My Reflection on the past Semester (2nd Sem, 2007)

For some of the people it may be very simple but for me it is a very big issue. There was a time in the semester, my spirit had no rest. I could not enjoy the whole two days. I did not want to share my deep feeling to any one. I bear within me. Even to pray was difficult. I tried to read the Bible, I could not get spiritual meaning. I prayed to God, and as I begin to study I just turn the Bible and it comes to James.

James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7Those who doubt should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; 8 they are double-minded and unstable in all they do.

I count my spiritual dryness as a testing of my faith, a testing of my calling, a testing of my perseverance, a testin gof my commitment etc. Then I could pray as follows giving thanks to him and renew my commitment.

Lord thank you! You have been my guide; you have been helping me until this day. Please help me to accomplish the task that is set before me. My people are eagerly waiting for me to go home with success. May you help me please LORD!

Myanmar Government Vs. Roman Imperial in Paul's Day

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) joined First Lady Laura Bush in decrying human rights violations in Burma, describing it as "a land where 3,000 villages have been destroyed, 6,000 political prisoners are in jail, 70,000 child soldiers have been forcibly recruited, and over 500,000 people are internally displaced." U.S. Ambassador Jackie W. Sanders said Burmese military forces systematically rape women and girls, especially those of the Shan, Karen, Karenni, Chin and other ethnic minorities. An estimated 90 percent of Burmese people live below or near the poverty level, subsisting on a dollar per day or less, Charles Petrie, the United Nations humanitarian chief in Burma told the Associated Press in August, 2007.

Roman imperial conquests and economic exploitation had in fact devastated villages and fields, deforested mountains, and eroded the natural environment in general. The stability imposed by the Roman imperial order surely meant insecurity for many if not most urban people. Most of the cities Galatia, Philippi, and Thessalonica among which Paul carried out his mission were would likely have experienced local disruption Paul addresses the world as “groaning and travailing” as it awaited its liberation, along with that of “the sons of God”, from the futility which it had been subjected by implication by arrogant and sinful imperial practices (Romans 8:19-23). Robert Jawett takes this as anti-imperialism.

How about for Myanmar Christians? What should be the role of Christians in Myanmar? Is there any possible way to involve in politics for Christians? Where are the Christians in Myanmar whereas the Buddhist monks are actively involving?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Whenever people invite me to celebrate their birthday and pray for them, I used to read from Lamentation 3:19-23 where the mighty prophet says, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”.
Now is my turn, TODAY (30th, August) IS MY BIRTHDAY.
It is indeed a joy for me to celebrate my birthday. God has been faithful to me all these years. Even though I walked through many difficult journeys, He is ever present in all my hardships. Highlighting my journey of this year in studying Master Course in Seminary Theology Malaysia, often tears come to my cheek. My soul is downcast within me. In my weakness and in frustration in my papers, I blamed my self; I blame the God who brought me to Malaysia to study. But the day comes; I realized that all these tears/ hardships are designed to mold me for the future ministry. Oh! Yea, God has been faithful unto me, God has been gracious unto me, God has been blessing me, and God has been showing mercy upon mercy unto me.
I Praise God for His manifold blessings until this day to enable me to celebrate my BIRHTDAY,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

My Prayer life Renewal

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1: 35)

My wife and I decided to dedicate Friday evening for prayer and devotion besides our daily prayer. But we did not last long because of assignments pressure. We said we have many assignments to do and to read, so we have been spending times in reading and doing our assignments. As I do assignments I am frustrated with it, even if I read Bible I could not get spiritual life nourished. I was inwardly unrest.
A preacher by the name Alvin Ung really touched my heart by his message to commit my self to spend more time in prayer. The preacher challenged me to spend time even though I may be struggling to do many things (assignments). “The more we have things to do the more we are to pray”. Jesus also had many things to do, many people looked for him. But he went to the mountain side and prayed. Even Jesus being the Son of God spends time in prayers. If Jesus thinks He needs to spend time in prayer, how much more we need to spend time in prayer. Spend time with God and He will spend time with us. My spiritual life is renewed. AMEN.

What If I can't help my own parents???

My wife and I are studying in Seminary. We do have sponsor from the church. We never cease praising God for His provision for our studies.

But we are really struggling and are heavy burdened, because both of our parents are not in good health. They are very poor. To get their daily bread is quite difficult for them. They do need to pray "Lord give us our daily bread". They are quite old. They know we are studying and have no income. But they still expect some help from us. Whenever we call home, they tell us all their ill-health, difficulties, needs of daily food etc. We cannot help them. But we know that it is our responsibilities to care our own parents since they cannot work. We are burdened and struggled for our parents. We could do nothing for our parents except prayers.

The question came to me: if you can’t help/care your own parents (immediate family) what is the use of your ministry? What is your preaching of giving, helping the poor? What about your studies? How to balance ministry and family?How does the Bible teach about that???

Why Spiritual Dryness in Seminary?

This is one of the big issues in Seminary life. Many students committedly and enthusiastically go to Bible Colleges/ Seminaries. I really wonder when I hear their testimonies of their Spiritual dryness. What should be the reasons???

Is it because the lecturers themselves are too dry in their preaching in the chapel? teaching in the classes? Is it because there is no Spiritual lessons in the curriculum? or is it because of too many assignments and exams? No, one lecturer says louldy, it is because the students are lazy. Wa !! is it so???

Yes to some extent. As far as my observation is concerned, many students are just studying for the sake of grades, to pass the exams. They don't have time for reading the Bible. Sometimes assignments and exams press so hard until the students cannot take breath. Even if he/she reads she can't find spiritual food. The student just looks for points to teach others, to write his papers etc... Reading the Bible and meditation required a lot of time, and quite place. But in seminary many cannot give time as well as cannot find such place. Some students say, there are a lot of activities besides classes and assignments. They just can't find time for their personal devotion.
Academic excellency is being looked and well appreciated in the Seminary. Preachings, presentations etc. are done in academicly. There seems to be no spiritual food to eat.

So how to solve spiritual dryness? It can be solved by having personal devotion to God. If the Bible School students and pastors/ Lecturers have no time to read the Bible, then who will have time to read the Bible???

My first time to conduct Funeral Service

Many of my Chin people are working in Malaysia. They have been facing alot of problems. I usually compare life in Malaysia as Israel's life in Egypt. My people suffer a lot.

Two men by the name Laithantluanga (Tluanga) Age 29 and Hmingthanngura (Ngura) age 22 left this world of trial as they entered into the well. The well is about 15ft deep and about 2ft of water. Ngura went in first and could not come up. Tluanga went in to help Ngura but could not help and both died because of lack of Oxegen.

Since there is no senior pastor to conduct the Funeral service for them, I have to do the service. Wa! my first experience. By God's grace and help I could do well.
I preached from Ps.39:4-7
4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
5You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.