:: Once Lost, Now Found ::

If all my days were sunny

2011-05-08T10:53:00.003+08:00

V V! (Ivy)
Glad you have arrived safely there :)

Just saw a devotional today with a few stanzas in it and I felt and thought that they were very true indeed:

If all my days were sunny, could I say,
"In His fair land He wipes all tears away"?

If I were never weary, could I keep
Close to my heart, "He gives His loved ones sleep"?

Were no graves mine, might I not come to deem
The Life Eternal but a baseless dream?

My winter, and my tears, and weariness,
Even my graves, may be His way to bless.

***

I remember what a teacher (I think) told us a long time ago, do not ask the Lord to make it easier, ask for strength and grace from Him to overcome it.

Mercy

2011-04-26T22:16:00.000+08:00

How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere.
I choose the true road to Somewhere.
I post your road signs at every curve and corner.

Psalm 119:9-10, 29-30

Beautiful. Beautiful Love.

Here I am a sinner.
Broken and in need of you.
Your Mercy saved me, called me as Your own.
Your Mercy made me whole.

2011-03-20T18:07:00.000+08:00

Fearless
19th Mar, by Pastor Lawrence Khong

o Egypt --------Wildnerness------->Promised Land

o Wilderness: Of fear, distrust in God, grumbling

o Destiny-Land or Disney-Land?

o The greatest Giant that will block us from entering the Promised Land is FEAR

o 455 times of variation of the word ‘fear’ appears in the Bible

o Joshua 1:6-9: “Be strong and courageous” emphasized 3 times! Joshua must have had been freaking out – He was supposed to replace Moses to lead the grumbling Israelites to the Promised Land.

o “Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” – Les Brown

o 2 Tim 1:7 – “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control.”

1. We are fearless when we move in the power of the Holy Spirit

o 1 Cor 2:3-5 – “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
o Fear scares us.
o Fear of failure paralyzes us.
o "I would rather try something great and fail than try nothing great and succeed." – John Maxwell
o “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
o The power of the Spirit if the Spirit of power.
o John 1:12 – “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
o Acts 1:8 – “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
o 2 Cor 12:9 – “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
o Not because of our power but God’s power in us
o Fear causes us to live below our potential
o Avoiding our fears will cause it to grow bigger.

2. We are fearless when the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Spirit.

o Rom 5:5: “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
o 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
o 2 Cor 5:13-15 – “If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you. Christ's love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do.”
o We love each other also so that we can love the world.
o Matthew 10:37-38 – “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
o 1 Cor 7:29-31 – “What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”

3. We are fearless when our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit.

o 2 Tim 1:6-7 – “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
o Fear cases us to look at the giant instead of the goodness of God.
o When David wanted to throw the stone at the giant, he didn’t see a big source of fear, he saw that the giant was too big to miss!
o Deut 1:27-28 – “You grumbled in your tents and said, “The LORD hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.”
o Fear causes us to grumble.
o Fear brings out the worst in us
o Fear distorts the truth.
o “Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed.” - Michael Pritchard
o Rom 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this 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.”
o Without fear, our minds will be set free.
o Rev 12:11 “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

A generation that missed the blessing

2011-02-26T09:19:00.001+08:00

Notes: Hi there, here is a summary of Thomas’ sharing during cell group J I have done my best writing out what I still remember... Leaders, please “top-up” if necessary J and I entitled this as:

“A generation that missed the blessing—what is your obedience meter showing?”

Main focuses on Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.

It all begins with a promise from God; a land filled with milk and honey for the Israelites. (Exodus 3:7-10) God commanded Moses to bring the Israelites out from Egypt. Yet all of them didn’t enter to the promise land, except Joshua and Caleb. Why is that so?

What have God done (few important events) in these three books?

· He showed the Israelites signs and wonders (Plagues on Egypt, parting of red sea, pillar of cloud and fire);

· He fulfilled their needs (water, manna and quail) when He heard their grumbles.

· He gave them 10 commandments so that they’ll not do something wrong in God’s sight.

· He gave them VERY detailed instructions in doing everything—what to eat, how to build the tabernacles, what the priest should wear, what occasions to celebrate…. (later part of Exodus and the book of Leviticus);

· He gave them the privilege to become His treasured possession, a kingdom of priest and a holy nation; only if they obey Him FULLY. (Exodus 19:5-6)

But what the Israelites did? (simplified version)

· They grumbled because they didn’t get to eat or drink. They did not have a thankful heart, but only praising God when they see His blessing.

· Although their intention might be good, they “underestimated” God’s glory and sovereignty; thought that the golden calf can represent God on earth… (foolish, foolish)

· Their faith was too small to believe that God will give them the land, which at that time was the habitat for the giant/ “-ites family” (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)

· Moses and Aaron did not put their trust in God enough and did not honor His Holiness (Numbers 20:12)

The conclusion? Only Joshua and Caleb from THAT generation are entering to the promise land. Not even Moses? No, because Moses did not obey God’s command fully (Numbers 20:12)- God commanded him to SPEAK to the rock for water to come out. Moses, however, thought that he can repeat what he did (Exodus 17), he struck the rock TWICE this time instead of saying a “hi” (ops… ).

Question: What is our obedience meter telling us? We obey Him Fully? Half? Or too low to be detected? We can still be blessed even if we don’t obey Him (fully). But know that God’s blessing does not equal to His presence; His presence may not be with us but still we can experience His protection and provision… because He is a faithful God; He does what He promises us. However if His presence is there, there is blessing! God is not stingy to bless. He always tells us how to get His blessing—just follow His instructions, fully ♥

God's sentiment...

2011-01-15T09:03:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wonder why God loves us so much?
Why God choose to redeem us by giving his only begotten son instead of just throwing us to hell and create a better version of human?
Do you ever realize that we are very replaceable by God?
He can create thousands of us with only a single word. He can even create Homo sapiens 1.2 or Homo sapiens 2.0 anytime He wants, or Melinda Leonie 1.2 or Melinda Leonie 2.0 anytime....
Yet He choose to keep us and not giving up on us....
What is so special about us, the replaceable, sinful, far from perfect human being?
The answer is NOTHING other than the fact that God loves us

That day, I was weeping. Most of you know the reasons. My favorite blouse was stained.
Was there anything special about that blouse?
Ok, it was a bit pricy, the design was nice but it was only a white blouse
Was it replaceable? I can buy a better blouse since I have some money....
Yet, I still cried with a broken heart when the blouse was stained knowing all of this...
No one could understand, none of my house-mate could understand....
The main reasons why I was sad were:
1. the blouse was a memento of me entering a working life
2. I always hand-wash the blouse, never wash them with the machine, so that the colour would stay white.
There inside the bathroom, God whisper to me in a soft voice: "I was hurt more when you fall into sins and temptations"...

There, I realized the main reasons why God loves us:
Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed a man^[a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We are the work of art of God.
He can just say "let there be human", but he choose to crafted us from the dust and He even breathe into the dirty dust so that we become a living being. We are not created on impulse. God plans to create us, since he create us in His image.... no one of us are created by accident...

A testimony from Ming Ming

2010-12-28T21:46:00.002+08:00

Dear family,

I promised myself i have to write down some stories of my life here before I forgot and here you are!

We, as NOC students in Shanghai, had to take a module called New Venture Creation at Fudan University. This is a very unique course because only Shanghai NOC students are allowed to do this module. Furthermore, our lecturer is a Singaporean who purposely flew to Shanghai every month to give us lectures. She is a very demanding lecturer and the class is competitive even with only 16 of us. We were divided into four groups and my group consisted of me, Sean, PK and Hui Zhen.

Our first two presentations were not graded. My group did quite badly, we felt. Our deliverables were seriously lack in content if compared to other 3 groups. After the second presentation in September, we were VERY demoralised. I felt so inadequate and I started to question God why He sent me to china. I felt inferior after this presentation. Therefore, my projectmates and I decided to talk to our lecturer. Surprisingly, our lecturer praised us for our performance! It was totally unexpected and unbelievable.

However, we had another 3 group deliverables and an individual deliverable due in Dec. The workload was heavy because besides our studies, we were busy at work too. Life was so stressed. Furthermore, the topics for the deliverables were too vague. We didn't even know what to do. My group faced a big challenge. There was a point that all of us wanted to give up.

I knew that God's grace is always sufficient. After telling some of my church friends about my prayer requests, I decided to put my trust in God. Hence, I took a step of faith by asking my projectmates to join me for prayers even though they were not Christians. Thankfully they were willing to join.

We had our group presentations on Dec 5 at 9 am. However, my group was not able to come out with the ppt slides on Dec 4. We were very last minute and most of us only managed to sleep for two hours that night. We felt so bad and we were very nervous especially when our friends were well-prepared and slept early that night. Again, we turned to God and I prayed that we could answer the questions asked by our lecturer in the end of our presentation. We only got our ppt slides done at 8am on Dec 5 and we rushed to school by taking a cab at 8.30am.

My group was the last group to present. The second group did quite well and we were seriously intimidated. We hold hands to pray and God showed me a bible verse:

"For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
Deuteronomy 20:4

To our surprise, the lecturer liked our video very much! She only asked us a simple question(unlike what she did for other groups) and PK could answer it. In the end of the presentation, she even asked the whole class to clap for us for our creativity. All of us were STUN.

When we went back to our seats, PK told me, "I just witnessed a miracle." Sean said," I think I have to follow you to church to find out who your God is."

I like the bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you...."

When I feel that my future is uncertain or unpredictable, this is the verse that I always hold to. God has faithfully guided me in all the paths i took.

God is great and all glory to Him!~

(p/s: I'm helping Ming2 to post this because she can't access blogspot in China)

Kataphroneo

2010-12-19T10:56:00.004+08:00

There are many times we want to follow God's words and ways, but feelings and emotions get in the way of our 'spiritual sense', and more often than not when we follow our feelings/ instinct rather than His word, it leads to sin and disobedience. Feelings led to Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden; feelings also led King David to break the 7th Commandment. For us, especially youths, the world constantly bombards us with the message that our feelings are king and that a life spent satisfying desires is well spent indeed. Is that so? How do we still walk right with God? Must we ignore our feelings?

By looking at Jesus, the Light who came into the world and who experienced feelings just like you and I did, and struggled with it, yet overcame.

He did not ignore, but acknowledged, and 'despised' his feelings that were not attuned with God's will.

Excerpted from "Lessons I learned in the Dark" by Jennifer Rothschild

"Emotions accompany all the events of our lives...The more importance you assign to the event, the more intensely you'll feel the emotion. So when Christ approached the most important event in His life, He did so with an intense emotion.

The Bible calls it shame.

"For the joy set before Him [He] endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2, NASB)

What really strikes me in this passage is a word that appears before shame. It is a word that graphically describes how Jesus dealt with His strong emotion. The word is translated several different ways...One says that Christ scorned the shame; another that He despised the shame. But in the original Greek, the word is kataphroneo..meaning "to consider with disregard" or "to esteem lowly".

What an awesome example Jesus gave us! He had feelings of shame, but He held them in low esteem.

What we hold in high esteem will eventually govern us, but what we hold in low esteem, we will govern. Yes, we need to acknowledge our feelings, but we should never regard them more highly than God's Word. Don't ever bow to your feelings because you hold them in such high regard. Instead, make them bow to your God.

Often we can't choose the feelings we experience. But we can always choose our response to them. We don't have to allow our feelings to dictate our choices. It may seem risky at the time, but if we don't esteem God's eternal Word more highly than we do our fleeting human feelings, we'll miss the blessings that wait on the other side of choosing to trust. Paul tells us what happened when Jesus esteemed God's Word more than His feelings and, in obedience to it, went to the cross:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippaisn 2:9-11)"

The River - Brian Doerksen

2010-12-14T01:24:00.005+08:00

As I quieten down my heart tonight, I chanced across this song. It touched my heart a lot. I pictured God walking closely besides me. Ah God..You never forsake me even when I caught up in the nothingness of life.

Psalm 32 (New International Version, ©2010)
Of David. A maskil.^a]">
¹ Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the one
whose sin the LORD does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
³ When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the LORD’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
¹¹ Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

I couldn't pinpoint the reason but I feel the warmth of God's love in this psalm. I read it over and over again. May it bless your heart, my fellow brothers and sisters!

Where... and what...?

