5 Teamwork Lessons from the Penguins of Madagascar (Angelus Leadership Video)

I love these Penguins of Madagascar! When I watched movies of them, I see great examples of leadership and teamwork: 1) Skipper, the leader of the penguins always devises tactics and gives orders; 2) Rico, the team's weapons and explosives specialist; 3) Kowalski, acts as the group strategist and gadgeteer; 4) Private, the youngest and most emotionally sensitive member. He tends to take things simpler. As you watch the video, here are 5 lessons of teamwork that I learned:

#1 Learn to Communicate Well with Each Other’s

#2 Set Clear Vision, Mission and Goals

#3 Clarify Roles and Responsibilities

#4 Celebrate Success as a Team

#5 Overcome or Eliminate Negativity!

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

5 Lessons I Learned from Chinese New Year (CNY) 2019

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus' leadership #2 Always In A State of Celebrations

Perhaps Jesus loved celebrations so much because he was born at a party. I believe any event that has heavenly light show, people bearing gifts from distant places, and a host of angels singing and giving directions is a celebration of major proportions. It must have made an impact on him.

One of his first miracles was to turn water into wine (not vinegar). As his fame and popularity grew, he was constantly invited to dinner at Nicodemus’s or Peter’s or rich young people’s houses. The night before he was arrested, he gathered his disciples together to sing songs and dine.

When crowds came, Jesus was adamant that nobody leave with an empty stomach. He always managed to locate food for them. He turned one boy’s lunch into food for thousands. He told stories of a king who arranged a banquet and then got angry and disappointed when nobody came. He spoke of a father throwing a lavish party to celebrate a wayward son’s return. When Jesus returned from the dead, he prepared a fish barbecue on the shore – sort of a “team picnic.”

He came from a very happy place, and he knew he was returning to a very happy place. When he said, “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20), perhaps he saw a party coming on. Indeed, his invitations read “I go prepare a place [setting] for you” (John 14:2). I think he is telling us to lighten up. “Why do you worry so?” he would ask. “Don’t you see the flowers… how beautiful they are? Do you think your Father is going to let you wear less than these?”

A 10 years old once asked Beth Jones if she knew what Jesus’ first words were after he came out of the tomb. “No,” she replied. “What were they?” He spread his arms, jumped forward with a grin, and said, “Ta-dah!” Jesus was constantly in a state of celebration.

Do you celebrate only the big things?

What are some small things to celebrate?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

*Taken from Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (1995) by Laurie Beth Jones without permission. I have added Bible verses, cut and modified some material for smooth, short and comprehensive reading.

Jesus' Triumphant Entry (the Spirit of Palm Sunday): Either You Praises or Curses Him

“Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me’… The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’”
(Matthew 21:1-2, 6-9, NIV)

Jesus knew how to get a party started. On that day there were thousands of Jews journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate their annual Passover festival. Jesus chose that crowded day to enter the city on a donkey. What may seem like an ordinary ride to some people (for an Iban like me, this event is meaningless) was actually a significant fulfilment of a prophecy by the Old Testament prophet, Zechariah, that the Promised One, the Jewish Messiah, would ride into Jerusalem on the back of a young male donkey (read Zechariah 9:9 and Matthew 21:5).

Lining Jesus’ path with clothing and branches was a sign of paying homage to the One they now proclaimed as their God-sent King. Like screaming fans watching a celebrity walk to the red carpet, the Jewish people shouted with joy over Jesus’ arrival. Many considered Him their long-awaited Deliverer who would rebuild Jerusalem and restore the line of King David. They hailed Him as “the Son of David” which He was through the linage of both Joseph and Mary.

