Jesus Freak!

I know I have been outdated for some months...I was super duper busy doing my studies and work....super stressed up with assignments....sweat!!! really, really sorry man! Then followed by youth camp. Then went for hols. Just came back. Read next blog for updates.

So, I thought maybe I keep you guys up to date with the latest happenings that has impacted my life...couple of them, firstly, I just visited the Myanmar refugees children on the 10Nov brought a team of my youths with me. Almost 100 children there. The purpose we went there was to spend time doing journalling and to get to know them. To collect their biodata to be used for SIBKL's Christmas Tree Project (http://www.sibkl.org.my) - amazing

project which will lead us to greater involvement in the whole ministry for the Children At Risk in 2008 and beyond.

Little bit of their background.....

You would know the political and social condition of Myanmar. The Christians there are persecuted, tortured and martyred. The women are gang raped. Children burned alive. There are few options for them to survive, 1. renounce their faith and live or 2. run away. They chose the second option and crossed the border without knowing what is their future in the foreign land. Many came by foot. and now they are in KL...

I believe, if you have seen how the place look like, which they called it "school", the place the children study, you would for the first time if you haven't done so, be deeply thankful for your school, teachers, your books, and the opportunity to go to school, a proper school and begin to take education seriously. (incidentally, for those youths who went and you felt nothing, I pray that God will one day bring you through a season of suffering (God's version) so that you can truly learn to be thankful.

We were suppose to bless them, which I think we did but in the end I think I was more blessed even for just that 2 hours. I was blessed and deeply inspired to see their passion for Jesus even at their age (3-18). One of the things we shared was "what is most important in your life?"and some of them said "God". Wow!

Usually, many would have blamed God for the bad situation they are in and turn away from Him. Many would have denied Him when under persecution. Many would have point their fingers at God and ask "why is this happening to me?" how can a good God allow sufferings even to those who put their faith in Him?"

But instead they (the children, and some who's parents were cruelly murdered), would said God is most important in their lives and that their ambition is to do God's will. If you see their faces they are more joyful than many so-called Christians who are going through easy life (and these are the ones usually complain a lot. Those who walk into church and start looking for something wrong and then point fingers.) I really hope that these people go visit the refugees and see for themselves the joy that God has placed in their lives and how thankful they are.

I was speechless. The only phrase that came to my mind was "Jesus Freak". Yes! They are. Just like Daniel and his 3 friends. Just like the apostles. Just like the apostle Paul. That's the kind of faith that the Lord has called us to. One that demands the followers to carry their cross and deny self daily. No longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me. A dead man is a man can suffer no more! Can we say like Paul, "I rejoice in suffering"?

I was reminded of how selfish I am many times in the way I live, how self-centered I am in the way I look at my needs instead of the needs of others. How complacent I am in the way I live out the gospel. How ungrateful I am with all I have and still want more as compared to how little they have, and they still want more......but it is more of God.

An experience that has changed my life and taught me more about what does it mean to be a "Jesus Freak".