Buzz

ITE retail course students get hands-on experience in running a store

2005-03-30T10:00:00.000-08:00

By Yvonne Ang, Channel NewsAsia

Students at ITE's East Coast Campus will not have to travel far to shop for the latest fashion wear.

77th Street, a store popular with teenagers, has opened its 12th outlet right within the school premises!

The store will also be run entirely by students from the school's retail course.

77th Street@ITE opened its doors to the excited cheers of hundreds of ITE students.

This venture is the first of its kind in Singapore, and according to 77th Street founder Elim Chew, certainly will not be the last.

If it works, she hopes to extend it to other areas, even developing an internship programme to give students a taste of retail work.

Elim Chew, Founder, 77th Street, said: "I believe very much in this collaboration because 77th street is all about the youths. It's all about giving them a platform to be able to excel in what they want to do."

As for the students, they are looking forward to the chance to put their classroom knowledge to the test.

"It's really attracting people, it's wonderful!" said one student.

Many also felt the experience of running the store would prepare them for their future careers.

Yoong Han, Retail Course Student, said: "I actually hope to learn some hands-on skills about running a business because I actually have plans to open a business myself somewhere down the future. I hope to learn stock taking, managing a store, handling customers, everything, stock ordering, housekeeping. I'm more than proud to have this in my school."

Apart from sales techniques, students will also be taught how to set and meet sales targets and deal with customers, all part of the retail operations segment of their course. - CNA

ITE UNVEILS FIVE-YEAR PLAN

2005-02-03T19:39:00.000-08:00

Thursday February 3, 2005

Institute aims to be a global leader in technical education

Lee U-Wen
u-wen@newstoday.com.sg

GOING global will not be an aspiration exclusive to the elite in
Singapore's education system.

The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) yesterday unveiled its
five-year strategic blueprint, titled ITE Advantage, spelling out the
global ambitions which will give ITE students a ticket to employability
worldwide.

Some of the promises made by ITE include lifelong employability,
globally-recognised certificates, overseas study programmes and customised
syllabi.

The institute aims to establish its brand name overseas as a global leader
in technical education, while continuing its mission of developing a
highly-skilled and adaptable local workforce.

The big winners will be the students.

ITE will roll out plans to provide its graduates with relevant skills for
lifelong employment - anywhere in the world.

Companies such as Microsoft and Sun Microsystems will offer joint-industry
certifications in information technology from this year. More tie-ups
involving ITE's other schools and its global industry partners are already
in the pipeline.

Students can look forward to more internships and attachments abroad, as
part of ITE's new Global Education Programme, with the institute planning
to deepen its alliances with its counterparts in countries including the
United States, Canada, Germany, China and India.

Through the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Vocational and
Technical Education, ITE also plans to export its capabilities to other
countries.

In a first for a post-secondary institution here, ITE will offer its
courses through Singaporean private schools that have a presence in
countries such as China and Vietnam.

And to cater to the needs of Singapore's labour market, its three ITE
Colleges have been given greater autonomy over how their courses are
designed, with each focusing on different niche areas.

On the local front, Dr Law Song Seng, chief executive officer of ITE, said
the institute will cater to students who seek a local brand of education.

Part of ITE's plan is to move towards a flexible student selection
system - one which looks beyond academic performance.

With this system, applicants will be assessed on the basis of entrance
tests, interviews and portfolio strengths, in addition to their 'O' or 'N'
level grades.

It plans to give more of its students the option to take up modules
offered by polytechnics.

Currently, less than 10 per cent of its 20,000 cohort attend modules at a
polytechnic while pursuing their ITE certificate course.

Under the new arrangement, said Dr Law, ITE students who take up modules
with polytechnics will gain advance standing if they decide to pursue a
diploma after their ITE education.

ITE plans to formalise this arrangement with agreements signed with the
various polytechnics.

Last year, almost one in four graduates, or 23 per cent, made it to
polytechnics. This is a marked increase from the "three to five per cent"
who qualified for polytechnic entry when ITE was established in 1992.

Said Dr Law: "Many of our graduates have gone on to complete diplomas and
degrees.

"We have success stories of students becoming managers and entrepreneurs.
Our certificates are now being recognised everywhere."