2010-12-12T22:08:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone,

Since most of us are away during this season of holiday, I thought of just updating one another with these-

1) Where are you today (12.12.2010)?
2) What are the three things you did today?

Just post your answers in the comment. =)

Hope to hear from you all!

...while on a month long Business Trip

2010-12-07T14:49:00.003+08:00

Yo people,

Right now, I am in the USA, right after I came back from China.....

Just wanted to how God is putting me thru' a major challenge even in the last month.

1) My prayers at the start of my trip to China was for a smooth and problem-free factory visit.

2) Of course, it did not turn out that way. In fact, there were days that I could not sleep out of great anxiety.

3) Doubt crept into my prayers (ask my wife), and I began to slacken in my daily discipline to pray for your exams. In fact, I found it hard to focus at work, and to do beneficial things like exercise, and to study.

4) The fear of being criticised, mocked and ridiculed by my boss and colleagues dominated my anxiety.

5) BUT to cut the long story short, God not only provided help to solve my technical problems; he also showed me a few new friends that I made during that time of great struggle.

So as I continue to work thru' my challenges in this coming USA trip, I cannot help but remember that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28.

I came out of my first 2 weeks of my business trip better and more enriched than ever, and I am certain that whatever challenges that may cause me great pain, it cannot compare to the great blessings that God our Father in Heaven is able and willing to give to me in the future.

All of you, claim this goodness of God!

Why Pray When God Knows What We Want?

2010-12-01T12:26:00.011+08:00

I "LIKE" today's devotion from Duranno. It prompts us the question: What role does prayer play in the God's plan in our lives? So I will write a not-so-short passage on what is mentioned in today's devotion. It's based on the passage Rev 8:1-13.

As the title suggests, one might wonder: Why we need to pray since God already knows what we want? It's redundant, isn't it?

Okay, put that situation in your family. Imagine that everyday u just put a post-it note on the fridge of "List of Needs and Wants". No conversation. Of course, your parents would know what you want. But, parents obviously won't be happy with that and it aches them. They don't get the chance to tell you what among the lists is what you really need or what they feel about them.

Prayer is not just bringing our request to God and getting what we need. God commands us to pray because of our relationship with Him. It's a communication tool, not a vending machine system.

Prayer is about drawing near to God. It's about learning to hear His still, small voice, knowing His heart for us and even getting the answers that we searched high and low for. Besides, it releases the power of God in us and through us. God is waiting for us to take the initiative. C.H. Spurgeon said this: When God plans something, He first sets His people to pray.

God treasures our prayers a lot. They're important in the kingdom of God. They have eternal worth. So important that God puts them in golden bowl. (v3) So prayers are not redundant, they have high priority in God's heart.

Quoting from Peter Wagner, the real battle that we fight is a spiritual battle (Eph 6:12) and the weapon is prayer. In prayers, we're acknowledging our inability and God's ability. (2 Cor 1:8-11)

Yup, that's all I learnt from today's QT. And there's a mandarin song that I think aptly describes the importance of prayers. I provided a rough translation of what it means. =)

祷告-赞美之泉 "Prayers" by Streams of Praise
祷告因为我渺小 I pray because I'm small
祷告因为我知道我需要 I pray because I know I'm in want
明了你心意对我重要 I understand Your heart matters to me
祷告已假装不了 There's no pretension in prayers
祷告因为你的爱我需要 I pray because I need Your love
你关怀我走过的你都明白 You care and understand what I've been through
有些事我只想要对你说 There are things that I just want to tell You alone
因你比任何人都爱我 Because there's none that love me more than You
痛苦从眼中流下 Teardrops of pain
我知道你为我擦 You've wiped away from me
在早晨我也要来对你说 Every morning I'm going to tell you again
主耶稣今天我为你活 Today I'm living for You Jesus
所需要的力量你天天赐给我 You grant me the strength I needed everyday
你恩典够我用 Your grace is enough for me

Never give up praying to God, but let His power be released in your life through your prayers.

You Hold Me Now

2010-11-29T10:29:00.004+08:00

Today devotional spoke to me of what I've been thinking these few days. It affirms me that God will never let me go in spite of what I've done. He still loves me and calls me His precious child.

Satan accuses that we're not worthy to do what God has called us to do. But God says, "You are the chosen one, not because you're good, but because you're willing and I'm well pleased with that." That's why we need to partner with God, we can't do this alone. We need to driven by grace and living out every deed as if it's impossible without God.

The Four Judgements (Rev 6:1-8)

2010-11-27T09:04:00.003+08:00

As we read this for devotion today, I found the four judgements rather harsh, but this must come to pass, as our God is just and He must bring about Judgement to this world. The interpretation of the fourth horseman, i.e. Death, leads us to read from Ezekiel 14:12-23, where God says at the very end of that Scripture that "... I have done nothing in it without cause" (Ezekiel 14:23) so we have to trust our Sovereign God that He has a reason for whatsoever He has written in His Book. And it's also a reminder that we have to live a righteous life- there is no other way of being saved if you read what God commented about how Noah, Daniel and Job could only save themselves by their righteousness.

That brought me to read Romans 1:17- For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.' So this righteousness comes by faith, and not just by working with our own hands and might, but it is by reading God's Word, having a close walk and developing a strong faith in Him. Don't get me wrong, we still have to work, for faith without works is dead (James 2:17), but works without faith does not bring about righteousness either.

This may be a little heavy food for thought, but let's digest this food together. =)

How He Loves

2010-11-26T22:11:00.002+08:00

A song that I liked a lot. Just thought of sharing it here.

The friend that the singer mentioned (Stephen) prayed to God: "If it would shake the youth of a nation, I will give my life today." The same night by a phone call - the friend had been killed in a car crash. And the song has been sung by few people including David Crowder Band.

2010-11-25T17:23:00.004+08:00

Psalm 16:10 "..because you will not abandon me to the grave.." rings true. Today for my exam when I was in the bus, I realised I forgot to bring my Calculator. Suicide for an engin student!! Panicking I just prayed that God would help me find a calculator. Thank God, from just the 2nd person I asked, I managed to borrow someones spare calculator. houldn't have panicked and trust He provides(:

----

Related to Weliang's post about lukewarm Christianity, here are notes frm last sat's sermon, for those who missed it.

When Jesus is Lord, We Will Serve Him

Jesus is either Lord of All or not at all. Our faith is not a religious pastime, it is our lifestyle. ‘Our own life’ is secondary.
Christian life shouldn’t be egocentric, it should be Christ-centric.
Too often we think of what He can do for us, when it should be what we can do for Him who brought us salvation.
Being a Christian doesn’t mean trying to lead a comfortable life in a stained-glass church, it means being on a lifesaving mission 24-7.
Too many pastors preach on the 2nd coming on Jesus, but there are plenty of people out there who have not heard about His 1st coming.
Are we just content about mediocre Christianity?
Do we just communicate unlived truth?
Remember that our first priority is to preach the gospel and disciple/ consolidate new believers. Bible knowledge and living a holy life is to become authentic witnesses.
Jesus suffered on the cross; but there is still work to be done until His 2nd coming; He lives on in us, who have to suffer to preach the gospel for the world to know Jesus.
The ministry is not FUN, but we take delight and rejoice in our sufferings and the fruit we bear for His glory.
Only disciples of Jesus/those who really recognize Jesus as Lord, can make disciples/make people recognize Jesus as Lord.
“To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” - Col 1:2

Somewhere in the Middle

2010-11-24T11:50:00.005+08:00

I watched Ps Daniel Khong's sermon "The Stand" yesterday. He mentioned the verse shared in today's devotional.

Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
(Note: Spit out - vomit out of disgust)

Gulps..that is quite a strong warning, isn't it?

And I'm reminded of the song "Somewhere in the Middle" by Casting Crowns. The question is, where God is going to find us?

Honestly, if we don't have a passion worth dying for, we don't have a purpose worth living for.

While in the midst of your exams...

2010-11-24T07:21:00.001+08:00

As I was thinking about how the students are having their exams now, they are like in the midst of a battle. Then I thought about the battle between the Israelites and Amalekites (Exo 17:8-16). The battle was won because Moses held his hands up towards the Lord, and the Lord fought on their behalf. More encouraging is that when Moses' hands were tired, Aaron and Hur helped to hold his hands up. In this way, the battle was finally won. It reminds me that at times when I may feel that I'm all alone in this, but God has sent His helpers to fight the battle together with me. So students, be encouraged; you are not alone. =)

All that I ask

2010-11-19T09:32:00.000+08:00

To walk close by Your side, my dear Savior,
To be led by You, doing each task,
To feast richly on grace at Your table,
And to know You is all that I ask. —Somerville

2010-11-18T15:14:00.002+08:00

Sometimes, our faith can literally be applied in exams. especially for arts/biz modules, where many secular theories actually stem subconsciously from Christian values. For me, today was sure proof!

Today was my HR2002 (Human Resource Management) exam. there were a lot of readings and topics to cover but in the end I focussed on a few topics. Was kinda stressed before the exam. Got an sms from Weilit mysteriously wishing me good luck for HR2002 even though I did not tell him about my exam, something along, "Don't copy wholesale"...it's about the quality...so I thought to myself, how can I be value-add, write differently from everyone who just copies the notes?

The answer came to me, use a Christian perspective. Since God is right, approaching the questions using Christian values would surely make one's answers more more right. After all, isn't God 'The' Greatest Human Resource Manager ever? He only had to manage, like, the whole of human race!

In the end I went into the exam, and was overjoyed to find out that the 2 questions (choose 2 out of 3 qns to answer) covered the topics i HAD studied in detail. And coincidentally, the questions covered the topics that i felt were most relevant to Christians, Diversity and Self, as opposed to other topics like organisational structure, globalisation....having a Christian perspective certainly helped in shaping my essay, there was even a Christian slant subtly here and there in the way I answered.

Even though I only started studying late, God caused the questions that came out to be those I focussed on. Furthermore, it turns out GOD had been preparing me for the exam a loong time ago, where? Namely, in church! And during my quiet time!

Indeed, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed"..Luke 10:41b-42a. Worrying about exams is one thing, but we should not neglect God time. And as you can see, it turned out God time actually helped me in my exam!

I'm copying and pasting my exam questions here and you'll be surprised to find how you can actually interpret these questions from a biblical point of view! (*disclaimer: I didn't answer like that, i.e. quoting Bible stuff, in the exam, of course)

Q1: "Reframing diversity [people who are different] requires changes in mindsets."

Christian answer?: "Do not judge, and you too will not be judged"- Matthew 7:1

Didn't the Pharisees condemn Jesus because He was so untraditional/ radically different than they could accept, even though He was the light?

Didn't Paul persecute the Christians just cause they were different, hence heretic...only to encounter God and undergo a 360 degrees mindset change?

Didn't God appear to Peter in a vision in Acts 10, telling Peter to overcome his prejudice of the Gentiles (“Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”), changing Peter's mindset as well?

Didn't God ask us to put aside our differences and be as one community?

One Body, Many Parts (1 Corinthians 12)

Q2: "Self-reflection is a more effective way to learn and change one's behaviour than just reflecting on the reactions of others." Do you agree? Explain.

Christian answer? Doesn't this sound suspiciously like "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind....." Romans 12:2a

In the module we learnt about the theory of looking-glass self where pyschologists believe our identity is shaped by society/environment, and we shape our identity based on how others view/treat us.

Our self-concept is not based on how other's view us, but our identity is in Christ.

I am God's child (John 1:12)

"God created man in his own image" (Gen 1:27)

"Who am I" Moses asked, and God replied, "I AM WHO I AM".

I am who am because God is who He is.

To change one's behaviour, do we just copy the actions of the other people, no matter how we admire them. They are imperfect too.

No, we change by renewing my minds by reflecting on God's word on our own!

Cell Get-Together

2010-11-16T23:32:00.002+08:00

STH.. STH..

2010-11-16T11:20:00.003+08:00

Finally got through...
HI, Everyone! :-)

So says Revelation 12:11 : To avoid evil/sin, we exchange testimonies (something to that effect) - pls correct me if I'm wrong
Just read this yesterday and well, I really want to write this down to encourage everyone out there who might be going through dark days.

