Ah Boys to Men

Just watched Ah Boys to Men part 2 yesterday and I have to give my utmost compliments to Jack Neo for directing such an inspiring movie. I thought the movie achieved its objectives of portraying a theme to bring across to the audiences. This is something I admire in Jack Neo's films. He doesn't just make films for entertainment, he makes them to spark thoughts and reflections of themes.

Before I give my two cents worth, one thing I have to say is, you got to respect Jack Neo's determination. The success of the 2 movies already reveal a man who did not give up when things got rough. I remember a few years ago he was in the news for all the wrong reasons. People around me even said they were going to boycott his movies and what a let down he was. Many people criticized him on social media.

 But we all make mistakes in life. What's more important is learning from these mistakes and indeed I believe he came out a stronger person and one that I dare say is filled with a new sense of purpose and value of the things around him. You can really tell the difference between this movie and his previous works. This movie really had alot of heart and soul in it. It was like he had a point to prove that he believed he could win back the hearts of Singaporeans with a groundbreaking film. It was a risk, and one that paid off.

And I must give it to him. On a national level, it really brought out a sense of patriotism towards our nation. The scene where they were marching across the highway with the narrator commenting 'As I walk here tonight, I feel a new sense of pride' was a particularly meaningful line. With all the negative news, MRT breakdowns and debate about the white paper that's going on, Singaporeans' feelings of belonging may be at quite a low point. Some of my friends have even commented that if given the chance, they would migrate immediately.

However, I will stay. The movie was very good at bringing across the point that this is our homeland. Politics and policies aside, we must not forget that this a nation that is built brick by brick by the hard work of our forefathers. From the  NS soldiers to the construction worker to the executives to the home care givers, each of us as individuals make up this great nation and this is the reason why we can celebrate national day year after year after year.(as quoted in the movie). Would it be right to just leave at the slightest hint of trial?

A second point it that this is home. Where I belong, where my memories are, where my family is. As cliche as it sounds, it's true. The reason we serve NS, work hard, or even discuss politics and policies should be because we want to safeguard this land which has become an integral part of our lives. We shouldn't be commenting because we want to feel self-righteous about our correct beliefs and our way of doing things versus that of the government. I dare say some of the comments on social media seem like they are opposing every single fault of the government because they just want to oppose and make a big stir of everything. It should always be about serving the nation in the best way we can and not serving our ego.

A few years ago the only thought I had after graduation was going overseas. After my exchange programme, I couldn't see myself staying in Singapore. My whole mind was fixated on being a missionary , or teaching English overseas. I even got my TESOL certification.

But somehow, I'm still in Singapore and I have learnt that this is the place where really, there are many opportunities to grow to improve yourself if you really want to. We have a good public and private education system to grow in knowledge, we have freedom of religion and quite established religious institutions to grow spiritually.  We even have a well set up civil service and private sector with lots of opportunities for experiential growth. It all depends on how badly you want it and how motivated are you to in turn use your success to inspire and help others who are less fortunate. Don't just point arrows at the government!


This is my home. I found my family, my friends, my Church, my career in this nation. Let's do our best to preserve what our forefathers have worked and sacrifice so much for, so it due season , we can continue to reap the harvest!

Regards,
Daniel Foo




 

Preparing for Success!

This was the advertisement shown during service last week, as Pastor Aries was preaching. Personally, it struck a chord with me. The phrase written below states "I don't expect success, I prepare for it!'

As I reflect on the message, it got me motivated. I used to think that all we need to do is confess the word.    I thought that just by saying God will provide is enough because after all He is Jehovah Jireh , our provider, isn't He not?

However, the Bible also says that we are co-creators with Christ, and the biggest aim in life is to be more and more Christ-like. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1

" Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ "

Colossians 1:6 says,
"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him"

Lastly in 2 Corinthians 3:18 it says
" And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Have you wondered why God would want to give us His anointing, or why He would want us have the same authority and power as Jesus did?

From one perspective, let's say we buy a pet, most of us buy pets because it's cute and we provide for it without it giving back as it serves a purpose to make us happy with it's adorable characteristics.

We buy pets because it's cute!

But that's it. We certainly don't want the pet to become super smart and start having the ability to talk and become co-owners of the house we live in right? The same goes for computers, they were created for a purpose, and not to overwrite us and take over the world like in the matrix! 

However, when you look from the basis of family, which the Bible often does, it is often noted that parents always want the best for their children. Parents are proud when their children are groomed , disciplined and become successful in life. Parents are willing to sacrifice all for their children. I think the reason God ordained and created the notion of a family is to give us a picture of what Christ's love for us is.

The family! Built by sacrificial love for one another, just as Christ loved the Church!

My point is this. God didn't create us to be pets or computers. We are not some invention of God that He created. No, He created us as unique individuals, with a spirit, a soul and a body. In that sense we are more than just living beings for a singular purpose. We are who we are! We have thoughts, feelings, emotions and we have the ability to make decisions. In a sense we are 'little Christs' and we were meant to 'rule and reign with Christ!'

Romans 8:17 says
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Life is not a game like Sim City or the SIMS. I'm sure many of us played these games before and often we would just build or give whatever we wanted to these intellectual computer avatars without much thought of who they are as individuals. After all, they're not real!

