Weeks 07 & 08 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

In my first message in 2011, I shared that “God has been trying to get our attention for a while now – financial crisis, wars and famines, but do not be surprised to see greater distresses around the globe, from 2011 onwards, before the eventual Day of the Lord!”

Some of the signs of the end of time were described in [Matthew 24]:

[Matt 24:7-8 NIV]

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of birth-pains.

In 2010, there were 26 major earthquakes, averaging more than 2 a month. Since the start of 2011, we already recorded 5 major earthquakes in January alone!

Besides the natural disasters, the most significant events in 2011 so far has been the uprising of peoples’ power in countries ruled by authoritarian governments like Tunisia and Egypt. We are seeing similar protests in Libya, where the Government deployed tanks & fighter jets in an attempt to put down the uprising.

This open defiance of protesters against authoritarian government in the Middle East has spread to Morocco and Iraqi……...

[Matthew 24] went on to say:

[Matt 24:12-14 NIV]

12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,

13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

One sure sign is “the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations”.

As Christians, we should do 2 things both now and in the days to come:

1) Do not fear what have been happening and what are to come, no matter how stressful they seem. Find peace in God. Stand firm in our faith to the end.

2) Preach the gospel as a testimony to all nations, wherever God puts us. Depend on God’s grace and anointing.

I have made up my mind to do just that :)

Because of your great love and your gift of salvation “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. For you have upheld my right and my cause; you have sat on your throne, judging righteously. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever……The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands….The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men.” [Ps 9:1-5, 15-20 NIV]

God’s ways can be difficult to fathom with our human mind at times. It includes things that seem bad at the time. One example was God commanded the Israelites to be taken as captives to Babylon. “…….This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity……[Jer 29:1-14 NIV]. Our job is to trust and obey!

Another example was God’s call to Paul to serve Him, although Paul used to persecute Christians big time. "Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense…..Then Paul said: "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' "'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied……"'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' [Acts 22:1-21 NIV]

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair — every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, [Prov 2:1-12 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 05 & 06 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

In my last message, I shared about the opening God has created for me to join a medium size consulting company at 633 King’s Road, on the 15th floor.

It is a modern 35 story office building, opened in 2007. I have since found out that an English speaking church - Island ECC (Evangelical Community Church) is housed on the 1st & 2nd floors. On the 10th floor housed the All Nations House of Prayers under the Incubator Ministries!

The building is a spiritual lighthouse for God in Hong Kong!

And I believe that God has called me to work in this building for a very special purpose. Let me explain.

There is a prayer group in the company I work for. Every Thursday, a number of them come together to pray at the All Nations House of Prayers on the 10th Floor. I have joined them 3 times so far. For the first 2 times, we prayed for personal needs. On the 3rd time, I suggested that we shared about their views of the company.

One senior architect who joined the meeting shared that the company lacked system. Although senior architects play the role of project managers, oversee the running of projects and co-ordinate inputs from architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, she finds a lack of co-operation from the engineers and the quantity surveyors. Although all 3 disciplines are from the same company, the clients often comment that they seem to be dealing with 3 different companies. It is an issue of disunity!

I asked those present to start praying for a better system and for the senior management.

I am finding the same issues with the projects under my control. The lack of system created many problems, resulting in “fire-fighting” all the time!

One major problem is leadership, or the lack of it! Everyone is left to one’s own devices, working long hours but not seeing the results needed to progress the projects satisfactorily!

As I sought the Lord for wisdom in how I could help to improve the situation, I felt in my heart that the company needed a major overhaul. The management style and company culture both needed to be reformed.

I believe God has called me at this time to be His light in the marketplace, starting with this company. I know God has taught us many of His principles in the Bible, in the management of projects, personnel, finance, clients etc.. All successful companies understood and practice these principles, including non-Christian ones.

I have some ideas already, but I will share more when I start to see results, hopefully in the not too distant future :)

I will first commit them to the Lord in prayers!

