Learning to Obey

I said “No” too quickly before, for another event. This time I agreed, albeit after some hesitation. The topic was one which, as I prepared, I got all excited about. 

On the same morning I was due to speak, I was woken just after dawn with a re-write etched clearly in my mind. Had to be God and not me! I got up, and got it all down on Keynotes as well as PowerPoint in less than an hour. 

I experienced such (unnatural) peace that I didn’t look at it again till it was time to go and upload it on the computer at the speaking venue. Never before!

As I spoke, changes and tweaks came. All I can say is, "God, You are amazing". 

When I ended, it seemed like I ended too early - there was too much time. With hindisght however, it actually turned out to be God-ordained time - the Good News could be shared in the small breakout groups. And such joy! One precious soul accepted the Lord in the small group. Hallelujah! 

Christmas at the Mall

Christmas can often be so very commercial.

Buying and giving and more buying and lots of giving.

Shopping and sales and bargains and discounts.

Get this product, NO, buy that instead.

And so forth. I think you get the picture.

I get a reaction inside. I dread going to the malls. I get a bad taste when I see some of the advertisements.

This year, however, is a little different.

A non-profit organisation set up to help the poor with no strings attached has done something wonderful to benefit some needy causes.

With more than one thousand bears, shipped in specially for this season, they aim to raise money for these causes.

Buy a bear and get your name put on the tree.

Alternatively, you can also donate your bear to children, orphans, or hospitals. After you have given of course.

During this season, the local church is encouraged to go and sing carols and to highlight this wonderful event.

The response has been tremendous. The smaller bears are totally sold out an entire day in advance.

Christmas at the mall doesnt seem so bad now....

Facebook

As an aside to my normal EADotCom fare, I have some questions.

I want to know how some people do it. I get requests to get toys, eat food, and join causes. I get poked and superpoked. I get hugged and challenged.

And these are the ones I didn't delete/ignore! At one time, I had almost a hundred of these!First question - Where do they get the time?

Second question - How can I reject/ignore them without offending the ones who sent them?

(Facebook is being featured here in EADotCom because I managed to put javascript icon here at the side.)

In the Marketplace

Paul the Apostle was a tentmaker. He made tents. That was his profession. There were times in his life where he worked to earn a living and shared the gospel at the same time. Hence we learned the term, "tentmaking". YWAM has an interesting article on this.

Nowadays a new term that has evolved is marketplace ministry. Essentially similar, but one would not need to go to another land or culture. Yet, there would be an obvious expression of one's faith and a desire to engage people into dialogue to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Take for example this shop I saw in 1Borneo.
In case you can't make it out, the plaque on the wall is signed by a pastor who blessed the shop on its opening. He includes a verse on it.

And this is positioned at a most visible spot of the shop - behind the cash till counter. One cannot help but notice it when you stand to pay for your purchases. In particular, when waiting for a card purchase to be processed, one's eyes inevitably are drawn to the cute dog and then subsequently to the words as well. A potential conversation starter, a definite point-to-the-Lord moment.

Which is why it caught my eye and I am blogging about it now.