Pray For IRAQI Christians

Hey everyone, hope you all are willing to pray and give some money.. if you want to give some money, tell me and i'll do it for you, can pay me after that... thanks.. :)

Or, if u have a credit card, you can do it yourself here:

http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/PageNavigator/GiftCatalog20082009

Last Sunday In 2008

And so ends the last sunday of the year... as well as the last evangelistic event, yesterday, and soon the last week of 2008... time sure flies... and more so when u count the years...

Today was a unique sunday for me.. very unique. For the first time in like 5 years (estimate), i didnt attend sunday service, cos i was at home in case my mother needs any help or looking after... she had bad stomachache but thank God now she's already ok... actually, i had stomachache too, but i think mine was normal lah =)

Then, went to Church, fellowship as usual (hand cramped a few times trying to play the classical guitar for the welcome song, which was almost all bar chords!), then... at night something most unique - JC class reunion!

Such reunions just make people think back to the times they spent together... I can hardly imagine that it was almost 8 years ago when we first met in Jan 2001, ACJC, for orientation and then met as a class... really can recall those days - the days of nonsensical games trying to make guys and girls stick closer, mass dance, then lesson after lesson, day after day... i guess the more memorable times were caused by the super playful classmates pranking each other and the teachers (oh man....) and the fun fair that we did, trying to raise exorbitant amounts of money from cheap stuff and a lot of marketing and peer pressure. (It all went to the school.).. Well... its been like 6 years since i'd seen some of my classmates.. strangely everyone seemed not to have aged much... but i guess the stuff we're doing are really different... one girl is engaged already.. another is a lawyer now (or soon), and another one working for the Nu You magazine (some of u know her).. as for the guys, most are still studying... well, actually only 7 ppl came and the rest are probably overseas... rich ppl lah...

Sometimes it seems like not long ago when we were still in class, dozing off and laughing at lame jokes... i feel like i'm not that old yet.. but seriously.. its been almost a decade since the beginning of JC. Just another indication of something important - we all dont have much time left in this world... when 6 years can pass like that... army + many long holidays and university life... it can be concluded that drifting through life year after year without any purpose or any knowledge of where one is going is very possible and very likely to happen to those caught unaware.. we can pursue many objectives in life but at the end... what do they all count for?

Yup.. those are my thoughts for the reunion... as for 2008, really thank God for many things (already listed in prayer req, but here they are again):

1. for His grace in each one of our lives, especially in 2008 - many ups and downs but His purpose prevails through it all
2. for another year of our lives over - 1 year closer to Heaven, but also 1 year less to do His work
3. for the Church and CYYAM and all those who care for us - its a joy to be loved and to love
4. for His faithfulness throughout the years and His love for us sinners
5. for the events in Dec - really good although tiring, and for the YA and YF work that He has blessed
6. for the chance to serve Him and to experience life at the fullest, together..

And some prayer:

1. for each of us to refocus back on God before the new year begins - equip ourselves (in His Word) to do His work
2. for follow up work to be done especially for the recent events - that we will do our best for each and every seeker to feel God's love
3. for 2009 - that CYYAM will be able to continue to grow in depth and width and continue to put our all to advance His Kingdom
4. for each of us individually to experience the victory in life from giving our all, 100%, to God
5. for closer walk with God everyday for everyone in CYYAM and our Church in 2009
6. for revival to come in 2009 - that seems to have already begun...!!

Yup... guess 2008 was a memorable year and many things happened... really happy to see the YA and YF growing and be part of it... its truly a joy... and its my hope that in 2009, we'll all continue to grow closer to God, desire Him and His Word more, and as a result, be greatly used by God to advance His Kingdom, wherever we are....




On a side note, I just saw an article that gave a new perspective on President Bush:

http://sec.online.wsj.com/article/SB123025595706634689.html

To summarise, the author actually is a friend and aide of the president. In the past 3 years, they have challenged each other to see who can finish more books and each year, and although the president lost, he has read 95, 51, and 40 books for 2006, 2007, and 2008. Amazing. And just look at the books he reads.. Not story books or those easy reads.. History, biographies, and current affairs make up the main portion of his list. And, most importantly to me, he read the Bible once through each year as well. This is definitely only possible through great self discipline.. as President of the US, i'm sure he is as busy as we can be.. and yet he can find time to read through the Bible once? thats like 5 chapters per day.... all of you who have tried before know what its like... and on top of that, about 1 book per week, non-fiction?

I guess this shows that it is possible to make better use of our time... We dun need to read so many books but at least the Bible for a start...? I'll try to do this in 2009 and finish the whole Bible... another self-discipline related issue to work on... :) remind me ok...?

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

O night, O holy night, O night divine!

.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,

Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.

The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friends.

He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

.