But Jesus’ glory ride would soon end (for the people) in tragedy. The crowds would change their praises of him “Hosanna!” to curses “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22-23). Why such dramatic changed from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him”? Because the crowds had the wrong expectations of Him. You see, Jesus on His first coming didn’t come to earth for people’s honour, recognition, privilege or title. He said His mission on the previous chapter: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

This Palm Sunday please be remember that: ‘the triumphant entry’ story is about the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not in royal robes; but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Jesus comes not to conquer by force as earthly kings; but by love, grace, mercy, and His own sacrifice for His people. His is not a kingdom of armies and splendour; but of lowliness and servanthood. He conquers not nations; but hearts and minds. If Jesus has made a triumphal entry into our hearts, He reigns there in peace and love. As Jesus followers, we must exhibit those same qualities – the spirit of Palm Sunday – love, grace, mercy, servanthood and peace. Let the world sees the true King living and reigning in triumph in us. Amen.

If you display love, grace, mercy, servanthood and peace in your lives, you praises Him;
If you display the otherwise, you curses Him

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

So You Want to Be a Calvinist? John Calvin on the Marks of the Church

Pic taken from: http://resurgencecdn.com/

John Calvin here defines the essential features, or “marks” of the true church as the preaching of the Word of God, and the proper administration of the sacraments. A degree of failure or diversity on other matters may be permitted, providing that these two essential features are present. He wrote:

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and listened to, and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, it is in no way to be doubted that a church of God exists. For his promise cannot fail: ‘Whenever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20)… If the ministry has the Word and honours it, if it has the administration of the sacraments, it deserves without doubt to be held and considered a church. For it is certain that such things are not without fruit. In this way the unity of the universal church is preserved, which diabolical spirits have always tried to tear apart; and we do not deny authority to those lawful assemblies which have been set up in accordance with the opportunities of different places in mind.

We have identified that the distinguishing marks of the church are the preaching of the Word and the observance of the sacraments. These can never happen without bringing forth fruit and prospering through God’s blessing. I do not say that wherever the Word is preached there will be immediate results, but that wherever it is received and takes root, it shows its effectiveness. When the preaching of the gospel is reverently heard and the sacraments are not neglected, there for the time being no false or ambiguous form of the church is seen; and no one is permitted to ignore its authority, flout its warnings, resist its counsels, or make light of its chastisements – much less to break away from it and wreck its unity. For the Lord values the fellowship of his church so highly that all those who arrogantly leave any Christian society (provided that it holds fast to the true ministry of Word and sacraments) are regarded by him as deserters. He so values the authority of the church that when it is violated he believes that his own authority has been diminished…

When we say that the pure ministry of the Word and pure mode of celebrating the sacraments are a sufficient pledge and guarantee by which we may recognize as a church any society, we mean where both these marks exist, it is not to be rejected, even if it is riddled with faults in other respects. What is more, some shortcoming may find its way into the administration of either doctrine or sacraments, but this ought not to estrange us from communion with this church. For not all articles of true doctrine are of equal weight. Some are so necessary to know that they should be certain and unquestioned by everyone as proper to religion, such as: God is one; Christ is God and the Son of God; our salvation rests in God’s mercy; and the like. There are other [articles of doctrine] disputed among the churches which still do no break the unity of faith…

I am not condoning error, no matter how insignificant it may be, nor do I wish to encourage it. But I am saying that we should not desert a church on account of some minor disagreement, if it upholds sound doctrine over the essentials of piety, and maintains the use of the sacraments established by the Lord.”

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Unless We Walk Daily with Christ in a Real Experience, We Have Nothing to Share this Christmas

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…” (Luke 2:15-18, NLT).

Christians are supposed to be witnesses, not judges. It is not our responsibility to tell people their faults and sins; it is our privilege, especially this Christmas, to tell them about Christ and the salvation he alone can give. Like the shepherds and the apostles, our task is simply to tell people what we have seen and heard concerning Jesus Christ.

This makes witnessing a personal, practical thing. Some Christians “play the same old record” (consider how the Christmas messages were delivered for the past few years) and think they are communicating the excitement and challenge of the Christian life, but they’re not. Unless we personally walk daily with Christ in a real experience, we have nothing to share with others. The Gospel or Good News is not past history (although it is certainly based on historical facts) – it is present reality. “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3).

