Anthem of Grace

Sunday 24th August 2025

At my dad's 80th birthday celebrations on 23 August 2015, I showed a 4 minutes and 48 seconds video montage of him.  It included photos from the time he was a few months old in 1936, up until Chinese New Year of 2015.

Why, 4 minutes and 48 seconds, you may ask?

Well, that is the length of the title track of New Creation Worship's debut album, Anthem of Grace, which was released at the tail end of 2014.

I had purposefully adjusted the length of the footage to exactly match the length of the song.  Cheeky of me, ya ;-)

The lyrics of the song are very meaningful, viz:

I believe in a hope that’s so secure
In Your love there is no fear
Salvation is sure
I believe on the cross You took my pain
All my sins are washed away
Forgiven and free

And now I see
As You are, so are we

Let my life resound Your praise

As an anthem of Your grace
There is power in Your name
Hallelujah
Jesus, You reign

I believe I am righteous through the One
Your obedience has won
I rest in all You’ve done
I believe You are everything I need
More of You and less of me
I fall at Your feet

And now I see
As You are, so are we

Mountains be cast down
Valleys be raised
Christ be exalted
Lifted on high
Mountains be cast down
Valleys be raised
Christ be exalted
Lifted on high

The chorus goes, "Let my life resound Your praise, as an anthem of Your grace".

And that was exactly how Dad went about living his life.  He was always resounding God's praise as an anthem of His grace.

Here is the video footage for your viewing pleasure.

P.S. I wonder how many of dad's 180 invited guests recognised the song when it was played that evening, haha.

Why Should The Father Bother?

Saturday, 18th July 2009

When I was in my teens and growing up in the Methodist Youth Fellowship, there was a Christian band called Petra that was very popular among my peers.

They are better known for their louder songs, but also released some wonderful ballads, one of which talks about our relationship with Daddy God.

It is entitled "Why Should the Father Bother?" I especially like the last sentence that says we are in His family eternally. It sure resonates with Ps Reuben's jubilee sermon about being part of God's family.

Do have a listen to it and be ministered to :-)




Why Should the Father Bother?
Petra

Why should the Father bother to call us His children?
Why should the Spirit hear it when we pray?
Why should the Father bother to be concerned with all our needs?
It's all because of what the Son has done

Once we were lost out on the ocean with no direction or devotion
Tossed about by every wind and wave
Now we are in the world, not of it, and we can surely rise above it
Because the Lord has risen from the grave

And we cry, 'Abba, Father' 'Abba, Father', 'Abba, Father'
'Abba, Father', 'Abba, Father' 'Abba, Father'

Once were strangers from the promise, we were doubters worse than Thomas
'Til the Spirit opened up our eyes
Now He has offered us adoption, and we have taken up the option
To be His family eternally

Across The Earth

Saturday, 20th June 2009

Hillsong United, the youth band of Hillsong Music, will be in Singapore again to perform at the Zone Youth Conference 2009, by the invitation of NewCre.

Date: 25 July 2009
Time: 7pm - 10pm
Venue: The MAX Pavilion, Singapore Expo
Worship: Hillsong United
Speaker: Pastor Judah Smith

Tickets are now on sale at S$5 each and are going fast.

This time around, my entire family will be attending :-D

By the way, their new album entitled Across the Earth is now out in stores.