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

O Little Town Of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

O Come O Come Emmanuel

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny

From depths of Hell Thy people save

And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,

And open wide our heavenly home;

Make safe the way that leads on high,

And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,

In ancient times did'st give the Law,

In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

When we think of the world if Christ did not come, we realise just how significant and how glorious His birth here is. And how thankful we should be.. For He has brought us from utter darkness.. into the light...

My Results!

Hello everyone.. got my results today... thank God.. not too bad though its not good enough to get me a 2nd Upper Honours... but thats ok...

Principles of Economics
A-

Science of Music
A+

Quantum Mechanics 3
B-

Surface Physics
B+

This's sem's average point: 4.125 (these 4 modules)
CAP: 3.78 (Over 7 Semesters)

Abraham Laboriel

Hello.. this post is about a bassist. A guy who plays bass. He's good!! and he's Christian... In fact he's so good that he has played on more than 4000 recordings and performances! One of the most sought after studio musicians in the US.. This intro video to him shows him playing a very simple but very groovy interpretation of "He Is Exalted"... I like....

Beautiful Music

Hello everyone.. Exams are over finally.. thank God the papers were quite ok... anyway here's a few guitar videos by this Christian guitarist who is world famous among the guitarist circle (yet, i only just discovered him!!)... my favourite is the first video... i don't know about you all, but it just makes me imagine some beautiful and peaceful land far away... :) well.. enjoy and please listen with good speakers and turn up the volume.... if time is short, at least hear the first one... =)

Phil Keaggy - The Wind and the Wheat

Phil Keaggy - Addison's Walk

Phil Keaggy - Castle's Call / Pilgrim's Flight

Comments, please! :)

Grown Up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Heard this in my iPod the other day.. one of the nice secular Christmas songs.. Well, guess the composer intended to reflect on the state of the world, the loss of childlike innocence, and how much people have suffered... Definitely can identify with some of the lyrics, mainly those in the chorus. But at the same time, also know that its not possible anymore... "no more lives torn apart, that wars would never start"? thats like so impossible in the state of the world now.. lives have been torn apart by sin and by other humans ever since the Fall in Genesis...

Yet, there is a glimpse of hope... and for us, this hope is a sure hope.

Our hope: "our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20. When His Kingdom comes, under His rule, no more lives will be torn apart, no more wars will start, He will heal our hearts, and of course, right will always win. Meanwhile, as we share the gospel to more people, we participate in the advancement of His Kingdom's establishment in the hearts of those around us.. :)


Well, really thank God the wednesday paper was ok, the first QM paper that all the questions more or less can do.... Thank God for His grace and thanks everyone for your support and encouragement.... last paper on monday!

Procrastination

Hello everyone... you all may be wondering if the reason i'm writing this post now, the day before my very tough paper, has anything to do with the title... :) well.. er... just came across a few good blog posts, so thought i'll share them... The topic is on procrastination, something many of us face i guess... The author should be familiar to most people - if u all read "I Kissed Dating Goodbye", he's Joshua Harris' mentor C.J. Mahaney...

So here they are... in order of reading..

Are You Busy?

Confessions of a Busy Procrastinator

The Procrastinator Within

Just Do It

Ok... a quote, then back to studying..............

"No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it."

-Alexander MacLaren (1826–1910), Scottish preacher

How Pastor John Piper Approaches God When Feeling Rotten

I just read this on the Desiring God Blog today... good reminder.... (Link)

Pastor John Piper said:

A vague bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance.

This morning I began to pray, and felt unworthy to be talking to the Creator of the universe. It was a vague sense of unworthiness. So I told him so. Now what?

Nothing changed until I began to get specific about my sins. Crummy feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction for sins. Vague feelings of being a bad person are not very helpful. The fog of unworthiness needs to take shape into clear dark pillars of disobedience. Then you can point to them and repent and ask for forgiveness and take aim to blow them up.

So I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind.

Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, 100%. (Matthew 22:37)

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)

Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling—inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)

Cast all your anxieties on him—so you are not being weighed down by it anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)

Only say things that give grace to others—especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)

Redeem the time. Don’t fritter or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)

Set your mind on things that are above. Connect all your thoughts to Christ. (Colossians 3:2)

Do not return evil for evil—like when your wife or daughter says something you don’t like. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Rejoice always, and again I say rejoice. Always. If sorrowful, keep rejoicing. (Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:10)

Give thanks in all circumstances. All. All. All. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

So much for any pretensions to great holiness! I’m undone.

But now it is specific. I look it in the eye. I’m not whining about feeling crummy. I’m apologizing to Christ for not keeping all that he commanded. I’m broken and I’m angry at my sin. I want to kill it, not me. I’m not suicidal. I’m a sin hater and a sin murderer (“Put to death what is earthly in you” Colossians 3:5. “Put to death the deeds of the body” Romans 3:18.)

