hers as well.

"Drawing near or pulling away, you have a choice"

80/20 of Failure and Expectation

I am going to be an executive in a new department this coming new year. This is when whatever that have been said during the interview and presentation will be put to the test. I have been pondering about expectations for a while now. Looking at the world around me, there are a lot of things that could have been better. Often, we have a list of things that could give us satisfaction. The so-called change for the better. The "If only" of our life - "If only I am good looking", "If only I am rich", "If only I am attached",etc. These are some of the expectations that I have for myself. And there are also expectations that others have of me. Well, human expectations could build or destroy someone. Our suggestion could be too much for others to handle. When was the last time you told someone, "Hey! Why don't you do it this way?", or get angry with someone who did not do things according to the way you want it. Think about it.

I have been expecting too much from others, to the extent that I got disappointed and hurt. I come to a point that I decide that I will not let this hurt me anymore. I’ve had enough. From then things began to change. I came up with this 80/20 rule of expectations and room for failure. In my personal scenario, I realized that I expected certain things from someone even before I know that someone. Not knowingly I am trying to fit that particular person into a mold I created. Basically, that person would need to fit in there right from the start. I disregarded all human factors, like character, temper, past experiences and current situations. I perceived that person to be perfect when in actual fact I am not even close to it.

The 80/20 rule of expectation and room for failure means that I can only allow myself to expect 20% of that person and allow 80% for failure. For example, when I know someone new, I will lower my expectations of that person to 20% and allow the new friendship to have some room for failure. Through this, I will be able to know that person progressively and will not be disappointed easily. As time goes by, you will know that person more and more that is when the relationship will be built on love and not built on expectations.

It is only human to err.

Thus when we do not concentrate on the shortcomings of others and begin to accept others the way they are that both parties will be happier.

"Do unto others what you want others do unto you"

Inspired by Steve Jobs (Commencement Speech in Stanford University 2005)

I have never really know who Steve Jobs other than he is the founder and CEO of Apple. Until my Pastor show me a video on his commencement speech in 2005. The message was very simple and it touches my heart and make me really question my current situation. I will be sharing with you on some points that grasp my attention.

He start off with sharing his life, how he was given away to a family that was really looking to adopt a female baby. And how things happen the way it did and how it affected his future. Something that he say here that makes sense is, "You cannot join the dots looking forward, you can only join the dots looking backwards". Simply, every point of his life is represented by dots, some are happy, some are sad, some are life changing, some are inspiring and while others are normal. Looking at it where he is now these dots have help in one way or another mold him to be what he is now. Perhaps if some dots is been remove he could be the one typing this now. So what are the dots in my and your life? What have it mold you into? Good? Bad? Success? Lessons to be learn from? Perhaps we still cannot figure out but just follow your heart. God have a plan for everyone of us, if we stop trying to be someone else and just be what we really want to be then perhaps it will be easier. Now the question that I need to ask is, what are your experience and how that can be use for your future?

His second point was about his love. He said, "I was lucky to find what I love at a young age". That love have brought him to where he is now. And he did not stop at loving it, he strive to make it better. Just like a relationship, when you really love someone you should love that person more and more each day. And you keep improving yourself for that person. So find something that you love to do and this love sometimes is for very simple stuff. Frankly, I do not know what I love to do. I am still searching for it. Then he continues by saying, "for those of you who have not found it, keep finding don't settle (repeated twice)". Most of the time we are too lazy to find thus we settle for the 2nd best thing in our life or worst still we threw away our first saying that that cannot be done and bring the second to first. Henry Ford says, "You can or cannot do, you are right." Do not settle for 2nd keep doing what you love and do it good, do it well, make it the best and then keep the momentum moving. Suddenly, I realize that I like to blog or rather penning my thoughts here there and everywhere. So what do I really love to do? God have given us a set of gifts for us to do the one task that he have for our life, find it, use it and make it the best and finally shine for God. What do you love to do? Follow your heart.

Finally, he touch on death. He live life as if its going to be his last, well someday it will be. That is one of the fuel that he use to do the best for that day. His near death experience also help him to realize that how fragile life is. How are you living your life today, "as if there is no tomorrow"? partying all night long? Its time for all of us especially those who really want to make a difference in your own life to find the meaning to continue. If you are going to die in one month what will you be doing? Plenty if good deeds to make sure your next stop is not hell? To love those people that you have not love due to somethings that happen in the past? To forgive and seek forgiveness from those who hurt you and those you have hurt? Or accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? What is it? Make that decision today? I am sure that you will experience the change. My life was a mess before I got to know Jesus as my personal Savior. The only thing I was not is, I do not take drugs, rob or kill someone. The rest of it I was. But Jesus took my life and change it, I am going to be an executive in the company that I am work for next year. There are other things that Jesus have make happen in my life, its all in this blog. Do you wish to give Jesus a chance to save you too?

