Be an Influential Leader, Son, if you are one.

I notice something interesting in you lately.

Since the day you learned how to walk, you have been very active walking around after church service each Sunday.

You explore every corner, and do funny little expression each time you found something new and interesting.

I see some older toddlers follow behind you and do what you do.

I see some 'quality' in your personality: curiosity; boldness and leadership.

Son, these things are wonderful as well as dangerous.

Wonderful because they are God's creation in man; but dangerous because like any other thing, they are tainted and twisted by our sinful nature.

Learn to fear God and walk joyfully in Him, and these 'quality' will bring rewards and blessings to your life.

Curiosity should drive us to seek the truth;

Boldness should enable us to stand for the truth; and

Leadership should equip us to inspire other to the Truth.

(you put yourself in the box and cover yourself with toys. No one taught you that!)

I pray, that you grow up t0 a God fearing leader, that bring positive influences to other.

Your dad set his general goal in his life as this: bring sinners nearer to Christ; and bring Christians nearer to God.

I am not doing a good job, and has failed to live consistently or took all opportunities to do that.

I hope you can do a better job than me, by God's grace, with your faith.

Knowing Your Mom

Son, I have to be frank to you, and honest to myself.
I think, it is very simple for me to describe your mom!

I do not need to think hard, or to find adjectives from dictionary to help me.

And I certainly do not need to say much, to comprehensively describe to you your mom.

All I need to say is simply this: Your mom is Miss Proverbs 31.
Take up your Bible and turn to Proverbs 31: 10-31; and you will see your mom's description there.

Here is what the Bible says:

Proverbs 31:10-31

(10) An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
(11) The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
(12) She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
(13) She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
(14) She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
(15) She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
(16) She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
(17) She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
(18) She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
(19) She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
(20) She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
(21) She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
(22) She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(23) Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
(24) She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
(25) Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
(26) She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
(27) She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
(28) Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
(29) "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
(30) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
(31) Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Your mom was a business woman before married. Even now and then, she is.

I could not afford to take a home maid for her, so your mom does all the home making by herself.

Your mom has a kind and considerate heart to help people.

She always put us and other first than her own.

Your mom almost never show temper or complain.

If so, it is because my inconsiderate and un-discipline has exceed her limit of patience.

Your mom wake up early in the morning to prepare our breakfast.

And routine of the day does not weary her.

Remember that, son.

When your mom is at old age, and you begin to think she is just a weak old lady, please read Proverbs 31: 10-31, and you will be grateful and thankful to God, that your mom is a Miss Proverbs 31.

Your 2nd Trip to Jakarta

You have your 2nd overseas trip on 12th Nov 2009, back to home city of your mom, Jakarta.
This time, I followed.
We have one thing in common in Jakarta: always feel tired and sleepy.
I think because of the heavy traffic everywhere we go, make us 'road-sick'.
We really need time to adapt if one day, we have to stay in Jakarta.

We visited Reformed Evangelical Church.
The church building has completed from the last time I visited.
It is amazing that a church building in such magnitude could be build on this land, the most populated Muslim country in the world.
More amazing for your dad is, the word 'Kasihilah Allah dan SesamaMu', is written on top of the building, since the word Allah is banned from using in Christianity in Malaysia.

Son, the founder of this church, Stephen Tong, is a living testimony for three generations in my time, for God's amazing Providence and Power of what He can do through a man who put God first in his life. It is worthwhile for you to study his life, his ministry and his teaching. Not to make him your idol as he is also just a sinner saved by grave, but to inspire you in the way of Christian living and ministry.
In life, we man sometimes need 'heroes' to show us a good example of a godly living.
I am lucky to have few.

I am going back to Penang tomorrow, but you will stay with mom for 3 weeks.
I surely will miss you both greatly.

Take care, son.

