Life Goes On...

Hey friends! Sorry for not updating my blog recently. I have been really caught up with a lot of stuffs. Here are some news about what has been happening in my life recently =)

1. I am starting my COLLEGE STUDIES tomorrow!!! Woo hoo!!!

I'm going to Klang's HICT (HELP International College of Technology) for my Foundation in Science studies for one year. After that I will go to HELP's main campus in Damasara to study my Psychology degree for three years. The rest... still praying... =)

2. I PASSED my Driving Test at last!!!

On Friday I went for my driving test for the third time round! Prayed really hard and passed =) Share a post about that soon.

3. I will be taking THEOLOGY studies part-time. Will try to arrange my time schedule and see whether I can fit Theology classes on my weekdays.

4. I still love PINK okay! Many of you have been asking why haven't they seen me in pink for a long time haha. Hey! It is okay for me to wear black right? =) Pink still have a place in my heart le!

5. MORE POSTS COMING UP - Posts not telling you about myself! =D

GOD BLESS!!!

But Seek First His Kingdom...

During the time of the Old Testament, God had a special claim on the firstborn of every Israelite. In every family, the firstborn had to be consecrated to God and he will have the great privilege of owning double portion of his father’s possession. Apart from that he will also have the privilege of priesthood where he will be offering sacrifices, intercessory prayers and perform general religious functions.

Abraham had a son named Isaac. Isaac’s wife Rebekah was barren and Isaac prayed to God on behalf of her. God answered Isaac’s prayer with two sons. Starting from the womb, the struggle between the two sons had begun; they were jostling each other inside Rebekah’s womb. The Lord then told Rebekah that two nations are in her womb and they will be separated, one will be stronger and the older one will serve the younger.

Then came the birth of the two sons Jacob and Esau. Esau came out first followed by Jacob. But the unusual part was Jacob came out grasping Esau’s heel. This account can be seen from many views but one of it is that most probably Jacob wanted to be first for maybe he knew in the spirit within him the privilege of the birthright.

The Bible did not give detailed account of Jacob and Esau’s life. Then one day while Jacob was cooking some stew Esau came to Jacob saying, “Quick! Let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Esau probably was reduced to extreme hunger after his hunting out in the open country and he badly wanted to eat. Jacob then saw an opportunity to scheme and he told Esau, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau replied, “Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?” and he swore an oath to Jacob. Esau ate and drank, and then he left.

The Bible records in Genesis 25:34 saying: So Esau despised his birthright.

The scheming ways of Jacob didn’t end there. When his father was about to die and he was blind Jacob again took the opportunity to scheme to get his father’s blessing which was meant for Esau the older child. Since his father was blind, Jacob tricked his father in believing that he was Esau and his father then blessed Jacob thinking he was Esau.

These are the two accounts of Jacob being “wise” enough to use trickery to gain the things he wanted; first the birthright from Esau and second the blessing that was meant for Esau.

Jacob fled from Esau for many years and one day decided to return. While Jacob was about to reenter Canaan land he met a “man” which he later realized was God and wrestled with Him. God encountered Jacob in such a form that Jacob could wrestle with Him and empower Him but yet God showed Jacob that God was still stronger. He told God that he will not let God go unless God bless him. Right then Jacob finally acknowledged that his blessing should come from God. God gave him a new name – Israel.

What we could really see from here apart from God’s divine plan and intervention in the life of Jacob is that Jacob knew the importance of the things of God.

Jacob knew the privilege of the birthright, Jacob knew the importance of the blessings of a father and he knew and realized that the ultimate blessing he should have is from God. That was why he wrestled with God and did not want to let go until he was bless by God.

Now let us ask ourselves are we like Jacob in any sense or are we more like Esau? Esau couldn’t care less about his birthright (the things of God) and wanted the stew (the things of the world). Jacob was willing to give up the stew (the things of the world) for Esau’s birthright (the things of God).

Like Jacob, do we care to “wrestle” with God to get the things God wants to give us? Are we desperate enough to not let go off God until we get the things of God?

What is sad is because I see around me people who are so attached to the world. Whatever plans we make, we make it with much care so that it will “secure” us a good future and life on earth. Regardless of age, most and many of us will only care about excelling in the world (which is not wrong) and striving to get as much money as we can (which is not wrong either). But the problem is see everywhere is that a lot of Christians could not care less about the things of God! We Christians aim only to get a well paid job buy beautiful houses and cars and make a point to attend church every Sunday and give tithes every month and probably “serve” in church IF ONLY we have some free time to spare. Apart from that we do not bother to really press in and seek to know God’s REAL PURPOSE for our lives.

Many of us are just like Esau who do not realize the importance of the things of God and would so easily give up God for something as cheap as a stew! It is really time we wake up and get desperate to wrestle with God and do not let go until God tells us HIS purpose for our lives!

If we want to see a change in this nation, don’t just stand up and pray like we are really desperate for a change. Instead, do something! And we could start with trading our plans and desires for God’s plans and desires.

My strongest conviction in life is this:
My life is not mine for the taking, but God’s for the using.

I pray that it will be your conviction too.

