whats your purpose in life?

“Pass It On…With Gentleness and Respect, Please”

2010-03-15T10:15:00.001+08:00

“Pass It On…With Gentleness and Respect, Please” by Rev Leslie Lim (07/03/2010)

“13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[a]; do not be frightened."[b] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:13-16 (NIV)

•Couple sending out tracts, Pastor of Lighthouse Evangelical Church warned for insensitive remarks
•Sharing with gentleness and respect - Not because of religious harmony, but as it reflects the Kingdom lifestyle.
•Sharing the Gospel is going to get harder with time. (Bu they had persecution in the past too.)
•We can turn challenges in life into opportunities to share for Christ.
•Many persecutors, seeing the hope and faith that the Christians at that time have, were converted too.

1)We should to continue to set apart Christ as Lord of our lives
•“34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34
•We shouldn’t be half—hearted Christians, nor pew-warmers.
•Dedicate ourselves to God’s will, live and die with Christ.
•We should follow Christ example. Jesus would go all out to proclaim about God’s kingdom.

2)We are to be prepared to explain our hope and faith in Christ.
•Many of us are not prepared to share, or don’t want to learn more about our faith.
•Cry for a worthy cause (like for lost souls) and not for K Dramas, etc.
•5 Reasons Why I Won’t Share My Faith: Scared of Rejection, Not legal, Don’t know where to start, Don’t know enough information, Walk doesn’t match talk.
•We should take the step to learn more about our faith.
•God is always with us. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20
•“People around me, why should I care? Because You, Lord, You care and want me to care.”

3)We must practice how to share the good news with sensitivity.
•People always turn down Christ not because the gospel is not good, but because we always talk down them.
•“"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."” John 8:11b
•Truth without grace will offend. But truth spoken with God’s graciousness will get attention from those who initially reject the truth.
•We are not there to force Christ down people’s throat, but to share Christ’s love.
•The Story of Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-6) – Let us be the Sycamore tree to let those who come in contact with us to get into a position to view Christ better.
•We are not there to convert and correct non-Christians, that is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Are you prepared to share Jesus with our family and friends? If you are, pass it on with gentleness and respect, please.

What If Jesus was Never Born? by Dr Philip Ryken

2009-12-24T10:51:00.003+08:00

Almost a century ago, in a famous sermon entitled “One Solitary Life,” Dr. James Allan Francis recounted the biography of a famous man. See if you know who he is:

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn’t go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.

While He was dying, his executioners gambled for His garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one solitary life [The Real Jesus (Philadelphia: Judson, 1926), p. 123].

But what if Jesus had never been born at all? With apologies to Jimmy Stewart, what difference would it make in the world if Jesus had never lived his wonderful life?

If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in politics. Our representative form of democracy rests on explicitly Christian principles of church and state. So do our principles of free speech and religious tolerance. In fact, the very founding of this nation was motivated by the goal to establish a Christ-centered community. If Jesus was never born, there wouldn’t be a United States of America, at least as we know it today.

If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in education. The world’s oldest universities were all founded on Christian principles, so that students could grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The same is true of nearly every one of the first one hundred colleges and universities in America. Eventually people would have developed institutions of higher education, but there would be no Oxford, no Harvard, no Yale, and no Princeton. Furthermore, Christians have always been pioneers in promoting literacy and universal education. Even America’s public school system is part of the legacy of Puritan education. To this day, linguists are working all over the world, in the name of Jesus, to put native languages in written form and teach people to read the Bible.

If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in literature, music, and the arts. There would be no Messiah for Handel to write into his famous oratorio—no Christmas music at all. There would be no Pieta by Michelangelo, and no Last Supper by Leonardo. There would be no cathedrals in Europe, no Hagia Sophia or Notre Dame. There would be no Gospels and no New Testament, and therefore no story of the prodigal son, no parable of the good Samaritan, and no Sermon on the Mount. There would be no Divine Comedy by Dante, and no Paradise Lost by Milton.

If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in science and medicine. It was the Christian worldview—with its insistence on the rational order of the universe and man’s dominion over creation—that gave rise to modern science. Followers of Jesus Christ were also pioneers in the art of medicine. The first hospitals were established by Christians who believed they had a God-given responsibility to heal the sick.

If Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make in charity and the protection of life. It was the followers of Christ who first introduced the Roman world to disinterested benevolence, to helping someone who couldn’t help you in return. Pagans were amazed to see that Christians not only took care of their own needy people, but also provided for other people’s poor. It was also the followers of Christ who first abandoned the nearly universal practice of infanticide. The birth of Christ taught them to protect the lives of their own children, and to rescue foundlings and orphans.

Humanly speaking, none of this would have happened if Jesus was never born. What I have said so far is only just the beginning, of course, and it is also true that many wrong things have been done in the name of Christ—that is a topic for another occasion. But simply in terms of secular history, the life of Jesus Christ has had a far greater and more positive influence on the world than anyone else in history.

But to bring what I have said closer to home, if Jesus was never born, what a difference it would make to your own destiny. You would have no atonement for your sin, no resurrection from the dead, no hope of eternal life, and no Savior to call a friend.

What if Jesus was never born? But Jesus was born. As the angel said to the Christmas shepherds: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:12). And the rest, as they say, is history.

[The basic idea for this Window on the World, as well as some of the specific examples, come from D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe’s book What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994].

http://www.tenth.org/index.php?id=57&tx_xdssermonbase_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=18&cHash=ea7b422eea

What Does Christmas Means To Me

2009-12-24T10:05:00.006+08:00

Haha. Christmas is around the corner, and I got so many things I have not done (including my holiday hw!). But recently, I found this piece of paper I wrote in Nov (which I don't even rmb!) and I just want to share it with you guys.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Does Christmas Means To Me?

Christmas, to me, is both the happiest and the saddest day of my life. It is definitely one of the most important day of my life. For without Christmas, life wouldn't be the same.

On this day, Jesus, the Son of God, came down to Earth and lived as a man, to save the world. He came to tell people more about the GOOD NEWS, to lead the people back to God. Showing such humility in his actions and such wisdom in his words, he showed everyone that He was no ordinary person.

On this day, Jesus came to Earth through the annointed Virgin Mary. When Jesus came, the wise men, angels and the shepherd came and rejoice in the coming King aka Messiah. Just life it was prophesised some 400 years ago that He would come!

On Christmas day, Jesus, the son of the Creator of the universe, was not born in the King's palace or to the richest of people. In fact, on that very night, Mary and Joseph actually couldn't rent a room in the inn as the city was crowded, so Jesus had to be born in a manger, which is a feeding plate for animals! The kings, queens, rich & famous were not invited, but instead the shepherds and the wise men followed the star to His birth. For Jesus did not come to crave for fame, for Jesus did not come to be worshipped or served, for He did not come to save those who are proud, but He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

On Chrisetmas day, I had mixed feelings. It's devestating to ponder about the fact that Jesus came to die for us. Like the song by ShoutPraises "He Made A Way In A Manger", Jesus' knew that he would end up on a cross eventually, but He was still willing. He was the perfect sacrifice, for the imperfect world. He paid a debt that he didnt owe, a debt that we cant pay.

On Christmas day, I smiled at the baby Jesus.
On Christmas day, I cried at the foot of the cross.
On Christmas day, I thank God that He came.

the beatitudes...

2009-08-09T01:31:00.000+08:00

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. " Matt 5:3-10

My cell group is starting on this study of the Beatitudes, and since i wrote down notes for it i thot i might as well type it out.

Blessed = "true happiness" (in its original language)

the first one (poor in spirit) talks about them being mindful of their need for God cos when one is full (lets say from his dinner) he cannot stuff in any more food. Minful that without God we are nothing and have an unquenchable thirst of the word. Similarly, when one is full of the spirit, the person in unable to take in more stuff. Yup haha.

The second one (mourn);
mourn = godly sorrow (judas), not sadness from the pressures of the world. Cori, the richest part of the roman empire, faces problems like divisions in their church. Sorrow that elads to see ho sinful we are, and in wonder how great God's grace and mercy is godly sorrow. (2 Cor 7:10-11) It encompassses a dependence on God. Being Proudd could also be the opposite, (thinking that you are full). It could be caused by being angry with others. "When I am weak, then I am strong." Says Paul. So practical steps?
1) Thank God everyday
2) Humility with a response (Sorrow > Humility)

Third one (meek):
Meek is not weak.
Matt 11:29 "29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Practical step?
" 1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior," Titus 3:1-6

Jesus is meek, but not weak. (eg overthrowing the tables in the temple)

Controlling one's temper. ("Slow to anger, patience at heart")
Meek = Self-controlled.

Opposite what society thinks that one needs to succeed.

Meek?
- Quiet cconfidence (no need to prove anything to nayone)
- Not a characteristic that you are born with, but it is an attitude to things that everyone must work on

"I Don't Want To Be A Fanatic!"

2009-07-27T21:44:00.000+08:00

YF: Sermon Series - Letter of James
"I Don't Want to Be a Fanatic!" by Rev Leslie Lim
James 1:19-22

[Listening and Doing
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. -James 1:19-22 (NIV)]

-Everyone is a fanatic of something like soccer or heroes (not me!), but no one wants to be a Spiritual Fanatic, especially after knowing of bad incidents like the KKK and the Northern Iceland “war”.

-definition of a HS fan: One filled with and empowered by the Holy Spirit (HS) to lead him or her to knowledge of the truth about God and to a lifestyle in accordance with that truth --> a HS fan!

-how?? As much as it is a cliche, it is by reading and DOING the word (there is a reason why cliche are cliches) - simple things like controlling our speech, being slow to anger, caring for the orphans & widows and personal righteousness

3 pratical steps!
#1: Control of tongues
(According to an accordance, as Rev Leslie Lim said, being loose with our tongues Includes the following:
-interrupting & dominating conversation
-being easily provoked & lashed at others
-criticising and murmuring (?!)
-judging & condemning others
-cursing
-engaging in suggestive and off-coloured talk
-talking about and looking down on others
-gossiping and telling tales)

Our anger and our speech is a reflection of our inner heart, therefore it is a good indicator whether how much you are willing to love God. Anger cannot bring about righteousness. ("In your anger do not sin"[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold." Eph 4:26-27)Our words and speech can hurt the people around us, like a knife stabbing.

#2: Personal Righteousness
(v21) Therefore, get rid of all moral filth.

The word "filth" is "rupania" in greek, the root word is "rupos" (greek) and it literally means "wax in the ear". This show that moral filth inside us hinders our listening to God's word.

#3: Care for the unfortunate

Care of orphans, widows & other acts of social concerns
=\= content of Christianity (aka not what's Christianity all about)
== EXPRESSION of it

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

Religion is a practice of one's faith. Re (agian) - ligion (to bind together)=> Reliigon is the beginning to make things work together properly again, as they SHOULD work (ie according to God's standards.)

QuEsTiOn: Why should we concerned about them?
4 reasons:
#1: Self-knowledge - only after practising by then do we know the weaknesses of ourselves

#2: Acceptance to God - Looking at James 1:27 (above) again, it implies that there is a religion NOT acceptable to God. (ie faith without works is dead)
Responsibility: TO FIND OUT what is pleasing to God
how?
(cliche moment)by Checking with the Bible. =D

danger: we must take the Bible as an entire-ity and not practise selective listening.
(simplest eg: thou shall not steal is the least impt in the 10 commandments so can forget about it)
danger 2: there is a tendency for us to do the superficial things but not the important things.
(ie "but ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42)
(eg going through the Holy Communion will be of no imptance if we dont appreciate and understand the significance of it)

#3: Personal Blessings
"But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does." James 1:25
Though it shouldn't be our main purpose of pleasing God, but it should keep us assured and motivates us that God is a fair God and we are storing our treasures in Heaven.

#4: A blessing for other people
We are not meant to live alone, we are meant as a brotherhood, to build each other up, and to bring more people to Christ. Our lives affects, like a ripple, others, no matter you like it or not. What if someone junior comes up to you and ask you why you christian but you like this and like that?

"I like my way of doing it better than your way of NOT DOING IT." -D.L. Moody

hey what do you think is the GOSPEL?

2009-07-05T01:03:00.003+08:00

(full version pls) lol.

the importantance of it is that if we are not even sure of this, how can we live out God's life in us and live for God?

another qn to ponder: what does it take to gain eternal life? *aka whats the criteria to go heaven?* lol. (is beliving enough?)

Fw: Why go to church on Sunday?‏

2009-06-23T00:45:00.001+08:00

If you're spiritually alive, you're going to love this! If you're spiritually dead, you won't want to read it. If you're spiritually curious, there is still hope!
Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.. But I do know this ... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

All right, now that you're done reading, send it on! I think everyone should read this! "When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?"

think about His love...:D

2009-06-19T01:01:00.001+08:00

chorus :
Think about His love.
Think about His goodness.
Think about His grace,
That’s brought us through.
For as high as the heavens above,
So great is the measure,
Of our Father’s love.
Great is the measure of our Father’s love.
verse 1:
How could I forget His love?
How could I forget His mercy?
He satisfies. He satisfies.
He satisfies my desires.
( repeat chorus )

verse 2:
Even when I’ve strayed away,
His love has sought me out and found me.
He satisfies. He satisfies.
He satisfies my desires.
( repeat as desired )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_qT8nk4bBA&feature=related

did you ever talk to God above?

2009-06-19T00:55:00.003+08:00

Did you ever talk to God above?
Tell Him that you need a friend to love.
Pray in Jesus’ name believing
that God answers prayer.

Have you told Him all your cares and woes?
Ev’ry tiny little fear He knows.
You can know He’ll always hear
And He will answer prayer.

You can whisper in a crowd to Him.
You can cry when you’re alone to Him.
You don’t have to pray out loud to Him;
He knows your thoughts.

On a lofty mountain peak, He’s there.
In a meadow by a stream, He’s there.
Anywhere on earth you go,
He’s been there from the start.

Find the answer in His Word; it’s true.
You’ll be strong because He walks with you.
By His faithfulness He’ll change you, too.
God answers prayer.

~ Frances Towle Rath
(adapted from: http://jendisjournal.com/2008/09/07/sunday-poem-did-you-ever-talk-to-god-above/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnDjxu-ygA

for people with nothing better to do...

2009-06-17T01:13:00.001+08:00

http://www.members.shaw.ca/gf3/circle-the-cat.html

ALL THE BEST! :D

is love a feeling?

2009-06-16T01:06:00.002+08:00

what a question man. That was my first thought when someone asked me that question. how to answer? lol. At first thot i think love is a natural feeling that God put inside all of us. We are made to love something someone anything! Even if you are an emo guy in one corner hating the world, you LOVE hating the world! Just kidding. Going off topic. Anyway love is something that a human being would naturally do. It's human nature! It's not so much of a responsiiblity or a burden. But it is just natural behavior. So i think that was what my friend was asking, is love MORE than a feeling?

