On the 24^th March 2007, Mr. Eric Kirton a loving father and grandpa, a humble servant of God, a missionary to the people in Kuantan, a preacher teacher, and the Evangel bookman returned home to the Lord. In the memorial service, I was deeply touched by his life as old friends, fellow workers and leaders of the church gave their testimonies about him and his life. Here is a man who laid down his life in total submission and obedience to the cross of Christ. You can read about his bibliography at http://www.ekirton.com.

These are one of the last words of the Apostle Paul;

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:2

May we all end the race that was marked out for us like the Apostle Paul and Mr. Eric Kirton. That all who comes behind us find us faithful. You have left a legacy behind and footprints for us to follow. Thank You Mr. Eric Kirton.

“Special thanks to Mr. Eric Kirton for answering his call to be a missionary. He traveled to Malaysia and began his work enthusiastically to spread the gospel to many and bringing them to the saving grace and knowledge of the LORD JESUS CHRIST! He has definitely blessed many and also myself. His sermons and messages are truly inspiring. May The Lord bless him as Eric Kirton is now back in His arms at 5am 24th March. He's done his part on earth and now enjoys an everlasting relationship with our LORD JESUS. And I know my redeemer lives to conquer death and to raise us up again to be with HIM in heaven. You will be deeply missed by family members, team Kirton mission team, brothers and sisters in Christ on earth. This song is specially dedicated to You, Mr. Eric Kirton. God Bless U and Thank You for everything!! (24th MARCH 2007)” – noobshit a.k.a Leong Eng

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,” – Hebrews 12:1,2a

I’ll let the lyrics of the song that were sung in the memorial service speak to you.

- Find Us Faithful -

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

From Duck to Swan
Signing out at 2.09am – 26^th March 2007

I’ve recently watched the movie 300 that replayed the scenario of the historical battle of Thermopylae. The Greeks (Spartans) fought a valiant battle against the vast Persians armies that numbered like the sands of the beach. 300 brave Spartans laid down their lives for their King Leonidas and their beloved country Sparta from the cruel invasion of the Persians. The Spartans are men of valor that is proud of their origin, their country and most of all their King. I was deeply touched by their loyalty and love to the King and to the country. They are more than willing to lay down their lives for the sake of their King. They fought alongside with him and died alongside with him. Men of the distant past seem to place great honour to the sovereignty of their King and his kingdom.

There is a great contrast between man of the past and man of the present. The modern society and culture have shaped each person to honour himself/herself ahead of others. The value of honour is questionable in today’s society. Everyone is for themselves. The capital “I” has become the center of everything. “I” should be the first, “I” am the best, and “I” lead my life the way “I” want it to be. Well, in the middle of it all it is “I” and in the problem that lead to this capital “I” syndrome is in the disease known as s”I”n. It’s a common disease that strikes every person on this surface of the earth. However it is a fatal disease that could cause serious damage to a person’s life and eventually leading to death.

Fear not for the cure has been found. There is a man that has the immunity to this disease in His blood. However, the only way to make the cure is by using His blood. The antibody serum can only be made with one condition. It requires all of His blood. He has to die in our stead so that we might have the cure for the fatal disease.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” – Matthew 26:26

But yet sometimes we fail to see that we are so absorbed into the culture of the world that teaches that every man is for themselves. Taking up the main symptom of the disease of s”I”n even when we had been cured of it - Trust no-one but trust yourself.

Do we honour our King? Do we even acknowledge our King? Or the disease that once brought condemnation to us has clouded our minds and boosted our self-ego? Do we trust ourselves more than we trust the King? King Leonidas’ men trusted in him and willingly lay down their lives for him. None of them deserted the cause although they knew the outcome that is facing them, – death. Oh what honour these men possessed. Do we have the same valor and honour for our King? The King that willingly lay down His life so that we might live.

Think about it.

Where does your honour lies?

In yourself or In your King.

From Duck to Swan
Signing out at 1.50pm – 23^rd March 2007

Wilderness. It is an extensive area, such as a desert or ocean, that is barren or empty; a wasteland. It is a place where the wild roams free and anything can happen in it. It is often viewed as a place to fear and avoid. It is a forsaken land where even the thought of stepping into it is a taboo. However, the word wilderness is a common sight in the Bible. The children of Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness, David seek refuge in the wilderness when he was hunted by King Saul and Jesus Himself spent 40 days in the wilderness. Have you ever journeyed across the wilderness? Or are you being forced into the wilderness through the circumstances that you face?

The choice of allowing ourselves to end up in the wilderness is within our grasp. There are three options that is opened to us.

1) Disobey God. Complain and grumble about everything that we face and be discontented with what we have. The manna is so dull, we want quail! You will see yourself being stripped of all and earning a ticket into the desert just like the children of Israel.

"In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron." - Exodus 16:2

2) Disaster arises. Calm sea turns to grave storm. Grief strikes, disappointment lurks. That's when we retreat into the wilderness for refuge just as David did.

“Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.” – Psalms 16:1

3) Devotedly obedient. Allowing ourselves to be sacrifices for God on the altar. We diligently march into the wilderness just as Jesus did.

“At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” Mark 1:12-13

Options 1 and 2 looks familiar doesn’t it? Why must it be when we are stripped of all only then we turn to the Saviour? Why must we cling on to the things that does not last and only to let it go when God made us to? Why aren't we just be contented with what we have? Does complaining about the things we doesn't have brings us any good? Take sometime to think about the bout of questions. If you are in the wilderness because of Option 3 I applaud you but be ready for the bout of trials and temptations that will come your way.

It is in the wilderness, we are in solitude. It is where God works to break us completely. In the wilderness there is nothing. In the wilderness there is no one. When everything fades away, our daily routine, our work, our studies, our friends and when we are left with nothing. That's when we can hear the gentle whispers of God. The world drowns us in an echo of demands. Deadlines, examinations, activities, responsibilities. In the midst of the echoes, can you actually hear the gentle whispers of God?

God lead us into the wilderness so that we can hear His voice.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

From Duck to Swan
Signing out at 11:11am - 19th March 2007

"A mother duck hatches her eggs and, while most of her ducklings are normal, one is gray, too large, and too clumsy to fit in among the others. Though she tries to accept him, the entire barnyard realizes that he simply does not belong and after a period of harassment he leaves (or is driven away) to fend for himself. He wanders for the entire summer and fall, for no one will take him in, and he nearly freezes to death in an icy pond. Though he is rescued by a human, he cannot live in captivity, and he goes back to the wild.

By the end of winter he is miraculously still alive. He comes to a pond in a park or garden, where beautiful white swans are swimming. He is drawn to their beauty, though he has no reason to think that they will treat him better than anyone else has. Still, he thinks, even if they kill him, he must approach them. To his surprise, the beautiful creatures welcome and accept him; gazing at his reflection, he sees that he too is a swan. The children declare that he is the most beautiful swan of them all, yet he isn't proud for a good heart is never proud. Because of all that he suffered he now appreciates his happiness so much more. "It doesn't matter that you were born in a duck yard, so long as you have lain inside a swan's egg.""

Don't you think that the irony of this story lies in the birth of the swan in the coop of the ducks? How did the egg of the swan ends up among the other eggs of the ducks? Makes us ponder doesn't we? As we reflect on this simple story, do we find ourselves going through what the poor ugly duckling went through? As we wandered on our own in search for a place we could belong and only to find that everywhere that we turn to, the doors were shut at our face. Life is filled with disappointments and disappointments comes in many forms. First of all, people will disappoint us. Family will disappoint us, friends will disappoint us, our loved ones will disappoint us. At the point of life when we find ourselves devoid of all hope, there is always a shining ray of hope that gives us the meaning to life.

The poor duckling was rescued by a man, our poor soul devoid of of hope was rescued by the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. Ever wonder how did the duckling ends up by the pond? Did the duckling ever moved out of the places where he is familiar with? No. The duckling was found by the icy pond. Its natural habitat. The man came to the rescue of the poor duckling and mind you no one would ever enter into a forest in an icy cold winter.

Why don't we take a moment to think. Ever wonder how did we ended up at the feet of Jesus? Perhaps we've met him in a camp, after a life-changing experience, through a friend, through a stranger, through our parents, through our church. Was it our own effort to get to know Jesus? Or was He the one that came into our lives. Our natural habitat. To rescue us from freezing to death. The transformation took place. The process of turning from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan happened over the span of winter in the man's care. The transformation of our lives took place and is still taking place in Christ's care.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Ugly duckling to Beautiful Swan)

Sometimes we just missed the whole point of being a new creation. Here is a good point that can be taken from the story:-

"He is drawn to their beauty, though he has no reason to think that they will treat him better than anyone else has. Still, he thinks, even if they kill him, he must approach them.To his surprise, the beautiful creatures welcome and accept him; gazing at his reflection, he sees that he too is a swan."

Sounds familiar? Am I worthy enough to be a Christian? Do i fit to be one? Oh if only they knew what I've done. How could I ever be with them? (other Christians) By being a new creation our old self is dead. It is gone. We are no longer an ugly duckling. Look into the reflection of the water. What do you see? Do you see yourself or do you see Christ? Do you see the beautiful person you are? If you are still doubting here's something to help you.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
- 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

ALL. So there is no one that is left that is not forgiven as long as we ask. May we be as swans that reflects the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. Let us follow the humility of the ugly duckling that bears the beauty and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be reminded it is Christ that has given us the hope of life and a chance to change to be a Swan. It doesn't matter how and who we were in the past, as long as we are in Christ Jesus today.

From Duck to Swan.
Signing out at 4.24pm-9th March 2007.