Jesus says “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him [Ps 2:1-12 NIV]. God the Father has anointed His Son Jesus with all authority and power. He answered Jesus’ prayers. We, as Jesus co-heirs, can have the same power and authority. Yes, we shall see God anointing His children to do His bidding on earth, all the way till the end of time. But be sure to serve the Almighty God with integrity and a sincere heart, because no one can deceive God!

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. They keep saying to those who despise me, 'The LORD says: You will have peace.' And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, 'No harm will come to you.'………See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly……..But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds” [Jer 23:16-40 NIV]. Let us hear God clearly and prophesy only what are from the Lord!

Hearing God includes knowing when to move on. When a servant of God is not welcome in one location, God will open other doors. I find the same with my marketplace ministry since my return to Hong Kong 12 months ago. “After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila…who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla……Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks……But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God” [Acts 18:1-17 NIV].

Hearing God includes heeding God’s words of wisdom which are abundant in Proverbs. “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor…..He who leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance…….He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy…….He whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall. He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty……..He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favour than he who has a flattering tongue…….He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. [Prov 28:7,8,10,13,18,19,23,24,26,27 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 03 & 04 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Finally the waiting is over and I praise God that He grants me the faith and perseverance to pass the test!

I shared previously that after my 6-month contract came to an end at the end of August last year. I tried looking for another job. I contacted many people I knew – clients, consultants, contractors, …. and I exhausted every possible avenue, and nothing happened, except one good Christian friend gave me a very small transportation job out of kindness!

I was under a fair bit of pressure, because by faith, I have suggested to Kim to resign from her bus & school job in London and join me here in Hong Kong. I knew it is important to do that because it is not wise for us to be separated for too long!

Also by faith, I rented an office space to start the BBC Ministries in November!

Kim resigned from her jobs on 1st November and was planning to join me in December!

Although I had been through the waiting test before, back in 2005, at that time Kim was working and our monthly expenses were not high. This time the monthly outlay is much higher – monthly rental for the apartment, monthly rental for the BBC School and monthly mortgage repayment for our London house!

The test really stretched my faith to near breaking point, and I had to dig deep in my trust in God and tried to remind myself the many victories God had given me in the past!

Then I had a lunch meeting with some old engineering friends just before Christmas and learned that one of the regulars could not join because he was really busy. I registered that in my mind but at the time I was still chasing a couple of other opportunities.

Came the new year, those other opportunities were confirmed dead. So I picked up the phone and call this busy friend. He sounded excited on the phone and hinted that I could relieve him of some of his workload!

The next morning I went into his office for a chat with his boss (the Managing Director) and got an offer to start work the following Monday (10th Jan.). Praise the Lord!!!

The office address is 633 King’s Road and I like it, because [Matt. 6:33] is my signature scripture – “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” And King’s Road to me means the way of the King (Jesus). I knew then the job was from God!

The MD was my neighbour back in the early 80s at Braemar Hill Mansion in North Point Midlevel, where our 2 sons grew up. He kind of knew about my working history and the fact that I left Hong Kong at the peak of my career to go to the UK as a missionary. Hong Kong after all is only a small village. It was a good job that I didn’t do anything bad :).

On the first day of work, the MD invited me to lunch and introduced me to a number of his senior staff. He pointed out that 2 of the ladies (senior architects) were Christians. In the conversation they got to know that I was a pastor in the UK :).

The company is a one-stop building consulting firm and the total staff is over 150, comprising all disciplines of the building profession. I found out that there was a prayer group in the company!

Indeed this is a great opening to minister in the marketplace, esp. when senior management is opened about it. It is a busy practice working on a vast number of small building projects – both private and government. Hence the opportunity to meet many clients, architects and other sub-consultants, plus all the not-yet believers in the company, including my Director friend and the MD……. a huge harvest field!

All in all, I really am grateful to God for His faithfulness and His amazing providence, and for not testing me beyond what I could bear [1 Cor. 10:13] ! But it is more than just financial provision. It is also a ministry!