Our Little Game

Every parents have little games with thier children. We are no difference.
Between us, we have develop our own Father-and-Son games.
I don't know how you first started it. I think probably at the moment when you hurt yourself and noticed that you had my special attention on the part of your body that was hurting.
Now, whenever you want my attention, you will pinch your cheek and call out to me 'eh...eh', and I will get up or stop whatever I am doing, and go over to you and pretend to comfort and kiss your cheek. In responce, you will smile.
Sometimes, the moment I step in the house from work, you will do that.
And sometimes, when you fall and knock your head, you will still touch your cheek though it is not that part which is hurting!
You have learn a secret code to have my attention.
But, son, I wish to let you know, you don't need to wait or pretend to be hurt to have my attention. I wish, even the day comes when you have grown up, you can still run to me for attention and advice when you need them. You will always have my attention because you are my son.
This little game also remind me of paying attention to you before you seriously hurt yourself.
I pray that, I will not be too busy and too occupied with my work, that you need to hurt yourself to get my attention.
Even if I sometimes fail you, always remember that we have our heavenly Father who neither slumber nor sleep (psalm 121:4).
You will never need to hurt yourself to get God's attention.
Because His Son Jesus had hurt himself on the Cross to pay the penalty of our sins.
Those who put their trust and hope in Christ are God's children who have His constant attention both in good times and bad times.
What a blessing we have.

Happy Birthday

It is sheer amazing that you are one year old, my Son.
The moment the first time we staring at each other's eyes at the maternity ward is still very vivid in my memory.
You have grown pretty fast, and have learned a lot in the past 12 months.
So do your mom and I.
My professor in bible seminary once said in the class, "God gives children so that the parents will grow."
Now I begin to understand what he meant.

12 months, you have learned to express your emotion and your will, and able to understand simple instructions from us. You understand and able to responce to words like: 'clap hands'; 'no more'; 'mom-mom'(eat);'drink water'.
You are growing fast under God's provision.

Friends and relatives celebrate your birthday with us.
It was a wonderful experience not only for you, but for me.
This was the first son's-birthday-celebration for me.You are too young to make any wish.
So, I made few on your behalf.
1. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler with faith in God.
(Remember the meaning of your name?)
2. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler that willing to share his toys with others.
3. I wish Fidel grows up to be a toddler that insterested in God's word.

In Jesus' precious name.

Amen.

He loves Rainy Day

Your dad loves rainy day.
Whenever it rains, he feels happy and fresh.
There are few reasons why he likes rainy day.
Rainy day washes away the dust and haze of our
polluted sky. God is still the best Environmentalist.
Rainy day brings cool air to our Malaysia hot weather.
It is very refreshing when rainy day comes.
But above all else, your dad loves rainy day because rain remind us of one important truth: God's Words and Promises are trustworthy!

'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout......so will my word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.' (Isaiah 55:10-11).

When rain falls, it reminds me of God's trustworthiness.
We never seen rain return to sky half way dropping.
Likewise, we will never see God's word return to Him in vain.

Rainy day is wonderful.

Curiosity without Knowledge spell Danger

You begin to crawl around in the home actively in your 8th to 9th month.
It is a joy seeing you with excitement discovering new things while you explore every corner of the house.
You open drawers of the kitchen, you take out books and papers from a box in my reading room, you stuck your finger in what ever small holes you can find, and of course, electrical wire and plug always attract your attention.
In this stage of your growth, your mom and I most frequent used word in the home is 'No!'.

Son, curiosity is God-given.
It is given so than man can learn and uncover the truth.
But with limited knowledge, your curiosity have risk, when you touch, hold, pull or taste things you are not suppose to.
Curiosity without knnowledge spell danger.

Son, learn to celebrate your curiosity within the boudary of God.
Your life will be fulfilling and exciting.

You will understand one day why we have to say 'No' to you and stop you from exploring things you should not explore.
We just want to protect you.
Even when you are in adulthood, your curiosity still need to be checked.
Because of our sinful nature, God-given curiosity has been distorted. It drives us to harmful things that we should not touch, see or taste.

How do you check your curiosity then?
By our point of reference: God inspired Word written in the Bible.
God's word is sufficient not only to say 'No' from outside, but to give us strenght to say 'No' from the inside (our hearts and wills).