ITE's four major goals

- Graduates will be market-relevant, enterprising and adaptable in a
globalised economy

- Graduates will remain lifelong learners for lifelong employability

- A brand name that is recognised locally and globally

- Staff have capabilities to pioneer and set new benchmarks in Vocational
and Technical education

Visit TODAYonline website at http://www.todayonline.com

THIS DOCUMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS PROGRAM ARE
FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.The information type should not be
interpreted to be a commitment on the part of MediaCorp Press Ltd and
MediaCorp Press Ltd cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information
presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The user
assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
TODAYonline newsletter e-mail may be copied and distributed subject to the
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APTITUDE TESTS TO BE USED TO DETERMINE ENTRY TO ITE SERVICE-RELATED

2005-02-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Thursday February 3, 2005

THE Institute of Technical Education (ITE) has made aptitude tests a
compulsory step in the admission process for its service-related courses.

Applicants for courses such as ITE's nursing and service skills
certificate programmes this year were put through entrance tests and
interviews.

Mr Tan Seng Hua, the principal of ITE College East, said the process
would ensure that applicants' personalities were suited to the service
industry, something that could not be gauged from paper qualifications
alone.

Mr Tan added that picking students for service-based courses through
aptitude testing would ensure their employability upon the completion of
their ITE courses.

Aptitude testing will be extended to other courses as well.

Mr Tan said this would benefit applicants who may not have good academic
scores but who might be suited for certain jobs.

However, the number of applicants to be admitted through aptitude testing
for non-service related courses will be limited to between five and 10 per
cent of the overall intake. - NewsRadio 93.8

Visit TODAYonline website at http://www.todayonline.com

THIS DOCUMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS PROGRAM ARE
FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.The information type should not be
interpreted to be a commitment on the part of MediaCorp Press Ltd and
MediaCorp Press Ltd cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information
presented after the date of publication. INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The user
assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document.
TODAYonline newsletter e-mail may be copied and distributed subject to the
following conditions:
1. All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be
included
2. All copies must contain MediaCorp Press Ltd's copyright notice and any
other notices provided therein
3. This document may not be distributed for profit

Seven ways a small group can reach people for Jesus

2005-01-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

Seven ways a small group can reach people for Jesus
by Rick Warren

Editor's note: With the summer months upon us, we're pulling some ToolBox classics from the archives.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, ‘Friend, I forgive your sins.’” (Luke 5:18-20, Msg)

Do you remember the story of the paralytic in Luke 5 -- where four men broke through the roof of a synagogue to lower their friend to Jesus? Sometimes it takes something that radical to lead someone to Jesus!

And sometimes it just takes the caring, consistent love of a small group of Christians:

1. Your small group can care about people who don’t know Jesus
The reason God used the four friends in Luke 5 is because they cared for the paralytic. Just like those four, your life mission has to start with love. The number one reason Christians don’t share Christ with others is that they are too preoccupied with themselves.

Before you can care about others, you must become aware of them. Once you become aware of them, start praying for them. Pray for three things:

an opportunity to share your faith in a non-threatening way
for God to soften their hearts
for God to soften your heart.

2. Your small group must believe God can reach the person
No one is hopeless. When the four friends looked at the paralytic’s condition, they could have responded in doubt: What could Jesus do? Instead, they believed God could heal him -- they had faith. The Bible said the paralytic’s sins were forgiven when Jesus saw the faith of the four friends.

There are people paralyzed in our world, who aren’t necessarily physically paralyzed, but who have a paralyzed faith. Whether they’re paralyzed by doubts, loneliness, fear or anything else, the result is the same -- they need the faith of the others.

In a sense, they don’t have enough faith to believe, so your faith is going to have to bring them to Jesus.

3. Your small group must make a plan
Although faith and prayer are important ingredients to bringing others to Jesus, you need to do something too! You need a plan. When the four friends saw the way to Jesus was blocked, they came up with a plan to get the paraplegic to Jesus. Your small group needs a plan to bring people to Jesus. Without it, you’ll never bring anyone to the Savior.

4. Your small group must overcome difficulties
When the four friends saw the path to Jesus blocked, they had every reason to feel discouraged, but they didn’t give up. They looked for another way to bring the man to Jesus.

Everybody gets discouraged at times. But in order to share Jesus with our friends, we must persist through those difficulties. I remember a small group at Saddleback who prayed for a lost friend for two years before that person made a commitment to Jesus. I’m sure that guy is glad that they didn’t give up after a year and a half.