Yes, let us continue to “Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live……Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — the LORD, who remains faithful forever. He…..gives food to the hungry. The LORD……lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous…….The LORD reigns forever……for all generations. Praise the LORD. [Ps 146:1-10 NIV]

Indeed our help is from God. “This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." [Jer 17:5-10 NIV]

If you are not a believer in Jesus yet, let me encourage and challenge you with the Word of God. “The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. All this took about 450 years. "After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul….who ruled forty years. After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' "From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. As John was completing his work, he said: 'Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.' "Brothers…..it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. "We tell you the good news....."Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: "'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'" [Acts 13:16-41 NIV]

The Word of God is the bread of life for our soul. Therefore “pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise (the Word of God)…..for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD…... [Prov 22:17-29 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 01 & 02 (11) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Six students from Brisbane are having their “summer” break in Hong Kong and we came together to pray for Queensland and Brisbane. I led them to pray for God’s mercy in the rebuilding of the devastated region and city!

But the word of Lord came to me in Jeremiah 14. I believe we need to pray differently!

[Jer 14]

1 This is the word of the LORD to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

2 "Judah mourns, her cities languish; they wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

3 The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water. They return with their jars unfilled; dismayed and despairing, they cover their heads.

4 The ground is cracked because there is no rain in the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads.

Jeremiah appealed to God for His mercy:

7 Although our sins testify against us, O LORD, do something for the sake of your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you.

8 O……Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land……like a warrior powerless to save?

This was God’s response:

10 ……"They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins."

Then God said to Jeremiah:

11 ………."Do not pray for the well-being of this people.

12 Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry…….Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague."

Jeremiah finally prayed:

20 O LORD, we acknowledge our wickedness and the guilt of our fathers; we have indeed sinned against you.

21 For the sake of your name do not despise us; do not dishonor your glorious throne. Remember your covenant with us and do not break it.

22 Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies themselves send down showers? No, it is you, O LORD our God. Therefore our hope is in you, or you are the one who does all this.

Some of you may not like what I am going to share, but I sense it is from the Lord. You have the choice of deleting his message now or reading on.

God has been trying to get our attention for a while now – financial crisis, wars and famines, but do not be surprised to see greater distresses around the globe, from 2011 onwards, before the eventual Day of the Lord!

God is just and righteousness. He will not allow injustice and unrighteous to continue forever. His judgment of the world has started.

I appeal to all Bible-believing Christians around the world to get on our knees and pray according to [2 Chron. 7:14]:

[2 Chron 7:14]

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

We need to start with ourselves. God’s people need to repent of our wicked ways and ask God for His forgiveness, yes, for our own sins and wickedness as God’s people. Then God will begin to hear our prayers. God will not listen to prayers from wicked and sinful Christians, me included. Indeed, I pray for God to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness each day!

This is the starting point.

We can then pray for the sins of the people of the world and for their salvation.

I appeal to all Christians who believe in Jesus as the Lord and Saviour to do likewise.

This is my prayer. “O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; let me not eat of their delicacies. Let a righteous man strike me — it is a kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers…... [Ps 141:1-10 NIV]

This is a word of warning from the Lord. “'This is what the LORD says: "'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle…..The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? "'I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them.'" [Jer 8:4-6,8,9,13 NIV]

Another word of warning is that, going forward, we will see great persecution of the true church of Jesus Christ, not unlike the Early Church. “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."…….They….had them flogged…..Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.......Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. [Acts 5:27-42 NIV]. We need to do likewise until The End.

Be assured to know these - “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good…….The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him……The LORD detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness…..Death and Destruction lie open before the LORD — how much more the hearts of men!....Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil…..The LORD tears down the proud man's house but he keeps the widow's boundaries intact. The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him……The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous……The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. [Prov 15:3,8,9,11,16,25,26,29,33 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 51 & 52 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

As we enter a new decade in 2011, major cities around the world welcome it with firework displays that symbolise optimism and expectations, hopes and dreams.

That is a right attitude which reflects a positive human spirit. Man in all generations look forward to a better future each year, without change. But it is change that will bring about a better future.

Ironically, as we celebrate the birth of a New Year, Hong Kong mourn the death of one of Asia's leading democracy advocates, Szeto Wah.