Creed

Thursday, 10th January 2008

This being a new year, our church has embarked on a sermon series based on the Nicene* Creed, which reads as follows:

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

* Called so, because it was originally written and adopted at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

There are 12 articles (or points of beliefs) in the Creed (hence the 12 drummers drumming in the song Twelve Days of Christmas)

1 God the Father
2 God the Son
3 the virgin birth
4 crucified and buried
5 descended into hell and then resurrected
6 ascended and seated at the Father's right hand
7 judgement of living and dead
8 God the Holy Spirit
9 communion of saints (ie universal church)
10 forgiveness of sins
11 resurrection of the body
12 eternal life

The Christian rock band Petra composed a ballad based on this, and aptly entitled it "Creed". Check it out on YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k54i00BSIdo



Creed - Petra

I believe in God the Father - maker of heaven and earth
And in Jesus Christ His only Son
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the Man of Sorrows bruised for iniquities
I believe in the Lamb who was
crucified and hung between two thieves

I believe in the resurrection on the
third and glorious day
And I believe in the empty tomb and the
stone that the angel rolled away
He descended and set the captives free
And now He sits at God's right hand
and prepares a place for me

(Chorus)
This is my creed - the witness I have heard
The faith that has endured
This truth is assured
Through the darkest ages past
Though persecuted, it will last
And I will hold steadfast to this creed

I believe He sent His Spirit to comfort and to reveal
To lead us into the truth and light, to baptize and to seal
I believe that He will come back the way He went away
And receive us all unto Himself, but no man knows the day

I believe He is the Judge of all men, small and great
The resurrected souls of men receive from Him their fate
Some to death and some to life, some to their reward
Some to sing eternal praise forever to our Lord

Daddy's Home

Thursday, 27th December 2007

I guess you probably would have known by now that I am a big fan of Cliff Richard :-)

There was one stage in the 1980s when he would consistently release a "Christmas single" every single year, and that single will invariably reach the Top 10 of the secular UK charts, and on occasions, even the very pinnacle of it.

In 1981, his Christmas single was a remake of a 1960s classic "Daddy's Home". This song reached #2 and stayed there for 4 weeks, held off the top spot by The Human League.

Although the song does not specifically mention the word Christmas, it has a nice festive feel about it. It speaks about a father who has been working overseas, misses his family, and decides to be re-united with the ones he love.



You're my love you're my angel
You're the girl of my dreams
I'd like to thank you for waiting patiently
Daddy's home your daddy's home to stay

How I've waited for this moment
To be by your side
Your best friend wrote and told me
You had teardrops in your eyes
Daddy's home your daddy's home to stay

It wasn't on a Sunday
(Monday and Tuesday went by)
It wasn't on a Tuesday afternoon
(all I could do was cry)
But I made a promise that you treasured
I made it back home to you

How I've waited for this moment
To be by your side
Your best friend wrote and told me
You had teardrops in your eyes
Daddy's home your daddy's home to stay
Daddy's home to stay
I'm not a thousand miles away...

Twelve Days of Christmas

Wednesday, 26th December 2007

Here in Singapore, there is only one Christmas public holiday - 25 December itself.

In England, 26 December is also a holiday -- Boxing Day.

Yet there was a time when Christmastide lasts 12 days.

I did a Wikipedia search about the "Twelve Days of Christmas", and this is what was returned...

The Twelve Days of Christmas and the associated evenings of those twelve days (Twelve-tide), are the festive days beginning the evening of Christmas Day (December 25) through the morning of Epiphany (January 6). The associated evenings of the twelve days begin on the evening before the specified day. Thus, the first night of Christmas is December 25–26, and Twelfth Night is January 5–6. This period is also known as Christmastide.

There is a song entitled "The Twelve Days of Christmas" where the singer sings about gifts that his "true love" gave to him on each of the twelve days. On the surface, it may seem like a fun and meaningless song. But do you know there are hidden meanings behind the lyrics?

There was a period in the history of the church where Christians could not openly profess their faith because of persecution.

This song was composed during that period, and the gifts and their hidden meanings are shown on the right.

Anyway, check out this version by Christian rock band Relient K that I found on YouTube:

Saviour's Day

Tuesday, 25th December 2007

Today, I shall blog about another song that Sir Cliff Richard released with a Christmas theme.

This one is entitled "Saviour's Day" and it went all the way to the top of the UK secular charts in 1990, where it spent a total of 3 weeks.