5. Your small group needs the courage to do something different
When faced with a discouraging situation, these four friends decided to do something different to get their friend to Jesus -- they went through the roof! Sometimes we have to do something different to get people to Jesus as well.

Although you might not crawl through a roof to get someone to Jesus, you might host a party. For a small group in a San Diego church that meant buying season tickets to see professional football games. Besides buying their own tickets, the couples bought one extra ticket -- for someone who didn’t know Jesus. That group brought 13 couples to Christ through that experience.

6. Your small group must work together to get the job done
Have you ever tried to carry someone on a stretcher with only three people? It doesn’t work. If all four of the friends hadn’t helped, the paralytic would have fallen off the stretcher.

Some people will only come to Jesus through a group effort. Studies have shown that people come to Christ faster when they come through a supportive environment!

That’s why small groups are so essential in bringing people to Christ.

When you talk to someone at work and it’s just you and that person, you’re the only witness. If you’re able to bring them to a group event -- particularly one that is fun -- they’ll go, “Wow, these people aren’t goofy. They aren’t religious nuts. They’re normal people.”

7. Your small group must be willing to pay the cost to bring someone to Jesus
These four men wouldn’t have made a hole in the roof unless they were willing to fix it. They had to pay the cost of bringing their friend to Jesus.

Bringing a friend to Jesus always requires sacrifice. For many small groups that means sacrificing their own comfort within the group. Many people have become so comfortable within their small groups that they are afraid of adding new people and messing up the group dynamics.

Before our friends will come to Jesus, they need to see us get out of our comfort zones.

The Matrix and God

2005-01-25T02:48:00.000-08:00

Forget sci-fi and guns - The Matrix is really about religion

By Steven Tomkins

The sequel to The Matrix is being keenly awaited by many of the film's fans - geeks, sci-fi addicts, as well as those who just love stylish violence. But also lining up outside cinemas will be those who see the film as a work about religion.

No end to the religious parallels found in the film

In a quiet moment in The Matrix, our hero Neo talks with one of his new crewmates, Cypher. Neo is still getting used to the news that all he ever knew was an illusion fed into his head by the computers who now enslave humanity, and that according to the leader Morpheus he is The One destined to deliver us.

"Did he tell you why you're here?" asks Cypher.

Neo nods.

"Jesus! What a mindjob! So you're here to save the world."

It turns out that Cypher is right on all three counts. Yes, Neo has to save humankind. Yes, it is a job for the mind over computer-simulated matter. And yes, he is Jesus.

Deeply symbolic

In most Hollywood movies it would be ridiculous to pick out hidden meanings in such throwaway lines. But The Matrix is not most Hollywood movies. Dazzled by the stupendous effects, the sci-fi story, the kung fu and the "guns, lots of guns", it is easy to miss the fact that The Matrix is also a spiritual film, saturated with religious symbolism.

So you're here to save the world?

Neo's mission, foretold by prophets, is to reveal the truth that will set humankind free. And if that's not messianic enough for you, he gives his life for others and then rises from the dead more powerful than ever. He even ends the movie ascending to heaven.

Then there are the little clues scattered across the film. The hull of their ship bears a plate reading "Mark III No. 11". For those who don't take a Bible to the cinema with them, Mark 3:11 reads, "Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, 'You are the Son of God!'"

Parallels

Another is right at the beginning. Neo, the ace computer hacker, hands a valuable disk over to a caller.

"Hallelujah!" is the response. "You're my saviour, man. My own personal Jesus Christ."

There is no end to the biblical parallels that have been found. There are names like Trinity and Zion. There is a baptism and a betrayal. After a while though, the parallels start to get rather debatable, and more to the point nerdish.

The truth is that The Matrix is a pot pourri - you can't pin it to any one religious system

But where the jury is really out is on the spiritual message of the film. What does The Matrix "believe"?

Many see it as a Christian allegory, which is natural enough because it draws so much on the life of Jesus. Others question that though, because some pretty essential elements of Christianity are missing.

No God

For a start, there is no idea of sin, repentance, or forgiveness in The Matrix. Instead people just need to be liberated from illusion, which seems more Buddhist than Christian - although no allegory is perfect, so maybe we shouldn't read too much into that.

More seriously, there is no God in charge. Instead their lives are ruled by "fate". Again, this is more Buddhist than Christian, and so some scholars argue that the film is actually a Buddhist myth in Christian clothing.

