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LOVE GOD: The City Harvest Church Story


The introduction of the congregation



School of Theology (ENG)



School of Theology 城市丰收神学院(CHI)



CHC Emerge 2009



CHC Celebrity Weekend 2009

LOVE ARTS: My first ever inked on my skin

I really can't believe that i did it... with much anxious and worry about the pain on getting tattoo that my friend told me, i decided to gush out my juice of guts to get myself an inked. Well, after much research on the design (I'm using Sailor Jerry's arts as reference) and consideration, as well as changing the initial plan on the design, I finally decided on this...



ISAIAH 53:5 means "By His stripes, we are Healed"

Surprisingly, the process of getting it done is not pain at all but just a little itch plus a few uncomfortable stabs felt on the skin, i was a little disappointed that the tattoo is a bit lower then I've expected, but that just leave a space for me to get another tatts of the word "Cultural Mandate" at the spot where right above the cross has left.



And I'm not done yet with probably 2 black stars at the back of my shoulder supported with 2 tribal arts (I always wanted to get the tribal style of tattoo) then it'll be perfect and done. I've drawn an artist impression attached below. Hopefully, it'll be looking like this after done...


After i get this tattoo, one of my Conservative Christian friend accused me for being "worldly" or whatever that she can describe out from the bible. But with the ultimate teaching of the bible as well as the preaching from Pastor Kong about Cultural Mandate, I'm doing this to engage the culture and reach out to the lost where most of the Christians dare not to or can't to. And with the ending of this post, i want to include here a very interesting testimony.



The tattoo artist who did this tattoo for me who is a Buddhist, she is a very anti-Christianity kinda person. As she doing the tatts for me, she questioned me on whether Christian can do a tattoo or is it a taboo, but i simply answer her with what i know for not being superstitious, not religious, but daring and confident to enter to marketplace and engage the culture where the lost are in. I also share with her how i got save as well as how God has transform my life and bless me, and i told her about cultural mandate that City Harvest Church practise too. And by the end of the day, she was somehow change her mindset towards Christianity and jokingly challenge me that "if i follow her to temple, then in return she follow me to church service!" and we even exchanged phone numbers to contact each other. Thought that she won't easily accept Christ like this, but i've managed to sow a seed, planted in her heart, and i believe that, one day this seed will grown and reap in harvest!

That's the power of Cultural Mandate that we Christians shouldn't be judgmental, shouldn't be religious, superstitous, not vain and vulgar but be confident to step in the marketplace to move for God! Halelujah!

LOVE GOD: What About Tattoos?

Tattoos have become a mark of the 21st century. According to the August 4, 2008, issue of U.S. News & World Report, more than one quarter of those under the age of 30 adorn their skin with at least one. No longer is tattoo something reserved only for gang members, convicts, delinquents or social outcasts. In fact, many of the preachers’ kids of the largest churches in Australia, America and Europe have them on their bodies. And these PKs are by no means rebellious or unspiritual. Most of them are doing excellent jobs leading youth, music and creative ministries. Some are even deliberately using their tattoos as a bridge to connect with the unchurched in outreach efforts. However, for most people, a tattoo is simply a means of stylistic expression. Many middle-aged women may not tattoo patterns and designs, but they go to their aestheticians to tattoo their eyebrows, eyeliners and lip colors.

So, is tattooing a sin? Are Christians allowed to have them?

Those who argue against it often quote Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” The word for “tattoo” in its original Hebrew is qa-aqa, which appears only this one time in the entire Scripture. Proper hermeneutic requires us to read any Bible passage with the actual context in mind. Practically all Bible commentaries agree that the context of Leviticus 19 is God prohibiting the Israelites from adopting the religious practices of the pagan nations surrounding them. Adam Clarke’s Commentary of the Old Testament says that the pagans were carrying “marks on the body in honor of the object of their worship ... for superstitious purposes ... in honor of different idols.” Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible says that the practice “had religious significance among Israel’s pagan neighbors.” But what if there is no religious, superstitious or idolatrous implication? Is a believer allowed to tattoo then?

Technically, if one takes the view that Leviticus 19 prohibits tattooing for all people in all circumstances, then for consistency’s sake, one must also abide by all the letters of the law here. That includes no shaving around the sides of the head, and the mandatory keeping of beards for all men (v27), which is a near impossibility for any serving in the military today. That also includes not wearing clothes made of different fabrics (v19). Should we then also continue with slavery and the keeping of mistresses, both accepted practices during the ancient days of Leviticus (v20)? Should we continue the Old Testament dietary restrictions like no eating of pork, shrimp, crab or shellfish? What about headscarves for women? Do we need to enforce that on all Christian women today? Most of us will agree that the answers to all the above are an emphatic no.

