FOCUS and life thus far

It has been quite a while since I last updated, so before the long post, a few random stuff I find in Australia:

Butt Soup Flavouring

besides that, there are some other funny lines which I don't have photos with me now:

Real Estate Agency called L.J. Hooker with the tagline Nobody does it better

Plumbing Company, tagline We will repair what your husband fixed

Anyway, this post is mainly about a camp I just came back from, and the church I have been attending:

FOCUS

Fellowship of Overseas Christian University Students

I have been attending FOCUS for about 4 weeks now, and I will now introduce the cell group - which they call a Bible Study Group here. Currently the group consists of Kenneth (the leader) and his wife - and the rest of us.

I thoroughly like it here. Kenneth is a Bible College student in Moore Theological Seminary. It is quite Anglican - so I have to do much adjusting to the way things are run here. It is basically non-denominational, we sing hymns almost half of the time, and a couple of older or slower songs. There is nothing much to boast about the songs.

However, the most attractive thing is that the leaders that I am under (Kenneth my cell leader, then Joshua and Charles - the pastors) are very well versed in Scriptures. The Bible is preached in a very simple way - without all the extra revelations that God has never heard before.

When I ask questions, I appreciate their immediacy of answering it and their experience of knowing where I am coming from - some of you know that I don't always know how to phrase my questions well - then they answer it thoroughly. I will just write down 2 questions out of a few that Joshua has answered (I put them in blue, you can skip it if you want, but I recommend it)

Question 1

Is Limited Atonement biblical? (Yes, the question was only 4 words)

A simple background - and my explanation would be flawed, which illustrates the question I have. Limited atonement is a term coined by John Calvin, a famous theologian that says that Jesus' death is to pay off the sins of a limited number of people.

The argument is that if Jesus only died for the selected group of people, then it is interpreted that He paid off a limited amount of our debt, that there are a certain amount of people who is not "died for" by Jesus - therefore it cannot be said that He died for the world.

However, if Jesus did die for everybody - then the world's sins are washed away - whether we accept it or not - since it is up to God to wash us - He already either has washed or have not washed. Our acceptance of the gift is merely an outworking of of the enlightenment that God has given. Since God is Just, and that He does not punish the same sins twice (therefore Christians can rest in the hope that since God punished Jesus for our sake, He will not throw us into Hell). Following the argument that He died for all and that He does not punish the same sin twice - then nobody goes to Hell!

We have to look at the purpose of both arguments. The main point in Calvin's Limited Atonement doctrine is to let us know that not everybody goes to heaven, there will definitely be people in hell and we know that.

However, when it is written that Jesus died for the world - it would rightly be understood that His death was sufficient to save the world.

The same goes for election - predestination - preseverance of the saints (once saved always saved). Election ought to make Christian trust in God's salvation, not void us of personal responsibility.

Armenians and Calvinists all have their points and arguments which are thoroughly biblical with proper verses to back it. So the point is not to over emphasize each - that is we have to trust in God, and execute our personal responsibility.

The main point of Calvinists are to shut up those who play down God's sovereignity. We definitely cannot credit all to free will. Honestly, who has a free will? Adam has one, but after him all our desires are tainted by sin, what is free?

We also have to understand that our decisions and God's sovereignity works together. One does not void the other. God's sovereignity rules over all, even Satan's deeds and actions work only under God's sovereignity.

I summarized his 10 minute answer into a few lines, so certain points might not be illustrated well. The next question is about work.

Question 2. What is work to a Christian? Is it merely a source of income?

Background - That question, or is there some Christian understanding that our work has other greater significance?

In Genesis when Adam was given his job, it was to till the ground. We work to sustain this world and environment which we live it. We work to provide for our family - to provide. The idea of finding fulfillment in work is a very pagan idea.

We have seen it in the Maslov's hierachy of needs, with the basic needs being food and shelter - then followed by other things like security and all, with the highest being self actualization. However, this idea is not Christian at all.

However, Christians have come up with the thing - to "climb the ladder" to the glory of God

...So what if you are the architect that built the best bridge in the world? When Jesus comes back everything is going to crumble.

It is how we do our work that honours God - not what work we do. For that will ultimately come to nothing. That is why in Titus 2:9-10 it says that even slaves can make the gospel attractive.

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive

The Gospel does not talk about success, but it does talk about faithfulness. Faithfulness pleases God.

