Malaysian Christian Writes

My first batch of students. Ranging from 15 years old to 21. All 520 of them. Only 8 weeks. But an amazing journey nonetheless. A whole mixture of students with different wavelengths. It has been an honour and privilege to be a part of their 8 weeks. A tiny fraction of their lives. Oh this is inclusive of the 1507 from Ausmats as well. But in general the 1601s are my first batch and theirs to me.  What is more I am constantly bumping in them in the lrt. About to take out my book,  "hi sir!". About to listen to music,  "sir!". Hahaha it's fine. Not complaining. I'm used to it. I will surely bump into one of them in the morning and another when I leave after work. It is nice to know that some of them want to even go home with me. Hence they wait. In general it is a good gauge of how you are as a lecturer and it is a positive thing. What is the honour is that this 23 year old was given the opportunity to journey with the students, impact them in whateve...

Wait what ? Mr.Eddryll what did you just say? Read through it all first and worry not on the overly detailed phrasing and definitions and see whether you would make sense of it. Our calling as Christians is to be blameless. Yes I am highlighting one part of it in your Christian faith. Amazingly, this also applies to non-believers. To be blameless. Not sinless. Because let's face it, the human race is imperfect, marred, broken and sinful. I had one student came up to me once saying "Sir week in week out you keep saying we are broken and imperfect and it sounds really patronizing....but it's true lah, it's true". Hahaha. But in no way I wanted to patronize, the whole reason I emphasize that is that by first understanding that position only then can I spur you to true excellence. Not by having the pride and ego that you can do it but knowing that on your own you cannot. I too come from the same position of being broken. So what do I mean by blameless? It is this. ...

Yeah you heard me right. Golden Boy. What is a golden boy in the context of a Christian community? . As I am discussing with my house mate this is our definition. The one who is always asked to do a lot of things. Asked to be on stage, ask to serve asked to do this and do that. The one where the pastor would be proud of and always smile around them. The one that is always centre stage in church. Is it wrong to be the golden boy? No . Not at all. However, I would like to lay down certain ideas. Again not hinting to anyone. Just my usual theological midnight chats with my house mate that sparked this idea. So let me begin with the good part. It depends on the convictions of the individual. This is assuming that the individual understands the gospel. Because if the "golden fella" is liked by everyone because he or she is performing and doing everything right then something may be off. Because there is a danger of making it all about performance and what they are doing right...

This topic was sparked by an individual who claimed that if salvation is the prize and it is by believing in Christ, then there is no need to run that race marked out for us. Because salvation is the prize and he has already obtained it. So running the race for the prize depends on what is the prize and how one defines salvation. It is in my deep conviction to say that salvation is not and will never be the prize. Why? Because salvation is a gift. A prize is something you win, something you earn. You can never earn your salvation. There is no human possible way to earn salvation. The only thing that made salvation necessary is the sin. Our sin. Our sin that made salvation necessary. Romans said Christ died while we were still sinners. In Ephesians it was pointed out that we were dead in our transgressions but because of God's great love and mercy he sent his son to die for us. The Bible clearly states that salvation was never the prize. Again and again I would go. Reminded o...

Let's put it this way. I never ever expected to enter the education line at all . I initially wanted to join an NGO right after graduation. However, someone whose value and judgement I very much appreciate said that I was not ready. I trusted her because she knew me well enough. Right after that, the opportunity to lecture in MCKL arose just like that. Someone approached me, asked me whether I was interested, I was thinking sure why not, sent in my CV and got the interview the next day. Long story short I got the job. I was to teach an MPU subject (Which meant it was to be compulsory) tailored only for MCKL. It is called character formation . A subject in which the syllabus is based on 10 core values of MCKL among them is honour God, respect others, cherish relationships and the list goes on. So as a fresh graduate, it really dawned on me the reality of the working world. It was never gonna be easy. I was to lecture 519 students across 3 programmes (A-levels, Ausmat, CAT)...

So I had time to think in the LRT. The question that comes to mind is what is it then when you believe you have found the one? Now when I say that I do not believe in the one as in there is only one person out there in the universe meant for you. But ' the one ' as in he or she fits what a man or woman should be as how God designed us to be. A helper fit for the man. In all the brokeness and sin, in all the muck and mire there is that love for God. Not religousness but the mutual love for God. This is indeed speaking to Christians. What if she is the one but yet feel like it isn't time yet? Or it may not be mutual? My personal response would be to continue to fight for her, and pursue her. I say her so it is easier instead of he and her and he and her and he and her blegh. What do I mean by that ? I do not mean being a nnoyingly persistent when she clearly does not like you. If that is the case, put on your brakes and serve her as a sister in Christ (for Christians).  Bu...

Before I begin on with my second post about church I thought it would be appropriate to start of with what of 2015. Being in Malaysia we are all well aware of what has been going on last year. I need to bring it up. I observe the country's ebb but apparently it is not only Malaysia but some worldwide phenomenon. The world is ebbing if I were to bluntly put it. But while it may seem discouraging it need not be a reason to be in despair. Here is a short short summary of my 2015. It was definitely a year of much preparation for when I leave my life as a university student. I was pushed out of my comfort zone. Stretched more than my body would want to but at the same time being enabled to do so because it was not by my strength but the power of the Holy Spirit who enables. If success ensues I have nothing to boast in but only claim that The Lord was with me . Because it was Him after all. What I would do then is that in my weakness show my dependency on Him and how by abiding in Him...