EARC - Personal Reflection

I truly treasure my time in EARC. Personally I never quite like Old Testament and this time there's Bible Exposition on the book of Haggai. Nonetheless who knows God still can speak to our present situation through Haggai rightttt.. The most striking verse that still strike me is "Give careful thought to your ways.." It's repeated in the book of Haggai few times. Give careful thought..not only a thought but a careful one.

There are so many flaws in my life and I start to think... Give careful thought to my ways? But amazingly these situations(those dark times in our life) are the ones that draw us closer to God than ever.

I love those plenaries time. Yeah..we were called not to spend on those branded stuff too much because there's impact and stories behind our global spending. Those branded stuff- Their factories are not in Europe country so that they can earn more (of course by using cheap labour and they work in stuffy condition!) Some were forced to work more than 12 hours just to produce those branded things.

Besides, I also made lots of new friends. Although we didn't get along at first due to language barrier, but eventually we manage to overcome it by speaking more slowly, waiting for others to speak as they struggle to speak in English, use sign language n etc etc.

I am so glad for this experience because we really encourage one another although we were from different countries especially during group sharing and quiet time. Not everyone can live pleasant life as a Christian. Life is life.

Someone said this during EARC, "You cannot live a prophetic lifestyle by being distant and safe. It's a walk that is lonely and not safe, avoided by others and not getting any help."

With technologies affecting us, it gets more and more distracting each day. Distract us from God, from real life, from this n that.. Internet is like an escape to another world.. And in one of my workshops, we did an activity which is " What do you think Jesus FB will look like?"

Ha ha.. We came out with all sorts of ideas but well, think about it..Living in digital era, I wonder what Jesus would do if He has FB, blog n etc. What will He post in FB..What kind of sms will He send? What kind of things He will comment on others blog/FB/...? Something to think about.

I dream ..but I wake up and dream. Does our dreams have the same purpose? Which is to move this world for His glory?

The apostle Paul shared an interesting insight and experience in his, " So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. " (Romans 7:21) 

Speaking about evilness..Pastor mentioned this last week. Sometimes or most of the times we end up doing what we hate..what we despise.. though we know it's wrong but we don't have the strength to overcome them. That's why we need to pray and God will be our advocate - helping us. Evil is bad but as men, sometimes we enjoy doing what is evil although it's wrong and we know it! LIFE.

May the Lord our God continue to help us to walk in this journey of faith.

Passion and Purity

Through letters, diary entries and recollections of her courtship and marriage, Elisabeth Elliot candidly shares the temptations, difficulties, victories and sacrifices of two young people whose commitment to Christ took priority over their love for each other. These revealing personal glimpses, combined with relevant biblical teaching may help to remind you that only by putting your human passion and desire through his fire can God purify your love.

One of Jim's letter to Elisabeth:

Woke early again this morning and shared my devotions with dreams of you. It bothers me somewhat that you are on my mind when I ought to be praying, and it's a discipline not to indulge overmuch in remembering. Not that I feel a conflict - I am assured that loving you is part of my life now - important as eating, and God knows, I need it. 

...



I'm glad that last is still ahead. Glad I'm not jaded by nights in bed with you, as married couples are. They can bear to sit opposite sides of the car. I'm glad I still can't quite keep my hands off you, still must be warned not to "muss you up". I have you now unravished, and that is just how I need you now. The schoolboy in me still wonders and is awkward - we've not had "experience" - which takes the edge off. We will, I suppose, get used to each other, the feel and smell and look of one another, but I am glad it is not so now. As I never felt before, I feel now that I must keep myself for you. God knows it is a stay to purity, and He knows how many shakings to purity are ahead.


I bought this book in Singapore and I truly glad to be able to keep a copy of this book. Do read this! Don't miss it! If you have read "I kissed dating goodbye" and "Say hello to courtship", do not miss out this book! Joshua Harris wrote his book based on Passion and Purity =D

From Elisabeth's journal:

Teach me to feel that Thou Art always nigh

Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear

To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh

Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

George Croly (Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart"

When obedience to God contradicts what I think will give me pleasure, let me ask myself if I love HIM. If I can say yes to that question, can't I say yes to pleasing HIM? Can't I say yes even if it means a sacrifice? A little quiet reflection will remind me that yes to God always leads in the end to joy. We can absolutely bank on that.

