After going through the session with C.L. Goh last Sunday, the final part of his talk really struck me as he went to share on about how his father had such strong filial piety compared to today's standards:- that he gathered his entire first month's salary job after graduation, traveled all the way back to his hometown, just to offer it as a gratitude offering to his own beloved father - only to know that he just passed away earlier that day due to diabetes.Couldn't feel anymore ashamed of myself, of the times fighting with my own dad about having more freedom and being so stubborn listening to his constant lectures of striving to be more serious in my studies. To think about all the hurts I've done to him, even though he doesn't even show a hint of it on his face. No doubt it's true that he really sacrificed so much to raise each and everyone of us the best he can - in the best he believed it would be. I felt as if I'm one of the most horrible son one could ever had after listening such a testimony.
The visit to Shelter this Saturday actually do speak a lot in many ways and I do hope that I can encourage the Youth to go in the perspective of compassion and empathy - to constantly seek to show them the love of Christ. They did not ask for many things that happened in their lives and it really bothers me, frankly speaking to hear people say - "So sad/ Poor thing/ thankfully it didn't happen to me.""Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."Help them to trust in the Lord that their parents need Christ in their lives, to see beyond the fault and see the need. Allow them to meet Christ through the conduct of our lives and not treat the whole thing as a "visit" to get done and over with. Youth was never about the activities, it's all about bringing souls closer to Christ!
Hebrews 13:3
Pray for wisdom and to be sensitive towards the Spirit's prompting. It's time to open your horizon.. more than just "Me, myself & I". What C.L. Goh said is true, that the maturity rate of today is way behind compared to those from many years ago. That would mean as a 13 year old, you're pretty old enough to see more than just your own needs but also the needs of others.
After visiting the Shelter a few times myself, they know whether you're visiting with a sincere heart or not. They know whether you really care or you're just there because you "had" to be there. Without having the idea of parents taking care to the best of their welfare and providing them all the love they deserve as a child, it's not surprising they'd be easily offended when you just go there to fool around and treat the whole thing as a joke. They'd rather not have us around then!But once you show them that you're sincere, they'll open up to you. They show you things that you never thought they would and they'd seek you for help when they feel that there's no one else to turn to - precisely show them the way to who our Lord and Saviour is.
- daryl 's u n d a e' heng
Images taken from:
http://blackandwhite999.blogspot.com/2010/03/filial-piety.html
http://piersdy.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/anointing-of-compassion/
http://www.shelterhome.org/
There are times in my life that I’ve prayed to God, made promises and telling Him that I’ll be closer to Him by upping my spiritual standards - be it the duration of time I decided to spend praying to Him, fasting or studying Scripture. Or maybe something different like I once shared before in the blog, to eat simple by spending not more than Rm10 a day on food.
Just so you know, Peter wasn’t lying or exaggerating when he told Jesus he wouldn’t deny Him. If you understand his temperament (he's a sanguine) and the context of it, he really meant it but he was overconfident that he could do it regardless the situation may turn out. Just like how Peter meant when he answered Jesus’ question :
I hope by sharing this, those of you who are reading this who once on a spiritual high has come to a slump due to certain failures may be encouraged. Don’t turn back just because you may think either it’s so tiring to keep failing over or the fight is just not worth it. Even in the darkest moments, keep clinging onto Jesus and never let Him go. 
-Gary Heng
Change is inevitable in our lives. Of course there are changes that we welcome with open arms and changes that we struggle to accept. Why do we struggle to accept change? I think it’s because we are habitual beings. When we become accustomed to our surroundings, we tend to become comfortable and most of the time complacent. Complacency can sometimes be dangerous because we tend to not strive for better things and higher standards in our lives. The same can be said of our Spiritual lives.
When I decided to return, I realize that I had become a lot more matured and that my life is in God’s hands. A spiritual mentor once told me that we must always challenge ourselves to get out of our comfort zone so that we may experience growth in our spiritual lives. On hindsight, I think the stay in Singapore helped me depend on Him more. I found myself praying more regularly and spending more quality time with God. When you are out of the comfort of your home, you will tend to feel very lonely and that is the time you truly learn to depend on God because there is no on else around you that you can depend on. I also learned to be more independent and found that I could do things I thought I could not, with God’s strength.
Once in a while, through the weariness and strenuous Youth work, I'm reminded of how much the previous batch of Youth Committee members put in their effort to build His Youth and that how much I've taken for granted.. although not entirely. Much of the fruition today is partially from their efforts!
So 5 years from now, where do you see yourself in TTDIGC Youth?