So it begins...
Sorry. I think it'll be quite long and full of heavy stuff.
When i was very young, about 6 years old, my mind wanders a lot and it's a phase where you always yourself questions like 'Why am I born into this world when i didn't choose to?' And of course it will be replied by well-meaning family and friends about our anatomies and how they work. But i never found the answer i wanted. And questions linger still, but were not voiced. I believed there was a god out there somewhere, created the whole universe probably. This universe is far too intricately designed, we have more chemical reactions going on in our brains than there are atoms in this whole universe, according to Tony Buzan.(hey, Alex, is this true?) We are made too intricately.
And it was not the Big Bang, for sure.

Bla bla.. Life goes on, with usual hum-drums. Mundane. Perhaps mundane is good. Then something not so mundane happened. My sister, who has cerebral palsy, started to act weirdly. First, she'll talk about how her classmates were bullying her. So we checked with her friends and it wasn't true. Then she started to have all these zoning-out moments and sometimes hysterical when she said that policemen were surrounding the house to catch her. We said there wasn't any, but she didn't believed. She cried, screamed, shouted everyday and didn't want to sleep until my mum would accompany her to bed. Till we consulted the psychiatrist, and he confirmed that she is manic-depressive and schizophrenic. The doctor said it was due to stress, she is a girl with special learning needs in a normal class few grades below her. And she's a perfectionist. You can imagine how on a hamster wheel she was. running but not getting anywhere. We didn't know. But this episode took a huge toll on my family. I hated my dad for not being supportive enough. My mum became super-protective of my sister. My other sister acted out by being rebellious. I cried myself to bed. Typical dysfunctional family.
Day by day, my mum began to get thinner and shabbier and more morose. She cries herself to sleep, worrying sick about my sister, who would sometimes get violent and says she doesn't want to live anymore, holding a kitchen knife. Well, i felt on the verge of breaking too. My mum got diagnosed with clinical depression. Traumatized. This was how i spent the rest of my 14 years of age.
Slowly, things got into control again. The drugs worked. My mum and sister can sleep again. They were in their tranquil state. I was blissful. Went to SG. Met a lot of people who would later be my close friends, even till now. Lived like it was my last day everyday. God was out of the picture. Those two years were the most blissful two years I've had.
Late last year was when my life starts crashing down, every single iota of it. My mother became unresponsive to her medications after going through some homeopathy. She started crying again. And now it is more frequent. Her eyes would turn red after a shower. She'd wake up with puffy eyes. She was still rational, and later hospitalized herself. She did come home more rested and life still crawls on..
This year, after CNY, she had the first urges of suicide. As her dearest child, I talked to her everyday on the phone and ended up crying with her, when she told me to take care cause she's gonna go soon. She listened to me alone, in our family. I don't know what kept me going then. My studies kinda suffered. I despised going to school, started skipping school, until it was normal. My classmates said our class had 26 full time students and one part-time student. It was funny but sad at the same time. It got worse from there. It was so hopeless, the whole situation. i felt like I was the only one clinging to my mum. Or maybe I was the only one my mum was clinging onto. i went back during March holidays just to see her tell us about her hopes for our future without her. She searched for her insurance policy. bla bla. I cannot take it anymore. I listened to super-loud rock songs, became a recluse. Avoided everyone on my path. Didn't talk in school. The dean in my school asks me to see her in her office and explain myself. My failing the mid-years. I burst into tears before her. It was worse without my dear friend and senior Luong, whom I confided in the year before and who supported me by telling me who God is. It was hopeless. One day, my asistant house mistress (AHM) who lives in our hostel and takes care of us, knew i wanted to tell her something. She is so perceptive. She radiates love. I didn't know how she knew I had something to tell her. Maybe it was God telling her. I told her everything, I never cried so much. She hugged me and prayed for me. She told me about God. and one sentence stuck with me. It is as if it was God speaking. 'You are precious in His eyes'
I was stunned. I picked up His Word and read and stumble upon Psalm 23 (which is why it is my favourite). I was convinced that God is real. Hey.
But I didn't pray to Him personally. It still seemed foreign. But now, I think I know why, I was still struggling on my own, wanting to do it on my own will, like a struggling kid in the water, I kicked and fought for my breath but it is tiring.
Then I heard news of my mum's suicide attempt. She booked into some hotel near our place and bought a rope. But she came to her senses when my sister beat and screamed at her. She also attempted to strangle my sister, to take away her burden she brought into this world, she said. My patience ran out. She talked about wanting to die every single moment. My dad would joke that if she does it, he will follow her, singing that old song 'I will follow you, wherever you will go'. It's unbelievable how we found humor in the most unlikely places. My close friend knew about all that is happening, she tries to comfort me but I felt like nobody understands this thing that is happening to me. whatever she told me just came right out the other ear. Anyway, One day, it was the week of Good Friday. My school as always, have morning devotions read to us by teachers. So, this time, a teacher went up and told us a story. How a young bright teacher felt depressed at the peak of his career. Like nothing has a purpose anymore. So this close friend of this teacher invited him to a healing service in church. He grudgingly went since his friend insisted. When he sat at the pew, he felt like every single word the pastor said stung his heart. Like it was made for him alone. then he said a sentence that stuck with me, the pastor said 'you may be climbing the highest mountain, but God is by your side'

When he said this, I just kept tearing. I knew God was beckoning me to come to Him. Open the door when he knocks, someone told me. Later that day, I went to have a nap and when I woke up, I really wanted to kill myself. I am very close to being a smashed heap of human pancake. Yucks. It was at that moment when I called out to Him. 'God, I have heard about you and all you have done. My life is in total ruins now. There is no worth in it, no purpose nor meaning. I could lose my mother any moment. My family, soon there won't even be a family anymore. I could lose my scholarship and all. I don't know what to do. Only You can save me now. Please help me.'
that day, I think God touched my hard heart. I said yes to Him finally. I asked my friends Kat and Luong whether i could come to their church that week. Kat said there was this Good Friday party at her friend's house and if I wanted to join. The friend is Sze Yung btw. Haha. So, at that day, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
So they prayed for me, for my mum and family. The power of prayer is great. It created a miracle for my mum. Actually, she has tried all kinds of anti-depressants, but still unresponsive to any. there was in fact no options left. She couldn't undergo ECT- electro convulsive therapy because she's having palpitations. Pastor William prayed for my mum too.
I manage to convince her to be hospitalised when she doesn't listen to anyone else. She had said that she cannot be cured anymore. and then one day, she told me she wanted to get healed. yippee!
I prayed for her over the phone. And then the doctor said she can undergo ect. So, we went ahead. And she was healed. She slept so peacefully after years of insomnia. She was the happiest I have ever seen her.
God did a miracle just because I opened the door for Him.
So, just keep trusting at your darkest days. Like a struggling swimmer, no one should rescue him, because both will drown. But it is only at the moment when the swimmer has no more strength left in him and goes under, that he should be rescued.

I hope that this story had shown you that God loves us so much, even before we even believed in Him. He made us and wanted the best for us. Pray to Him. We will pray beside you too.
Thank God for everything.

Something is missing from the armor of God?!

2010-11-15T10:29:00.005+08:00

As I was reading devotion today, I'm reminded that I read somewhere else that something is "missing" from the armor of God. Any guess?

Upon closer look, you would notice that the back of the warrior is not covered. Oh shucks...which means the devil can just backstab us. So easy for him and so vulnerable for us.

Oh is it really meant to be that way? Could it be that God has intended something else to protect our backs? Paul was always purposeful in his writings, the video said. Yup, I couldn't agree more. I believe the point here is that, our back is meant to be watched by somebody else. We fight as a COMMUNITY, not as a single soldier.

As we fight against the enemies, there'll be enemies surrounding us from all sides. Hence, it is important that we watch out for each other during a battle.

Learnings from Last Week's Cell!

2010-11-14T21:52:00.003+08:00

What is it like to take ownership of the cell? To speak the truth in love, to grow together into a mature body, worthy of the head which is Christ. Then from Him, become a Body strengthened by strong values and the fruits of the Spirit, that grows because every part does its work! - Ephesians 4:15-16

To take ownership is to first admit our failings, without ignoring our strengths. Love must conquer all, and yet does not shy from speaking the truth.

Talking every week about making things better won't work, if we won't hold ourselves accountable to getting action done. Our cell members were challenged to only commit themselves to do what they themselves can do on their own. No arrowing! ;)

Good starts beg for better endings....shall we pursue this doggedly until we become perfect in Christ? We can certainly do this!

What is really WORTH LIVING, and DYING FOR?

2010-11-14T11:23:00.005+08:00

I was reminded as I looked around the congregation at service last evening. Why in the world are we even gathered there for?

Why do I ask this question? Because there are even more people, who are NOT gathered with us at the air-conditioned auditorium, on warm Saturday evenings. There must be something that causes us to choose our place, and for them to choose theirs. The question is: which choice is actually better? And do our choice make sense?

In my opinion, I think that if coming to church is just to find better ways to make myself happier and more prosperous, then I think I am wasting my time. There are better and more effective ways to improve myself. So many self-help books exists in bookstores. From the testimonies of participants who attended Adam Khoo's and maybe Anthony Robbin's seminars, self-improvement and success are all by yourself. Buddhism and Third Age philosophies may not appear to be the same, but from what I understand, they do agree that the power to happiness and enlightment lies within yourself.

Why trap yourself with an invisible God, who requires you to be set apart for His purpose, not yours, and all other things that follow? Why can't I have the freedom to just do whatever I want, since it is all about me, myself and I? Wait, I am not that selfish, because I still do care for my family and friends; as long as I get what I deserve....Better yet, I am a good person because I have chosen not to hurt others while trying to get ahead for myself, so that's OK.....

I deserve to get my place in Graduate School! I deserve to have my Dean's List! I deserve that Pay Raise! I deserve good results for my experiments! I deserve to be happy! It's all about how I get what I deserve.....or is it???

UNLESS........

Life may not be really all about just me. Am I here for something bigger? One thing that I am convinced for sure, that what the Bible talks about can only be true, if life is really bigger than just getting what I want.

Hebrews 11 says the following things; which I think we as Christians should ponder and meditate on...for it tears down and disables the arguments of life being about getting what we deserve. A very sobering thought comes, when we read the following verses -

¹ Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ² This is what the ancients were commended for.

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Two times, it is written - those who had faith in God, did NOT receive the things promised. What is that supposed to mean? Why would they believe in a God who did NOT GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WERE PROMISED?

So I looked closer, and I saw the following reasons: reasons that suggest, that Life is More than just getting what I want. Life is BIGGER and GRANDER than what I can hope or imagine! The people who earnestly believe in God had the following things in mind:

- They knew real well that they were aliens and strangers in this earth.

- They were longing for a better country - a heavenly one

- God has prepared a city for them; for He is not ashamed to be called their God

- and finally, God has planned (and will deliver) on something better for them, that together (with all believers, past, present and future - and this includes us today!), they would be made perfect.

If this does not inspire you to greatness, then what else could?

Young people of the past believed in great things that are so much bigger, and will probably outlive them. They would even die for those things. These things cannot compare to the great unfolding of history that our God has for us, but yet still, people would die for them:

- Sun Yat-Sen's vision of a strong and united modern China has many thousands of young people from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; both Communist and non-Communists alike, fighting and dying for his ideals!

- Martin Luther King's battle for true equality in American society caused him his life, and the lives of many African-Americans; but which resulted ultimately in great improvements to the point that Obama can even dream of becoming a President of the United States.

- Osama bin Laden's ideal of a proud and united Muslim people free from the bondage and yoke of the West has inspired many young Muslims to become terrorists in the eyes of the Western world, willing to die for what we may consider as a warped interpretation of the Quran.

People are willing to live and die for these visions; some are good, and yet others are far from it. If God's vision for His people are so much grander than these, won't we choose to follow Him for it?

Consider your position of life today. WHAT WOULD YOU LIVE, AND DIE FOR?

Being helpful does not pay, really! Or....does it?

2010-11-10T23:03:00.004+08:00

For those who have experienced strange reactions from people, when trying to behave like what the Gospels are teaching us, consider the story that is being pointed to by the Title of this post that I have shared. For those too busy to read the whole story, here is an excerpt that I think you might find as a suitable summary. It goes like this:

"For those of us who are first to volunteer, eager to help, always on call, this may be a bitter message. There is no doubt that being truly selfless is philosophically attractive. But in practice it can hurt you—and might even diminish group performance over time."

