Passing on the "Do it if you really want it!"

I think from last night (6/24/09) I already said to all my friends who attended the farewell party (i don't really agree with this as i will still meet you for sure even i will be in SD) that I regretted my decision to close my heart to serve the lord right on my first year in UCLA. I was so studious and afraid of not capable to pay my rent and school. Bcoz of that, i worked in the north campus restaurant in UCLA to at least be able to pay my rent. I was blessed i guess during that time as the manager liked the way i worked. What Bro. Aliang said last night was right that i often came early to one place and left the last, so everytime i worked i always made sure that everything was OK. i just like to make everything OK, not because i was afraid to my boss. However, time after time, i didn't feel comfortable with my life. Though i made money and proud of myself, i felt lonely and distressed with the courses that i took. There was one quarter, where i challenged myself to my limit, i took 4 science classes, all chem classes 3 upper level and i lower, as well as worked 16 hours/week. I was so tough, i couldn't handle one of the upper class, so i ended up having a C+, that was my first after i pushed myself. though feel proud again, i still feel emptiness.

Thank you for God who sent Bro. Aliang to always care about me, i was so touched by his care so i can't resist to say no when he offered help to me. In addition, there was a spirit in me who pushed myself to comeback serve the lord in the music ministry, being a drummer. Thanks to Past. Budhi who gave me the chance to serve Him, although i started serving Him as a singer. My drum play was so bad at first as my hands was so stiff, but overtime i learnt little by little to relax my hands, my heart, and my mind. sometimes i felt good, sometimes not. To be honest, i hated my play at first coz it was so monotone and boring, i couldn't roll in the way i thought over in my mind. But, because of "BOWYA" Mr. Jaya taught me the simple roll in using MOUTH!!! could you believe it?!? at first, i didn't, but i practiced with my mouth first and practiced the roll in. I was so happy, i could play what i want to play by practicing with my mouth first. so whoever have interest in playing drum, play with your mouth first!!! ha ha ha :D

Now, my testimony about playing drum for God in HMC (Nov '08) and the last bible camp (June '09), i always felt not confident when i played using my own capabilities, that's why i always like to start the play with a prayer. I felt saved after pray and confident that i could do everything. I felt like holy spirit holding my hands while playing the drum. the 16 beat...man that's so fast when i tought over it, but God made me capable of playing that fast. Now, the God's presence in church and at these two particular events, i sensed that when all of the people were really sought after God's presence, God really poured in all His atmosphere. At first, as a drummer, I was confused that "electric drum" can bring God's presence bigger than "acoustic drum". Acoustic drum is of course much better than electric, but what God sees is not the quality, what He wants to see is the hearts of people who look after Him, there you go...that's the secret.

My passion of music was so great, i want to encourage all of you my brother and sister in Christ to not limit yourselves. In whatever you want yourself to be placed in, believe it with your heart that it is not because of your talent or the time that you put for practice, but it is because God gives you the desire to play for Him, it is a GRACE. Don't say no if God gives you chance, just go for it. I believe there is greated satisfaction than ever in your life when you follow what God has put in your heart, i already experienced this. However, music is not the only place you can serve, music is just my example.

I want to see that we "mediocre" can be "superstars" when God play with us. just believe in Him and don't stop to pursue what you really enjoy/like. keep your persistency high, and i am sure God will use you one day.

Amin.
Hendra

Thank you for the chance to become a Nazirite

First of all, i thank you for Jesus Christ who had given me the chance to work after my graduation with B.Sc from UCLA. I was thinking that after 4 years studying in US, i would just go back to indo without having opportunity to work bcoz I Had no experience at all. However, with praying and fasting, God helped me went through all difficult situations. I was empowered by Him to keep looking for the job, which then I got in Baxter international. Even before i worked there, i had difficulties to get in as i was overqualified, that's what the spokesperson said. long-short, one of their candidate left for medical school reason, then i was called back after 3 weeks of gloomy-wandering days for searching job. Got there, I couldn't speak no words other than gave thanks to God, who had graciously given me the chance to extend my stay.

