Christica

You probably remember the song of Lionel Riche… “Hello… is it you…” Well, Christ had a similar love song, you probably heard it… maybe it’s just that you didn’t understand that He was singing it for you!

My life changed when I was studying for my undergraduate degree. A rebel and wanting to take advantage of the freedom that I received as young man - I was trying to live life!

However, after a bike accident (nothing serious) - I’d been helped by a friend of mine. Later did I realize that he was an instrument of God. As time went by, he invited me to attend a retreat. Unwilling to go, but out of gratitude for his help… I went along (on my bike)! And what struck me the most was that I was not in a room of very old people, but youngsters around my age - all or mostly studing for a professional degree. A meet with the priest who was in T-shirt and jeans, made me get the feeling something was going to happen here!

As the day went on, we all met up in a hall for the first talk by the priest. And he talked about the important of LOVE… and how everything we do is motivated by love.

Then we were quickly instructed into four groups - A, B, C & D and given one single goal - to WIN. For that, we could use whatever we had on us, whatever was with us and nothing more. To win the game, we had to form the longest line in the hall. And so the whistle blew, and we were rushing around, with total strangers, girls and boys… stretching out, using our socks, shoes, belts etc to make a longer line than the others. And finally, we were lying down… on the floor… all stretched out.

However, in one team… we had one guy who had the guts to take off not only his belt… but also his shirt. Members in his team and some of us were laughing and teasing him. Then when the finall whistle blew, the priest walked around to see who had the longest line. Two teams, A and D were very close… and then another whistle was blewn to get back things in proper order and for us to be seated.

Later on, the priest, spread out his arms and annouced that that was the distance between the second place and the winning team. And guess what, team D had won, all thanks to the member who took off his shirt!!! The distance he had shown… was the length of that guys shirt!!

It hit like a bolt… he gave everything up so the team could win. How many of us took our wallets out, but didn’t want to take out the money. How many girls took of their shawls, but left their necklaces on. We held back. But this young guy didn’t - and that made the difference between those who won and those who didn’t.

What we love is shown in our actions. But the usual love is take and take and take. Sometimes its a give and take. But mostly take. We all like to receive. But what hit me later on, was this was how we were NOT supposed to live life. We were to turn the table upside down, a complete 180 degree turn. We were to give, give, give and keep on giving until it hurt. And when it hurt, give some more.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Things simply don’t always look like what they appear to be. Behind the scenes, Christica is evolving, I’ve already been talking to a priest that I know to Administer the Christica Scholarship to deserving students/children.

What’s more, over the next few months, you will see some interesting additions to the site. With the help of a friend and the resurrection of his old ministry - you can expect to see some great features.

Our only request is that you support Christica, emotionally, physically, financially and most importantly spiritually (through your prayers).

This is a true story that happened in Japan.

In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet. He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built!

What happened?

The lizard has survived in such position for 10 years! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling. Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years without moving a single step - since its foot was ailed!

So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not nowing from where it came, appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past 10 years…

• Imagine? it has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner.
• Think, will you do that to your partner?
• Think, will you do it to your Mom, who brought you after a big struggle of NINE long months?
• Or at least to your Dad, Friends, Co-workers, brothers and Sisters?

Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can’t. As information and communication technology advances, our access to information becomes faster and faster. But the distance between human beings… is it getting closer as well?

PS> Please never abandon your loved ones.

One topic that I would like to cover is God’s will. How do you know God’s will for you? In the old testament days, David or the prophets would pray and pray and God would answer in a voice. Today, no voice. Or maybe it’s just quieter? Some of the few ways that I do know of, and have been repeated by others is that you can hear God’s voice by reading the Bible or maybe a spiritual person who you trust will give you a guidance. In the first case, when opening the Bible at random… you might be unlucky to get a passage on God’s wrath on so and so people or something totally un-related that you can’t make sense of it… like the names of a tribe of Israel! In the second case, I’ve known people to do foolish things and looking back and regretting it because they heard a spiritual / religious person give them ‘a vision’ that he / she should do this or that. Both cases, have failed… which leaves me to the final question… How do you know the will of God?

My personal reflection is that God will prod you in your daily living (assuming you are trying everything in your capacity and best intention to live a righteous and holy life full of frequent prayer). As the day goes by, ‘instances’ or ‘events’ may happen that God is showing you or proding you, maybe flashes of inspiration or a turn of an event in your favour. The catch… is to listen carefully. And by listening, I don’t mean hearing… I mean actively listening and watching to what God is trying to tell you.

• How have you understood God’s will?
• Do you know when God is talking to you… or are you talking to yourself?

If you are in need of financial help for your studies or you have a friend or know someone who might need this kind of help, please check out scholarship section to learn more. We’d be more than happy to help. The selection process will take place in the month of July and the decision to award will take place by the end of December.