Still others - and we're getting a tad obscure here for the moment - say the film is Gnostic. In the second century, many Gnostics embraced the story of Jesus, but changed the meaning. Instead of saving us from sin, he came to give us true "knowledge" which frees us from the material world.

And this issue of the material world is a crucial one. Both Buddhists and Gnostics hope to escape it into a good, peaceful, disembodied existence (or non-existence even), but when Neo escapes the Matrix he is not in Nirvana or heaven. He is in a scorched earth, far grimmer and more solid than the Matrix, and he is not supposed to escape this one, but to liberate it.

And this brings us back to Christianity again, which claims that the world is basically good, though spoiled, and should not be escaped but repaired.

Melting pot

So where does this leave us? The truth (with a small t) is that The Matrix is a pot pourri.

But what does The Matrix believe?

You can't pin it to any one religious system. The Wachowski brothers have taken ingredients from various spiritual recipes in our melting-pot world, and made something all their own. Good luck to them.

In fact it's hard to pin the film down to saying anything very much by way of a clear spiritual message. It does make a few points. "Wake up" is one that every religion would agree with. "Open your eyes to the spiritual dimension of life."

Another, equally uncontroversial, is that like Neo and unlike Cypher we should prefer uncomfortable truth to comforting illusion. Far more controversial is that, as Neo says in his closing speech, we are called to live a life free from all rules.

But the real point of all the religion in The Matrix is not to preach a sermon. It is to bring lots of different religious images and ideas, throw them together, and see what a good story they can make. Which is what they do. In a culture that is often thought to have lost interest in religion, The Matrix shows how compelling it can be.

Do you agree? Add your comments - or examples of religious parallels in the film - using the form below.

Your comments so far:

What excited me most about the film was the concept of reality. What is actually real? Do the people around you actually exist or are you the only actual living creature living in a world of your own imagining?

Sean Hayward,
UK

To quote Morpheus in the first film,
"You take the blue pill, you wake up in your bed, and believe, whatever you want to believe."
Jon Cording, England

Nah, I still say it's about "guns, lots of guns".

Stuart, UK

The Christian Rhetoric in the original Matrix film was quite clear. The message is a message of hope and that is basically a Christian message. But the film can only be an allegory for Christianity. It is not a Christian film, it is a Sci-Fi film with a Chrisitan message of hope at its core. Its design is to entertain - and it does that stupendously.
Kneewax, Great Britain

While there certainly are religious parallels in The Matrix, exactly what they are won't become fully clear until all three films in the series have been released. By the end of the trilogy, for instance, the "real world" might not be the scorched desert depicted in the first film, but a genuine utopia.
Steve, UK

The Matrix brings a message of hope... to everyone except other film-makers. Why bother guys? Seriously. Retire now. You just aren't going to make a film as good as The Matrix.

Chris White,
UK

It could just be a liberal sprinkling of random religious mythology to get us all talking.
Doris, UK

There is a slight reference to God in the first film, quote Morpheus: "In the beginning there was one who could change The Matrix to how he saw fit." This is said before proclaiming a return by a Saviour. Could that be the God reference? Genesis starts - "In the beginning..."

Stephen,
United Kingdom

At its most fundamental, Buddhism is about cutting through the illusion of a true, independent, and inherently existing Self, and our attachment to same. Once this is realised, clinging and aversion are eradicated, and ignorance dissolves - meaning no more rebirth. That's Nirvana. You don't disappear or go to some Buddhist 'heaven'. Actually, I thought Neo had realised this at the end of the first movie, so I'm intrigued to learn why he's now battling with the illusion all over again. Maybe he started believing his own press, ie that he really is God. Then again, if he hadn't taken some kind of backward step, there'd be no illusion for us all to watch when the sequel opens.

Alix Sharkey,
France

Talking of religious parallels in the pot pourri, the Oracle (from ancient Greek theology)didn't get a mention. Yet, she seems to me to be the most enigmatic, unexplained character so far. Any ideas, anyone?
AJ, Germany

Our society seems too afraid to "open our eyes" to the spiritual dimension in life. It is great to see that one of our main forms of escapism is making us more aware of our spirituality. We need to ask more questions and seek the answers!
John, UK

I haven't seen the sequel yet but the original film's concept of reality is probably based on one of Descartes' arguments in philosophy (which is 400 years old).
PJackson,
England