It is my personal favourite among all the Christmas-themed songs that he has ever released, because of the meaningful lyrics and catchy tune.

Wishing every one of you a most blessed Saviour's Day!



Now we have been through the harvest
Winter has truly begun
Now we have walked in the chill of the night
We are waiting for, waiting for
For the Saviour's Day

Many have come from the valleys
Many have come from the hills
Many have started their journey home
To be with someone, with someone
on the Saviour's Day

Open your eyes on Saviour's Day
Don't look back or turn away
Life can be yours if you'll only stay
He is calling you, calling you
On the Saviour's Day

Joining the old and the young ones
Joining the black and the white
Meeting the need of the hungry is He
Will we ever remember Him
On the Saviour's Day?

Here's to the God of the present
(Raise your glasses)
Here's to the God of the past
(Drink to the King)
Here's to the hope in the future He brings
We will sing to Him, sing to Him
On the Saviour's Day

Little Town

Sunday, 23rd December 2007

In this day and age, it takes much more courage for someone who is in the sports or entertainment arena to profess he is a Christian than it does for someone to profess that he is gay or a womaniser.

That is why I am very encouraged to read about how Zach Johnson and Kaka boldly make a stand for our Lord Jesus Christ, which I blogged about here and here respectively.

By the way, since then, Kaka has gone on to win the FIFA Footballer of the Year award. All glory to God!

But I digress...

Another person who boldy proclaims his faith is Sir Cliff Richard.

One of the hymns I remember singing in church during Christmastime was "O Little Town of Bethlehem". Well, this hymn was given a modern-day interpretation by Cliff in 1982, and released as a single with the title "Little Town" during Christmastime and reached #5 in the secular UK charts that year.

Hence the title of today's post.

Actually, Bethelehem was indeed a humble little town in Judea (as compared to the more renowned Jerusalem). But it was in God's sovereign plan that His Son would be born in the very same place where David the shepherd boy had grown up. (Of course, not to the extent of being born in a manger, but you get my drift).

Joseph and Mary were actually from Galilee in Nazareth, but had to travel all the way to Bethlehem because of the census that was taken. You can read more about Bethlehem here.

Back to the song "Little Town". The tune may have been changed, but the words of the original hymn remain unchanged.



O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie,
Above the deep and dreamless sleep,
The silent stars go by.
Yet in the dark streets shineth,
The everlasting light,
The hopes and fears of all the years,
Are met in thee tonight.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given.
So God imparts to human hearts,
The blessings of His heaven.
We hear the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell,
O come to us, abide with us,
The Lord Emmanuel.

No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

Oh My Lord

Saturday, 22nd December 2007

As we approach Christmas, I thought I'd feature some Christmas-themed songs that made it big in the secular charts.

1970s was the era of disco, and one of the bands that were part of that scene was a 4-piece group from Germany known as Boney M.

In May/June 1978, they were #1 in the UK with "Rivers of Babylon", a song based on Psalm 137. In December of that same year, they reached #1 again with the Christmas-themed song "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord".

For those of us who are in our 40s (like me), this song should bring back fond memories :-)



Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day
and man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day

Long time ago in Bethlehem so the Holy Bible said
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day.

Hark now hear the angels sing a King was born today
and man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day.

While shepherds watched their flocks by night they see a bright new shining star
they hear a choir sing a song the music seemed to come from afar.

For a moment the world was aglow all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter
people shouted let ev'ryone know there is hope for all to find peace.

Now Joseph and his wife Mary came to Bethlehem that night
they found no place to bear her child not a single room was in sight
and then they found a little nook in a stable all forlorn
and in a manger cold and dark Mary's little boy was born

Oh my Lord You send your Son to save us
oh my Lord Your very self you gave us
oh my Lord that sin may not enslave us
and love may reign once more.

Oh my Lord when in the crib they found Him
oh my Lord a golden halo crowned Him
oh my Lord they gathered all around Him
to see Him and adore.