Do you feel discouraged by this finding? By all means, NO! Let's find out why people out there cannot accept truly selfless behaviour (note: red highlights are mine)

" First, some participants resented that, in light of the selfless individual's behavior, a merely fair actor looked bad—despite the fact that the fair actor had done nothing wrong.

Second, some reacted negatively to the selfless member as a kind of rule breaker. Convention dictates that certain rewards accrue to certain activities, and that those who don't value a reward, don't work for it. The selfless member was defying convention, and even though that helped the group, it struck some as defiant and therefore wrong.

Finally, a very few people saw something sinister in the selfless member's actions. "Perhaps this person is lulling us into a false sense of security," they thought, "in order to take advantage of us later.""

Do you agree with these reasons? The third one struck me the hardest. It occurred to me that this world has become so twisted, that people can no longer believe that there are others out there who do NOT wish to take advantage of them. The reason? Because they themselves WOULD DO SO, if given the opportunity, so why won't others? Sad isn't it?

Perhaps it's time for us to rethink - when we are expected to be rewarded for our Godly behaviours, will this actually happen? Jesus did say in John 15:18to 19 -> "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you"

Do not live up to God's standards for rewards (alone). You'll be sorely disappointed. That is where coming back to Jesus as Lord is key. It reminds us of the real reason we actually bother to follow the Bible. Hope this makes sense to us all. God bless you all....

Joy comes from being content too...

2010-11-07T16:00:00.002+08:00

Today's devotion

2010-11-06T14:54:00.001+08:00

What Does The Gospel Feel Like

2010-11-02T19:59:00.002+08:00

Just saw this in one of emails that I received. Thought of sharing it here:

Did you know that Jesus had a ‘mission statement’ for his ministry on earth? You can read it in Luke 4:16–21. It is interesting to see that all the things that Jesus came to do were practical, tangible expressions of God’s love for the world. I have heard so many sermons on this passage that I sometimes forget just how practical Jesus intended his ministry to be. When Jesus said He had come to bring ‘good news to the poor’ (Luke 4:18) what do you think He meant? Let us approach it from a slightly different perspective: what is good news for a poor person? I have been in need a few times in my life, and I can tell you when you are poor good news is not a sermon! It is good news when you have food and money to pay your bills, it is great news when you get a job that pays you a salary with which you can support your family and yourself.

One of the big failings of the contemporary church, and that means you and me, is that we do not always bless the people around us in tangible and visible ways. When someone is ill we say things like, ‘I’ll pray for you’ – while this is an expression of care, I can assure you that the person would feel so special and loved if you took them a meal! I know that God longs for Christians to get practical and creative about making the ‘good news’ real for the people around them. We should not be asking ‘what does the good news sound like?’ Rather, we should ask ‘what does the good news feel like, and what does good news look like?’ This is Jesus’ way!

As you think about the people among whom you work, what would be truly good news for them? Is there a single mother who is battling to make ends meet? Perhaps you have a co-worker who is struggling to cope with his workload, or maybe someone whose child is ill – what could you do to make the ‘good news’ visible and tangible for these people?

Sometimes it is the simplest things, like a phone call, or a visit, that make people feel loved and cared for. At other times you will need to be a little more creative and sacrificial in what you do.

So, here’s my question – what does the Gospel ‘feel like’ in your context? What can you do to help the people you love and meet experience the Gospel before you speak to them about it?

Lessons from the Prayer Meeting

2010-10-31T22:20:00.003+08:00

I went late, so by the time I sat down, Christopher was sharing on what prayer is not about. I found this prayer meeting to be rather different from the ones that I attended before (maybe because I've not been to prayer meeting for a while now). Christopher, and then later Michelle, was sharing so much about the importance of prayer. I learnt that prayer is priority, and it is what makes our activities different from a community service. This brought me to reflect on how we did exam blessings, and how much time we spent on preparing the food, and so little time spent on actually praying. I learn that I need to pray first, because only then I have put God first in all the things that I do.

Then as we entered into worship, to welcome the Holy Spirit to be in our midst. I suddenly remember how I have left Him out of my life so many times, and that I may have grieved Him over so many things that I tried to do by my own strength. And I suddenly realize how I have ascribed humanly characteristics to the Holy Spirit. Imagine, if I offend a friend and cause him grief, the friend may treat me differently when he sees me or may not even be my friend anymore. But Holy Spirit is God, and even as He grieves, He waits in tears for me to come back to Him. He is not like any other friend. He is God. So I rejoice as I come to know this, and how all the more I should treasure Him.

May you all be blessed in your prayer time and in your fellowship with the Holy Spirit this coming week~!

It Doesn't Matter about Who You Are Now, Ultimately!

2010-10-31T22:19:00.002+08:00

Hello everyone! This is my first blog entry here, and should be the first of a loooooong list of entries that I will continue to make...keke....

Was nice to hear Daniel preach yesterday and yes, some learnings came to mind, which I hope I could share with all of us. Hey, if you have some reflections from any sermon, or from any of the devotion items that you do with God everyday, make it a habit to just post it.

I felt that the possible 3rd point for yesterday's sermon could go like this:

So, if it does not matter about your age, nor does it matter about how much you know; ultimately, it does not matter about who you are right now either!

You see - in the end, after we know that (a) we need a certain character; and (b) that we know that we need to internalise God's message into our hearts, and yet it is still not enough - the question is, do we give up in despair? Do we beat ourselves to death and cry out in self pity, because these things are impossible? Do we see that the circumstances and our personal history is just so bad, that our mother, our father, our friends, all have made happiness, success and fulfillment impossible for us? Do we blame our inadequacies even on God Himself?

The truth is, as I shared 2 weeks ago, we deserve nothing good. All we deserve is death; the only difference is that some of us understand this while others don't.

But because God loves us so much, He gave us everything; not just the Best Thing ever, but also the better things that we may need more tangibly in life. Stuff that we take for granted that self-help books say requires hard work on your own and answers from within, like Character, and Heart Understanding therefore, is not beyond us, if only we ask!

I remember the starting song from yesterday, that really blessed my heart - it says "I am Free.....". May God set you free this week to be able to cultivate strong characters that seeks to understand the Holy Spirit in your hearts....and finally be able to apply them to see that God is Good!

2010-10-24T13:36:00.002+08:00

Yesterday when Wei Liang thanked God for the rain through his sms a little after 12noon, it wasn't raining at Choa Chu Kang yet. In fact, the rain only came to Choa Chu Kang at around 3pm (I found out from Michelle before church), and by then Wei Lit and I were at the east side of Singapore attending a church wedding. So I did not see any rain yesterday. But by faith, because Wei Liang thanked God for the rain, I believed that it rained, even when I didn't see it, I believe it did. So today, after my family and I had breakfast and we just made it home, another heavy downpour started again. Oh thanks be to God for sending this rain here, to clear away the haze affecting this region. I am reminded that God cause the rain to fall on everyone - the sinners too. So praise be to God, for his Greatness and His Mercy that does not fail.

As I reflect on how God answers prayers, He has been answering many of our prayers in regards to weather- be it for good weather, or for rain. I am perplexed to think why then do we not see this happening in our own daily lives. I am propelled to conclude that it may be because we know that we cannot be in control of the weather and therefore it is easier for us to release and allow God to do as He will in that context, whereas when it comes to our own lives, we may think that there is an avenue where we can change things, where we are capable of making things happen. Hence, it may become harder for God to intervene. I admit that it has not been easy for me to lose control over things in my own life- in fact, I take pride in being able to make things happen. Yet I can't help but think how my life will be, if I let God take hold of the steering wheel.

I like the song Ps Khong shared on at church yesterday.

When I survey the wondrous Cross - Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

I also like the quote that Jim Elliot wrote: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." His life inspired me to do great things for God.

p/s: To follow up with my previous email, I'm in the midst of transiting to my new permanent job position. After thinking about the offer, the short term loss will bring in long-term benefit, and also my dream is to design healthcare and this will be a place to start for me. =)

p/p/s: Thank God for the Encouragement Movement, as started by Thomas. Wei Liang and Yih Ling have both been consistent comrades in messaging one another our daily devotion, and it has been an encouragement to me to spend time with God, and to deliberately think through what His Word for the day mean to me. =)

Making in the Going

2010-10-10T05:01:00.003+08:00

"While you go, where ever you've been sent, go and make disciples"

Mentoring and being mentored is part of life - what is success without a successor?

My Testimony

2010-10-02T11:23:00.003+08:00

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New International Version)

It's been quite some time since I last dropped by here until yesterday, someone nudged me to give it a visit=p. Some of you might have heard it from it, but I'm sharing my long-dued testimony during my Resident Applicant (RA) application below. (It was written in early June) Hope that it encourages you. =)

I've always wanted to become the RA of RVR. For the past few months, I've been praying for this position, even before I knew of the accommodation results. Honestly, I was quite disappointed when I was not selected for the interview. It was during this time that God showed me a vision of a person wearing a black t-shirt with the word "Resident Assistant" imprinted on the back. Well, I didn't really pay much care to it.

Fast forward to weeks later, I saw a RA just wearing the exact shirt i saw in my vision! It really encourages me a lot, though at that time the results of RA appointment is already out. I'm not sure how this is gonna work out, but I continue praying nevertheless...

Just barely a week after the accommodation results is out (which sadly, I didn't get any place to stay), I got the news that KFH is looking for a RA. Excitedly, I redo my application, expecting to at least get the chance to be interviewed. At that point of time, I thought that it's like a God-given opportunity. But, waves come one after another (波折频频)--weeks after weeks, there's not even a reply from OSA...

I still remain hopeful though, coz I believe there's still hope as long as there's no news (no news is good news=p). But as time passes, my hope started to fade. I struggled with God and questioned a lot. I'm not satisfied not even being given a chance to defend myself through interview. If I was at least given the chance to speak but didn't get through it, I wouldn't feel so bad. 我很不甘。。

In fact, I asked God recently to give me at least an rejection email from OSA so that I can stop praying, coz I don't know what to pray anymore after repeating the same request everyday. Honestly, sometimes I just don't pray...

But little did I know God has prepared these circumstances just as a prelude to what happens last week. Just as I was in the midst of setting up computers at my workplace, I got a call from OSA, unsuspecting anything. So I'm quite taken aback when I'm asked whether I would like to take up the position in RVR since the position in KFH is taken up. But of course, excitement got the better hold of me and I immediately agreed...lol. After I hung up, I was reminded that someone told me before perhaps the vision is referring to a specific location (RVR...since every residence most likely has their own T-shirt). I can't help but to laugh at God's humor and His perfect timing. 绕了一大圈又回到了原点。。it's like going back to the place that God destined me to be.

During the interview session, I sensed the peace and affirmation of the Lord as I'm living out His will. Although my CAP is a major concern for the OSA people, my increase in CAP this semester managed to persuade them. Thankfully, I passed the interview and got the position!

Indeed, this episode of my life really encouraged me a lot.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

2010-09-26T08:05:00.002+08:00

"Lord, thank you for today. Help me to get things done. Even if I don't get things done, please help me to purposely LOVE others so that the day is not wasted away....Amen."

"Show Me Your Face" Word & Music by Don Potter

2010-01-28T20:32:00.005+08:00

Dear fellow cell members or readers,

I feel that the Lord is prompting me to share this song with you all.
The lyrics can be found here.

"Show me Your face Lord, Your power and grace.
I could make it to the end, if I can just see Your face."

Sometimes we really feel tired as we are serving the Lord and His people.
We really feel that there isn't enough time for us.
We need to study, need to work, and yet still need to "do church stuff" on top of every other thing.
So many people has back-slided and even lost their faith throughout the history.
Not many can actually stand firm and follow the Lord till the end of the journey on Earth.

But why is that happening?
If God of Christians is the one and only one God in this world, why can't they strive on?

I think, one of the reasons is that they could not taste the joy from what they are doing.
And as the tiredness getting more overwhelming, they lost focus.
They lost focus of why they were doing all those.
They lost focus of who they were serving.
They might be thinking that they were battling alone.
They might lost faith in God that He would always give them courage and bless them.