In this conflict, I hear the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). Peace rises. Prayer feels possible and right and powerful again.

In the midst of exam preparations now... Hope this helps u all as well...

New YA Group Blog!

Hello everyone... this is to help publicise the new YA Group Blog!!




My brother's group has set up a blog and the link its at the side under "Truth Bearer Group Blog" and here as well... do visit them and tag! also can add comments for the posts next time...

Ok see you all... ....Exams ending on 1 Dec..... :)

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Words and music by Ira Stanphill

Dunno if this can be considered a hymn.. but anyway its a classic Christian song that I like very much... :) especially these few days....

Set Your Mind On Things Above

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

- Colossians 3:1-3

Just read this passage last night (Col 3). It was really a good reminder to fix my eyes and my mind on the things of God and not on this world... its not wrong to think about things that are in this world (which is definitely necessary...), so what does it mean to set our minds on things above?

Well.. i think that it means that we must let the things of God occupy our minds more than any other concerns or things... We must "seek the things that are above" -> meaning that our desires must not be for the things that are temporal and which will fade away.. .....definitely difficult!! To test what are you seeking (or desiring) today, ask yourself: what makes me excited today? what topics will make my eyes brighten and my heart beat faster when i talk about them? Those are the things that we truly seek and desire. From another point of view, we can also ask.. do the things above (prayer, God's Word, salvation of sinners, etc) make me passionate and excited, make my heart beat faster...?

Of course, to "set our minds" on these things also means that the things that God is concerned about are also our #1 concerns. And these things must be part of our considerations whatever we are doing in our daily life...

How can this be possible if the world has so many attractions and distractions already prepared for us 24/7? I guess one of the ways we can help each other is by obeying Colossians 3:16...

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
- Colossians 3:16

This is the way we should interact with brothers and sisters-in-Christ. Is God a part of our conversations all the time? Or are we just another social club?

May we remember that we... "have died" and that "Christ... is [our] life".

Jesus Paid It All

If you all noticed, today this hymn was played during the Lord's Supper...

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Refrain

And when before thy throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

Refrain

(Some versions include the following verses as well)

And now complete in Him,
My robe, His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Refrain

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Refrain

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Refrain

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Refrain

Text: Elvina Hall
Music: John T. Grape
First published: 1868

“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’” -Isaiah 1:18.

Indeed, "Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow..." May we ever remember this and be eternally grateful....

Rock Of Ages

Instalment 2, after a long break....beautiful lyrics..

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
Music: Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872

Pray for India !!!

Violence against Christians Rages in India

Rebel groups continue to burn and loot churches and attack Christians in Orissa and Karnataka, India, while new attacks are being reported in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. While the attacks continue, the death toll among believers continues to rise as they struggle to survive in refugee camps where access to clean water and safe food is severely limited.

New Attacks in Uttar Pradesh

The latest report of violence came September 16 in Uttar Pradesh, a state in north central India, when four GFA missionaries were attacked while handing out tracts. Hindu extremists confronted the missionaries, grabbed their cell phones and used them to make threatening phone calls to the GFA state office. They vehemently told the men to "stop converting Hindus into Christianity" and mercilessly beat the missionaries.

A missionary school in Kerala was also attacked September 15, according to a report issued by the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

Orissa in Crisis

The situation is even grimmer in Orissa, where Hindu radicals have been on a rampage since August 22. This week, a mob estimated to be 500 people attacked a police station, killing one officer and taking several others hostage. The BBC reports that the incident is thought to be in retaliation for police opening fire on a group of Hindu protestors over the weekend. Four people died, and many others were injured in the ensuing melee.

The protestors were reported to have been on a rampage burning down homes and prayer halls in the village of Kurtamgarh. When police tried to disperse the crowd, someone in the group fired a shot and injured an officer. Police say they were forced to open fire to control the situation.
Attacks against Christians in Orissa were commonplace, but they intensified into an organized ethnic cleansing in late August after a prominent, vocal anti-Christian Hindu leader was murdered. The Maoists have repeatedly claimed responsibility for his death, but a radical fringe of his followers blamed Christians as an excuse to incite a violent rampage of burning and looting churches and burning Christians.

It is estimated that more than half of the 100,000 Christians in the state's Kandhamal district are now homeless. At least 20 people have been killed in the violence. Several Gospel for Asia missionaries are missing.

Thousands of Christians are living in relief camps or hiding out in Orissa's dense jungles. Even if the violence stopped today, they would not be able to leave their temporary shelters. Their homes have been destroyed—burned to the ground in most cases—and they have been told by their fellow villagers that they are not welcome to return to the community.

The situation in the relief camps is horrifying, according to GFA leaders.

"People are dying in the relief camps because of contaminated food and water," one leader said. "The militants are trying to stop relief from getting to the Christians. They are even coming into the relief camps torturing the people and taking away the supplies."

