Potter & Clay @ The-Vine Fellowship

Pray Continually

2009-06-21T01:16:00.002+08:00

Pray Continually

Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The trueness of God in all

2009-05-23T03:48:00.006+08:00

Many of us at times, we tend not to realise that in our luxury which is God-given, we elevate the luxury to a level higher than God. Ever thought that if you received a gift which is the latest model of a handphone and say "wow! this mobile phone is great!" and then forget about the one that gave it to you? Ever wonder what is the real Gospel of Jesus? Ever wanted to find out if you are finding the gifts greater than the giver? Well, let us have a look at this video by John Piper that speaks of the Health and Weath "Gospel" and think of it, wheather we say "God is enough" or "a replacement is enough" when you lost an item.

God nevers promise a smooth and first-class flight, but God promises a safe landing. God never said that it was going to be easy carrying the cross, but He gurantees a crown of righteousness in the end. God never did say "Son, the route to heaven is wide and can fit your BMWs, your houses and your properties", but God did say "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven". Do you who still delight in the world's riches, delight in them more than God now?

2009-04-03T16:31:00.003+08:00

Hello dear siblings-in-Christ,
It’s nearing the end of the week again! How was your week? (think about your week, and answer the question!)

I can almost hear the words: “busy”, “tiring” and the list goes on.......
As the week comes to a close, lets detach ourselves from the ‘demands’ and ‘busyness’ of our lives, and take a little time to be still before and be with the Lord, for He grants strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak, and very importantly, He desires us to know Him :)

Be still and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10 says: “Be still and know that I am God”. Here, the word still comes from a Hebrew word meaning to “let go” or “release.” The meaning would be best understood to say “cause yourself to become restrained or to let go.” In other words, we need to come to a place where we are willing to submit ourselves to God and acknowledging that He is in sovereign control.When we realize that we are truly incapable of controlling life, we can surrender our will to God’s will. It may be a matter of finally saying we trust Him. This will open the door so that we may experience the fullness of all God wants and has for us. After all, He is our Creator and has a perfect plan for us when we let Him orchestrate it.

Be still and know that I am God – How can we know it’s God?
“…and know that I am God” denotes recognition, acknowledgement, and answering God. First, we must know that God is God, the one and only Supreme Being who created all the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1) We can know Him by having an intimate relationship with Him. That does not come from knowing about Him, but rather getting to personally know Him by what He says (in His Holy Word, the Bible), recognizing the things He does in our lives, and by way of His Holy Spirit who comes to guide and comfort us. In John 14:26, Jesus says “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (KJV).When we read the Bible, we will learn to recognize the way God talks to us, the kinds of things He says, and the merciful love He offers.

God is:
Omniscient – all knowing
Omnipresent – universal presence at the same time
Omnipotent – all powerful
Holy, Faithful, and Sovereign
Infinite – without measure, forever

Be still and know that I am God – What is the next part of the verse?
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be honored by every nation, I will be honored throughout the world!” The KJV uses the word ‘exalted’ meaning lifted up. Honored means highly valued or glorified. We are being told in this verse that the entire world will someday lift up and glorify the Lord. Romans 14:11 says, “As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’” And regarding Christ’s promised return, Revelation 19:16 says: “On His robe and thigh was written this title: KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.”

***

May you desire to seek the Lord with a quieted heart, and recognise that God is indeed above all. Take some time to say a prayer to thank God for the week that has past and to commit into His hands what you will be 'busy' with up ahead.

In His love <3,
Wei Heen on behalf of P&QT Comm 2009

Christian Prayer: A Scriptural Model

2009-03-20T21:14:00.009+08:00

Christian Prayer: A Scriptural Model

A model for Christian prayer is found in the Gospel of Matthew.
Jesus Christ himself gave all of us a pattern for prayer:

"After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.

Amen"

(Matthew 6:9-13 KJV).

所以，你们祷告要这样说：
我们在天上的父：愿人都尊你的名为圣。
愿你的国降临；
愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。
我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。
免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。
不叫我们遇见试探；救我们脱离凶恶（或作：脱离恶者）。
因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是你的，直到永远。阿们。
(马太福音6:9-13)

Christian Prayer: An Interpretation For All Of Us
The model for Christian prayer in Matthew 6 is known as the Lord's Prayer.
Many of us have recited this prayer for years, but have never truly meditated on its meaning.

The following are spiritual snippets based on the Lord's Prayer that can help deepen your prayer life with God:

"Our Father" -
God wants us to approach Him as "Daddy" (Aramaic: Abba). He wants to take care of us and protect us. God desires intimacy. Remember, He has infinite love and grace. God wants us to be secure in His family as adopted children and heirs.

"Which Art in Heaven" -
Look up to God. Fear Him and revere Him. He is all-powerful and can deal with all our problems, even the big ones. But He loves us so much that He doesn't stay up there.

"Hallowed be Thy Name" -
Holy, holy, holy. Approach God with awe and wonder. Save the word "awesome" for God. Live a life that honors Him.

"Thy Kingdom Come" -
"Take this job and love it!" Working on behalf of God's kingdom is the ultimate joy. Bloom where you're planted. Do everything as unto the Lord. Find your gifts and use them. Be open to God's leading each day.

"Thy Will Be Done" -
God is the potter; we are the clay. God keeps us spinning on His potter's wheel, shaping and reshaping us as He bathes our lives in tears to make us more Christ-like so He can use us for His will. Surrender daily. Keep your clay moist through daily prayer.

"On Earth as it is in Heaven" -
Thy will be done - not my will be done!

"Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" -
Trust! God will provide for our needs. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me.

"Forgive Us Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors" -
Forgiveness = Surrender. Don't carry your own backpack - surrender it to Him. Revealing the feeling is the beginning of healing. Act as if you have forgiven and the feeling will follow. In our weakness, God sends His strength and peace.

"Lead Us Not Into Temptation" -
Watch for unrecognized temptation. Pray, so you won't fall. We are tempted every day. It deepens our walk and strengthens our faith - but be careful of spiritual blindness. Open my eyes, Lord, to my blind spots - use honest friends and family.

"Deliver Us From Evil" -
The Evil One, Satan. We are saved from death to life. Jesus is more powerful than Satan - God is greater!

"For Thine Is the Kingdom (obedience), and the Power (confidence) and the Glory (joy), Forever" -
This is our Father's world. Everything we have is His. He is the ruler!

Amen!

It's not so much the content of our prayer, the eloquence of it..

But more so, the attitude by which we approach the throne of God in humble worship, a heart that yearns to meet Him.

In Our Majesty's service,
WeiTeen, on behalf of P & QT Comm

2009-03-13T17:23:00.004+08:00

Quiet Time

A quiet time is not a time for you to set aside to do something.
A quiet time is a time for you to set aside to meet with Someone.

The Privilege of Meeting With God

During our quiet times, we have the privilege of meeting with God - we get direction from Him, gain delight in Him, and become more like Jesus as we sit quietly in His presence. In our personal time of fellowship with the Creator, we reap the following:

#1 An opportunity to give God our devotion:
Devotions - from the Greek word “sebasma” means, object of worship.

The first benefit of time spent quietly with the Lord each day, is that it allows us the opportunity to give to God, instead of getting from Him. Psalm 29:2 says, "Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. " Many Christians overemphasize their work for God and neglect to spend time simply worshipping Him. God deserves and desires our devotion (John 4:23). How long has it been since you sat quietly with Jesus and simply told Him, "I love you?" When was the last time you sang a worship song to Him outside of a church service?

#2 We get direction from God:
The second benefit of our daily devotion with the Lord is that we get direction from Him for our daily lives (Psalm 25:4-5; 40:8). When we sit quietly with the Lord it gives Him a great opportunity to speak to us and give us the wisdom we need. In our fast-paced world, we desperately need to slow down and hear from the One who knows the end from the beginning. Pascal once said, "All the troubles of man arise from his inability to sit still." Ask God to show you His will for the day and commit your schedule to Him.

#3 We gain delight in God:
The third benefit of our personal time with the Lord is enjoying Him and basking in His presence. The secret of real joy comes from knowing God (Psalm 34:8; Philippians 3:10). Do you know Jesus Christ personally, or do you merely know about Him? When we know a person intimately, we:
1. Spend quality time together.
2. Enjoy meaningful communication.
3. Know what each other's likes and dislikes are.

The Lord promises in his Word: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity….” Jeremiah 29: 12-14

#4 We grow more like God:
How do we become more like Jesus? We are made holy through the Word (John 17:17; Romans 12:2). Our sanctification comes directly through the time we spend in the Scriptures, getting to know God intimately and allowing His Word to correct our hearts.

Finally, “… you do not leave God when you go from the quiet place any more than he leaves you. A ‘quiet time’ is a ‘tuning in’ time. You should not switch off the radio once you have tuned in to God’s wavelength.” - John White

In Our Majesty's service,
Weiheen, on behalf of P & QT Comm

In times of persecution.

2009-02-27T18:43:00.003+08:00

In times of persecution, what should i do?

As Christians/Children of God, wherever we go, satan is always there to put us down, because satan's will is to prove God wrong, however we know God would truimph, In fact, He already has when the light rose on the third day of death. Hence, i bring to you a poem which sounds like a psalm:

The Lord is my comforter,
I shall not hear anything more.
He makes me remember His prescence
In times of distress, He comforts me

He is the God on high,
No scheme of man can pluck me from Him.
He gives wisdom to those who hears,
He removes agony from those who hope is in Him.
He is my pillar of strength, my hope in life

The world sneers,
"Look! He who gave all for God".
The mockers mock,
"Why are you so stupid".
The jeerers jeer,
"Tell me where your God is!"
The foolish laugh,
"his God doesnt exist".
But they cannot stop Him from comforting me.

Their walk is not of God,
Their ways are of foolishness.
Their paths lead to destruction,
But the Lord delievers me from them.

I was once of them, but now rebornt!
Glory to the God most High!
He came to His own to bear our debt,
But the foolish do not realise.
Behold~ the lamb of God!
He who takes away the sin of man!
But to the perishing, it is foolishness to them.

He leadth me to be called His own,
He tooketh me from the miry clay.
By salvation He called me son,
By redemption He bought me life

My life is not my own, For i am His
And He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Before the beginning of time,
Before the Earths were built,
Before I was formed in shape,
The Lord was already carrying me.

The strongest falls,
the weakest wails,
but He who rely is in the Lord
will find themselves renewed.

Not bound by time,
Not limited by materials,
His glory and honour rises on high.
Till the day where He takes me home,
On earth i will sing of His perfect love

Praise the Lord, O' my soul,
Be still before the Lord and know He is God.
Praise the Lord! For he alone is worthy.
Praise the Lord! For He loveth us so.

Praise the Lord!

“What is success?”

2009-01-30T22:23:00.001+08:00

“What is success?”

Every CNY, no matter the economic outlook, people will talk about PROSPERITY and SUCCESS.But... Just what is success?
Please take a moment to think and ponder as you read the poem below.

“What is success?” I asked a tree,
Standing beside a wall.
The Leaves looked down at me and said,
“Why, success is growing tall.”
“What is success?” I asked a brook,
Gurgling through the leaves.
It laughing, dancing, said to me,
“A river, then to the sea.”
“What is success?” I asked the bird,
Singing in the wood.
It answered me in lilting song,
“Success is gratitude.”
“What is success?” I asked a man,
His cheek aglow with health.
He answered me with mighty scorn,
"Why, success is gaining wealth."
Then on bended knee I asked the Saviour,
“Who on the earth had trod,”
And a wee small voice within me said,
“Success is knowing God.”

- Author Unknown -

Now, if "a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15) and
"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither" (Job 1:21),
success is not about things temporal, but things eternal.
Success is knowing God.
Do you know God?

Lord, my cross is too heavy

2009-01-27T21:42:00.001+08:00

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize
it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can't.
Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps e ven fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call....
He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love...

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

2009-01-06T22:12:00.003+08:00

Hi people! :D I am the first to blog in 2009! :D

Want to guess who i am? HAHA! Obviously i am someone from the tuanqi! Haha. I shall type in proper english here, so it would be quite hard to guess my identity! (:

We had a committee voting session last sunday! And it was very funny actually. Dorcas is our new tuan zhang, etc etc. I very lazy type :D

Okay, see you all on Sunday!
Have a good week ahead! God Bless!
:DDDDDDDDDDD

Christmas 2008 - A King's Love

2008-12-15T00:57:00.002+08:00

Christmas 2008 -
A King's Love 一个国王的爱

Dear beloved friends,

Ever wondered why your heart felt squeezed when you heard the moving story of a …...

Patriot that died for his country;

Lover that remained faithful to his ill spouse till death parted them;

Mother who sacrificed her life to protect her child?

“Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.

Love, isn’t true love, without sacrifice.

This Christmas, we invite you warmly to join us to hear the story of the King who loved unconditionally.

Immerse yourself in original music and lyrics put into a lighthearted Christmas play in Mandarin
and discover how the

Christmas play is more than a stage production;

YOU and I have a part in this story.

We hope to see you there!

Bring your family & friends too! We welcome all!

With Love,
The-Vine Teen & Youth Fellowship

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

If by Amy Carmichael

2008-08-04T00:51:00.004+08:00

As Pastor Simon shared with us today in closing of our topic,

A Christian Perspective & Management of PR in Church

If I have not compassion on my fellowservant,
even as my Lord had pity on me,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can easily discuss the shortcomings and the sins of any;
if I can speak in a casual way even of a child's misdoings,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another;
if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word,
think an unkind thought without grief and shame,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection,
or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand,"
or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness;
if I put my own good name before the other's highest good,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve around myself,
if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself,"
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or twentieth);
if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not give a friend "the benefit of the doubt,"
but put the worst construction instead of the best on what is said or done,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I take offense easily;
if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If a sudden jar can cause me to speak an impatient, unloving word,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.
For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water,
however suddenly jolted.

If I say, "Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget," as though the God,
who twice a day washes all the sands on all the shores of all the world,
could not wash such memories from my mind,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it,
because the spirit of discernment is not in me,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me;
if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself;
if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself,
so that others are caused to feel unwanted;
if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.

That which I know not, teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.

From If by Amy Carmichael.
Christian Literature Crusade © 1991
Amy was a missionary in Southern India

Let us love, for love covers a multitude of sins.
God be with u!

透视基督徒在教会和社会的处事待人/公关

2008-07-28T00:43:00.030+08:00

It's PR Time!!

Dear Youths!!

Look Forward to:

Our 3-part series Special Topic Fellowship Programme!

