Dilemma!!!

There is always this dilemma.

• To join or not to join?
• To serve or not to serve?
• To commit or not to commit?

I am sure many people have come across such dilemma such as the above in their involvement in BB. I have also encountered similar experiences throughout the past 11 years in the Brigade.

I struggled with the first dilemma for ages before joining the Brigade. I used to admire the badges on the arms of BB boys since the young age of 5 or 6. I grew up in the church with an active BB company. As I grew older and closer to the minimum age to join, the dilemma of "to join or not ot join" struck me. I struggled for quite a while before deciding to give it a try upon the invitation of two officers. Since then, I never regretted my decision to join the Brigade.

"To serve or not to serve" was a typical dilemma of officers, particularly those with family and busy career. For me, the experience came slightly earlier. While I was a Sergeant, I encountered problems with my company. I decided to leave the company but struggling to with the dilemma of whether to continue in BB or not. Subsequently, I was invited to 1st Penang. Even though I joined 1st Penang after visiting them for only one parade, it took a while for me to decide whether to serve or not to serve in this new company. At that stage, I was already too old to achieve much, BB has become more of serving than receiving. Proud to say, the decision to serve in 1st Penang has changed my whole perspective of BB. No regrets so far in making that choice. I have seen God's wonderful hands building up the company and see boys growing and changing. The experience was wonderful!

The third dilemma, is closely related to the second dilemma. I would think it is difficult to serve yet not committed. Therefore, I believe the decision to serve comes with the commitment to do my best. In BB, I have seen God's abundant blessings on His servants who are commited and dedicated to the ministry. It was such an encouragement to see God rewards them with good health, warm family, successful career, good study results and other success in life.

As I was sharing this article, fresh dilemma began to struck me again. I am now away in Singapore, deciding whether "to join or not to join" the BB ministry. Coincidently, my girlfriend, who used to serve along with me in GB/BB ministry, is also struggling with this dilemma once again, after being away from the Brigade for almost 5 years. I guess, the dilemma is still the same but the surrounding and experiences have made the dilemma more complicated.

Let wait and see how God guides us through!

Second Blessing

What is my second blessing?

Well, I did not really appreciate it when I was growing up. I often took advantage of it. Just take whatever good from this blessing without even thinking of what have I contributed to make it into a better blessing.

I started to appreciate it the first time this blessing was taken away from me briefly, for mere 25 days. I seriously missed it, wept about it and very much wanted to gain it back as soon as possible as well as began to think of its importance to me. Although after regaining it again, I tend to forget its importance to me again.

Then in May 2002, this blessing was taken away from me. Occasionally I was given a taste of it for short period of time. Since 2002, the longest period of enjoying this blessing again was three months. Despite the fact that I could only enjoy this blessing occasionally and for short period of time, I have really learnt to appreciate it and thanking God every moment of it.

My second blessing was FAMILY!

Now being further apart from it, I thanked God for all the wonderful experiences He placed in my family. There were times of argument, disagreement, strife, quarrel, selfishness, self-centeredness; yet God was gracious to continue blessing me with a family.

As I am now in Singapore, my sister in Kuala Lumpur and my parents back home in Penang; I thanked God for it because although we were all apart physically, all of us know confidently that God stills connect us all through Him. What a blessing!

"Thank you God for family in playing the most significant part of development in my life. Thank you for all the past experiences, both good and bad. Help us to cherish all wonderful moments. Help us to love and contribute more to improve the shortcomings and weaknesses. God, continue to shower Your blessings on my family with good health and long lives. Amen."

First Blessing

What inspired me to start counting God's blessing? Well, I was sitting on the evening of 21 Oct 2006, feeling tired of studies, lonely and sad. As I was browsing through some old photographs, I felt so touched by how God has provided all the needs and guided me throughout these 24 years.

It was always easy for us to give thanks and count God's blessing in times of joy. Usually these sweet memories will last long and be cherished. However, as times past, we tend to remember the wonderful memories without the great appreciation of God's involvement.

On the contrary, when we felt dejected, it was difficult to count God's blessing. We tend to whine, complaint and blame God for putting us through these difficulties. No doubt, I was similar in such situation. I guess it's human's nature. However, after pasting through these torrid times, how many times do we actually looked back and give thanks to God for putting us through times of test and tribulation.

This first sharing of appreciation, with counting God's blessings as the focal of the blog, I have to thank God for making and molding me into the person whom I am. I strongly believe that every incident in life so far, is not mere coincident but was placed with careful and detailed planning of God.

"Thank you God for everything I experienced so far. Thank you for all that You provided, imparted and inspired to build me into what I am today. I acknowledge, You are the Potter and I am the clay. The process is ongoing and I believe, little by little, I will be changed and molded into the perfect person You intended for me to be. Amen."