As a Muslim, the one thing from the original Matrix I found to be in alignment with my religion was the amazing scene when Keanu actually "wakes up" and sees the world for what it is. As Muslims, we believe that the life of this world is, in effect, like a dream. It will pass us by in the blink of an eye. Hence, we should use our time here wisely and not get too caught up in material things or idle life but excel in prayer and spirituality to realise that this life is merely a stepping stone and a test prior to what comes after.
Mak, UK

It's not about Christians, it's more about Jewish. Look at Zion, and look at Neo's name "Mr Anderson" the root "Ander" evokes "Andros" which means "Man" in Greek, so "Anderson" becomes "The Son of Man" which is what the Jewish call their Messiah, the one that will liberate them from their enmeies by means of force.
Jose, Spain

What about all the Alice in Wonderland references? The pills, the tunnel, the white rabbit, the mirror, alternative realities...
Mark, UK

I think there are a lot of similarities with The Wizard of Oz and Frank Baum was a Theosophist and they were psuedo gnostics.... remember in the first film when Neo chooses the green pill and is taken into a room where he is wired up to go into the Matrix, one of the other characters says.....and I feel this is a classic line "grab your seat Dorothy, Kansas is about to go bye bye"
Jonathan, Ireland

The Matrix can be seen as an anti-religious movie. Karl Marx once sad that religion is opium to the people; meaning that the people can be controlled and oppressed by religion. According to Marxism, the Matrix is what religion is to people i.e. opium. The Matrix is, though, superb high quality opium.

Alex Karlsson,
England

To me, The Matrix, is a film about an open mind. You think you're in hell, but are you? Make the world your world, live each day to the fullest but question the actions of others, are they what they seem? Friends or foes? Matrix tries to show you that not all is what it seems!
Ranjit Gurtwalla, UK

Mindboggling! Having watched the film many times I never made the connection before which makes this article even more interesting. Perhaps the author could do a similar piece on Starship Troopers and Facism?
Steve, UK

The Matrix's main conceit is sub-Cartesian sixth form metaphysics, which was neatly demolished by Descartes himself in the 17th Century. That isn't to say it's not a great film, though.
Victoria, UK

I'm sure that Mother Teresa, the Pope, Mahatma Ghandi, Siddhartha, Mohammed, and Confucius have a lot in common with a movie in which more than half the time is spent on explosions.

Jim,
US

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Matt Kowalski,
UK

How can I be sure this movie actually exists?

Mark,
USA

God and Shakespeare have got all the good stories.

Al Jackson,
England

"In the beginning, the Matrix was designed as a utopia for humans," says Agent Smith, "but some say we lack the programming code to create a perfect world." This, I feel, is a reference to the Garden of Eden.

"I thought you were a guy," says Neo speaking to Trinity. "Most guys do." she responds. This pokes a reference as to how most people associate the Christian God, the Trinity, with a Man.

Neo falls 3 times in his last fight in the subway v Agent Smith.

Neo had to believe that he could do what he could really do. In the Bible, it mentions that anyone who truly believes that they can, can move mountains.

I hope to see more of this in Matrix Reloaded.

Philip Frangipane,
US

20 dollar bill

2004-08-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

A well-known speaker started off his seminar

by holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked,

"Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up.

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you

but first, let me do this.

He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill.

He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

Well, he replied, "What if I do this?"

And he dropped it on the ground

and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.

"Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson.

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it

because it did not decrease in value.

It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives,

we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt

by the decisions we make and

the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless.

But no matter what has happened or

what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased,

you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we

know,

but by WHO WE ARE.

You are special- Don't EVER forget it."

If you do not pass this on, you may never know the

lives it touches, the hurting hearts it speaks to,

or the hope that it can bring.

Count your blessings, not your problems.

And remember: amateurs built the ark ...

professionals built the Titanic.

If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

2004-07-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

Commitment is The Key

By Dr John C. Maxwell

Back in the middle 70s, I reached a major decision-making period in my life. I was facing choices that would determine the course of my life and the effectiveness of my ministry. For over a year during that period I carried in my pocket a card, which I pulled out and read time and time again. After making my decision, I would waiver—and then reach for my card. I’ve read it hundreds of times. Because commitment is the key to success, I want to begin this chapter with the words that helped me in this area:

Until I am committed, there is a hesitancy, a chance to raw back. But the moment I definitely commit myself, then God moves also, and a whole stream of events erupt. All manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, persons, and material assistance which I could never have dreamed would come my way begin to flow toward me—the moment I make a commitment.