Topic：

A Christian Perspective & Management of Public Relations in the Church & Society
《透视基督徒在教会和社会的处事待人/公关》

Dates:

1. 3 August 2008 (Sunday)
2. 10 August 2008 (Sunday)
3. 17 August 2008 (Sunday)

Venue：BPMC ACTI Room (Level 2)

Time：12.30pm to 2.00pm

Fellowship Programme:

*Session 1: 3 August 2008 (Sunday)*

Time	Programme	Led by
12.30-12.50pm	Opening Prayer & Singspiration	Zhihao *Pianist-Moses
12.50-1.50pm	Special Topic: -A Christian Perspective & Management of Public Relations in the Church -Q&A	Keynote Speaker: Pastor Simon Wan
1.50-2.00pm	Summary & Closing Prayer	Wei Teen

*Session 2: 10 August 2008 (Sunday)*

Time	Programme	Led by
12.30-12.50pm	Opening Prayer & Singspiration	Moses *Pianist-Wei Teen
12.50-1.50pm	Special Topic: -A Christian Perspective & Management of Public Relations in the Society -Q&A	Keynote Speaker: Deacon Stuart Ong
1.50-2.00pm	Summary & Closing Prayer	Dorcas

* Session 3: 17 August 2008 (Sunday)*

Time	Programme	Led by
12.30-12.50pm	Opening Prayer & Singspiration	Wei Leen *Pianist-Wei Heen
12.50-1.50pm	Open Discussion on Special Topic: -A Christian Perspective & Management of Public Relations in the Church & Society -Q&A	Chairman: Wei Teen
1.50-2.00pm	Summary & Closing Prayer	Deacon Kock Guey

· Topic Coverage：
- Biblical Foundations of A Christian’s Public Relations
基督徒处事待人的圣经教导
- A Christian’s Character Building in Public Relations
基督徒处事待人的品德增进
- A Christian’s Tools & Skills in Public Relations
基督徒处事待人的工具和技巧

Learn how to IDENTIFY with CHRIST in your life!

See u!!:)

The Rose

2008-07-02T22:23:00.004+08:00

sharing with u all a poem i came across.
if u love roses, consider more the beauty of which God has adorned you with,
and live out the beauty of God!

The Rose
It is only a tiny rosebud-
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not Known to such as I-
The flower God opens so gently
In my hands would fade and die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
How can I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day,
And I'll look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.
For the pathway that lies before me
My heavenly Father knows-
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments
Just as he unfolds the rose.
AMEN.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

--Luke 12: 27-28

Yo Campers!

2008-06-05T04:30:00.003+08:00

Back-2-Basics

Yo Youths & Teens!

Yes! We've come thru another good half-year since our last Youth & Teen Camp with much thanksgiving to our heavenly Father.

And now we stand say less than 96 hours to the time when we declare the opening of our upcoming Family Camp @ Batam. (If u wish u can calculate the exact timings but since i'm no mathematical person, i shall leave numbers alone:D)

so what hv we to expect of this camp? or expect of ourselves?

MUCH. But only if we 1st prepare our hearts to focus our eyes upon Him, and prayerfully let the Spirit guide us in this time even before camp starts.

and for those of us who're not taking the romantic ferry ride, fear not, for u will be similarly stationed to guard an island. and a bigger island too:) so read on, for we share the same Father, the same blood covered us and washed us white as snow, and this blood flows thru our vessels (not jus blood vessels, but we as vessels of God) to testify. so wherever each of us may be during this time, let us not stop giving thanks, and not stop testifying!

So U've Got a Question?

Question 1: Thinkin' "What to Wear? What to Wear?"

(remember the commercial of old--or mayb u arent tt old-- where Ronald McDonald peered into his wardrobe and debated/mused over what to wear? when they were all the same outfit?!) Answer 1: Awesome Armour!

no, it's not abt last Sunday's written Napoleon Bonaparte/ the man who kills dinosaurs/ the Victorian fine noble/ the pretty princess of her castle/ the woman who frees the slaves/ the first-thought Barney-the-dinosaur..
we're talking bible terms here:

So if u're missing out these:

It's high time to get it ready.
And any area we are weak, let's pray we will draw strength from God.
Cos remember Paul ends his exposition of the armour of God with this-
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

....Tracing our Heritage: Our Various Outfits....

~June 2005~ Church Camp @ Kreta Rainforest Resort
We Are One In God's Family * 主里一家亲

~Dec 2005~ Youth Camp @ Church

Enchiridion of True Love * 真爱秘笈

~June 2006~ Church Camp @ Seremban

Follow Hard After Christ * 紧紧跟随主

~Dec 2006~ Teen & Youth Camp @ Fairy Point Chalet
Blueprint of Creation * 宇宙蓝图 ~June 2007~ Church Camp @ Batam
Abundant Life * 丰盛生命

~Dec 2007~ Teen & Youth Camp @ Church
Jesus, Take My Wheel * 生命舵手

Important Notice:

For this camp, on the last nite we've Family Nite.
Meaning we're putting up a short item to celebrate FAMILY-IN-CHRIST. We will sing & sway most probably to Somebody Bigger Than U & I.
So what our attire will be as a spirit of togetherness, all to Youths & Teens of The-Vine Fellowship MUST bring the following:

Youths: this blue masterpiece MUST come in ur luggage. U wont overpack jus with this shirt. In fact it'll make u so light-hearted:) it's a trademark!

Teens:

as modelled here by Ah-Joe, this bright orange shirt is a MUST to bring along for wear on the last nite of camp. cos Teens u dun hv the blue Tuanqi shirt.

and of cos if u want to be part of the Red Sea: Loyalty lies in royalty. And of cos we are royalty. Disagree? Psalm 8 says God has crowned us with glory and honor. Ya so this stunning red shirt comes in handy if u wanna bring it along:) tho prolly we'll be decked in blue-orange for the sharing item.

Question 2: So what will I do there?
Answer 2: Vibrant Voyage!
On the slated schedule, we'll hv our rounds of ice-breakers, worship, sermons, group discussions/prayers, sharings. Youths will be leading the ice-breakers & worship.

at ALL times, we will:

FELLOWSHIP

And of cos as canvassed by Joe, we will gather to:

PRAY

And we will hv enough to PLAY thru the nites/days

ah... lead an army like Bonarparte/ Alexander the Great/ Attila the Hun / King David

courtesy of Teen/Heen

or scream/squeal over the vicissitudes of life

courtesy of YingJie

or gear up for some hot aerobics/gymnastics

courtesy of Esthercie

or have a money-splattered date with this cute old gentleman short of a goatee

courtesy of Teen/Heen

or test ur concentration and deft finger muscles

courtesy of Hoe

or colour ur vision

courtesy of Teen/Heen

or wield power in ur hands

courtesy of Hoe

or work ur grit & six-pack (if u hv one)

courtesy of Hoe

and if these do not yet satisfy, u are most welcome to contribute to the list:)

there's the pool & go-karts too.

we will also gather to practice our item

and Youths will gather abt 1.5hrs to discuss fellowship programmes Jul-Dec

and some pertinent issues

and i-dun-know-u-know, u-know-i-dun-know, i-know-u-know, i-know-u-dun-know..

whichever combi ahem. Shhh!

Question 3: So what will be my subsistence?
Answer 3: Gastronomic Galore
Even the Egyptian Pyramids start showing signs of erosion in the sands of time.
What more about food pyramids?

think we'd agree we've sorta hit 'em down somehow, sometime in the sands of time as this Tuanqi grew.

so.. the verdict is.. will this pyramid topple and make a 180 degree turn?

that we embrace this instead? last Sunday's open-secret notes already speak loud & clear. how many of us wrote blatantly of choco delites ('cept choco mouse heh which i DO NOT fancy)? ice-cream cakes? banana-choc cakes! Lavender pineapple tarts?! Twix? Sat-Keh-Ma? Phew! Salivating already?

Fear not. Or be very afraid.

We grabbed some hi-end products.

Decipher urself:P

and come this Sat, we gonna walkover to our friendly neighbour across the road and make good our spree there:-)

cuppa noodles anyone?*winks*

OK! NO more questions!

this Sat 5pm those involved we meet at the Cryroom of Mandarin Congre.

to gather, wit, brain juices, tastebuds and wateva we have altogether:))

So Saturday!!

before

we hop upon the romantic ferry

with Jesus at the wheel

& arrive at our romantic hotspot.

BUT remember ur armour.
It ain't heavy to sink the ferry.

In fact, ur armour will uplift souls.

And we lift our voices heavenward to Him!

Mark my words, all ye merry genteelmen & all ye fair ladies.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

2008-05-07T01:31:00.008+08:00

Emergency Telephone Numbers

These are more effective than 911

When –

You are sad, phone...............................John 14
You have sinned, phone......................Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone.............Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone............Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone..Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone...Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone.......Psalm 23
You are worried, phone..............Matthew 8:19–34
You are hurt and critical, phone.........1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone..2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone............Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone..........Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone..Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, phone.....Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, phone....Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone.........Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone.....Joshua 1
Inflation&investments are hogging your thoughts, phone....Mark 10:17-31
You are depressive, phone.........................Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone.........Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone..............2 Corinthians 13
It looks like people are unfriendly, phone.......John 15
You are losing hope, phone.........................Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, phone....Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone...................John 15
Paul’s secret for happiness, phone...Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/discovery, phone....Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, phone.......Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, call............Psalm 34:7
For security, call.........................Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call........................Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call.................Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.
NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

Good News in an Alabaster Jar

2008-03-28T23:53:00.003+08:00

Good News in an Alabaster Jar

For the benefit of a question asked repeatedly abt a certain 'alabaster jar'...

so we come back to life's handybook as always... the BIBLE!

Matthew 26 records an interesting episode in the life of Jesus, just two days before he was killed. This was an action-packed week, filled with highly significant events — and this event is no exception. In Matthew 26, we find a description of Jesus being anointed with perfume. The story begins in verses 1-2:

"When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away — and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’"

Jesus knows that his time is short – he has only two days to live – but his disciples seem to be unaware of it. Jesus will soon be given another opportunity to tell his disciples about his impending death. Then there is an abrupt change of scene, in which Matthew tells us what is happening in another place at about the same time.

"The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. `But not during the Feast,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people’" (verses 3-5).

Jesus anointed with perfume

Matthew then takes us back to Jesus. "While Jesus was in Bethany [two miles from Jerusalem] in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table" (verses 6-7). A whole jar of perfume! The smell would have filled the entire room.

"When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. `Why this waste?’ they asked. `This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor’" (verses 8-9).

"Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial’" (verses 10-12).

Then Jesus, with special emphasis, then said, "I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her" (verse 13).

Why is this so important?

The disciples asked, "Why this waste?" I would like to ask a follow-up question: Why is this story so important that it will be told wherever the gospel message goes?

The woman had done a nice favor for Jesus, and it was appropriate for Jesus to thank her in a nice way. But surely this does not mean that the disciples, no matter where they went in the world, would have to tell this story everywhere they told the gospel?

If the disciples were running short of time, couldn’t they just preach the gospel and skip this particular story? No, said Jesus. Wherever the gospel is preached, this story must be told, too. It is practically as important as the gospel itself!

When the disciples were inspired to write the stories of what Jesus did, they also wrote the story of what this woman did. Here, it is on an equal level with the teachings and miracles of Jesus. What this woman did is an essential part of the story of Jesus.

That is not just long ago and far away. It also applies right now, and right here. Wherever the gospel goes, this story must be told, too. Why is that?

The context: Jesus’ death

This section of Matthew is about Jesus' death. It begins in verse 2 with Jesus mentioning his death. It moves in verse 3 to the conspiracy to kill Jesus. And in verse 12, Jesus connects the anointing with his burial.

And right after Jesus says that this story will be told around the world, Matthew tells us in verse 14 that Judas went out and conspired with the chief priests to betray Jesus. This was the event that was the last straw for Judas. He was so upset about this waste of money that he went out to betray his master for 30 pieces of silver – ironically, money that he himself would waste.

The story is set in the context of Jesus' death. The story is part of the introduction to what is called the passion – Jesus’ suffering and death. That helps make the story significant. There are several points of resemblance between what this woman did and what Jesus did on the cross. Her action was in some ways a parable, a drama that portrayed spiritual truth about Jesus.

Many of Jesus' own actions were object lessons for spiritual truths. He did many more miracles than could be recorded in the Bible, but some are reported to us because they have special significance.

The miracle of feeding 5,000 people, for example, helps show that Jesus is the bread of life. Just as he can give us the food we need for physical life, so also he can give us what we need for eternal life. The fact that he could do something we can see, gives us assurance that he can do something we cannot see. Just as he can heal diseases, so also can he forgive sins. The physical action helps picture a spiritual truth.

This is also true of what this woman did for Jesus. What she did illustrates for us some lessons about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It also pictures the way that we should respond to Jesus. What this woman did is a microcosm of the gospel itself. That is why it is so important that this story has become part of the gospel message. It can help us explain the nature of the gospel.

A powerful devotion

"Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair" (John 12:3).

Let's look at three ways in which this anointing resembles the sacrifice of Jesus himself.

First, let's give this woman a name. John 12 tells us that she was Mary, sister of Lazarus, and that this was shortly after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The story can be told without that particular fact — the action is more important that who did it — but it does help us understand a little more of what went on behind the scenes.

First, we can see that Mary was motivated to do this out of love. Nobody told her to do it. It was not commanded. It was just something Mary took upon herself to do, and she did it out of love.

Jesus also made his sacrifice out of love. He had no obligation to die for us, but he chose to do it, willingly, motivated by love. Even while we were sinners, he loved us with incredible intensity.

Mary may have known that Jesus was soon to die, but perhaps not. The disciples didn't understand that Jesus was going to die, and Mary probably didn't, either. Otherwise, she probably would have saved the perfume for the actual burial. She seems to have poured the perfume on Jesus simply because she had an incredibly intense devotion to Jesus. She was overwhelmed with love. Maybe it was a response to the resurrection of Lazarus.

Mary may have bought that perfume to anoint the dead body of her brother. Now that Lazarus was alive, Mary did not need the perfume for him — thanks to what Jesus had done. How could Mary thank Jesus for his wonderful gift of life? Why, she could use that same perfume to lavish it on Jesus, as a token of her thanks and love. Mary was praising Jesus, honoring Jesus, in effect, worshipping Jesus, sacrificing to Jesus.

Many people today are concerned with right beliefs. Right beliefs are good. We need them. Many people today are concerned with right behavior. Right behavior is good. We need it — but we need something else, too, and that is something that Mary demonstrates for us. Mary shows us right emotion, right feeling. The heart we need for God is an intensely personal devotion, a powerful dedication of ourselves to his service.

This intensity of emotion is unusual, and like most unusual things, this was criticized. This kind of devotion was not within the ordinary range of acceptable behavior. People would call Mary eccentric, maybe even out of her right mind. Society says, Don't get carried away with your emotions. Mary did. Her society criticized her, but Jesus praised her. Society says, Moderation in all things. Mary was not moderate. Her society criticized her, but Jesus praised her. The jury of 12 men said this is wrong, but Jesus said, she is better than you all.

Mary had an intense affection and devotion for Jesus. We can see it when she sat at Jesus' feet listening to him teach. She was a contemplative person who liked to think. Here, she is an expressive person — expressive not in words but in actions. Her quiet nature did not prevent her from making a powerful statement — more powerful than words could have possibly done.

An enormous sacrifice

The second way in which Mary's action was like the sacrifice of Jesus is that was a sacrifice. This was some incredibly expensive perfume. Mary could have sold it for a large amount. Mark tells us it was worth about one year's wages — the amount of money that a working person would earn in an entire year. At minimum wage today, it might be worth roughly 10 thousand dollars.

Can you imagine one jar of perfume that costs 10 thousand dollars? Now, can you imagine taking that and just pouring it out? Ten thousand dollars evaporating into thin air — gone forever. A year's worth of manual labor, gone, just like that.

This shows us something of the intensity of Mary's love for Jesus. She must have known what she was doing, and how much it had cost her. But she did not care. Her love for Jesus was so great that she was not concerned about the cost. She was probably happy about it — she was getting a chance to demonstrate her devotion to Jesus. If she had sorrow, it was not about how much she was giving up, but that she had so little to give. Love often expresses itself in self-sacrifice, with little thought for self.

If an offering is to be meaningful, it should cost us something, and it should be done out of our own free will. We should give up something that is of value to us. Worship always involves sacrifice — sacrifice of money, time or pride, or all three. Maybe it requires everything we have, and everything we are.