Oh my Lord with the child's adoration
oh my Lord there came great jubilation
oh my Lord and full of admiration
they realized what they had (until the sun falls from the sky)

Oh my Lord (well praise the Lord)
they had begun to doubt you
oh my Lord (He is the truth forever)
what did they know about you.
Oh my Lord (so praise the Lord)
but they were lost without you
they needed you so bad (his light is shining on us)

Majestic Rendition

Saturday, 24th November 2007

Today's been a very eventful day. I was at my company's annual bowling tournament this morning. In the afternoon, my son's madeover room was being unveiled and dedicated. In the evening, we went to my inlaws' place for dinner. After coming home, I spent some time burning to DVDs some highlights of the Ordination Service proceedings that took place 2 nights ago for Rev Tay Kay Leong and Rev Lai Kai Meng of Trinity Methodist.

I am now simultaneously watching Villa play Middlesbro live on Channel 21 while typing today's blog entry.

Will blog more about the bowling tournament and room dedication at a later date, when I am able to concrentrate on what I am blogging.

Meanwhile, thought I'd share about the ethnic version of the Lord's Prayer that was sung at the Ordination Service two nights ago.

I first heard it at the Ordination Service last year. We also started to sing it in church, which I blogged about sometime in Feb 07.

But nothing like the majestic rendition that night, which I have uploaded to YouTube for your listening pleasure.

Indescribable

Saturday, 13th October 2007

I have mentioned in earlier posts that as a result of being removed as cell leader and treasurer of my church, I have been feeling somewhat like a labourer without a harvestfield.

Well, fellow NTI/NTU alumnus and Christian Fellowship Alumni founder FT Liu heard about my "predicament", and approached me to get involved in their upcoming campus outreach event. The CF intends to invite a speaker called Louie Giglio, and as a sneak peek, FT passed me a DVD sermon entitled Indescribable, which Louie had preached as part of the Passion Conference in 2005.

Here is a write-up of that video:

The heavens are telling the glory of God, and their expanse declares the work of His hands. Night after night they remind us of just how small we are, and how huge God is.

Looking out into the far reaches of the universe, we find a seemingly infinite expanse of mystery and wonder, intricately fashioned by a God of unfathomable size and power.

Just a glimpse of one of the billions of visible galaxies He has formed resizes us, shrinking us, and the world we call home, to seeming insignificance in an instant.

But as tiny as we may seem, the God who knows every star by name also knows yours, and mine. And in the most stunning rescue imaginable, God sent His Son to this spinning planet we call home--the Creator reconnecting us to Himself with life that never ends.

Indescribable takes us on an image-rich journey through the cosmos, allowing us to peer into God's universe to discover the amazing magnitude of His greatness and grace.

I have just started to watch the video, and will consider blogging about it if the LORD so puts that in my heart.

Anyway, the intro to the video features a song by the same name by Chris Tomlin. I found the lyrics of the song to be very meaningful as it expresses the awe of the created to his Creator.

Indescribable by Chris Tomlin

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Repeat Chorus twice

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Listen to this song on YouTube...

Jesus Doesn't Care

Thursday, 11th October 2007

I'm sure the title of today's post must have caught your attention :-)

Before someone starts to shout "heresy" or label this as another "severely disturbing" post, please read on...

It is actually the title of a song by a Contemporary Christian music (CCM) quartet known as Point of Grace.

Check out the lyrics of their song...