Yes , God will take care of us, but in the long run, unlike PETS, who just laze around and get free food, God values us as SONS and DAUGHTERS,  He wants us to grow and be mature Christians. Christians who are not afraid to prepare for their future, to work towards their dreams. He wants us to live our lives with the full potential as unique individuals who have the freedom of choice and decisions! Christians who have made a choice to follow Jesus, because as we follow His will, we will discover our unique individuality and our identity in Christ! Even if it may be difficult, we know that He will be there to guide us and will never 'leave nor forsake us' on this journey. But, we first need to take the step and prepare!

And to help us through this life, through the difficulties and trials,  He gave us, wait for it................

THE BIBLE and a community called THE CHURCH

The Bible opens the window for us to live a life that maxes the potential that God sets out for us! It also opens us up to spiritual truths and faith building confessions that we can boldly proclaim. And when we do, we can have 'assurance of faith' that our preparations and hard work will come to fruition, not 'assurance of faith' that God will magically grow money from trees.

Heb 10:22 says
"Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

And when we trust Him and lean on Him for direction, God promises that our hard work will produce a hope and a future!

Jeremiah 29:11 
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Notice that God didn't say I have a hope and a future for you,  No no no, He said ' I have plans to give you hope and a future'

A plan, according to the dictionary is "a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance" 

Notice the continuous tenses here, 'acting, doing, proceeding, making' God will lead us to the plan, but we need continuous ACTION and PREPARATION on our part for the EXECUTION of that plan to FRUITION. The amazing thing is this, if we follow Christ, He has the perfect plan for us and we can be assured, because He promised, that the hard work and preparation that we put into His plan will result in ' Prosperity, a Hope and a Future!' The verse uses the absolute verb WILL.

In 2013, let's work hard, let's strive on and not give up. At the same time, let's seek the Lord more for his guidance and let's prepare ourselves for the MIRACLE of 'Prosperity, a Hope and a Future!' in accordance with HIS PERFECT WILL!

2 Tim 2:12 
" If we endure, we will also reign with Him.....".

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will"

Hope you've been blessed!

Regards,
Daniel Foo

Valentine's Day

Hello! And a very happy Valentine's Day to all !

What is valentine's day to me... basically it's a season where we love, cherish and appreciate those dear to us! It may not just be limited to romance but it could also be among friends whom you treasure ! Most of all, it's to celebrate the gift of love, a trait created by God and sent so beautifully to us so we can experience the magic of it all.

I would like to share with you  the story of  a very nice surprise I planned for my best friend's birthday which could be considered a vday celebration as well and at the end there'll be a photo story of one of the happiest days of my life so far.... !

It so happened that she was coming back from a flight from Bangkok the night before her birthday. It seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to plan a surprise birthday party, something that I've never done before in my life!

These are the two videos that were my inspiration!

I really like the last part where he rewrote the lyrics to 'All about you'  and so that's exactly what I did ! If you haven't seen this video then please don't hesitate to watch it !

For the decorations, it was a certain Claire Ng who shared this video on her facebook which sparked the idea of helium balloons! The girl liked pink thou so I got heart shaped pink balloons instead.

As it turned out, more and  more ideas started coming to my mind for the decorations. Flowers was a must, followed by flower petals, lots of balloons, a helium foil balloon, birthday ribbons and bubbles!

Of course, the necessities were also important, such as cake, her favourite sushi, champagne, her gift! (which I saw from her blog) and a card! I must say, it was quite a big investment but my friend Augustine said it beautifully when he told me 'It's worth it! this is a lifetime investment!'

I had some funny moments as well such as carrying the helium balloons on the train, to which there was a little girl who came in and started smiling while pointing at the balloons and telling her mom ' Look! Heart Balloons! '

O yes, before I forget, I would really like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my friends who were so willing to help me! Firstly it's Mei Fung's friends who helped me a great deal to coordinate the surprise and without whom I wouldn't have succesfully executed the plan! Next is Augustine, my bestest secondary school friend who didn't hesitate to help! (really needed transport home haha) Following which, is my dearest cell members who did most of the work on site and were willing to drop by even when there wasn't transport home! I'm really very touched to Guo Wei and Yu xin. Lastly thanks Aston for the beautiful photos!

Lastly, I would like to thank God for my best friend and for the miracle ! I managed to find all that I needed to find with a good price, and I managed to have good support from friends!

And then there was the big miracle! I agreed to serve as a guitarist for Andy Chia's cell group prayer meeting on the very same day and it got extended to 10pm when I needed to reach the airport after a trip home by 1045pm. But when you serve God, He will make sure your plans run more than smoothly! The first miracle was that her flight got delayed by 20 mins so that gave me some time. Next, my Dad was somehow willingly agreeable to pick me up from home and send me to the airport! After we did the decorations, the security asked us to vacate the place as they were closing the aviation gallery! (which I totally had no idea) Panic mode started to sip in and I kept asking for 5 more mins. She was very close to arriving and I was contemplating if I should shift the decorations, which might spoil the whole surprise.

Thankfully, I think the guard talked to her superior and managed to get leeway for us! She arrived on time, even with the blindfold when I wanted to skip it due to time constrains. Everything was in order, and she was able to smile and walk beautifully down the isle of flower petals and balloons!

I thought of singing outside the area as well in order to pack quickly but again, I managed to sing at the romantic spot as well and the guard was nowhere to be seen! Sooo... I would really like to thank God for I believe it was his intervention that allowed everything to go so smoothly!

Psalm 20:4 
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Ok this is kinda a long post so here's the picture story!

As a bonus, here's a video I found of Wongfu Productions who did almost the same thing for their skit...

Hope you guys have a good valentine's day!

Regards,
Daniel Foo