Thoughtfulness

Being considerate. Packing food for a friend who is staying in to study for his exam. Buying someone a meal at the end of the month. Helping a friend who needs transportation. Offering to babysit for your sister who would like to go out without the baby.

But sometimes it's in the routine, the every day things that we do. One may not even be aware that one's being thoughtful. Ministry time after the service went on for a bit tonight. There were not that many people who walked up to be ministered to, 2 maybe 3 persons. But another 2 or 3 did drift up to the front to be ministered to at random.

A thoughtful girl standing at the ready at the back of another, waiting to catch her if she falls. A thoughful guy, who was observant enough to step up as I was scanning the vicinity for one to stand behind a guy who stepped up to be ministered to.

I observed the thoughtful girl who stood there throughout the whole time, holding the tissue box at ready for those whose tears flow at the touch of the Holy Spirit.

I watched the thoughtful keyboardist playing throughout the time, willingly sacrificing her time to be ministered to.

I watched the thoughtful guy who carefully treaded about on the stage, plugging the mics out of their sockets to recoil the wire, I watched another who silently and carefully measure his steps as he brought the guitar and bass back into their room, I watched them slowly transport the mic stands, music stands and equipment back to their proper place, without so much as a thud or a thump. If I closed my eyes then, all I would hear would be the soothing sound of the keyboard. I would not be able to detect that there are people clearing up in the background. For this I was thankful to them for keeping the sounds to a minimum in order not to disturb the people just 2 whole feet away.

I was touched by their observance, by their willingness to spend the time, their thoughtfulness, for their deeds that no one may even remember, including themselves. But of which ministered to the hearts of the people at their point of need. So thank you church, for your thoughtfulness that ministered to my heart this evening.

CG 22nd January 2010 ~ Investing Your Time In The Presence Of God (Part 2)

Are you desperate for God's presence in your life?

Can you do anything when you don't feel God's presence?

Did you know that with God's presence comes God's blessings?

Finally, the magic question: Is God your first priority in your life? Do you put God in the centre of your life or you only insert God in between your schedules whenever it is convenient?

To find out more, you can click on the sermon notes here.

CG 15th January 2010 ~ Investing Your Time in God (Part 1)

This is the first sermon in CG for the year 2010!! Woohooo!!

Would you like to know more about investing your time in God? Why are you called to serve and worship God in your youth?

Do you think worship and serving can be separated?

Find out more through the sermon notes here.

Holy Matrimony

More than a year ago, 2 close friends decided to tie the knot, and they are now Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Liaw, officially our beloved Pastor of GEPC and his wife. Then the wheels were set in motion, I watched their wedding planner sit down with them to decide on the color theme for the wedding, the reservations, the wedding invitations, the cut off dates, the wedding photography, down to the pageboy’s suit. I watched their Officiating Minister, Rev. Koshy Thomas conduct their marriage counseling classes when he flies to Kuala Lumpur to minister to GEPC, All these took place well in advance, in the span of a year! At which point it reminded me of our Father who takes painstaking efforts to prepare a bride for His son. He takes note of the littlest details, down to the very minute of the time taken for the wedding procession to walk through the aisle and the colors of the ribbons that adorn the hair of the flower girl.

The ceremony started very (extremely!) early in the morning. The people involved, family and extended families, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, video crew, photographer, make-up artist were all up at the crack of dawn, oh no, wait! BEFORE the crack of dawn, it was still pitch black when we reached the bride’s home.
I saw the blushing bride having her hair teased into curls and her face freshly made up, every bit the radiant bride.
I watched the Mother of the Bride gently place the veil over her beloved daughter and gave her kiss that spoke volumes without saying a word, a kiss that encompasses all her blessings and hope for a marriage that will bring her daughter joy all the days of her life.











Then the groom and the groomsmen arrived. It is after all tradition that the groom and groomsmen must do “battle” for the bride.