When I asked another friend what was his view, he told me that there are different kinds of love. Suddenly that trigger off another whole new viewpoint. There are motherly love, fatherly love, sibling love, BGR, friend friend love, etc. People need to be loved to know that they are valued. Ya just to incorporate a little gospel magic here, people who dont feel love will go down disastrous things. Thats why you must know that God loves you! Haha.

Let's focus on loving people (not things, or actions) now. I think that firstly people need to love and be loved, to see the beauty and the value of the person. "Love your neighbour as yourself." Secondly, I think there's both right and wrong love. Our love should be honoring to God, as simply put. It is not lust, not dishonoring to parents, loving the person for who the person is really is, ya. There's something a few friends told me about which i cant agree on is that there is an age requirement to go into BGR. (e.g. you can only have girlfriend when you are 18 years old) Thankfully my church doesnt have this rule. :D But however, I think the intentions of this rule are good, but are doing it the wrong way. I think the purpose is for people who want to enter BGR to have some sort of maturity and wisdom (hopefully) before entering into it, so that they wouldnt do stupid acts. However by putting this rule it is as though God's will for people to enter BGR will only begin after 18 years old. Vague and baseless (ie not biblical) assumption dont you think?

Looking at all my friends having BGR, I'm really wanting to have one too. But can't find the right person. My friends are like 3 by now? Lol. I think I go for girls not for looks, really. I really hope that my will would be to remain single forever. "12For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." Matt 19:11-12 But I think let God soverign will control my life! Haha. God has a good, pleasing and perfect will for me and I'm willing to follow that!

God is my first love. **how chessy..lol**

my favourite church camp song!

2009-06-08T02:44:00.002+08:00

in this life there are so many things
that we must learn and we must do
living a life that we have been told
searching for something that's not there

many questions have no answers
when we live our lives alone
in my darkness i have realised
that He's the way the truth and life

So in this world that God has given us
We have learnt life's true treasure
Is found in Jesus' Christ God's only Son

We must have faith hope and love in Him
We must bring glory and honor to our Father
The way we live our lives,
With Jesus as our guide
We must have faith hope and love in Him

For God so loved His children
He gave His only Son
That whoever choose to follow Him
He Will Have Everlasting Life!

God's Faithfulness to the Fallen

2009-05-25T00:47:00.002+08:00

24/05/2009 (0915 service)
God's Faithfulness to the Fallen
By Rev Stanley Chua
Luke 22:31-34

"Luke 22:31-34 (New International Version)

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." "

Fact of Matter: Religious leaders are human also and they are not exempt from sin.

Why does God allow us to fall into sin?
- God allows good people to fall into sin so that the rest of us will learn not to make the same mistakes.

("Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did." 1 Cor 10:6)

CASE STUDY: PETER
- promised more than he can acheive (although in the end he died for his faith)
- most "human" of disciples -> most mischeivious and have the courage to say that people would diam diam about

- "...when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." v32
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE AN UNCONVERTED CHRISTIANS!!!

Man:
-want to live a life for God
-salt and light for world
-want to be a good husband, father
-ultimately want to be a Godly man for God

But then WHY in the years to come people fall?
- in church congregations, women>men
- in christians families, men have all the ideas of bringing their children up, but then everything pushed to wife

THERE WAS A HIGH LEVEL CONFERENCE BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN

Job: suitable target selected by God
Peter:": Satan asked to tempt Peter

refering to Luke 22:31-34::::
has asked -> refers to STRONG demand
to sift YOU -> actually in plural form; referring to all disciples

Satan power is not equal/not matched to God's.
Satan has to ask permission from God.
(reason against evil superstitions)

fact 0f matter 2: Satan often goes after spiritual leaders.

3 amazing truths about v32
1) Christ knew in advance everything Peter was about to do.
2) Christ's response to Peter's fall was to pray for him. (" Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Heb 7:25)
3) Christ did not pray for Peter to be removed from temptation. (Jesus had more faith in Peter than he had in Jesus)

1 Purpose for FaLL: TO STRENGTHEN HIS BROTHERS
-God can touch your broken places and make them stronger before.

so QN: if God knows that we are going to fail, why GoD still let us go through the test?
Reasons why God allow to fail
1) To show us the depth of our sin - Satan always attacks us at the point of our strenght, not at the point of our weakness.
2) To purge us from prdie - Our failure serve as a perpetual reminder and a guard against overwhelming pride.
3) To prepare us for a greater work - God allows us to fail to qualify us to minister to others we could never otherwise reach.

GOD ALWAYS USE BROKEN-HEARTED PEOPLE TO DO GREAT THINGS!!

3 things to learn:
1) The value of humility
2) The need for patience with each other
3) The magnificene of God's grace.

found this article...ps read...what do you think about it?

2009-05-24T16:32:00.002+08:00

(http://www.imeem.com/shineforyou/music/iipUIQxZ/hillsong-united-break-free/)
Well, replying to everyone whom post,
Don't read if you're under 13...
seriously" Don't read this if you're under 13...
seriously Message:
Why do we sleep in church, But stay awake through a 2 hour movie?

Why is it so hard to talk about God, but so easy to talk about sex?

Why are we so bored when we look at a Christian magazine, but find it easy to read Playboy?

Why is it so easy to ignore a Godly friendster message, Yet we repost the nasty ones?

Why are churches getting smaller, But bars and clubs are growing?

Think about it, are you going to repost this?

Are you going to ignore it, cause you think you'll get laughed at? Repost this as

".Don't read if you're under 13...seriously" 80 % of you wont repost this.

The Lord said: "If you deny me in front of men, I will deny you in front of my Father".

simply because you are in a not so happening church
wouldn't it be werid to hit a conversation starting with 'God'
because you arent reading the christian magazine, just flipping pages
doing something about this messages
church getting smaller because they are preaching something not of the bible
and i am not ignoring it because there is something seriously wrong not doing something about it
well, blessed me to be in the 20% reposting it

Stop making a world parreller to this world, preaching and praticing isolation.
But start insulation and penatration! How can you win the world to Christ by condemming sinners?
Thats is why all the narrow minded chruch aren't growing and reject pop culture and condemming it.

2009-05-13T21:31:00.002+08:00

just for my own sidenote..dont read! haha kidding..

by "Indescribable"

Oh ya, one more thing to add to that qn..christian are like a new creation, been transformed by the love...While non-christians are like, still havent been transformed yet...And they havent received/taste/feel "real" Fatherly love...Lol

-End_

how is a christian different from a non-christian?

2009-05-12T22:54:00.002+08:00

This question just popped in my head today when running. Ya so I asked 2 of my church friends, "Scott Summers" and "Indescribable"...take a look at their responses!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Scott Summers":
by three simple letters and a punctuation mark
Aaron Chua:
but is it that simple?
Aaron Chua:
haha just a question that came to my mind
"Scott Summers":
"non-"
"Scott Summers":
that's the simple part
"Scott Summers":
hahaha
"Scott Summers":
the hard part, however, is how we live our lives
"Scott Summers":
if you say non-christian, u referring to a free-thinker or from other religions?
"Scott Summers"::
for free-thinkers: live life without the acknowledgement that there is a superior higher authority, without the acknowledgement that there is life after death
"Scott Summers"::
other religions: live life with knowledge of higher superior authority, and acknowledge that there is life after death
"Scott Summers"::
the thing that separates christian beliefs and other religious beliefs is that many other religions (buddhism, muslim, etc) believe that to get to "heaven" you need to do good things (karma)
Aaron Chua:
"non-"? huh? haha
Aaron Chua:
how do you define a christian then? cos the Bible says not all christians are going to heaven too
"Scott Summers":
(spelling wise la)
"Scott Summers":
those who affirm the truth that they are saved by grace and not by deeds
"Scott Summers":
?
"Scott Summers":
other religions believe that you need to do good deeds to get to heaven
Aaron Chua:
cos the bible say in matt 7:21 that not all who say Lord Lord will go to heaven
"Scott Summers":
you gotta live a life that seeks to be Christ-like i guess?
Aaron Chua:
can christians be merely be defined as those who affirm aka believe? and not live it out?
"Scott Summers":
that's in reference to those who cry Lord Lord but live ungodly lives..
Aaron Chua:
lol getting confused here...so what do u think is the diff between christian and non-christian?
Aaron Chua:
and ya non-christian = atheist + other religions
"Scott Summers":
hmmm...
"Scott Summers":
didn't i just say it
"Scott Summers":
haha
"Scott Summers":
in the way we live our lives
"Scott Summers":
LOL, thanks ar...
"Scott Summers":
making me type for so long
Aaron Chua:
lol...was little blur thats why...just to ask one final qn...lol...so if christians dont live the way they are supposed to live, then theres no difference?
"Scott Summers":
then, the difference is only in name....
Aaron Chua:
haha my pov is that the "supposed" diff is actually immense, really a lot between christians and non-christians...
"Scott Summers":
yeah actually there is
"Scott Summers":
haha
Aaron Chua:
but the thing is that im not really seeing that in my school for eg
"Scott Summers":
its just that one of the MOST PREACHED differences is our lifestyles
Aaron Chua:
yup...true...one of the main differences too...haha
"Scott Summers":
haha
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aaron Chua says:
hey say what u think abt the question also leh?
"Indescribable" says:
a better purpose of why or wat are we here on this earth for...
"Indescribable" says:
welcoming jesus into christian's life changes many things.. A faithful friend who will nvr leave us..
Aaron Chua says:
the difference is actually immense....but somehow i just cant see it with the ppl around me
Aaron Chua says:
christians live like non-christians...are they really christians?
"Indescribable" says:
actually, wat i think is the difference is more on the inside..
Aaron Chua says:
how to define christians? is the diff that we can go to heaven but non-christians cant?
"Indescribable" says:
there is not the difference..
Aaron Chua says:
sry...was just having verbal diarrhoea
"Indescribable" says:
tat*
Aaron Chua says:
lol pls continue
"Indescribable" says:
LOL... no la..
Aaron Chua says:
*sidenote: matt 7:21
"Indescribable" says:
yea.. being a christian is not that simple..
"Indescribable" says:
like wat jit said last time.. many ppl get the wrong idea like, "so easy to go to heaven, just by accepting Jesus like tat?"
"Indescribable" says:
Each of one of us has a purpose a will given by Him to carry it out...
"Indescribable" says:
and*
"Indescribable" says:
and, christian is all about establishing relationship with God..
Aaron Chua says:
so whats the difference? that a non-christian does not have a plan and a will from God?
"Indescribable" says:
wat i think, everyone of us have.. non-christian is "hidden" one.. until, they accept Jesus Christ, then they will be made known to them..
"Indescribable" says:
is like, late bloomer..
Aaron Chua says:
so if the christian doesnt carry God's will in his life then there's no difference?
"Indescribable" says:
Luke 6:49
"Indescribable" says:
"But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
"Indescribable" says:
there is still difference..
Aaron Chua says:
lol...so the difference is the built house? but if it going to collapse then whats the pt?
Aaron Chua says:
sry if i ask too many questions...just want to see your pt
Aaron Chua says:
pov*
"Indescribable" says:
haha no worries...
"Indescribable" says:
hold on..
"Indescribable" says:
collapse, repent and built again... non christian.. is like, duno anything abt God nor the will of God..
"Indescribable" says:
Col 2:6-8
"Indescribable" says:
our FACT Camp 2008 theme verse..
"Indescribable" says:
lol
Aaron Chua says:
hmm...another way of looking at it...nice...
"Indescribable" says:
that verse clearly show us the difference between christian and non-christian.. but i guess, u wan deeper than that rite?
Aaron Chua says:
haha no la i not so deep...lol...
Aaron Chua says:
really nice pov from you..haha
Aaron Chua says:
the "supposed" diff is immense, and seriously immense, but is it happening now in our society? that was more like the one i wanted to target..
Aaron Chua says:
eg christians are more MORE than conquerers, but is it the case when we just take a look at our school?
Aaron Chua says:
salt and light too...
"Indescribable" says:
haha.. well, my classmates which are mainly non-christian one.. cared more abt money..
"Indescribable" says:
when i asked them abt the real purpose of living.. many of them defined like, to earn money lor, safe future and so on..
"Indescribable" says:
erm, i dun get the more more than conquerers..
Aaron Chua says:
doesnt the Bible say we are more than conquerers? lol...
"Indescribable" says:
haha yea.. lol
Aaron Chua says:
u forgot? lol...
"Indescribable" says:
forget abit.. lol..
"Indescribable" says:
haiz
"Indescribable" says:
Romans 8
"Indescribable" says:
oh ya..
"Indescribable" says:
i just remembered
"Indescribable" says:
haha
"Indescribable" says:
somewhere in that chapter
Aaron Chua says:
and u are studying romans now..lol...
"Indescribable" says:
yea.. haha..
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------END OF POST :D WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT ONE!--------------------------

Chapel Songs 8/5/2009 :D

2009-05-11T23:29:00.002+08:00

Chapel Worship 8/5/2009
Led by Mr. Marcus Chan

1) God is our Father

God is our father
And He has made us His children
Made Jesus our brother
So hand in hand we'll grow together as one

Sing praise to the Lord with the tambourine
Sing praise to the Lord with our clapping hands
Sing praise to the Lord with our dancing feet
Sing praise to the Lord with our voice
La la la la la la la la oi!

2)He is the Lord of All
(a very touching song, and a song we should always remind ourselves constantly)

He is Lord of the sunshine
and Lord of the rain
He is Lord of the good times
and Lord of the pain
He is Lord of the mountains
and Lord of the seas
He is Lord of the music,
Lord of the children
Lord of you and me.

3)Our School Hymn
(dedicated to the student councillsors -
you wont believe it, but it is an actual hymn in oremus hymnal!)

Our Father, by whose servants
our house was built of old,
whose hand hath crowned her children
with blessing manifold,
for thine unfailing mercies
far-strewn along our way,
with all who passed before us,
we praise thy Name today.

(Found this extra verse on net:
The changeful years unresting
their silent course have sped,
new comrades ever bringing
in comrades' steps to tread;
and some are long forgotten,
long spent their hopes and fears;
safe rest they in thy keeping,
who changest not with years.)

They reap not where they labored;
we reap what they have sown;
our harvest may be garnered
by ages yet unknown.
The days of old have dowered us
with gifts beyond all praise;
our Father, make us faithful
to serve the coming days.

Before us and beside us,
still holden in thine hand
a cloud unseen of witness,
our elder comrades stand:
one family unbroken,
we join, with one acclaim,
one heart, one voice uplifting
to glorify thy Name.

how different has your life been after you received Christ?

2009-05-10T01:23:00.002+08:00

i didnt know i was the 9th serach result of google "dare to run". Lol.

Just now during cell group worship, when I was singing this song "Everything to Me" by Avalon (anyone who wants the cd can borrow from me haha) then this line popped to me "I want to tell the world I found A love that turned my life around..." After we received Christ there should be a transformation inwardly.

