Don’t Waste This Pandemic

September to December 2021

Message From Senior Pastor

Message From Founding Senior Pastor

Dream Centre, 2 Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia T +603.7958 7388 F +603.7958 3787 E general@dumc.my dumcMY W dumc.my We are living in an era of constant change, and we witness something new every day, to the point that we may be numb to it. Nothing surprises us anymore. With instantaneous information available through social media, and the constant bombardment of “news”, today’s generation can be overwhelmed by what used to be considered “unusual” or “shocking” in times before, and begin to believe that this is “acceptable” and “normal”. But it should not be “acceptable” nor “normal”.

Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not conform to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Floodgates was created to be a vessel, a platform where we can publish articles and testimonies to bless and inspire God’s people towards Godly renewal of the mind mentioned by the apostle Paul, and which will stand out from the daily bombardment of confusing and possibly unhelpful “information”.

In Floodgates, we, as a Church, the Body of Christ, can share stories and bear witness to God’s amazing grace and give Him the glory. Also, we can remind ourselves that we are nothing without Jesus, that we would just be part of a dying world and hopeless.

On the cover, “G” is at the centre of the title, Floodgates, just as we need to place God at the centre of our all. Our name Floodgates originates from Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Father God, may we all, children of God, be blessed when the “floodgates of heaven pour out…” and be reminded that the presence of God in our lives is the blessed life.

By Pastor Chris Kam, Senior Pastor

DON’T WASTE

THIS Pandemic!

It is hard to imagine that we are coming close to two years now in this pandemic. My heart goes out to many who have suffered from the loss of life and the devastating economic impact. I was moved to tears watching a documentary on CNA with the title Asia’s Lost Generation: Malaysia. It highlighted the plight of children experiencing a historic blip or a standstill in their life: loss of loved ones, some orphaned by the death of both parents, loss of social and school interactions, the mental stresses, the loss of hope and facing an uncertain future. The worldwide pandemic has been unexpected and unprecedented in our lifetime, and we were totally unprepared for it. No longer are we talking about herd immunity with the COVID-19 pandemic but instead an endemic situation - co-existing and adapting to the virus, like the common flu virus. At the time of writing, the latest omicron variant has brought in a fresh wave of anxieties just as we are about to begin relishing the fact that normalcy may be within sight. So much has been written and talked about this, even misinformation, which has not been helpful at all.

What is our Christian response moving forward and how do we look at things happening in the world with biblical lenses? Why is it important to see things biblically? The answer is simple - so that we view

current events not from a narrow, limited perspective but understanding things from God’s point of view. Otherwise, life is like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, making no sense until the pieces are fitted together revealing the beautiful picture which the pieces are meant to be part of.

Early in the lockdown of this pandemic in March 2020, I had told the church: “Don’t waste this pandemic.” I am not ignoring the suffering and hardship that accompany this pandemic, but since we are in it, we can decide either to be bitter or better.

How do we not waste this pandemic? Let me guide you through some of my own reflections.

The Bible talks about the fact that the whole of creation is groaning because the world is under judgment due to our disobedience.

Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. It is a labour pain that will lead us to a new creation someday. Romans 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. This labour pain will yield something wonderful, which the Bible paints for us a picture of a future glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison … But note this: The days ahead of us are not going to be easier, but harder as we wrestle with evil, lawlessness, immorality, greed, and natural and man-made disasters due to climate change. Luke 21:10,11 10Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

If we believe in the omniscience and omnipotence of God, then we need to recognise that nothing happens without His permission and some sufferings are even attributed to Him as in the case of Job: “… Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:10) or Apostle Paul “… Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7) Satan is real but he is no ultimate but operating only under God’s sovereignty.

Scriptures do not in any way counsel us to shun or avoid sufferings, but in the midst of it, to grow to be more Christlike. Our call to discipleship is also to “ … participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13) In an unusual way, “glory” is tied to the word “sufferings”. Romans 5:3,4 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Sufferings remind us of the brevity of life and that someday, our earthly existence will cease. Numbering our days is a sobering call of the Psalmist, “…to number our days … “ (Psalm 90:12). Hence, it is a preparation for something on earth towards the hope of a glorious future beyond this life. It is a reminder that this world and our earthly life are temporal. This pandemic does not win if we die. It wins when we fail to realise Christ is more than enough. This echoes the words of Apostle Paul: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) and “ … I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord …” (Philippians 3:8).

Our response is simply to leverage the lessons learnt, especially about slowing down and making life a lot simpler by focussing on what is really important. Do not go back to the old normal. Go to a better normal. This pandemic has a way of surfacing who we really are inside – the strength of our inner life, marriage, family and walk with God.

This pandemic is helping some of us to recalibrate our lives to walk more aligned to His will. For others, it may be a total reboot and starting all over. Maybe for the first time we begin to value what we have taken for granted for so long. What used to be important may no longer seem so. Maybe you have discovered that, before the pandemic, you hardly had time for your children and spouse. This lockdown has enforced daily family meals together, conversations, and

even regular devotions. We may even have initiated regular online conversations with loved ones and friends out of town like never before. Things we thought we could not do without, seem manageable today. Many have found time for spiritual disciplines away from the pre-pandemic mad rush. I also realise that we will waste this pandemic if we spend too much time reading about COVID-19 and not enough time reading about God. It is meant to awaken us to the reality of God. We begin to value human interactions and wish we had set aside more time to connect in the past. Church and Cell Group in-person gatherings may have become a renewed desire.

As a church, we have more than survived. We have thrived in the lockdown by doing more for the community than we have ever done before. The extra money unspent by members for leisure activities and holidays are repurposed to help others. Our compassion for people is re-ignited in a significant way, and we see those in our poorer neighbourhood communities that were “invisible” before this.

We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones not to return to the old normal. We will waste this pandemic if we fail to show the Christ in us, as witnesses to the truth and glory of Him.