The opponents: Sweet, gentle, ribbon and high heeled wearing satin dresses bridesmaid. That doesn’t sound so formidable until they hear the games and items devised for them to do before they even have the chance to cross the threshold of the bride’s front door! Lethal.

I watched (and laughed a lot!) at the groomsmen who did pirouettes. Yes, that is correct, 2 grown men pirouetting. All in the name of the mission to get the bride! Then, I saw the groom who hates to be part of all these games as reiterated many times throughout the months of the wedding preparation, willingly go door to door bearing a sign that says “I’m the bridegroom, please help me get my bride”, of which he had to get the neighbors to sign on it and give their addresses and home numbers!

I saw the groom, sweating in his white tuxedo answering a Bible quiz prepared, writing a song impromptu to sing to the bride, and singing with gusto at the bride’s door. Finally the hard won bride opened her door and received her groom.
The tea ceremony followed, the wedding couple will serve tea to their elders in deference and acknowledgement of them as such. Very apt in keeping to the commandment, “Thou shalt honor Thy parents.”
Thus the lovely bride is carried over the threshold of their bridal suite.














In a whirlwind, the bridal procession was herded (like sheep!) into cars and dropped onto the ceremony grounds.
We obligingly ran around to make sure all preparations were in order with the ground crew. (Ha!) We waited for the guests to arrive (nervously), for them to sign the guest book, give their best wishes, be given the order of service for the day, watched them take their places (glancing at the clock every other 5 minutes), walked up and down to ward off the energy stirred up by nervousness, and as the places were filled, the emcees took their places (now we’re all on tenterhooks!) and finally the bride arrived, nervously and shyly taking her place with her arm on her elder brother’s (man of the house) who will be giving her away.
A significant gesture that symbolizes that she is now passed over from her maiden home to that of her husband’s for protection and care.

As the ceremony reached it’s peak, the very part where the bride and groom exchange their vows and agree to care for and be there for each other in sickness and health, for poorer or richer, two words that bear the most significance, “I do” are uttered.

Two such simple words, yet carries such meaning, such commitment, such promise, such hope for a lifetime. The promise of all promises. The beginning of a journey no longer for one’s self, but a journey that doubles joy and divides sorrow. The end of “I” and the beginning of “we”. Such is the beginning of this couple’s path, which is strewn with blessings from all who love them.

Updates - Sis Shanen Yap

Thanks to all who are praying fervently for Sis Shanen Yap. She is currently under medication to control inflammation and pain, and undergoing few tests and checkups. Pray that God will grant her continuous healing and sustenance, strength and restoration for her body. Please remember Ps Jacob in prayer as well that God will grant him wisdom, strength, good health and strong faith as he takes care of his wife. May God's love unite their hearts and strengthen their faith as they both go through this trial. Emmanuel.

Here's a short bilingual clip of a cheerful sister having her dinner - home cooked by Ps Jacob :)
[Due to technical error, you may have to tilt your screen a lil' to have optimum viewing results :) ]

Prayers for Sis. Shanen Yap

Do keep our dear Sis. Shanen Yap, wife of our Pastor Jacob Liaw in prayers as she’s been admitted to the hospital due to arthritis. The blood report is not ideal. But let us trust in Him for the healing of our beloved sister, for Jesus is our Healer.

Jacob & Yap's wedding-Part 1

It was the major blast of the year 2009 when the long awaited couple have wedded on 26th December 2009.
The family of GEPC traveled down south from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu in 5 cars right after our Christmas service. The journey took us about 4 hours but we had great fellowship with one another in our respective cars.
We reached Pulai Spring Resort in JB about 5pm and the resort greeted us with its elegant and beautiful landscape and architecture.


Right after our arrival, we proceeded to the hall for our wedding ceremony rehearsal with the presence of the bride and bridegroom:

After the rehearsal, all of us proceeded to Jacob's house for... buffet dinner !!!



Stay tuned for the report of big day !!!