When you're feeling ill, something just isn't right. Body aches, high temperatures, coughing out some funny weird coloured sputum depending on how ill you are, plus the occasional feeling of being cold.

Of course, it's just the body's natural response to foreign bacterial/viral invaders. As the body works harder to obliterate these crafty buggers, it's somewhat like exercising. Temperatures go up, breathing goes up, pulse rates go up, and there'll be a greater-than-ever demand for water. That sort of thing.

The whole afternoon today was spent tossing and turning on my bed. At least I sweated. Perspiration is better than no perspiration, especially when you desperately need to cool yourself down. After 5 hours of sleeping, I still could go for more sleep. The body needs rest, too. Very ultimately important.

So I have to contemplate my next move. I desperately need to get well. Prayer & Praise on Friday, I've got practice on Thursday. And obviously I won't be able to play well in my half-tired condition, can I?

James 5:13-16 says: Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Of course, I haven't been too saintly these past few days. This month's issue of Maxim is HOT with Lin Chiling gracing the cover,and I haven't been able to tear my eyes off her ever since then.

HELP.

Joel.

Time really does fly. I can still remember bitching about the start of the year, when I'd start thinking about what a long way to go before 11th April 2006, when I can discard my green uniforms for more comfortable & familiar civilian wear.

However, as my father constantly puts it," Are you prepared to go back to the life out there?" Naturally, 2 1/3 years of wearing green in the Singapore Armed Forces gives you an entitlement to excuse the use of your brain for the entire period of time, yet we need to mentally prepare ourselves for going back into the civilian world. How ironic. Is serving in the Armed Forces as conscripts really that important? People will say it is, but I beg to differ. Maybe because of my own job scope, that's why.

Have I been utilising my time wisely? Sadly, not. All those nights back in camp slacking, doing nothing, burning my brains on the computer in the Specialists' Mess doesn't help to enhance anything that I might require out there in future.

And yet God will demand an account from us on Judgment Day, on how we actually used our time, how we've listened and obeyed, etc etc. It can be rather terrifying to know, that indeed, God will keep an account of what we have done on this earth.

Nevertheless, we shall continue to do what he asks us to do, no?

Joel.

It's totally ironic that while I've been talking about people being deceived this past month, I myself am getting deceived. The veil going over my eyes in such a subtle manner that I failed to notice it. Of course, it's all been done by the master of deception, in a manner good enough to impress any master spy.

Of course, if I do say that I'm not being deceived, I am just fooling myself, and it'd be akin to seeing the speck in another person's eye and clearly ignoring the log in my own eye.

It's ironic. But growth comes with humility. Of course, I've learnt something else, that dark forces work very very sneakily. Before you know it the hood gets thrown over your head, so beware.

Last week I was being tricked into thinking that my workload was too great. Too much for me to bear. But after all, our Saviour Himself bore the penalty for all our sins, the biggest burden in the world to bear! Whatever else simply pales in comparison. Shepherding the kids, serving in the worship ministry twice a month, conducting training in camp, carrying out regimental duties as per anyone else, doing more dirty work in camp, etc. I'm thankful that all the work in camp is only done between 8am and 5.30pm, but therein lies the danger of me being too relaxed when I go out into the workforce in future.

This week I'm being enticed to go back to my old life (again, he never seems to give up) and it was such a close shave. But no, I'll soldier on.

I had a dream last night about trying to climb over something that was flimsy, and soon to collapse. That was it! My foundation (and faith, definitely) in him is not as strong as I thought it was. And it's quite weak, about to collapse in the face of adversity. Not a very good sign.

I'm such a weakling, admittedly. I can't do anything right! But. By the grace of God all things are possible. And with that, no matter what happens, above all else, He is sovereign. And He loves me. Now that, can never be brought down by the devil.

Joel.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." The words of Jesus from Matt 17:20.

How true. When we ask God to supply our needs, how often do we do it with a cloud of doubt lingering over our heads? Naturally, with an unseen God, who sometimes decides to do things His own way, instead of what we want, we may get a little jittery. Or very jittery. So we do tend to try to do things our own way, where something tangible is still better than something invisible and unseen! No?

In other words, working through faith in our own hands. Actually, what do we have that is not already His? What can we give that He has not given us? How can we do things our own way, instead of letting Him do what He wants? For He answers prayer. Not in our own time, but according to His perfect plan for us, no?

We do get impatient. That's not having faith. We want to see quick results, not wait. Even in this efficiency-oriented society today, that is practised and preached. FAST. Get things done ASAP. On the double!

But God. Does He need to be that fast? One snap of his fingers and everything falls into place. So why do we actually rush to do things all at once?

That demonstrates an entire lack of faith in Him only. Which equates to zero. Not even the size of a small mustard seed. Quite pathetic eh? It's human nature, and that jolly well has to change. It died with our old self!

Joel.

Does it matter if you come from a Protestant background, or I'm Presbyterian, he's Lutheran, and she's Baptist? Only a fool would start squabbles and international disputes over that. We're all one happy family, and that's God's family!