QN:how different has your life been after you received Christ?
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:17-18. "

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin." 1 John 5:18
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." James 4:17

I think that this frequent reflection upon this question can judge our spiritual "level" with God. A few pre-requisite questions first:
1) Can you imagine what you will be like if you did not receive Christ?
2) How different is it now and then?
3) How did you feel when you receive the gospel of love?

As economics say, people usually consume things that are bad for themselves (demerit goods). In other words, if we do not check ourselves and guard ourselves, we will slip. (unless u are at the bottom of the pit alr la).

Think and reflect about this question.

Salvation comes with no strings attached. Do you agree?

2009-04-16T22:37:00.001+08:00

FW: Amazing Testimony

2009-04-15T00:22:00.000+08:00

Before you start reading the email, I just want to say that whenever I see such testimonies I become a little suspicious about them. This is because the Bible says )i cant find the verse now) that no one has seen or heard what heaven is going to be like.

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Bro. Edmund,
This is true and verifiabale and I know them. He saw my Dad Rev. Dr. P... J. Johny in heaven, PTL. Pass this on prayerfully.
PEACE! DRPJJ

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

REALLY TRUE & AWESOME TESTIMONY FROM DEAF COUPLE IN SINGAPORE
VISIT TO HEAVEN, MIRACLE ON EARTH

Mabel, Sunday 15th June 2008
My husband, David & I went for breakfast before our church service. David began feeling unwell so we decided that he should go home to rest while I went on to church. That day, I had a bad headache so I went home for a nap after church. David was not in and messaged that he was in Changi General Hospital (CGH). At 7pm, David returned from the hospital. However, he still felt very uncomfortable so we hurried back to the hospital where the doctor decided to ward David for further observation....

Mabel, Monday 16th June 2008
I went to CGH the next morning to find David shaking in a fit. He said he could not see and then suddenly he lost consciousness. The doctors attending to him decided to transfer David to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) where they had more experience in dealing with liver problems similar to that which they had diagnosed David to suffer from.

David, Monday 16th June 2008
I was at CGH when I must have passed out. One moment I was in hospital, the next, everything around me became a blur. Then I suddenly became detached from my body. A bright, big doorway was before me and I walked through. On the other side of the entrance, an angel met and led me to be judged by God. He explained about the Book of Life, saying that those who backslide and denied Him would be condemned to the Hell. Those who accepted Jesus as their Saviour, are faithful, and fear God, reading the Bible and worshiping Him will go to Heaven. Their names are found in the Book of Life and will be accepted and welcomed by God himself, into Heaven. Then I met Jesus! I could not see His face as it was dazzlingly and shining but I knew it was Him.

Mabel, Monday 16th June 2008
David was at SGH's ICU (Intensive Care Unit). He was in a coma and in a critical condition. Many tubes were plugged into him. The breathing support machine sucked air into his body and in the background, the heart-monitoring machine beeped, ticking the time he had left on earth. Doctors explained that his liver had failed and toxin had spread to all of his body. They told us to prepare for the worse.. David, according to the doctor, was brain-dead. My whole family, mother-in-law and relatives all were weeping. Many people prayed earnestly for David.

David, Nil date
Heaven is amazingly beautiful.. It is bright and shining, singing and worship music filled the atmosphere. Angels are everywhere. So are many happy people who had accepted Jesus. There is no need to have any food and no sickness. Our spirits feed on the word of God. The words "Holy, holy, holy" seemed to resound in my head. The angel beside me told me that Hell is drastically different. It is a heavy, dark and burdened place. None can see through the blinding darkness of hell.

Mabel, Tuesday 17th June 2008
David was in a coma and did not wake up. His condition did not improve but became increasingly worse.

David, Nil date
I met four people/groups of people face to face in Heaven.. I could see their faces only:
1) Bro. Lai - a deaf brother from Deaf Faith Fellowship
2) Former Senior Pastor P. Johnny from World Revival Prayer Fellowship
3) My father and sister
4) My relatives.
Brother Lai told me more about Heaven.. He said Heaven is a beautiful place. In the back, I could see a cross. Those who accept Jesus would be at Heaven. Hell is terribly different from Heaven. It is a place of suffering where backsliders and those who deny Jesus who are judged, are sent. Brother Lai explained that God would clean our unclean and sinful hearts, leaving cleansed hearts in us if we confess. It is simple to confess our sins to God as He forgives us easily and readily.
Brother Lai asked for a favour from me. Could I tell Caroline Phua-Wong that he is happy in Heaven? He said that Caroline used to visit, care for and clean him for a very long time when he was sick in a nursing home.
I realized amazingly that we talked without using sign language! In Heaven, we do not need the sign language for we could all talk like normal people.. Brother Lai looked younger and very different from when he was alive.
Former Senior Pastor P. Johnny looked wonderful. He was happy and very much younger in Heaven. His face was filled with glory and shone. I was again aware that I could talk to him normally.

Mabel, Wednesday 18th June 2008
David was still in a coma. Doctors approached us about possibility of removing him from the breathing support machine. There was no improvement in his condition and he was beyond the doctors' abilities to save. It would be useless for David to have a liver transplant, as there was absolutely no hope for recovery. Doctors explained as kindly as possible the expensive cost of keeping David alive on the breathing support machine. It would be a pointless financial burden for us. About 5pm that day, doctors again suggested that the family consider removal of the life support systems from David. I stopped them. I wanted my children and relatives to have a chance to be with David while he was still alive even though he was in a coma.

David, Nil date
I met my father, sister and relatives who were Christians - they looked younger and happy too. They encouraged me to walk the straight path of Jesus, be faithful to God and not to backslide. God spoke to me. He said we look old on earth but we will look young when we are in Heaven! He even showed me how young my wife, Mabel, would look when she is in Heaven one day. I was astonished.

Mabel, Wednesday 18th June 2008
Our children, relatives, friends and pastors came to come to pray for David. The decision to remove the life support systems from David twisted like a strangling cord round my heart. I cried continuously, frightened to make the life and death decision for David. My daughter, Christine, Senior Pastor Kenny Chee and Pastor Barnabas Phua discussed funeral arrangements for David by both her church and WRPF in preparation for his passing on. Kenny, Barnabas and a few members of WRPF gathered inside David's ICU room to pray for the trust to let God to take over the situation. Tubes from David's mouth were smeared with blood - he had lost a lot of blood. It was time for me to make the final decision on the removal of all life support systems from him. My daughter, Christine, and son, Jeremy, agreed to let their father go and I consented. At around 11pm, doctors removed the oxygen mask. They expected David to pass on within 48 hours. My children and I stayed by his side praying and crying for him all night.
David, Nil date
While I was in Heaven, I could see my body in the hospital bed. My wife, son, daughter, mother, siblings and relatives, my daughter's church pastor and her church friends, WRPF church Pastors Kenny Chee, Barnabas Phua and church friends were all praying for me. Jesus told me to go back to my family and take care of my liver. He asked me to control my hot temper and anger... He said the Bible is the truth. I must read it to keep close to Him. He gave me a last reminder about the Book of Life before sending me back. I said goodbye to Him and the angel led me to a small door. I walked to open it. The next thing I knew, I had woken up. I am still alive.

Mabel, Thursday 19th June 2008
When the morning came, three doctors checked on David and found his eyes opened! His breathing was completely normal. The doctors were extremely puzzled and asked me how David woke up alive and well. This was something they never expected. Christine and I immediately told them that our God healed him. It was unbelievable to the doctors. A complete check was made on David and they pronounced him well. He was transferred to ICA for more observation. Drips and the feeding tube were again attached to him. David could recognize all of us; his family, relatives and friends. When many came and saw him, thanksgiving and praises to God overflowed. I am very grateful to God for bringing David back to us safely.

David, Thursday 19th June 2008
I am thankful to God for those 3 days of coma and the unbelievable and enriching experience of Heaven.

Mabel, Friday 20th June to Saturday 5th July 2008
Daily, David showed physical improvement. Doctors monitored his liver and high blood pressure condition. He was finally discharged on 5th July 2008, after 2½ weeks in hospital. When David shared his experience of heaven with us, we were amazed. Caroline Phua-Wong was shaken to hear Brother Lai's words for her. Her visits to him had been done in utmost secrecy and no one could have known about it. We give glory and praise to our real and Almighty God.. We would like to thank all their prayers for him and all of us... Hallelujah!
(Interviewed and written by Caroline Phua, edited by Aileen Wee)

Pastoral note: David and Mabel Chang are faithful deaf members of the Deaf Faith Fellowship, a ministry of World Revival Prayer Fellowship. Experiences like what David had are not equal in authority to the Bible, and like prophecies, are not to be despised, but to be discerned. Take what is good.

http://alpha.wrpf.sg/2009/02/visit-to-heaven-while-brain-dead/#comments

Re: Oprah's Big Lie‏

2009-04-14T23:42:00.000+08:00

PERSON A SENT:

Do you know about Oprah Winfrey's concept on Jesus and God? If you are a fan of Oprah, you are in for a disturbing shock. She claims that Jesus is'nt the only way to God, and that we are our own God. Take time to view these videos and pray for the millions who are falling into her trap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwGLNbiw1gk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDtRIj3w_EU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQFHyd7ijNI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW4LLwkgmqA&feature=related

2 Corinthians 11:3 (New International Version)
3But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

PERSON B REPLIED:
Yea, I heard about this a while ago.

But personally, I would find it disappointing if Christians continues to condemn Oprah Winfrey, who is indeed promoting New Age belief. On another hand, Christians should rejoice because Oprah is a good person, she is helping the needy. We should not condemn her, not quick to judge her even though she is non-believer. We should be like Jesus, who never condemn non-believers but don’t like the religious person, The Pharisees - who quick to condemn non-believers.

I've heard about "Pharisees-like Christians" telling non-believers and the unchurched that Oprah Winfrey shows are demonic. And they warn them to never watch them, or the non-believers and the unchurched would be demonized and burn in hell! Like this, how would non-believers convert? They would feel that Christians are quick to judge and condemn. I have a friend who refuses to come to Christ, the reason is simply because some "Pharisees-like Christians" visited his house and condemn his religious practices.

According to research in the US,
87% of the unchurched don't want to go to church because they find church people judgemental.

So, in order to make the unchurched come to church, we got to stop judging and condemning, especially non-believers.
Yes, Oprah is promoting New Age belief, but we need not necessarily broadcast our views. (:

MY VIEW:-):

Indeed God told us not to judge the people around us, but out of love for the readers (who are both christians and non-christians) and probably oprah if she ever stumble upon this email that we should highlight this matter. Oprah, being a very influential person, can cause many of her viewers to stumble upon their faith (if their christians) and cause them to believe in a false truth aka lie (for everyone).

We as Christians should always stand up for what is right and condemn for what is false right? If the creator of this chain email did not send this email, we (at least for me) would still be unaware of the happenings that is going on with the media. This email, who knows, might have caused some people to be more weary on what they see, listen, hear from the media and to think about "all things are permissible, but not all are beneficial".

I believe that the creator did not want to judge and condemn her, but just to inform the readers to be more careful about what the world offers us. But if this creator of this email actually does judge and condemn her, i believe he has reasons to and I agree with his intentions. The Bible says "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." Matt 18:5-6.

And btw, I cant really agree with the statement you made "On another hand, Christians should rejoice because Oprah is a good person, she is helping the needy." Firstly, no man on Earth is good. It says in Romans 3:9-18 that no one is righteous and in 3:23 the famous verse that all have fallen short of the glory of God. And since she is believing in the false truth, could she be giving out of her own satisfaction or our love? If the reason behind it is wrong then there is no meaning of her action. So my first point is generous =/= good. Secondly, the Bible says "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Matt 6:1. But since she doesnt believe in Christianity, then it may not be so applicable.

Yup. Just my opinion. Cheers.

FW: Judas Asparagus & fantastic views‏

2009-04-14T23:31:00.000+08:00

FIND THE PARALLELS!!!

Ha ha.. thot this was funny, hee hee......... .

I believe this about sums it up.

Judas Asparagus

If you need a laugh today, then this should do it!

A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. This is amazing and brought tears of laughter to my eyes. I wonder how often we take for granted that children understand whatwe are teaching???

Through the eyes of a child: The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but theyweren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they weredriven from the Garden of Eden .....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah,who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but oneof his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, butthey said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchangefor some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was CharltonHeston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evilPharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke,dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers w as Joshua who was the first Bible guy touse spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell overon the town. After Joshua cam e David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound verywise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One ofthese was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't haveto worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star ofThe New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born ina barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Wereyou born in a barn?' It would be nice to sa y , 'As a matter of fact, Iwas.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like thePharisees and the Democrats. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached tosome Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. Hewent up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His returnis foretold in the book of Revolution.

-------You must share this delightful story! ----

FW: Not the way you planned and PRAYED‏

2009-04-14T23:28:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

May you be blessed as you read and enjoy the revelation:

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when
the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a great
treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver
and precious gems. I could be decorated with an
intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a
mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across the
waters and sail to the corners of the world. People
will feel safe in me because of the strength of my Hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be
the tallest and straightest Tree in the forest. People
will see me on top of the hill, look up to my branches,
and think of the heavens and God and how close to
them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all
time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would
come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks
like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the
wood to a carpenter, and he began cutting it down. The
tree was happy, because he knew the carpenter would
make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like
a strong tree. I will be able to sell it to the shipyard.'
The second tree was happy because he knew he was on
his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree
was frightened because he knew that if they cut him
down his dreams would not come true. One of the men
said, 'I don't need anything special from my tree,
I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was
made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in
a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he
had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing
boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying
Kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone
in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave
birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box
that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he
could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would
have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this
event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made
from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep.
While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and
the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the
men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said
'Peace' and the storm stopped. At this time, the
tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree.
It was carried through the streets as the
people mocked the man who was carrying it.
When they came to a stop, the man was nailed
to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top
of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to
realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top
of the hill and be as close to God as was possible,
because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem
to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for
you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way
they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us.

We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways
are always best.

Please keep this moving.......
Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the way..