The greatest days of your life are the days when you sense your commitment to its highest degree. Your greatest days are not your days of leisure. Your greatest days are not even times when you have your closest friends around you. When something has seized you and caused you to have a high level of commitment to it, those are your greatest days. They may he your days of struggle, they may be your days of suffering, and they maybe the days of your greatest battles in life, but they will be your greatest days.

If I could choose only one word to describe what it’s like to be committed. I think I would choose the word alone. If you become a person who is deeply committed to a cause, the world won’t understand you; you will be alone. It’s human to stand with the crowd; it’s divine to stand alone. It’s manlike to follow the people, to drift with the tide it’s godlike to follow principles, to stem the tide. It’s natural to compromise conscience and follow social and religious fashions for the sake of gain and pleasure; it’s divine to sacrifice fashions on the altar of truth and beauty. “No one supported me, but all deserted me” (2 Tim. 4:16). Those were the words of the battle-scarred Apostle Paul in describing his first appearance before Nero to answer for his life. Truth has been out of fashion since man changed his robe of fadeless light for a garment of faded leaves. Think about it for a moment.

Noah built the ark and voyaged alone except for his family. Abraham wandered and worshiped alone. Daniel dined and prayed alone. Elijah sacrificed and witnessed alone. Jeremiah prophesied and wept alone. Jesus loved and died alone. On His lonely way Jesus said to His disciples, “For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it” (Matt. 7:14).

Margaret and the kids and I went to the East Coast for a vacation last year. It was kind of a founding-and-forming-of our-country vacation. It struck me that every historical site we visited was a monument to somebody’s commitment in life. We went to New York City and saw the Statue of Liberty. There on Ellis Island stands the lady with her torch, the first thing so many immigrants saw in our country. I listened to the guide talk about some of the things that happened to the immigrants when they landed at Ellis Island. They had such great hopes for life in America, yet they couldn’t speak the language and didn’t have a friend in the country. Sometimes they were detained on the small island for weeks or months; some died there. But many got to New York City and worked hard to carve out a place for themselves in this free society. That’s commitment.

Then we got on a train for Philadelphia, a city rich in American history. As we sat in Constitution Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, I realized the commitment level of our nation’s founders. By signing their names to this document, these wealthy men were risking their lives and all they possessed. We also visited the graves of many of the signers, many of whom died penniless.

We went to Williamsburg, Virginia, where Patrick Henry began his leadership. He was the first American governor there, the man who said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Two of the most impressive monuments we saw in Washington, D.C., the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, were built to honor the presidents who had the greatest struggles. One had the struggle of forming the nation, and the other had the struggle of keeping the nation. These are all monuments to commitment.

The World’s Reactions to Commitment

In Scripture God gives us many great examples of committed men and women, with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego among them. King N4uchadnezzar, the ruler of Babylon, has taken Israel captive and selected some of the promising young Hebrew men to be trained to serve in his court. Of course, the one known best is Daniel, but we’re going to look especially at his three friends.

Nebuchadnezzar built a golden idol and instructed his people that at the sound of the music they were to bow down and worship this idol. It seemed that everybody was cooperating, but then some Chaldeans came to the king with an upsetting report: “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, namely Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. These men. O king. have disregarded you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up” (Dan. 3:12). The world reacts in several ways to people who are committed. The first response is brought out in this verse: the world takes notice of our commitment. These three guys really stood out.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king” (Dan. 3:13). The second thing that happens is this: the world will be annoyed by our commitment. Nebuchadnezzar was downright mad; he flew into a rage. He couldn’t handle somebody who didn’t think the way he thought, believe the way he believed, or walk the way he walked.

“Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, ‘Is it true. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?’ “(Dan. 3:14) This verse brings out the next reaction: the world will question our commitment. Nebuchadnezzar had to double-check; he couldn’t believe these guys had such strong backbones.

Nebuchadnezzar then said he would give them another chance to bow down to the image. “But if you will not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” (Dan. 3:15) The fourth reaction is this: the world will test your commitment.

As those three Jews stood there that day, I imagine several thoughts went through their heads. They probably asked themselves questions like, Can God deliver us? What would it hurt if we bowed down just one time? I’ve often thought that would have been a convenient time for them to tie their shoelaces, so they could bow down; not to worship the idol, of course, just to tie their shoes.