The disciples were concerned with self. They wanted to be great in the kingdom of God. But Mary was achieving greatness already, through her devotion to Jesus. She was not concerned for self and what she would get out of it. She was concerned for nothing but Jesus, and in that, she was already great.

Concern about the money

The disciples suggested that the money could be given to the poor. It wasn't just Judas who objected to this "waste" of money. All the disciples were indignant. It is good to give money to the poor. The traditional Jewish understanding of righteousness included giving money to the poor, and apparently the disciples sometimes did it. (When Judas went out from the last supper, the disciples thought that he might be going to give something to the poor. If Jesus had never given any money to the poor in three years, the disciples probably would not guess that he would start right then. Charity seems to have been part of what they normally did.)

When someone has lots of money, it is appropriate to share some of it with those who need it. That is a good use of money. But in this case, Mary had picked an even better use of the money. She used it in an act of tremendous devotion, an act of worship. That is a legitimate use of money, too.

Some Christians make a religion out of social work, and they do very well. Social work is part of the Christian faith. But some unfortunately see that as the only form of religion, and they have forgotten about devotion to Jesus. Social work is good, but it is not supreme. Jesus is supreme — and our devotion to him will cause us to help those who need help. It's a question of priorities, and Jesus must always be first. For Christian service to really count, it must be done for Christ. We are serving him.

What Mary did, from an observer's perspective, was a big sacrifice. But because she was willing, it was for her a small price to pay, a token of her love. Jesus' crucifixion, from all perspectives, was a tremendous sacrifice, but he was willing to make it. For the joy set before him he endured the cross. He knew that glory was waiting not just for him, but for all who believed in him. He was willing to pay the price.

As we grasp the enormity of his sacrifice, we cannot help but respond in love and devotion — and there is no sacrifice too great. Nothing we do could ever compare to what he has done for us. Our love for him causes us to live for him, to give all that we are.

Extravagant sacrifice

The third way in which Mary's action was similar to Jesus' crucifixion is that it was extravagant. It was far more than what was necessary. It was outrageous! Mary was not a calculating person who thought, what is the least I can do? How much do I have to spend to be enough? What is my duty? Nor was she tied down to tradition.

Mary did not think, How do other women show respect for a rabbi? She was not afraid of public opinion. Her love freed her from that fear. She was not afraid to do something out of the ordinary. Mary did not ask the disciples if it was OK. No, Mary broke traditions. She broke the limits of what is public propriety. Mary didn't even ask Jesus if it was OK. She just seized the opportunity, and did it. She did what she could, because only that expressed her devotion to Jesus. Her love was so great that it called for an exceptional act of creative devotion.

The disciples didn't object to the anointing in itself. They didn't object to perfume. What they objected to was the extravagance. This was just too much of a good thing — way too much. This was ridiculous, wasteful, even sinful. No so, said Jesus. What she has done is a beautiful thing, Jesus said. It had an aesthetic value, like a beautiful work of art, a beautiful piece of music. It was a beautiful action — a beauty that defies cost analysis. It is impossible to put a price on such personal devotion.

Sometimes we are too concerned about the usefulness of something. I often think that way. But that may mean that I do only the ordinary things, never the unusual, never the beautiful, never anything heroic, never anything requiring faith.

The disciples wanted the money to be put to good use, for something practical, like food for the hungry. And that is a very good use for money. It was the ordinary thing to do, the normal thing to do, even a respectable thing to do. But usefulness is not the most important thing in the universe. Usefulness is not our god. Efficiency is not our god. Public opinion is not our god. Traditional boundaries of politeness are not our god.

Jesus is our God, and it is useful to expend our material resources to honor and glorify him. Maybe there aren't any tangible results, but a sacrifice of love and devotion has a usefulness of its own. An act of great beauty has a usefulness of its own when it is done for Jesus Christ. Mary's act of extravagant waste was actually a picture of spiritual beauty — a heavenly fragrance. It pictured the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in a way that words could not. It was extravagant, and that is part of its beauty. God himself is extravagant.

Of course, when something is done out of the ordinary, someone is going to complain about it. Someone is not going to understand the motive, or understand the beauty, or they are going to say, "That's not right. We don't do things that way." To them, it seems that mediocrity is better than intense emotion. But Jesus praises extravagance, not mediocrity.

God gave us an extravagant gift in the person of Jesus Christ. It was an outrageous gift, worth far more than what we deserve. Grace is extravagant. Jesus gave everything he had for us. He gave his very life. And it was even more than necessary — he died for the whole world, and yet the whole world does not accept him. He died even for the people who reject him.

What a waste!, some people might think, but it was really an act of love, of sacrifice, of extravagance. Some people said, "That can't be right. That's not the way God normally acts with us." But God does things out of the ordinary. Jesus shows us total commitment, total sacrifice, so that we might respond to him with all that we have.

An extravagant response

We need to respond to him the same way that Mary did — with a supreme focus on him, a single-minded love that counts everything else loss for Jesus Christ, a love that does not ask how little we can do to get by, a love that is not worried about public opinion, a love that is no longer concerned about what is within the boundaries of normal devotion — a love that is willing to be extravagant.

When Mary poured perfume on Jesus, she was not only picturing some aspects of what Jesus did on the cross, she also pictured the way that we should respond to Jesus, with such complete devotion, such willingness to sacrifice, such willingness to go beyond the boundaries of normal and to have an extraordinary love for Jesus.

Have you ever done anything extravagant for Jesus Christ? Have you ever done anything so outrageous for him that other people thought you were foolish? Have you ever been so bold with love that other people have criticized what you did? Some of us have. Maybe it was a long time ago. Whenever it was, it was sweet-smelling aroma offered to God.

The example of Mary tells me that I am too reserved. I am too often concerned with what others think. I am not loving Jesus as much as I ought. I am too concerned with myself. I need to think more about actions of extraordinary beauty. God has been extravagant with me. He has lavished on me the riches of his grace. He has repeatedly given me things I did not deserve and things I did not appreciate the way I ought. His grace toward me abounds and abounds and abounds. How do I respond to him who gave his life for me?

Michael Morrison

The greatest love you can ever receive...

2008-03-24T13:54:00.003+08:00

How great is His sacrifice..His love.. His unconditional love..
Despite all the pain and sufferings and mockings, He still chose to fulfill God's will.
He could have come down from the cross, but he chose not to.
Let us once again reflect on His awesome love for us..

Easter

2008-03-23T01:00:00.000+08:00

Easter

Good Friday

2008-03-21T03:03:00.003+08:00

Good Friday

In remembrance...

A Christ sacrificed in one complete love for us,

so too, we are His living testimonies unto others!

Holy Week

2008-03-20T03:15:00.005+08:00

Holy Week

This is the week where Jesus, our Messiah walked into Jerusalem, all the way to accomplish salvation on the cross for us. Reflect on His love, and how we have hope simply because He is the source and fountain of hope in our lives!!

The Days of Holy Week

adapted frm Dennis Bratcher

Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Holy Saturday

Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter Sunday.

It is observed in many Christian churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship.

While some church traditions focus specifically on the events of the last week of Jesus’ life, many of the liturgies symbolize larger themes that marked Jesus’ entire ministry.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian executed by the Nazis, wrote of the Cost of Discipleship and warned of "cheap grace" that did not take seriously either the gravity of sin or the radical call to servanthood: "When Jesus bids a man come, he bids him come and die."

It is this dimension that is well served by Holy Week observances, as they call us to move behind the joyful celebrations of Palm Sunday and Easter, and focus on the suffering, humiliation, and death that is part of Holy Week. It is important to place the hope of the Resurrection, the promise of newness and life, against the background of death and endings. It is only in walking through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week and Good Friday, only in realizing the horror and magnitude of sin and its consequences in the world incarnated in the dying Jesus on the cross, only in contemplating the ending and despair that the disciples felt on Holy Saturday, that we can truly understand the light and hope of Sunday morning!

In observing this truth, that new beginnings come from endings, many people are able to draw a parable of their own lives and faith journey from the observances of Holy Week. In providing people with the opportunity to experience this truth in liturgy and symbol, the services become a powerful proclamation of the transformative power of the Gospel, and God at work in the lives of people.

The entire week between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday is included in Holy Week, and some church traditions have daily services during the week. However, usually only Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday are times of special observance in most churches.

Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday)

This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that was marked by the crowds, who were in Jerusalem for Passover, waving palm branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the Kingdom he proclaimed. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only 5 days later cry for his execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on our own terms.

This Sunday is also known as Passion Sunday to commemorate the beginning of Holy Week and Jesus’ final agonizing journey to the cross. The English word passion comes from a Latin word that means "to suffer," the same word from which we derive the English word patient.

Passion Sunday is presented as a time to reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus in a Sunday service of worship. This provides an opportunity for people who do not or cannot attend a Good Friday Service to experience the contrast of Jesus’ death and the Resurrection, rather than celebrating the Resurrection in isolation from Jesus’ suffering.

Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday

There are a variety of events that are clustered on this last day before Jesus was arrested that are commemorated in various ways in services of worship. These include the last meal together, which was probably a Passover meal, the institution of Communion, the betrayal by Judas (because of the exchange with Jesus at the meal), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane while the disciples fell asleep.

During the last few days, Jesus and His disciples had steadily journeyed from Galilee toward Jerusalem. On the sunlight hillsides of Galilee, Jesus was popular, the crowds were friendly and the future was bright. Even his entry into Jerusalem had been marked by a joyous welcome. But in Jerusalem there was a growing darkness as the crowds began to draw back from the man who spoke of commitment and servanthood. There was an ominous tone in the murmuring of the Sadducees and Pharisees who were threatened by the new future Jesus proclaimed.

Even as Jesus and his disciples came together to share this meal, they already stood in the shadow of the cross. It was later that night, after the meal, as Jesus and His disciples were praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus was arrested and taken to the house of Caiaphas the High Priest. On Friday He would die.

There is some difference in the chronology of these events between the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and John’s account. In the Synoptics, this last meal was a Passover meal, observing the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt when death "passed over" the Hebrew homes as the tenth plague fell upon the Egyptians. Yet, in John’s account the Passover would not be celebrated until the next day. And while the Synoptics recount the institution of Communion during this final meal, John instead tells us about Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet as a sign of servanthood.

In any case, this Thursday of Holy Week is remembered as the time Jesus ate a final meal together with the men who had followed him for so long. We do not have to solve these historical questions to remember and celebrate in worship what Jesus did and taught and modeled for us here, what God was doing in Jesus the Christ. And the questions should not shift our attention from the real focus of the story: the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Traditionally in the Christian Church, this day is known as Maundy Thursday. The term Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum (from which we get our English word mandate), from a verb that means "to give," "to entrust," or "to order." The term is usually translated "commandment," from John's account of this Thursday night. According to the Fourth Gospel, as Jesus and the Disciples were eating their final meal together before Jesus’ arrest, he washed the disciples' feet to illustrate humility and the spirit of servanthood. After they had finished the meal, as they walked into the night toward Gethsemane, Jesus taught his disciples a "new" commandment that was not really new (John 13:34-35):

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

The Eucharist of Maundy Thursday is especially tied to the theme of remembering. As Jesus and his disciples followed the instructions in the Torah to remember God’s acts of deliverance in their history as they shared the Passover meal together, so Jesus calls us to remember the new act of deliverance in our history that unfolds on these last days of Holy week

Good Friday, or Holy Friday

Friday of Holy Week has been traditionally been called Good Friday or Holy Friday.

On this day, the church commemorates Jesus’ arrest (since by Jewish customs of counting days from sundown to sundown it was already Friday), his trial, crucifixion and suffering, death, and burial.

Usually, a Good Friday service is a series of Scripture readings, a short homily, and a time of meditation and prayer. One traditional use of Scripture is to base the homily or devotional on the Seven Last Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel traditions.

Father, forgive them . . . (Luke 23:34)

This day you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)

Woman, behold your son . . .(John 19:26-27)

My God, my God . . . (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34)

I thirst. (John 19:28)

It is finished! (John 19:30)

Father into your hands . . . (Luke 23:46)

Holy Saturday

This is the seventh day of the week, the day Jesus rested in the tomb. In the first three Gospel accounts this was the Jewish Sabbath, which provided appropriate symbolism of the seventh day rest. While some church traditions continue daily services on Saturday, there is no communion served on this day.

It is also a time to remember family and the faithful who have died as we await the resurrection, or to honor the martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ in the world.However it is observed, Holy Saturday has traditionally been a time of reflection and waiting, the time of weeping that lasts for the night while awaiting the joy that comes in the morning (Psa 30:5).

**and after a long read, here's a pictorial form of Jesus' last week with men before He went in complete obedience to the cross!

click to see bigger clearer pic:

http://www.anchorite.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/HolyWeekTreasureMap-HQ.jpg

There is a morning after the night of despair, an Easter after the darkness of the crucifixion.

Psalms 30: 5 states “… weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Truly, Jesus' final walk thru His last week, and His walk to Calvary Via Dolorosa is the most important Walk To Remember.

Emmanuel.

Love, Teenster

A TV addict's version of Psalm 23

2008-03-07T02:36:00.002+08:00

a short read for all TV addicts:) or at least if u ever find urselves glued to the mass media in all forms... kopped this frm a fren's blog:

A TV addict's version of Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is probably one of the most familiar scripture to any bible-reading person.
Here is what it may be like if it was written by a person who loved TV rather than God
(taken from Running on Empty):

The TV is my shepherd. My spiritual growth shall want.
It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name's sake
because it requireth all my spare time.
It keepeth me from doing my duty as a Chrisitan
because it presententh so many good shows that I must see.

It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world and
keepeth me from the study of God's word.
It leadeth me in the paths of failing to attend
the evening church services and doing nothing for the kingdom of God.

Yet, though I shall live to be a hundred,
I shall keep viewing my TV as long as it will work,
for it is my closest friend.
Its sounds and its picture they comfort me.
It presenteth entertainment before me and
keepeth me from doing important things with my family.
It fills my head with ideas which differ from in the Word of God.
Surely no good thing will come of my life
because of so many wasted hours,
and I shall dwell in my remorse and regrets forever.

You may think I am exaggerating.
However, I know myself,
and just as I wrote previously,
I surely wish not that this psalm becomes my lifesong.

Rather, my prayer is that it will be more like this ( the real mc coy):
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in
the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

2008-03-03T16:05:00.004+08:00

Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Dear All, Posting here more info abt HFMD ffm MOH website.
Kindly note symptoms just in case since most of us been ard each other.
And pls keep the following in prayer: Wen Hui, Wen Yuan & Nopp
Keep us all in prayer too!!

Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease (HFMD) Disease

Characteristics:
Hand, Foot & Mouse Disease (HFMD) is an illness caused by intestinal viruses, commonest being Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71.

A person with HFMD usually presents with the following symptoms:

*Fever for 2-3 days
*Sore throat and runny nose
*Rash (flat or raised red spots, some with blisters) on palms of hands, soles of feet, or buttocks *Mouth ulcers
*Poor appetite
*Vomiting and diarrhoea
*Tiredness and weakness ("feeling sick")

Pictures of Rash to look our for:

Treatment:
HFMD is usually mild and self-limiting.
No specific treatment is available, however, treatment can be given to relieve the symptoms of the disease.Parents are advised to consult a doctor early if their child has symptoms of HFMD.They should also be alert to any change in their child's normal behaviour, eg irritation and sleepiness. Should they refuse to eat or drink, have persistent vomiting or drowsiness, parents should bring their child immediately to the A&E Departments of either NUH or KKH, whichever is closer to their home.