Matthew 6:33
But see first his kingdom and his righteousness
and all these things will be given to you as well.

His kingdom simply meaning God’s rule in your life and his righteousness meaning a right relationship with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters.

God Bless,
Zlwin Chew

PS. Yes, that picture above was taken by me =) Saw the rainbow? Look carefully.

Capturing Phuket in Time

SCANDAL!!!

Above is a picture I took in the famous Phuket Bangla Street.
Bangla Street is known worldwide for its prostitution hotspot. And I managed to snap a picture of Pastor John with a prostitute! =D the reason I placed my blog address wide across the picture is because I do not want anyone to blackmail him haha.

Anyway it was the prostitute who approached him, not the other way round. She was soliciting business with him asking him to go for a "drink". See Pastor John smiling happily? He's thinking, "I must be hot that's why she came to me.. hmm..." Haha.

To cut the long story short, the lady ran for dear life when she realized I was taking pictures of their "businness". Phew! Talk about walking through a furnace and coming forth as gold. I did it! Woo hoo!!!

To see more interesting pictures check out the 300 pictures I posted in my picture blog. Click the link below =)

http://zlwinchew.blogspot.com/2008/03/1.html

SPM Results

And the result is...

FIVE As
THREE Bs
ONE C

and

ONE BIG ELEPHANT!!!

=D

Gosh, you know what is the worst part?! I guess many of you will be shocked as well. My E was for BIBLE KNOWLEDGE! Aaah! That was the most disappointing result. I didn’t really bother about the rest I wanted to know more about my BK subject.

Hard to swallow huh?

That shows I have low Bible knowledge? =) haha. The verdict is yours. Anyway, I am really satisfied with the results I received. It was because I studied that much, so I got that much. Or rather I studied that little and I got that little as well =) we reap whatever we sow remember? I did study the Bible a lot but I did not do many exercises, so there was my mistake. Hwai Tah called me up and he said maybe I “preached” too much in the paper haha. Well I think so because I remembered writing a lot.

Anyway I would really encourage all of you Christians out there to consider taking up Bible Knowledge in your SPM. Why should we take BK? The question is WHY shouldn’t you take BK? BK is a subject that every Christian student should consider taking because it really helps us a lot in understanding minor theology. It widens your knowledge about the Bible and also helps you to understand truths that may not even cross your minds when you read the first time. The two SPM BK textbooks by Issachar (Malaysian publisher) has a lot of footnotes that really helps you to understand the Scriptures better. The footnotes are mostly taken from the NIV Study Bible. I suggest that you own that Bible if you don’t have and if you really want to be serious about your faith.

And please do not let my result discourage you in taking Bible Knowledge. You may see me as a “walking Bible” and would think I would get an A1 for my SPM BK paper but well I have proven you all wrong =) It was because I did not really spend enough time studying the two books Luke and Acts that I got this result. The textbooks by Issachar are really a must-get if you plan to take BK and please do all the exercises. I regretted not doing them. Really I did not do the exercises, only a little haha.

Some people may know the whole Bible but do not have a relationship with God. Place your relationship with God your utmost priority.

Okay enough of that. I will be going to HELP College to take my Foundation in Science for one year and then proceed for my Psychology degree which will take three years. In between I will be learning Theology at Alpha Omega International College (AOIC). And also... the Art of Magic =)

The next stage of my journey begins...

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Hwai Tah is 30 Years Old!!!

This afternoon after church service we brought Hwai Tah out for a movie and lunch at Aeon. For those who do know why, yesterday was Hwai Tah’s 30th birthday! =) man, he is old! Yet he looks so young haha. Hwai Tah was Grace Youth Camp 2007’s chairman if so happen you forget.

9 of us went out together; Hwai Tah, Sherrene (his wife), Sherrene Teh (not his wife), Benny, Su Ling, Wei Loong, Jaron, Pamela, and I. First we went to Black Canyon to have our lunch. Before that we suggested to get the movie tickets first and surprisingly Benny volunteered to go buy it and (not surprisingly) he said casually, “I will go with Su Ling loh.” And we wondered why...... Hmm? Benny?

So the rest of us proceeded to Black Canyon while Benny and Su Ling went and got the tickets for us. We ordered our food and finish eating already but then Benny and Su Ling were still buying the tickets (I hope). I wonder what took them so long hehe.

Benny and Su Ling... We have our eyes fixed on you both eh... =D

Anyway we were just having fun teasing them, they enjoyed it too haha. Su Ling was on her fast and we teased her with our yummy food. I respect her for being able to overcome temptation! We were eating good stuffs ya know, and we had Big Apple’s Doughnuts for Hwai Tah’s “birthday cake”! Su Ling, you rock! =)

After the lunch Sherrene Teh and Pamela went off. Sherrene had to go home and Pamela had to go Shoot Shoot (if you know what that means...)

The rest of us proceeded to the cinema to watch 10,000 B.C. The show was really good and there were a lot of funny moments haha. One of it was the... (nevermind, you watch yourself). This show is something like Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto movie. Though the movie was kind of ridiculous but it is worth watching.

That’s about all. Enjoy the pictures =)