When we come to the crossroad of our commitment the strength of our commitment has to prove itself. The choice will not be easy, because it’s all or nothing. Our security, our identity, and our popularity may be at stake. It will not be a decision we can make lightly.

Characteristics of the Crossroad

When I’m at a crossroad of commitment in my life, a personal decision must be made. Other people may care; they may pray; they may offer advice; but the decision will be mine alone. I’m the one who will have to live with it and answer for it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego stood together, but each had to make his own decision, his own commitment.

A second characteristic of a crossroad commitment is that the decision will always cost something. There is no such thing as a free commitment. In this situation commitment could have cost the Hebrews their lives. Your commitment may not be quite that expensive, but it will cost you something. It may cost you a friendship. It may cost you a few points in the popularity poll. But if it were free, it would also he worthless. Count on its costing.

A third thing I find at the crossroad is that others will he influenced by it. We never make a major decision at a crossroad without affecting other people. We may make the decision alone, and we may walk the commitment alone, but we never make an important commitment that does not affect other people. It’s like the rippling effect when a stone is thrown into a pond. The whole pond is affected.

Fourth, it’s the place where God reveals Himself to us. Note that Nebuchadnezzar asked the men, “What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” Even the world realizes that our commitments are valid only because God intervenes.

A Right Concept of God

Our concept of God in crisis situations will determine our commitment. If we think God will fail us, flee, or he fickle, we 11 never make strong commitments. We would he foolish to commit ourselves to someone who is irresponsible. But if our concept of God tells us He’s sure, steadfast, true, and faithful, then we can make those commitments confidently.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were able to make the right kind of commitment because they’ had the right concept of God. They said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this. If it he so. our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king” (Dan. 3:16.17). Their first concept of God was that He is able.

They went on to say, “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up (Dan. 3:18). They’ understood that God expects us to do right regardless of the consequences. If we have that twofold concept of God, we have the glue for a very strong bonding for our commitment.

If we can begin to see God as one who expects us to do right regardless of the consequences, we won’t waver; God many- times will bring healing and deliverance and power and anointing to our lives, but that’s just the icing on the cake. Our concept of God makes a great difference.

Results of Commitment

What resulted from the commitment of Shadraeh. Meshach, and Ahed.nego?

Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach. Meshach, and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he commanded some valiant warriors who were in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. in order to cast them into the furnace of blazing fire. Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. For this reason, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace had been made extremely hot, the flame of fire slew those men who carried tip Shadrach. Meshach, and Abed-nego. But these three men. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up. (Dan. 3:19-23)

The first result of our commitment is that we will be tried Bank on it: when we stand up for God, we will be tested.

The second result of our commitment is that God will be glorified. When we are truly committed to Him, He will receive praise.

Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fiery furnace and asked, “Was it not three men we cast hound into the midst of the fire?” For he saw in the furnace four men ‘loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!” He called to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to come out, and the three guy’s came out. In Daniel 3:27, we can see that the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s high officials gathered around and saw that the fire had had no effect on their bodies. Their hair wasn’t singed, their trousers weren’t damaged, and they didn’t even smell like fire. We can’t even do that well if we go to a restaurant and sit in the nonsmoking section,

Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way” (Dan. 3:28-29).

How is the world going to know about the greatness of God without committed Christians? Our problem is not a lack of display of the power of God, the miracles of God, or the anointing of God; God is ready to His part. He’s just waiting for somebody to get into the furnace. He’s looking for people who are totally committed, people whose purpose goes beyond their own abilities. There is a relationship between our willingness to die for God and His willingness to deliver us.

A third result of our commitment is that God will bless our lives. The king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon, according to Daniel 3:30.

Ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact on their own world. The secret lies in being totally committed to the cause of Jesus Christ. If you read the biographies of great men, you’ll become convinced of a couple of things very quickly’. One, all great men struggle; all great men have a fiery furnace in their lives. The second thing is that the degree of their commitment is what really made them great. They weren’t smarter, they weren’t faster, and they- weren’t better educated; they were more committed.

Developing Commitment

How do we develop commitment in our lives? From the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we can pull out several principles.

Commitment usually begins in an atmosphere of struggle. Very seldom do we see strong commitment arise out of a context of prosperity. Squandered time, wasted living, and distorted values may come out of prosperity, but commitment does not. The three Jews were captives in another land, with new customs, new surroundings, new values, and different priorities. It was for them an atmosphere of struggle.