Prevention:
HFMD is endemic in Singapore. It became legally notifiable on 1 October 2000.
The public may refer to the MOH Weekly Infectious Diseases Bulletin for the current situation of HFMD.Children should be kept away from crowded public places (schools, preschools, play groups, markets, public transport etc.) if they show signs of infection. Family members are advised to follow good hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing, to limit the spread of the infection. Transmission of enterovirus infections is increased by poor hygiene and overcrowded living conditions.The Ministry of Health has alerted all hospitals and doctors in Singapore to look out for cases of this infection. These cases are to be notified to the Ministry of the Environment for epidemiological investigations.Guidelines for proper specimen collection in suspected cases for virus isolation has also been issued to all hospitals and paediatricians.Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports have stepped up inspections on the health and hygiene standards of all childcare centres, nurseries and kindergartens.

Related Resources
HPB's website on HFMD

2008-02-25T22:06:00.002+08:00

so i was thinking....

hey dears,
its little old me :) i decided that i should try to share more here (i mean, i shd start to share..haha) and give some input into our tuanqi bloggy thingy. hehe. well, u guys know its precious holiday now for me before a hectic season of clinicals even more scary and stressful than exams, but well, that comes with thanksgiving too :) its amazing to just ponder how God has given each one of us a different path, yet somehow letting us all be on life's journey in the same direction, together :)

hmmm, and recently over this weekend, i just had some thoughts. to be honest, i find that its easier to be walking close with our God in bad times than in good. okay, hard tough tumbles in life make a person vulnerable, make a person weak. in moments like this, having a higher being to trust in and look upon and cling to is such a great comfort. thank God He is available 24/7! good times?u're having fun, u're with great company, u're laughing till you can't stand straight (haha, tts a leetle exaggerated *boo!*), and in the midst of this, if one isn't careful, u can drift away from God. we can be honest with ourselves and count the numerous possible distractions to dethrone the King of our hearts and lives. well, so i was saying, while we may be unfaithful, the Lord never changes, and He remains faithful. when we're being naughty and running off in our own directions, its really Daddy who brings us back to Him isn't it? not through having a gigantic metal cane descending from the skies to whip us and force us to turn back (because we are still given that freedom of choice), but He drops gentle reminders every so often. it could be that sunlight shimmering through the canopy while u zoom down the path on your bike on the pulau ubin trail, or it could be that nice palmy tree set against the blue cloudless sky, or perhaps its the waves that go lap-lap-lap while your eyes take in all that pretty boundary-less sea. or it could just be the night in its stillness. beautiful creation, even more beautiful Creator ;)

and then i was thinking too, how its great to go for camps and biggg events and mission trips. (such as the march and june upcoming ones, which.. i wanna go, as most of us do) these times when we can stop at a juncture in our lives and as ppl put it "to encounter God and experience Him". yea, definitely these are times which leave Big milestones in our spiritual lives, but then i was reminded that its the daily living thats just as important isn't it? Do we see His goodness in the day-to-day mundane nitty-gritties of life, or are we dulled by our needs and wants and demands placed on us? Are we keeping up with God while keeping up with fastpaced city life? Are we running against time, yet slowing down enough to listen? :) i think thats part of Christian living isn't it, that we seek to draw near to and experience God too, on ordinary days (so they seem).

how much then are we living for God, today?

We are the reason...

2008-02-18T01:48:00.003+08:00

Hi all! :) Here's a video which I've found from You Tube..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BriKRukACgA Haha I went there to listen to some songs amid all the busyness. Well, I'm sure u guys have heard of this song - We Are the Reason. Oh it's simply sOo nice n touching! =) It once again reminded me of His unconditional love for us. Yet why would He want to bear all the pain n sufferings? We.. are the reason...

Indeed, WE are the reason that He suffered and died, and HE is the reason to live! N becuz of Him, don't u find tat life's simply A-M-A-Z-I-N-G? I juz can't imagine leading a life tat has no purpose, no direction, no hope, no God! If I were to pen down here why life is so amazing, the list would be endless. But really, the greatest blessing in life..is to know Jesus Christ:)

Therefore, let Him be your motivator in life, and in all the things that we do, let's do it.. all for HIM!!=)

A Penny for a thought..

2008-02-04T22:23:00.000+08:00

Dear all, Wen Yuan here! =) Hehe what a surprise right? Even tho' I've got so many other things to do, I just feel like blogging here now as I've got this sudden urge to share with u guys what Yijuan-jie shared with me just now:) Oh yes, I met her at our house there after work. Really thank God for that one hour plus of conversation with her, cuz it really encouraged me alot and touched me deeply. She said she doesn't mind me sharing her experiences with u guys:)

Well, one of the many things that she shared about was her persistance to stay in our church. Despite other people asking her to go to another church, she still chose to stay on in our church. She could have gone to her old church where the people really took good care of her, but, she did not. Reason being, she sees the need in our church where manpower is so scarce. She has been serving in our church all these years, and she told God she doesn't want to stop serving when she still has the ability to:) There are people she knows who actually goes church hopping every Sunday, but ended up drifting away from God. Indeed, like what Yijuan-jie said, who we seek is not people, but God! If our focus is on what man can give us, then perhaps we need to re-direct our focus on what we can give to God:) Sometimes, we also tend to ask God for something, yet how much have we really given God? Well, this is indeed worth pondering ya? And what Yijuan-jie said is so true! U will definitely experience God through serving! For instance, look at our dear Esther and many of those invloved in the 2007 Christmas Musical Outreach who experienced God's wonders.. and I remember our dear Dorcas who once shared about how God had always guided her whenever she played the piano at datang, fellowship or kids' worship. Yes God is absolutey amazing! Seek and serve Him, u'll definitely experience Him!=)

Yijuan-jie also shared about her darkest moment in life... It was a series of event which happened one after another to her loved ones--first was her husband, followed by Jun Song's high fever and then Junwei's stomach incident. She must have felt really helpless then as a single parent, yet God still strengthened her and carried her through! In life we may reach a scenario when there's really no one who could help or comfort us..no one else except our compassionate God! Life's like traelling along a road full of rocks.. the difference lies in the size of the rocks. God had led Yijuan-jie in removing that big rock in front of her, and she shared that no matter how big the rock is, try to remove it...not by yourself but with God! :) After removing there may still be new rocks, but if God can help u remove the big rock, how much more will He help u remove the small rocks in life=)

Just wanna end off with a verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9..

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Let's all continue to trust in that Somebody Bigger than U and I.. that He will strengthen us when we are weak, for His grace is always sufficient for u and I.. :)

Have a happy blessed Lunar New Year everyone!;)

A sermon to share

2008-02-01T22:56:00.000+08:00

hi, this is xingui here. I've not written any post for the blog so i thought i can contribute something. its nothing much i just like to share a sermon which i've read. i know its VERY long and its going to take a long time to read ( ard 1h+) but i would say its really worth the effort. we all know that they would not be any fruits without labour, i believe if we take time to properly digest and understand God's word we will gain much more than what we put in.

a little something to motivate you, i offer to buy lunch for anyone who has read through the entire sermon and can tell me very briefly what it is about on Sunday 3rd feb. Offer end then... no extension :P i guess the only one who would be claiming this is Wei Teen... Haha.. Prove me wrong, and whoever who read this offer DUN spread ok. you wouldn't want me to be bankrupt right?

The Comforter

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”-
John 14:26.

GOOD old Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel; and so he was.
Before his actual appearance, his name was the Day-Star; cheering the
darkness, and prophetic of the rising sun. To him they looked with the
same hope which cheers the nightly watcher, when from the lonely castletop
he sees the fairest of the stars, and hails her as the usher of the morn.
When he was on earth, he must have been the consolation of all those who
were privileged to be his companions. We can imagine how readily the
disciples would run to Christ to tell him of their-griefs, and how sweetly
with that matchless intonation of his voice, he would speak to them and bid
their fears be gone. Like children, they would consider him as their Father;
and to him every want, every groan, every sorrow, every agony, would at
once be carried, and he, like a wise physician, had a balm for every wound;
he had mingled a cordial for their every care; and readily did he dispense
some mighty remedy to allay all the fever of their troubles. Oh! it must
have been sweet to have lived with Christ. Surely sorrows then were but
joys in masks because they gave an opportunity to go to Jesus to have
them removed. Oh! would to God, some of us may say, that we could have
lain our weary heads upon the bosom of Jesus, and that our birth had been
in that happy era, when we might have heard his kind voice, and seen his
kind look, when he said “Let the weary ones come unto me.”

But now he was about to die. Great prophecies were to be fulfilled, and
great purposes were to be answered; and therefore Jesus must go. It
behoved him to suffer, that he might be made a propitiation for our sins. It
behoved him to slumber in the dust awhile, that he might perfume the
chamber of the grave to make it-

“No more a charnel house to fence
The relics of lost innocence.”

It behoved him to have a resurrection, that we who shall one day be the
dead in Christ, might rise first, and in glorious bodies stand upon earth.
And it behoved him that he should ascend up on high, that he might lead
captivity captive; that he might chain the fiends of hell; that he might lash
them to his chariot wheels and drag them up high heaven’s hill, to make
them feel a second overthrow from his right arm when he should dash them
from the pinnacles of heaven down to deeper depths beneath. “It is right I
should go away from you,” said Jesus, “for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come.” Jesus must go. Weep ye disciples. Jesus must be gone.
Mourn ye poor ones who are to be left without a Comforter. But hear how
kindly Jesus speaks: “I will not leave you comfortless, I will pray the
Father, and he shall send you another Comforter, who shall be with you,
and shall dwell in you for ever.” He would not leave those few poor sheep
alone in the wilderness; he would not desert his children and leave them
fatherless. Albeit that he had a mighty mission which did fill his heart and
hand; albeit that he had so much to perform that we might have thought
that even his gigantic intellect would be overburdened albeit he had so
much to suffer, that we might suppose his whole soul to be concentrated
upon the thought of the sufferings to be endured, yet it was not so; before
he left, he gave soothing words of comfort; like the good Samaritan, he
poured in oil and wine; and we see what he promised: “I will send you
another Comforter-one who shall be just what I have been, yea even more;
who shall console you in your sorrows, remove your doubts, comfort you
in your afflictions, and stand as my vicar on earth, to do that which I would
have done, had I tarried with you.”

Before I discourse of the Holy Ghost as the Comforter, I must make one or
two remarks on the different translations of the word rendered
“Comforter.” The Flemish translation, which you are aware is adopted by
Roman Catholics, has left the word untranslated, and gives it “Paraclete.”
“But the Paraclete which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things.” This is the original Greek word,
and it has some other meanings besides “Comforter.” Sometimes it means
the monitor or instructor: “I will send you another monitor, another
teacher.” Frequently it means “Advocate;” but the most common meaning
of the word is that which we have here: “I will send you another
Comforter.” However, we cannot pass over those other two interpretations
without saying something upon them.

“I will send you another teacher.” Jesus Christ had been the official teacher
or his saints whilst on earth. They called no man Rabbi except Christ. They
sat at no men’s feet to learn their doctrines; but they had them direct from
the lips of him who “spake as never man spake.” “And now,” says he,
“when I am gone, where shall you find the great infallible teacher? Shall I
set you up a Pope at Rome, to whom you shall go, and who shall be your
infallible oracle? Shall I give you the councils of the church to be held to
decide all knotty points?” Christ said no such thing. “I am the infallible
paraclete or teacher, and when I am gone, I will send you another teacher
and he shall be the person who is to explain Scripture; he shall be the
authoritative oracle of God, who shall make all dark things light, who shall
unravel mysteries, who shall unravel mysteries, who shall untwist all knots
of revelation, and shall make you understand what you could not discover,
had it not been for his influence.” And beloved, no man ever learns
anything aright, unless he is taught of the Spirit. You may learn election,
and you may know it so that you shall be damned by it, if you are not
taught of the Holy Ghost; for I have known some who have learned
election to their soul’s destruction; they have learned it, so that they said
they were of the elect, whereas they had no marks, no evidences and no
work of the Holy Ghost in their souls. There is a way of learning truth in
Satan’s college, and holding it in licentiousness; but if so, it shall be to your
souls as poison to your veins, and prove your everlasting ruin. No man can
know Jesus Christ unless he is taught of God. There is no doctrine of the
Bible which can be safely, thoroughly, and truly learned, except by the
agency of the one authoritative teacher. Ah! tell me not of systems of
divinity, tell me not of schemes of theology; tell me not of infallible
commentators, or most learned and most arrogant doctors; but tell me of
the Great Teacher, who shall instruct us, the sons of God, and shall make
us wise to understand all things. He is the Teacher; it matters not what this
or that man says; I rest on no man’s boasting authority, nor will you. Ye
are not to be carried away with the craftiness of men, nor sleighs of words;
this is the authoritative oracle, the Holy Ghost resting in the hearts of his
children.

The other translation is advocate. Have you ever thought how the Holy
Ghost can be said to be an advocate? You know Jesus Christ is called the
wonderful, the counsellor, and mighty God; but how can the Holy Ghost
be said to be an advocate? I suppose it is thus: he is an advocate on earth
to plead against the enemies of the cross. How was it that Paul could so
ably plead before Felix and Agrippa? How was it that the Apostles stood
unawed before the magistrates and confessed their Lord? How has it come
to pass that in all times God’s ministers have been made fearless as lions,
and their brows have been firmer than brass, their hearts sterner than steel,
and their words like the language of God? Why, it is simply for this reason,
that it was not the man who pleaded, but it was God the Holy Ghost
pleading through him. Have you never seen an earnest minister, with hands
uplifted and eyes dropping tears, pleading with the sons of men? Have you
never admired that portrait from the hand of old John Bunyan? A grave
person with eyes uplifted to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law
of truth written on his lips, the world behind his back, standing as if he
pleaded with men, and a crown of gold hanging over his head. Who gave
that minister so blessed a manner and such goodly matter? Whence came
his skill? Did he acquire it in the college? Did he learn it in the seminary?
Ah! no; he learned it of the God of Jacob; he learned it of the Holy Ghost;
for the Holy Ghost is the great counsellor who teaches us how to advocate
his cause aright.

But, besides this, the Holy Ghost is the advocate in men’s hearts. Ah! I
have known men reject a doctrine until the Holy Ghost began to illumine
them. We who are the advocates of the truth are often very poor pleaders;
we spoil our cause by the words we use; but it is a mercy that the brief is in
the hand of a special pleader, who will advocate successfully and overcome
the sinner’s opposition. Did you ever know him fail once? Brethen, I speak
to your souls has not God in old times convinced you of sin? Did not the
Holy Ghost come and prove that you were guilty, although no minister
could ever get you out of your self-righteousness? Did he not advocate
Christ’s righteousness? Did he not stand and tell you that your works were
filthy rags? and when you had well-nigh still refused to listen to his voice,
did he not fetch hell’s drum and make it sound about your ears, bidding
you look through the vista of future years and see the throne set, and the
books open, and the sword brandished, and hell burning, and fiends
howling, and the damned shrieking for ever? and did he not thus convince
you of the judgment to come? He is a mighty advocate when he pleads in
the soul-of sin, of righteousness, and of the judgment to come. Blessed
advocate! plead in my heart, plead with my conscience. When I sin, make
conscience bold to tell me of it; when I err, make conscience speak at once;
and when I turn aside to crooked ways, then advocate the cause of
righteousness, and bid me sit down in confusion, knowing my guiltiness in
the sight of God.

