Unwrap your gift

WELCOME TO CAMPUS ALIVE!! The gathering kicked off with a warm welcome from our emcees, Samuel from ALM and Yen Mii from AUSMAT programme. Due to the Language Awareness Night which was supposed to be on 14 August, we decided to bring it forward to Monday. However, the L.A Night was then postponed. But still, we decided to keep with the original plan as the flyers were out, and the speaker was informed. Just wanna take this opportunity to apologise to our ALM 7 seniors, although we know it will most probably be your last CA before everyone of you are dispersed too different corner of the world, and Thursday night will be better as all of you are coming back to take your A-Level results on Thursday, but I do hope that you will understand…
In conjunction of the theme on spiritual gifts, all were asked to bring a small gift with them to exchange. Big and small gifts with different shape and colourful wrappers were collected by the ushers and were lining up on the stage. Proceeding to the games session by Melissa and her helpers, Ken and Asaph.
We are divided into four groups according to the shape drawn on the stickers we were given. I personally would love to name the game as ‘snake’ as we are told to take off all the things on us (except our clothes of course! ) and joined the things together into line from one end of the Atmosphere to the other end, and make a u-turn back. The group which was able to make the longest ‘snake’ in five minutes will become the winner and will be given the privilege to choose the presents first. Haha… it’s really fun to see all kind of stuffs on the floor. Let’s see what I had found…

cashes, shoe laces...
student cards, shoes...
passport size photos, name cards...
and socks with holes!!!

things that are not in the photos: identity cards, driving licienses, glasses, Mydin's receipts, Giant's receipts, different kind of cards............

Thank you Larry and Chewie for the photos.

After collecting all the stuffs we ‘donated’ during the games, wearing the socks, tying the shoe laces, it’s time to worship our awesome God. The praise and worship session was led by Shalisha and Dian Han, with the powerful band of God- Samantha on the piano, Andersen on the drums, Billy playing the bass, Chewie playing the lead guitar and backup.

We are very privileged to have Pastor Hock from New Life, PJ to speak on ‘Spiritual Gifts’. I’m sure that everyone who saw him for the first time tonight will have the same question in their hearts ‘He is a pastor? He looks more like a student…’ Yup, and now you see how young he looks. He mentioned in his sharing that when he came to CA for the first time two years ago, our senior asked him to mixed into the group and pretend to be a student from Russian programme. And guess what, no one suspected and everyone was surprised when the emcees invited the ‘the Russian student’ to preach.

Pastor Hock began his sharing with a humility way by saying that being a pastor is not an honour job or position, as he wrote in his blog before that before he became a Christian, any ladies can; when he became a Christian, his cell leader told him that only Christian can; but when he became a cell leader, he was told by his youth leader that only committed Christian can; when he became a youth leader, his pastor told him that only woman with faith can; but when he become a pastor, ‘God, where are the ladies?’

I’m pretty impressed by his sharing with us. He mentioned about the existence of the Christian Fellowship like CA is not only for the Christians, but it is to proclaim to His goodness in the university. We, as a Christian, as a student have to walk as a children of light, to be an ambassador of God that people will see Jesus Christ living in us. Aren’t we more successful than successful if we are able to influences the others to be successful as well?

Another thing that struck me is ‘our God is greater than any exams and results.’ Before pastor became a Christian, he was very curious that why Christian spend so much time in church activity. Despite of the exam, Christians gather to pray, instead of studying at home. Undeniable, even we Christian, tend to get distracted and lose our focus on our Heavenly Father. It was a hectic week for us, especially for the ALM 9 juniors who were having their very first Biology topic test on the next day. I’m very encouraged by all those who turned up tonight, to seek God, to put God first above all else. God is a God that can multiply. In Matthew 8, Jesus fed five thousands by multiplying five loaves and two fish. God will multiply our time, effort and every little thing we give Him. And remember when we seek God first, He will make our paths straight. This is His promise to us. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33) Hold on to His faithfulness to us!

There’s a lot of time, we refuses to follow God’s calling. Like Jonah who went into the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. God hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. God then arranged a big fish to swallow Jonah. And in Jonah 4, God arranged a leafy plant to grow, to provide Jonah shades from the sun as he waited to see what would happen to Nineveh. But, the next morning at dawn, God arranged a worm to eat through the stem of the tree so that it withered away. Why did God spend so time to create a great fish to swallow Jonah? Why did God create a tree and destroy it the next morning? Isn’t it will be easier if He just raise up another prophet who will follow His calling. But, God didn’t. He arranged these to get Jonah’s attention. There are things that God put in our life, and only we can do. Our Father is willing to do anything just to call us back.

After sharing about his life story, Pastor Hock went into the topic of this CA on spiritual gifts. They are to help us to experience God in a greater dimension. Good news!! Our speaker posted the powerpoint here http://youth.my/?p=32. Try the tests that will help you to discover your spiritual gifts! He taught us an interesting way to remember the five ministry (office) gifts using our fingers. Our thumbs represent apostle as it is the only finger that can touch the others; our index fingers represent prophet as it points and gives direction; our middle finger which is the longest within the fingers family symbolize evangelist as it can reach out; our ring fingers represent pastor with a lame but reasonable reason that it’s the finger where we wear our wedding rings, meaning loving people, so pastor is loving; and last but not least, the little finger is teacher which help us to dig our ear wax…

Taking the opportunity of this quite time after a long busy month, reflecting back our journey walked together, hand-in-hand, with our Daddy God, brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m just so amazed by Him. I am so grateful for His faithfulness to us. Just like the verse printed on our CA shirt this year, “For I have plans for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Indeed, God has His plans for us, and we are not an accident. Even before we were born, He has already planned the exact time of our birth and death. He planned where we’d born and where we’d live. He planned for our nationality and race. He planned for our education, the people we are going to meet, the situation we are going to face. You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in Your book. (Psalm 139:16)

And I believe that God gives us these gifts for a reason. Quote a line in Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, you were born by His purpose and for His purpose. God knows our potential even when we don’t see it, because it is He who created us. I’m ready to grow in faith that the boundaries of the work God has given me will be extended. Are you with me?

3 generations...
Two pretty ladies from UiTM main campus...

Our 10th CA gathering this year ends with the refreshments prepared by Chieng Loo and Ivan.

Shine for Jesus,
Be.