Family Photos

Dear Diary,

A picture paints a thousand words ....Sometimes, it is good to write less and talk less. I enjoy photography, it refreshes me. I am in the 'picture ' mood today ...So, here it is .... Enjoy our family photos :)

Jan & Me, before the kids came

Schenker & Samantha on our way home from Damai Laut

Schenker & Me at the Swiss Garden Beach Resort, Damai Laut.

My two lovely kids

A beautiful smile

Rich In Love

Dear Diary,

Intense .. Intense .. Intense Love !

Rich in love.... Soaked in milk bath filled with 'agape' love (Greek word for eternal love). Probably 'eros' love too (Greek word for love between lovers), coz' we are one flesh (husband & wife). Soaked in essential oils, in a nice hot bath tub in a 5 star hotel. Enjoying the love in the air (as the song goes). 4 days and 3 nights of love, rest, serenity and reflection. The SPA , a Father's Day gift filled with love from the one & only beautifully made & handpicked for me, my lovely wife, Janet. It goes beyond description, to say that it was a very significant moment for me.

Janet made it very special.

The lavender scent made it extra 'warm'. The children enjoyed the air, filled with love unspoken, and yet felt very deeply in each one of our hearts. ELMO, viewed on the LCD projector brought a special atmosphere for the children. It was indeed a private holiday.

The touch of yogurt on the skin, was indesribable. The chill made me shiver ... but was for a moment only.

The Spa, was luxury for me. Luxury simply because my wife sacrificially & patiently 'weaved' every minute detail to make it very special for me. It was her special way of saying " You are special & loved" !

Words will not be enough to express the gratitude for such act of love. Truly, I appreciate it ... Janet is very special & I love my hotbabes :)

With Love,

Shanks

Tiger Woods

Dear Diary,

This weekend was a very refreshing one for me.

I had the luxury of reading a scholastic biography of Eldrick Woods, more commonly known as Tiger Woods. His life story has been really inspirational to me. As I was reading his biography, I was reminded of my 2 friends, peer level friends, one living in Malaysia & one in the US that has had an inspiritional impact on my life. I appreciated and admired their charisma, personality and confidence in the way they carried themselves. What inspired me most was that ..they were young & accomplished. AND the plus point was we were good friends. I grew up with one of them. We were classmates. Ran track & field together. Hung around a lot together. Today, they are both accomplished personalites in their field of work. I would be happy if I found out someone thinks the same of me ... ACCOMPLISHED PERSONALITY .... but I really don't know. Although I have had comments that I am a role model & an accomplished personality in my own respects, I still don't know how to gauge that.

Tiger Woods is just 3 years younger than I am. He was born in 1975. He is young. He grew up in a middle class home in California. Tiger is a genuine example of the American melting pot in action. His mixed ethinicity; African-American, Chinese, Native American, Thai and Caucasion makes him a culturally diverse personality. I admire his father for having the desire in introducing Eldrick to golf at such a young age -10 or 11 months old. What's amazing was Eldrick had his own putter !!! That is simply awesome. What an encouragement to Eldrich. I am challenged, really challenged to be a source of encouragement to my 2 wonderful kids. I want to be their HERO.

Eldrich grew up watching his father play golf. By the time Eldrich was 2 years old, he could chip shots, tee off, and hit putts. At 6 years old, he scored his first hole in one. This was truly a stunning achivement for such a young player. Eldrich joined golf championships at amatuer level & won many times over.

He worked hard. Stayed focused. Never gave up. I am amazed... at such a young age he had so much determination, will power and discipline to succeed.

He moved on from amatuer golf to profesional golf. He became profesional at the age of 21.

At 21, I was still at Emile Woolf , barely surviving my profesional exams, the Chartered Accountancy exams, said to be one of the top few hardest exams in the world, by British standards.

Eldrick joined the PGA Tour, facing a whole new set of challenges. Failing a few times , and winning a few top level competitions. He kept learning from his mistakes. He practised hard. Had good coaches. He made the effort . He gave his ALL.

In 1997, Eldrick made it to The Masters Tournament. It is one of the most important profesional golf tournaments in the world. Baseball players dream about going to the World Series, tennis players fantasize about Wimbledon, track & field athletes dream of running at the Olympics. For a golf player, winning The Masters is a dream come true. The Masters always attracts the best players in the world.

In the first round, Eldrick shot a decent 70. This score left him 2 strokes under par, and in fourth place. In the second round, he put together everything he had ever learned and shot a 66, leaving him six under par for the tournament. This was such a powerful round that at the end of the day, he found himself alone in the first place with a 3 stroke lead.

Tiger was clearly on the roll.

In the third round, Eldrick scored a jaw-dropping 65 strokes. He was 9 strokes ahead. It would be almost impposible to catch him now.