But there is yet another sense in which the Holy Ghost advocates, and that
is, he advocates our cause with Jesus Christ, with groanings that cannot be
uttered. O my soul, thou art ready to burst within me! O my heart, thou art
swelled with grief; the hot tide of my emotion would well-nigh overflow
the channels of my veins. I long to speak, but the very desire chains my
tongue. I wish to pray, but the fervency of my feeling curbs my language.
There is a groaning within that cannot be uttered. Do you know who can
utter that groaning, who can understand it, and who can put it into
heavenly language and utter it in O celestial tongue, so that Christ can hear
it? Oh! yes; it is God the Holy Spirit; he advocates our cause with Christ
and then Christ advocates it with his Father. He is the advocate, who
maketh intercession for us, with groanings that cannot be uttered.
Having thus explained the Spirit’s office as teacher and advocate, we come
now to the translation of our version-the Comforter; and here I shall have
three divisions. First, the comforter; secondly, the comfort; and thirdly, the
comforted.

I. First, then, the COMFORTER. Briefly let me run over in my mind and in
your minds too, the characteristics of this glorious Comforter. Let me tell
you some of the attributes of his comfort, so that you may understand how
well adapted he is to your case.

And first, we will remark that God the Holy Ghost is a very loving
Comforter. I am in distress and want consolation. Some passer-by hears of
my sorrow, and he steps within, sits down and essays to cheer me; he
speaks soothing words; but he loves me not, he is a stranger, he knows me
not at all, he has only come in to try his skill; and what is the consequence?
his words run over me like oil upon a slab of marble-they are like the
pattering rain upon the rock; they do not break my grief; it stands unmoved
as adamant, because he has no love for me. But let someone who loves me
dearly as his own life come and plead with me, then truly his words are
music; they taste like honey; he knows the pass-word of the doors of my
heart, and my ear is attentive to every word, I catch the intonation of each
syllable as it falls, for it is like the harmony of the harps of heaven Oh!
there is a voice in love, it speaks a language which is its own, it is a idiom
and an accent which none can mimic; wisdom cannot imitate it, oratory
cannot attain unto it; it is love alone which can reach the mourning heart;
love is the only handkerchief which can wipe the mourner’s tears away.
And is not the Holy Ghost a loving Comforter? Dost thou know, O saint,
how much the Holy Spirit loves thee; Canst thou measure the love of the
Spirit. Dost thou know how great is the affection of his soul towards thee?
Go, measure heaven with thy span; go, weigh the mountains in the scales;
go, take the ocean’s water, and tell each drop; go count the sand upon the
sea’s wide shore, and when thou hast accomplished this, thou canst tell
how much he loveth thee. He has loved thee long, he has loved thee well;
he loved thee ever and he still shall love thee. Surely he is the person to
comfort thee, because he loves. Admit him, then, to your heart, O
Christian, that he may comfort you in your distress.

But next he is a faithful Comforter. Love sometimes proves unfaithful.
“Oh! sharper than a serpent’s tooth “is an unfaithful friend! Oh! far more
bitter than the gall of bitterness, to have a friend to turn from me in my
distress! Oh! woe of woes, to have one who loves me in my prosperity
forsake me in the dark day of my trouble. Sad indeed but such is not God’s
Spirit. He ever loves, and loves even to the end-a faithful Comforter. Child
of God you are in trouble. A little while ago you found him a sweet and
loving Comforter; you obtained relief from him when others were but
broken cisterns; he sheltered you in his bosom, and carried you in his arms.
Oh, wherefore dost thou distrust him now? Away with thy fears! for he is a
faithful Comforter. “Ah! but “thou sayest, “I fear I shall be sick and shall be
deprived of his ordinances.” Nevertheless, he shall visit thee on thy sick
bed, and sit by thy side to give the consolation. “Ah! but I have distresses
greater than you can conceive of, wave upon wave rolleth over me; deep
calleth unto deep at the noise of the Eternal’s waterspouts.” Nevertheless,
he will be faithful to his promise. “Ah! but I have sinned.” So thou hast, but
sin cannot sever thee from his love; he loves thee still. Think not, O poor
downcast child of God, because the scars of thine old sins have marred thy
beauty, that he loves thee less because of that blemish. Oh, no! He loved
thee when he foreknew thy sin; he loved thee with the knowledge of what
the aggregate of thy wickedness would be; and he does not love the less
now. Come to him in all boldness of faith; tell him thou hast grieved him,
and he will forget thy wandering, and will receive thee again; the kisses of
his love shall be bestowed upon thee, and the arms of his grace shall
embrace thee. He is faithful: trust him; he will never deceive you; trust him;
he will never leave you.

Again, he is an unwearied Comforter. I have sometimes tried to comfort
persons that have been tried. You now and then meet with the case of a
nervous person. You ask, “What is your trouble?” You are told, and you
essay, if possible, to remove it, but while you are preparing your artillery to
batter the trouble, you find that it has shifted its quarters, and is occupying
quite a different position. You change your argument and begin again; but
lo, it is again gone, and you are bewildered. You feel like Hercules cutting
off the ever-growing heads of the Hydra, and you give up your task in
despair. You meet with persons whom it is impossible to comfort,
reminding me of the man who locked himself up in fetters and threw the
key away, so that nobody could unlock him. I have found some in the
fetters of despair. “O, I am the man,” say they, “that has seen affliction;
pity me, pity me, O my friends;” and the more you try to comfort such
people, the worse they get; and therefore, out of all heart, we leave them to
wander alone among the tombs of their former joys. But the Holy Ghost is
never out of heart with those whom he wishes to comfort. He attempts to
comfort us and we run away from the sweet cordial; he gives some sweet
draught to cure us, and we will not drink it; he gives some wondrous
potion to charm away all our troubles, and we put it away from us. Still he
pursues us; and though we say that we will not be comforted, he says we
shall be, and when he has said, he does it, he is not to be wearied by all our
sins, not by all our murmurings.

And oh, how wise a Comforter is the Holy Ghost. Job had comforters, and
I think he spoke the truth when he said, “Miserable comforters are ye all.”
But I dare say they esteemed themselves wise; and when the young man
Elihu rose to speak, they thought he had a world of impudence. Were they
not “grave and reverend seniors?” Did not they comprehend his grief and
sorrow? If they could not comfort him, who could? But they did not find
out the cause. They thought he was not really a child of God, that he was
self-righteous; and they have him the wrong physic. It is a bad case when
the doctor mistakes the disease and gives a wrong prescription, and so,
perhaps, kills the patient. Sometimes, when we go and visit people we
mistake their disease, we want to comfort them on this point, whereas they
do not require any such comfort at all, and they would be better left alone
than spoiled by such unwise comforters as we are. But oh! how wise the
Holy Spirit is! he takes the soul, lays it on the table, and dissects it in a
moment; he finds out the root of the matter, he sees where the complaint
is, and then he applies the knife where something is required to be taken
away, or puts a plaster where the sore is; and he never mistakes. Oh! how
wise, the blessed Holy Ghost! from every comforter I turn and leave them
all, for thou art he who alone givest the wisest consolation.

Then mark how safe a Comforter the Holy Ghost is. All comfort is not
safe; mark that. There is a young man over there very melancholy. You
know how he became so. He stepped into the house of God and heard a
powerful preacher, and the word was blessed and convinced him of sin.
When he went home, his father and the rest found there was something
different about him, “Oh,” they said, “John is mad; he is crazy,” and what
said his mother? “Send him into the country for a week, let him go to the
ball or to the theater.” John! Did you find any comfort there? “Ah no; they
made me worse, for while I was there, I thought hell might open and
swallow me up.” Did you find any relief in the gaities of the world? “No,”
say you, “I thought it was idle waste of time.” Alas! this is miserable
comfort, but it is the comfort of the worldling; and when a Christian gets
into distress, how many will recommend him this remedy and the other.
“Go and hear Mr. So-and-so preach; have a few friends at your house; read
such-and-such a consoling volume; “and very likely it is the most unsafe
advice in the world. The devil will sometimes come to men’s souls as a
false comforter, and he will say to the soul, “What need is there to make all
this ado about repentance? you are no worse than other people,” and he
will try to make the soul believe that what is presumption is the real
assurance of the Holy Ghost; thus he deceives many by false comfort. Ah,
there have been many, like infants, destroyed by elixirs given to lull them to
sleep; many have been ruined by the cry of “peace, peace,” when there is
no peace, hearing gentle things when they ought to be stirred to the quick.
Cleopatra’s asp was brought in a basket of flowers; and men’s ruin often
lurks in fair and sweet speeches. But the Holy Ghost’s comfort is safe, and
you may rest on it. Let him speak the word, and there is a reality about it;
let him give the cup of consolation, and you may drink it to the bottom, for
in its depths there are no dregs, nothing to intoxicate or ruin, it is all safe.
Moreover, the Holy Ghost is an active Comforter: he does not comfort by
words, but by deeds. Some comfort by “Be ye warmed and be ye filled,
giving nothing.” But the Holy Ghost gives, he intercedes with Jesus; he
gives us promises, he gives us grace, and so he comforts us. Mark again,
he is always a successful Comforter; he never attempts what he cannot
accomplish.

Then to close up, he is an ever-present Comforter, so that you never have
to send for him. Your God is always near you, and when you need comfort
in your distress, behold, the word is nigh thee, it is in thy mouth, and in thy
heart; he is an ever-present help in time of trouble. I wish I had time to
expand these thoughts; but I cannot.

II. The second thing is the COMFORT. Now there are some persons who
make a great mistake about the influence of the Holy Spirit. A foolish man,
who had fancy to preach in a certain pulpit, though in truth he was quite
incapable of the duty, called upon the minister, and assured him solemnly
that it had been revealed to him by the Holy Ghost, that he was to preach
in his pulpit. “Very well,” said the minister, “I suppose I must not doubt
your assertion, but as it has not been revealed to me that I am to let you
preach, you must go your way until it is.” I have heard many fanatical
persons say the Holy Spirit revealed this and that to them. Now that is very
generally revealed nonsense. The Holy Ghost does not reveal anything
fresh now. He brings old things to our remembrance. “He shall teach you
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have told
you.” The canon of revelation is closed; there is no more to be added. God
does not give a fresh revelation, but he rivets the old one. When it has been
forgotten, and laid in the dusty chamber of our memory, he fetches it out
and cleans the picture, but does not paint a new one. There are no new
doctrines, but the old ones are often revived. It is not, I say, by any new
revelation that the Spirit comforts. He does so by telling us old things over
again; he brings a fresh lamp to manifest the treasures hidden in Scripture;
he unlocks the strong chests in which the truth had long lain, and he points
to secret chambers filled with untold riches; but he comes no more, for
enough is done. Believer! there is enough in the Bible for thee to live upon
for ever. If thou shouldst outnumber the years of Methusaleh, there would
be no need for a fresh revelation; if thou shouldst live till Christ should
come upon the earth, there would be no necessity for the addition of a
single word; if thou shouldst go down as deep as Jonah, or even descend as
David said he did, into the belly of hell, still there would be enough in the
Bible to comfort thee without a supplementary sentence. But Christ says,
“He shall take of mine and shall show it unto you.” Now let me just tell
you briefly what it is the Holy Ghost tells us.
Ah! does he not whisper to the heart, “Saint, be of good cheer; there is one
who died for thee; look to Calvary; behold his wounds; see the torrent
gushing from his side; there is thy purchaser, and thou art secure. He loves
thee with an everlasting love, and this chastisement is meant for thy good;
each stroke is working thy healing; by the blueness of the wound thy soul is
made better. “Whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth.” Doubt not his grace, because of thy tribulation, but
believe that he loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of
happiness.” And then, moreover, he says, “What is all thy suffering
compared with that of thy Lord’s or what, when weighed in the scales of
Jesu’s agonies, is all thy distress?” And especially at times does the Holy
Ghost take back the veil of heaven, and lets the soul behold the glory of the
upper world! then it is that the saint can say, “Oh, thou art a Comforter to
me!”

“Let cares like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall;
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heaven, my all.”

Some of you could follow, were I to tell of manifestations of heaven. You
too have left sun, moon, and stars, at your feet, while in your flight,
outstripping the tardy lightning, you have seemed to enter the gates of
pearl, and tread the golden streets, borne aloft on wings of the Spirit. But
here we must not trust ourselves, lest, lost in reverie, we forget our theme.
III. And now thirdly, who are the COMFORTED persons! I like, you know
at the end of my sermon to cry out “Divide! divide!” There are two parties
here-some who are the comforted, and others who are the comfortless
ones- some who have received the consolation of the Holy Ghost, and
some who have not. Now let us try and sift you, and see which is the chaff;
and which is the wheat; and may God grant that some of the chaff may this
night be transformed into his wheat.

You may say, “How am I to know whether I am a recipient of the comfort
of the Holy Ghost?” You may know it by one rule. If you have received
one blessing from God, you will receive all other blessings too. Let me
explain myself: If I could come here as an auctioneer, and sell the gospel
off in lots, I should dispose of it all. If I could say here is justification
through the blood of Christ, free, giving away, gratis; many a one would
say, “I will have justification: give it me; I wish to be justified, I wish to be
pardoned.” Suppose I took sanctification, the giving up of all sin, a
thorough change of heart, leaving off drunkenness and swearing, many
would say, “I don’t want that; I should like to go to heaven, but I do not
want that holiness; I should like to be saved at last, but I should like to
have my drink still; I should like to enter glory, but then I must have an
oath or two on the road.” Nay, but sinner, if thou hast one blessing, thou
shalt have all. God will never divide the gospel. He will not give
justification to that man, and sanctification to another; pardon to one and
holiness to another. No, it all goes together. Whom he calls them he
justifies; whom he justifies, them he sanctifies; and whom he sanctifies,
them he also glorifies. Oh; if I could lay down nothing but the comforts of
the gospel, ye would fly to them as flies do to honey. When ye come to be
ill, ye send for the clergyman. Ah! you all want your minister then to come
and give you consoling words. But if he be an honest man, he will not give
some of you a particle of consolation. He will not commence pouring oil
when the knife would be better. I want to make a man feel his sins before I
dare tell him anything about Christ. I want to probe into his soul and make
him feel that he is lost before I tell him anything about the purchased
blessing. It is the ruin of many to tell them, “Now just believe on Christ,
and that is all you have to do.” If, instead of dying they get better, they rise
up whitewashed hypocrites-that is all. I have heard of a city missionary
who kept a record of two thousand persons who were supposed to be on
their death-bed, but recovered, and whom he should have put down as
converted persons had they died, and how many do you think lived a
Christian life afterwards out of the two-thousand! Not two! Positively he
could only find one who was found to live afterwards in the fear of God. Is
it not horrible that when men and women come to die, they should cry,
“Comfort, comfort?” and that hence their friends conclude that they are
children of God, while after all they have no right to consolation, but are
intruders upon the enclosed grounds of the blessed God. O God! may these
people ever be kept from having comfort when they have no right to it!
Have you the other blessings? Have you had conviction of sin? Have you
ever felt your guilt before God? Have your souls been humbled at Jesus’
feet? And have you been made to look to Calvary alone for - your refuge?
If not, you have no right to consolation. Do not take an atom of it. The
Spirit is a Convincer before he is a Comforter; and you must have the other
operations of the Holy Spirit before you can derive anything from this.
And now I have done. You have heard what this babbler hath said once
more. What has it been? Something about the Comforter. But let me ask
you, before you go, what do you know about the Comforter? Each one of
you before descending the steps of this chapel, let this solemn question
thrill through your souls-What do you know of the Comforter? Oh! poor
souls, if ye know not the Comforter, I will tell you what you shall know-
You shall know the Judge! If ye know not the Comforter on earth, ye shall
know the Condemner in the next world, who shall cry, “Depart ye cursed
into everlasting fire in hell.” Well might Whitfield call out, “O earth, earth,
earth, hear the Word of the Lord! “If we were to live here for ever, ye
might slight the gospel; if ye had a lease of your lives, ye might despise the
Comforter. But sirs, ye must die. Since last we met together, probably
some have gone to their long last home; and ere we meet again in this
sanctuary, some here will be amongst the glorified above, or amongst the
damned below. Which will it be? Let your soul answer. If to-night you fell
down dead in your pews, or where you are standing in the gallery, where
would you be? in heaven or in hell? Ah! deceive not yourselves; let
conscience have its perfect work; and if, in the sight of God, you are
obliged to say, “I tremble and fear lest my portion should be with
unbelievers,” listen one moment, and then I have done with thee. “He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be
damned.” Weary sinner, hellish sinner, thou who art the devil’s castaway,
reprobate, profligate, harlot, robber, thief, adulterer, fornicator, drunkard,
swearer, Sabbath-breaker-list! I speak to thee as well as the rest. I exempt
no man. God hath said there is no exemption here. “Whosoever believeth in
the name of Jesus Christ shall be saved.” Sin is no barrier: thy guilt is no
obstacle. Whosoever-though he were as black as Satan, though he were
filthy as a fiend-whosoever this night believes, shall have every sin
forgiven, shall have every crime effaced, shall have every iniquity blotted
out; shall be saved in the Lord Jesus Christ, and shall stand in heaven safe
and secure. That is the glorious gospel. God apply it home to your hearts,
and give you faith in Jesus!

