What makes a Christian

A series of events have led me to question the meaning of being a Christian. Is it being perfect? Or always having an exemplary conduct?
Such expectations may sound absurd. But, having been attending church since nine months before I was born, I realise that many people I've known do expect me to behave in a certain manner, often that which is more restricted and conservative. Say, I'm not supposed to play pranks or talk about taboo subjects etc...

So, I came to a conclusion.
A Christian is inherently imperfect. I am hopelessly imperfect and utterly in need of remedy. That's why I recognise the need for God; that's why I really need a Saviour! Thus it wouldn't make sense if people expect Christians to be sweeties and Mr. Nice Guys. We really are not! Rather, we're ones who've come to realise that.

However, that's not to say that we can forget about our obligation to do good. I'm just saying that doing good doesn't make us Christians - good deeds don't lead us to heaven. Rather, heaven has come to us freely. And since we've gained something we don't deserve, out of a grateful heart, we would naturally extend the grace which was first extended to us.

Hence, a Christian is as much of a mistake-maker as a non-Christian. The difference is that the Christian has chosen to acknowledge his sins and accepted God (Jesus) as his Saviour, and is thus saved.

(These are my personal thoughts and are the result of my experiences. They do not reflect the stand of the Christian Church or any Christian leader.)

Found!

I lost my 11B (military ID) over the weekend. Thank God Ian found it in his office, along with other stuff that fell off my wallet. About 11 months ago, I had lost my first 11B (hmm I must be a really careless person). Back then, I was worried sick about it, cos I was afraid of what my superiors might have done to me. (oh, I really did lose my 11B then and they did nothing to me.. I just had to pay a replacement fee of $50)

Back then, there was Ian too! He told me not to worry. My superiors could have punished me however they wished, but they couldn't take my life. That was one golden advice I held to throughout my army life thus far. And I thank God, because I know that my life is in His hands. Because He is in control, things don't just happen to me randomly, leaving me to fend for myself and make do with what life throws at me. No, every circumstance is intended for me - the good which he lovingly grants and the bad which He also lovingly allows for my training.

I think that's why Paul rehetorically asked, "If My God is for me, who then can be against me?" Indeed, having God on my side is a win-win situation. Good times bless me and bad times train me. What have I got to lose? Haha! I'm so happy and relieved now that I'm typing without stopping to think.... hahahahaha

Bible talks about how people lose things and later find them, afterward being more careful with the way they keep them. Yea, how timely it is that my mum just gave me a new wallet, which is more secured than my current one! I don't know... things are just happening so quickly =)

All in all, I think I owe everything to God, who owns the universe in the first place. Better than my 11B, I've found One whom I can trust forever.

Hello 2007

I've got a special feeling about this year, and I'm pretty excited about it. As I breathed past the new year, I recalled how I started off in the year 2006. It was the worst year of my life - thanks to national service. Don't be mistaken - I'm not anti-NS. In fact I regard NS as an important factor of Singapore's survival. It was the seemingly random (yet all too timely to be arbitrary) s**t (pardon me, I couldn't think of a better word) I was in that tore me apart, all the way till the end of the year, which was when things started to get better. So, by now, all the trials seem to be over.

As some preach, trials come before a blessing. In addition, this is the seventh year of the third millenium (pretty numbers: 7 and 3). Hence optimism =) I might sound utterly superstitious, but the equation seems all too fitting to be false.

Right now, I'm not sure what to expect. But I'm pretty sure things can't get worse. I've plunged rock bottom. There's only one way left.