If witnessing means sharing a personal experience, then the believer must maintain that fellowship with Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit makes Christ real to us, and then through us to others. “[I] will send you the Advocate – the spirit of truth,” said Jesus, “He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry” (John 15:26-27).

Don’t allow witnessing to become a strained, artificial thing. Stay in the Spirit, enjoy a personal walk with Christ through his Word, prayer and fellowship, and like the disciples, you will say, “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Merry Christmas!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Another Year is Dawning

“You crown the year with your goodness” (Psalms 65:1)

It was said that a hymnist Frances Ridley Havergal took New Year’s Day very seriously, always using it as a time for reflection and often composing a poem to send to friends expressing her feelings about the new day and year. The one she wrote in 1874 has become immortal. She was 36 at the time, and she dashed off this poem and had it printed on a specially designed greeting card to be sent to friends. The card was captioned: “A Happy New Year! Ever such may it be!” You even can see the card at most of the Christian bookstores, MPH or Popular bookstores. The inside said:

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;

Another year of progress, another year of praise,

Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,

Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast,

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;

Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year of dawning: Dear Father, let it be,

On earth or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

Dear Lord, this coming 2014, “You crown the year with your goodness” Amen. THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

A Prayer of a Father for the Fatherless Child

"The father of a righteous man has great joy;
he who has a wise son delights in him" (Proverbs 23:24, NIV).

Fatherless. I am fatherless. No biological father to wish to; no physical father to hug, and no actual father to follow. But having Christ as my Lord and Savior, and my faithful Friend and who is the precious Son of God – Lord of lords, King of kings – says to me over and over again through the Scripture by the Holy Spirit, “Richard, if you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!”. Yes, through the Son, I do know now that God is My Father and I will see Him face-to-face in heaven. I have a Father in heaven. I am not fatherless after all.

But let’s pretend that my earthly father is perfect and he is here with me today. Assume that he cares and loves me so much. Let’s suppose I can hear him pray… this is what I probably heard (and I wish every good father would pray):

“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak… and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid. One who will be proud and unbending in defeat… but humble and gentle in victory… a son who will know that to know himself… is the foundation stone of all true knowledge. Rear him… I pray… not in the paths of ease and comfort… but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm… here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men. Build me a son whose heart will be clean… whose goal will be high. One who will learn to laugh… yet never forget how to weep. One who will reach into the future… and yet never forget the past. And after all, these are his… add… I pray… enough of a sense of humor so that he may always be serious… yet never take himself too seriously… a touch of humility, so that he will always remember the simplicity of true greatness… the open mind of true wisdom… the meekness of true strength. Then… I… his father… will dare in the sacred recesses of my own heart… to whisper… “I have not lived in vain!” [This prayer is quoted from The Speaker’s Quote Book by Roy B. Zuck. Published by Kregel Publications, 1997, 2009. Page 191]

Happy Father’s Day!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Pre-Christmas Message: Gold for a King (Part 1 of 3)

“[Scholars from the East] entered the house and saw the child [Jesus] in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh” (Matthew 2:12,The Message).

Yesterday before I went to church, I asked my mom where she kept my formal clothes. She puts it in the closet, obviously. As I searched through, I found a set of earring – a wonderful set of gold earring (I was like Gollum when I found it, “My precious...”). She said it was a gift from my uncle. It has a sentimental value attach to it. It symbolizes their brother-sister relationship.

The Bible is filled with beautiful symbols – pictures telling of the truths God wants us to know. Gold is a symbol of deity, of kingliness, and of sovereignty. When we think of gold we think of crowns, necklaces, rings and other beautiful things relating to a king. When we see gold, we’re reminded of our new relationship with God through Jesus Christ: King-Worshipper relationship.