“We have listened to the preacher-
Truth by him has now been shown;
But we want a GREATER TEACHER,
From the everlasting throne:
APPLICATION Is the work of God alone.”

- C.H. Spurgeon

Giving Thanks For A Good Year

2008-01-25T15:40:00.000+08:00

Giving Thanks For A Good Year

most of u wld hv seen the powerpoint version of The-Vine's A Walk To Remember 2007 during the last combined fellowship. have now made it into a video clip & added in more camp photos at the end.

As u enjoy the pictures, reflect too upon how 2007 has been so richly blest by our heavenly Father, and how you have grown:)

Thank you dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, for the amazing fellowship! Indeed each of you are a beautiful creation of our Lord God!

Let us cherish this beautiful community of Christ God has given us! Amen!

^^

2008-01-20T18:19:00.000+08:00

hi haha. i shall post smth b4 tis blog closes down. then weiteen cant say oni she got post haha =P. so i shall share smth. anw jus now jus came home wanted 2 sen my frend tis project tt's supposed 2 b done, cos she say i send wrong file. then aft de com stopped laggin i realised somehw i didnt save de file or de file disappeared or smth. so i was v anxious lor, cos tmr mus present liao. but thank god cos i aft tt my fren told me she do wadever thing liao. cos i so long still haven sen her. so haha i can go do other hw. n i dun nid stay up tonite. yay =) haha tts y i say i'm a com idiot, not 1st time happening le. de last time de file disappeared de day b4 de presentation, somehw some1 saved it somewhr unknowingly. so we were saved tt time also. haha. yea god always hav a way of doin things bah. like a few days ago i wanted 2 stop playin on9 games at 9. but aft tt i was tinkin nvm can play longer. then rite jus reach 9 oni then disconnected from server. so i cant play. lols. =X
anw jyjy every1 for studies/work/army/anything else ^^
~yingjie

GLORY TO GOD!

2007-12-23T23:07:00.000+08:00

GLORY TO GOD!

6 months...

From the faith to believe
From the burden to reach out
From the love because we were 1st loved

We began A Walk To Remember

A Walk To Remember because it is a walk with God
Because we were so touched
Because we were so called

Moved as He moved
And when we began, He had already prepared the way ahead
He had already promised His omnipresence
He had already given His love

Sometimes, we stumbled a little
Sometimes, we cried a little
Sometimes, we lost heart a little
Sometiems, our faith became little

Many times, He caught us when we were falling
Many times, He dried our tears
Many times, He renewed our hearts
Many times, He increased our faith

Thank you Lord for all You have given!
Thank you Lord for Your faithful providence!

*****In Appreciation*****
Our Heavenly Father whose eternal love abounds!!

Pastor Au who gave the go-ahead

Esther & Yang Hui (Producers)
Esther (Director, Stage Manager)
Yang Hui (Pianist)
Dorcas (Co-Director, Props Manager)
Esther & Dorcas (Worship)

The Cast
Main Cast
Moses (Landon)
Wei Heen (Jamie)
HanWuGe (Old Landon)
Uncle GuoGui (Pastor, Jamie's 爸)
Uncle Spencer (Landon's 爸)
Sister Quennie (Landon's 妈)
Sister Nina(OuYang Laoshi)

The Beloved Kids
NingNing, ZhiYi, JiaYi, BaoYang, ZhengXian, ZhengWen, WeiEn, KeiKei, RuMin, LeMin, LeYi, LeLe

The Heat-Ups
Wen Yuan & Wei Teen (Dancers)

The Adult Choir
MingLuanJie, FangLanJie, Wang-Tai, Lao-Tai, a lady

The Backstage
The Sound/Lights
Halyey, ZhiHao, XinGui, XiuHuaJie, Sheldon, Uncle Steven, Uncle Beng Hui

The Props Machos
XiuQi, XinZu, BaoYang, JunSong, YuSen

The Mike Movers
Wan Ting, Christal

The Decor
YiJuanJie, JingDingJie, RunQiangGe, LaiXingGe etc

The Stylists
Wen Hui, Wan Ting, YanMeiJie

The Ushers/PeiTanYuan
Uncle RongXiang & Team

The Supper
Dorcas, BaoYunJie & Audrey, MingLuan Jie etc

The Publicity
QiMiao, Wei Teen, XiuHuaJie

The MANY MANY others who did the miscellaneous things and doubled up many roles Throughout this walk.
The MANY MANY who kept us all and the musical in prayer.
The MANY MANY who expressed concern & love.
Indeed, this list is not exhaustive.
So THANK YOU to all!

And, let us not forget God's Word in all that we do!
Here is a read for all of us:)

James 1:2-16

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

All Glory to God!

Amen!

Christmas 2007 Invitation!! Musical: A Walk To Remember

2007-12-18T23:37:00.000+08:00

Christmas 2007 Invitation!! Musical: A Walk To Remember

Dear BELOVED FRIENDS,

May this CHRISTMAS bring to you much WARMTH and LOVE, and may it be one in which LIFE means much much more!

I would like to extend a warm invitation to YOU, yes YOU, to join us for a musical 永恒的爱 written and produced by two youths!

Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel 'A Walk To Remember', which has since been produced as a movie in 2002, our church members have come up with an interactive musical to bring you much LOVE, JOY and HOPE this CHRISTMAS.

This musical is bound to evoke a myriad of emotions: Joy, Melancholy, Excitement, Wonder and a warm, snug feel

Main medium of delivery is Mandarin, with some songs in English.
For any age, gender and family!

Tagline (from the movie): Love is like the wind. You can't see it but you can feel it.

We welcome YOU, to take some time off, to join us for this time of FAMILY and LOVE.

Attached are the publicity posters with the details and the venue

We hope to see YOU, then:

Saturday, 22 December 2007

7.30pm - 9.30pm

Bethesda Pasir Ris Mission Church (Hall 1)

11, Pasir Ris Drive 2 Singapore 518458

If YOU are coming, do let us know,

by returning an email or by SMS / phone-call.

Do invite YOUR family & friends too!

We welcome YOU all!

With Love,

All of Us:)

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

Teen & Youth Camp

2007-12-12T20:36:00.000+08:00

Teen & Youth Camp

27-29 Dec 2007

For the dearest teens & youths from The-Vine Fellowship, if u r still debating or considering about whether to sign up for the camp, my advice is a BIG RESOUNDING YES!
much time & effort has been put in to prepare for this camp, and it promises to be one with a fresh aspect of life! what more better than a time for all of us to put aside our many individual preoccupations to come together to celebrate life & fellowship, being bonded together in His love?
especially so as 2007 comes to a close & we await with much anticipation 2008! so dear frens, come join the camp, OUR camp!
u may invite ur frens, cousins, neighbours too!!

Simply left-click to enlarge poster & registration form, then right-click to download form!
i humbly but expectantly await ur POSITIVE replies, u know who u are!

With all Earnestness,

Captain Teenster

'DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK'

2007-12-04T21:30:00.000+08:00

Here's a story tt's may seem long, but will definitely warm ur heart & allow u to look at salvation in a special way:)

'DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK'

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course their freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going onto seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him.

'How many push-ups can you do?'

Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.'

'200? That's pretty good, Steve,' Dr. Christianson said.

'Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.

And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-u ps so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut. By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your push-ups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!'

Jason didn't know what was going on. Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christi anson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a doughnut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book. Steve here is the only student with a perfec t grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten. '

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not only His Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

--------------------
Share this with someone. It's bound to touch their heart and demonstrate Salvation in a very special way.

Guidance

2007-11-28T21:45:00.000+08:00

Guidance

just wanna share what a friend forwarded to me:

When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues,
perhaps with a nudge to the back or
by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".

Encouragement

2007-10-07T19:12:00.000+08:00

Encouragement
Habakkuk is not a so well-read book of the bible for many of us, but herein lies a very beautiful, soul-deep call unto us to TRUST in our Heavenly Father in all circumstances regardless how bleak the situation or how hopeless it may seem in our eyes! Thank you to 争平老师 for reminding us of this verse during Sun School today!

Habakkuk 3: 17-19

17 Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the heights.

哈巴谷书 3: 17-19

17 虽然无花果树不发旺，

葡萄树不结果，

橄榄树也不效力，

田地不出粮食，

圈中绝了羊，

棚内也没有牛；
18 然而，我要因耶和华欢欣，

因救我的　神喜乐。
19 主耶和华是我的力量；

他使我的脚快如母鹿的蹄，

又使我稳行在高处。

Remember this, something a dear fren shared:
God's heavenly plans do not always make earthly sense

But He is loves us all so much, His plans are the BEST!

March forth, Soldiers!

AMKGH Youth Outreach

2007-09-04T00:30:00.000+08:00

宏茂桥福音堂

Ang Mo Kio Gospel Hall
Youth Gospel Rally

*A Familiar Stranger*

Ever thot how we may be strangers to one another... but God knows us...
and we are no different in wanting a significance in our lives...
and desiring God to help us walk this life together...

Someone we do not know, yet Someone we seem to know.
This Familiar Stranger-- He awaits you to open your heart to Him:)

Programme:

6.15pm-7.00pm Carnival

7.00pm onward Worship & Programme

*Drama* *Saxophone Performance* *Medley*

*A capellas* *Crosstalk* *Message for U*

All are warmly welcomed!

Our youths will also be contributing items for the programme!

Pei Ling Hui

2007-08-27T02:01:00.001+08:00

Seminar: Eternal Value in Our Temporal Life
培灵讲座：短暂的生命 * 永恒的价值

Want to be refreshed?
Is you spirit thirsting for something more?
How can we consider eternity beyond our temporal life?
Come find out!
Seminar in Mandarin:)
Click on poster to see details:)
Hope all of us can come for this!!
Among us, Wei Heen, Samuel & myself have heard Dr Lee speak before, and it is VERY inspiring and moving as you are led to rethink about your identity in Christ!

Some Photos :)

2007-08-19T18:54:00.000+08:00

Silence Isn't Golden In This Case

yeah it's been silent here 'cept for the faithful few who drop by to tag:P

perhaps cos we r all too busy with own stuffs we got no time to write our pieces or shout out loud here. so this time, i shall keep my words few, and leave the pics to do the talking eh:D yeah they shd be uploaded on the fotopic gallery but hvnt passed to Dor to do so yet!

mayb more wld be interested THEN to leave ur love msges on the tagboard hee!

oh ye of little faith!

Wild Wild Wet!! (19 April 2007)

many thanks to Uncle Guogui & family for the tickets tt gave us a whole day of FUN:)

Loved the fellowship! Amen!

Sister Deng Ni's Graduation from SBC!! (19 May 2007)
our dear mentor given the charge to go forth to serve God upon graduation!

Lyssandra's Birthday!! (20 May 2007)
1st time celebrating a dear sister's 20th:)

Combined Tuanqi!! (27 May 2007)
the 2 S.Fangs lead their debut duo fellowship

portrait of a beloved family:)

Batam Church Camp (11-14 June 2007)
beautiful memories & wonderful inspiring lessons learned!

YuSen & Isaac 1st placed!

who ever said we dun ever get to see snow & conifers?

esthercie & dorcie: weathered women

marcus' pride being featured with the elders:)

joe's prowess in water:) (the guys didnt want to demonstrate their biceps & six-packs) so this is the best i cld sneak hee:P

Quote of the day: "Ah.. a light unto my path, a lamp unto my feet..." Nina Tang

Bollywood in Batam

The Thinking Woman

acknowledging the abover pose's inspiration frm Auguste Rodin's The Thinker

(of cos The Thinking Woman is more meaningul cos it proclaims the Truth above life in abundance!! thru Jesus!!)
Just look at the SPREAD! salivate!! i know u r!

the Teens Teeming Plates!

One of the Discussion & Sharing Sessions:)

Marooned but Joyous!

All of us frm AMKGH & BPMC!

Saying our thanks

MindCafe (19 June 2007)
thanks to Hoe who initiated a day of fun:)

oh my, for the 1st time ever, i understood what ROWDY really means...

have to hand it to u guys & gals while captain looks on & chuckles!

drinks & fun

Outing to Pasir Ris Park!! (15 July 2007)
the much publicised outing.. too bad no one brought camera so made do with our nokias...

Kings suffering the aftermath of fallen monkeys!

Hoe looks so pro i'm sure he'll do well in NS!

Hoe's 1st @ Fang's blades

Sam showin his loyalty & subservience to esthercie

Yuan's Bday!! (22 July 2007)
celebrating ah-yuan's 20th:) (say goodbye to ur teens!)

Outing to Pasir Ris Park

2007-07-08T17:59:00.000+08:00

Outing to Pasir Ris Park (Youths)
15th July 2007 Sunday

Dear Youth-ers!

Yes! Now is the time we welcome another outing:)
Anyone remember our last outing??
Yes it was during the Mind Cafe, but now somewhere closer to heartland!
Also with our dear Hoe taking the lead.

Ok so here is the programme Hoe sent thru the email placed hear for easy reference for everyone (haha tt is if u do frequent the blog)

Hoe: the above is the schedule that i planned as i incharge of that event that day!!!
haha

NOTE!!!
1. please bring one item (food or drink) to share on that day.
2. wen yuan was suggesting to have zi cha dinner at a coffee shop.
3. it that day is raining, we will stay in church to play board games (but pls pray that it wont rain).
4. if you have any recommendations or any ideas or any changes you want to make or any enquires, please call me or reply me using email.

have a blessed week!!!

KieV

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle

2007-07-04T23:08:00.000+08:00

Jus got this short lil story frm a fren & it indeed is inspiring!
Be inspired too!