After a few weeks being here, when I ask questions, I seldom ask them with a fixed answer in mind. I think I feel quite safe to be challenged here. Joshua -

Oh, Joshua always asks us not to call him Pastor Joshua ... Pastor reminds him of Pasta, which is spagetthi...

The middle guy with specs is Joshua

At my first encounter with Joshua, I had in mind that he could be one of those hermit like people, with a lot of biblical answers that are irrelevant to the world. So far, I have asked Joshua about politics, work, theology... and I think that when my answers differ from his, I prefer his answer. I am willing to submit under his leadership. I pray that I'll be faithful to be a good student, by God's help.

Oh besides that, Joshua graduated a medical doctor, but it has been long since he gave up that job and has been preaching the gospel among university students for a long time. He lives modestly, and though tempted - I think he and Pastor Daniel have this in common - that they would live in a humble way, drive simple cars and live in simple houses. Not because they couldn't have more, but that I think that they are convicted that that is the way to live and they have a good theology about money.

It is my ambition and my hope to honestly and happily and fully believe in what they believe about money. I forsee that my insecurity will be a hindrance - like the seed that grew up and was choked by the thorns.

Now I will go on to my next immediate leader, Kenneth. He graduated as an engineer, he is now 30 years old, married. A few years ago, he came back to study in Bible College. He is patient with me in an encouraging way, and his best help so far was that he helped me think.

There is Kenneth, his wife Vivian, and two other girls


When I ask Bible questions, very quickly he asks me a few questions based on the verses that I already know, make me flip a little here and there - guide me in my logical reasoning, and very quickly, I can get the answers that I want. I think this is helpful, because he is teaching me to fish and not only giving me fishes - I will submit to his leadership.

It inspires me to see people who know more about God laying down the "finer things in life" and work somewhat behind the scenes. I am more and more convinced that the greatest joys in life have very little to do with materialistic pleasures. I am taking into account public opinion. I wonder at times all the effects of insecurity.

When I ponder, I know that I have girl friends which I cannot be harsh in blaming them for their materialism - many of us, if not all of us do commit sin in that sense, in deferring degrees.


My studies are getting harder and harder. I realize that there is indeed a gap between Malaysia and UNSW. More things are expected. More skills. More initiative. More time.



My previously 14-week semester has been shortened to 12 weeks. It is probably part of UNSW board's plan to "Increase shareholder's value". Our academic excellence is their 4th priority. Syllabus is still the same, I have almost more than 25 hours of classes a week. Not to count the extra hours that will be spent studying on my own.



But for that, I must credit my wonderful housemates that has helped me with many things. Housing, guidance in studies, going to malls, taking me around, accomodating me, cooking, and the list goes on.



1. Kenny Lim Hsern Loong



2. Soo Ji Giap

The oranged shirt guy si Kenny and the blue-yellow shirt guy is Ji Giap

Without them, my life here wouldn't be as smooth as it is and I would have much to fuss over. My studies would be affected, my mood and all. So yeah, thank God for them.

I am also very glad to have wonderful lecturer's and tutors.


This is Mr Peter Brown. Quite formal guy. He is very helpful and very patient with his students. I have to mention that he put up with students that I would have probably killed... I mean slapped... nothing. He did not teach me no theology or anything. But the diligence that he put into his work, his faithfulness, and dedication - these are the kind of people that makes me want to be a teacher some time.

I have another lecturer. Funny guy. Once he brought a can of beer into the lecture hall. Of course he wasn't just bringing an empty can - well you know. He normally doesn't wear slippers. I have never seen him wear shoes. There was once that there was a problem with the sliding blackboards in the lecture hall - it keeps sliding up. So this lecturer put his feet on the blackboard, preventing it from sliding up. I really wanted to take a picture - but handphones always take picture with a loud snap... and I want to have good lecturer-student relationship.

There are still many other random things:

Attended Hillsong album recording for "This is Our God", probably released next year.

Went to Coogee Beach for Malaysian Student Organization barbecue.

Many other barbecues. Jelak sial.

But the most important ones deserve a significantly elaborate description. I think I will grow up well in FOCUS. I want to learn to publicly acknowledge people now.

Instead of writing about what I learn and construct sentences and paragraphs with an emphasis on me - I want to learn how to write about how other people around me are contributing to the society, one of them being me.