Just like children will forget to behave when their parents are not around, and when their parents appear they will behave again - if we can just see the Lord's face, taste His goodness, really to experience His presence, how much more energy can we draw from Him? How much more motivation and strength can we have? I believe, like the song writer mentioned, if we can just to see His face, we can make it till the end, regardless of how difficult the tasks that He assigned to each one of us. He will always pour his blessings to us. There might be time of weary, there might be time of disappointment, discouragement, there might be moment of hurt, pain, but at the end of the day, God will never shortchange us. Not any single one of us.

Make that your prayer. Ask God to show His face to you, so that it will be your evidence for your whole life and testimony to other people, that our God is so real.

Enjoy the song!

In God's grace

Knowing who you are by knowing who He is

2009-12-06T01:07:00.000+08:00

"Who am I?"

"I will be with you."

"What? Then who are you?"

"I am who I am."

"You must be kidding man. I want to know who I am, then you tell me you will be with me. Now you tell me that you are who you are, as if I know who you are. You basically tell me nothing!"

"I tell you, son. You won't know who you are by trying to find out who you are, because it is not because who you are. It is about knowing that you are who I am. And once you know that you are who I am, then you will know who you are."

LOL!! I like it......

The Good-O-Meter

2009-10-21T10:15:00.001+08:00

Grace's Baptism

2009-08-31T20:12:00.003+08:00

Festival Of Praise 2009

2009-07-19T20:53:00.003+08:00

more information on http://www.festivalofpraise.org.sg/

SzeYung's Wedding Appreciation Gathering

2009-07-07T00:08:00.001+08:00

Days of Elijah

2009-07-06T20:49:00.000+08:00

Follow Me and you will be safe

2009-07-04T08:53:00.002+08:00

God Always Answers Prayer

2009-07-01T09:39:00.004+08:00

I'm waiting for my flight, so decided to post this up to pass some time=) Thought this one is nice..it speaks to me/us on how God ALWAYS answers prayer.

When the idea is not right, God says, “NO”.
No – when the idea is not the best.

No – when the idea is absolutely wrong.

No – when though it may help you,
it would create problems for someone else

When the time is not right, God says, “SLOW”.

What a catastrophe it would be if God answered every prayer at the snap of your fingers.

Do you know what would happen?

God would become your servant, not your master.

Suddenly God would be working for you instead of you working for God.

When you are not right, God says, “GROW.”

The selfish person has to grow in unselfishness.

The cautious person must grow in courage.

The timid person must grow in confidence,

The dominating person must grow in sensitivity.

The critical person must grow in tolerance.

The negative person must grow in positive attitudes.

The pleasure-seeking person must grow in compassion for suffering people.

When everything is all right, God says, “GO.”

Then miracles happen:

A hopeless alcoholic is set free.

A drug addict finds release.

A doubter becomes a child in his belief.

Diseased tissue responds to treatment, and healing begins.

The door to your dream suddenly swings open and there stands God saying, “GO!”.

Remember: God’s delays are not God’s denials.

God’s timing is perfect.
Patience is what we need in prayer

I used to perceive that God's answers to prayers will be "yes"es, which is why sometimes I'm confused when does/will God answer prayer. But this passage enlightened me=)

" Never doubt that a group of thoughtful committed people can change the world ... "

2009-06-27T22:08:00.004+08:00

Masterpiece

2009-05-21T18:23:00.006+08:00

Our God (is)...

2009-05-04T10:30:00.005+08:00

Just a response to Rev. Melvyn's sharing during the worship...

Our God (is)...

A: Almighty, Above All, Alpha, Awesome,
B: Beautiful, Brave, Bread of life,
C: Compassionate, Complete, Conqueror,
D: Deliverer, Desirable,
E: Eternal God, Everlasting God, El-Shaddai, Exalted high,
F: Fantastic, Faithful, consuming Fire,
G: Great, Glorious, Generous, Giver of life, Good, Gentle
H: Holy, Healer, Hero :)
I: Immeasurable, Incredible, Immanuel,
J: Jehovah the eternal living One, Jesus the Saviour, Just, Judge, my Joy
K: King, Kind
L: Lord of all, Lover of my soul, Love
M: Majestic, Mighty One, Marvelous, Messiah, Miraculous,
N: None can compare with,
O: Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omega,
P: Powerful, Potter, Precious, Perfect, Peace, Patience, Pure
Q: Quiets my soul,
R: my Rest, Jehovah Rophe the Healer, Righteous, Reigns,
S: Jehovah Shalom, Shield, Shelter, Strength, Shepherd, Saviour,
T: Trustworthy, Teacher, Tower, Jehovah Tsidkenu our Righteousness,
U: God of the Universe, Undefeated,
V: Victorious,
W: Wonderful, Winner, Warrior, Worthy of praise,
X: eXtraordinary, eXcellent,
Y: Yahweh,
Z: Zealous,

and the list go on and on.... Ü

image: www.davidairey.com/alphabet-photo-art-gallery/

:: God will see us through ::

2009-04-19T17:03:00.005+08:00

Wanted to share these verses with us in church today but it slipped off my mind.

May these be words of encouragement that will sustain you with the strength and joy of the Lord as we prepare for our examinations.

Phillipians 4:6-9

(Build the Faith) - Recount our past Victories

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

(Speak the Faith) - Proclaim that we are Victorious

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

(Act the Faith) - Fight to Victory

9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Faith and Endurance - The Message Version

2009-04-14T06:30:00.003+08:00

A nice interpretation on Faith and Endurance written by James, inspired by God. Read it...

James 1:2-18 (The Message)
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
9-11When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don't ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that's a picture of the "prosperous life." At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.
12Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.
13-15Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.
16-18So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.

It's Saturday...but Sunday's coming

2009-04-11T12:50:00.004+08:00

Friday is Good Friday while Sunday is Easter Day. So what about Saturday-the day with "no name"?

Yesterday, during the Good Friday celebration, somebody asked about why Good Friday is named so. Today's ODB highlighted that Good Friday can only be called "good" because of what's coming three days later.

In the past, I can't seem to appreciate what is the meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection. Yes, I know that Jesus died for us, but why go into all the troubles to plan for the rescue of mankind? Why all the details?

I only realized the truth and motive behind all the painstaking details as I celebrated my first Good Friday.

God is indeed meticulous and go into details. He chose three days-not the same day to resurrect Jesus so that we wait in anticipation.

Romans 8:25 But if we wait for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (NIV)

When Jesus was crucified, it was to the believers at that time the darkest moment in their lives. It will be the worst deed in history-He who is sinless was put to dead. Forces of evil seemed to have conquered the world. Yet, God turned this all around as Sunday came. This is the day of victory-the day where Jesus was resurrected! And the disciples who lived through both days never doubted God's power.

And in between these two days, here lies nothing-remarkable-happened Saturday. But this is the day where we wait in hope and eagerness towards the day of victory. The day where we can claim the ultimate victory!

p/s: (at 10.43pm) I believed this is a devotional God wanted me to share with you as I typed the above this afternoon. Guess what? I just listened to Jeremy Camp sharing about the same verses too! Haha.

No Jesus, No Life

2009-04-05T20:24:00.003+08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApKJxx95_MA&feature=PlayList&p=C3B7281D239A206C&index=12&playnext=3&playnext_from=PL

A link which I would like to share with you all... Felt comforted by the song. If you're busy with life and don't really know what all those things you're doing are for... when you start to think what kinda life you're living etc. and why you're living it... maybe it's a good song for you too... Btw, I only understand two phrases from this song but somehow that was enough! =)

faith...

2009-03-30T20:13:00.004+08:00

Heya!
just share w you all my sudden thoughts :D

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

Faith is to see the things unseen, and the dare-ness to dream a dream for God...
He gave each of us a purpose, a dream for Him. yet we know that His dream never be too small or insignificant... and it is not our own ability can do it.

God alone can make the things come true: to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, to build the ark for Noah, to spread the gospel, to bring the multitudes to Him, to do miracles... but God wants our faith in Him and our partnership to bring the dream to come true; He desires us to work and to know Him! He enjoys us to know Him more than before! He wants to reveal to us His character.

Faith says "yes" to His calling. Tho it looks so impossible for things to happen, faith is built on knowing His ability and power to make things possible.

Faith builds on knowing the character of God. (2 Timothy 1:12)

Faith is not blindly-believe, blindly-obey, it is not believing the things that is not true; Faith builds on knowing the Truth.

Faith is not the confidence we have in ourselves, but is the Almighty One.

Faith is not low or high self-esteem, but is knowing the way God sees us.

Faith comes from hearing the word of God; reading His words, talk about it... but the most important: act on it. Matthew 7:24-29; build the faith on the rock! sharing testimonies do show us His character and goodness, but when the test come, is not about how well we remember others' testimonies, but is how we learn from each other and apply the faith in our circumstances. God doesn't want borrowed-faith, He wants real-faith!

Real-Faith does not shake, no matter how strong the earth is shaking.

Real-Faith does not stumble; it will only build a stronger foundation on the rock.

Real-Faith does not give up easily; it will only hold on until things happen.

Real-Faith surrenders our ambition and will to Him, knowing that His is greatest of all.

Trials and circumstances do strengthen and grow the faith, but this will be true until we are willing to face them and allow God to use them.

(http://soarabovethestorm.blogspot.com)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where's the HOPE?

2009-03-30T08:56:00.003+08:00

The bible promises something beyond the natural for those who seek Him.

Think about this - what was the one thing that made the young university student to stab his supervisor and jumped to his death?

Yes, you can say it is desperation, it is confusion, or even it is stupidity. But all of these can sum up to one thing - he had lost hope. It is the most essential ingredient in life.

Paul wrote to us that "three things will last forever - faith, hope and love - and the greatest is love. Many of us is so impressed with the importance of love that we fail to notice that hope made the cut. Yes, through all the sermons preached on "love your neighbour", we understand why we must have faith in God and why we must love others. But why must we hope?

Without hope, we will wither and and die. With hope, we can "soar high on wings like eagles". The only reason we can continue to get out of bed each morning is that we believe that we have hopes for that day and believe that it will be better than yesterday. Take away our hope and you take away our life.

Hence, when you see someone in utter desperation, lost in confusion, stressed or even losing esteem to perform - let's spur them up by not only speaking faith, speaking love - but most importantly giving them hope by helping, assuring, affirming, comforting, and telling them that we will be there for them! And that's what I called loving them with hope. (Helping Opressed People Everywhere)

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New Living Translation)

28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Do you see the multitudes?

2009-03-21T10:32:00.000+08:00

Are you prepared?

2009-03-13T00:46:00.003+08:00

Personally, it is actually quite saddening to know the different cases that happened recently in the universities in Singapore. I am especially struck by the PGP resident who passed away suddenly in NUH. And now there is another student being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Have you ever thought that your life might be threatened at anytime? Most of us are busy with our daily work and projects and assignments and etc etc etc everyday. Sometimes we are too overwhelmed by our routine tasks that some of us will tend to leave our God aside.

Quiet time? Err, so tired now, tomorrow lah...
Ministry? Where got time?
Cell group? So sian, go church can already lah...
Pray? Aiya, God knows one lar, no need pray lah!

But actually, we really don't know what will happen in the future. Real cases are happening just around us. I think it is a good reminder for myself, or maybe for all of us, to do a health check now. Not only a physical health check, but also our spiritual life health check. If today, God suddenly wants to take your life away, are you ready and prepared to face Him?

Just like what has shared during the last cell group's ice breaker, don't wait until the last day of our lives to do what we want to do. Start today! Think of the purposes that God has put into our lives. Are we living the way He wants us to live?

P/S: Just a sudden thought. Hope you won't be surprised to see this sudden post though.

Turn your gaze at Him

2009-03-12T07:38:00.005+08:00

Are you discouraged today because God hasn't "come through" in a big, amazing way for you?

Be still and turn your eyes to Him.

He will help you keep going - though He may choose to do it in a quiet, unexpected way.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Believe it - He will bring His prosperous plans for you to come to pass.

Biblical Cartoons

2009-03-08T19:36:00.004+08:00

Pictures do bring ideas including biblical truths across much clearer!

..Suet Mei...

What it takes to be a Godly "try"athlete?

2009-02-28T14:49:00.007+08:00

"Hope is the essential ingredient to make it through life. It is the anchor of the soul"

Barbara Johnson.

