Sivin Kit’s Garden

Thanks to Maggi Dawn for this repost from this Sojourners Interview with Philip Yancey (whose many books has blessed me and stirred me!)

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“When I started writing [Rumors] I would have said that the three things that brought me back to God were not religious things. They were not Billy Graham rallies or gospel tracts. They were the beauty of nature, classical music, and romantic love. When I encountered those three things, suddenly I had this “ding! ding! ding!” experience.

I discovered that the world is actually a smiling place, not a scowling place; that God wants me to have a full life, not a half life, not a two-thirds life…”

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How often we need to first STOP! and then make a U-turn to get on our way back HOME

It’s been a crazy season for me this past 1-2 months. At times because of my own doing, mostly because of other people’s doing Anyway, when “doing” over shadows “being” then it’s time to STOP! Make U-turns and get to a place where “we find our hearts true home”“(to use a Richard Foster phrase).

I think in the olden days the word “Repentance” was trying to get that message across … I’ve used it more with words like “confession”, “sin”, “forgiveness”, “absolution” … I think it works also for words like “direction”, “vision”, “passion”, etc.

Yes, the woman next to me is supposed to be my wife … at that time we were on our honey moon in UK haing out at Leicester Square. The artist seemed to have a different view of how May Chin should have looked like. She looks much better in person!

It’s going to be a strange one month for me … someone told me this will be an important time for me as well as BLC. I’ll have to wait and listen to the “voices” echoing the small whispers of what I believe God will do in the life of our young community. But, I can at least be more “involved” with what He has install for me …
The age old phrase “Follow me!” struck me … again with freshness today. And how often one maybe so involved with how others are “following Christ” that not sufficient attention will be given to that fundamental personal “following” which is the basis of communal “following” together.

Some plans are in place for my “journey” next week onwards, and yet I’m also “wondering” what’s my personal spiritual journey going to be with two significant aspects of my life - i.e. the local church community I’m part of and family, will be in some way “unplugged” from my “routine” daily pathway. It’s a little scary even for a kind of “open to possibilities” person like me.

It’s my seventh year in “fulltime” ministry since graduating at 25. I’m thankful for this “mini-Sabbath” God has given me, in fact, it’s truly an unexpected gift … and yet, I would be dishonest if I didn’t say I’m a little “fearful” as well … the unknown is always not so “bright” and “shining”.

well … maybe it’s just this whole “missing” loved ones that’s occupying my mind …

Gareth has been “exploring” human language quite well lately … watching him experiment with sounds, expressions, reactions, imitations and a whole lot of stuff ignites the “child discovery” part of me.

After getting our “reasonably budget” digital camera finally yesterday … I’m also going to do some “exploring” of my own … hehe …

Well, after Daniel reworked his Ngoy blog site (thanks to Blogger) there’s some good real-down-to-earth insights on life in Malaysia.

And David morphed his site with typepad with a brand new DB on DB with a cool quote thrown in that reflects the greys hiding in the hairs on his crown!

Happy blogging away …

Thanks Jonny Baker for this new interactive adventure

We have some Aussies in BLC who are not only resident aliens but really have become family, maybe that’s why there a kind of “connection” with anything Oz I’ve appreciated the interaction with Stephen Said and the insights from Hamo both very much involved with the network!

Just realized that I haven’t been posting Random Thoughts for some time.

Also realized that “Ministerium” is a German term after a Google search (I’m so dependent on Google nowadays!) Anyway, the meeting today was meant for all the ordained pastors of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia (just in case you asked)

I strongly felt that we need to meet more frequently and really get into matters that matter In general, I felt we had a fruitful meeting.

I’m glad we managed to get the rough cut of “The Calling” VCD (which is part of our project to encourage more to consider pastoral ministry) out for the meeting today. Lots of rough edges, probably need to scrap my narration and switch it with a female voice, but I think it raised some interest and awareness of what we’ve been doing so far.

The curry was GOOD!
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Thanks to Youth Specialities for the link to this Incredible Lego Church …

As a young boy, I’ve always enjoyed the times when I was constructing, designing, and building stuff with my lego blocks. And i think these experiences are formative in who I am today (alright I’m trying to psycho-analyze myself here!). Thus, the whole desire and need to “be constructive” and looking into “possibilities” …

I’m inspired to get out my Lego set and start some constructing …