Rev Kenneth Chin - Founder and Preacher of Acts Church KL
A large crowd of people was there from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from the coast cities of Tyre and Sidon; they had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those who were troubled by evil spirits also came and were healed.
Luke 6: 17b-18
I spent a couple of hours at MPH, Gurney Plaza yesterday afternoon, together with a friend. On a shelf I came across a religious-inspirational book called CHIN UP by Kenneth Chin; a rather attractive book, with the title dominating the book, and a handsome man on the red cover. I read the details on the cover, and I must say I give the publisher my thumbs-up because it made me read the book. But to buy it at RM34.90 I had to think alot, because I do not really depend on inspirational books; I believe everyone of us, have a story to tell, and must not allow such books to take control of our unique destiny.
His journey of discovering God, and by this I mean to really experience and have a real knowledge of God, reminded me a bit of myself. I do admit, over the many years I have seen people who have similar situations in life; we group people into subject groups. I have seen people with similar life experiences as me (many have come across Vocation stories), and also I have seen experiences that are different to me but similar to others; vice versa.
The amazing thing with humanity is that how we make use of those experiences and GROW from that experiences...This is a totally UNIQUE STORY. This I have yet to find any similarity.
Some people's life experiences have led them to intentional death (suicide). Others have had their life experiences make them give up hope. While others have had their life experiences make them eager to make their dreams come true. Kenneth Chin's book, says that there are 2 ways Kenneth Chin can make a mistake- to make the mistake by doing what God demands or to make a mistake by the way of the world; if we come to think of it, a mistake is a mistake afterall, but where do we chose to make that mistake is the difference. Kenneth Chin chose the way of God to make his mistakes.
I always knew God was calling me to a life as a religious, this call was heard extra clearly because of my close work and praying with the late Bro Ulrick Currie of SXI. Sadly, with our generation, we are in the midst of change; missions school in Malaysia are closing down, SXI was the last. So one Brother did discourage me and many Sisters (whose missions have also closed down) did encourage me to fear first. Thank God, I decided to walk the path of God, to make my mistakes. Has my journey end? NO! A Spiritual Life is not like an economy life, or business life, it is a life of constant trusting and surrendering of one's self. Do I have any regrets? NO! I have yet to feel any pain from my spiritual journey.
I always knew God was calling me to a life as a religious, this call was heard extra clearly because of my close work and praying with the late Bro Ulrick Currie of SXI. Sadly, with our generation, we are in the midst of change; missions school in Malaysia are closing down, SXI was the last. So one Brother did discourage me and many Sisters (whose missions have also closed down) did encourage me to fear first. Thank God, I decided to walk the path of God, to make my mistakes. Has my journey end? NO! A Spiritual Life is not like an economy life, or business life, it is a life of constant trusting and surrendering of one's self. Do I have any regrets? NO! I have yet to feel any pain from my spiritual journey.
From what I gathered from the book, Kenneth Chin used to be a Roman Catholic, but now seems to have founded his own 'church' (sorry, I do not believe in non-denominational church).
What I am getting at is for Catholics. Yes, we Catholics, believe it or not, are more of the brainers in the Christian world; we have theology, philosophers, we were the ones that came up with law (thus lawyers), we came up with school systems, hospitals. Catholics are the thinkers of society, or perhaps, used to be thinkers of soceity; not so much today.
Have we lost that shine? I must say, yes and also no. We may have lost that determination to think and put that thinking into action. This is through a culture of unbelieve. Coming back to Malaysia, away from committed Catholics in Australia, I am surrounded by Catholics who has turned their faith into a matter of convenience. Is this good? It is no good, based from my life experiences, but it is not for me to judge as I always believe I need to respect the ways of others.
Something I agree with Kenneth Chin's Church is we need to remain faithful to God! Obey the command, or God's calling for us, and act on those calling. Trust in God's Call for you today! Have courage to make God's Dream for you come true, for the benefit of souls.