Do you remember reading the Gospels when Jesus was about to be crucified, and the enemies prepared a sign to be placed over His head on the cross? They wrote these words, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matthew 27:37). At His birth He was hailed as a king, and at His death they wrote of Him as the king.

Question: Did Jesus reign upon the earthy throne? Yes and not yet. For sure one day Jesus will come back to this earth to reign on the earthly throne in new heavens and new earth. And all men on earth, even those long ago dead “will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father”(Philippians 2:10-11).

Another question: What did the scholars from the East bring to Jesus? They brought Him their worship (“they kneeled and worshiped him”). Therefore, gold reminds us of worship (“they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold...”). In heaven, all of God’s creations sing worship to Jesus the Son of God, “The slain Lamb is worthy! Take the power, the wealth, the wisdom, the strength! Take the honor, the glory, the blessing!” (Revelation 5:12). Surely our King is worthy of our worship, isn’t He?

Someone told me that worship is the giving over of ourselves to the One worshipped. Friend, that exactly what Jesus wants us to do – to give our lives to Him, to worship Him. The celebration of Christmas therefore, for Christ-believers, is an opportunity to celebrate and worship Jesus our King together all around the world– but you see; it must first start with you individually – Is Jesus your King? Do you truly worship Him?

Merry Christmas!

START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Jubilee Celebration: My Life-Changing Spiritual Renewal Experience

“Set this year [the fiftieth year of the Day of Atonement] apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you…” (Leviticus 25:10-11NLT, bracket mine)

The Year of Jubilee – duhhh! So What?

The Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-55) was celebrated every 50th year with a blowing of trumpets. It was the holiest of all the Jewish festivals. All slaves of Israelites were freed. The land was not cultivated – rested. Furthermore, during this celebration the land will be restored to the original owner to whom it had been assigned in the original distribution.

But it ‘was’ celebrated – how about now? In what manner shall we celebrate Jubilee in the 21^st century? Since the celebration was during the Old Testament times, what principles of truth that we can observe today?

A Trumpet Blast

Mel Lawrenz writes, “The Hebrew word translated into English as ‘Jubilee’ literally means ‘the blowing of a trumpet’... if we stick with the original Hebrew meaning – a trumpet blast – it’s easy to remember that there are times in life when God had to get our attention by a trumpet blast in the ear. That’s what trumpets do: arrest attention. They pierce the noise. They dominate. God is still trying to get our attention. ‘Jubilee’, the ‘trumpet blast,’ is one way we can listen” (in Jubilee: A Season of Spiritual Renewal. Regal, 2008. Pg. 28-29)

FES Jubilee Celebration Experience

Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) Malaysia was celebrating the 50^th years of Christian student movement yesterday evening, 6^th October 2012. It was an arrested attention of ‘Trumpet Blast’ to remind us about God’s faithfulness for each generation of students in Malaysia. Staff workers, ex-staff workers, Exco leaders, grads, students, families and friends supporters etc. were there to witness how God had walk with them graciously faithful. I venture to say that it was the holiest of all festivals in my life (so far). God of the Jubilee was there to glorify Himself as we come to worship Him throughout the evening. The blow of shofar, the ram’s horn, with a wild, mournful sound that drifts in pitch and echoes during the opening moved my spirit to bow down in reverent toward God who is worthy of all praises. God made it happened!

Another sense of Jubilee celebration to me was that it reminded me, as the trumpet blow, how God had freed me from the bondage of ‘slavery to my sin’ through the precious Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son. The trumpet blast, I remembered the Word about the Calvary, the Cross and the Resurrection. The trumpet blast, I remembered how God mercifully had restored my relationship with Him. The trumpet blast, I remembered how privilege it is to be God’s children and be in heritage of what belongs to His. The trumpet blast, I remembered God of my life – especially, my student’s life – had been so wonderfully and sometime mysteriously kept my faith in Him. He never let me go. I’m hooked to His love and mercy. The trumpet blast! And it pierces my heart and soul. The trumpet blast!