The leader said there has been one positive ray of hope in the midst of the carnage.

"The churches are coming together in unity. And it is only when the Christians come together in unity and prayer that anything will change," he said. "Our real fight is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual things that we cannot see. But we can only deal with it through prayer and waiting upon the Lord."

Karnataka Protests

The city of Mangalore, in Karnataka on India's west coast, remains on a near shutdown as people protest the recent attacks on Christians and their places of worship. The Hindu extremists have attacked congregations three Sundays in a row. A Gospel for Asia missionary serves as pastor of one of the churches that was attacked on Sunday, September 14. The church was ransacked and set on fire, but the fire was put out before any significant damage could be done.

The rebels have also made numerous terroristic threats against churches throughout the state.
More than 50 people have been arrested in relation to the attacks, but this has not stopped the violence. Churches in Karnataka are now meeting under serious threats.

GFA missionaries in these areas shared the following prayer request:

• Pray for continued unity among Christians.
• Ask the Lord to send provision to the people hiding in the jungles and living in relief camps.
• Pray for protection of the missionaries and their families who are being targeted by the extremists.
• Pray for wisdom and discernment for GFA's state and regional leaders as they respond to the crisis.
• Pray for the persecutors, that they would come to know Christ.

Taken from GFA Website

With God

A band called Salvador, in their song "With God":

"With God, I'm protected
With God, I'm set free
With God, none shall harm me
With God"

being with God is enough for me to face anything....

for He is the Almighty God.

Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

- Joshua 5:13-14.

Many times we assume that "God's on our side, we will be alright..." but is it really true? Is God really "on our side"? This verse is a reminder to me: we cannot make or persuade God to be "on our side" or to be "for us" - either we're on His side, or we're not. Thats the real question.. are we really sure we're on God's side?

If I am, I have all the assurance in the world, that everything will be fine.

What if....

In the midst of our busy lives, have we considered what life would be like as a Christian in other countries? In the midst of intense persecution, will we remain faithful to God, or will we deny Him? Will we be ashamed of Him, or dare to even admit that we are Christians? Given how some of us are half-hearted in giving up small things for God, how will we fare when the test comes?

India is a very democratic country with a democratic government and laws just like Singapore. It is modern and produces many high-tech products. Yet, time and again we read reports about the horrors done to Christians there (and this is just one of MANY countries where Christians face the threat of death, imprisonment, torture, murder, discrimination, humiliation, etc etc etc...). I just read an article today:

"More than 600 churches have been demolished, 4000 Christians forced to flee from their villages, and at least 25 killed as a result of violent persecution in the state of Orissa in eastern India."

These things have happened in the past 4 days (since Aug 23) while we've gone on with our normal lives.

When the time comes for the test, where will we stand?

Read the articles:
International Christian Concern
All India Christian Council
GFA
Hope we can at least pray for them.... And donate to GFA.

Cute...

And this is so super cute lah.... how can such a cute thing be evolved!!! Only from the infinite wisdom and love of our Father in Heaven, can even this (just a cat) be created... =)

Haha..

Hello... just thought i'll post some lighthearted stuff for once... haha...




Dedicated to all who are stressed or feeling sian......

A prophecy from Micah

A prophecy about Jesus, the "Promised Ruler From Bethlehem ":

Micah 5:4-5

He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.

And he will be their peace.

Restructuring Part 0.02

People say, "tomorrow never comes". I kept waiting for tomorrow to come so that the next part would come, but tomorrow never came...! =P well... so i decided to do it today after all...

The last 2 weeks of holidays were crazily busy actually... but not in the negative sense... it was more positive than negative actually... just that i had sooo many things i wanted to finish by the time the holidays ended.....

...did i say holidays.... ?? they seem to be so... far away now... the times in Church camp and Taiwan are like a dim memory in the back of my mind... the feelings that were felt then and the experiences.... life seems to have taken a complete turnaround and now the way ahead seems so tough....

Well, on another note so far I must say that after the restructuring things have been rather ok on sunday, except that the people I face are 99.99% different.... of course, the 1 person still the same is my dear brother Cheng Hung who can say the same thing about me.. =) its actually not bad at all, spending time with the youths and all that... just that i guess sometimes will miss the rest of the people.. especially on sundays with no zone meeting.... the youths are rather positive too, except maybe the seekers whom rest assured we will pound into submission in 2 weeks time (yeah right)... er.. yah hopefully they'll cooperate more lah...

These 3 weeks i've also been meeting my new sheep and hoping to be a big positive influence in their lives... its been good... though the travel times are tiring......

