Button Battery Boy One Year On

Exactly one year ago, I rushed down to KKH upon hearing that my son (then sixteen months) had swallowed and choked on something. When the surgeon came out of the operating theatre, I was expecting all to be fine but what came after was the darkest moment of my life. Cat and I were told that Luke had swallowed a button battery, not only that, because the battery was lodged in the moist esophagus, the battery released its current and burned a hole in the esophagus. To add to things, we had no idea if acid had flowed into his body. The world grew dim that moment. Terrifyingly dim.

During those days of uncertainty, whenever I saw thee empty cot, tears flowed. Whenever I unlocked my iPhone and look at the picture of my two beloved, tears flowed again. I sometimes asked, "Why God?". "Was it something that I had done?" I was utterly confused.

A year later, Luke is a healthy boy, completely without any symptoms of side effects whatsoever. In fact, he is quite athletic (can run pretty fast!). He's adorable. He brings smiles to whoever is around him.

I remember my prayer to God during those dark days. "God. The doctors have no way of healing him through medicine. They are unable to perform surgery to patch up the hole or clear up the acid dispersed throughout the body. Thus, if he were to recover, it would only be because of your sheer power and grace." God was merciful to listen to my prayer.

This is my testimony, that indeed God is the only source, only giver, only granter of life. He was the one who formed Luke in the womb of Cat and through a miraculous birth (he had a knot on his umbilical cord), was brought into this world. He recovered his life when it was almost taken away from us. He continues giving him every inhale and exhale just as he continues to let our heart beat the next moment. At the A&E, I remember the doctor (Dr. Janil Puthucheary, MP of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) telling me, "Its just a waiting game now." In other words, the doctors could not do anything. We couldn't do anything. No one could do anything. Nothing could be done unless God gives life.

On the cross, Jesus died to give us life. Not just life on earth, but life eternal. A life that no longer dies in sin. A life that no longer wallows in emptiness. A life that no longer is anxious over how can I save myself. And He proved that He indeed is the life, when He resurrected from the dead. He gave life to Luke. He gives life to whoever trusts in Him for the forgiveness of sins. He is the life giving Savior. He is the life giving Lord.

And of course, I also prayed. "Lord, if you are to take Luke away to a better place, to be by your side, please give me the faith to trust in you. To really trust that all things, good things, bad things, work for the good of those who love you. To trust that you are in control whatever happens. To trust that you care. And because of the saving work which your Son accomplished, we have a living hope that we will reunite again."

What can I depend on ultimately for the life of my son? Dr Janil was awesome. The staff at KKH A&E, I expressed my gratitude to every doctor, sister and nurse there. But ultimately, our dependence is upon the life giver, the life sustainer, the life saver, the authority of our lives, the one who say, that He is the bread of life. He gives His life for us, that we may give our lives for Him.

I end with some pictures of Luke. You can also read this blog post I wrote about 9 months back?

p.s.: He better memorize this post when he gets bigger!!!

Luke tied to so many tubes one year ago =(

But now, he's a happy boy wearing pony riding helmet!

I hate to admit it. But I really like his precious moments face.

With the world's best kor kor

All praise and glory to God.

Help! My Exams Are Freaking Me Out!

Its that time of the year again. The threat of being retained looms over your every instant moment. The subjects just seems so difficult. Going through it numerous times doesn't seem to help. Sometimes, you just want to shout out for help.

Well, I don't have a magic wand to help you cope with exam stress. But what I want to let you know is that the bible does give us principles on how to cope with it.

1. Just do your best for God and let Him take care of the rest.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Colossians 3:23)

Just do your best. Leave the rest to God. Even if you end up getting less than expected results after trying your best, you can still be satisfied in telling Jesus, "I have given my best for you." and let Him guide the path onwards whatever it maybe. Even if you can't make it to the next year, to that desired school, to that long awaited course, God IS IN CONTROL.
The story of Joseph does not remain in our heads. The hard knocks are to be experienced in our hearts and lives, that we can truly say like he did, "God has meant everything for good," (Genesis 50:20)
Trust in God that He cares and has His best plans for you no matter how things turn out.

2. Just do your best and don't compare with the rest.

God has given some to be smarter in academics just as He has given some five talents, some others two talents and still others, one talent. But we should all note that however much talents we have, its all GIVEN. Its all grace. Its not earned. So, just do your best even if you are given just one talent. Don't compare with those who have two or five talents. Don't compare with those who score straight 'A's or have secured that scholarship. Know that whoever God has given more, more will be demanded from him (Luke 12:48). Stop competing and just do your best with the talents given to you.

3. Even if you have not done your best, you can still rest in Christ.

Perhaps you are feeling guilty because you have fallen short of not giving your best. Well who hasn't? But know that the forgiveness of our sins based on what Christ has done for us is not just some pep talk on the pulpit. It is utterly personal. Confess your sin before God, and know that He will forgive you. You can stop feeling guilty because Jesus has paid the penalty for you. Only start anew and strive towards giving your best. Give your best not because of selfish reasons, but because you want to live for your Lord Jesus Christ.
Identify the thing which is distracting you. TV, Whatsapp, FB, Youtube. Name the thing that is feeding your procrastination. Make concrete plans to deal with it.

