Micah 5:5

Ms. Joyce Tan and son Kevin

Exactly today 27/03/2007, I prayed before opening the Bible. I prayed "God, let me read what teaching You want me to know for this day," for I still remember that everytime I randomly opened the Bible, I always manage to read verses about sin, God's anger and destruction (of Israel). Back then, I thought that that was just by chance, and God is not really surreptitiously saying that He is angry with me.

Looking back now, perhaps God did want to say that He was not pleased with how I was leading my life of sin, that the random Bible verses were a way for me to realize that. I did not live a life God has mapped out for me. He tried to reach out but in my own stubborn way, I kept to myself.

Fortunately, God did not give up on me. He found a way for me to come back to Him freely, my own heart seeking Him. He waited until the day that my heart is soft and my mind is open. That was a period after I had a turbulent time with my career, a time when I felt lonely with me being alone and had no succesful relationship with women, an episode in my life that I begin to doubt my abilites and what I can do. It was a lonely time- just the right moment for God to show the silver lining.

I love the story of how I was found! It's a story I keep telling and will continue telling as long as there are people willing to listen. I found God, or rather God found me, through this rather cheerful lady, who happened to need running shoes and ended up in my shop (of the hundreds of sports shop in Singapore). I could see that she is no ordinary person, just by the way she spoke in her very fluent English, and in the manner she spoke to me. She had wide inviting eyes, a gentle but rather carefree smile, and a voice that had the color of sunshine. I do not remember who asked who first, but I got to know she was from America and now lived in Singapore, and I got to tell her that I'm from the Philippines. She asked if I was Catholic and I said yes, and if went to the church here and told her that I used to but got really disillusioned by it so I stopped going. Then she spoke the words I will never ever forget. She simply asked me "Well, maybe you would like to come to my church?" For some reason, the gravity of those words weighed heavily on mind. I'm not sure either what made me come two weeks later on that very sunday that this guy named Douglas came to Singapore after two years. I was amazed, I was awed, hooked by the way these people sang and praised God. Moved by the way they whipped out their PDA's and notes to write down the lessons. Inspired by the sermon of Douglas about softening our hearts. And most of all touched...by the gesture Ms. Joce Tan, the lady who invited me, and Siew Hee, her husband, showed- it is as if I am one of their own.

" And he will be their peace." Micah 5:5. This is what God wanted to tell me. One simple line. One simple verse that sums up everything that God has done for me. I am at peace with God, at last.

I therefore dedicated this blog to God, and to the people whose hands, mouths and in Ms. Joyce's case foot, God has used to get me back into His Kingdom. For my brothers and siters at Central Church of Singapore, this blog will be postings of my own narration of the sermons for every sunday (I am able to attend, i might add), as well as some of our collective prayers. God bless us all, that we may know God more, and through us make Him known.