Questions not Answered Properly – But I’m Satisfied Already

Since the Jubilee celebration, I learned and experience progressive life-changing spiritual renewal. “The Year of Jubilee”, writes Mel Lawrenz, “was to be, for the people, a way of remembering that everything could be different” – and it was and is to me now. This is my manner of celebrating the Old Testament Jubilee in the 21^st century: a life-changing spiritual renewal. God is above all these. He is the Renewer; I am renewed. Rejoice in the celebration is my respond in the God of the Jubilee. I’m spiritually renewed in the Lord.

The trumpet blast, the Jubilee is here – can you hear it?

“If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves;

But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

(Proverbs 29:18 The Message)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Prayer on Your Birthday

“Is my growing old making me any closer to Christ?
Am I only getting older or am I getting more godly?” (Henri Nouwen)

Birthday boys and gals pray with me ya. This month is ours:

Lord, you know that I am growing older. Keep me from the idea that I must express myself on every subject. Release me from the craving to meddle in everyone’s affairs, oh, not too busybody and forbid me from being gossiper.

Keep my tongue from the recital of endless details of the past which most of the time do not interest others. Seal my lips when I am inclined to tell of my own aches and pains first as if I am the only one who went through it alone. Instead, help me to listen to others first.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong. Teach me to be humble. Make me thoughtful but not interfering, helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom and experience it does seem a pity not to use it all, but you know Lord, that I want a few friends left at the end. So help me to pray more, say less.

And beyond all this, let me continue to flourish spiritually and bring forth fruit to Thy glory even as my age increases. Amen!

Remember: Age is a matter of mind. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Mother's Day: Mothers and Sons

Mother and Child by Le Thi Luu

Thomas Edison’s tribute to his mother:

“I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me a good influence that lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I would never likely have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different mental caliber, I would have turned out badly. But her firmness, her sweetness, her goodness were potent powers to keep me on the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing to me.”

(Source: I don’t remember.)

Richard Angelus’s greeting to his mother:

M is for her Marvelous care toward me and my brother;

O is Only her patience can sustain our rebellious;

T is for the Tears she shed during her hardest moments;

H is for her Heart that is pure as gold;

E is for Enjoying her responsibilities with delight;

R is for Richly bless us with love and disciplines.

Therefore, MOTHER to me is ALL of the above. Happy Mother’s Day mom! Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and mothers-act-to-be we cherish your labor and grateful for your presence in our lives! Thank you.

(Source: from the bottom of my heart)

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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You may also want to read (click title): Letter from a Son to his Mother

Is Real Unity Possible?

“The body has many different parts, not just one part.”
(Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 12NLT)

One of the keys to unity is to celebrate one another’s differences. Unity is not about everyone agreeing or having the same opinion. It’s about learning how to take different opinions and direct them all toward a common purpose and goal. God creates everyone differently, so we should expect differences of opinion. But God also tells us to be united, which means that our differences must serve some important goal: “bringing about the most thoughtful, well-developed plans”, writes Ronald A. Beers. [P.s: I and my colleagues are coming from very difference background. Very difference age and generation. Very difference Christian denominations. Very difference temperaments. And yet, under a banner of Christian organization, we are able to work in unity with one another because we have common purposes and goals in the ministry. Real unity is possible!]

“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,
binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

Unity usually becomes difficult to achieve when we’re already convinced that our opinion is the best and therefore someone else’s opinion is not well thought through. This mind-set keeps us from listening to new ideas that might actually make our own opinion better. Then we are in danger of ‘tuning out’ a potential divine moment in which God helps us to see how different colors create a richer painting. Try celebrating and truly anticipating one another’s differences and fitting them together to accomplish the objective. Then you will experience the true harmony and unity that God designed humans to share and enjoy.

THINK BIG. Unity is Possible.

START SMALL. Start by celebrating one another’s differences.

GO DEEP We are all ONE in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

Week 58: Celebration! Come, let's us Celebrate!