Jesus Doesn't Care by Point of Grace

Verse 1:
You tell me no one would love you
If they could see deep inside
You say your friends might desert you
If they knew the truth you hide, well
There's one who knows you better than you know yourself
And He still loves you more than anyone else

Chorus:
Jesus doesn't care what you've done before
How you've rebelled or slammed the door
No matter how far you've run or how long you've been untrue
Jesus doesn't care
He still offers forgiveness to you

Verse 2:
For so long you've run from the Father
Into a life of sin
And each time He lovingly called you
You turned your back on Him
No matter if your failures are great or small
There's no way to hide them
He already know them all

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge
How many tears will you cry
Till you cry out to the Father
An honest plea for mercy He will not deny
Trust Him and you're gonna find

(Repeat Chorus)

I first heard this song in December 2006, as it was one of the songs that our church's Dance Ministry chose to express worship to the LORD to at the Christmas Evangelism Outreach program. You can watch that performance here...




So dear friends. Jesus doesn't care...what you've done before. That's because He has paid the full price for our sins -- past, present and future on Calvary's cross. Amen?

Grace Like Rain

Saturday, 29th September 2007

The other day, my wife pointed out to me that way before I began to embrace grace teachings, this was already placed into her heart...

...and she is right.

God's grace in Mandarin is 恩惠 (en hui).

She named our daughter 惠娴 (hui xian) which means "gracious" and "elegant", eleven years ago. She named our son 恩乐（en le) which means "gracious" and "joyful", ten years ago.

And a decade later, God's grace has become more and more relevant in the life of our family.

Arguable the most well-known (and easily-recognisable song) ever written that depicts the extent of God's grace is the hymn by John Newton entitled "Amazing Grace". He was an infamous slave trader, and wrote the song upon his conversion to Christianity, after realising how much God loved him, even when he was still a wretched sinner.

John Newton's timeless classic was given a modern upbeat flavour in 2003 by Todd Agnew. Check out this contemporary version on YouTube



Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, they're washed away

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Chorus

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing Your praise
Than when we first begun

Saying So

Tuesday, 25th September 2007

On 13th September, I went to the midweek service in New Creation Church with a couple of churchmates. They were in awe when they saw with their very own eyes the queue that had formed. We now have a common faith picture to bring back to PLMC.

The next midweek services will be on 26 Sep and 27 Sep, so do drop me an email if you would like to attend it, and we can go together. God has no favourites -- what He is doing in NCC, He can also do in PLMC. Amen?

Anyway, the worship session started with an extremely catchy song entitled "Say So". Straightaway, one of them who was with me said "Reflections of one that Says So", which is what I have entitled my blog because I am one who has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and I say so...

...and so is everyone of you out there who profess to be Christians, because Jesus' blood has redeemed you as well.

I did a Google search of this song, and discovered that it is a brand-new release by Israel Houghton and the New Breed. It is track 4 on the album entitled "A Deeper Level"

You can watch them perform it at the Hillsong Conference 2007 here:




Verse One:
What does it mean to be saved?
Isn't it more than just a prayer to pray?
More than just a way to heaven?
What does it mean to be His?
To be formed in his likeness?
Know that we have a purpose.

Vamp:
To be salt and light in the world,
in the world.
To be salt and light in the world.

Chorus:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so, say so! (repeat)

Verse 2:
Oh that the church would arise.
So that we would see with Jesus' eyes.
We could show the world heaven.
Show what it means to be His.
To be formed in his likeness.
Show them they have a purpose.

Vamp:
To be salt and light in the world, in the world.
To be salt and light in the world.
To be salt and light in the world, in the world,
To be salt and light in the world.

Chorus:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so, say so! (repeat)

Bridge:
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
(repeat)

Vamp:
To be salt and light in the world in the world.
To be salt and light in the world.
To be salt and light in the world, in the world.
To be salt and light in the world.
To be salt and light in the world, in the world,in the world, in the world, in the world!

Chorus:
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up!
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up!
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up, rise up, rise up!

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so, say so!

Bridge:
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed
I am redeemed, I am redeemed

Chorus:
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so, say so!