Dear youths. God is in charge and cares for you no matter what your circumstances are. He has your best plans at heart though we cannot see it all right now. But this is called, trusting faith. He has created you uniquely. Don't compare with others. Just do your best for Him. If you have not been doing your best, tell it to Him and know that in Christ, you are forgiven. Do your best, not for your own ambition, but for your Lord. Hope it helps.

Everyone did what was right in his own eyes

"Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Judges 21:5

With the exception of featured role model heroes like Gideon and Samson, we rarely read the book of Judges in detail. Yet, Judges is an essential read in today's pluralistic times. We live in a society where Christians are placed alongside idols of religion, wealth, power, luxury, sexual satisfaction. These idols make no authority claims on you. They are customized for your convenience where you can pick them up or drop them anytime you want. This ultimately leads us do whatever seems right to us. We are the authority, we are the lords of our own life. I decide what is right. I choose my own set of customized gods according to my preferences and schedule.

But when that happens, Christians depart from God who should be the center and Lord of our lives. We depart from obedience to Him. God demands lordship over all areas of our lives, yet we have suppress Him into just a religious activity mutually exclusive to only Sundays.

In this generation, I weep over young girls who for the sake of making it big in showbiz bare their bodies to the lusting eyes of the world. These young children gyrate to sexual explicit dance moves. Country by country, same sex marriages are made legal. Abuse of technology has seized our minds from meditating on God's Word.

We are increasing in rebellion to God day by day. How can we avoid the wrath of God? Judges show the repeated cycle of Israel's rebellion to God, Israel's rebuke and reprove by God, Israel's repentance to God, and in God's mercy, He rescues this undeserving people who sadly does not appreciate or even remember what a great a grace they have received and soon, the sad cycle repeats.

Isn't it the same for us? In church history, God has raised amongst us faithful servants of Him. Yet the church continues its decline till the day the ultimate deliverer comes.

Ask Ourselves

Which will we choose? God as Lord over all areas of our lives? Or will we choose the preferences of this age?

Dangerous Technology

I love technology. It helps me work more efficiently, connects me to people far away, provides me convenience, and provides resources to God's Word like never before. However, in this age where technology is all around us, where we have ready access to information and gadgets, I would like to remind all alike, the dangers that lurk.

1. Shallowness

Behind the Google searches, website skimmings, replies/comments posted around on facebook/twitter/4-square, lie the danger that we are being unknowingly made shallower. We have slowly but surely lost the ability to think deep. When was the last time you manage to read a book? When was the last time you manage to sit in a quiet corner and think thoroughly about the issues that really matter? Or are you constantly responding to your 'beep'? The 'beep' constantly distracts us. It causes us to put down what we are doing, and pick it up. And in the process, all focus and concentration is gone in an instant.

We are constantly distracted. And this causes to have shallow thinking which in turn leads to shallow living. Obviously shallow thinking results in you doing poorly in school, but worse still is, it causes you to just rush through that bible reading program which in the end, you don't know what you have just read.

Slow down instead of trying to multi-task between watching tv, answering whatsapp and reading the bible online. Slow down, do fewer things well than many things badly.

Focus. Concentrate. This will in turn lead to deep thinking, and on to deep living. Deep living in meditation and application of God's Word in your lives. This is a far better choice than constantly worrying about the notifications that you have missed.

2. Independent Isolation

No, i am not talking about you being a responsible, independent person. I am talking about you being socially independent. You have all the 'friends' on facebook and from that latest multi-player game. You will less and less needy of real friends in real life. You started to get disinterested in real people. You feel that talking to real people is a waste of time. Better back to talking to my online friends where i can log in and out anytime i want. Online friends will not criticize you. They will not tell you that you ought to show more concern to your family members. They will not tell you that you ought to play a more active role in the home. Let's just get on with getting that special weapon/spell to kill that last stage monster.

The commands of the bible to love one another, to bear one another's burden have completely vanished into thin air. Who needs to observe all these when I can just lock myself up and enjoy my virtual world with virtual friends. Just remember to call me for meal times and wash my laundry.

3. Self-Centredness

I don't need self worth from the real world. I have thousands of friends who 'like' whatever i say or whatever picture i post. Even if it is a purposely formed 'ambiguous' statement used to scold that particular enemy of mine, my 'friends' will still 'like' it. Whatever complains, grumbles, dislikes; tons of my 'friends' support me.

But occasionally, when I get few 'likes', i start to jump. Why is no one noticing me? And on I go being distracted at noticing when the next 'like' notification comes in.

I am the center of the universe. I want attention. Whatever I post, be it wrong or not (and seriously, in these days, who tells you whether you are wrong or right), as long as people 'likes' it, i am satisfied. I do not care whether I am scolding someone indirectly.

The Cure

Does the above describe you? Probably all of us fall into this category. How then should we respond to these dangers?

1. Instead of Shallowness, Achieve Depth.

And depth can only be achieved with constant meditation and application of God's Word (Psalm 1:2). And that is why Solomon can write so many proverbs as he constantly meditates upon God's Word and creation. Identify the beeps that distract your meditation. Think deeply about how to live our a particular verse. As a pastor puts it, "You have not really understood a passage till you know how to live it in your daily life."