Unless, of course, the church you go to has some serious theological doctrinal flaw. For example, the Mormon church chooses to believe in the teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young rather than of God, so it's branded a heretical cult. Though now it calls itself Seventh-Day Adventist, but through and through its doctrinal beliefs are Mormon in nature. Pardon me if I'm wrong.

Seriously, why wrangle over these minor issues? It's like squabbling over whether we drink the wine or eat the bread first in communion. Or whether we have the sermon before the worship. Something totally inconsequential. If people want to argue over that, you can definitely tell it's the hand of Satan. Trying to bring rifts in among the body of Christ over such small matters, causing congregations to split apart.

Instead of wasting time over that, I'd rather do something else more meaningful, really.

Joel.

There's a very fine line where you serve in a ministry with passion and worshipping the ministry you serve in, and it all depends on God.

How can you tell that you're worshipping your ministry instead of using it to serve God? Especially for the younger ones, fresh and "ready to serve", thinking they're able to handle these newfound responsibilities easily -- If you do find yourself spending too much time in it, or with the people in it, and you find that serving drains you instead of refreshing you, watch it. Alarm bells should start ringing by then.

Know your limit. You were given limited skills by God. Do not attempt to further pump in more than what you've got, and finally you end up discouraged, and like God's wanting you to stop or pull away from the ministry.

Confused? Scratching head? Let me give you an example. As a young boy of 14, and fresh into drumming, I found myself just accepting what people asked me to do. In TM, in church, in the school band where I drummed too -- and if that didn't make me a better drummer, it made me worse off in my walk with God, because I'd actually elevated the drums to be like a god, and instead of controlling it for worshipping God I was worshipping it instead. And you'll know that's a very dangerous thing it is, to be idolatrous and going after false gods. Even without knowing it.

So, do draw the line. You may think you're glorifying Him, but He may know that you're in it not for glorifying Him, but for promoting your own status, or sticking your ego out, or maybe for the sake of getting to know someone you're really infatuated on, or even just for making friends solely.

That's not the point. We were called to serve.

But remember, service is not the ONLY thing to do on this earth! What about the other 4 purposes? Remember those, too!

Joel.

Snuck this title of one of Edmund's old blog entires. Basically it's what FOP was promoting, it's what I'm praying for, it's what we all are expecting! Or waiting so expectantly.

Why? The funny thing is, we want renewal, we want this, we expect that from God, but before we even do that --- Are our hearts tuned into His frequency? Or are we just bumbling along, like some miner drilling in the dark, till he unexpectedly stumbles upon oil while expectantly searching for it?

Are we even prepared? Or do we just stonily sit there, and wait for things to happen? NO! The answer is, God will act when He notices someone standing in the gap, being prepared, earnestly asking for Him to work among the people.

That, my friends, is whe nthe power of God will so strike the nations that each come to Him for repentance. When we pray, we can move mountains!

So we shall continue.

Joel.

Why is it so difficult to live life the way we want it to be? Basically because it can be conflicting. What God wants, and what we want, can be 2 diametrically opposing views.

As ordinary humans, having not known God, the basic mentality is to live life for our ownselves. A godless life is a self-centred life, where everythihng you do is meant to benefit yourself. Hence you can see backstabbing in the office to gain a quicker promotion, or wanton flings to fulfil one's sexual demands, or even bribery to get what you want.

A self-centred life, is all about "me, myself and I". "I don't care what happens to the other fella, as long as I achieve my own aim, obtain what I require, etc, etc". Promotes competition, true? But, it's basically for each one's own benefit.

In contrast, a God-centred life is totally different. We live out of deference to God. Commit suicide because things are not going our way? Definitely not! Would God have liked that? No!

Living a God-centred life bears multiple responsibilities. It includes living how He wants you to live, how He wants you to behave, and the foundational principle of "What would Jesus do?". Living a God-centred life means living how He would want you to, and warrants ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE.

Yes, absolute obedience. And you'll realise, though, that life's experiences are difficult to go through, and there will be many ups and downs, being obedient to Him no matter what happens, and you'll realise that God has placed everything around you not without reason.

God bless! Live a God-centred life as much as possible! Do not let earthly worries bog you down, for who by worrying could extend his life a day longer? Be sensible in your approach, therefore, to how He wants you to live. the way He wants you to! Of course, He's a caring Father, more caring than the most loving father on this earth! Take heart.

Joel.

Was quite a fiasco. The people who were supposed to come, our new friends and all, the ones whom we were to befriend and love in the name of Jesus Christ --- inexplicably disappeared today, all backing out at the last minute.

Naturally disappointing, of course. In the end only one new guy came, and he left at 4. So what can we do? We can't do anything! Just spent some time talking with him, and he's interested in being a Christian! Hallelujah! That's a cause for rejoicing already.

Psalms 81:8-12, and Psalms 82:6-7 have very powerful stirring words.

08"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
09 You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 "But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 "If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,
14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

Psalms 82:6-7

6 "I said, 'You are "gods";
you are all sons of the Most High.'