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God
cradle you in the palm of His hand ………. :p

FW: great story‏

2009-04-14T23:24:00.000+08:00

TO MEET SUCH A MAN
I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.
As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank
I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief.
We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drove through town and saw nothing of him I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car.
Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'
Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack.
I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.
'Looking for the pastor?' I asked.
'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.'
'Have you eaten today?'
'Oh, I ate something early this morning..'
'Would you like to have lunch with me?'
'Do you have some work I could do for you?'
'No work,' I replied. 'I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.'
'Sure,' he replied with a smile.
As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?'
' St. Louis '
'Where you from?'
'Oh, all over; mostly Florida '
'How long you been walking?'
'Fourteen years,' came the reply.
I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years.. His eyes
were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story.'
Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.
He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God.
'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.'
'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.
'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me.
But God has given me this calling I give out Bibles. That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.'
I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless . He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?'
'What? '
'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?'
'Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me.'
My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me and said, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and
inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.'
I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?' I asked.
He s aid he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said.
'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.
'Where are you headed from here?' I asked.
'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.'
'Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?'
'No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.'
He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiate
ed the sincerity of his mission.. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.
'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked. 'I like to keep messages from folks I mee t.'
I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope.'
'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you.'
'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!'
'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked..
'A long time,' he replied
And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed. He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.'
'I'll be there!' was my reply.
He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stop ped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'
'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.'
'God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.
Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.
Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'
Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office. They help me to see the worl d and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
If this story touched you, forward it to a friend!
'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'
My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you. Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed.
This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached Please do not break this pattern. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. God bless and have a nice day!
'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace, In Jesus' precious Name Amen.'
I sent this to more than four, but this story is so touching I felt each of you would enjoy it greatly.
GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The One Cut Cross

2009-03-06T23:23:00.000+08:00

The One Cut Cross

Story behind the one cut cross: (Story 1)

(See below for story#2, which is much quicker)

Once there was a Christian who lived in the woods. He loved Jesus so much he promised Him that no matter what God asked him to do he would do it, and no matter where God sent Him he would trust Him to protect him.

There was a nearby town where everyone hated God and there was not one single person who loved God. One day God asked the Christian to go to that town to tell the people about Jesus, and how He had died on the Cross for them.

Although he was afraid, he did as God asked, trusting Him to take care of him. But when he arrived in town, and began to tell others about Jesus they had him arrested and put in jail. The man wondered How God could allow this to happen, wasn’t He protecting him?

The Christian was called before the judge. The judge looked down from his seat and asked the man if he admitted he was telling others about Jesus. The Christian said he was telling others the truth about Jesus and His cross.

The Judge rubbed his chin and looked thoughtful. “There is a law in this town that anyone caught telling others about Jesus may be put to death. However, you seem to be a bright and honest young man,” the judge said. “I tell you what. Since I am the law in this town, and since you seem so convinced of this Jesus you talk about and the cross He died on, I will put you to a test. If you can take a single sheet of paper, and without making more than one straight cut on it, construct your cross, I will let you stay in our town and tell others about this cross and this Jesus who died on it. If you can’t then your God is false and I will have you immediately killed.”

The Christian was given a single sheet of paper, like this one here.

(show the kids the paper, but do not let them see the pictures on the other side, even while you are folding it…

)

The one cut Cross – Folding Monolog

God created man in His own image. The man was named Adam, and he was without sin, like this piece of paper is without a spot on it. Let’s pretend the top of this page is God’s level of perfection.

Then Adam sinned.

FIRST FOLD – Sin is like a slippery slope, like this piece of paper. We sin, and it brings Death:

(slide finger down the slope and off the end)

(James 1:14-15 KJV) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

(Rom 6:23 KJV) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

No one escapes from this trap, because ALL have sinned.

(Rom 3:23 KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

SECOND FOLD:

God’s Holiness is a mountain, a mountain we can’t climb. Remember, God’s perfection is up here…

(Psa 24:3-4 KJV) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

(Prov 20:9 KJV) Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

(Rom 3:10-11 KJV) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

THIRD FOLD:

Those of us who try to live a good life, do all that we can to please God, doing good things for others, may do well, but will never reach God’s level of perfection. Trying to live a good life in our own power is like climbing this slippery slope, only to eventually die Far short of God’s standard, which is perfection. Only the perfect and sinless will enter into heaven.

(Rev 21:27 KJV) And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

(Titus 3:5 KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

FOURTH FOLD:

Let this Number One, Remind you that there is Only ONE way to Heaven. since we could not get there through our own dead works, God came down here to the earth and became man in the form of Jesus. He came here to die for the sins of Adam, and for each of us as well (John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

. Remember, the Wages of Sin is Death…

CUT THE FOLD…
… But the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Show the pieces,…)

(Fold the cross into a heart, by folding the outside arms in, so that Jesus’ face shows in the center, while saying, )

If you have never repented of your sins, and asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, you have never experienced the Peace of God which passes all understanding. You are not experiencing God’s mercy,

but God’s patience and longsuffering. (2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus said, (Rev 3:20 KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus may be knocking at your heart’s door tonight. If you would like to let him come in, I want you to go and see your leader as soon as we are dismissed.

Alternate Story, much shorter form:

Two boys were very good friends, and shared everything together. One day one of the boys went to church, and when the preacher told him about Jesus and his death on the cross to pay for his sins, his heart was changed and he received Jesus as his savior. An angel came to him there in church and handed him a sheet of paper, saying, this is your ticket into heaven, new Christian! The boy folded it and put it in his pocket (carefully fold the ticket as shown in story 1)

When he went home, his friend wanted to know what was different about him, and he told him about Jesus and how he had changed him, and about the angel that had given him a ticket to heaven.

“Why don’t you share your ticket to heaven with me?” asked the friend.

“If you ask Jesus to forgive you of YOUR sins, and to be Lord of your life, He’ll give you your OWN ticket!”

His friend was not willing to accept Jesus, but he pressed the new Christian so much that finally he said, “okay, tell you what, I’ll cut it in half and give you half.” (cut the paper in half, make sure the Christian gets the single cross piece, and that the friend gets ALL the other pieces)

That afternoon the Christian’s mom took the boys in the car to go to the store to get ice cream. But on the way there a car swerved into their lane and killed the two boys.

When they got up to heaven’s gate, an angel stopped them and said, “Do you have your ticket?”

The Christian said, “I had it, but I gave half to my friend.”

The angel said, “Let’s see what you have.” (Unfold the cross) “The cross is your ticket into heaven. Noone may come to the Father except through the Cross of Christ. Enter in to the joy of the Lord.”

His friend came up and handed the pieces to the angel. “Here’s my ticket, let me in too!”

The angel said, “let’s see what you have.” (Unfold the pieces and lay them out carefully, they spell HELL.) “I’m sorry, your ticket is for a different gate.”

With tears in his eyes the boy was led away to spend eternity in hell.

This boy thought he had a lot of time to make his decision, but little did he know that that day was his last. Now, your life may not end tonight on the way home, but none of us are promised tomorrow. Each day in itself is a gift from God, a sign of His love.

(Fold the cross into a heart, by folding the outside arms in, so that Jesus’ face shows in the center, while saying, )

If you have never repented of your sins, and asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior, you have never experienced the Peace of God which passes all understanding. You are not experiencing God’s mercy,

but God’s patience and longsuffering. (2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus said, (Rev 3:20 KJV) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus may be knocking at your heart’s door tonight. If you would like to let him come in, I want you to go and see your leader as soon as we are dismissed.

(Pray)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/5691/make_a_paper_cross_with_only_one_cut.html

Thank You Lord by Don Moen

2009-02-02T00:04:00.000+08:00

I come before You today
And there's just one thing that I want to say
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

For all You've given to me
For all the blessings that I cannot see
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

With a greatful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstreched arm
I will bless your name

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

For all You've done in my life
You took my darkness and gave me Your light
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

You took my sin and my shame,
You took my sickness and healed all my pain
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

With a greatful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstreched arm
I will bless Your name

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

KEY CHANGE
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

reflections of '08

2009-02-01T23:41:00.000+08:00

first let me start with something that happened to me recently. on 21st jan (i rmb the date cos i have been waiting to blog on this)wed, it started with a soccer at the street soccer court near my house. my friend first awoke me by calling me to say that they were downstairs already. So after I ended that call, I just remembered what I learnt from QT the previous night from the 40 days of community and prayed asking God to open my eyes for opportunities to show love to others. So ya after the soccer then went to have lunch at SUMO then I went to Desmond's house for prayer. After that I had to rush to the AMK Hub to take a bus to school for the BB weekly meeting. Then I came across this blind guy who was using his walking stick to figure out his way. I just walked pass him and went for the interchange. When I was waiting for the bus, I kept looking around, hoping to see if he made it here. I kept deciding whether to go and find him and see if he needs help. Then the bus came. When I boarded the bus, I told myself that I didnt feel really guilty cos helping others is like additional/optional/plus point, so if i didnt do it, its not like im doing something wrong. THen I remembered the prayer I had earlier that morning. The thing is that we should look at other people through heaven's eyes, that we should see how much God loves them and the value God sees in them.

ok now to start on '08

I thank God for my O Level results. I really got what I got through God's grace. My combined humanities has always been barely passing? Sometimes out of fluke I would have A2 (highest ever..). After both parts of the paper I was even unsure that I would meet my target (B3). But through God's grace, I got A1!! Seriously it's a miracle!! And my classmate A, who was teaching me and classmate B, got B3 while classmate B and me got A1! Classmate A (kevin) really should have gotten A1 but it must not have been God's plan then. Thank God for him too that helped me to get A1!

I thank God that He was always with me when I was studying for my Os all the way. I made it a point that during the Os or during the prelims I would go for Cell Group and 915 service and do my QT. The thing that made me do it was I kept thinking that every week I only spend like 5 hours with God so I cant even compromise that.

I thank God for loving me even though I doubted Him. What I learnt in FACT Camp was that OUR GOD OUR GOD is the living GOD. Something Caleb said on the last night really touched me and impacted me was that my God listens to me. We dont need to go to a temple or pray at some allocated time to have our prayers heard. God is always besides us, within us, with us to hear every single word we say. That was the real highlight of the whole camp. Something that I took back was that OUR GOD is REAL and that He is different from other gods. I also understood what it meant that "Christianity is not a religion." To put it simply, God loves us for who we are, not because of the laws we obeyed or not. "No one is righteous." Romans 3:9

lessons from the bak kwa shop

2009-02-01T23:06:00.000+08:00

for all those who didnt know i worked in bee cheng hiang for about 10 days and earned $400 this jan cos jc only starts tmr! (2 feb 09). just some verses that came to me when i was working there.

for Quality-Check (esp for Arvindh..)
[Just some background, quality-check (aka QC) is checking all the heavily marinated patties and cut out all the burnt parts. It is the most dreaded job cos it is the most boring.]
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Col 3:23-24

when weighing or packing the bak kwa into the packeting
"You shall not steal." Exodus 20:15
(Hey its not easy leh, handling all these meat with an empty stomach...or not)

when disobeying Regina or Weewee (supervisors)
(like 15-min lunch or hearing mp3 or for not coming late for 1 hr so that I can go to church)
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.... Therefore, it is neessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." Romans 13:1-5

when doing OT or doing QC or just seeing at the huge order (like 400+ pkts..)
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Phil 2:14-15

I want to end off with this incident that didnt really impact me until I was on the bus home that day or a few days later. I was talking to this guy who just came out of army called Aloysius. He was the second batch that came in, so I was put in his "group" so to say cos got more experience so I can help him. I think it was his first day. There was this conversation that I had with him where I asked him if he was christian. Then he said no. Then just talking without thinking, I asked him how come he not christian cos his name "Aloysius" is like a christian name. Then he told me that he was actually a Catholic, but didnt like follow. WHAT IN THE WORLD?? That is a very dangerous thing to do, after it came upon me, to deny God like that.

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T02:32:00.001+08:00

Subject: Fw: WHAT GOD CAN DO!
>
>
> WHAT GOD CAN DO!
>
> A poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked
into
a
> grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble
manner
> and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries! .
> She softly explained that her husband was unable to work, they
had
> seven children and they needed food.
>
> John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that
she
leave
> his store. Visualizing the
> family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just
as
> soon as I can." John told her he
> could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at
his
> store.
>
> Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the
> conversation between the two. The
> customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good
for
> whatever she needed for her family.
>
> The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a
grocery
> list?" Louise replied, "Yes sir."
> "O.K." he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and
whatever
your
> grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."
>
> Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached
into
her
> purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it.
She
then
> laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still
bowed.
>
> The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when
the
> scales went down and! stayed down.
> The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer
and
> said begrudgingly, "I cant believe it."
> The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries
on
the
> other side of the scales. The scale did not balance. So he continued
to
put
> more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.
The
> grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of
paper
> from the sc! ales and looked at it with greater amazement.
>
> It was not a grocery list. It was a prayer which said:
> "Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your
hands".
>
> The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood
in
> stunned silence. Louise thanked him and left the store.
>
> The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said,
"It
was
> worth every penny of it."
> Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.
> POWER OF PRAYER : When you receive this, say a prayer.
>
> That’s all you have to do. Just stop, whatever you are doing...
right
> now. Then please send this to all your friends and relatives.
>
> Don’t break this, please. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we
> receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
> Remember the five simple rules to be happy:)
> 1. Free your heart from hatred.
> 2. Free your mind from worries.
> 3. Live simply.
> 4. Give more.
> 5. Expect less.
>
> No one can go back and make a brand new start.
> Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.
> God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,
sun
> without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for
the
> tears, and light for the way.
>
> Disappointments are like road bumps, they slow you down a bit
but you
> enjoy the smooth road afterwards.
>
> Don’t stay on the bumps too long. Move on!
> When you feel down because you didn’t get what you want, just sit
tight
> and be happy, because God has thought of something better to give
you.
When
> something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There’s
a
> purpose to life’s events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry
too
> hard.
> You cant make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who
can
be
> loved, the rest is up to the person to realize your worth. Its
better to
> lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love
because
> of pride. We spend too much time looking for the right person to love
or
> finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be
> perfecting the love we give.
>
> Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can
take his
> place. Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.
Pass it
on
> to your dear friends . . I just did
>

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T02:25:00.001+08:00

Ten things God won't ask:
1...God won't ask what kind of car you drove;
He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
2...God won't ask the square footage of your house,
He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,
He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.
4...God won't ask what your highest salary was,
He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5...God won't ask what your job title was,
He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
6...God won't ask how many friends you had,
He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7...God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,
He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.
8...God won't ask about the color of your skin,
He'll ask about the content of your character.
9...God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation,
He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
10...God won't ask how many people you forwarded this to,
He'll ask if you were ashamed to share His love with your friends.

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T02:15:00.000+08:00

just for laughs...

This has got to be one of the smartest
E-mails I've received in a while.
Someone out there either has too much
spare time or is deadly at Scrabble.
(wait till you see the last one)!

DORMITORY:
When you rearrange the letters:
DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:
When you rearrange the letters:
BEST IN PRAYER
ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:
When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT
THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE
GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY
ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE
ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

PRESIDENT CLINTON OF THE USA:
When you rearrange the letters
(With no letters left over and using each letter only once):
TO COPULATE HE FINDS INTERNS

Yep! Someone with waaaaaaaaaaay
too much time on their hands!
Bet your friends haven't seen this one!!!
DON'T FORGET TO SHARE THIS !

xXx

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T02:12:00.000+08:00

There are 10 questions, so you should be able to answer them all in 10 minutes.
DO NOT look at the answers found at the end of this document, that would be cheating. Write each of your answers down, it makes a difference. Good Luck.

1) Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?

2) If a doctor gives you 3 pills and tells you to take one pill every half hour, how long would it be before all the pills had been taken?

3) I went to bed at eight 8'clock in the evening and wound up my clock and set the alarm to sound at nine 9'clock in the morning, how many hours sleep would I get before being awoken by the alarm?

4) Divide 30 by half and add ten. What do you get?

5) A farmer had 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many live sheep were left?

6) If you had only one match and entered a COLD and DARK room, where there was an oil heater, an oil lamp and a candle, which would you light first?

7) A man builds a house with four sides of rectangular construction, each side having a southern exposure. A big bear comes along. What colour is the bear?

8) Take 2 apples from 3 apples. What do you have?

9) How many animals of each species did Moses take with him in the Ark?

10) If you drove a bus with 43 people on board from Chicago and stopped at Pittsburgh to pick up 7 more people and drop off 5 passengers and at Cleveland to drop off 8 passengers and pick up 4 more and eventually arrive at Philadelphia 20 hours later, What's the name of the driver?

ANSWERS
1) All of them. Every month has at least 28 days.

2) 1 hour. If you take a pill at 1 o'clock, then another at 1.30 and the last at 2 o'clock, they will be taken in 1 hour.

3) 1 hour. It is a wind up alarm clock which cannot discriminate between a.m. and p.m.

4) 70. Dividing by half is the same as multiplying by 2.

5) 9 live sheep.

6) The match.

7) White. If all walls face south, the house must be on the North Pole.

8) 2 apples.

9) None. It was Noah, not Moses.

10) YOU are the driver.

Grading Scale (out of 10)

10 Genius

9 Mensa Member

8 Engineer

7 University Student

6 High school pupil

5 Primary school pupil

4 School Teacher

3 University professor

2 FDA Investigator

1 Member of Congress

0 Common

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T00:47:00.000+08:00

just for laughs...

*What Time Is It?*

A man had been driving all night and by morning was still far from his
destination. He decided to stop at the next city he came to and park
somewhere quiet so he could get an hour or two of sleep. As luck would
have
it, the quiet place he chose happened to be on one of the city's major
jogging routes. No sooner had he settled back to snooze when there
came a
knocking on his window. He looked out and saw a jogger running in
place.

"Yes?"

"Excuse me, sir," the jogger said, "do you have the time?" The man
looked at
the car clock and answered, "8:15."
The jogger said thanks and left. The man settled back again, and was
just
dozing off when there was another knock on the window and another
jogger.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?"

"8:25!"

The jogger said thanks and left. Now the man could see other joggers
passing by and he knew it was only a matter of time before another one
disturbed him. To avoid the problem, he got out a pen and paper and
put a
sign in his window saying, "I do not know the time!" Once again he
settled
back to sleep. He was just dozing off when there was another knock on
the
window.

"Sir, sir? It's 8:45!"

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T00:42:00.000+08:00

> Daddy's empty chair
>
> A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come
> and pray with her father.
> When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his
> head propped up on two pillows.
>
> An empty chair sat beside his bed.
>
> The minister assumed that the old fellow had been
> informed of his visit.
> "I guess you were expecting me," he said.
> "No, who are you?"
> said the father.
>
> The minister told him his name
> and then remarked,
> "I saw the empty chair
> and I figured
> you knew I was going to show up,"
> "Oh yeah, the chair,"
> said the bedridden man.
> "Would you mind closing the door?"
>
> Puzzled,
> the minister shut the door.
>
> "I have never told anyone this,
> ! not even my daughter,"
> said the man.
> "But all of my life I have never known how to pray.
> At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer,
> but it went right over my head.
> I abandoned any attempt at prayer,"
> the old man continued,
> "until one day four years ago,
> my best friend said to me,
> "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter
> of having a conversation with Jesus.
> Here is what I suggest."
>
> "Sit down in a chair;
> place an empty chair in front of you,
> and in faith see Jesus on the chair.
> It's not spooky because he promised,
> 'I will be with you always'.
> "Then just speak to him in the same way
> you're doing with me right now."
>
> "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it
> a couple of hours every day.
> I'm careful though.
> If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair,
> she'd either have a nervous breakdown
> or send me off to the funny farm."
>
> The minister was deeply moved by the story
> and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.
> Then he prayed with him,
> anointed him
> with oil,
> and returned to the church.
>
> Two nights later the daughter called
> to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.
>
> "Did he die in peace?" he asked.
>
> "Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,
> he called me over to his bedside,
> told me he loved me
> and kissed me on the cheek.
> When I got back from the store an hour later,
> I found him dead.
> But there was something strange about his death.
> Apparently, just before Daddy died,
> he leaned over and rested his head
> on the chair beside the bed.
> What do you make of that?"
>
> The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,
> "I wish we could all go like that."
>
> >
> I asked God for water,
> He gave me an ocean.
>
> And when I asked God for a flower,
> He gave me a garden.
>
> I asked God for a friend,
> He gave me all of YOU...
>

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T00:39:00.000+08:00

Read on.....

>Something Rather Amazing About Our Universe:
>
>
>Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been
>called "myth" in the Bible is true?
>
>Mr Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore,
>Maryland, and a consultant in the space program, relates the following
>development: I think one of the most amazing things that God has for
us
>today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at
Green
>Belt, Maryland. They were checking the position of the sun, moon, and
>planets out in space where they would be 100 years and 1000 years from
>now. We have to know this so we won't send a satellite, up and have it
>bump into something later on its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits
>in terms of the life of the satellite, and where the planets will be
so
>the whole thing will not bog down.
>
>They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries
and
>it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which
>meant that there was something wrong either with the information fed
>into it or with the results as compared to the standards.
>
>They called in the service department to check it out, and they found
>there is a day missing in space in elapsed time. They scratched their
>heads and tore their hair. There was no answer. Finally, a Christian
>man on the team said, "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and
>they talked about the sun standing still." While they didn't believe
>him, they didn't have an answer either, so they said, "Show us". He
got
>a Bible and went back to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty
>ridiculous statement for any one with "common sense." There they found
>the Lord saying to Joshua, "Fear them not, I have delivered them into
>thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee." Joshua was
>concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy and if darkness fell
>they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun
>stand still! That's right-"The sun stood still and the moon
>stayed---and hasted not to go down about a whole day!"
>
>The astronauts and scientists said, "There is the missing day!" They
>checked the computers going back into the time it was written and
found
>it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing
>back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes-not a whole day. They
>read the Bible and there it was "about (approximately) a day". These
>little words in the Bible are important! But they were still in
>trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes you'll still be
in
>trouble 1,000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it
>can be multiplied many times over in orbits.
>
>As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in
>the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS. The scientists told
him
>he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words
>in 2 Kings: Hezekiah, on his death-bed, was visited by the prophet
>Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a
>sign as proof. Isaiah said "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10
>degrees?" Hezekiah said "It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10
>degrees, but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees.." Isaiah spoke
>to the Lord and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD! Ten
>degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty three hours and 20 minutes in
>Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the
>universe! Isn't it amazing?
>
>Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth!
>
>References: Joshua 10:8 and 12,13; 2 Kings 20:9-11
>
>Give this to everybody you know that may or may not believe in God,
the
>Bible or Christ and let the facts speak for themselves....
>
>When I read this I almost wept - possibly the beginning of a
revolution
>that the world needs. Pray that it won't stop here!
>------------------------------------------

emails i collected long time ago...

2009-01-23T00:33:00.000+08:00

3 articles ...read on!

(1) The fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness
and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What' that?" came the Pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.

In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come."

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?"

And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more. For you never know when it may be their time to "Keep your fork."

Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND even if it means sending back to the person who sent it to you.

And keep your fork.

TO HAVE A FRIEND YOU MUST BE ONE .

( 2 ) " 11 ways" .... per attached 11_ways.pps

Eleven proven ways to get along better with everyone.

( 3 ) Pretty Good Sayings .... for a laugh or reflection somewhat!

1. If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out.

2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.

3. Going to Church doesn't make you a Christian any more than
standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. It ain't the Jeans that make your bottom look fat.
5. Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

theme song..

2009-01-20T16:28:00.000+08:00

one of my all-time favourite & memorable AMK Kids Camp theme song..
perfect for a campfire song...

In this life , there are so many things
That we must learn and we must do
Livin’ the life the way that we’ve been told
Searching for something that’s not there
Many questions have no answers

When we live our lives alone
In my darkness I have realized
That he’s the way , the truth and life
For in the word that GOD has given us
We have learnt that life’s true treasure
Is found in Jesus Christ , GOD’s only Son

Chorus
We must have faith , hope and love in him
We must bring glory and honour to our father
The way we live our lives
With Jesus as our guide
We must have faith ,hope and love in him

Bridge
For GOD so loved his children
He gave his only son
If we so choose to follow him
We’ll have everlasting life

Forgiveness Memory Work

2009-01-20T16:23:00.000+08:00

Was clearing up my folder at home then I found these few interesting stuff. Take a look at the next few entries. This one is from one of the AMK Kids Camp (June) long long time ago.

I will ask forgiveness quickly
Of the people I offend.
I will not take up offenses
For the treatment of my friends.

I will be kind to those who hurt me,
And I will turn the other cheek.
I will forgive offenses quickly,
And revenge I will not seek

Commitments are important steps
To guard us from disaster
And just to show we know them well,
Let’s say them even faster.

Dare to Run

2009-01-03T01:32:00.000+08:00

Dare to Run
The assembly of the faithful surrounding yet unseen
Is gathered as a witness to the race
And on the track awaiting are runners of today
The call has come for each to take his place.

The road ahead is narrow,
The way is sometimes steep.
And only the committed claim the prize.
But standing at the finish,
With arms outstretched to greet us
Is the one who has endured the race
And paid the final price.

Dare to run, with our eyes fixed on Jesus
Following the footsteps of the One who’s gone before us
Dare to run in the power of His spirit
Called to be victors in the race already run
Dare to run

We must have our Savior’s vision
Compassion for the lost
Courage for the future
Love at any cost

Dare to run, with our eyes fixed on Jesus
Following the footsteps of the One who’s gone before us
Dare to run in the power of His spirit
Called to be victors in the race already run
Dare to run

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14

Video

back from Os..

2008-12-07T19:29:00.001+08:00

to everyone who thinks this blog is dead...in your face! haha

Sorry everyone I have been really busy even though Os are over. After my Os I had one week break (not exactly..had children's church camp and stuff) then one week to Cebu (which was fantastic!) and one week of sickness after I came back (but feeling much better now) and then Im heree! Was actually thinking that working would be good but then with so many things at hand (christmas performance, fact camp) I really dont know how. Maybe a short term next yr? Perhaps.

Before Cebu, I actally saved a draft of main ideas I wanted to share I thought might be quite interesting. But I doubt I have time for that now. I will blog about them the next entry I promise, but for now I want to handle the more grippling stuff.

Before Cebu, there was this friend (who was also going to Cebu) who told me that he still dont understand why people believe in God. I finally understood the need for what Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15 (Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,). We were walking back to the mrt so I only had time to explain why there MUST be a god (not why the god is our GOD) but even still I think I didnt do it in gentleness and respect. I totally made fun of the Big Bang and the Darwin's Theory of Evolution (which he believed in). But hopefully I think I got my message to him. He asked his brother the same question he asked me, but his brother said that its faith just believe. That is half true, but we need to reason with ourselves about our faith. That was what I exactly did after I came back from Cebu. I will explain more of that later.

Firstly, why there must be a god? Although I think there are many university students who study about this question and many physicists trying to prove this statement wrong or right, I could think of 2 reasons. 1)The creation of the world. The mountains, the trees, the sky, the stars, the million of species of animals who live underwater, land and air, for me it is impossible to believe that all this came from a big coincidence. In developed places like Singapore, we are living in concrete jungle they say, so we hardly get to experience such stuff. But because we were going Cebu (a rural place in Philippines), we would be able to admire all this stuff during mountain climbing, snorkelling, star-gazing, everything. I remembered that when I went Cebu 2 years ago with the school ncc, I was so amazed with the many many species in the ocean when I snorkelled and the 3D globe full of stars at night. It was amazing that God created them all and named them one by one. 2)The creation of the human body. I read somewhere before that to think of the fertilisation of a baby is a miracle by itself. The sperm and the egg dont JUST happen to meet and they dont JUST grow to form a baby. Imagine creating another human being out of nothing. Plus every single cell in our body is amazing. We, being the most advanced to other animals, have far more developed mind, much more complex body, and a spiritually-longing compared to any animal. Thats why I want to continue studying biology in JC. Every organ in our body, every tissue in our body, every cell in our body is amazing by itself. Our body is smart even if we dont know it. You know if you didnt drink enough water or didnt eat food or your body temperature rose, the body is able to restore that to normal? That was in the O level syallbus thats why I know. Hehe. And all of this came out from a small hollow ball of cells. What my friend brought up the Darwin's theory of evolution, but I told him then why arent the apes "evolving" to humans now? Actually I did thought of the answer after we left, its called "Natural Selection" meaning the more resistant to illness, environmental changes and more competitive survive while the others die off in the search of food and water. But imagine again although there are many similarities with us and the apes, there are so many differences too! For one, not all of us have brown hair or huge feet and swing from tree to tree? I can research more about this another time.

So from the 2 reasons, I conclude that there must be someone who is higher than human beings, the most intelligent animals on earth, the person who created us, that explains why there must be a god.

After I came back from Cebu, somehow something made me think about ok so there is a god but how do I know that that god is my God. This question was troubling me for quite some time, distracted me from worshipping on Sunday. I mean, everything we believe is from the Bible, but every religion has their book they believe in. So what my God different from the other gods and eventually make me believe in Him. While comparing my faith with other religion, I suddenly remembered about what Jit and JoP used to say that "Christianity is not a religion". Now even that statement puzzles me as well. What does that mean? Being confused I approached Wei Lie for an answer yesterday. What he thought about that statement is that other people do good things for consciousness or legalism (or karma), but why we do the good things and not the bad things is because (no doubt that we have rules to follow) but we do them out of love for God and to obey God. Ok I thought to myself that seems like a reasonable idea to accept. Then what about the original question? So I decided to call my CG leader Jit. It was not easy man, it being my first time calling him. I didnt want to drag this issue cos tonight I will be totally packed (literally packing my bag after church) and I need to get myself prepared for the camp! So I started out with the same question I asked Wei Lie. He then asked me to list down what does religion means to me. It so happens that I have wrote this down on a piece of paper when I was thinking to myself so I replied like a set of beliefs, a "holy" book, practices yup. But what he said really made me understand the statement. He said that in Christianity there is MORE to this, it is basically have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with God, everything else is secondary. Christianity is establishing a personal relationship with God, not the practices, not the Bible if I dare to say, not the set of beliefs (actually it is or else how to know who God is..anyway). After clearing my doubt about that question, I then proceeded to asking him the all-awaited question. It was quite hard as I have been a christian for many years and Im still dealing with the basic stuff. So I asked him the question. I think that stunned him for a moment but then he smoothly told me that firstly we have to understand that there can ONLY be one God. Ok that was quite easy to accept cos every religion I know on top of all the other gods only have one main god. Then he told me about the resurrection of Jesus. Why He must be the One is because He rose up from the dead 3 days later. All the prophets in other religion are real people (there is prove for that) but Jesus is the Only one who is able to rise up from the dead. This shows that our God is the living God and that He is the God of the living and the dead. It did open up my mind when I heard about that. It was really interesting to know that since Jesus is alive, the God whom I love lives. Amen.