So i guess the restructuring has been fine so far... however, as we predicted weeks and months ago, i'm really starting to see signs of fatigue and tiredness among those whom the restructuring has affected most (new roles/new DMs/new Ds etc.).... though its as we predicted, its different now that we're in the thick of it... so lets keep encouraging each other ok.. keep in mind Who we're serving, why we're doing it, etc... and lets remember to always keep strong that most vital link to God everyday to draw strength from Him and get wisdom to handle everyday situations, struggles, and challenges.....

School has been ok so far, can see that God prepared a good project supervisor and PhD senior for me to work with... Thank God... but the work's still there and it still has to be done... plus almost all my lessons are in the afternoon now, so gotta wake up earlier myself (as compared to being forced by the lesson timing) in order to still have time for anything else... guess its still the same lesson of discipline i keep having to learn... hope i get it soon.... yah so do pray for me for good time management and wisdom to make decisions......

Quite tired now.... just so many things to think about and to do.... so:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

-Psalm 121

God will be our strength and help....

I dunno if this will be the last post on the restructuring.. perhaps not, but i guess it won't be called "restructuring" anymore... well... 0.02 isn't bad right....?

The Answer

I like this song by Corrinne May....

The Answer

I believe you are the answer
to every tear I’ve cried
I believe that you are with me,
My rising and my light.

Give me strength when I am weary
Give me hope when I can’t see
Through the crosses I must carry
Lord, bind my heart to thee

That when all my days are over
and all my chores are done,
I may see your risen Glory
Forever where You are.

The Tears of Jesus

The Tears of Jesus

Jesus wept— John 11:35

He beheld the city, and wept over it— Luke 19:41

Only Two Occasions of Jesus Weeping Are Recorded

There are but two occasions in the Gospels on which we light upon our Savior weeping; only two instances in which we see His tears. It is true that in the Epistle to the Hebrews we have a glimpse into the inner life of Christ, and there we read that He made supplication with tears and strong crying unto God. But into that interior life of prayer when Father and Son had fellowship together, we cannot enter, for it is holy ground. The point to observe is that in His recorded life we only hear of the tears of Jesus twice; once at the grave of a man who was His friend: once when Jerusalem lay spread out before Him. And both, not in the earlier days of youth when the human heart is susceptible and quivering, but in the later season when the cross was near. Goethe confesses in his autobiography that as he grew older he lost the power of tears, and there are many men who, as experience gathers, are conscious of a hardening like that. But our Savior, to the last moment that He lived, was quick and quivering to joy and sorrow, and His recorded tears are near the end. Never was He so conscious of His joy as in the closing season of His ministry; never did He speak so much about it nor so single it out as His most precious legacy. And so with weeping, which in the human heart is so often the other side of joy—it is under the shadow of His last days that it is recorded.

Both Weepings Prompted Not by Suffering,but by Divine Compassion

I am going to speak on the differences between these two Weepings; but first I ask you to observe one feature in which the two are beautifully kin. There are tears in the world, bitter and scalding tears, which are wrung out by personal affliction; tears of anguish, of intense corporeal anguish; tears caused by cruelty or mockery. And the point to be ever observed is that our Lord, though He suffered intensely in all such ways as that, never, so far as we read, was moved to tears. He was laughed to scorn—He of the sensitive heart—yet it is not then we read that Jesus wept. He was spat upon and scourged and crucified; but it is not then we light upon Him weeping. And even in the garden of Gethsemane where great drops were falling to the ground, drops which would have looked like tears to any prying child among the olives, Scripture tells us, as with a note of warning lest we should misinterpret what was happening there, that they were not tears, but drops of sweat and blood. The tears of our Lord were not wrung out by suffering, however intense and cruel it might be. On the only two occasions when we read of them they are the tears of a divine compassion. And whenever one thinks of that, one is impressed again with the wonder of the figure of the Christ, so infinitely pitiful and tenderhearted; so unswervingly and magnificently brave.

The First Tears Were Shed for the Individual, the Second for Many

Now if we take these two occasions on which the weeping of Jesus is recorded, and if, having found their common element, we go on to note the points on which they differ, what is the difference that first would arrest you? Well, I shall tell you what first impresses me. It is that the former tears were shed for one, and the latter tears were shed for many. Jesus wept beside the grave of Lazarus, for one single solitary friend; for a man who had loved Him with a great devotion and given Him always a welcome in his home. There is no such human touch in all the Gospels, nothing that so betrays the heart of Christ, as to be simply told that Jesus wept when He went out to stand before the grave of Lazarus. Here is a heart that has known the power of friendship, that has known the infinite solace of the one; a heart more deeply moved when that one dies than by all the cruelties which men can hurl at Him. And then, having learned of His infinite compassion for those who have had one heart to love and lose, we read that Jesus wept over the city. Picture Jerusalem on that Sunday morning, densely crowded for the Passover. Every house was full and every street was thronged; there were tens of thousands gathered there. And when our Lord, turning the crest of Olivet, saw before Him that crowded city, then like a summer tempest came His tears. Tears for the one; tears for the twice ten thousand: how typical is that of the Redeemer! Never was there a compassion so discriminative, and never a compassion so inclusive. Our separate sorrows—He understands them all, and our hours of solitary anguish by the grave; but not less the problem of the crowd. There are men who are full of sympathy for personal sorrows, but have never heard the crying of the multitude. There are men who hear the crying of the multitude, but have never been broken-hearted at the tomb. Christ has room for all and room for each. He loves the world with a divine compassion. And yet there is no one here who cannot say, "He loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Tears Shed for Death and for Life