In the last decade of my life, I've told myself I was going to finish every race set before me - no matter what - countless times. And I can confidently say that it works. I certainly faced with many challenges, physical and mental along the way. From cramps to strains, fears and sleepless nights and self-expectation to psychological challenges.

Many of these victories are silent victories, the ones that we all face without the applause from others. And these are the victories that we often take for granted. Sure, we take major triumphs as the utmost glory, but without these little victories, we would not have made it to the finishing line.

I take to heart what Lance Armstrong says,"Pain is temparory, quitting is forever". And there is also one factor, one promise and one reason that motivates many "try"athletes to pull through every obstacle and stay in the race. It is faith - the almighty word that unites and motivates all "try"athletes to persevere.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb 11:1 NASB). This verse is not the definition of faith, like what I've always used to think. Rather, Heb 11:1 describes faith as the act of treating things hoped for as reality. Faith proves that what is unseen is real. Faith is taking things as there are already happening! That's a hope isn't it?

Even as we made to be creatures of logic and reasoning, we tend to prefer facts and scientific proof. We are used to hear "when I see it, then I believe". But the opposite is true. If we do not believe in ourselves, our potentials and talents - all that we do is just stare at the starting line. As "try"athletes trying to complete the race, we must first believe in ourselves before we see results. As "try"athletes, we have great faith in our own abilities and tremendous hope. And we have this assurance that when we believe in ourselves, we are also believing our creator. "I have hope....and God's hope does not dissappoint".

But i also know that in whatever place I end up - first or last - God will use that to glorify Himself while shaping my character to be a man who chooses His ways .

Yes, I pursue excellence because I want to win. But I also know that I don't need the gold medal or certain score to know that I am significant.

Regardless, we each matter to God. He made everyone unique and special. No collection of medals, degrees or money can give us that significance in God's eye. In Jeremiah 29:11, God says that He has plans for us, plan to prosper us and not to harm us, to give a future and a hope.

As I am turning 26 this year, everything seems to be so uncertain. I am nervous but also excited because I get to hang on to God. Even as I trust in Him, I know He is in control. When I am faced with a challenge, I know that with just a simple prayer, peace and joy will flood into my heart. My weaknesses are God's avenue to showcase His strength and glory to the world. I know that He is with me and will never leave me - that is the best hope that I have ever known.

Is your hope and faith in God alone? Or are you putting your hope in your dreams, job, talents, popularity or other things which are temparory?

"May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:13

ThoSueLexYung Cell Cluster Sports Day!

2009-02-22T16:48:00.004+08:00

Never mind the *ThoSueLexYung* small group name.

Just come for our Sports Day! Volleyball, Captain's ball, cheerleading....

Even as we strengthen our spiritual abs each day, let's spur one another to build some strong physical abs too!

See you at the NUS SRC Volleyball court @ 5pm this Friday, 20th Feb 2009.

We will have dinner thereafter.

Cheers!

Shuttle Bus To/From Max Pavilion

2009-01-19T20:51:00.004+08:00

For Your Information :)

Schedule and ticket prices for the FCBC bus service.

refer to the link below:
http://www.fcbc.org.sg/pdf/EXPOBusServices.pdf

thanks.

Countdown Party

2008-12-29T20:45:00.001+08:00

Hi Family,

Meet 6.30pm at Paya Lebar MRT this WED. We will head for dinner before partying!

Who are in this publicity poster? ;)

Xuemei

Baby Elliott with Proud Parents

2008-12-26T21:35:00.002+08:00

Let's Rejoice! Elliott Khoo was born on 21st Dec 08. At birth, he weighs 2.69kg and is 49cm.

Do you feel the Hands?

2008-12-04T00:00:00.004+08:00

image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/81236249/

Recently there are ants in my study table. These tiny fellows are so disturbing; they are looking for foods everywhere they can, from my lecture notes to text book… and may be computer screen as well… (Was wondering where they come from… anyway… not the main point :p) I don’t mind if their foods are papers… yea, “papersssss”…

So to make sure they’ll forever disappear, there are few things I can do:

(i) spray with Ridsect (then I cannot study in my room…)

(ii) clean my tables and wipe with diluted Dettol (too many works to do…),

and I choose the last option,

(iii) just use my fingers to kill them. (*ahem* someone is gonna scold me for killing the ants…)

Yup, what I did is just to use my index finger and thumb, use very gentle force to “roll” them and they’ll be separated to 2 halves. Is just a very gentle force, just a simple rolling motion, I can kill an ant.

Now a picture came to my mind. I’m just like the ant: small, tiny, weak, disturbing… and the two fingers just like God’s fingers: bigger, stronger and more powerful. My life is in His hands, and determine by Him; to life or death…

If the finger is too gentle, the ant may not be caught, or it may able to escape from the fingers. If the finger is too strong, just a simple motion may able to kill the ant. However, if I know how to control the strength of my fingers, I may not kill the ant, but still can keep it alive in between my fingers, and put it at the “right place” to find its food (it’s not my style to do such a nice thing anyway…).

I was like the ant, wandering everywhere just to find my purpose. I looked for “life” without any direction, tried to use my own strength to plan everything for myself. I know the existence of God since very young, but I didn’t realize that there is already a wonderful plan for me. And what I need to do, is just to say “yes o Lord, I’m willing to stay in between Your fingers. Just do as Your will; put me in whatever place You think is best for me.”

Pastor Patrick shared about the Potter and clays in last sermon. And from there he shared 2 things: Potter knows the best temperature of the oven and the right timing for the clay to be taken out from it. I wanna share the third thing: the Potter already have the picture of His masterpiece. The great Potter will not mold the clay without any purpose; He will not say “o, I think I should try another design, see if it is better than this one; Opps, I have to re-do everything…” He knows the right force to mold the clay into a desired shape, and He knows the exact width and length of the masterpiece.

Of course the clays have to make the decision; to continue to become a clay, or to be molded become a masterpiece. I choose the second option, and what I need to do, is just like the 3^rd clay in pastor’s sharing: say “yes Lord, I’m willing to be mold by Your big hands and go into the oven.”

One of my cell sisters shared her thought during cell debrief. She said, when we have decided to be molded, decided to follow God’s way, decided to be devoted to God, the journey will be very tough, and it may be out of our imagination. As I made the decision, I know there will be many hardship, unexpected things, disappointment, tiredness, doubts, “fire-less”; well, the devil will try to do something so that I’ll give up. I pray that the Lord will continue use His big, strong but gentle hands to guide me, make sure that I will not go away from Him. At the same time I should also guard my heart and mind, keep them right before the Lord.

Isaiah 64:8 We are the clay, You are the potter. We are all the work of Your hands.

Tony Melendez

2008-10-14T09:41:00.005+08:00

Just to share something here...
hope this can bring encouragement in everything you are doing now :)

The Bibile

2008-10-13T20:24:00.006+08:00

Image from http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:TcXuoJEQiB27aM:http://www.itiswrittenoceania.tv/images/bibleInfo003.jpg

The Bible:

Know it in your head

Stow it in your heart

Show it in your life

Sow it in the world

Reflection...

2008-10-11T00:52:00.005+08:00

Had 4W cell just now and our group combined with other’s. So in total we had 7 people (from 2 groups; low attendance, pray about this…) and tonight topic was “Love your neighbor”, and the main verses are taken from the parable of the Samaritan and the wounded man (Luke 10: 25-37). During the time, we were given an example and asked to share whether we experienced of showing the love for others. The example given was; what’s our response when we met some “poor and needy” selling tissue for us.

Then I shared, my response(s) was/were/will be… ; I’ll buy the tissue if I need it, or, I will buy tissue although I don’t need them, or, I’ll just give them a smile and say “thanks” to them. Then, we were asked again, why and when do we show “love and help” for the people who sell tissue? Why and when would we buy tissue from them? Some of the members shared that, they bought the tissue from the “needy” because they have compassion on them; some shared that they may only give the money without taking the tissue, because they have a “heart” for them.

Ok, above is not the main thing I wanted to share here. Haha ^^ actually during the time, I was thinking, “yea ho, in what situation will I help them? What was the condition of my heart when I blessed them with money or needs...? ”

People may feel compassion on them, or have love on them… before Jesus healed the people or met their needs, He showed COMPASSION on them. I believe that God has blessed us with more than enough that we are able to bless the others. We can use what we have to bless those unfortunate people, or meet their needs. But I realize that, the condition of my heart is not right; I don’t have the compassion on them, and I don’t have enough love for them. I can give, I can share, I can help and meet their needs, but yet, I can have no compassion and love for them after I done all these things, especially when I do these to a stranger.

Thank God as He reveals my heart’s condition, and show that I don’t have the “love” for them. Is really easy to say “I want to help you”, “I love you”, “I care for you”, “you are my neighbor and I want to love you”… and it’s also very easy to “act” in front of the people (by giving out money, food, or other physical helps…) but it’s not easy to put this in our heart. Our mind may tell us to love others, our brain may tell us that “we need to love them”, but there’s lot more to learn; learn to really put this supreme principle in our heart and live out this truth in our life…

Matthew 22:36-40

36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Galatians 5:13b-14

13 …Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

be a Christians "Worker"

2008-10-09T20:14:00.005+08:00

Last Saturday, me and another Campus Crusade staff went to Orchard for street-E. We met 2 persons shared about their lives...one is in a quite "despair" stage of her life, another one is a successful working adult, self-sufficient.......not gonna share on my experience, coz it's gonna take up too much space...

Remembering my encounters in my mission trip and this street-E, I reached the conclusion that THE WORLD REALLY NEEDS A LOTS OF CHRISTIAN "WORKERS"!!! There's so many problems in this world, so many ppl who needs help, so many who are blind,why? Is it only God's problem? Or should it be OUR problems as well?

These few weeks Ps Khong spoke about establishing God's kingdom on earth, being the busy-body, to make everybody's problems yours....to love your neighbours.......I seriously believe that if Christians start to "WORK", communities, nations will be transformed.

The early Christian faith was infectious, it spreads like virus, so fast, so aggressive, so irresistable, why? Because there's a group of ppl who FORCEFULLY ADVANCING GOD'S KINGDOM.

Today, ask yourself, are you one of those ppl who FORCEFULLY ADVANCING GOD'S KINGDOM? Maybe ask yourself, how can you BRING GOD'S KINGDOM HERE?

||Matt 9:37 ||Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

We often pray for God to send more ppl into the harvest...Perhaps it's time to look at ourselves and learn to respond like Isaiah..."Here am I. Send me!" ||Isa 6:8||

Brothers and Sisters, be God's lay-missionaries, your mission field is where God has put you, your school, workplace, everywhere you stepped in...Your neighbour are your friends, family, the person who sits beside you in MRT, the auntie who cleans the toilet you walk in....Serve them, love them...

"...Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like you have love me....

...Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for your kingdom cause, as I walk from earth into eternity....." A familiar song we sang in church, is your heart and mind crying out the same thing too?

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURS!! A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS, LOVE FROM YOU MAY MEANS EVERYTHING TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS!!!

Fishers of Men

2008-10-09T14:29:00.002+08:00

Mark 1:17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

Yesterday at our G12 meeting with Ps Hee Guan, he reminded us that in Jesus time, fishing is done in a community with nets unlike what we now thing about fishing with a rod.

Application:
1. We have to fish with a concerted effort with each one of us playing a part in holding the net.
2. It's when we form a community that we will be effective.
3. Let's ALL of us make an effort to welcome our friends and visitors.
4. Let's love one another (1 John 4).

1 John 4
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son^[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for^[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Putting First The Kingdom of God

2008-10-05T21:37:00.003+08:00

You may have prayer requests regarding your studies. God desires to bless all of you in your studies. However as you are caught up with preparing for CAs and assignments in the next few weeks, consciously put the Kingdom of God as the ‘proton’ of (at the centre) your life. Don’t displace Him with your studies or CCAs. They should be revolving around God as electrons around a proton in an atom. Continue to draw close to Him by spending time talking to Him and reading His word.

By setting time aside for the Lord, we will be reminded continually about our position as children of the Almighty God and our purpose in Him. Then you will live out the privileged life as illustrated in Matthew 16:17-19 effectively. All of you are called to be students of NUS for such a time like this. Glorify Him in your studies and relationship w friends. Study hard and love your neighbours.

God bless you!