Next, is God Himself abhorrent to tattoos? God says in Isaiah 49:16, “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. Your walls are continually before Me.” The word “inscribe” in Hebrew means “to engrave.” The scholars of The Living Bible simply translate that as “I have tattooed your name upon my palm.” When John saw a vision of God’s chosen 144,000, they were “sealed” and “written” with the Father’s name on their foreheads (Rev. 7:3; 14:1). Those words in the original Greek mean to “mark,” “stamp” and “engrave.” The book of Revelation also talks about false worshipers receiving the mark of the beast, which were called stigmata among the Greeks. To this Paul refers when he says, “I bear in my body the marks (stigmata) of the Lord Jesus” (Gal. 6:17). Whether the prophet Isaiah and the apostles John and Paul are speaking metaphorically or otherwise, one thing is for sure, body markings are not always repugnant to God. As such, we must be careful not to paint them as evil or sinful in a broad, general stroke.
Theologians, like Tom Beaudoin, have done studies on youths who pierce or tattoo their bodies. They discovered that youths do that when they have had profound experiential encounters. Things that impact them deeply, like when they fall in love, get their hearts broken, graduate, start a new job, achieve something they are proud of, or lose a loved one through death. To the youths and young adults of the 21st century, tattooing (and body piercing) are often not something vain or rebellious, but more like a rite of passage. It is their way of expressing the spiritual in the physical, even at the expense of experiencing some bodily pain.

For most people, tattooing today is simply a means of personal and stylistic expression, much like clothing, makeup, hairstyle, body-toning and fashion accessorizing. There is nothing religious, superstitious and rebellious to the wearer; it is simply for aesthetic value.

Because tattooing is designed to last forever, and removal is painful and expensive, you should enter into it only after much consideration. Ask yourself the following:

• Am I at a legally acceptable age to get a tattoo?
• If I live with my parents, would they support my decision?
• Would I still want this tattoo when I get older?
• Am I really comfortable having it even if people may “unfairly judge” me?
• If my tattoo is visible to others, is it appropriate for my line of work?

Ultimately, tattooing is a personal choice that, more often than not, reflects neither a rebellious nature nor a religious inclination. It is clearly written in the Bible that God looks beyond the surface and sees the heart of a person. We must be careful not to judge a believer with tattoos as loving God less than the one without.

*Retrieve from Pastor Kong's blog.

LOVE ARTS: It is a good day to be an emo (part 2)

(Previously on IIAGDTBAE)
my phone ring... it reads "Mandy"... i pick up the call....i didn't say anything.... the girl in the other hand keep repeating "Joe, Joe? are you there? Hello?..." but i remain silent... The rain pours down heavily now... i wonder when the rain is going to stop...


The rain finally stop at 11:28am, i walked inside Starbucks just to grab a cup of long black... strange... something is wrong..very wrong..i don't take coffee usually, i guess i just want the bitterness to fill up the space of my mouth... the staff at the counter greeted me with a smile, and i replied "what's with that grin on your face?" She look surprised... i find a sit.. i sat down and facing towards the glass that i can look on the streets... i saw an old man walking with his back carrying a heavy pile of old newspapers... the heavy burden that he can't sustain anymore... he collapsed... everyone that walked pass him seems like unaware of this old man's existence... i have a sip on my long black... like it's name... the long and dark never ending bitterness filling up my mouth... i poured the remaining on the floor.. each every words and lyrics of Slipknot's Vermilion are began to surface in my mind. I walked out of the shop. And i saw a lady painting a scenery at outside of the coffee shop, thought that she is painting with variety of palettes on her hand... yet still what i see in the painting is a black and white. Mandy calls again, Mandy is definitely saying something, but what i heard is a distortion of sound wave... i was somehow pushed by this sound wave and i fell to the ground... in the process, i accidentally knock my head... and i was bleeding with a black color blood... was it the after effect of the long black?


LOVE LIFE: Michael Schumacher make a comeback to Mercedes

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Michael Schumacher announced a comeback from retirement to join Mercedes. Even thought he was a Ferrari legend but yet my heart still remain loyal to SF Scuderia Ferrari! Is the same when C.Ronaldo decided to leave Manchester United, I'm a loyal MUFC supporter! Is the team but not the person! FORZA FERRARI~ GLORY GLORY MAN UTD~ once a RED forever a RED!

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I've been supporting Scuderia Ferrari since year 2000, and it will goes on forever and the legacy will eventually pass on to my next generation too!

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I just hope that Massa can cope well with Alonso next season...

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And come on Red Devils!!! we can't afford to lose any matches anymore!!!

