Life expectancy and faith expectancy

He is the father of one of our church leaders.

His name is Andrew and he shared with a glint in his eye about what the Lord has been doing. He had gone on mission trips for years and had seen the Lord’s hand in miracles of healings and in salvation. He had gone with teams and other pastors and missionaries and had seen the word of the Lord spread in Pakistan. In the last few years, his attention shifted to Palawan in the Philippines. He couldn’t stop talking about the Lord. He went up the mountains to reach out to the people in the northern part of Palawan. He later went south to survey the needs there too. And he wants to go back there – alone if he has to. And he is 72 years old.

Life expectancy of Singaporeans is now about 85.

Sir Alex Ferguson, age 72, retired from managing Manchester United.

Jupp Heynckes, age 68, successfully coached Bayern Munich to the German treble, including the Champions League victory over the other finalist.

Lee Kuan Yew is nearly 90.

Andrew reminded me of Caleb of the Old Testament, who said to Joshua, ‘I am this day 85 years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me…give me that mountain…” (Joshua 14:11ff). At 85, he was still appropriating the promises of God and the challenges of faith that God laid before him.

Financial experts may say most Singaporeans do not have enough saved up for retirement. I do not want to dispute that. But  I want to remember the experts who talked about the giants in Canaan, the high and mighty walls, and the veteran warriors guarding the cities. The experts all died in the wilderness. So I will keep my eyes on Jehovah-jireh, God my provider.

I am inspired by Andrew and Caleb and I want to grow old with my eyes on a faith project.

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Asian Forum for Christian Educators 2013

AFCE2013 facilitated by Dr Allan Harkness
AFCE2013 facilitated by Dr Allan Harkness
Dr Graham Cheesman enlarging on current discussions about the theme of the forum
Dr Graham Cheesman enlarging on current discussions about the theme of the forum

The Asian Forum for Christian Educators 2013 (AFCE 2013)  is a bi-annual event organized by a small group of noted Christian Educators  passionate about coming alongside to encourage improvements and reformation in seminary education. AGST Alliance students were encouraged to add two days to their study program and catch the spirit of what the forum was all about and to take away principles and ideas that could be of help to them in their respective settings. This was one forum that stuck to its guns: a real forum ( a meeting for the open discussion of subjects of common interest). The guest from a seminary from N. Ireland, Dr Graham Cheesman, spoke for about 30 minutes to lay the foundation; and for the rest of the two days, 39 participants were ably facilitated through the main theme: “ Space, relationships and learning: a critical matrix for theological education?” Even meal times were called “foruming around the meal table”.  They discussed some weighty stuff about contextualization and culture etc. but here are some sound bytes I picked up during the various discussions:

Be the guide by the side rather than the sage on the stage.

If you do not feed the poor, you will construct a theology without a concern for feeding the poor.

I love ideas and I love people and I love to bring the two together.

We can open space for others in our lives only after our internal space has been transformed.

We need to move towards an unseminary culture, and we can do that only after we have named our world.

It is vision that guides our decision-making and changes.

Truth without relationships of trust becomes a threat.

Shut up and let the students reflect and contribute.

Theology must be clothed in personal experience.

Being gentle with ourselves is part of the fruit of the Spirit.

Faculty and pastors have to aim at holistic spiritual formation.

Jesus not only used culture to communicate truth; he also transformed it as he did so.

Even meal time was part of forum time
Even meal time was part of forum time
Dr Perry Shaw facilitating afternoon discussion of issues with other Asian seminary leaders
Dr Perry Shaw facilitating afternoon discussion of issues with other Asian seminary leaders
A generous Malaysian sponsored the river cruise
A generous Malaysian sponsored the river cruise
Having a drink with other participants on the last night
Having a drink with other participants on the last night
Michael and Judy Ng who recently launched out in a marriage and family ministry called HIM after decades in Campus Crusade Family Life work.
Michael and Judy Ng who recently launched out in a marriage and family ministry called HIM after decades in Campus Crusade Family Life work.
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Study fuel: supper, coffee and fellowship

We were mistaken about the street food. It was a public holiday. So all the night stalls in the streets were closed. But on all other nights the stalls were open and we tried out the barbecued squid, pork satay, phad Thai, and Thai salad for supper. Cheap and good.

Street food outside guest house
Street food outside guest house
Caffeine loading after lunch
Caffeine loading after lunch

After lunch at the Thai bible seminary, we would troop out and look for brewed coffee at 40 baht (SGD $1.50). This became a daily affair as we needed the extra kick to keep awake over the afternoon periods. We got to know each other better and we discussed different matters raised or triggered by the lessons. Three guys I got to know better are Peter, Michael, and Philippe – wonderful folks with a love for the Lord and a vision for his work.

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