Mr. Szeto has worked for decades to establish, preserve and protect Hong Kong people's democratic institutions, freedom and human rights.

A core member of the Democratic Party, Mr. Szeto first came to public prominence as a long-time leader of Hong Kong's largest teachers' union. Time Magazine named him one of the 25 most influential people in Hong Kong, calling him "Democracy's Foot Soldier." Known to the people of Hong Kong simply as "Uncle Wah," he was one of Hong Kong's earliest elected representatives, and continues to be one of the Special Administrative Region's most popular and admired politicians.

Mr. Szeto has long devoted himself to the development of democracy in Hong Kong. In 1973, he formed the Professional Teachers' Union, one of the earliest pressure groups in Hong Kong to fight for the interest of teachers. He served as its president from 1974-90 and as its vice president from 1990-96.

In 1985, Hong Kong had its first functional constituency elections, in which Mr. Szeto was elected to represent the Education professionals in the territory. In the same year, he served as a member of the Basic Law Drafting Committee, the body appointed by Beijing to draft Hong Kong's post-1997 constitution. Following his condemnation of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, he withdrew from the committee. He is also the chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement of China, the organization formed in 1989 to support the democracy movement in China.

In late 1996, Szeto Wah led a public challenge to China to make its appointment system for the selection of the Chief Executive more democratic, transparent and accountable to the public. In this campaign, he ran as the Democratic Party's nominee for the "Shadow Chief Executive" and secured over 100,000 signatures in his endeavor to educate the public about their rights.

Szeto Wah's dedication to freedom of expression and human rights has been recognized worldwide. In December 1997, the Czech Republic presented Mr. Szeto with its distinguished "HomoHomini" Human Rights Award.

Mr. Szeto was also devoted Christian and the Christian faith had reinforced his life-long goal of fighting for a more democratic Hong Kong and, hopefully, a more just and fair society.

The God that Christians worship considers “righteousness and justice as the foundation of His throne” [Ps. 89:14]. Hence Mr. Szeto’s Christian faith is correctly expressed when he pursued justice and fairness relentlessly. In this regard, Mr. Szeto has my greatest respect!

The new decade is a decade of change, yes, rapid change. It will be faster than Apple changing its i-phone models. :)

Behind that change is a hidden agenda that is more sinister than what appears to the undiscerning. It is a new World Order that moves the nations towards greater co-operation in economics, religion, green issues etc......paving the way for the inevitable!

It was the same spirit of co-operation that led to the building of the Tower of Babel in the early human history [Genesis 11:4]!

As Christians, we hold onto God’s promise that He will one day restore His rule and reign on earth, which will have righteousness and justice as the foundation. It is only then when the dreams of so many like Szeto Wah and others who have gone before him and come after him would be realized. Let us “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods…Give thanks to the Lord of lords….to him who alone does great wonders….who by his understanding made the heavens…..who spread out the earth upon the waters….who made the great lights……the sun to govern the day….the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. [Ps 136:1-12 NIV]

It is time to seek the Lord, when His grace and mercy are still on offer. "If you will return….to me," declares the LORD."If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory." This is what the LORD says to the men ……"Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts….., or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done — burn with no one to quench it……'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!....So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us……..[Jer 4:1-9 NIV]

Just before Jesus was crucified, “...Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they struck him in the face……..When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" [John 19:1-12 NIV] The same Jesus who was crucified 2000 years ago will return in glory and power to judge the world. Anything (and anyone) that is unrighteous and unjust will be thrown into hell and be burned for eternity!

If you pursue righteousness and justice, you will not be disappointed, because “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked……Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot…..The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked…..The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment…..The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment……What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever…..The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil……...[Prov 10:3,6-7,11,16,20-21,24-25,28-32 NIV]

Amen and amen!

Weeks 49 & 50 (10) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

This will be the last Christmas that we greet you before Kim and I relocate permanently back to Hong Kong, although I have gone ahead to make preparation. This Christmas has a very special significance for both of us!