Sharing for EARC

http://esthertan21.blogspot.com/

(This one only halfway....many more to come) ha ha

Nernny's Personal reflection on EARC

Shalom semua 

First of all I would like to thank our DADDY for the opportunity to join EARC 2011. So I just want share my personal reflection about EARC 2011 which really an eye-opening for me.
Before this actually I never think of joining EARC because of other things including financial problem. Even when I get the EARC form I just take it and forgot where I put it. But during the final week of EARC registration, Sis Kim Cheng was asking me if I want to join. And that time I do not know why I quickly answered-boleh bah! I was worrying about the fees but then I thank God for opening doors for me especially in my financial during EARC.

The second thing that I really want to thank God was the opportunity to become the student assistant leader for Malaysian Delegation. First when I received the call from FES staff-Beatrice, I was a little bit not confident of myself. I was telling my self-how can I help leading such a big group in an international conference. But then again I want to thank God for the strength and courage that He has given me especially during the country sharing. Honestly I was very nervous speaking in front of many people from different nations for the first time. But as I was preparing the county sharing that morning, this verse really strengthens me:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Php 4:6 ESV)

7 days in Singapore during EARC really an adventure for me. I don’t really know actually what the theme for EARC 2011 hahha is until we had our quiz time in the train on the way to Singapore.

The powerful theme for EARC 2011:
WAKE UP AND DREAM; THE TIME IS NOW!

During our first Bible exposition God opened my eyes about how God can use ordinary people to glorify His name like Prophet Haggai. Before this actually I always limit God in doing His work through my life. I always think that I am not capable enough in doing things like others. I ought to compare myself with what others can do in many aspect of life. I have no confident of myself and because of that it makes me sleep and don’t dare to dream big things. Even though I have dream but I kept it for myself without telling anyone. Again I want to thank God for the chance He gave me to be able to wake up from my slumbers and dare o dream.
Sometimes we scared to dream big things because of security and the risk. I feel the same thing before. I have a dream but then I always ask my self-HOW IF? The HOW IF stopped me to dream also until I find God is our Powerful God who capable to use us.

In my small group, there are 9 of us which one of them is new friend from Malaysia and the rest from other countries. During our discussion I always have this in mind..
‘Let see how they talk and giving their idea about God’
and because we came from different denomination from the charismatic, protestant and even Catholic, so I was able to see different perspectives. Why I am telling all this because God reminded me something about unity back in UKM. We have PERKEB,CSS and MCC. We only combine for certain activities. This is my personal opinion, I guess all the CFs in UKM just want to compete which CF is better and more members. But we never try to sit together as a Body of Christ and think what can we do for UKM and the students there together. I am sorry to say this but this is what I really think that we should change. We have to come together and leave the difference between us behind for God’s glory in UKM. And if we want changes-we must get ready to lead the changes.

Other than that, during EARC we had listening for many countries sharing from different places. What came to my mind during the country sharing was-how grateful we are as a Malaysian. Yes we faced many issues too but as I listening to the other countries sharing, I think we just take for granted all the opportunity and blessing God has given us in our country and campus. In other country, the university students have poor facilities including limited classroom. The students have to do their exam on the ground in the university area because not enough classroom. On the other side, CF are not allowed where students will faced high risk if they get caught involve in any Christian fellowship. The government will give strict punishment like kick them out from school (hahha betulka ayat) and not allowed to go out from their country.

You see, they faced even harder and difficult situation than us but they still continue to look for God. I was thinking, what are we doing in our campus? We have CF but we don’t really have the desire to seek God because of other things?

After coming back from EARC, actually I was worried how if I can do what God wants me to do especially the changes. But thank God again that He reminded me that He just wants me to continue trusting and obeying His commands. I really want to thank God for teaching me many new things during EARC and I think that’s all for my personal reflection.

God bless you all!