The next difference which impresses me is this—and it is a suggestive and profound distinction—it is that the former tears were shed for death, and the latter tears were shed for life. There was something in the death of Lazarus which made a profound impression upon Christ. He was troubled; He groaned in spirit; He wept. Often He had been face to face with death before, with death in some of its most tragic aspects. He had looked on the still, cold face of Jairus' daughter, and had seen the anguish of the widow of Nain. Yet it is only now, upon the road at Bethany, that we see the storm and passion of His soul when faced by the awful ravages of death. Nobody ever fathoms all that death means until its hand has knocked upon his door. It is when someone whom we have loved is taken that we understand its meaning and its misery. And Christ, being tempted like as we are, felt the anguish of it in His soul with intensity. Death had come home to Him—attacked Him at close quarters—carried one of the bastions of His being. How utterly cruel was the last great enemy. The Lord groaned in spirit and was troubled: a storm of passion swept across His soul. He wept for all that death had done and all that death was doing in the world. And so these tears of His are sacramental of all the sorrow of the aching heart when the place is empty, and the grave is tenanted, and the familiar voice is silent.

Now with that dark and dreary scene will you for a moment contrast the other scene? It is a city shimmering in beauty under the radiance of a Sunday morning. Children are playing in the marketplace; women are singing as they rock the cradle; men are at business and regiments are marching—there is movement and there is music everywhere. Friends are meeting who have not met for years for Passover was the great season of reunion, and eyes are bright and hearts are beating bravely in the gladness of these old ties reknit. Out on the Bethany road there had been death; here in the teeming city there was life; life in the crowd—life in the marching soldiery—life in the little children romping merrily; life everywhere, in the indistinguishable murmur which rises where there are ten thousand people who have waked in the sunshine of another morning to the traffic and the concourse of the day. It was all that which swept into the gaze of Christ, and it was that which swept into the heart of Christ that Sunday morning when from the brow of Olivet He looked across the valley to Jerusalem. As a lad of twelve He had looked, and looking wondered, with all the thrilling expectancy of boyhood. Now we read that He looked, and looking, wept. They were not tears for death, but tears for life; tears of divine compassion for the living; tears for the might-have-been—the vanity—the awful judgment that was yet to be; tears for the living who have gone astray and who are hungering for peace and have missed it and who have had their opportunity and failed. There is a sorrow for the dead which may be intense and very tragical. It may wither every flower across the meadow and take all the summer sunshine from the sky. But there is a sorrow deeper than sorrow for the dead—it is the sorrow for the living; and it is much to know that Jesus understood it. The bitterest sorrow has no grave to stand at, no sepulchre to adorn with opening flowers; the bitterest sorrow wears no garb of mourning, and receives no beautiful letters by the post. The bitterest sorrow does not spring from death; it springs from that mystery which we call life; and Jesus felt it to His depths. Thou who art mourning for the dead, for thee there is Jesus by the grave of Lazarus. Thou who art mourning for the living, for thee also is that same compassion. He understands it all. He shares it. Like a great tide it flowed upon Him once, when in the morning from the brow of Olivet, He looked upon Jerusalem and wept.

Tears Others Shared in and Tears None Could Understand

I close by pointing out one other difference that stands out very clearly in the Scripture. The former tears were such as others shared in; the latter were tears that no one understood. Read that chapter in the Gospel of John again, and you find that Christ was not alone in weeping. Martha and Mary were there, and they were weeping also, and the Jews who had known Lazarus and loved him. There was a kinship in a common sorrow there, a fellow feeling which united hearts, a sense of common loss and ache and loneliness. Now turn to the other scene, and what a difference! It is a pageantry of enthusiastic gladness. The cry goes ringing along the country road, "Hosanna to the Son of David." And it is amid these shouting voices of men beside themselves with wild enthusiasm that the Scripture tells us Jesus wept. At the grave of Lazarus many an eye was wet. Here every eye was dancing with excitement. No one was weeping here; nobody thought of weeping; it was the triumph of the Lord—Hosanna! And all alone, amid that welcoming tumult, in a grief which nobody could pierce or penetrate, the tears came welling from our Savior's eyes. In this our mortal life there are common griefs, touches of nature which make the whole world kin. But how endlessly true is the old saying of Scripture that the heart knoweth its own bitterness. And in those bitternesses which words can never utter and which lie too deep for any human help, what a comfort to know that our Savior understands! In all the common sorrows of humanity He is our Brother, and He weeps with us. He stands beside the grave of Lazarus still, clothed in the beauty of His resurrection. But in that lonely unutterable sorrow, which is the price and the penalty of personality, we may be sure He understands us also.