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Oh, and Merry Christmas!!! :)

LOVE GOD: Operation:Save The World



City Harvest Church KL presenting, our own drama production OPERATION: SAVE THE WORLD

Wednesday, 23 December 2009 • 8pm - 10pm
Thursday, 24 December 2009 • 9pm - 11pm
Friday, 25 December 2009 • 10am - 12pm

Do come 30 mins before service to avoid long queue. Come and have fun and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!


*This video was taken from the drama production in CHCSG 2008

LOVE LIFE: Penang Trip December 2009

What happened when 5 beautiful Ladies and 3 Cute Guys hit the beach at The "Food Haven", "Land of Pearl" or whatever name you call it. What you are reading is the trip to Penang Island we just came back last week.

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We departed at approximately 1.45am dawn and dusk, Friday 11th. After attending our Cell Groups respectively, Me, Ann, Agnes and The Twins Charis & Christy all hopped in to my lil Savvy and sped up to the Island. We touch the island at exact 5.45am, then the very first thing we did which is drive up to Teluk Bahang waiting for sunrise... well...unfortunately we all end up at the wrong direction of the sunrise spot, which the sun raised at another direction (><) Doh.....

After that, we decided to go to the town for Dim Sum breakfast, and along the way, we picked up Ben from the Jeti. And after festing ourselves with tons of food on the table...it only cost us RM57!!! how cheap!!! Oh ya, the Dim Sum Restaurant is call Zim Sum located at McAllister Road.

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Well girls are girls... when we finished our breakfast, they all wanted to go the Gurney Plaza Shopping Mall at 9.50am!!! and well, as expected they'll went to the mall's toilet to makeup... yes yes... even myself quoted that guys like girls that know to makeup. And taking our own sweet times walking around the mall and snap some pictures. Well did i mentioned 8 person in total, so where's the other 2? yea yea... oh well, Hunter and Leanne we're coming in another car, we're schdeuled to meet up for dinner after resting in our hotel.

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Greetings in 108

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Tada!!! the excellent view from our balcony.

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We took a 2 hours rest in the hotel room, then Sophie - a friend of mine from City Harvest Church Penang came and look for us. While the girls are busy grooming up, well me and Ben was also busy grooming ourselves... this is a scene that is so familiar to us, as if exactly like we're serving in the artist room for makeup and hairdo... hahaha... I helped Agnes to straigthen her hair and helped Ben, Sophie and Charis to style their hair...yup..included my hair.. that's why i said that it is like our weekly routine at church before the service start! And i lend my Ed Hardy® Tee to Ben ^^

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While waiting for Leanne and Hunter, we took some photographs at the hotel lobby and Ann directed Ben and Me for an unofficial photoshoot advertising for Ed Hardy....LOL

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And finally they arrived with Leanne's Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0, then we head to Northam Beachside Cafe for dinner, and i met my another friend Auntie Joyce there :)

Joyce's mum happened to opened a local delights kiosk in there, and i tried the Penang style Koey Teow from her... thumbs up! ^^ you guys should try out if you happened to be there. The kiosk is between The Char Koey Teow and the Chicken Wings kiosks.

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After that, we when to the Night Bazaar at Batu Feringghi while Christy, Agnes, Hunter and Leanne decided to go back to the hotel. We played a funny game after i came back from the night bazaar, and whoever that lose the game will get a punishment of....putting the opposite sex under garment on our head! And we got the very lucky winner of the night for crowning Hunter's boxer on her head - Leanne muahahahaha.....well... for privacy issue...i'm not allow to post the photo here... :P just check out my facebook then heehee... and there goes the end of day 1.

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On second day, we had some more fun in the swimming pool, played some games and snap more photos. :)

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Yes yes.... i know what you are thinking.... NO BIKINIS!!!!

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but look what we got here... Hunt-Man coming for the rescue and save the day...with his 2 sidekicks - Lady Agnes & Hardy Boy!

Uhmm.... congrats Hunt-Man...you just laid a pinky egg! :D

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After the fun, we all went for the service at City Harvest Church Penang, and was totally blown away by the preaching of Pastor Saras Bany. He preached about The Power of Purpose, and until now...i still remember his catchphrases such as "Neighbour, Is Good!". Indeed, we were like seeing Pastor Kong infront of us, Ben second that.

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After the service, we went to Hard Rock Hotel at night while Leanne and Hunter were already on their way back to KL. And there goes our final night of stay at Penang.

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After the trip, Christy, Ann and Agnes are all sick... but nevertheless, we enjoyed the trip as well as the time of fellowship with each other, even some little unhappy events happened, but it still bound us together as friends. After all, we're so much care for each other throughout the trip. Also, this is the farewell for Ann and Christy who are leaving to Singapore and Sabah respectively... we're gonna miss you girls! And looking forward for the next trip with you guys again! :)

Here, signing off again, with love and peace,

Joe