In his final round, Eldrick flew through his final round, hitting towering drives and sinking perfect putts. The rest of the field had been left so far behind that they didnt evenseem to exist. When it was all over, Eldrick had won by a record breaking twelve strokes.

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He raced over to where his father and mother were waiting, and hugged them as hard as he could. It was impossible not to cry at such a moment, and all three of them did. I am stirred in my emotions, nearly tearing, to see such a synergy of love, care & sacrifice the parents bestowed on Eldrick. It was his parents that stood by him, encouraged him, supported him in every sense even when they were financially pressed. Tiger Woods is who he is because of the love Mr & Mrs Woods showed him.

I want to be that kind of father to my lovely kids. They are talented, brilliant, full of charisma, beautiful and the lists goes on ... what more can I ask for. I am passionate in being a role model to Schenker & Samantha. They will be ACCOMPLISHED personalities. This I know !!!

Love to my lovely wife and kids.

With Love,
Shanks

The Analogy of Giants

Dear Diary,

I am glad my sharing on the Analogy of Giants went well. As promised, here 's a synopsis of my sharing ....


Cross-cultural workers are frequently beset with analogous challenges. Giants ….. – WHO is this creature ? What do they have to do with our lives ?

Briefly, they are Biblical metaphors.

What do we mean by Biblical metaphors ? Briefly, it's a figure of speech, a simile, an image or even an allegory. They represent the struggles that we often face as we try to serve the Lord with our UPGs, ministry, etc.

Lets find out …

GIANTS ....In a nutshell, Giants seek to disable us by exploiting our vulnerabilities
2 Samuel 21:15-17

The enemy seeks ways to sift us like a wheat, with the goal of destroying our lives & ministry. There are troublemakers lurking out there , waiting to take advantage of our vulnerabilites.

Question we need to ask ourselves is …..…

How can we prepare ourselves to handle our own vulnerabilities ?
What can we do ?

King David sets a perfect model we could follow. His last battlefield experience highlights strategies we can learn.

2 Samuel 21:15 says...
(2Sa 21:15) And again the Philistines warred with Israel. And David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David became faint.

(2Sa 21:16) And Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight. And he being girded with a new sword thought to kill David.

(2Sa 21:17) But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, You shall not go out to battle with us any more, so that you do not put out the light of Israel.


Once again, there was war with Philistia. David and his men made the familiar trek down to fight at Gob, lying on the border area between the two nations.

At this battle field, 2 observations were made. Two things were different …..
1.David was an older man, without the robust strength of his youth.
2. A Philistine giant, Ishbi-Benob was out to get David.

The Battle Commenced

In the midst of the fighting, David became exhausted. It would seem like Ishbi-Benob had been waiting for such a moment – when David was the most vulnerable, in order to make his move.
His assault was likely a DELIBERATE , PREMEDITATED act.

Another observation was made ...
Ishbi-Benob was wearing something new on his waist. Ishbi-Benob had a bronze spear weighing 7 1/2 pounds on his waist belt.

Significant Interpretation
He was wearing a belt of honour . (He was a champion among the Philistines). The new sword may be dedicated for a specific task, such as killing David.


Abishai came to David's aid. He was known as on of the heroes among David’s men. A fearless and willing volunteer, fiercely loyal to David. Abishai comes to David’s aid. Smites the giant and kills him.

Now comes the Important Epilogue...David’s valiant men gather around him and make him swear that he will never go into battle again.

Why ?

Is it for David’s own safety ?

Well, something more important is at stake ……" In order that the lamp of God might not go out "

What does this phrase mean ?

David, as king, was like a lamp that reflected the character and purposes of God to Israel and the surrounding peoples.To extinguish this witness would be an assault on God’s redemptive purposes for the nations.

Implications ?

We are lamps to team members, family, ministry colleagues, UPGs,etc

As with David, the forces of darkness seek to prey on our vulnerabilities in order to diminish the intensity of our lights to the UPGs, family, friends, etc .

Antidote ...Watching Over Our Hearts . That's the secret.
Proverbs 4:23 says...
(Pro 4:23) Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.

Reflection ….
We need to look for opportunities to reassess personal strengths and weaknesses.

Like David and his men, we must rise to the challenge and search deep within our hearts and take a closer look at our own giants and vulnerabilities.

What are our vulnerabilities ? Here are some examples ....
Depression
Painful memories
Hatred
Loneliness
Interpersonal relationships
Insecurity
Emotional Instability

What Do We Do ?

There are 2 Keys for personal growth & ministry effectiveness :
1. Self Reflection
2. Accountability


1. Self Reflection
There is a proverb that says ..."A bitter truth is better than a sweet lie" Looking within is not easy, but it is far better than ignorance & denial.

The key is to ...
Take time to get quiet, and reflect.
Listen & wait upon the Lord
Speak to a friend
Speak to a counselor

Self Reflection is not a selfish pursuit, but it is an important spiritual discipline rooted in classic Christian wisdom. Self reflection & journaling goes hand in hand.