Say this prayer with me:
Lord Jesus, I repent of my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. Heal me of my past pain and suffering. Help me to be what you want me to be. I believe that you have come to die on the cross for my sin. I believe that you alone are God and there is no other god beside you. Restore and change my life. From this day forward I will worship and serve you alone. Holy Spirit come and fill me, mold me and guide me to the right path that you have crafted for me. Help me, I need you. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me. In Jesus name I ask and pray. Amen!

God's Heart Beat - Love His People

On a normal Saturday morning, I was awoken by a tummyache. Thereafter I decided to seek God. After a short prayer, something impressed within me to sing a worship song to Him. The song that came to my mind was the song - "It's your Love" from the new album of Hillsong, Faith+Hope+Love. As I began to sing, I sensed a very strong presence of God. I began to tear up and ask God why I was feeling this way. In this song there was a part where Darlene proclaimed the verse John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." As I was listening to what she said, I wept like a baby. I was wrecked. Prior to this I had just finished reading a book written by the Senior Pastor of Willow Creek, Pastor Bill Hybels. His book titles "Holy Discontent" that speaks about the holy discontentment that God has placed in our heart that gives us the drive to do what no one else can do except ourselves. He gave real examples like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Bono (U2) and himself. I asked God yesterday what is the Holy Discontent that God has placed in me. And what is the One Thing that God have set apart for me to do, the one task that have my very name engraved on it.

As I was having breakfast with my sister, we were watching the DVD of the song that I sang to God this morning. It began with an introduction with a portion of scripture from 1 Corinthians 13 which is the all-time famous Love verse. I sensed that although I know God and know that He loves me. I asked myself, how about those who do not know God at all?

In John 3:16, it says "For those who believe in Him (Jesus) will not perish..." My question is then how about those who do not know Him at all? As most Christians will say "They who do not believe in Him will go to hell". However, I asked myself again, "As Christians, what are we doing to help those who do not know Him to know Him?" When was the last time you tell someone about how good God has been to you and your family? When was the last time you invited someone to your church? When was the last time you showed your Christ-like love to a pre-believer?

We are very comfortable being Christians, we have good jobs, we have car(s), we have a family, we have big houses, we have everything we need. We cover ourselves in warm blankets looking out from our church seeing the world perish before our very eyes. Do we intend to keep on looking?

Here is a challenge for myself and all who read this. Seek God and ask Him to change our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh that will feel the need to reach out to the lost.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

"What you cannot stand?" Bill Hybels (Holy Discontent)

I am reading a book by the Senior Pastor of Willow Creek, Pastor Bill Hybels who have brought Global Leader Summit to all over the world.

Before even I begin reading this book. I have had a burden to form a team that will work with me in rebuilding life of other people. People who failed and cannot see their second chance. I am one of them. In 2004, when my Malay mother pass on due to heart attack. I was totally lost and even my Malay family was breaking apart. I was asked to leave the place and return to my own parent's place. However, it was not a relieve as I was not working for almost 2 years. I only begin to pick up my life in Feb 2007 when I begin to work in a coffee shop. There I was searching for a divine help everywhere. In Dec 2007, I got an offer to work in my current company. And in Feb 2008, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and the rest is history in the making.

My life was rebuild again by the people that God had sent to help me. It have been very prominent in my life. Almost all my broken relationship have been restored by the Grace of God. I sense a very strong calling to rebuild the life of others now that my own life have been restored. Looking around there are people who are not working, who are struggling even to put bread on the table, who are devastated and hurt by bad experience in relationship. When I see these people it reminded me of the days that I was still in my room doing nothing. Watching TV everyday, waiting for my mum to bring me food, my lungs filled with the smoke from cigarette, smelling terrible as I do not even bother to shower. And how I am now. God have really changed my life for the better.

Pastor Bill mention in his book, the things that ordinary people cannot stand and decide to do something about it. People like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Billi Graham and many others.

Today, I have found that I cannot stand those who are given a 2nd Chance and not taking it. Those who cannot find a second chance.

What you cannot stand?