Alive and Kicking

Wednesday, 18th July 2007

In an earlier blog entry, I had mentioned what my all-time Top 10 Christian rock/pop songs are.
Just to recap, they are:
01. Jesus Freak - DC Talk
02. Take Me To Your Leader - Newsboys
03. More Sold Out - Whiteheart
04. I Am On The Rock - Petra
05. (Never Gonna Be As) Big As Jesus -Audio Adrenaline
06. Little Drummer - Jars of Clay
07. To Hell With The Devil - Stryper
08. Original Superman - Pillar
09. All For You - JONAH33
10. Alive - POD

I have already blogged about the songs from #1 to #9, so that leaves #10 to wrap this topic up.

P.O.D. stands for "payable on death", referring to the price that Jesus paid for us by His redemptive work when he died on the cross for our sins. They hail from San Diego, California and their music is classified as Nu Metal.

This particular song "Alive" speaks about the abundant life that a believer has in Christ.

Paul says in 2 Cor 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed, the new has come".

Everyday is a new day
I’m thankful for every breath I take
I won’t take it for granted (I won't take it for granted)
So I learn from my mistakes

It’s beyond my control,
sometimes it’s best to let go
Whatever happens in this lifetime
So I trust in love (So I trust in love)
You have given me peace of mind

Chorus:
I, I feel so alive
for the very first time
I can’t deny you
I feel so alive
I, I feel so alive
for the very first time
And I think I can fly

Sunshine upon my face (Sunshine upon my face)
A new song for me to sing
Tell the world how I feel inside (tell the world how I feel inside)
Even though it might cost me everything

And now that I know that
it's beyond my control
It's like I can never turn my back away
And now that I’ve seen you (and now that I see you)
I can never look away

As believers, we are alive (and kicking). Amen?

Music Helps Commit to Memory

Thursday, 21st June 2007

In his sermon last Sunday, Pastor B referred to a couple of songs made popular in the 1980s that had anti-establishment/family themes: Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In the Wall" topped the charts at the start of 1980, while Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" was a big hit in 1987.

Even though these songs are more than 20 years old, I can still remember to this very day the lyrics of the chorus!

What this means is that our human brain is capable of memorising words not only for months or years, but even decades, especially if those words are accompanied by music.

Which brings me to the topic which I have been blogging about over the past few days...

Meditation on God's Word is the key to victorious living. But in order to meditate on Scripture verses, we will first need to commit those verses to memory, so that they can be recalled and chewed upon throughout the day during those waiting moments.

I first received Christ at the age of 11 during the Billy Graham Crusade at the National Stadium, but started to backslide during my Secondary School and JC days. At 19, the LORD led me to attend a combined Sunday School / MYF Camp (which Choon Seng also happened to be the Camp Commandant), and it was then when I re-dedicated my life to the LORD.

As part of my renewed spiritual journey, one of the tasks I was given by my Bible Study teacher, Jeff Khaw, was to memorise scripture verses from a pack of 3" X 5" cards (put together by the Navigators).

I remember that it was a real challenge to memorise those verses. Yet, I did not have problems remember the lyrics of songs like the ones mentioned above.

So what makes the difference? The accompanying music!

One of the verses in that Nav Pack is Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

There is a song that is based on the verse that goes like this

It's no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveths in me (X2)
He lives, He lives. Jesus is alive in me
It's no longer I that liveth, but Christ that liveths in me

One of the things I did after re-dedicating my life to God was to join the 11am Choir. One song that we used to sing every week as the Choral Send-Off after the Pastor's Benediction, was the Aaronic blessings, based on Num 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift His countenance upon you
and give you peace, and give you peace
The Lord makes His face to shine upon you
and be gracious, and be gracious
The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you
Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen

Since music helps commit to memory, one practical way of memorising scripture is to enjoy Scripture-based songs and then sing them under our breath.

Or better yet, compose simple tunes out of verses that speak to us. Even decades from now, we will still be able to remember them to feed our spirit man (rather than the empty or worse still, negative words, of secular songs).