2. Accountability
A well known proverb says ....A true friend is the elixir of life and those who fear the Lord make true friends.

Mutual Support on location is important. Building close friendships – email, skype, etc is extremely important in keeping sane.

Conclusion - Be sure to seek out still times, safe places & special friends


Reflection Applications

1. Like David, we all have vulnerabilities. These become more visible for those who are in leadership positions. Sometimes we may not be aware of them until a crisis brings them to light. What are few areas of vulnerability for you ?

2. Accountability – What does this imply about teamwork, our need for each other, and our willingness to let others speak into our lives ?

Dr Jan Schenker

Dear Diary,

I am so glad I can actually have a decent conversation with my 2 years & 7 months old Schenker. It is an awesome feeling when you know that your son really understands what you're saying & vice versa. These days I really enjoy talking to him. He brings great delight to our hearts.

I remember Tapsa (my Finnish team mate) once having a conversation with Schenker when he was 1 year old ....and Tapsa said "I can't wait to have a conversation with you" . It is amazing , even at that young age , friends were already enjoying talking to him. You can tell I am very proud of my kids, Schenker & Samantha.


Early yesterday afternoon, when Janet called me on the phone to check on something, Schenker told Mummy that he'd like to talk to me. Without any hesitation, Janet gave the phone to him. We talked ...and I asked him where Mummy was ? He said " Mummy is washing dishes in the kitchen" and he said it so clearly. On top of that, he said a few other things & ended the call with "I Love You Daddy" . Words like that is like fragrance to my ears ...It just makes my day. It makes you feel loved & special . Won't you feel the same too ?



The day went by ...and I came home from work at about 6.00pm. Spent the rest of the day playing with the kids. Samantha went to bed early but Schenker was active & wide awake even at 12 midnight. We (Jan , me & Schenks) were in the living room watching Barney and then, Schenker said something I didnt quite catch. I asked him what exactly he was trying to say ...and he said again " I want to be a doctor " . Wow, I almost fell off my chair. I couldnt believe what my 2 years & 7 months old boy just said. I cannot believe he's got an ambition at such a young age. I am so challenged to work hard to make it possible for my son to pursue medicine. When I was a little boy, perhaps , a little older than Schenker , my ambition was to be a road sweeper. It's funny but I really enjoyed sweeping the floor when I was little. :) BUT my son is only slightly over 2 years & he already wants to become a doctor. That is amazing !!! Praise God I didnt end up as a road sweeper in real life ..hehehhehe ! So, I do pray & hope if the Lord tarries his coming, I pray that Schenker would one day beocme a doctor & be a blessing to communities of people & above all else be a blessing to the nations. His goal in life should be to reflect the glory of God in all areas of his life.



When Janet & I got married in 2003, I told her of my desire to have our kids become doctors so that they can be a real blessing to people in need. In real honesty, it is not about how much money they can make but it is about loving people. There are very few vocations where you can be a blessing to communities. Jan teasingly said , she'd like one of them to become a Civil Engineer (like Jan) , then, I said, in that case I'd like one of them to become an Accountant (like me) ....Eventually, we both said we'll let them decide & allow God to pave the way for them.

Looking back, I can tell it is not by might, nor by power but by the spirit of God that will lead & guide our children. In truth, they are His & we are just God's instruments in bringing them up in the fear of the Lord making them men & women of stature and virtue.


Thank You Jesus for such an awesome opportunity to bring up such wonderful children. Jan & I are so blessed.


With Love,
Shanks

Weekend Surprise

Dear Diary,

It has been a great weekend for me. Am so glad to have been able to spend some good quality time with Janet & the kids. Janet gave me pleasant surprise on Saturday. She gave me an excellent spa & massage. I didnt know when we were the task to encourage someone during the week, Janet got mine. It is amazing. I wish I had her name . I felt really loved & cared for. She did all with so much love. It is hard to describe, BUT I know I felt so much love within me ...and I am sure it is just not the Ylang, Ylang sensual oil BUT it is love that overflowed from within her heart for me. I am blessed ...truly blessed .

It is funny, how Janet & I joke about the sensual rejunevation BUT in reality, it's the woman you love that makes life 'extra' special .

I love you , Jan.

AND, Yes, we cannot thank God enough for blessing us with such great kids .... with such great looks, brains, personality & character. What more can we ask for. Thank You, Jesus. Praise God for the opportunity to bring up Schenker & Samantha. They bring us special joy that we as parents can never describe enough the special blessings they bring to our lives.

Above all, it is God who is always watching over our lives. God is lovely.

Will need to sleep soon. Am sharing at the STAMP Team in the morning. Did an excellent powerpoint on 'The Analogy of GIANTS' . Am looking forward to sharing. I sure do hope to take some time to write how it went.

Till then. Good night !