*When things in your life seem almost too much to handle*

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A Professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large, empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and put them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full they agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter to you like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal." Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

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

And always remember: when we put God 1st in everything, everything will fall into place not by pure coincidence or by luck, but because God, our Heavenly Father, holds all things together!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。
罗马书：8:28

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8

神能将各样的恩惠多多的加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。
哥林多前书：9:8

2007-06-28T21:07:00.000+08:00

What is dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a viral infection that usually starts suddenly with a high fever. The person experiences:
High, prolonged fever (usually lasts for 5 to 7 days)
Rashes
Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Muscle and joint pains
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Diarrhoea

How is dengue fever spread?
Dengue Fever spreads through the bite of the Aedes mosquitoes.
The transmission cycle for dengue starts when:
Infected Aedes mosquito bites a healthy person.
4-7 days later, the infected person develops fever (after the virus multiplies i.e., incubation period). The person usually then sees a doctor.
When fever starts, the person becomes infectious for about 5 days.
If an Aedes mosquito bites the person during this period when he is infectious, it will pick up the dengue virus in his blood.
The virus takes 7-10 days to multiply in the second mosquito.
The mosquito then becomes infective and the cycle starts again when it bites another person.
An infected person does not spread the virus to another person directly but he becomes a source of dengue virus for the Aedes mosquitoes.

To know about the prevention of dengue, visit this website: http://www.parkwayshenton.com.sg/files/DengueAdvisory.pdf

Urgent Prayer Request

2007-06-28T19:32:00.000+08:00

Hey dear bros n sisters! I hope u guys have been fine:) I have a prayer request here, that is, to pray for my bro. He's being diagnosed with dengue fever, and has been admitted to CGH today. The doctor says that estimated number of days of hospitalization is 5. His platelet dropped from 91 last nite to 67 this afternoon, which was why he needs to be hospitalized, as below 80 must be hospitalized (for ur info normal platelet is around 140).

Pray that his platelet will rise to normal soon, and that his fever will be gone soon too. Also pray for my family, my parents esp, that they will have a gd health and strong immune system to fight any disease, germs, etc. I know that it ain't easy for them to take care of my bro, n somemore my Dad has to work n Mom is recently busy clearing piles n piles of junks at home. Thank God that I've cleared my practicum and finished implementing my 6 lessons! Just have to go back to my centre this coming Mon for an extra day of practicum, and that will mark my last day of being with my adorable K1s! Kinda bu she de tho.. =/ As for my sis, her last working day is this Sat. Anyway, pray that nobody at home will fall sick, esp during this period of time when bro needs our care.

Really wanna thank everyone for ur prayers n concern! =) U guys muz drink lotsa water k, cuz the weather is drastically hot nowadays. And oh, beware of the evil, horrible mosquitoes that can harm u! U all can buy the.. erm, u noe, e ting that can kill mozzies using electricity?! Yup, better play safe! And most importantly, let's continue to pray for one another's health n safety! Pray for my bro too, thanks:) Take loads of care people! May God bless u=)

Lotsa Love,
Wen Yuan

"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -Matthew 18: 19~20

Youth Sunday

2007-06-24T21:25:00.000+08:00

Youth & Teen Sunday
aka 青少年主日
on 1 July 2007
coming Sunday!

Things to take note especially duties!

领唱：多佳 & 志豪
司琴：茵茵
招待：蔚苓 & 婉婷；文苑 & 佳慧
圣餐：蔚莛，蔚蘅，新贵
收圣餐用的杯：浩阳，信律，新杰
收奉献：蔚莛，蔚蘅，新贵

The Talk With God

2007-06-07T00:48:00.000+08:00

heyho! here to break the silence herein & also to share with u this inspirational story i read off Ang Mo Kio Gospel Hall's Timothy Fellowship Blog. Ha! Sorry for those who read their blog, this will be a repeat, but as they alwys say, some things are timeless!
Here begins!

The Talk With God
One day I decided to quit.
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.
I wanted to quit my life.

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I said.
"Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
"Look around", He said.
"Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds,
I took very good care of them.
I gave them light. I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year
the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.

"In year three
there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again,
there was nothing from the bamboo seed.
I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year
a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...
But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots.
Those roots made it strong
and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He said to me.

"Did you know, my child,
that all this time you have been struggling,
you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said.
"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said,
"Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

For those who are tired and discouraged,
hope this little story is helpful to you.
Each one of us play a different role,
and all are important in God's eye.
Yes. God will not give us a challenge He knows we cannot do.
May we all learn to be humble and trust that whatever God allows us go through, is good for us.
Trust in the Lord, for He is the only everlasting one.

Amen!

Luv, Teenster!

2007-05-07T21:22:00.000+08:00

Sam Ling

文化与福音的处境化

2007-05-07T21:11:00.001+08:00

Stephen Tong

基督教信仰与世界宗教及文化

those who have heard him speak, know how he brings across the Word to touch & impact the lives of many.
perhaps some of us still have some doubts within us about our faith.
perhaps some of us are stumped when our frens question us about our faith.
perhaps some of us have been shaken by how the world is today.
whatever reason, we still believe this is our Father's world.
so, if u have the time, or better, if u can make time, make time for His Word.

2007-05-07T21:11:00.000+08:00

Stephen Tong *基督教信仰与世界宗教及文化*

those who have heard him speak, know how he brings across the Word to touch & impact the lives of many.

perhaps some of us still have some doubts within us about our faith.

perhaps some of us are stumped when our frens question us about our faith.

perhaps some of us have been shaken by how the world is today.

whatever reason, we still believe this is our Father's world.

so, if u have the time, or better, if u can make time, make time for His Word.

The day at Wild Wild Wet.

2007-04-30T12:20:00.000+08:00

HELLO everyone! Haha. Im sure everyone's waiting for the much delayed post on our trip to wildwildwet yea! Alrights, umm I'll try to do some recalling here. But eh, i must say i dont exactly have a very good memory, so those who went, please feel free to add on or jus blog a more exciting post about it k! :)

Yup.. So that day thursday we met at ard 2pm and yours truly were the latest haha. And so, the rest of them, which includes teenster, yuan, gui ge and hoe, attempted to trick me by saying they only had 4 tics. But gullible as i might seem, i wasnt taken in! haha. So IN WE WENT!! We all felt so excited can! okae la, maybe only us gals. and hoe. First time there what, cant help it. Hehe. So we quickly changed into our 'attire', and hoe openly expressed his disappointment at not seeing us in er, b*k*n*s. (ohmy, the word b*k*n*s looks wrong, like some vulgar word or sth, but u all know what i meant.) Anw, we were all nicely wrapped up in baggy teeshirts and shorts. Haha. And we took a few photos before we went into the waaaaattttttterr!

The first thing that we jumped in, erm okae not literally JUMPed in but u know.. played, was the SHIOK RIVER! ..where u jus relax urself on a float and let the moving water sweep u along. Then throughout the whole course there are exciting lil things la, like u'd pass thru a tunnel with misty misty mist, or tunnel with sprinkles of water, or jus getting shot at by the angmo lil boy playing with the water guns. -.- So yup, this is really the best thing to start off with, esp if u'r like teenster, who doesnt know how to swim, or me, who have a small phobia of water. Ohoh, the water's jus 1m deep. Haha.

Okae, i can sense that it's going to be a looooonnng post, and to prevent that, i shall jus name the rides and all la huh.. shall not go into small lil details. So luo suo. Haha. So, there's the Tsunami pool! Giant waves and all! Basically we jus got onto the big floats, lying there trying to get tanned (but sadly to no avail..), and so we linked ourselves together, holding on to each other's floats, and we looked like some ATOM or BOND of some sort. OH YEA! Haha sth funny to note, hoe lost his $2 goggles in this pool, or so he thinks la! Faints. Haha. So we all helped to search for his white transparent goggles, but cant find it. So he had to borrow teenster's for some of the rides. Haha.

And there's the favouritest of all our rides: the 5-person-sit-in-a-big-'raft'-and-scream-while-it-slides-down-at-a-zoooooooom-speed water slide, haha no la, it's called the Ular-lah. I guess it's pronounced as Ooh-la-la! Such a funny name eh. But basically the long phrase sorta sums it up. It's really scary the first time round, but subsequently it gets not so exciting, still we jus kept taking the ride(4, 5 times i think) cos we wanna take a nice photo together! Yup so in the end we bought one of the photos, next time can bring for u all to see. :)

Ohoh. There's this really really scary one. It's called the Samsung Slide Up if im not wrong, where 2 of us sit face to face in a bigbig float, and then get pushed off this vertical slide, and it's so fast and scary. Haha. But same thing la, it's not thattt scary after a few times. And pats on all our backs, cos everyone tried! Oh yea.. Xingui screamed the loudest for this ride! Hahaha.

The big Yakult bucket was funn too. and not to forget, PAINFUL. Some clock would go 'ting ting ting ting tingtingting........' and suddenly all these water collected in the bigbigbig (think GIGANTIC) tank right at the top would jus be overturned onto the ppl waiting down there. First time we all went to try. And yuan and i got pushed away by the force of the water. Imagine how forceful it is to be able to push ME away. Wahaha. But the guys like it la, they kept going back for more. Teenster wasnt too bad either. But it was too painful for me and yuan. Haha.

There's also 2 long water slides, but only hoe and xingui went for it, cos u hafta be in ur swimming gear to take the rides. And since we wasnt 'properly attired' we jus entertained ourselves by playing with the water guns and animals spurting water out of their mouths. Heard from them the slides were pretty fun too! Too bad we didnt try la, but its okae. I'd rather be all wrapped up. Hehh.

Hmmm there are also things like the jacuzzi with a mini waterfall, the big water playground (where the Yakult bucket was located) with many slides, oh i always get stuck on them, so paiseh.. Hmm yeps.. That's about all! We had lots of fun and laughter and teasing and umm water andd... Just glad to be able to spend that day with some of u guys la! Haha. Great time of bonding. :) :) :)

And so the day ended off with a dinner at BK, and then teen and gui had to rush off for the bible class.. Had a tiring but fantastic day!

With lots and lots of love again,
Dorcas :)

Timid Yuan goes Escape Theme Park!

2007-04-28T00:17:00.000+08:00

Hello dearies! This is dearest Yuan speaking;) Yeah my exceptional children exam is finally over! Yes, FINALLY!! =) Thank God that it was fine. In fact, what I find amazing is.. I feel God has guided me every step of the way. From studying to writing down notes to memorizing to final revision to the exam..He's been in control!=) This morning I was finishing up my last bit of revision on the train, and guess what? The EXACT questions came out for Section C! Thank God that at last I managed to recall the definition for "dyslexia" despite being stuck at first. Indeed, God's grace is sufficient for me and I am really thankful to Him:)

Oh did I mention that I went to Escape Theme Park a few weeks ago? If not for my relative's free tickets, I wouldn't have go. Haha. I went with a friend as Dad handled me 2 tix. Woah it was fun! Only if you've tried those scary yet challenging game rides! At the end of the day, I felt a great sense of accomplishment, cuz I finally tried things which I thought I'd never have tried in my life. Haha. My friend kept saying that I am timid, but in my heart I know I am no longer the timid Wen Yuan, cuz I finally tried the Pirate Ship, Family Coaster and Floom! Maybe to some it's a no-big-deal, but to me it's really something:) Wah the Pirate Ship is the most spine-chilling yet thrilling of all! This is the first time in my life that I shouted like crazy at the top of my lungs whenever I reached the top and the ship started going down. The feeling is rather hard to be described. Hmm perhaps it's like your heart falling into pieces from the 20th storey?! Haha abit sarcastic? You've gotta experience it yourself! ;) If I am not wrong, I was stuck on the pirate ship for like 3 mins? I was desperately wanting to get down, yet there's no way out! All I could do was to SCREAM as loud as I could as a form of relief. Haha mind you, your beloved Yuan really screamed like mad. Should have recorded my screams for you guys to hear right? =P haha. And guess what? Towards the end of the ride my hands and feet were all NUMB! Probably due to the fright! The Family Coaster (also known as the children's roller coaster) is kinda scary yet thrilling too. Thank God my friend is much bigger size and meaty than me! I clinched on closely to her and shouted crazily too. The coaster moved super fast! Floom was another thrilling one, yet the thrill only lasted for a few seconds. My friend and I were in this small lit' boat that slowly went 3 storeys high up (at abt 45degrees) and zoomed down from the peak into the water with a big splash! When the boat reached the peak, I felt as if I'm at the top of the world. Hence you can imagine how high it is! Again I screamed with my eyes closed and before I could even open my eyes, I felt a big splash. I was all wet then. Well, I would say my favourite ride is still the Go-Kart. My friend drove and I just sat there enjoying the breeze and of cuz, the thrill and fun! Wow she drove at full speed! Haha but nevertheless, I still enjoyed the exciting ride=) You guys should go there and have fun too, especially if you are those who likes thrill and excitement. Hees. Yet for those who are timid, fret not, cuz you can always turn your timidity to boldness if you are willing to give it a try:) I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I do=)

Well, think I shall blog about Wild Wild Wet another day!Haha those who went can also blog about it first=) Okie the night is not so young already, gotta sleep! Goodnite people!

Toodles!=)

2007-04-18T14:44:00.000+08:00

Hello All! For those of u who have fallen in LOVE with the canto song, do note tt it is not a cantopop from the likes of Sammi Cheng, Cass Pang, Andy Lau... kind! It bears a deeper meaning abt the true eternal love of Jesus, seen on the cross, the blood He shed for us, and on His nail-scarred hands!

Here are the lyrics, u may wanna sing along after listening to it much, but i'll teach u the correct pronunciations, so in good time, we may put it up as a song item, or as i'm thinking, part of a christmas outreach!

爱是不保留

常听说世界爱没长久，哪里会有爱无尽头?

尘俗的爱只在乎曾拥有，一刻灿烂便要走!

而我却确信爱是恒久，碰到了你已无别求，

无从解释﹑不可说明的爱，千秋过后仍长存不朽!

谁人受痛苦被悬挂在木头? 至高的爱尽见于刺穿的手，

看! 血在流反映爱没保留，持续不死的爱到万世不休!

惟求奉上生命全归主所有，要将一切尽献于我主的手，

我已决定今生再没所求，惟望得主称赞已足够!

Teenster:)

2007-04-18T10:18:00.000+08:00

Hey peeps..
Jus take note yea, there's a slight change to the timing to meet for WWW. Instead of 2.15, we're going to meet at 1.45pm. Cos hoeyong is going to end his lessons earlier.

Time: 1.45pm
Place: Bus stop outside downtown east

And please confirm ur attendance with me ya! Thanks! Seeya tmr! =)

Dorcas

To Wild Wild Wet!

2007-04-17T12:08:00.000+08:00

HELLO EVERYONE!
Haha, yes how exciting, we're going to go to WILD WILD WET! Haha. Yup so everything's confirmed alr, and we jus need some participation. Haha.

When: Thursday(19/4)
Time to meet: 2.15pm
Where to meet: The bus stop outside Downtown East

Please be punctual k! Cos i'm sure we all want to play for as long as we can. Haha. The place closes at 7pm, and maybe after that those who dont have anything on can go for dinner together or something, or we can all leave earlier so that all of us can have dinner together. Yup.

Oh ya, no worries k, the tics are free. Cos Xiuhua Jie's relative came to Singapore and she stayed at the chalet near there, so she received alot of free tics for www. Okae la, not allllllloooottt, but she got 12 tics. And Xiuhua Jie and family generously gave it to us. So rmb to thank them when we see them in church okae. Cos i believe i wouldnt have thought of going if not for the free tics haha.