7 But you will die like mere men;
you will fall like every other ruler."

But. The promises of God never go unnoticed. Though this time we may have been disobedient, in resorting to our own whims instead of seeking God for what He wanted, we will not go a second round this way. Once bitten, twice shy!

Moreover, there may be a better time that God has planned. Now's a learning exercise. He will definitely have something even better in store for us! For if we as earthly fathers know how to give good things to our children who ask, how much more will the Father give to those who ask in His name?

Joel.

What is the true meaning of Festival of Praise? What is the vision behind the organising committee each year that spearheads this project? Why do they want to do this sort of stuff on a large-scale basis, bringing in even renowned bands like Hillsong United and Delirious?

So I saw it yesterday night. Where Rev Colin Dye passionately preached about Moses, being called by God, being so filled with the presence of God as he walked around, that He couldn't bear God to leave him for just 1 second! That's the power of what the Spirit of God does.

People were saved, too. That's the vision! To bring people down, and fight for their souls even in the midst of the Indoor Stadium, BUT! Will it be sustained? That's the very question we have to ask ourselves, the crux of the issue is, is it a one time show because everyone's so caught up by the power of the living God in our presence that very night?

Others were jumping around, singing, crying out in tongues, a wondrous sight to behold. Yet another BUT! Why is it that most, generally lose that passion after that night of dancing, and as they return back to their schools and workplaces and all, that they fail to realise the need for people to come to know Him too? Even I'm guilty of that.

We need a sustaining force. This is not a one-off event. For large scale revival, something else must happen. And BOOM! God works.

Joel.

It seems as if everything that can go wrong is going wrong these days. We see London getting bombed. We heard of September 11 almost 4 years ago. There's always talks of Osama striking somewhere again. You see riots and demonstrations and protests when some new obnoxious policy is to be implemented.

And out of all this, chaos ensues. People die. Or are horribly injured. Physically, and psychologically they are scarred for life.

In the midst of all this, people will ask, "If there is a God, why doesn't He do something? Doesn't He love the people around Him? Why let them all die? Conclusion: There must be no God."

<---Fortunately, the Book of Genesis has answers for suffering—real answers. All these grim statistics make sense if you accept the Bible’s ‘history of human sorrow’, which begins with Adam’s Fall in Genesis, and ends with God’s Final Judgment in Revelation. To Christian believers, September 11 is a stark reminder that the world was once perfect, but Adam’s rebellion introduced an ‘enemy’ into creation—death (1 Corinthians 15:26). >
The Bible does more than explain death and suffering; it also gives us hope. Answers in Genesis posted a commentary on the day of the terrorist attacks to explain this hope (see Terrorists and death). If we believe in the Bible’s account of a perfect creation and a sinless Savior, then we can see September 11 as an encouraging reminder:

A reminder that God is sovereign—He allows tragedies to awaken us.
A reminder of our own personal need for salvation.
A reminder of Christ’s love in coming to die for us.
A reminder that the One who conquered death has ultimate power to save us.
So the story is not all grim. God is in control, and He can use suffering to accomplish good. --- Quoted from http://www.answersingenesis.o...

And Romans 9:14-21 says this: What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"

Do things go wrong? Yes. From the sin of Adam we are continually reminded that he introduced death into this world. Spiritual death and physical death, the eternal one being the former. Only when Christ came down to the earth and paid the price on the cross did the curse of sin (which is spiritual death) snap on our lives.

Yes. People do die, ultimately. But what is God trying to do? He wants the rest of the people who haven't died to find Him from these horrific incidents. For example, He miraculously saved all passengers in the Air France A340 runway crash, yet on SQ 006 people died. Why? It all depends on how He controls the situation, and how people react to the situation.

Bottomline: Do not blame God for the suffering in this world. All this has been brought unto us by ourselves. Yet He is sovereign and by His mercy and grace we are saved.

Joel.

And they say life in the army will cause you to fall away from Christ, especially if you aren't diligent at keeping a regular quiet time with Him.

How true. Even people like me who go outfield really irregularly (read: once in maybe 3 months! Or even less!) and for such a short period of time (this one just ended, 3 days 2 nights only) it's a really tiring event, and whatever free time you have you'd choose to stone/rest/sleep instead of praying. Really. And this thing happened to me. What about those who go outfield more regularly, and spend most of their nights there? It'd be worse! Especially if they don't discipline themselves in doing QT even when outfield. But of course, the current batch of us seem to be doing quite well, so far.

And the worst thing was, I forgot to bring my Bible. 3 days of not reading the word, 3 days of not praying, 3 days of stoning, binging on snacks, dressing up casualties for casualty simulation, watching on as the skies darken due to impending thunderstorms, it really got me thinking.

As to why the older people constantly warn us to be disciplined about doing our QT regularly even in the midst of the "extremely fun" military lifestyle we're having right now.

I must admit, it's very easy to lose track. Prayer seems so irrelevant compared to sleep. I've only averaged 5.5 hours of sleep each day the previous 2 nights, not counting the disturbances from the mosquitoes and all around me.

It's difficult. Life in the army really can pull you down if you're not careful.

So. Be prepared!

Joel.