- From "Devotional Sermons" By George H. Morrison

I've been reading a few devotional materials these few days... which explains the previous few posts... I got them from this wonderful Bible Software "e-Sword"... Its free and very very good... Many different Bible translations, languages, Bible dictionaries, devotionals, and commentaries to choose from, you just need to download them from the downloads section...

Hope this post about Jesus' tears lets all of us understand more about Him...

The Lord Reigns

“The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice.”
- Psalm 97:1

Causes for disquietude there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord’s power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; his love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest’s horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its grandeur in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.

“God is God; he sees and hears
All our troubles, all our tears.
Soul, forget not, ‘mid thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns.”

In hell, evil spirits own, with misery, his undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death’s darts are under the Lord’s lock, and the grave’s prisons have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear the hunter’s whip.

“Fear not death, nor Satan’s thrusts,
God defends who in him trusts;
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns.”

In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on their faces to do him homage. Angels are his courtiers, the redeemed his favourites, and all delight to serve him day and night. May we soon reach the city of the great King!

“For this life’s long night of sadness
He will give us peace and gladness.
Soul, remember, in thy pains,
God o’er all for ever reigns.”

- MORNING AND EVENING
Daily Readings
By Charles H. Spurgeon

Oh that I were as in months past..........

“Oh that I were as in months past.”
- Job 29:2


Numbers of Christians can view the past with pleasure, but regard the present with dissatisfaction; they look back upon the days which they have passed in communing with the Lord as being the sweetest and the best they have ever known, but as to the present, it is clad in a sable garb of gloom and dreariness. Once they lived near to Jesus, but now they feel that they have wandered from him, and they say, “O that I were as in months past!” They complain that they have lost their evidences, or that they have not present peace of mind, or that they have no enjoyment in the means of grace, or that conscience is not so tender, or that they have not so much zeal for God’s glory. The causes of this mournful state of things are manifold. It may arise through a comparative neglect of prayer, for a neglected closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline. Or it may be the result of idolatry. The heart has been occupied with something else, more than with God; the affections have been set on the things of earth, instead of the things of heaven. A jealous God will not be content with a divided heart; he must be loved first and best. He will withdraw the sunshine of his presence from a cold, wandering heart. Or the cause may be found in self-confidence and self-righteousness. Pride is busy in the heart, and self is exalted instead of lying low at the foot of the cross. Christian, if you are not now as you “were in months past,” do not rest satisfied with wishing for a return of former happiness, but go at once to seek your Master, and tell him your sad state. Ask his grace and strength to help you to walk more closely with him; humble yourself before him, and he will lift you up, and give you yet again to enjoy the light of his countenance. Do not sit down to sigh and lament; while the beloved Physician lives there is hope, nay there is a certainty of recovery for the worst cases.



- MORNING AND EVENING
Daily Readings
By Charles H. Spurgeon

Restructuring Part 0.01

Its finally done... the restructuring that we planned for so long...

Many mixed feelings and very sleepy... Part 2 tomorrow lah... =)

My prayer requests this week..

Hello.. thought this might reflect some of my thoughts now....

- Thank God for the 3+ years in CLAY zone and the 9 years in CYYAM... its been absolutely wonderful.. =)
- Thank God for His faithfulness and love which never fails to draw me back to Himself where I can enjoy the greatest joys
- Thank God for the chances to serve Him all these years although I'm absolutely unworthy... and for all the happy and sad times and the lessons I've learnt and how I've grown up over the years, being shaped by Him
- Thank God for all the wonderful brothers and sisters in CYYAM.. its great to know that there are people looking out for you and people with the same ideals, same purpose, same direction in life... to go thru this short journey of a few decades before we all meet in Heaven
- Thank God for bringing me thru 3 years of uni life...
- Pray for the coming changes in ministry - adjustment and that I can have love from God for all the people I'm working with and in the new environment
- Pray for wisdom and patience, humility, and that I can influence the youths positively
- Pray for people in YA taking up new roles - that God will be their strength in difficult times
- Pray for CYYAM to be rooted in the Word of God and that each of us will have a close relationship with God to empower us for useful service to Him
- Pray for strength for CYYAM leaders - most of us are undergoing big changes in life and ministry - that we will be faithful to Him
- Pray for REVIVAL in CYYAM and the church
- Pray that in the next 5 years, God will continue to lead us and use us to advance His kingdom


(^_^)

Life...