“Modern man has been pressed so hard towards useful work and rational calculation he has all but forgotten the joy of ecstatic celebration…” (Harvey Cox)

“The Christian should be an alleluia from head to foot!” (Augustine of Hippo)

[In search for materials and quotes for me to write today Weekly Motivation article, knowing that some of my readers are from multiple religion background, I couldn’t help but to express the subject of ‘Celebration’ in a Christian context. For celebration is the sheer evidence of Christ.]

God celebrates. After all, he invented delight, joy and celebration. J.P. Jacks once said, “Christianity is the most encouraging, the most joyous… while it has its sorrows and stern disciplines, the end of it is a resurrection, not burial – a festival, not a funeral.” Celebration can enlarge our capacity to enjoy and serve God. Celebration brings joy into life, and joy makes us strong. “And joy”, as Hannah Whitall Smith wrote in The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life, “comes through obedience to Christ and joy results from obedience to Christ. Without obedience joy is hallow and artificial”. Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian!

God celebrates. He even instructs his people in the Old Testament to gather together three times a year to celebrate the goodness of God. When the people had completed the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah stood up and said, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gift of food with people who have nothing to prepare.” (Nehemiah 8:10NLT) The New Testament also filled with events of celebrations; the choir of angels sings praises to God on the day Jesus was born, Jesus and His disciples went to wedding party (John 2), and even Paul and Silas celebrates God’s goodness in prison! (Acts 16)

God celebrates. I’m sick of a long face, gloomy, unhappy, and joyless Christians! (I’m sick of it!) if anything that a Christian should be is to be as happy as possible. Richard Foster observed, “If we think we will have joy only by praying and singing psalms, we will be disillusioned. But if we fill our lives with simple good things and constantly thank God for them, we will be joyful, that is, full of joy.” Hey people, go and celebrate! Celebration saves us from taking ourselves too seriously. Celebration is an effective antidote for sadness and oppressed heart. Joy begets joy, laughter begets laughter and celebration begets more celebration!

Here are 5 practical practices of the Discipline of Celebration suggested by Richard Foster in his all-time classic book Celebration of Discipline (explanations mine):

1.     Celebration through singing, dancing, shouting.

We are free to express our gratefulness and joy in the goodness of God with everything we have. Sing at the top of your lung, dance till the floor get dirt and shout like a care-free child. There’s a time for everything – to mourn and to celebrate. And when it comes to celebrate why not celebrate wholeheartedly!

2.     Laughing

My friend Donna warned me once, “I can laugh very loud ya know” during our dinner together. I replied, “That’s great”. For what is the best way to celebrate if it not with laughter!

3.     Accent the creative gifts of fantasy and imagination

Creative fantasy and imagination can bring a great joy as we observe and enjoy on it. It could be in the forms of video games, paintings, playing music, plays etc. Let’s play, sing, laugh and have some fun together!

4.     Make family events into times of celebration and thanksgiving.

This is important. Family is the best place for us to practice the discipline of celebration. It is on the top of my lists to at least bring my family out for dinner together once per month to celebrate my monthly salary – to celebrate God’s provision.

5.     Take advantage of the festivals of our culture and really celebrate.

This is rather easy to explain. Our calendar is full with celebrations. And the good news is you don’t have to spend too much money and energy to celebrate one, all you have to have is a passionate pleasure in God and joyful heart to love one another.

God celebrates. Life is short, full of difficulties and challenges. When there are opportunities to celebrate – celebrate. When it’s time to celebrate – celebrate. Hear ye Christians, celebrate for what the Lord have done. Celebrate in the spirit of worship, praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. Celebrate for it is the sign that we are really living in God’s wonderful love, and that love satisfies us. Come, let’s us celebrate!

THINK BIG. GO DEEP. START SMALL.

Message before Gawai -Two things I Hate! (Who care?)

