November 26, 2017

The Shepherd's Corner

[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

As our sister Beppy shared in the retreat, last Friday she and her family gathered together to remember the passing of her father, Oom Tek Bien. Yes, a year ago on Thanks giving Day, on the way to our church retreat, Oom Tek Bien slipped into eternity. Personally I wish to thank many of you who, in memory of Oom Tek Bien, had written beautiful notes about him. I had the privilege of reading those notes in the brief yet intimate “memorial fellowship.” You don’t know how much these notes meant to the family. Thank you.

When I think of Oom Tek Bien, what comes to mind is how good he was in starting and maintaining relationships. I noticed, not only did he have a way of initiating a conversation with a complete stranger; he also had a genuine interest in people. He really cared! I believe the fact that he cared for others, made him so good in maintaining friendships with so many and for so long.

Proverbs 3 contains a few advices given by a father to his son. When I read this—especially Verses 3-6—I couldn’t help but see how well-fitting it was with who Oom Tek Bien was. There are two pearls of advice tucked in these four verses. The first is we ought to love and be faithful. We who love and are faithful to God and others, will never run out of God’s and man’s favor. Oom Tek Bien loved and was faithful to God and man; no wonder he was well-loved by all.

Secondly, we ought to trust God with all our heart and not lean on our understanding. Since Oom Tek Bien trusted Jesus, he’d placed his life in the hands of God. He did not listen to what his heart told him; instead, he listened to what God told him. Consequently, he grew; each day he was becoming more like Jesus. Two pieces of simple yet life’s transforming advice. It changed him, it’d change us.

Pastor Paul[:id]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

As our sister Beppy shared in the retreat, last Friday she and her family gathered together to remember the passing of her father, Oom Tek Bien. Yes, a year ago on Thanks giving Day, on the way to our church retreat, Oom Tek Bien slipped into eternity. Personally I wish to thank many of you who, in memory of Oom Tek Bien, had written beautiful notes about him. I had the privilege of reading those notes in the brief yet intimate “memorial fellowship.” You don’t know how much these notes meant to the family. Thank you.

When I think of Oom Tek Bien, what comes to mind is how good he was in starting and maintaining relationships. I noticed, not only did he have a way of initiating a conversation with a complete stranger; he also had a genuine interest in people. He really cared! I believe the fact that he cared for others, made him so good in maintaining friendships with so many and for so long.

Proverbs 3 contains a few advices given by a father to his son. When I read this—especially Verses 3-6—I couldn’t help but see how well-fitting it was with who Oom Tek Bien was. There are two pearls of advice tucked in these four verses. The first is we ought to love and be faithful. We who love and are faithful to God and others, will never run out of God’s and man’s favor. Oom Tek Bien loved and was faithful to God and man; no wonder he was well-loved by all.

Secondly, we ought to trust God with all our heart and not lean on our understanding. Since Oom Tek Bien trusted Jesus, he’d placed his life in the hands of God. He did not listen to what his heart told him; instead, he listened to what God told him. Consequently, he grew; each day he was becoming more like Jesus. Two pieces of simple yet life’s transforming advice. It changed him, it’d change us.

Pastor Paul[:]

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

The Shepherd's Corner - April 30, 2017
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER On Tuesday evening our brother Joe Lee suffered a stroke....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - July 28, 2024
God can do anything; there is nothing that He cannot do.  But our reading on Mark 6:5 says differently, “He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them.”  At the time, Jesus Our Lord was visiting His hometown Nazareth and as usual, He wanted...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - March 5, 2023
Recent rain and snow have made a significant dent to our drought condition in California. Rivers and dams are filling up, and abundant snow in the mountain is promising a steady flow of water in the months to come.  This phenomenon reminds of what happened in Israel during the reign of King Aha...
Read More