Winston Churchill really achieved greatness during the struggle of World War II. His finest hour was the hour of confrontation, the hour of challenge. After the war he became an average prime minister, but not a great one. As Churchill was anticipating the fall of France in 1940, he said, “The battle of France is over; I expect the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization.... Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, this was their finest hour,”

Forty-five years later, nine out of ten people would probably say that Britain’s finest hour came in the days of Churchill’s leadership during World War II. Commitment usually begins in dark hours,

Commitment doesn’t depend on abilities or gifts. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were among many good-looking and intelligent youths chosen for special training, according to Daniel 1:3-4. But I like to think they weren’t really chosen for those qualities. Rather, they were chosen because of their commitment.

Commitment is the result of choice; it’s not a condition. People do not make great commitments because their conditions are right. People make great commitments because they’ choose to do right in spite of the conditions. In Daniel 1:8, it says, “But Daniel made up his mind.”

The moment that Daniel made up his mind, the moment that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego made up their minds to serve God—that was their great moment. That’s the moment God lifted them up. God blessed them because they chose commitment.

Commitment starts with the little things in our lives. No one ever made a big commitment without first making little commitments. It’s a lot like learning to walk; we gain new confidence with each step. When we see that God blesses our small commitments, we begin to trust Him with bigger ones.

Don’t make a commitment today to win your world for Jesus. That’s idealistic and unreasonable. Make a commitment to win one person to Jesus. With the confidence you gain from winning that one, you can win two more.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego started out on the right foot by’ refusing to eat the king’s food. If you can’t stand up and say no to the king’s food, you can’t stand up and say no to the king’s idol. You don’t all of a sudden get that kind of courage; it starts with the little things. You realize that when you said no to the king’s food, God blessed you, and you prospered. If God helped you on the food issue, He can help you on the idol issue. And step by step, we begin to build a foundation underneath us that gives us strong character for strong commitment.

This principle also works in reverse. Herein lies the danger of sinning: when you sin once, it’s easier to sin twice. That’s why we ought to have a healthy fear of temptation and a healthy fear of sin. Sin breaks down the walls of resistance. It causes our focus to become blurred, and all of a sudden we’re doing things we shouldn’t be doing. If you didn’t make any strong commitments yesterday, it will catch up with you today.

Settle the issue of commitment before it arises. Don’t get caught up in the emotion of the moment, because then your commitment will waver. Make your decision before the issue arises. The battle is won before the battle is begun. That’s the secret behind the three Hebrews’ success. They already knew what they were going to do. They didn’t stand there and listen to the music and look at each other, wondering what to do. They’ had already settled the issue, so they didn’t have to think about it.

Trust in God. In Daniel 3:28, after the Hebrews had been rescued and delivered, Nebuchadnezzar made an interesting statement. Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him.” Great commitments art built on trust in God.

Be single-minded In Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar made another comment about these three guy’s. Not only did they trust in God, but he said they’ “yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any other god except their own God.” Single-mindedness.

In his book, Choices, Frederic Flach writes. ‘Most people can look back over the years and identify a time and place at which their lives changed significantly. Whether by accident or design, these are the moments when, because of a readiness within us and a collaboration with events Occurring around us, we are forced to seriously reappraise ourselves and the conditions under which we live to make certain choices that will affect the rest of our lives.” We are never too old for that to happen.

There are some of you reading this book today, and you’re thinking, My goodness, I’ve already been in this rut for twenty-five years! Make some choices, make a commitment, take a risk—that’s where the fruit is. It’s never too late. Go for it! Don’t allow circumstances or age or whatever to limit you. Only you can limit yourself

In 1970 I read a book by Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership. I became convinced after reading that book that the only people who are going to affect their world for God are those who become leaders and take a stand on principles that perhaps the rest of the world doesn’t stand on. I can remember writing in the back of that book that regardless of the size of my congregation and regardless of the opinions of others—and I even wrote that regardless of what my father says, and my father is the greatest influence and the most important person in my life—there are some things I’m going to stand on and believe in. I’m still living off of that decision.

I was reading recently about John Wesley, a favorite hero of mine. He was writing a letter of encouragement to a fellow named George, who was leaving England to evangelize the new frontier. He wrote, “Dear George, the time has come for you to embark for America. I let you loose, George, on that great continent of America. Publish your message in the open face of the sun and do all the good that you can.” I love Wesley’s liberating phrase, “I let you loose.”

Commitment will free you and let you loose to do great things for God.