One more thing, please bring along some $1 coins? Im not very sure too, but i think the locker rental needs the 1dollar coins. It's $2 rental fee, maybe we can share one or two lockers.

Yup, everyone's welcome yea! Jus inform me DORCAS if u're going. U can tag at the tagboard, or more preferably drop me an sms or give me a call. Thanks alot! Ummm.. Shao nian ren, if u all see this, and feel like going, i think also can la right.. Jus make sure u all tell ur parents ur whereabouts and make sure u finish up ur hw for the day. But if u have a test on friday, please stay at home to mugg k.

Currently those going are me(Dorcas), Hoeyong, Weiteen(not confirm), Wenyuan. Okae, im sure u all know the phrase the more the merrier yea! So everyone please come and enjoy urself!

With lots and lots and lots of LOVE,
Dorcas :)

P.S. Pray that it would not rain k.. The weather's pretty weird these days.

End Times

2007-04-14T23:45:00.000+08:00

Sneak Preview!

or rather, an early notice!
Some changes to our schedule as most of u would hv known by now:
Bro. Hosea (we all know whose heart skips MANY beats at this name... for those of u who dun... u got a nice show to watch on the sunday itself seeing someone turn tomato red ) will be coming down to speak to us abt End Times * 末世 on 6th May 2007, during Youth Fellowship.
So 青年团契 that day will be from 1230-2pm.
As he will be speaking thru the book of Revelations, and explaining the signs mentioned in the Bible, it would be good if u all take some time reading thru Revelations before the sunday, so u understand what he is speaking about, and can question him based on what you have read.
Yup cos Revelations is very symbolic in nature it is higly recommended u go thru it at least once! Yes so here's the early notice tt u may start reading Revelations;)

2007-04-12T00:11:00.000+08:00

ah me darrlings..

exams ended! Phew, it was a longhaul at that in a world of microbes & neuroanat, and am truly glad i got some little time to spare to relax abit and await with bated breath the outcome.
jus a point of interest & a microscopic view to wat i've been studying, perhaps the most oriental of names of a bacteria lovingly known as orientia tsutsugamushi, causative organsim of scrub typhus.
will be starting clinicals on 23 april, so less than 2 weeks to rest myself, and also not sure what to expect, but i believe our Heavenly Father will always see us thru each day of our lives, and His plans and purposes are the best:

as received from a dear fren sometime last year thru sms, a very encouraging thot:
"God's heavenly plans do not always make earthly sense"

indeed every so often we doubt what God has in store for us, what we may experience at times may all seem not what we would have expected of God, but that is our human opinion, which does not tie in with God's if we do not constantly seek His purpose. may it be so that as we seek God earnestly, and as we come to know God more personally (note: not know about God, but know God), our heartbeats will resonate with His, and we know full well that we do things according to His will.

not easy, never easy. but by faith, learning to trust and obey our Almighty God!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Romans 8:28

Emmanuel,
Wei Teen

Message from dearest Yuanz...

2007-04-01T18:44:00.000+08:00

Happy Aprils' Fool Day people! =) Seeing that nobody except our dearest "Chuan zhang" blogging, I shall break the "silence" and blog here for my very first time! Hehe. Oh actually, I do have a private blog. I used to keep my very own diary in the past, but due to my hectic lifestyle I stopped penning down my thoughts. I chose to blog instead since I'd be using the com every now and then for checking emails, doing reasearch and assignments as well as surfing the net. Anyway, people, don't try hacking into my private blog ok! Haha. It's top secret=X

School has been fine. Thank God for giving me strength for each new day!=) Erm just in case some of you still do not know where I'm studying now, I'm taking up this Diploma in Early Childhood Edu course at RTRC (Regional Training and Resource Centre) Asia. My school is located at the 4th level of NTUC Trade Union House, which is very near Chijmes and next to SMU admin building. My last lesson would be on 18May, afterwhich I'd be having my practicum and completing my assignments till some time around July. Currently I'm having my practicum every Wed, where I'm attached to Pasir Ris NTUC Childcare. It's fun interacting with my K1 kids, observing how they carry themselves and grow in their own unique ways. Besides observing, I'm also required to implement lessons and help in routine care. It feels really heart-warming when kids tell you "Teacher Wen Yuan, I love you!" or come to you and give you a big warm hug. Hence, working with children can really brighten up your day! Even though they may sometimes create trouble, yet we know that children are good in nature. Which child doesn't want to be good? Of course they want, just like any of us! =) I learn that we should not discourage children, but praise and encourage them more! Sometimes, I really can't help thinking...Children are indeed wonderful beings created by God our maker!=) Each and every one of them is unique, just like you and me! :)

Thank God that Esther passed her exams! She's now as carefree as a lark! A happy lark, haha.. Esther, hope that you will enjoy your break and have a safe trip to Shanghai=) Hope that Moses is also having a great time at Japan right now. Today Hoe teased Dorcas that Moses will find pretty ladies from japan! Haha, so funny! And not forgetting Heen & King who will be back in S'pore tonight! Received Teen's msg the other day and was relieved to hear that all of them were fine. Wonder how they've been these few days... May they reach S'pore safely tonight:) Oh yes, let's all keep our "chuan zhang" in prayer too as she'd be having her exams on 9th & 11th April. Ting jie, jiayou wor! gei ni yi dian xi gua, chi le ni jiu hui cong dian (recharge your batt) !=D

By the way, Junwei, we are all happy to see you in our midst today! Do come every Sunday ok, we'd like to see you often! =) How can tuanqi be without you?! And my very own sis (Wen Hui), do join us for Sunday School and fellowship if you have the time! All of us hope you can join us too!=)

Okie, I shall blog till here for today. I still have school tomorrow, and I need to do some research for my assignments now. Dear bros and sisters, may all of you have a blessed week ahead! Let's continue to shine for God, be it in our studies or our daily lives. God bless:)

Love,
Wen Yuan

Lost & Found During Event

2007-03-22T19:50:00.000+08:00

Hello Everyone!

Been asked to post this:
Did anyone lose their sweater on 17 March 2007 during the Event?

It's with Frankel Church now:)

Review: Combined Brethren Churches Games-Buffet Dinner-Music Fest

2007-03-22T16:56:00.000+08:00

Review of Combined Brethren Churches Event!

Dearest all!

Sorry for the delay in this post!

I am sure for those who went, you'd agree that you enjoyed yourself that afternoon & evening, in the midst of many many teens & youths, you played well, sung well, put your heart into it!

Whoo-Hoo!
We went as the Reds (Soccer fans like XiuQi & Jiahui will know that's the tag of either EPL's Manchester United of Liverpool), changed to the Blues (EPL's Chelsea) & made an impact! Yeah, we're not as 帅 as C.Ronaldo etc, well, we were absolutely thumbs-up!

So heartened to see us all united, to see us all so enthusiastic even if others were not, and I must say we really really played hard, cheered loud, sung amazingly, posed sportingly & danced well!

To review the day's events- some nice & memorable stuff impressed upon the sulci and gyri of our brains & also for those who didnt go, u can see what we did!

*Arrival*
-on arrival in church van, we were brought over to Katong Special School for games by Timothy (Frankel), whom we have different opinions abt, you make the choice *winks*
-when we reached Katong School, Moses commented the atmosphere wasnt as friendly as he expected
-the organising comm called for guys to help with carrying the drinks, and Dorcas immediately put down her bag & stepped forward, blushing 通红 thereafter in stark realisation (act macho eh?!)
-Dor was asked by Sis LeckPing (Frankel) abt our red shirt
-Moses' chinese name 信律 was paralleled with AiZhen 传道's (Ang Mo Kio/AMK) baby son's chinese name 律成 (Romans 13:8-10, which ends of with "therefore love is the fulfilment of the law") of which Moses insisted his wasnt & that his was all about Exodus (well u all can go visit the baby's blog n decide if Moses & Lambert look alike @http://www.lambertletters.blogspot.com/) ha!

*Games*
-we were split into our diff grps:
Grp 1: Wei Teen, Dorcas, Xinjie, Xiuqi {led by yours truly}
Grp 2: Wei Heen, Xingui, Wanting {led by Timothy}
Grp 3: Kingslin, Moses, Kangqi (Esther & Yanghui joined in during telematch) {led by WanZhen}
-we agreed that our wearing red made some ppl feel uncomfortable, incl Sis LeckPing (Frankel) & Jean, my teammate (AMK)
-we started going thru names of ppl in our grps, make smalltalk & tried to be friendly (good job!) & took grp photos even b4 games started
-games started with rotational rounds of *hold the eggs*, *pass the seaweed* (where cos of dry weather & dry lips & speed, some of u got cut on the lips, noted in the evaluation meeting), *eat bread dipped in wasabi*
-then each grp came up with a cheer
Grp 1: Gambalei Gau Gau! (x2) We are GanYu (x2) We are the best, we beat the rest! (complete with actions)
Grp 2: Everywhere we Go-o, ppl wanna know-ow...
Grp 3: Fly Kite, Mix the spirit up...
-then telematch started... blow & sit on balloon, suck pingpong with straw... chopstick kacang puteh... eat grape with face in tub... sprint... take off wateva u can to form the longest line... phew!
-Grp 1 din cheat on balloons & Grp 3's leader WanZhen (PPH) decided to go off halfway to sit in the shades
-end of games
-gathered for final cheer
-then Grp leaders say out the names of their members (ha! got them all & believe it or not, can still remember every1's names & faces:
Grp 1- Amanda/Yunrui, WangHui, AnXun, Jerome, Joshua (Frankel)
- Wei Teen, Dorcas, Xinjie, Xiuqi (Xuandao)
- Caleb, Sheryl, Shermaine, Meiling DS, JianLing, Jean, Lynn (AMK)
- HongJuan, GanYu, LiFang, AnNi (Pasir Panjang Hill)
& our Gambelei Fusheng DS (Eunos)
-Aye, Grp 1, we got the bonuses but still came in last with 150pts
-Grp 3, 2nd with 155pts
-Grp 2, 1st with 185pts

*Assemble & Say Grace for Dinner*
-Elder 王百磊 (Frankel) noted this as a nationwide historical event in the Brethren 144yrs history

*Dinner*
-sat at different tables:
Uncle GuoGui, XiuHuaJie, ZhiYi, JiaYi
Esther, Yanghui, Moses, Xinjie, Xiuqi
Kangqi, Kingslin, Dorcas, Wei Teen (& Timothy)
Wei Heen, Wanting, Pastor Au & the elder who took the video for concert
-dinner was a hilarious affair with Timothy trying to exert his authority
-& thankfully our Kangqi made some excellent swipes at him (WOW- dun ever belittle the littlest as said in 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.) well we cld expect it since Kangqi is in Fencing!

*Changing & Final Run-thru of Items*
we were the 1st ones to go on stage, and of cos nervy, did a run-thru in the carpark with small actions

*Concert*
-WOW! we made an impact 1st with our a cappella "The Command of Love" written by Esther & Yanghui
-then we shuffled ourselves & prepared for the nx BIG thing: Somebody Bigger Than U & I/有一位大于你和我 complete with actions & fun!
-Esther & Yanghui started with harmony of 1st verse in english, with the rest of us posing cooly, backs facing audience, giving them due time to read our fellowship verse John 10:10, except Moses on standby to be hip
-Moses skipped across the stage snapping & dooming away.
-Teen & Heen then turned with snapping & dooming.
-then Dor, King & Sam turned with the melody
-Esther & Yanghui stepped up, with Esther making the call ‘大家一起来！’, which surprised some of the audience, while some goodnatured ones tried to snap along
-Moses was enjoyed by a lady who pointed at him & beamed excitedly (noted by Esther)
-we enjoyed it ourselves on the stage, overjoyed by the response from the audience who were smiling away!
-when we ended the item, loud applause! Well done!
-kudos to esther for the cheoreographing! (ya know, they loved it & Sis Leck Ping commented during the review meeting tt 我们有台风！)
-nx up was the complete band from Eunos, self-composed song '寻找永恒的爱’
-then the 白衣天使 from PPH with a medley of songs
-then Frankel's ‘彩虹下的约定’& the favourite canto ‘爱不保留’，‘主祷文’，& Hokkien ‘若是有你在我生命中’& a Jap/Chinese song ‘为爱而生’
-Yanghui later tried to push Esther on stage to sing more, telling ppl ard tt Esthercie wanted to sing
-the dear emcees from Eunos, the guy was at a loss of words for the concert ending earlier than expected & repeatedly said ‘时间真是过得很快’
-Pastor Au gave the closing prayer
-we took last few shots as a fellowship & invited Frankel's brothers & sisters in Christ to join us too
-Goodnite Everybody as we made our departure, for now, but God-willing, in His eternal good grace, to meet the next time round!

at the end of the day, kudos to the organising committee, for every1 who put so much time & effort into the event, and for us all for making it good in God's abundant grace!
Amen!

Emmanuel,
Wei Teen

2007-03-15T00:09:00.000+08:00

~Combined Brethren Churches GamesBuffetDinnerMusicFest~Remember our Date:)))

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

12noon
Youths Only

Meet in church for final practice of two a cappellas.

Take good care of your beautiful voices!

Meaning:

1. STOP indulging in chocs & biscuits (esp Dor)

2. Drink lots of water & LuoHanGuo
(Hoe, we know u dun like LHG but for once pls?!)

How much water to drink? Find out here!

Also be ready to sing & sweat it out:P

2pm
Teens & Youths!!
Meet in our church BPMC, we will go down to
Frankel Church (near Kembangan)
together in church van

3-3.15pm
Arrival at Frankel Church, Registration,
Groupings for Games

3.30-5pm
Arrival at Katong School for Games
(next to Frankel Church)
We'll be having fun in the school field

5.30-6.45pm
Buffet Dinner and Set up Stage for Concert

6.45pm
Proceed to Chapel... Quiet down...

7-8.30pm
Music Concert!
Our Youths will be presenting 2 a cappellas:

1. 有一位大于你和我 / Somebody Bigger Than You & I

2. The Command Of Love

Programme expected to end around 8.30-9pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Note cos we are playing under the sun,
so if you are those who perspire alot,
kindly bring along spare T-shirt to change as we'll be entering chapel for concert:)
If u are afraid of the big sun,
bring along ur sunblock blah blah,
or if u want a good tan, u can just go as u are:)
Let us go and have fun, and make new friends and expand our horizons! Enjoy!

Cheers,
Wei Teen

Welcome All!

2007-03-13T18:21:00.000+08:00

hello hello 欢藤团契！Welcome!!! :)))

for us all to connect with one another over the week (aside from meeting on sundays & for special occasions), it would be good idea to set up this blog for us to post updates, prayer requests, photos, sharings, encouragements, schedules.... the list goes on! anything at all under the sun:)

some notes about the name of our blog-
we shd all know this verse from the Bible:

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

耶和华啊，现在你仍是我们的父！
我们是泥，你是窑匠；我们都是你手的工作。
以赛亚书 64:8

indeed, without God as our Potter, we the clay will just be an amorphous lump of brown stuff which has no function in this world, but God chose to breathe the breath of life into us and He did not stop there-- He moulds us lovingly, bit by bit, to be more like Him each day, moment by moment.

Pray as we are moulded, we will continue to grow more and more like Chirst, and may all we do and say be His perfect crafting, nothing less!

All praise and glory to our Potter!
And may the Clay go forth to shine for the Potter!

In His Love,
Wei Teen