Not long after, i had chance to take GRE, finished all my school application with a lot of hesitation of getting into a school. I was praying that God would give me just one school to continue my study, and there, i got into SDSU. As it was said by Peter Kumar, i thought over what he said that i would always run around, i think that prophecy was right. My college was in San jose area, my undergrad college was in LA, then my grad college will be in SD. Yay, i am running around :)

But most of all, i thank you for God because he had planned me to come back to Him right on the HMC event on november 2008. That time was a turning point of my life as i had been freed totally from my sin, pornography. To be honest, it was hard for me to confess in front of a lot of people, but the spirit of God who pushed my mouth to say was bigger than my evil mind to shut my mouth. It was such a relieved that i was not ashamed to say those things, more over i felt more empowered by my own testimony.

not long after that, Elevate came in June 2009. From this event, i learnt that all the sins that fills this earth was coming from the broken or shattered relationship of people. I was thinking that homosexual, gay, or lesbian was really bad, but Herman martir said that all those people turned like that because of the broken relationship that they experienced. My commitment grows toward this topic, as i think i can relate this to my pornography experience. however, i would not compromise myself to go into that trap of sins. I am sure that with "Can i pray for you?" God wil help me to save people life from these wicked sins.

Thank you.
Hendra

Ahead of the world...

Helloooo fellow cool bloggers..

We're now back in LA! I believe everyone had a great 3 days 2 nights @ "Elevate" Youth Retreat aka bible camp. I am glad to see the many faces of whom I've been praying for, in the camp. There are many experiences and lessons learned.. God also once again revealed His immense love for us, His children.

In light of hoping that every1 will testify abt their encounter with God in this blog, let me start the ball rolling. Here's my piece:

"Elevate" is the 2nd bible camp I've been to, to date. The 1st bible camp I attended was in 2005, while I was still a secondary sch kid in Singapore. Hmm as it was after my 1st camp, I feel refreshed and so much in spirit. But honestly, this 2nd camp has much more impact on my life as a whole, because I had taken a huge, bold step that I thought I'd not have taken without the support of my friends and pastors. I was often in debate with myself whether or not to baptize because I grew up in a non-Christian family. However, the shepherd will never leave his sheeps. Even if 1 goes missing, he will search for that 1 lost sheep until he finds it :) The same thing goes with our mighty awesome shepherd in Heaven; God. When He called me into baptism in 2005, I said "God, maybe I should wait because my mom says I shouldn't do it." And then I buried the desire to get baptized until 2006, when it's time for me to go to LA for college.

I was a singer in my church in Singapore but by the time I got here, I was overwhelmed by the differences between living in an Asian country vs Blue-cheese country (uhm.. I mean, America), that I lost that 'spark' I had with Jesus while in s'pore. Long story short, I became an ordinary church-goer. I'm Christian on Sunday and for the rest of the week, I am no different from the world. I no longer hunger for His presence. Then, comes the breakup of the church and few of us felt obliged to serve in order to keep the church going. One of them is me and I thought I had the fire back. But it wasn't as bright as God wants it to be (yet)... and God desires for me to receive more from Him.. so He sent me to Healing Movement Camp, which burnt my spirit & left me hungry for more...

In this Bible Camp, I received more than I had expected. Fresh annointing, friendship, new revelations and a renewed heart of worship and dedication :). Also, for the first time in my whole 4 years as a believer, I witnessed God's annointing sooner before the pastor even started praying for us. God is oh-so amazing!

During the encore night, I heard God speak to me through my heart that He wants me to reach out to my family & the poor. And in order for His will to be realized in my life, I'd need obedience and complete surrender of my everything to Him. And so, I braved myself (with the support of my friends; thanks Roy, Robin, Veli, Cindy, Mikka, Grace, Ririn, etc...) to get baptized the next morning :). Words can't express how proud I am to have made that choice & do something bold for Jesus :) I'm a new creation now -- one who's ready to go out and preach God's love to my friends in UCLA and to my family back home.

One thing I know, I have made the right choice of coming to this camp & choosing God as my one and only Savior & guys!! this is only the beginning! God has prepared more challenges for us to ELEVATE to a much higher level each day. Amennn!! Go Nazarites!

I believe an elevated person is someone who will be ahead of the world, while on his/her journey to run after God and His great plan for him/her :) God bless u!

Elevate Youth Retreat 2009 - Things-to-bring List