Giving Thanks

2008-10-05T20:38:00.003+08:00

Hi Family,

Just want to give thanks for my UK trip and recent events

1) There was a computer glitch and there were delays for hundreds of flights flying into and away from UK. All airports in UK were affected. Thank God that I flew the day before this delay if not I won’t be able to arrive on time for my university sessions

2) I met up with my spiritual mentor, Ginny. It was 7 years since I last met her. As she had moved to another city, she had to take a train into London to meet me. Was very touched that she took time off to catch up for 2 hours. God has preserved both of us physically and spiritually. Both of us have not aged a single day in appearance (according to the other person)! We encouraged each other w our testimonies about God’s work in our lives.

3) For University of Edinburgh. It was really inspiring to visit the clinical and research facilities and the medical school esp the collaboration between each of the centres. It’s a privilege to be able to study again. Of course one doesn’t need to do a Masters to acquire new knowledge but interacting w the classmates from various professional backgrounds (from Business Development Manger to oncologist, pediatrician, scientist and pharmacologist etc) do sharpen and see beyond my scope of work.

4) Holiday. Actually 2 of the most touristy things that I had done were to take the Black London cab and to visit the Royal College of Surgeons (museum in Edinburgh). Taking a walk through the ancient city of Edinburgh seemed to transport me in time. There were no skyscrapers and the houses were old but well-maintained with high ceilings and windows that you could pull up and down. London is still busy and vibrant as ever. South Bank along River Thames was my favourite hangout to destress and taking a walk along the bank this time rejuvenated my mind. The supermarkets were as amazing as ever. Bought jaffa cakes (thin, small cakes filled w orange jelly and coated w dark chocolate), oat cakes, caramel rice cakes, tea bags, low calorie hot chocolate and wholemeal biscuit coated w chocolates.

5) Submitted my first online assessed discussion and one of my classmates who’s a doctor mentioned that he was inspired by my discussion. Ho Ho Ho…

6) Was called to be in a focus group on ‘Managing Talent’ by the Ministry of Health this Fri… din know that I could qualify to be there…May I be able to contribute to the discussion. Living out the Privileged life as Pastor Melvin put it ; )

Being Bold For God's Kingdom Part 1

2008-09-14T22:34:00.006+08:00

Just to put things in perspective- today's sermon ' Conquest of the Kingdom- Being Bold for God's Kingdom' isn't about methodologies to conquer. I'm sure in the future sermons Pastor Khong will talk on some effective methods that may include prayer warfare etc.

As the Kingdom of God has to be forcefully advanced in all areas (just like the saturation of a dough by yeast), we need to be bold. Let us conquer ourselves 1st before we conquer darkness.

Pastor Khong will talk about 3 other keys that will give us boldness. Today's address was on Revelation of God's Heart and God's Truth. We shared on some hindrances to us being bold e.g. self-consciousness, fear. As we know the truths and God's heart for the nations and His authority, be determined to

1) Repent if you haven't believed the kingdom of God is near
2) Renew your mind so that you could be convicted (not only believed) that He cared for the nations. E.g. not only your good friend who is a non-believer to be saved but the entire NUS community; not only your pre-believing friend in your hometown to be saved but your entire city to be saved.

Jesus wants to pour new wine into you. Do not remain being the old wineskin. May you become the new wineskin that will contain the new wine. This will involve changing mindset about God and yourself.

Lord, fill us full again with your New Wine. This time help us to contain it and grow with it, rather than lose it due to our insecurity and indifference. Help me, Lord, to recognize the powerful new ways you want to work in my own life and not miss it. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

深触我心--(Your grace) touches my heart deeply

2008-09-06T22:22:00.001+08:00

I read the Book of Isaiah during my quiet time in the past few weeks. Yesterday I come across chapter 53. It's a very familiar chapter to most or everyone of us. And I remember that my fist time come across this chapter is from a worship song in Chinese version. Yup, so share with you all. And for those who can read Chinese... here's the lyrics :)

shen chu wo xin - streams of praise

深触我心 [translation: (Your grace) touches my heart deeply]

耶稣诚然担当我们的忧患，

背负我们痛苦

耶稣为我们的过犯受害

为我们的罪孽压伤

因你受的刑罚我们得平安

因你受的鞭伤我们得医治

完全得医治

感谢耶稣，我的救主

我得平安，我得医治

我的耶稣，爱我的主

你的恩典，深触我心

Isaiah 53 (NLT)

1 Who has believed our message?
To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
nothing to attract us to him.
3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 Unjustly condemned,
he was led away.
No one cared that he died without descendants,
that his life was cut short in midstream.
But he was struck down
for the rebellion of my people.
9 He had done no wrong
and had never deceived anyone.
But he was buried like a criminal;
he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him
and cause him grief.
Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,
he will have many descendants.
He will enjoy a long life,
and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,
he will be satisfied.
And because of his experience,
my righteous servant will make it possible
for many to be counted righteous,
for he will bear all their sins.
12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,
because he exposed himself to death.
He was counted among the rebels.
He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

LOS classes resumes 20 September 08, Saturday

2008-09-06T14:21:00.003+08:00

Click to download the schedule for PE & SOL classes 18 years old & above :)

Praise the Lord

2008-08-28T20:57:00.009+08:00

I was asked to see an elderly lady who was in isolation this morning. She had a nasty chest infection and she had been eating minimally for the past 1 month. We had to feed her through a tube. Her daughter came up to me and asked me some questions which I answered the best as I could, professionally.

Satisfied, she went into her mum's room and started shouting 'Praise the Lord'! in Hokkien. Obviously mum was hard of hearing. That was followed by a couple of 'Hallelujah's and 'Jesus is Lord!'. I realised the daughter was encouraging her mum to praise the Lord despite her sickness.

When was the last time that you and I have praised the Lord when we don't feel like praising Him in our fatigue or pain or helplessness? I'm reminded of Ps 147 when King David has sung why it is good to praise the Lord and how pleasant and fitting for us to do that.

May this testimony and Psalm remind you to pause and praise the Lord in any circumstance.

Psalm 147
1 Praise the LORD. [a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds;he supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,nor his delight in the legs of a man;

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,

13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.

14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?

18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

20 He has done this for no other nation;they do not know his laws.

Praise the LORD.

God's Calling for The Little Red Dot

2008-08-24T23:55:00.003+08:00

I hope today’s sharing by Jason is not only inspiring but is also quickening your spirit w regard to God’s calling and destiny for Singapore as the Antioch of Asia. Read Ps Khong’s prophecy in last week bulletin at

http://www.fcbc.org.sg/service_news.asp?newsID=501

Just like Antioch, Singapore is strategically important and prosperous city in Asia that God is going to use to transform neighboring nations. Antioch (now is named Antakya, city in Turkey) was the capital city of Syria and was where Paul started his 3 missionary journeys (evangelistic tours) to other cities (e.g. Ephesus and eventually to Asia). Acts 13:4-14:18. Acts 15:39-18:22, Acts 18:23-23:35

In the church in Antioch there were prophets and teachers: when they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the holy spirit said "Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me, to do the work for which I called them." And so after fasting and praying, they laid hands on them and sent them off. And thus sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleukia, and from there sailed to Cyprus.
–Acts 13:1-4

http://www.pbs.org/empires/peterandpaul/footsteps/footsteps_3_2.html

Why do we go from here?

1) I urged you to have a sense of calling. Although most of you aren’t Singaporeans, you are residents here as students/working adults. You can partake in this destiny as long as you are on this land.

This is also in line with our Ethnos Emmanuel ‘s anchor verse

Zechariah 8:23
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.' "

May each of you, children of the light carry His Glory to the marketplace where community transformation will 1st take place.

2) Ask God for a revelation for your marketplace just as Jason has asked Him for his Mountain (mountain comprises of several/a lot marketplaces).

3) Ask God for a personal transformation so that we are found fit to be instruments for His work. John 15:5-9

LoveSingapore 40-Day Prayer

2008-08-07T10:56:00.005+08:00

DATE & TIME: Friday, 08 August 2008, 7.30pm (Be seated by 7.15pm)
VENUE: The MAX Pavilion, Singapore EXPO

Though most of us are from foreign countries, but as God has put us in Singapore, let us take this as a promised land, our inheritance. We are not randomly selected to be placed in this land, but it's God's will for us to be in this land, and to be with the people here. So if this is your choice, pray for them as how we pray for our beloved family members & country, bless them as how we bless our beloved one, ask for revival and transformation in this place... And pray that the hearts of men will return to their Father, this is what God always command His messengers to preach to His people.

Pictures for My Hawaii Trip

2008-07-09T12:36:00.003+08:00

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS OF
MY HAWAII TRIP

Aussie Trip

2008-07-05T16:55:00.003+08:00

My 12-day Aussie trip was awesome. It was beyond what I had expected. I has to say that it was very well-planned by God.

1) My ex-colleague who is now working in Sydney re-dedicated her life to Christ. I brought her to a FCBC harvest event 4 years ago where she said the sinner's prayer. However She turned away from this decision due to personal reasons. After re-locating to Sydney last year, the Lord has brought this stray sheep back to His pen. Indeed He is the loving Shepherd who never gives up on us. God gave me this opportunity when I was there to encourage her to keep walking w Jesus.

2) I bought last minute tickets to fly from Sydney to Melbourne after I left Singapore. Initially wanted to book Qantas flight but end up getting Virgin Blue. Thanks be to God for this decision cuz Qantas employees had started a strike which meant that flights would be cancelled and I won’t be able to fly if I had chosen to fly by Qantas.

3) I want to give thanks for God’s provision – for friends (who I have not met for some years), wonderful creation (we saw koalas in the wild!, beautiful scenery along the Great Ocean Road), great food (had tried Lebanese, Korean, Dim Sum, Shanghaiese , Italian food). I was telling God about my craving for lamb cutlets on a morning when I saw some in the market and guess wat, a friend who didn’t know about my craving actually cooked some for dinner that night! What a wonderful surprise!

4) Not forgetting the rest from work and a fast-paced life ; )

Here are some pictures that I took at Elison’s Melbourne apartment. Here ‘s the home-cooked dinner we had on my last night. I cooked the claypot veggies.

Love Singapore 40-day prayer

2008-07-05T16:33:00.002+08:00

We can download the 40-day prayer book from http://www.lovesingapore.org.sg/ for those who dun have the hardcopy.

God has put us here in Singapore for this season. Let's keep her in prayer whether as a Singaporean, or as a resident studying or working in Singapore.

FCBC 22nd Anniversay Photography Contest

2008-07-05T16:27:00.001+08:00

Anyone interested in taking part in the FCBC 22nd Anniversary Photography Contest? Check this out at http://www.fcbc.org.sg/service_news.asp?newsID=470

Biochips

2008-07-04T09:45:00.007+08:00

wanna share this power point slides with you all.

My pastor in Sabah sent me this file. It's about biochips and the mark of the beast (666). actually I'm reading some articles of 666 and biochips these few weeks... so I'll will try to summaries and post it on blog...
please click the link below:
Biochip

p/s: have upload this file to www.humyo.com :) so I think you all can open dy??? hehe ^^ (thanks, Joshua!!)

Sunday Service on 6 July 2008

2008-07-03T16:07:00.010+08:00

hmm, so quiet here...
just wanna post something.. hehe ^^
quoted from FCBC webpage...

Come 6 July, get ready to meet and greet the multi-talented Pastor Bray Sibley, who is also a gifted musician and evangelist, at our FCBC services!

Pastor Bray Sibley currently shepherds the Harvest Family Church and the Harvest World Outreach Ministries in Hammond, Louisiana, USA, together with his wife, Pastor Diane Sibley. A man devoted to fulfil The Great Commission, Pastor Bray’s many giftings has served him and many others well as a tower of inspiration to believers worldwide in reaching their destiny in Christ. His motivational and humourous delivery of God’s messages has also endeared him to listeners everywhere, and more importantly, moved hearts, and transformed lives.

Pastor Bray recognises the importance of equipping the saints within the Body of Christ for ministry work through the G12 vision as well. He believes God’s promise in Genesis 22:17-18, in that He will enable him to “build a church as numerous as the stars of the heavens and the sands of the seashore for the glory of God”.

A Pure Heart -- Pastor Bray Sibley

Day 2 - Day in Hawaii

2008-06-27T13:05:00.003+08:00

7.5 hrs more in the plane. Really tired when I got off the plane in Honolulu
Imaging leaving at 6am Wednesday morning, and touching down at 3am Singapore time.