That was really comforting to know. Seriously. I thought of researching about christianity and other religion from the Web, but I realised that the stuff on wikipedia was not what I was looking for. That's why I decided to ask Jit.

Ok I got to go now but just to leave you with one question "In times of danger do you preserve your life or at all costs preserve God's law?" I just finished reading this book I borrowed for Cebu called "Europa Europa - A Memoir of WWII" by Solomon Perel and started thinking about this question. Ok I really got to go now. Will update again soon after my church camp. BYE!!

Under Your Shelter

2008-09-23T15:49:00.000+08:00

Lord You have spoken
And I will heed Your voice
Humbly returning
Back to You my Lord
You’re calling me to Your truth

Under the shelter of Your wings
Under the shelter of Your wings
I will hide myself safe in Your arms
Your grace will be my covering
Under the shadow of Your wings
Under the shadow of Your wings
Lord I’ll live my life
To Your will I’ll align
Your grace will be my covering

-does anyone know where to find the video of this song? cant find after 30 mins lol.tks.
- (lyrics) http://www.chia90.com/wordpress/2007/10/07/under-the-shelter/
- (score) http://www.thaifaith.com/pleng/content/view/316/54/

the results doesnt matter anymore

2008-09-22T15:30:00.000+08:00

Father God,

the results doesnt matter anymore Lord
I commit my O levels unto your hands
Lord this earthly thing is just so small to you
Father God take it from me Lord
So that I may live out your will.

What matters Lord
Is that I may worship you freely
And not neglect you in this time.
That I may continue to draw close to You
As You continue to lead and guide my every move

Lord above all let Your will be done
No matter if my results are good or bad
Lord let the name of the Lord be praised forever.

Amen.

Lord Your name
Is higher than the heavens
Lord Your name
Is higher than all created things
Higher than hope
Higher than dreams
The name of the Lord
~One thing by Hillsong

how is it possible for someone to drift so far while the rest are struggling to cling onto it?

2008-09-12T13:11:00.000+08:00

pls comment yr view.

Religion: The big switch

2008-08-12T17:58:00.001+08:00

http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_265929.html

interesting article.

free music

2008-08-12T17:46:00.000+08:00

just found out these websites on the Straits Times "Lifestyle" 10/09/08. These are just five websites for free music downloads.

ubl.artistdirect.com/nad/free_mp3s
music.download.com
www.spin.com
www.rcrdlbl.com
www.xfm.co.uk

"Thou Shall Not Steal" Exodus 20:11

"Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience." Romans 13:5

tatoo

2008-08-04T17:02:00.000+08:00

permanent scaring of skin.

yes, although the Bible didnt say that you cannot have tatoo on your body, but i believe that it is not God's intention and will for us to have tatoo.

Let's start from the very beginning...the beginning of time...

When God created us He created us with the image of God. He created us to look perfect. We are already perfect in His eyes, what more do we need to touch up to make us look more perfect?

And who decides what looks cool or uncool in this world? Your friends? Pls they are a little too small to represent the global fashion world dont you think? And what are friends for? To make you do bad things?

Although it has a bad reputation in the society, and you dont care what others think, your appearance would affect others someway somehow, and it will affect your future someway somehow. For example (the classic example), at a job interview, would the person hire a nicely-dressed, muscular, decent guy or a fat slob covered with tatoo on his arms wearing crumpled clothes. You decide.

tatoo is something you put on your skin and never take it out ever again. if you think you wont regret, dont try it.

would you do something if you know you would regret later?

2008-08-04T15:56:00.000+08:00

at first when i first receieve this sms from my friend, i discussed with my friend and then thought well, it depends on whether it is the right thing or not. if right thing then do la. but when i was on my way home, i thought to myself and said no, cos if it is the right thing to do, then you shouldnt regret it right? but for this to happen, infalliable thinking must happen, and infalliable is impossible.

recently i have done something wrong, something that i wouldnt tell anyone. it seems like i have like degraded myself, put myself even lower. it seems like i am stained, marked unworthy even to talk to God. sometimes, this is the reason why some christians backslide. it is like God is the God of the universe, and I dont deserve his time. it is actually something that i thought i would never do, it is something i kept reminding myself not to do. (but dun wry police, it is not illegal by law, but illegal by conscious:))

just before i did it, i was like i know what the consquences already, but a moment of folly is all it takes. after that little moments of stasfication that i did it, the guilt clinging onto my heart outweighed it. I actually thought of this before i did it, that after that during qt i can just go and ask for God's forgiveness. But ive asked for God's forgiveness so many times that even I myself i dont know sometimes if i am putting on a mask or am i sincere.

In my opinion, I think it is very true that our outward appearance is definitely not equal to our inward thoughts. For example, the person who always act brave in front of others, but deep inside he's a coward. The person who is always shy and quiet sitting at a corner may be courageous of them all. For example, the person who is always acting so "christian-y" and so holy may have a christian walk that is weaker than a guy who is always joking around, not taking anything seriously. I am an example of that. I believe that a small thing will definitely lead to a bigger, more drastic and worse action. This thing that i did was exactly because I didnt nip it in the bud properly.

I remember there was once that jit (cg leader) who talked about that we shouldnt controll ourselves so much and "live by the spirit" and let the holy spirit to guide you. "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." (Romans 8:9) "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:12-14) Well, then let God do what he needs to do.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Phil 2:14-16. Hopefully this verse would inspire me.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Romans 1:20-21)

Oh ya i recently learnt (as in truly understand) what this verse really means "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Cor13:1-3) This verse reminds me that when Im dancing, even if I know all the technical stuff, but have no love for God, I am nothing. Another verse "Apart from God, I am nothing." (dont know why cannot find) This verse is really true. We all need God every single day of our lives, to watch over our lives, to manage our time for us, to give us wisdom adn guidance. yup.

To end off in an emo way:

I have sinned.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Cor12:10)

Oh man i better stop watching youtube. Wasted one hour just now. Lol.

a little sharing

2008-07-03T21:32:00.001+08:00

just wanted to share with you what i received in my email today. maybe after reading the story just a little time to reflect upon it k?

[a little sharing to all... :D

a young boy made a beautiful toy sailboat and took it to a lake to sail, but a gust of wind blew the boat out into the lake. the boat was lost. several weeks later, the boy saw his sailboat in the window of a toy store. when he asked for his boat, the store owner said, 'i own the sailboat now. if you want it you will have to buy it back.' the boy sold all he had to buy back his boat. after paying the store owner, the boy took his boat to his heart and said, 'little boat, you are twice mine, i made you, and now i bought you.'

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.]

our actions n words

2008-07-02T17:31:00.001+08:00

i just wanted to talk about how our actions may reflect how we behave and how we think. our words, thoughts, deeds. Everything.

Eg1: In one of my tuition class, my friend (whom i thot was a strong christian) was just telling me some joke and then ended off with the middle finger, which was part of the joke. I was kinda shocked then he told me he was joking only la he didnt meant it.

Eg2: In my school, someone i know was telling some adult a whole tall tale about how he was converted, became christian and stuff like that. Then after talking to him, he suddenly turned to me and said (quote)," I f****** fooled him!" At the moment i didnt know whether to be shocked or to laugh.

Eg3: A close group of mine, outside school, has recently been doing a sign that some may translate as "wt-fish". I have been trying to stop it cos it is kinda not right. But in that close group like everyone is doing it so ya.

I just want to end off with this.

"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:5-6

#1: Shows that a small spark alone is easily disregarded. But a small spark in a suitable environment (the world) can cause much damage.

#2: Shows that when a great forest is on fire, it is uncontrollable and is difficult to extinguish the fire. Similarly, a tongue has spoken words inappropriate, it is uncontrollable, difficult to get rid off and soon it will consume over you (v6).

#3: Shows that speaking in bad words will affect your future. (v6) It will affect how others perceive you, it will affect how you perceive yourself. It will make God unhappy.

#4: Shows that the more you speak of such evil, the less trustworthy your words become. Shows that indirectly we are cursing God. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness." James 3:9

These verses have certainly shown how powerful the tongue is. It is definitely the responibility of everyone, not only christians, but especially christians, to tame their tongue. Or else how can we praise God fully with all our heart when we have a dirty mouth?

Similarly I believe this applies to our actions as well. Everyone is watching you, even when you think nobody's watching, God's watching. Even the walls have ears. Haha.

James 3
Taming the Tongue
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

me back into dance

2008-07-02T17:20:00.001+08:00

this is actually kinda simple but amazing at the same time story

during the june holidays, i was thinking of whether to go back to dance. thinking very hard. thinking of how others might react. somehow seems like i was reading a lot of stuff that was talking about faith in God. seems like it.

on 21/6 during cell group i think jit was leading worship. then we sang this song "for there is no higher calling, no greater honor than to bow and kneel before your throne. im amazed at your glory, embraced by your mercy oh Lord i live to worship you."

so then i was thinking, if the Lord of the whole entire universe, zooms down on me, tells me to go do something, and if i dont do it, wouldn't it be what a waste? in fact i should be honored to do something for such a big Guy. plus Os is an earthly thing, heaven is definitely not. so i told God, "God, if this is your will, then tell me what to do."

so ya everything was as per normal and then on 24/6 (tue), after i came back from tuition, super tired so went to sleep. When I woke up, I checked my handphone and then I saw a missed call by Aunty Agnes (whom btw is head of the children's ministry). So I called her and then she told me that there's a dance item that we are asked to do on the overnight prayer. And only 5-6 practices. I was ok ok ok. Cos my mum and dad was overseas so I asked my aunt. She kinda gave me a reality check, which was totally necessary. So I waited for my dad to come home, the next night, then he was like no no no but he was smiling. When my mum came home last sun, I told her and she said its up to me.

So yup I am going back to this dance ministry till the performance. From there, may I have the courage to do God's will. Haha.

a follow-up to my 3rd last issue...

2008-06-21T16:25:00.000+08:00

O Lord our God,
How excellent Your name is,
How excellent Your name in all the earth,
Your glory fills the heavens,
Beyond the farthest star,
How excellent Your name in all the earth.

When I think about the heavens,
The moon and all the stars,
I wonder what You ever saw in me,
But You took me and you loved me,
And You've given me a crown,
And now I'll praise Your name eternally

for those who are interested, just a blog link that i found while searching this song:
http://crucibleoflife.blogspot.com/2005/06/gods-relentless-pursuit.html

just some things i want to share...(part 2)

2008-06-21T16:17:00.000+08:00

before that i just wanted to say that the movie chronicles of narnia is great! i feel the 2nd one is better though. in the first movie there is a lot of parallel meaning and scenes to the Bible. the second one has a little bit, somewhat here and there. just watched the first movie again just now! shiok! remind me after os to do a study on this movie, or read a book that does a study on this movie. haha.

ok i read this story from my tuition centre and i thought it would be quite interesting to hear what you guys think about it. tag.

[Translated in English] In this train station, there was 2 railways - one old and abondoned and the other at that time in use. Lets say you and your friends were playing in the 'live' railway while one lonely shy boy decided to play by himself at the abondoned railway track. Then you went to the toliet and when you came out, a train was fast approaching the group of friends and there were no possible way that you could alert them in time to avoid, assuming they were still happily playing and then they didnt know that their lives could be taken away very soon. In front of you there's this handle, dont know what you call it, but it can change the course of the train, so you can decide instead of travelling in the 'live' railway and bang your group of friends you could change it to travel in the abondoned railway and bang that lonely guy. So WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

It's kind of scary when you imagine yourself in situations like this. Both decisions seem wrong, but YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE, although the most irresponsible one is to walk away and pretend that you werent there.

I was thinking thinking thinking then one of my tuition friend said that he would change the train's course and knock down the lonely friend and save the group of friends cos this was what Jesus did. I was surprised at what he said so I curiously listened to what else he had to say. He said that Jesus, "killed" himself, (and rose up again thankfully), to save the lives of the sinners, who were in this case those who were playing the 'live' railway. I thought that was pretty true, but that guy has to be noble enough to sacrifice his life to save others and maybe enjoy the honour later. And plus Jesus VOLUNTARILY gave up His life, and thus cannot be applied in this story i find.

The other side also seem logical, since those who played in the 'live' railway were in the wrong and deserved to be punished. That guy, who clearly made the right choice, didnt deserve to die.

So what would I do? Good question. I dont know actually. Hopefully if that day ever comes I would make the right one. Haha.

NIGHTS:)

just some things i wanted to share...(part 1)

2008-06-21T00:34:00.001+08:00

just read and tag your thoughts.

from the book "addicted to God"

[The Church is not a place for you to come, sit and be entertained. You are a part of the Church. You have a job. The Church is like a lifesaving station. The following story helps me get a better perspective of what the Church of Jesus Christ is all about and what my role in the Church should be.

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little lifesaving station. The building was just a hut and there was only one boat; but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews trained. The little lifesaving station grew.

Some of the members of the lifesaving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge for those saved from the sea, so they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in the enlarged building. Now the lifesaving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they decorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely, because they used it as a sort of club. Fewer members were now interested in going to sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired lifeboat crews to do this work. The lifesaving motif still prevailed in this club's decoration, and there was a liturgical lifeboat in the room where the club initiations were held.

About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boatloads of cold, wet and half-drowned people. They were dirty and sick, and some of them had black skin and some had yellow skin. The beautiful club is now in chaos. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of a shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's lifesaving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted upon lifesaving as their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a lifesaving station. But the latter group were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the lives of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own lifesaving station down the coast. They did.

As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occured in the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another lifesaving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.]

