Time Capsule

Sometime between this year and that, twas' a time we faithfuls and doubtfuls gathered.

And with us each brought a momentum or sorts to be locked in for 7 or 10 years I forgot.

A day passed not without being reminded somehow of what I wrote, signed, sealed and locked in the Time Capsule.

If you are opening it now, or have opened it, may the Grace of God convict you humbly to bid what was written.

Thoughts.

5th July 2013. 8.20pm.

I don't know what to feel and how to feel what I should feel. Could it be time for me to feel what I have so irresponsibly allowed others to feel? I'm breathing but not really alive.

I write this so days or weeks later, I'd look back and laugh at foolishness, or maybe not.

I will see. Meanwhile, I pray.

- Zlwin

Reminiscence

Oh how fast the days fly. The young ones are young no more. The old ones are young once more.

We have all grown. Some for the better. Many for the worse.

I take joy in seeing the ones who have grown so much in their faith and walk with God. Surely our labor wasn't in vain.

What Is Life To You?

We live in a world where everyone is out to achieve their own personal dreams and ambitions. It's all about what you have done, what you have achieved, what cars you drive and how many people know you or about you. It's a competitive world out there. People look at you and judge you by your achievements and looks. If you are pleasant looking, they like you, if you don't look beautiful or sexy or hot, you become an outcast. If you are pretty, guys all line up to bring you out for dinner, if you are not, go dig your own grave. I am being realistic here. That's the world MOST of us live in. That's the world I live in now that I am in involved in the arts, media and entertainment industry. If you have a talent, people like you, if you don't, you struggle to have one to join the group.

They live each day thinking about how to earn money, and when that's done, they think about how to earn even more money. By doing so, their lives are all filled with agendas, meetings and events after events. It's a cycle. You wake up, you get ready for a day full of meetings, you end it by bringing different girls out for dinner (if you are a girl, you wait for guys to ask you out). It's a cycle. You close one deal, you seek to make another. It's all about me, myself and I. That's the reality.

But I know I am called to live a life different from what I have seen and been in.

I am called to live a life of purpose. Not just any purpose but one that is above all purpose, self achievements and personal gain.

It's ironic.

I am called to lose my life so I can find it.

I am called to give up so I can win.

I am called to let go so I am let in.

I am called to be still in the midst of chaos.

I am called to be the salt.

I am called to be the light.

I am called to die so I can live.

After all that has been done and achieved, one question still remains, "What does it matter?"

Does it matter what car you drive?

Does it matter what clothes you wear?

Does it matter how famous you are?

Does it matter how much you have achieved so far?

Really, what does it matter?

What is life to you? Is it all about being more successful than the "others". Is it all about achieving your personal goals? Is it all about being praised and looked up to? Is it all about having all the fun you can get while you are alive?

Really, what is life to you?

I know what is life to me and I know what matters. I am on a personal journey to work these both out and bring them into completion. Until the day comes, expect surprises. I am Zlwin Chew, a follower of Jesus Christ.

"Happy are you whose work is ministry. Blessed are you when your reward is less on earth for doing what matters! Keep your eyes on the Lord!" - Pastor John Beh.

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. - Jesus Christ. (Matthew 16:24)

I must die in order to live. Go figure.

I Am A Revolutionist.

Last night I was watching this movie, Bodyguards and Assassins, which was released about a year ago. The movie was based on the historical story of the uprising and revolution to overthrow the corrupted Qing Dynasty, which was the last dynasty in China. The whole movie was based on the revolution. Dr. Sun Yat-sen was coming to Hong Kong and his arrival and safety is of utmost importance. In the movie, the Qing Dynasty sent a whole lot of assassins to assassinate Dr. Sun when he arrives. And Li Yu-tang, a businessman and important figure who provided money to empower the revolution took the heavy task of organizing a team of bodyguards to protect Dr. Sun. Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a strong political figure and a powerful revolutionist. He was the pioneer of Nationalist China, the man who started and fueled the revolution against the Qing Dynasty. That was the main reason the Dynasty wanted him assassinated. He came to Hong Kong because he wanted to meet up with the Tongmenghui, a secret society and underground resistance of the revolution. This meeting was very important because after this, the many leaders will go back to their respective places and start the uprising. If Dr. Sun was killed, the revolution might not happen. The movie showed how the bodyguards (all from various walks of life, some rickshaw pullers, some farmers, some street people, some from wealthy families, etc) sacrificed their lives for one cause – to keep Dr. Sun safe so the revolution could start. The assassins were all over the city, each group well organized and positioned to attack Dr. Sun’s entourage while they travelled through the city to meet up in a secret location. In the end, all the bodyguards died… but not in vain. Dr. Sun managed to finish his meeting with the Tongmenghui and left Hong Kong safely. In the next few months, the revolution started everywhere. Finally, the Qing Dynasty saw its fall.

Dr. Sun quoted, “Revolution is blood.”

“Revolution requires blood and sacrifice.”

I couldn’t agree more with this statement. Each and every revolution that happened in history, be it good or bad, requires blood and sacrifice. People die for a cause, for a country, for a nation. Soldiers give up their lives and families for a greater and higher calling. Revolutionists stay underground, planning and planning, waiting for the right time, then they rise up altogether in an organized revolution and start revolting, shedding blood whenever necessary.

2000 years ago. The greatest Revolution of all time started with one Person – Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth to turn it upside down and inside out. He came with a higher purpose and calling, he came to give up his life, to shed his blood and to sacrifice himself for the world.

Jesus came to start a Revolution. And it has started.

We Christians are Revolutionists. We revolt against the systems of the world that contradicts God’s Word and Laws. We revolt against murder, corruption, injustice and everything evil. We are called to sacrifice, maybe not blood at the time being, but to sacrifice our time, our resources, everything that is necessary to make this revolution a success. We are called to share God’s love and grace to all who have not heard of it before. We are called to rise up against the things that are not of God. We are called to be different, to be radicals, to be strong and courageous. We are called to REVOLT.

You are a Revolutionist. What are you sacrificing for the Revolution? What are you willing to give up and do in order to see the Kingdom taking Sovereign Rule one day?

Revolutionists fear not the government, they don’t fear the dynasty that is ruling, they are bold and brave because they know whatever they are doing is the right thing. They live among the people but they are different from the rest. They blend into the society and hide, and when the right time comes, they rise up altogether and start revolting. They are willing to give up anything that comes in the way of the revolution. They are loyal to the cause of the revolution and nothing could move them. Divided, they are weak and powerless. United, they can conquer and move mountains and even shape the world map.

Revolutionists live to fight and they die to win.

I am a Christ Revolutionist.

Who are you?

John 18:36
Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not of this world... My Kingdom is from another place."

Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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