Tourism Malaysia website introduce Malaysia as,
“... A bubbling, bustling melting pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese, and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony.”
(http://www.tourism.gov.my/about_malaysia/)

In this ‘many other ethnic groups’ statement, one of them is the Ibans. The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Wikipedia reported that there are more than 600,000 Ibans in Sarawak alone. One of the main festivals for the Ibans is the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak. (Besides the bird festal Gawai Burong and the spirit festival Gawai Antu) The Gawai Dayak is celebrated every year on the 1st of June, at the end of the harvest season, to worship the Lord Sempulang Gana. (To know more, please Google)

The Ibans were traditionally animists, but today majority are now Christian and some are Muslim. For your information, I’m an Iban and I’m a Christian. There are 2 things that I’m against that I need to share with my readers who celebrate this wonderful and joyful celebration that contradicts our Christian Living.

Please evaluate and examine my thesis before you accept or reject it: [Bear in mind that I'm writing this in a Malaysia context (urban-modern readers), which 'tuak' and smoking are not necessarily helpful; for heating etc. in our climate: warm and humid]

#1:Tuak

Myth: You are not a real man if you don’t drink tuak or language!

Tuak is a type of wine; it is originally made of rice. Meanwhile, language is a type of alcoholic drink. (Some define it as a similar term) Nowadays, both beverages are served for guests. Both if consume excessively will cause drunkenness. There is nothing wrong with drinking tuak or language, but it must be under control. I love what Goh Keat Peng said when he advised his young listeners in one lecture, “Ask yourself this question before you do something ‘Am I able to control it?’” If you can, go ahead. But I’m sure base on my own experiences, it is much better not to consume it at all.

Habit when it fully developed becomes an addiction. And addiction to alcohol is not cool at all. I’d been there before, my bloodline proves it so. At first, you feel confident, strong, and macho. No one denies that they can be helpful for a while, but over the long haul – it left you immature, insecure, and afflicted by guilt and depression. Now tell me, what is a real man about if he feels insecure, guilt, failure, stress, and immature behavior?

Billy Graham writes, “Why does the Bible so clearly denounce drunkenness? Because it is an enemy of human life. Anything that is against a person’s welfare, God is against.”

Truth: You are a real man if you know how to say ‘no’ to drunkenness!

#2:Smoking

Myth: Grown up smoke!

Human beings are creatures of habit. Many of our practices become automatic; we are sometimes unaware that we have attained the habit of smoking especially from what we model from our family members really affected us a lot. Living in an Iban culture, I was exposed to smoking since I was a kid. Our mind linked smoking with adulthood. Smoking claims to release tension, a symbol of maturity, independence, and cool.

But is it true? How about the fact that in the long term smoking kills you and others? Maybe I shouldn’t waste my time to outlines the effects of smoking; both you and I know that smoking is a bad habit. Both of us know that they displease God. Both of us know that smoking doesn’t define your maturity. Grown-up… real grown-up, Christian kind of grown-up doesn't do things that displease God.

Truth: Real grown up to understand that smoking [In my judgment, based on our context] is not pleasing to God!

As Gawai is approaching, I want you to consider these 2 myths and 2 truths. If you think that Gawai or any other celebration is not fun without alcohol drinks and a cloud of smokes in your lung, I want you to remember that there won’t be any celebrations to come if you destroy your body with those toxics. If you think that Gawai is not Gawai if you don’t do it, I want you to remember that Gawai is not Gawai if your family mourning over your dead body. If you think that my advice is not practical and out-dated, I want you to remember that I had warned you about it.

Being a Christian mean you make the choice to be different. Being a Christian means you obey God’s Word above cultural traditions. Being a Christian mean you glorified God even with your body. Alcohol and smoke destroy your God-given body. Don’t you know that the moment you received Christ into your life, you’re a new creature in Christ through whom all things were made and in whom all things are restored or created anew?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;  the old has gone, the new has come!” 

(2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

Anyway, it's your life... You make the choice... just don't waste it.

Happy Celebrating Gawai Dayak!

“Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai”