This entry is dedicated to vice-pres04/05, Daniel Teoh...

About 9pm yesterday, Ju, Roy and me crashed into his house... and then took him out for a meal at Khaleel, USM. Sarah Khoo's idea, but she didn't make it because of transport.

To Daniel:
You are more than a friend to me. You have been an encouragement. I never imagined back in those days when I was younger, that I would be working with you side by side in leadership. Thank you for always being there. I've learn much from you... and as I watch God transform you into a great leader and annointed worship leader, I am amazed at the wondrous work of God. I still remember those times when we called each other up, to remind ourselves about our devotion and spiritual life. I remember clearly who you were at the leadership retreat just before PMR. Daniel was the guy right in front to test the game (failing from a certain height). Those were great memorable times.

It'll bring me to tears to see you one day, a number of years from now... fufilling God's calling on your life. 'Cause I am sure God has more for you than a nice career, and a beautiful Godly wife ... I'm sure God has a plan for you... to bring you into an adventure... to make you a pioneer in his work in Penang? Malaysia? or wherever God has called you to...

________________________________________________

"To be the greatest of all, you must be a servant"
Jesus, the greatest of all....

RedRainWorld Tour '05 - Band from NZ

Sounds big huh???
Red rain is a christian band all the way from New Zealand who came to run a concert at Dewan Tunku Syed Putra, USM. The music was okay, of average standard, with a very repetitive style - most of the songs sounded the same. But what really captured my attention was their heart - they weren't really good musicians or singers - neither did they have any good organising that nite - everything was chaotic (esp. the multimedia), BUT... I know they have potential - 'cause they've got the heart and passion for lost people... I've heard of many bands who have done this - e.g. David Crowder Band etc., but never had a chance to see it for myself. That night I saw it and it really touched my heart that they had God as their goal/vision in their life and  their music ministry. They did some sharing about their ownselves - had it translated into hokkien and tamil (though not very 'chun' in hokkien) then asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ and receive true life.

A number of years ago, I read a book titled 'Rock Priest'. Inspired me big time. It was a life story written by a man, a singer with a band during the 90s (when hard rock was sometimes considered 'devil's music'). A guy with a wild band who would go into the urban 'white ghettos'.... to reach out to the young people there who were into drinking (vodka) and free-sex... he even ministered in places like Amsterdam, Holand... singing in front of many prostitutes - hoping to reach out to the people there. I forgot the guys name, but I think it's David something... one heck of a man.... daring enough to be criticized, abandoned yet still going out into the darkest places to show some light. The satisfaction in all this - is when you see people walk front to the altar, and dedicate their lifes to be changed by God. Imagined getting spited at by the crowd - booed... but yet after everything, you see a number - sometimes many, sometimes few - walk right up front and give their lifes to God... that's cool!... that's what that guy did.

One day, it's my dream to see big rallies, where people come in unity from all over the nation - for one purpose, to see God move. I want to be part of the excitement God's going to bring into this land. Whether it may cost my life, I still want to be in it. Loose my life and gain it!... (Quote, Jesus)

I hope you all will catch on the fire too... to be who God wants us to be... This are exciting times.

Article 1: (from Relevant Magazine) 

The Gospel is beautiful and simple. In fact, most things that are beautiful are simple.

Yet so many church ministry resources and event packages that cross my desk focus on winning souls through a declaration of ultimate truth, through knowledge. These packages urge me, as a ministry leader, to take part in their ministry because this is how we can win souls. “And we must win those souls while they are still young!”

As we transition into this much-discussed post-modern era, many are attempting to fight it with such tools as truth and knowledge. These are important, but as we look at Adam and Eve in the garden, the fruit from the tree of knowledge does not give life. The Gospel begins with man falling away because of knowledge and finishes with his salvation through love.

If we wish to see more people following the Lord, our aim must be love, not solely winning souls.

As a ministry leader, love has become my message and my mission. God created us to love Him and so He could love us. God gave us one another so we can love each other and spur each other on to His love. The more we love Him, the more we truly love each other. The more we love each other, the more we’ll love Him.

And all because He first loved us.

I believe there to be no greater witnessing tool than love and relationships. God is love—God gave us life. If we would only love, our love could lead others to a new life; the new life Christ gives through His love.

I have quickly grown to dislike the term “winning souls.” The idea behind this worn-out and distorted phrase bends the purpose of Christian love into something much less eloquent, much less beautiful.