The Original Superhero

Wednesday 23rd May 2007

The talk of the town currently is Spiderman 3. I recently watched it with my daughter, and Pastor B even quoted from it in his sermon two weeks ago.

Riding on the hype, Channel 5 recently broadcasted Spiderman and Spiderman 2.

In Spiderman 3, Peter Parker struggles with good and evil, and even gave in to his evil desires. Granted that at least in the end, good triumphed over evil.

While these superheroes are fictional and figments of imagination, there is one superhero that is real.

He was also tempted in every way known to man, but the difference is that He did not give in to those temptations and is without sin. (Heb 4:15)

The world is calling out for a hero and that is why they enjoy watching movies like Spiderman 3.

We believers have the answer. His name is Jesus.

Which brings me to the song at #8 in my all-time Top 10 songs.

In an earlier blog entry, I had mentioned what my all-time Top 10 Christian rock/pop songs are.

Just to recap, they are:
01. Jesus Freak - DC Talk
02. Take Me To Your Leader - Newsboys
03. More Sold Out - Whiteheart
04. I Am On The Rock - Petra
05. (Never Gonna Be As) Big As Jesus -Audio Adrenaline
06. Little Drummer - Jars of Clay
07. To Hell With The Devil - Stryper
08. Original Superman - Pillar
09. All For You - JONAH33
10. Alive - POD

The song is entitled Original Superman, released in 2000 by a band called Pillar, who comes from Oklahoma, USA.

What is so special and unique about this song is that it starts off with the sounds of "scratching" a la rap. The verses are then sung to a reggae beat. The pre-chorus builds up the tempo and finally springs forth to a chorus one would more commonly associate with hard rock music.



He heals the sick He saves the lost
and died for you in case you've forgot, man
He'll jump a building in a single bound
I once was lost but now I'm found
He needs no mask or cape or gown
all He needs is His holy crown
it's time for you to understand
Jesus Christ the Original Superman

He'll be your hero in the end. He is that one true superfriend

Kryptonite can't slow him down nothin' can at all
He's always there for you. He'll pick you up if you should fall

He came to earth in the flesh and
Performing miracles and died for man
A forty day fast is more than I could take
he did it for you and he did it for my sake
Ye of little faith he said to them
raised his hand and all was calm again
It's time for you to understand
Jesus Christ the Original Superman

up up and away He's saving souls in a new way
Just like Superman was there He's always there to save the day
he works through all of us through Him we have the power
It's time to unify so we can constantly devour
The devil and all of his games we need not be ashamed
Of anything we can do that we can glorify His name
Many names he has been given Prince of Peace Son of Man
Here's one more for his list the Original Superman

To Hell with the Devil!

Friday, 20th April 2007

In an earlier blog entry, I had mentioned what my all-time Top 10 Christian rock/pop songs are.

Just to recap, they are:

01. Jesus Freak - DC Talk
02. Take Me To Your Leader - Newsboys
03. More Sold Out - Whiteheart
04. I Am On The Rock - Petra
05. (Never Gonna Be As) Big As Jesus -Audio Adrenaline
06. Little Drummer - Jars of Clay
07. To Hell With The Devil - Stryper
08. Original Superman - Pillar
09. All For You - JONAH33
10. Alive - POD

Today, I shall blog on the song at #7.

Stryper hails from California, USA and was formed in 1983. Their name is derived from a famous verse that is often quoted, Isa 53:5 "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (KJV)"

Before becoming Christians, they listened to heavy metal music from the likes of Van Halen, so their music is also much more heavy as compared to other Christian rock bands. In fact, a survey done revealed that two third of those who buy their records are non-Christians.

Their most successful album to date is To Hell with the Devil, released in 1986, and went on to sell more than 2 million copies in the USA.

