Thinking Aloud

A new year… and new beginnings. I am quite excited by how God has put in place a few things that He has laid on my heart… but it’s not possible to say it all at once and besides some are still work in progress.

So here’s segment one… on new blogs!

Blog #1
Heart To Heart with Holley http://blog.dayspring.com/

I started getting a devotional email from Dayspring.com at the beginning of the year.
I liked and was inspired by what and how Holley Garth wrote, and looked forward to reading the blog.

There was a turning point on 21 Jan 2010′s post, titled “How are you really?”, because Holley opened up on how keeping the blog was getting pretty tough for her. She writes: “It makes me think about things I don’t really want to right now and feel things I haven’t felt in awhile.”

Down the road a little, she has presented a 21-Day Challenge, for herself and her readers, where she’ll post every day from 26 Jan, and each post will include a little question to answer.

Blog #2
Thinking Aloud http://purpleclick.crusade.sg/

I’ve taken up Holley’s challenge, and have been transferring her posts and sharing my answers to the questions at my personal ministry blog (which is this one you’re at).

I’m learning to share my musings through this blog (partly by reading how Holley does it) and I’d love to hear your answers to Holley’s questions too.

What especially encourages me is that Holley herself reads my blog and leaves a couple of comments too. Wow-hoo!

Blog #3
Together http://ementors.crusade.sg

(Hee hee… I drew inspiration for the title from a recent Mandarin serial on Singapore TV, which is a familiar childhood jiggle, “The More We Get Together”.)

When I was at the MinistryNet conference Oct 2009, I was encouraged by a session on Mobilizing Volunteers, that I was doing some things well and also challenged to work on some areas.

It is upon my heart to build greater community among the group of e-mentors serving in Singapore. And though we are a tiny island and it’s best to meet face-to-face, it’s not always possible to accommodate everyone’s schedules! But since we are an internet ministry… we should make the most of the technology!

The blog already has several posts with content from e-mentor updates sent out from as early as 2006, as well as recent ones with links to new e-mentor sign-ups, 2009 statistics, etc. It was good for me as I do this, to see and be reminded how the ministry has matured and the faithfulness of God in the people writing in and the people serving.

I’m still in the process of uploading stuff and learning how to get the site to be better, and would appreciate your patience and prayers for me! You can also contribute to the blog… that’s even if you are not an e-mentor… yet!

Blog #4
Sincerely Yours?

If you have a blog I don’t know about, please let me know it’s whereabouts. If you want to start a blog… that would be really wonderful!

>>> Download the PDF version: PurpleClick Jan’10

As an old year draws to a close and the new year begins, it’s a time to reflect on God’s goodness throughout the year, with a heart of thanksgiving.

Using the themes of Worship, Healing, Friendship and Joy , I’m thankful for…

Worship
- The opportunities to serve in my church through design work, camp and Christmas High Tea.
- The choir at my sister’s church and singing with them throughout this year for Easter, Missions Month and Christmas.

Healing
- God’s protection over my step-brother earlier this year. And recently, my niece who fell at home on 3 Dec and fractured her elbow, that it wasn’t more serious. Her cast was removed on 29 Dec. (See story below.) Praying for God’s constant protection over our loved ones.

Friendship
- Those who have given towards my needs and prayed for me. I appreciate you!
- The time spent visiting with friends in USA, Canada and Turkey.
- The time re-connecting with friends, former schoolmates (some of you, yeah!) & disciples and Sunday School students.

Joy
- Partnerships/conferences with various staff and fellow believers – Internet Evangelism Day, MinistryNet, “Journey To Journal” poem book, Making the Gospel Click newsletters (MGC). In particular at MinistryNet, I was encouraged that I was doing some things well, and also challenged to try new ways to connect with people online.
- Having written to more than 2000 people as an e-mentor since Nov 2005.
- Meeting with existing and new e-mentors individually and in small groups.
- Meeting with e-contacts… most recently, the 15-year-old boy who received Christ on 25 Sept. Praise God for his friends and teacher who have impacted his life, and that he was able to attend church with his friend over the Christmas period.

Some e-mentors have mentioned it is hard to tell how genuine the contacts are who “prayed to receive Christ” since there are so many and most do not reply. But my philosophy is this: (adapted from the Back Street Boys): “I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you did, as long as you wrote in…” because you never know if that one is indeed genuine!

Making the Gospel Click…
The latest issue features the volunteers in our various components, and a couple of the e-mentors share their experiences.  Read all about it here.

Last but not least…
When I had a sleep-over with my niece, I asked if she wanted me to make casts for her dolls’ elbows as well. The answer was “Yes!” (Of course!) I used tissue paper and her Princess sticky tape for the tiny casts… one was for a Polly Pocket doll only about 5 cm tall.

I guess having the dolls in casts was my way of helping her to know that others can identify with her pain.

It reminded me of how important it is for us to know that God identifies with our pain.
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3

As we enter a new year, may the love and grace of God give us a quiet assurance that He is already there and all ready to take care of us.

Blessings!

>>> Download the PDF version : PurpleClick Dec’09

This is from a blog by Holley Garth, who writes with Dayspring.com
I’ve been following her devotional blog since early this year, 2010 and found it to be very enlightening as she shares her life story.

Holley writes:

How do we write the rest of our story in a way that really counts?

This series is all about finding out together. Because as I consider the story of our lives, here’s what I’ve come to believe… Jesus is the author (Hebrews 12:2) but He has given each of us a pen.

From that series “The Rest Of Your Story” comes this 21-Day Challenge.

Holley explains:

Here’s how it will work. I’ll post every day and each post will include the next step for your story and a little question to answer at the end. It will take ten minutes or less to read the post and answer the question.

At the end of the 21 days we’ll have a rough draft of the rest of our stories including goals, steps to take, and even a life story statement (sort of like a mission statement but cooler).

We’ve been talking about the rest of our stories…now we’ll really get down to how we can live them out with Jesus.

In return, here’s what I’m asking from you. I’d simply like for you to read every day and answer the question at the bottom of the post (hopefully, you’ll do so in the comments but you can also do that your own way).

So here we go! Are you game?

Just read this bit of news on Yahoo,  titled “Pope to priests: Go forth and blog”

A presence on the Web, precisely because it brings us into contact with the followers of other religions, nonbelievers and people of every culture, requires sensitivity to those who do not believe, the disheartened and those who have a deep, unarticulated desire for enduring truth and the absolute.  – Pope Benedict

Benedict’s words aim to encourage reflection in the church on the positive uses of new media. That doesn’t mean that (every priest) must open a blog or a Web site. It means that the church and the faithful must engage in this ministry in a digital world. At some point, a balance will be found. Young priests would have no trouble following the pope’s message, but  (jokingly) those who have a certain age will struggle a bit more.
- Monsignor Claudio Maria Celli (68), Head of Vatican’s Social  Communications Office

Engage the digital world… mark the date (Sat, 24 April 2010) and join us for Internet Evangelism Day – IED@SG 2010!

- Visit the IED website
- Join the IED Facebook group