When we think about spreading the Word of our Father, it is important that we don’t see this just as a game we’re playing against the devil with eternal stakes. When we begin turning people into game pieces, we’re not loving them with the love that was first given to us. That is our job down here: to love. We get so blinded and caught up in the Great Commission, we easily forget that the way to the fulfillment of that commission is love.

Jesus gave us one commission, but two commandments.

Dig Deeper:
Matthew 22:37-39
John 15:12
1 John 4:19

[Chris Aytes is a writer, singer/songwriter, and co-youth director with his wife, Renelle, for the First United Methodist Church, in Great Bend, Kan.]

Reply 1: by George Carter

Apr 05, 2005 - 07:29 PM
Chris certainly has some good points but the problem is he makes some false assertions. Rather to be clear, Chris seems to be implying that knowledge is bad or is the cause of our current situation. Man did not fall because they became knowledgeable but because they disobeyed God by eating fruit from a tree they were told not to.

Jesus himself said that he is the way, the Truth, and the Life, and know the truth and it will set you free (this is somewhat out of context). These are just a few examples of Jesus talking about truth and knowledge.

Love is certainly a key aspect for being a Christian but doing just a case study of the Book of Acts and you wont see the word love to much, rather you will see the numerous times where it says that a disciple proved or proving that Jesus rose from the dead, among other knowledge claims. Also the disciples continually paint a picture of God’s wrath not his love.

Christians were by and large the first scientists and Christians are the reason we have educational institutions.

Also during the 1800's where cult religions first got there starting it was because Christians were for the most part dumb down by lack of intellectual pursuit, this also one major reason Darwin’s theory grew so quickly and was able to reform the entire science community because most Christians could not defend their beliefs.

Follow the truth wherever it leads you.

I agree a bit with what Chris is trying to say - at many times, we fail to LOVE because we 'know too much' (the term he uses). Instead we at many times try to figure out theories, ways, ideas to proof the existence of God, and why he is the only way to salvation. I also agree that though the great commision is winning souls, the way to accomplish it is through LOVE.

But what is LOVE? I guess Chris has failed to understand fully what love is. In his statement that knowledge was the cause of man's downfall, he gave the message that knowledge was not that important. In order to love someone/something, we need to know it - knowledge. That is why knowledge is very important. A good example, Mother Terresa KNEW the people in India, the suffering and their need. So, through love she came to their level and RELATED to them. She had to KNOW and understand them, before she could love them. When God created Adam and Eve, they KNEW him. Their disobedience cause them to eat the fruit of knowledge of good and evil - not just knowledege. It was  knowledge of good and evil - therefore, now KNOWING good and evil, they can choose to love either. Satan tempted them so that they would know sin - that is why we have a sinful nature, a nature that loves sin.

On the other hand, George in his statement has failed to realise the importants of relationship. I disagree with the statement that Christians lack of knowledge cause theories like Darwin to be accepted. It was more than that. The christians in that era, did not just lack knowledge - they also lack Love. If you love someone, you would want to know more about that someone. So, in this situation, if the Christians in that era loved the people around them, they would have wanted to get to know them better - know the current culture, mindset, worldview, NEEDS.. etc. Then through knowing and having love for them, the Christians should then pursue them through understanding.
A very up to date example of what Christians should do: If you would study the post-modern culture, youth today are participatory, EMOTIONAL and image based. Youth today are not arguing over scientific proof of why Darwin sounds more correct then the bible. Instead, they are searching for truth through emotional/'spiritual' ways. They would argue that Yoga can do the same thing like your Jesus can. So, in this area, Love is relating to the need/understanding of the current people. Love needs knowledge to be full.

Instead of using knowledge as a tool to fight back againts postmodernism, we should USE postmodernsim and it's worldview to our advantage - like music (&worship) is something emotioanl and relates to postmodern youth, we should use music instead of fighting it.

We need LOVE & KNOWLEDGE... there is no such thing as either one works better or we have half of both - we need ALL of Both.... 

In conclusion, we need to know who we are dealing with, understand them, and love them for who they are. That is called RELEVANT!!!... being real and not fake in this world. 

Forgot to thank this guy during family nite...

Well, leroy, thanks for your commitement and passion in serving God. Thanks for being a great friend and also one person who has always been there helping and serving alongside me when others are gone...