Questions to think about:
1) What was the lifesaving station primary purpose? What was the consequence when they didnt put that top priority?
2) What is YOUR life primary purpose? What would happen if you did not put it at top priority?
3) Is this story similar to your church (hopefully not), your life, those around you?

the june issue

2008-06-12T18:10:00.000+08:00

due to popular demand, im back again. haha. kidding. just want to share with you guys some thoughts that i encountered this holiday and some passages in books and bible that hopefully would encourage both you and me to continue growing close to God.

but before that today my friend, desmond, asked me to watch this video. beware, it is a 40-min long sermon and when i first started i was like "how long is this going to take me?" but after a while i got interested about it and whoa it is a powerful message. It is how God, just by the phrase, "LET THERE BE LIGHT!!", got the SUN coming out of his mouth, lighting up the whole entire universe, which consists of galaxies after galaxies, things that we have discovered, and how big God must be to create all this. And a scientist calculated that if you take a second to count every star, you would take (if im not wrong) 256 years to count them all! and God knows them ALL by name! He continues that our God is no doubt a big GOD, but He is big enough to fit into each and everyone's hearts here, no matter how small we are in this gigantic universe. Everything that God has created was BY Him, and FOR Him, to show off His splendor and glory, screaming at their top of their lungs for us to witness and experience and join in the worship. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalm 19:1

http://268generation.com/videoplayer/player.php?videoid=Indescrwide1&quality=hi

then after that it was continued by this 8:49 minute video, which talks about the biological wonder about the whole human body. you see, in every cell, there is the nucleus. in every nucleus theres this thing called the laminin, which decides what this cell is and what function it does. it is a protein molecule which is the most fundamental of life. and when the picture of it is revealed, it is shaped like the cross. this just means one thing: that we are like the blueprints of Christ and Christ is living in us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4&feature=related

"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colassians 1:17. Literally. (Colassians 1:15-17)

ok now for the main segment.

"no matter how big you think your head is, your head cannot never reach the heavens.
no matter how small and insignificant you think you are, you cannot escape from God's love cos He's everywhere." - a great man

"Everyone baptised in the spirit has a special spiritual gift. Everyone who doesnt practises his spiritual gift is like a lamp under a basket." - a Bible School professor i believe.

This is from a book the same friend lend it to me - the power of a praying teen. It begins, "The most important thing you ever need to understand is that God CREATED you, He LOVES you, He is COMMITTED to you, and He has a GREAT PURPOSE for you life. But you have not only BELIEVE this in your head, you have to KNOW it in your heart. And it is only through a close relationship with God that you can truly know all this."

It continues, "When you walk close to God by reading His Word and spending time with Him every day in prayer, you will find out who you really are and who you were created to be. You will understand God's purpose for your life."

I like this passage cos it sums up very nicely why we should do Quiet Time. The idea is actually very logical, but maybe i just didnt think of it this way.

Another thing I learnt from the book today was (quote from the bk)"when we dont confess our sins, faults and errors, they separate us from God. And we dont get our prayers answered. The Bible says. "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)"
Imagine God putting His fingers in His ears and saying, "La la la la la la" over and over really loud when you pray. Haha. "

'When we don't confess our sins, we end up trying to hide ourselves from God, just like Adam and Eve. We feel like we cant face Him, so sometimes we stop doing QT, or going to church, or anything that would get God out of our heads. But the problem with attempting to hide from God is that it's impossible. The Bible says that God knows everything we do. Even the things we said and thought in secret. (Luke 12:2-3)'

In the end we all have to give an account for the things we did. So we must confess and repent of them. Confess is acknowledging them as sins and am sorry of doing them. But repent is the decision to try your best to stop doing them.

King David summed it up very nicely, "There is no soundness in my flesh because of Youe anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." (Psalm 38:3-4)

another thing i was thinking about today. you know when there's darkness, people want to hide the darkness. So they discovered fire, which provided for them light for the night. But the people want the light but they dont want the smoke. So men discovered electricity, so that men can enjoy the light from their light bulbs but without the smoke. But they didn't see by that they did not discover a way to stop the smoke from forming, but they just transported it away. It's like you are burning a piece of wood here but the smoke is coming from 10 miles away from you to choke someone else, not you. This got me thinking for a while. I came up with a few things:
1) for something good to happen, a sacrifice has to be made.
2) people are selfish by nature, thinking of the comfort and luxury of themselves.
3) the world is unfair - person A does this but person B gets the repercussions

k thats all. nights:)

the world around me...my spiritual life

2008-05-11T15:58:00.000+08:00

before that, i need to ask a question: does God condone WHITE LIES? I was discussing this with my friends, and i came up with these 2 examples in Exodus 1:19-21; "The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive." So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own." (In context exodus 1) and the verse in Joshua 2:4; "But the woman (Rahab) had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from."" (In context joshua 2) and I was asking my friend from these 2 examples, does God condone white lies? what do you think? if so how are white lies defined?

ok now about my spiritual life. during the exams my spiritual life has been a wreck. i only believe that the existence of the spiritual life is only by the existence of a relationship with God with only happens through intimate time with Him and which is only through QUIET TIME. make sense right? if not, even if u are doing things which are right, you are only merely a good boy thats it. i must find a way to balance and regularly have my quiet time and put my spiritual life back on track. only then will i be able to continually increase my faith and trust in Him as the Bible says "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." in romans 10:17. We need Christ's guidance, protection, providence every single day of our lives.

you might say that I am trying to be a role model for those around me in school, a Christian one. But during exams and before the exams I find myself leading 2 separate lives. In school, I'll act holy and boasted on my minute knowledge of the Bible but at home, I just study and neglect God all the way. Then one night I was doing quiet time and it spoke to me cos it was talking about God waiting for the whole day just wanting to speak to us and how many times we have let him down(Daily bread - May 1). There was another day which spoke to me too which was on 1 peter 3:8-12 which is a passage i'll try to read every night before my quiet time as a warm-up. I was feeling very moody that time and it was about how we should be a positive impact to everyone we meet and a heart touched by grace brings happiness to the face. So now Im trying to lead a proper-decent Christian lifestyle or aka an intensive makeover for my spiritual life. Just that there's no end to this intensive makeover.

We are as Christians should work in-work out our Christian faith as the word says "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." in Philippians 2:12-13.

There is also another question in the Bible that is erm...conflicting? In Matthew 5:16 it says "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." and Matthew 6:1 it says: "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Despite the difference in these 2 verses, I gathered that whenever we do good deeds in front of men, and we have received our full reward in trying to have a positive influence on them. So it's like sacrifice. Yup.

Thats all.

the world around me...my family

2008-05-10T22:51:00.000+08:00

i have always been very grateful to have a family like mine. i dont think i can ever become a great father like my dad. i mean, my dad always have to check my mood swings when he tries to have a conversation with me, he always have to check what i want to do before what he wants to do and stuff. kinda thankful that i really have a great family. great mum, great dad, great bro, great aunt, and lastly, great ME! kidding...i would love to talk more about my family but i got a message to share in this entry...

i know when we were born we didnt get to choose our family and sometimes i know that some guys would feel that their family are against him or something like that, but i just want to tell u that your family loves you and you ought to love them back! whenever you find them irritating, keep asking you the same questions over and over again, or keep saying no to what you want to do, remember that they are just concerned about you and they have your best interests in mind. THEY LOVE YOU! there were times that i will give a very disssatisfied reply or a irritated reply, but after i remember that they are ADULTS and they ought to be treated like one and not see my mood swings and that all they are doing are cos they love me then I'll give them a better reply. They have their busy lives to lead too, but they specially take their time and effort to try to talk to you, but if you just dont them, like will you know how irritated or how hurt they may feel?

When you are happy, they are happy. When you are sad, they are sad. They are with you all the way.

Never Never Never take them for granted.

I LOVE YOU~

the world around us...starting with the closest

2008-05-10T21:59:00.000+08:00

k why not we start with our furthest...cos the closest will be a little personal...

you know, us christians, we consider this satanic, this not too good for us, this witchcraft, examples of this would be like the Golden Compass, Harry Potter, Pokemon and others. but today i want to bring forth this idea, that if we avoid this, and do other wrongful stuff, have other sick "fetishes" or aka idols, would it be just as bad or worse? it will do us no good if we avoid what the priest, the "big" people in the christian church, tells us what is anti-christian, and we continue with our sinful ways. im not saying that we should dont care and watch these stuff and i agree too that these stuff MAY be bad for us depending on the person but we should always keep our behaviour and spiritual life in check. what do i consider idol or sick "fetishes"? things that remain in your head for a long time even if you try to get it off your mind. "For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world." I John 2:16

another issue linked to this is that is there a need for us to avoid these? there was one cell group meeting that we were discussing this verse in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." and i was asking them is there a need to avoid them and be in the world but not OF the world? The thing that they emphasised was it varies for different people on their ability to "clear" their mind and the "lasting" effect it may have on different people. JUST for example, harry potter, if a 5-yr boy watches it he may really think that there is such thing, but in comparison a 30-plus yr guy would just dismiss it as rubbish. In that verse earlier it says to think about such things and NOT TO AVOID such things. Another verse was in romans 12:2 "Do not conform any longer 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." and that we should be "in the world and not OF the world" just shows that we have to be IN the world so that we can talk to others about christ isnt it? BUT first you must know your limits.

but we are cannot escape from the world and reality, the sinful and wrong stuff. It is "part of our human's nature" as many would say. I think that's why many people like to watch wrestling. We like to see people getting beaten up, we like to see them getting tortured, we like to see them suffering in pain. Then you'll feel very relieved of your stress and SHIOK! Once i understand this fact, i immediately gave up wrestling, cos not only this but i know it has a lingering effect on me. I have to confess something that happened to me in p2. My classmate of mine that time, had this super cool-bad boy attitude and that handsome face and i was like why cant i be him. Anyway it didnt get any further then that, but my point is that we are very easily influenced by the world around us. People blame the pop culture, people blame the globalisation, but i blame us humans. I mean it is all our doing isnt it?

ok i think this is getting too long...time to start next post...

-Faith-

2008-05-10T20:56:00.001+08:00

hi everyone im back!

today this will be a long long entry...with many thought-provoking thoughts that i came to me during my exam period...

firstly, credit to desmond, i finally got an answer to my question "does God forget our sins?" the answer is very clearly stated in the Bible in Hebrews 8:12: "For I will forgive their wickedness and will REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." ya thanks desmond!

secondly, there was once i was "discussing" with my school friend whether only those who are baptised goes to heaven and if not what's the purpose? I was insisting on this verse in romans 10:9: "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." and that baptism is MERELY a physical act. Then i tried looking up in church membership books and stuff and couldnt find anything. a few months later, just recently, i chanced upon this verse in 1 Peter 3:21-22: "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - NOT THE REMOVAL OF DIRT FROM THE BODY but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him." well there you go!

im going to split this entry to many entries for better understanding of every issue...ya...now im going to talk about FAITH. this was given by my church friend, desmond, again who took down notes about the sharing my cell leader did. yup so here it is...

cell word series - faith

what is faith?
-hebrews 11:1; "Faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

1) Faith assures us that we have the things we hope for
-if we hope for something, we can only "long for it", but faith assures us that we can have it!
-e.g. we all long for good results, but faith assures us that we can obtain good results. this will affect our attitudes and actions.
-e.g. we all hope to be saved and delivered from sin and death, but faith assures us that God has already saved us.

2) Faith helps us to see what our "natural eyes" cannot see
-faith can help us believe what our natural reason/logic cannot explain
-e.g. in hebrews 11:3 "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." by faith we know that God created the world. Were we there and did we see creation? No! But by faith!
-*sidenote: maybe another example for help those non-believers...when u take the lift, do you actually go and check the "expiry" date of the lift and check if the next check-up is overdue? no you just press the button, enter the lift and close the door. in other words, you have faith that the lift wouldnt snap and fall!
-biblical characters of faith: Noah, Abraham, the whole long list in Heb 11:7-17

having faith for our salvation
ephesians 2:8; "by grace we have been saved through faith..."
-by faith we know that we are saved, and not just hoping to be saved
-by faith, despite all that we are now, we know that we belong to God

closing
romans 10:17; "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God"
-if we dont know what God's Word says, how to have faith?
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"" Romans 10: 14-15

cell word series-faith (part 2)

-people who have faith have conviction in what they are doing, even though they may not see the results yet

examples of people who had faith
1) Noah (Heb 11:7)
-God instructed Noah to build an ark BEFORE it began to rain
-he built the ark for 100 YEARS! (but in that time, a hundred years is nothing much...)
-faith working: Noah obeyed and built the ark even when he could not see rain

2) Abraham (Heb 11:8-12, 17-19)
-Genesis 12: God called Abram (his former name) out of his country and promised to make him a great nation
-Faith working: Abramham obeyed and went without knowing where
-*sidenote: God has a plan for everyone, including Abraham, but we do not take the first step of faith, then you will not be able to reach greater heights in your spiritual life.
-God promised Abraham that his descendants will be countless, but he and Sarah were old folks already!
-Faith working: Abraham obeyed and got ready to sacrifice his one-and-only, long-awaited son, Isaac on the altar.

3) Moses (Heb 11:23-28)
-God called Moses out of Egypt to lead the israelites
-Faith working: Moses obeyed and left Egypt

Closing
-Caution: It is possible to have pure faith, but for the wrong thing!
-That is why faith and God's Word must go hand in hand
-Our God is a fair God, God only helps those who helps themselves.
-How do we apply faith for our salvation?
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2
-1 Timothy 6:12 - "Fight the good fight of faith..."

check out for my next post!

taking up the cross

2008-04-05T15:09:00.000+08:00

This is the sharing i planned but never got around to share it. I actually scribbled this entire sermon on a thu night (3/4) when my eyes were about to close. I think it didnt occur to me how was I going to share this whole entire 1hr sermon in 15 mins. Haha...

Title : Taking UP the Cross [Matt 16:24-26]

"(v24)Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(v25)For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.(v26)What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt 16:24-26

In this scripture Jesus mentions that those who want to follow him must make the ultimate sacrifice - which is to deny himself and follow God through the joy and the suffering. Look at v25 "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Do you think God means it literally? If the cruise you are in sunk, are you willing give the lifejacket to someone who is a non-christian and put your life at risk but save that someone's life instead? Think about it. This also refers to us to die to our selfishness and self-centered, which God detests.

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matt 16:27

The next verse gives us something to look forward to and reminds us that God is always fair. He will reward every individual according and make no mistakes about that. His reward would be an entry ticket to the glorious heaven to spend your eternal life there worshipping God.

But before all this, read the following story.

"Peter's Confession of Christ

(v13)When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

(v14)They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

(v15)"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

(v16)Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

(v17)Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (v18)And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (v19)Ill give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (v20)Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Before becoming a disciple of Christ, we must first confess and believe in our heart that Jesus is God. Jesus brought his disciples away from the city, which was greatly influenced and supportive that Jesus is blaspheming against God. Jesus did this to see who are his true disciples. Peter said what he said because he knew and believed right from the start that Jesus is God and that he was filled with the Holy Spirit thats why God revealed it to him (v17). What did Peter meant when he said that? He meant that Jesus is the almighty one that we all worship and adore and that Jesus is the son of God.

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God." Romans 6:8-10

Because Jesus when He died on the cross, conquered sin, which once separated us humans from God, is now dead and because of that now Jesus and us lives!