Kim & I spent our 1st Christmas in London in 1998, and although it has been a long 12 years, it seems like yesterday when we landed in London Heathrow Airport – on Thursday, 21st May 1998, to be precise!

Kim & I look back with many fond memories of our early meetings in the small living room of our North London flat. We certainly remember vividly our 1st public service at London City YMCA on 2nd August, 1998. We had 12 people and a dog. :)

Besides Hope London, Kim & I are honoured to be part of the church planting work in Europe, visiting Albert in Holland for the first time in 1999, conducting a Bible Seminar in Berlin, and going to Switzerland in the same year to prepare the launch of Hope Zurich in 2000. Since then various groups blossom in different parts of Europe to become what Hope Europe is today. We are privileged to have known and worked with the early pioneers like Marcus, Tor & Wanda, Tonje, Albert, Joel & Olivia, Reto & Christine, under the remote guidance of Ps. Ben in Singapore before Ps Prakich came to Europe much later. It is such a joy to see how they have prospered, got married, started families and continue to move strongly in God in their different ways today. We are eternally grateful for the friendship and partnership in the Gospel in Europe!

In the UK, we feel tremendously blessed to have faithful co-workers being brought by God into our lives one by one to build up what is Hope UK today. Vincent, Twin, Aaron, Roger & Lorisa, Dexter & Precious, Eldos and others who are too many to name, you all have a very special place in our hearts.

Of course Kim & I do not forget the friendship and guidance of our leaders in Asia, since we join Hope in October 1993. Kim & I met a lot of you, if not all, in our first conference in Bangkok, Thailand in January 1994 – Ps. Simon, Ps. Wilson, Ps. Ben, Ps. Prakich, Ps. James, Ps. Dennis, Ps. Kwong Li, Ps. Willie….you are all good and faithful servants of the Lord!

Also, I must thank you Adelaide for being my praying partner since early days in Hope Europe, until now (and hopefully many more years to come). Your rewards in Heaven shall be great. Your “behind the scene” dedicated intercessions and countless prayer sessions on the phone have made it possible for the many victories we have won. You are a great woman of God!

And finally, even if my brain ceases to function, losing all of my memories, and my heart beat is slowed to a murmur, how can I not remember and thank you Kim, my wonderful wife of 34 years. You shall have the lion share of our rewards in Heaven. And I thank God for our dearest Nic & Ben, our precious flesh & blood, and Wai-Wa & Suki, our beautiful daughters-in-law. You are my joy and my delight. Please forgive me for not being the normal dad that you deserve to have. But I want you to know that you are always on my mind. If I could save time in a bottle, I would spend them with you!

Very often, when I sit alone in my room or my office in Hong Kong, preparing some teachings or quietly doing my devotion, many of your faces come to my mind. I have had some success in the secular world, but none of them come close to knowing you and co-working with you in advancing God’s Kingdom. We will have much to share and celebrate when we get to Heaven one day!

As I continue this journey in Christ, starting a new chapter in Hong Kong, my zeal for the Lord has grown stronger despite of the slow start. My excitement is due partly to the sensing that the end is near. There is a real urgency to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ!

If you are a believer in Jesus and for whatever reason your fire has grown dimmer along the way, may I fan that fire of yours and encourage you to come back strongly to the Lord without delay. You will not regret it, I guarantee you!

And if you are not a believer yet, I encourage you to find a good church to get to know Jesus without waiting much longer. You will not regret it either, I double guarantee you!

Indeed, we will have much to celebrate in Heaven because “When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations," The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” [Ps 126:1-6 NIV]

When that glorious Day arrives, “….no longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly." [Isa 60:10-22 NIV]

As we get closer & closer to that Day, we shall see God’s glory displayed among His people through signs & wonders & miracles. Jesus healed a man born blind to make the point. “As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life……Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” [John 9:1-11 NIV]

Let me close by asking you a few questions. “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!”. [Prov 30:1-9] I only know Him as God the Creator, our Heavenly Father. But the name of His Son is Jesus Christ and we celebrate His birth on earth this Christmas Season. :)

Amen and amen!