2. Instead of Independent Isolation, Give your hearts to one another.

And i have probably spelt out the very definition of what it means to be a church. Besides singing praises to God, I am concerned with that brother, with that sister whom i have the ability to help, or is facing a difficulty that I have faced before. Just Paul says to the church in Thessalonica, "i wish that your love for one another will abound more and more". What is the second greatest commandment?

3. Instead of Self-Centredness, be God centred.

What is God to you? He is not a jackpot machine, not a cash teller, not a genie. There can be no other answer than He is your King, He is your Master, He is your Lord, He is your Father. What does that mean to you?

Time and Priority Management

Time and priority management is always a concern for all of us. This equally applies to Christians who have to seemingly manage between church and 'secular' commitments. Time is always not enough. So, how do we manage our time and priorities?

Jesus teaches to "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you." (Matthew 6:33). Paul also tells us that in everything, whether we eat or drink, we are to do all of it for the glory of God.

Thus, whatever we do, how we spend our time, how we manage our priorities all have to be according to the glory of God. Be it serving in church, in our studies, and even in our recreation (yes, rest can be to the glory of God).

Three principles I wish to share to help us in our time and priority management.

1. Establish the Core.

Undoubtedly, there are things which must form the core of our schedules, those 'must dos', those in the priority list. And that is to seek God's Kingdom as first. What does it mean? It simply means to seek God as your King and God as King in the hearts of others. And how do we do that?

a. Through prayer to our King
b. Through meditating on the Word of our King
c. Through loving and serving other that God be King in their lives as well

Anything else should fit around this core and only then that our lives will be orderly. It is just like the sun being the core of the solar system and everything else fits around it. If anything else replaces the sun as the core, the source of energy will be gone and all the other planets would cease to exists needless to say rotate properly. If we don't have this core, we are bound to be in trouble. We will fail to extract the source of all strength. Even if things seem to go smoothly, you get good grades, good money, but in time, the cracks will show. And the cracks can only be mended if you get a proper core. The core that God, that Jesus, is your King.

Why prayer? Because prayer shows your trust and dependence upon this King. Why meditation on the Word? Because it is where you know how to live in accordance to the King's rule and pleasure. Why fellowship? Because it is where you demonstrate love for others and through that, lives out what you have prayed about and meditated about.

Other things like study, rest, eating, friends, family are built around this core. Get your core right and the rest of these turn out right. Obviously at certain periods, certain activities take precedence, e.g. you will study more when the exams come and you will rest more in the holidays, but the core never ever changes. Get the core of God as King right, and all other things will become right.

2. Deal with the Distractions

What can threaten this core? Your distractions. And what can that be? It is called..."The Beep". It causes you to put down whatever you are doing and take it up. It is not simply something that you avoid, but something that comes at you. The beep can be a beep for an email, a beep for a 'notification', a beep for an sms etc.

It distracts you from focusing, from concentrating. And this distraction causes you to be shallow in whatever you are concentrating on. To be shallow in thinking about that math problem, to be shallow in reading the bible, to be shallow in comprehending real world issues, because the minute you start to engage in deep thought, it is broken by the beep.

Unfortunately, distraction turns into shallow thinking which turns into shallow living. Your grades start to suffer, your devotion starts to suffer (you rush through your 1-minute devotion article), relationships with almost everyone starts to suffer. Ultimately, your relationship with God suffers.

This certainly does not help when this generation is labelled a generation which tries to multi-task. You try to do many things at the same time but you realize, that you simply cannot achieve quantity with quality. Quality without quantity just isn't true. Quality can only come about with quantity. Everything becomes shallow, you get frustrated, and you blame others and pity yourself.

Don't multi-task. Better to do a few things well than many things poorly. Take time to slow down and concentrate on the things that matter. Jesus took time off to pray. He took time to eat a hearty dinner with sinners, tax collectors, and even with this disciples the night he was to be betrayed. He wasn't flustered. Slow down. Focus. And go on a 'digital fast'. That will certainly help you focus. Through focus, you achieve concentration which leads to deep thinking, and on to deep living.

3. Dig for Depth

When you think deeply, you start to observe. You observe that God feeds the sparrows. You observe the beautiful stars that proclaim His handiworks. You start to know God more intimately. You start to do things well because they are done with depth. And because of that, you don't have to re-do them. You save time. You pray with depth. You pray with praise and confession instead of just petition. You read the bible with depth instead of skimming it to satisfy that bible reading plan. You come to realize the root of your sins and know where to pull it out. You love people with depth. And you will naturally come to realize, your time and priorities are properly managed.

Conclusion

Does your schedule and checkbook reveal that your core is seeking God's kingdom first? If not, get that right. Get that in place. Everything else will not go well if this core is not firmly established. Pray before anything else. Read His word meditatively and deeply. Spend time with others. Show them the care which Jesus shows.

Deal with your distractions. Set times of digital fasts to do the things that really matters. Focus, concentrate, think deeply in His Word, live deeply for the glory of God.