"14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation." Galatians 6:14-15

In conclusion, this verse reminds us that we should never boast of anything God has given us, but instead be humble and serve others, always placing other people's needs above ours (Phil 2:3). Salvation is a gift from God, not by works of men, thus we have no reason to boast about it cos if salvation could be achieved, why did Jesus had to die on the cross for us? (Heb 9:28)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Phil 2:3

"so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28

Questions in the book to ponder

1) In what ways have we been united with Christ?
-children of God
-cleansing by His blood
-Jesus in our hearts

2) Who are we to live for?
-God
-Jesus
-not us, our selfish desires & self-centeredness

God bless,
Aaron

my worst april fools day.

2008-04-02T00:48:00.000+08:00

let me tell you a story, titled : My Worst April Fools Day.

Today during morning assembly, got caught by my discipline master for talking to my friend. So he sent a prefect to call us both down to stand in front of the WHOLE ENTIRE SCHOOL. Ya so malu. Anyway during that time I just froze and couldnt move at all. Plus my physics teacher came and passed me some wkshts to pass to my classmates. Come on... Later at last just pick up litter and then that's it.

Today at recess, the discipline master, (yes for those wondering, the same discipline master), caught me eating sandwiches outside my classroom and said that all food should be consumed in the canteen. I didnt even see him coming... I still rmb when I was sec 1 during recess, I would go to the toliet and stuff the whole 2 peanut-butter sandwiches into my mouth so no teacher would see. Now I have just created my "sandwich gang" and I dont know what to do now.

Yup so my conclusion for this very short entry is that even though all these happen to me, I did not complain to God and I did not shoot any foal words, which is good. Because I know from past experiences, that God always does this sort of close-enough things to me to make me humble and not be complacent and I need them as a constant reminder for me. I do not and not going to hate him. All I hope is that he doesnt have a "bad impression" ,as one of my classmate said, of me. These both incidents are a first to me and will definitely jeopardise and affect the way people look at me. But I have no one to blame except myself.

"because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son....For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12:6, 7b

Yup, thats all folks.

PS thanks Desmond for the 2 verses you entered into the tagboard.
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" Psalms 133:1
"I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." John 17:23

team-work.

2008-03-31T22:24:00.000+08:00

I think im addicted to blogging. haha.

Today after school i had this inter-class tug-of-war competition. Still thinking why my classmate chose me to play. I so weak. Haha. We lost all the way except for 1 sec 5 class. Just for fun. Anyway I just want to share a few verses on teamwork and morale (cos only we decided later to shout pull when the match started).

"The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them...."Genesis 11:6

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt 18:20

That's all i can think for now. Maybe anyone would want to suggest any verses about good morale?

God bless,
Aaron

[[[Context Genesis 11:1-8
The Tower of Babel

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, hey found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.]]]

leftovers.

2008-03-30T13:49:00.000+08:00

Firstly i would like to ask for your opinion if you think jokingly lying is considered lying? Cos during cell group yesterday i was jokingly said that someone paid double for the last bang cards in the whole entire world! (well probably...) ya and when i reached back to church, they were like asked me to confess my sins and if my conscience were bothering me. I know that they were joking and I am not offended but it set me thinking if it is considered lying if you are joking. If you ask me, after thinking for a while, I think it is not considered lying cos the bible said in exodus 20:16 that "do not tell lies about others"(CEV) or "you shall not give false tesimony against your neighbour"(NIV). But i thought i remembered that we learn in sunday school its just "thou shall not lie". That means my "may I borrow $2?" trick for BB week is not "lying" in biblical terms isit?

K now I want to talk about what I heard about yesterday during cell group.
Title: Giving to God

Very simple and common title, but do not be fooled.

The Widow's Offering
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[j]worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."
[Mark 12:41-43]

Jesus annointed by a sinful woman
"Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
[Luke 7:36-48]

THINGS WE CAN SEE:
(1) It doesn't matter how much you give to God. God said that the poor widow's 2 copper coins is worth more than the rich men's large amounts of money. God also rebuked those who said against the woman who broke the alabaster jar of perfume. It doesnt matter what the cost is, it is WHAT IT COST THE GIVER that matters. The poor widow gave everything, all that she had (100%) and the woman who led a sinful life, walked into a parisee's (aka law-abiders) house and broke a very expensive jar of perfume on Jesus' head. Imagine the courage it took her to do that. Maybe she felt guilty and worth lower than the parisees thats why the weeping and her actions. God supported her because she DENIED herself and knelt down and kissed Jesus feet and wept and used her hair to clean the tears off the floor.

(2)GOD DESERVES YOUR EVERYTHING, not just your leftovers. When you give your leftovers it mean nothing to you right? After all it is your leftovers.

"But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."" [2 Samuel 24:24]

This does not only applies to your offering and money but also to everything else like your quiet time, the time spent in your ministry. We should not give God according to our selfish ambitions.

This sermon/last night's worship hit me on 4 areas:
(1) After singing the song Jit's friend composed, I realised that the way to me having a closer relationship with God is MORE OF HIM AND LESS OF ME. That statement just says it all.

(2) My quiet time with God and my weekly prayer have been suffering because I always study study first then whatever LEFTOVER TIME i have then i do my quiet time. Usually by then I would be too tired or too lazy.

(3) Every month I always decided to give 10% of my allowance, but I would tell myself to only give it on the last week so if I need the money then I can use. Meaning I will use my LEFTOVER MONEY for the offering. And by then either no money or forget. That's why I soooo long never give offerings. This week I didnt give because I want to receive my next month's allowance then decide how much I should give.

(4) Easter sunday performance is over (which was very well-done btw). My mum and aunt asked me to stop the ministry till after O-levels. After listening to this sermon, I started to think. If I give God something that it is not going to cost me anything, what good would it make? We will be meeting up this tue night for evaluation. Please pray for me.

So yup, hope you were blessed by my post.

God bless,
Aaron

trust in the midst of troubles and worries

2008-03-28T20:46:00.000+08:00

hi i know its a little unusual for me to update so soon but listen here.

I dunno if i should call it a prophesy but i have this recurring picture in my head that Singapore is going to fall soon. This may be a little sensitive to all those govt people or even the police. But its not like im involved in this operation or whatever. But i can just imagine that the HDBs that house 90% of us will collapse one day, just like putting faith on the wrong things instead of God.

Last thursday, Mr Koh showed us a video of 911 and the other terroists attacks. After I saw that video it just so affected me that i feel for all those innocent people. Just imagine that one day you just happily go to work, say good-bye to your family, and the next thing you know it will be your last time. I find the activities of the terrorists to be so terrible. Please. Stop. It.

Recently I have like had quite an experience with 2 people. The first one hate the other guy, then I dont know why I was so kpo, but in the end, instead of turning him 180 degrees, I ended up offending him. The second one is one that I recently felt guilty for the way I treated him. It was like, I made friend with him, then I tao him. How would you feel? It only occured to me when another friend said something to him, hit a raw nerve in him, and made him feel very sad for the rest of the day. It is like the whole is revolving around me. I cannot take these changes like someone having negative feelings towards me, and another one Im trying to accept him as a friend. I cannot take all these changes! But I know I can continue to trust in God, and when you trust in God, you are never disappointed.

The recent escape of Mas Selamat is also another issue here. It could mean the upcoming potential of the terrorists or the complency Singaporeans have. I really hope the police find him. With him lurking out there, something is just not right anymore. Imagine Mas Selamat connecting himself with Singaporeans here, just think how great the damage would be.

You know about the persecution of christians I have preached about. If the time ever comes, I dont know if I can ever do it. Im serious. My knees would probably be shaking, and i'll close my eyes and say yes. I think there is a message behind all these that we should only trust in God, for He is the only one who sees all, knows all and wants the best for all.

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10

"It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2

Good Friday/Easter Sunday

2008-03-23T15:17:00.001+08:00

wanted to post this on good friday. but it must have slipped off my mind or i must have been busy.

sermon on good friday.

Title: Are you the Son of God? by Rev Alvin Chan (for those who know him)
Luke 22:66-71

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
(v66)At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. (v67)"If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us."

Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, (v68)and if I asked you, you would not answer. (v69)But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

(v70)They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"

He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

(v71)Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We hacve heard it from his own lips."

2 things to look out for:
1) did Jesus really say it?
2) why did Jesus say what he said?

1) Yes he did.
The soldiers asked him twice (v67, 70) and Jesus asked them in 2 different ways (v69, 70b).

2) why?
[why did Jesus say v67 - 68? cf to matt 21:23-27. If they believed that Jesus was the son of God, they wouldnt crusify him but instead worship him for they were so many prophecies abt 300< years before this and so much anticipation happening and about accuse him of blasphemy.]

this is a question that all christians should be able to answer. All christians must fully understand and mean it in his heart as this is the fundamental to our christian faith.

Mark 14:55 "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidenc against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they could not find any."

Jesus knew that if he says he is the son of God, he will be put to death. He could just said no and get off scot-free. But why did he say that?

This is because God loved us so much, that he gave his one and only son to die for us
so that we do not have to die (eternal death in hell)for our sins.

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26

"...,faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

So since God gave his all, how can we make a lesser sacrifice than to give Jesus our all? Our Lord's command is to "take up our cross daily" and learn what it means to follow in His footsteps. (Luke 9:23)

There was this story told that in Malaysia, the officers found a whole group of abt 50 christians worshipping God in a room. They all led into a room with no windows, nothing. After some time, the officer-in-change came into the room with a wooden cross in his hand, put the cross on the floor and said,"Im giving all of you this chance to get out scot-free. Just trample on this cross, and you are a free man."

So the 1st stood up, trampled, and went. So did the 2nd. The 3rd stood up, walked up to the cross, held the cross in her hands and said "How can i stoop so low and trample all upon the cross?" and she walked into the execution room. All the other 47 did the same and they all perished that day.

Another story was told in China, last time, a soldier handed a civillian a sword and asked "Are you a christian?" and he said yes. If a general was walking pass, he would have ordered that man to be killed. But the soldier asked him, "Why can you say that with so much conviction to the extent of losing your life?" He replied,"I have read about what Peter went through when he denied Jesus, and I dont want that to happen to me." The pastor didnt continue the story, but I think he got scot-free.

I think you get the point.

Persecuted for Christ

2008-02-03T11:49:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I woke up, walked to my table clock, saw that it was 6.30am, then went back to bed. I later woke up at 8.30am. During 6.30 to 8.30am, I had a dream. A very scary dream.

I dreamt that I was with one of my school teachers. We were running, in what seemed like an abandoned school. We went then pushed onto the floor by someone. Then we were like frantic trembling, then another person walked to us, holding a gun. Then that guy asked us a question (cant remember), then that teacher said yes, and he shot. The surprising thing is that I did not like cry or cared abt that teacher. I immediately just looked at the guy holding a gun, and raised my both hands. He asked me the same question, my heart wanted to say yes, but my body wants to say no. So I said yes, and I was shot, just below my heart near the stomach, but I didnt die. Then I woke up. Scary isnt it?

Yesterday I went to school, then I went to church for dance meeting. It was a long journey in the bus, so I took out my Bible to read. Then I had to change bus. I continued reading the Bible. Waiting so long for the bus to come. Then this verse struck me.
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, BUT HE WHO STANDS FIRM TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and the end will come. " Matthew 24: 9-14

I can never imagine if that were to happen in Singapore. Will the people around me hold on to their faith? Will I hold on to my faith? I pray to God that on that day, if someone is to ask me point-black if I believed in God, I would say yes.

So christians all around the world, ARE YOU READY FOR THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS???

CHRISTIANS UNITE!!!

2008-01-27T17:23:00.001+08:00

u know, if i were to use a picture to describe christians, i cant picture in my head christians holding each other's hand, then circling the earth, with God in the middle. something like this:

this is because in my sch in my church i have seen many christians either backslided or they as if deny tt they are christians. i believe how to prove and tell the world tt u r a true christian is to preach the good news, be a shining example for christ. when i say be a shining example for christ i dont mean be a good guai guai boy, cos if your friends your family whoever who knows u will just see a guai guai boy then full's stop. thats all. no more. to be a shining example for christ is to " 12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out[c] the word of life—in order that I (Paul) may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. " Philippians 2:12-16 "19Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."" 2 Timothy 2:19

so CHRISTIANS UNITE!!! STAND UP AND TELL THE GOOD NEWS OF FIRE!!! "26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:26 "26If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26 "8But 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." Acts 1:8 "40For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:40

but in the midst of the storm, through the wind and the rain, God is still faithful, Gos is still faithful. when the sun refuse to shine, and time is no more, God is still faithful, God is still faithful.

no matter how troubled you feel your life is, God says, "6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." God will never ever leave us alone to suffer by ourselves, although God do not promise a life free of troubles, He promises us to give us the strength to go through it. no matter how horrible you feel your life is, God says, "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." Jeremiah 29:11. His all-perfect plan is out there for you to claim it. no matter how anxious or nervous u feel about something, God says, "33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." "27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?" Matthew 6:33-34;27

hope you would meditate and pray about it

God bless,
Aaron

2008-01-21T19:19:00.000+08:00

does God forgets our sins?

dont wait! start now!

2008-01-15T00:56:00.000+08:00

hi everyone

there was something i think the Lord was speaking to me on the most recent Chaplin's Hour that i would like to share. but first let me give some intro first. Chaplin's hour is a time every term when every christian (optional) meet up and worship the Lord and hear God's word through the Chaplin. Ok let me start...

You know for the song "Now that you're near" by hillsongs i think, singing that song would most suit the auidence/worshippers clapping. so i felt very awkard that there was no clapping. then i looked around and i saw this lower sec boy wanting to clap, but think too afraid, so clap as silently as possible. so i just took the lead and start clapping (louder)and everyone followed. [k those who went may argued tt someone at the other end start the clapping...IT DOESNT MATTER...]yup so this incident kept me thinking. and thinking. and thinking. and i thought of 3 points i would like to share with you:
1) clapping = evanglism. Speading the gospel to the non-believers is our purpose of our lives on earth, our responsibility.. We would be rather out of place, and awkard if we dont fufill our purpose, even worse we could feel worthless and useless.
2) Spreading the gospel is like a virus (good one, that is). It would catch on anyone. You would feel like you are on fire and just want to share your ever-burning passion for God to other non-believers.
3)*** the point i want to emphasise most*** when no one clapped, when no one took the lead to start clapping, the people in the hall must be thinking, why not let someone else start the clapping? i'll wait for someone to start clapping. even worse, why not let the other person do the clapping for me? this applies in standing up for God and evanglism too. why not let this someone preach the gospel to the non-christians on behalf of the christians, so that you wouldnt feel so burdened and irresponsible. or in the case of standing up for God, why not let the goody goody boy over there stand up for God first? then if he does I will follow him. CHRISTIANS!!! WE ARE ASKED TO BE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD, NOT THE FOLLOWER!!! we are asked to be the leader, to lead a non-believer to christ, and not follow someone or wait for someone to take the lead. IT WILL NEVER COME!
4) just 1 verse im sure everyone is familiar with and can very well summarise my point here. "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26

God bless.