But thank God, for a pleasant surprise. :)
Got into a Limo from the airport to hotel at a regular taxi fare!
Wow! Shocked! Thank you Jesus!

I signed up for a half day tour to see the nature highlights of Oahu, the island I'm staying.
The guide was knowledgable. It was like a botany class. He knows the names of almost every trees on the road and the places we've been to.

Ended the day eating dinnerat Pancakes at the International House of Pancakes.
Didn't really enjoy it.

The streets at night is bustling with artistes, from painters, magicians, musicians and people trying to sell you things. It's "happening" every night. There was a magician doing levitation like David Blaine. I must say, he's quite good at that.

Internet connection's slow...Will insert the pics later.

Day 1 - On The Way to Hawaii

2008-06-25T15:30:00.003+08:00

I just left Singapore at 6am, this morning to go Hawaii for a 3 day conference.
Left with a little anxiousness.
Had to wake up at 3am to go to the airport to catch the plane.
Tired..... :P

I waiting at Narita Airport for my next plane to Hawaii.
6 hours of waiting. :(
Gives me some time to do some reading

Had a good Tempura Don but cost me $18 for it.
It was reasonably good. It has fish, pumpkin, lotus root, sweet potato, brinjal & of course Prawns.
Top it off with a small glass of beer. Total: $25 for lunch.
So Expensive!....

Pic of the lunch at Narita Airport

Will try to update everyone on my trip, since I am travelling alone. ;)

Church Announcement

2008-06-14T15:56:00.002+08:00

Hi everybody, how are you all doing during the holiday?
We are having service
this Sunday, 15 June, 2008 at 9am.
So those who are around in campus, please meet at 7.15am sharp at pgp foyer.
We have to reach expo at 8.40am outside hall 9 to meet the others.
Thank you for your cooperation.
God bless.. :)

A Book of Love

2008-06-10T07:31:00.003+08:00

Hi,

Just want to share that as I sat by computer early this morning (went to welcome my da-shao and baby niece back from Xi'an, China at Changi, so I came to work real early)... and as I stare at John to start my QT, I was reminded that the Gospel of John, unlike the 3 other Gospels, isn't written in a chronological order (I can't remember which pastor pointed that out to us, was it Ps Khong?). Suddenly it came to me that if I were to write a book about someone I love, someone I feel deeply about, and that someone is no longer physically so near, so close, as I recall those moments, those times we had together, how could I bear myself to think in a chronological order?

John is a disciple, who loves Jesus deeply, and is also the disciple whom Jesus loves. I won't say that Jesus loves him the most, or more than others, because Jesus loves us all the same. Just that for once, I felt the heart that John has for Jesus, the closeness he feels about the Son of God. So the Book of John, unlike other Gospels, speaks more about Jesus, Who He is. It is what I would call, a Book of Love.

Bless you all with the intimacy that John and Jesus shares~!

5 Loaves & 2 Fishes

2008-06-07T22:25:00.002+08:00

Just thought of sharing this song with us as we Read John 6 today.

Five Loaves and Two Fishes - Corrinne May

Corrinne May - Five Loaves and Two Fishes Lyrics

A little boy of thirteen
was on his way to school
He heard a crowd of people laughing
and he went to take a look
Thousands were listening
to the stories of one man
He spoke with such wisdom,
even the kids could understand

The hours passed so quickly
the day turned to night
Everyone was hungry
but there was no food in sight
The boy looked in his lunchbox
at the little that he had
He wasn't sure what good it'd do
there were thousands to be fed

But he saw the twinkling eyes of Jesus
the kindness in His smile
and the boy cried out
with the trust of a child
he said:

"Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
to feed them all"

I often think about that boy
when I'm feeling small
and I worry that the work I do
means nothing at all

But every single tear I cry
is a diamond in His hands
and every door that slams in my face
I will offer up in prayer

So I'll give you every breadth that I have
Oh Lord, you can work miracles
All that you need is my "Amen"

Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
I hope it's not too small

I trust in you
I trust in you

Take my five loaves and two fishes
Do with it as you will
I surrender
Take my fears and inhibitions
All my burdens, my ambitions
You can use it all
no gift is too small

Some Pics to Share

2008-06-07T22:03:00.001+08:00

For those who don't use FB! haha..

LAMININ

2008-05-27T18:58:00.004+08:00

Just wanna share one fact of how GREAT and how COOL our GOD is!!!!

The structure above is called LAMININ. Laminin are a family of protein that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissues. Sounds very complicated? Basically, laminin is the structure that hold every single cell in your body together. Without laminin, all the cells will not adhere to each other and thus fall apart and you and I won't be surviving today.

Isn't it amazing? It's in the shape of the cross. That's not the end of it. Look at
Colossians 1:15-17:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things HOLD TOGETHER.

The structure that holds everything together in our body is the symbol of the one who holds everything together in the universe.

Do I sound crazy? It seems like an coincidence, but everything is created by God and for a reason. Thousands years before anyone knew anything about laminin, Paul penned it down in Colossians. Now we see it in a LITERAL standpoint.

God is just great. He laid down tracks for people to find Him, in this case, for the scientific brainees . Even in this super small and seemingly insignificant molecule, the mark of God's creation is there.

Not to claim how this is related to the cross of Jesus Christ, but when I saw this, I am really convicted of how God really wants all of His children to come back to Him. Even in such tiny molecule, God create a way for people to find Him.

Indeed,.... seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you....If one really want to seek God, the evidence of God is everywhere..in science, in mathematics, in history, in philosophy...

Safe and Sound

2008-05-20T22:03:00.002+08:00

Dear Everyone,

Just to tell you guys that I've arrived safely here at Orlando. Liking my apartment. I don't know this is good or bad but I have no roomie so I'm having a king bed to myself. Privacy!! (:
Oh, and this cool apartment has got dishwasher also. Lol. I feel so kampung. Supermarkets are nice and there's lotsa stuff I even enjoying doing grocery. Hope everyone's enjoying holidays as well. I'll be going shopping ltr at factory outlet!!

Lotsa love,
Audrey

Living for Eternity: Your day at the judgment seat of Christ, by John Bevere

2008-05-14T11:16:00.004+08:00

hey all~~
i found this video and just wanna share this with you all... this message was preached by John Bevere in March 2007, and yup, it is about 88 minutes, but the message may lead us to reconsider our Christian walk with God in the past few years.

please spend a little bit of time to watch it, and pray for the Spirit to come and speak to you during this 88 minutes, and even after that...

EthnosEmmanuelNUS BAND

2008-05-04T22:33:00.003+08:00

I've sent this email to ethnosemmanuelnus@googlegroups.com
But then I realise not everyone is in there.
Please join the googlegroups to facilitate email sending and discussion.

Anyway, here's the email I've sent.

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am very interested in starting a EthnosEmmanuelNUS band,
where all of us can meet up and JAM.
As a musician, the last thing I want is to NOT have the chance to
practice.
No practice = rusty = wasted talent.

Ya, it is possible to join secular bands, Hall bands..
but it's not the same,
the whole intention is different.

In short, I want to use my talents for God,
not to showcase how great I am~!!!

Thomas suggested that if all goes well,
we can even have a evangelistic concert~!
Wouldn't it be a great opportunity to shine??

As of now, the band consist of
Joshua - Drummer
Thomas - Bassist? (^^)

Would like to hear your feedback~!

Shalom,
joshuatj

Jesus: The Missing History

2008-05-04T10:58:00.006+08:00

Hi people,

It's time to kiss exam good-bye for this sem....maybe for some of you, it will be in another few days time...Meanwhile, Jia You.

This morning, I browsed through the TV Listing for Discovery Channel, and spot this coming programme, it's called

Jesus: The Missing History
Description: Wars have been fought in his name. Untold millions have devoted their lives to hi. But how much do we really know about Jesus ben Joseph of Galilee.

I think this will be a good chance to know more about Jesus from other aspects, know what the world thinks He is, to know who is Jesus in the minds of historians, archeologists, and scholars..

The contents might not always align with what we believe, might be contradicting like the Da Vinci Code, but it will be a good starting point for us to know what the world thinks about Him, to know where do we stand in reaching out to the world...and start equipping ourselves to know how to stand up for our faith....

The timing for the programmes are as follow:
18 May-2200
19 May-0000, 0800, 1400
24 May-1400
25 May-0800

Another side programme which i think is quite interesting is

Nostradamus- The Truth
Description: Learn the true story of the one of the most famous people ever to have lived- a legendary figure whose life has become surrounded by myth and speculation.
Timing
19 May-0900, 1500
24 May-1500
25 May-0900
-if you realised, it continues straight after the previous show "Jesus: The Missing History"

Nostradamus was a mystery of the world due to his mysterious but yet accurate prophecies... Just watch if you are interested..

One guideline in watching these documentaries is to remain skeptical to all that is shown and mentioned in the programme...Just watch it for the sake of knowing the facts and knowlegde...Do not let all the seemingly truths shake your faith...

Keep your mind sharp for clear and critical judgement, and be careful not to simply believe straight away, because every story told has the other side of it, be sure to examine the both sides of the stories....

************************************************************************************

Disclaimer:

1 Corinthians 6:12-"Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything.

I dunno whether these shows are good for all (becuase the contents might be contradicting with our belief). If you think that watching these "might-be-contradicting" programmes is not beneficial for your, please do not watch it.

Kelvin's Birthday 22nd :( So old

2008-05-03T23:17:00.006+08:00

Brotherly love photo

Soccer style photo.
With my wet pant blessed with pond water, no one dare to stand near me.

Kelvin's Birthday 22nd :(

2008-05-03T23:13:00.005+08:00

Sorry Style of picture.
With my pant wet with blessed pond water, no one dare to stand near me.

Love In Action

2008-05-03T21:35:00.007+08:00

Hi! I just wanna to say 'I'm So... Proud of all of you!' Indeed the 2 exam blessings were successful despite the scramble to find functioning stoves and ovens on the 2nd night.

Some students have smsed to say 'Thank You' and a senior even expressed interest to join us next semester in exam blessing after his graduation.

just to put everything in perspective again... Continue to

1) make exam blessing part of your exam preparation

2) seek to be a blessing to your peers as much as the Lord has blessed you

3) be a Marketplace Minister. Take care of your marketplace in all seasons and exam blessing is such an activity during the exam season.

4) be a city of light. Declare the goodness of God by showing your faith (taking time out to cook supper and talk to peers)

Matthew 5:14-15 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Thanks to

Tiff, Elin and Amy for rising up to the occasion and taking initiative to make wonderful french toasts out of the eggs and bread. The sugar on the toasts was lovely.

Joshua for following my instructions diligently to help make the bean dip. It's not easy to avoid the smoke at the same time....1st time that someone is taking photo of u instead of you being the photographer.

Clement for making garlic bread on the 1st night for our enjoyment. Your bread was so popular when we made them on the 2nd night.

Kelvin for co-ordinating the 2nd exam blessing. Know you had 2 papers earlier in the day.

Ryan and Wen yao for taking my pots so I dun need to carry them back and forth.

Jane for helping to access the various kitchens in R5. It's helpful when we 've an 'influential' person on board. You are also a great 'washer'. Thanks for clearing the mess we created in your kitchen.

Wern lurn, Isaac, Audrey and Mei ferng for cutting the ingredients and making sure all the dishes were served. Audrey brought some of the cutlery. The 2 ladies helped to mix my salad w the dressing. Issac went all the way to his R to get soy sauce which we din use in the end. we finished most of your sugar too, Mei Ferng.

Wendy for holding onto my bag cuz I always leave things lying ard. Thought the bag was lost.

Annick, your kitchen was lovely and faced the basketball court ; ) if not for your kitchen, the black glutinous rice will still be uncooked.

Ash, great to see u and your friends. sure they are blessed when they came.

Thomas, Allen and Sze Yung for bringing the ingredients and stuff req'd on the 2 nights. Thomas even roped in his mum to get 'You Tiao' for us.

All of you are great conversationalists and could see that you were catching up w friends as u served supper w love. Sometimes we may not know what to say. However may the Holy Spirit guides and uses us to minister to our friends. Continue to be great encouragers to your community.

What's next? Freshmen Orientation ; )