Please hit "WEBCASTS"
Hello and welcome to the 15th episode! If you have been tuning in to our programme consistently, you would have noticed that for the past three to four months, we have been sharing with you the personal life testimonies from Stanley’s book, titled Divine Encounters at Marketplace!
For many of us, we may be envious of Stanley’s interesting and amazing life. You may wonder how then can I have such a fulfilling and interesting life as well. Stanley personally tells us that fear is the biggest obstacle! Fear comes not only from lack of financial stability, health, but also from lack of self-confidence. When we hear God calling out to us, are we willing and courageous enough to respond? And could we then offer our capabilities, time and money to work together with God to help others to achieve that eternal goal?
**************************
Stanley: “Each day is a blank page of the book of your life, write a good one. Our choices affect not only ourselves, but also the people around us, and may have important ramifications to come. What can you do today that has external value?”
**************************
Through prior sharing, you would have known that Stanley is a person who has a positive mentality towards life. He works hard and lives a passionate life. He took every opportunity during his working life to share Christ with everyone around him. Now, Stanley has already passed his retirement age. Nevertheless, Stanley always maintains that he would never retire! Hearing this, you must conclude that this man enjoys what he is doing in life! So what has he been up to lately that caused him to be so enthusiastic?
In May 2015, Stanley started a Facebook account when encouraged by one of his friends to share his 2 death experience testimonies to glorify the living Christ. Unlike many others his age, Stanley is not afraid of technology, instead he embraces this and sees it as a great opportunity to learn something new. Stanley is continuously amazed atthe technological advancessince the days of his childhood. He is so glad to be able to witness and experience this tremendous change and impact that technology has madein his lifetime. The ability to connect with thousands and millions of people all over the world, at anytime and anywhere via a range of devices is not something that he could have imagined as a child. The possibilities opened by e-Missions is exciting. No matter where Stanley and his wife Linda are, they can send to or receive the latest news from families and friends around the world. Stanley confessed that after all, he is aging and there’s a limit to his physical body and energy. Hence it is not as easy as it was in the past for him to travel long distances. But email, Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook and WeChat help him to conquer the obstacles of time and distance and make it easier to connect with people in different countries. He is also able to make use of the various social media to share Jesus’ love with anyone including the younger generation.
Sharing the gospels and teaching people to know God more deeply is a joyous passion for Stanley. However, it does not come easily as hard work and pain occur during the process as well. Stanley needs to try relentlessly, with much patience and unceasing care and concernto connect with people over social media in the right way. It is hard work, but to Stanley, it’s all worth it. Because for every bit of effort he puts in, he understands that there is an eternal value attached to it.
Does he ever encounter difficulties and letdowns? Of course! Definitely! And when such things happen, what does Stanley do then? Talking about this, Stanley is reminded of a story which encouraged him deeply. Let me share with you the story.
The title of the story isNever Quit: Fern and Bamboo.
One day, I decided to quit, I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.
I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
“God,” I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”
His answer surprised me. “Look around,” He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.But I did not quit on the bamboo,” He said.
“In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.
In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit,” He said.
“Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.
But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.”
He said to me. “Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo; I will never quit on you.”
“Don’t compare yourself to others,” He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful.Your time will come,” God said to me, “You will rise high!”
“How high should I rise?” I asked. “How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.
“As high as it can?” I questioned. “Yes,” He said, “Give ME glory by rising as high as you can!”
Dear friends, do you like the story which Stanley has shared with us? Do you think you are the fern or the bamboo? Through this story, Stanley hopes to remind friends that God will never give up on us. And that’s why we should never give up as well. This is also what God has promised us in the Bible! Amen?
“Those who were called under the name of Christ will never be forsaken! And the trials and tribulations handed to us will not be more than what we cannot bear!”
Our programme is ending soon. Next week would be our last episode of Divine Encounters at Marketplace. In the last episode, we shall share Stanley’s wishes for his inevitable Christian funeral. For Christians, funerals are not the end, but rather the start of a journey. And what special arrangements does Stanley have in mind for his? We welcome you to tune in next week to Divine Encounters at Marketplace to find out!
Goodbye and see you again!
Song Title: Into The Deep by Citipointe