Weeks 07 & 08 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

I landed at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday 18th Feb. evening. I moved into the serviced apartment the next day because I could only check in before 6:00pm. I thank God for the apartment because it only takes me 30 min. to get to work door to door. The apartment is part of a 4-star hotel which is well facilitated with a Health Club and swimming pool, which I have yet to visit. :o)

My apartment is on the 15th floor, with a nice view of a bay, although the 3 famous bridges could only be seen from a different part of the building. The apartment is a studio flat, but its 400 sq. ft. is the size of a normal 2-bed flat in Hong Kong! It has a double bed-room area, separated by a blind from the living room / study area. It also has a nice sized pantry equipped with fridge, microwave cooker and a small stove, if I am keen enough to cook something simple. It also has a hotel - style toilet / shower room. The apartment is serviced twice a week, including cleaning and reprovisioning of fresh bed sheets, pillow cases, towels etc.. It is plenty of space for myself, and for Kim when she visits.

On Saturday 20th I conducted a water baptism for my cousin sister who came to faith in Christ last October when her husband was facing terminal cancer. The husband also became a Christian although he has now gone home to the Father. The baptism was done in the bath tub of her flat and it was witnessed by my sister, her daughter, her son-in-law, sister of the son-in-law and 2 of her grandchildren. It was followed by a yummy hot-pot dinner making the whole occasion joyous and celebrative. The date was actually the 7th Day of the Chinese New Year which is called “Yan Yat” – everyone’s birthday. This will help her and myself to remember the special day easily. :o)

My cousin sister is the 3rd daughter of my father’s older brother. Like our family, they were also from working class background. Whilst on our side, only father & mother work to raise 5 of us, a few of their 7 children had to support their father in selling fish door to door since young. I am not sure how many of the children actually completed primary schooling. The oldest son became a policeman, who was found dead in a cemetry one day some 25 years ago. He committed suicide and I subsequently found out that he was in serious debt which he couldn’t repay! I can imagine that their upbringing must be much tougher than ours, because our parents managed to put all of us through primary & secondary schoolings. I was the only child who went on to college and training as a structual engineer in the UK. It therefore blesses my heart to see my 3rd cousin sister becoming a Christian. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw the glowing joy on her face when she shared about her faith before the baptism. It could only come from knowing the true and loving God!

On Sunday 21st evening, the day before I started work, I did a Jericho prayer walk around the office building where I will work in the next 6 months. It was already dark and the whole place was deserted except one security guard. After about the 4th round my prayer walk caught the attention of the guard. He must be wondering what I was up to, but he did not do anything because I was walking on the public footpath. :o) After the 7th round, the building did not fall down, but I knew in my spirit that some of the strongholds had been demolished. I believed that God had acknowledged my prayers and prepared the place for me to minister and be His salt & light.

I have just completed a full 5-day week at work. The project has already been going for a good 9 months, so I was thrown into the deep end on Day 1. I praise and thank God that He gave me the strength and wisdom to cope. I also thank those of you who have been praying for me. I will share more in my next e-mail as this one is getting rather long. :o)

The joy of my cousin sister is a testimony of our great God. His glory fills the whole earth. “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…….When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? ……..Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! [Ps 8:1-9 NIV]

For my marketplace ministry, I expect very intense warfare going forward. The prayer walk was my acknowledgement of God’s power & help, without which my labours would be futile. Nehemiah recognised this in the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. He positioned watchmen in strategic locations and he mobilised every worker to be on guard. “…….Wherever you turn, they will attack us. Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows……..From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked……. [Neh 4:10-23 NIV].

As I pray about the next 6 months and beyond, I try to contemplate what God has installed for me. I am reminded of Apostle Pauls’s encouragement to Timothy. "I Have been reminded of your sincere faith......For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord……..But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace…….Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us……...” [2 Tim 1:5-15 NIV].

As I make plans about the future I also understand that “To man belong the plans of the heart,but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends — even the wicked for a day of disaster…….Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him……In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps……The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. [Prov 16:1-7,9,11,20,33 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 05 & 06 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

In my last message, I have missed out something I did in Hong Kong when I was there. I went for a job interview with AECOM Asia, the Asia counterpart of my current company (AECOM Europe) in Hong Kong. I can confirm that I am offered a job because the contract is now signed. I will be working in a senior role on the West Kowloon Terminus of the Express Rail Link to China which had a lot of controversy and protests recently because of its high costs. However, if it is viewed in perspective, the cost of the 26km high speed rail link is nothing compared to the 10,600km of high speed rail network that is being planned and built in China. The infrastructure investment would help the Hong Kong economy in the long term.

I will be working in the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Office in Kam Ting, in the NW of Hong Kong. I will initially be staying close to the office to save travelling time. It is a serviced apartment in Ting Kau, right next to the 3 modern long span cable-suspended bridges in Hong Kong, 2 of which were designed by my previous company Mott MacDonald. They are the famous Tsing Ma, Kap Sui Mun and Ting Kau Bridges, engineering masterpieces that visitors to Hong Kong will witness coming from the airport into the city by bus or car.

I take this opportunity to testify about God’s amazing providence in the past 12 years since I left Hong Kong for church planting in Europe. I left a high flying career in Hong Kong and started church planting using our savings. Two years later, God opened doors for Kim and I to work, making enough for our daily living. Four years ago, God miraculously opened a door for me to rejoin my old profession in civil/structural engineering. It was a miracle because I was already 57 years old and not having worked in the industry for some 8 years. Also, the company employed me to work in the railway sector, something completely new to me. The 3-days a week income allowed us to pay for our 2 sons’ weddings and helped them onto the property ladder in Hong Kong. The 2nd miracle is that the 4 years of railway experience prepared the way for my new job in Hong Kong.

In the 12 years, we managed to establish 4 churches and 4 centers in pioneering stage in West Europe. Whilst in Hong Kong, I retain overall responsibility over Hope West Europe, which has in place local leadership structures for their day-to-day running. I shall stay in touch with all the top leaders and provide continuous guidance through e-mails & Skype calls. I shall also return for major events like church camps & conferences.

Whilst in Hong Kong, I aim to reach out to people in the market place, a ministry also close to my heart. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel….” quoting Apostle Paul’s word in [Eph. 6:19]. I pray and hope that God will use my new job and position to touch many senior professionals for the Gospel in Hong Kong & beyond. I pray and hope that I can be a bridge builder for the Gospel.

Today, very sadly, “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD…..The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."….. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession” [Ps 2:1-12 NIV]. Indeed, I will continue to seek God and ask Him for His favour in making known clearly the mystery of the Gospel wherever He sends me!

God is building His Church all over the world. It is not unlike the instruction given by the Holy Spirit through King Cyrus in building the temple of God in Jerusalem. “Let the temple be rebuilt……..Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God.……May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there…..Let it be carried out with diligence” [Ezra 6:3-12 NIV]. Let us diligently build the Church of Jesus Christ in preparation for His glorious return one day!

Borrowing Apostle Paul’s word again, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service…….The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…..But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me…….Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” [1 Tim 1:12-17 NIV]

This is what the Lord says - "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion……Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honour, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full….” [Prov 8:12-30 NIV]. May we love & seek God with all our heart and enjoy an abundant life as Jesus promised both now and forever.

Amen & amen!