The title track of that album is inspired by the verse Rev 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

I would even venture to say that the lyrics of this song is more scripturally-sound than some sermons I have listened to or some Christian books I have read in the sense that they correctly attribute that the source of all bad things is the evil one :-)

"When things are going wrong you know who to blame, he will always live up to his name"

Speak of the devil, he's no friend of mine
To turn from him is what we have in mind
Just a liar and a thief, the word tells us so
We like to let him know where he can go

Chorus
To hell with the devil
To hell with the devil

When things are going wrong you know who to blame
He will always live up to his name
He's never been the answer there's a better way
We are here to rock you and to say...

[Repeat Chorus]

It was all for us

Thursday, 5th April 2007

Tomorrow being Good Friday, I thought it would be appropriate to blog about one of my Top 10 all-time favourite songs which speaks about the greatest act of love that ever was, is and is to be.

The Creator God giving up His life for His creation.

In an earlier blog entry, I had mentioned what my all-time Top 10 Christian rock/pop songs are. Just to recap, they are:
01. Jesus Freak - DC Talk
02. Take Me To Your Leader - Newsboys
03. More Sold Out - Whiteheart
04. I Am On The Rock - Petra
05. (Never Gonna Be As) Big As Jesus -Audio Adrenaline
06. Little Drummer - Jars of Clay
07. To Hell With The Devil - Stryper
08. Original Superman - Pillar
09. All For You - JONAH33
10. Alive - POD

The song at number 9 is by a four-piece band JONAH33. They hail from Arkansas in USA.

They get their name from Jonah 3:3, "Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Ninevah". It is a kind of mission statement that they will go any where He leads.

Their music borders on heavy rock, but their lyrics are unapologetically bold.

Someone decided to make a video using the lyrics of this song and images from Mel Gibson's "Passion of The Christ".

This never fails to bring me to tears as I reflect and realise that He did it all for us. He gave up the comforts of heaven to empty Himself.

Thank you LORD Jesus Christ for doing it all for us. You are the original superman (speaking of which is the song at #8, and I will blog about this in a later entry).

His time with them had stopped,
It's time for Him to carry out His father's will,
Is that He drink this cup
He's told them all along that He would go,
They could not follow Him
But He'll be back for them my friend

And now He sweats these drops of blood
And He prays take this cup from me
But He knows there's no other way
His father's will is that He take your sin, your shame,
Your place upon that cross of pain And die for you

[PRE-CHORUS:]
There's no way to repay
All the pain He went through for you
His reason: simply His love
It's time to see the truth
And understand there's nothing you can do
His reason was simply you

[CHORUS:]
It was all for, it was all for you
He bled and He died for you

We live by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ
Who died to set us free
From chains our flesh can give
You know that even if you were the only one He died for
That means only your sins drove the nails

[PRE-CHORUS]

[CHORUS (2x)]

No time to hesitate my friend
No time to second guess His love
There's nothing else that you can do
He already gave it all for you
All for you, all for you, all for you
Simply you

Radio Deo

Tuesday, 27th March 2007

Two weeks ago, at our cell meeting, my co-leader mentioned that there are 2 radio stations broadcasting Christian messages and music at certain times during the day on the FM frequency.

They are as follows:

FM 102.3 - Voice of Grace

This station broadcasts Christian programs from 8am to 10am, and from 11pm to 1am daily.

The programs are in English, Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese.

FM 107 - Hope

This station broadcasts Christian programs as follows:

Lifestyle : 8-9 am
Crossroads : 9-10am

KidsConnection : 4-5pm
Crossroads: 5-6pm
Reflections : 6-7pm

Lifestyle: 8.30-9.30pm
RadioYOUth : 9.30-10.30pm

I happen to be tuning in to 102.3FM this morning on the way to work, and heard a message on how to apply "The Five Love Languages" based on the book of that name by Dr Gary Chapman.

Instead of listening to the usual secular stations playing secular songs, maybe we should tune in to Radio Deo every now and then.

Oh, and by the way, Deo means God in Latin. Gloria in excelsis Deo = glory in the highest to God.

Shalom