Wah... what a week... actually wanted to blog on several days.. but like so hard and always so tired.....

Well this week was busy despite it still being holidays... especially when there's a long slide show with music to prepare.. plus the photos are not electronic but in photo albums... well glad it came out in the end although i almost smashed my computer for hanging just at the right times to maximise the amount i had to redo (windows movie maker)... but thank God it turned out ok in the end...

I always believed that my choice not to work during the holidays is a right one... well i still think so... since its the-last-longest-holiday-of-my-life-before-retirement.... :) must say it has been great and purposeful and enjoyable...

Well today is the last sunday together with Clay zone.... its been a great few years with Clay... as it was in the past with COWS and PASSION... CYYAM history is already almost a decade long, since we started in december 1999.. or was that 98...? :) my memory is failing... I can say confidently that my journey into maturity and young adulthood was a journey walked with many people in CYYAM... u all take up such a big part of shaping the person i am... looking back, i can really see how God has moulded me thru all these different people and circumstances and the numerous breakthroughs in my own character and personality... God, the Master Potter doesnt make mistakes in moulding people... to Him be all the glory and praise for these wonderfully meaningful years...

Why did i suddenly recall the past.. well... actually we all went for dinner at xiaoling's house today... and then after that somehow the conversation turned towards the past and the things we did in CYYAM... the prize for best memory goes to Kai En, who can recall almost all the zone names and what they stand for...! =) hey Kai En... how about a blog post on CYYAM history..?

Haha.. ok... yah... so this is the very last week before the reshuffling... new challenges, new people, new hopes are coming soon... hope to do a nice round up of everything in Clay... As a side note, lets keep everyone in prayer and the whole ministry.. do u all realise how MANY of us are about to go through super big changes in our lives? not just ministry-wise but in our school, work, life in general... really need to support each other and depend 100% on God for strength and faithfulness to Him... the road ahead is tough but it will be a joyful one....

Lastly... just want to end off with this passage.. may it be our encouragement time and again when we need the strength.. and may CYYAM have a great many decades ahead fulfilling God's purpose and mission... only few more decades before we get to Heaven... about maximum 7?

(^_^)

2 Corinthians 4

Treasures in Jars of Clay

Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

May God use us to advance His kingdom more and more...

Zhi Yang's Prayer Requests

Hello everyone.... argh.. sorry, forgot to put Zhi Yang's prayer requests on today...

Here they are... please pray for him!!

Pray for a regular and fruitful QT...
Pray for good time management as he won't be starting school so soon so there's a lot of free time
Pray for enrollment next week, that he can plan his timetable
Pray for his family - going taiwan next week - safety

That's it... thanks for praying... =)

Bless Those Who Persecute You

Another good sermon... will post summary... i know i know.. still owe some right... =/

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2005/201_Bless_Those_Who_Persecute_You/

=)

Unless.

Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat -
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

-Psalms 127:1-2.

Just came back from the retreat and Church today... this year, retreat felt different because its the first time i work directly with many of those in the group going down to train the youths... although its been gone through many times in my mind what to expect when such a big change takes place in my ministry area, i guess things have to be experienced before truly knowing what its like... i must say... it felt strange not to have familiar voices around me, familiar points of view and ways of doing things... i found myself wondering what was going on in the YA side and how they were doing......

Thank God, it wasn't exactly a negative feeling or any unhappiness... in fact it could have been bad if i wasnt sure that this is the path that God wants me to go... questions like... "er.. ok.. really ah.. God wants me to come here?" will be quite frequent if i had not settled it already.... so really thank God, i settled it on friday finally after 2 weeks of trying hard to have longer QT times and prayer... but i guess it shouldnt stop here, since there are many more issues in life and it'll always be so.... gotta keep keeping in step with Jesus.. :)

Yah.. well actually, another feeling that i got is a feeling of excitement.. like the hope that big things are going to happen, that God is going to use us to advance His kingdom, that so many brothers and sisters can really be united in love and fight for God together, that younger ones are coming up to join us on this journey, that life can be a big adventure that God has put us on, together... there's no other place in the world with such hope and love and peace and joy... =)

Soreally looking forward to working in the youth ministry, with the various people and "feeding God's sheep" in the coming 5 years.. at the same time, happy for and looking forward to seeing the YA ministry take off with God as our Leader...

On a different note, my computer died again just now... the desktop. the thing to thank God is, i'm typing on it now... think i didnt repair it this time. guess its better to say, "God repaired it..."? I tried two things when trying to repair: first one failed, second one made it worse. To put things simply, thought i had to spend ~$400 for a new processor at least.. then... i prayed and asked God for help, tried a different method, and it was revived. Back to normal again...

Think God is trying to tell me something thru this... I need to depend on Him more, need to know that i'm powerless to do anything alone, need to talk to Him more... not exactly feeling very happy today actually... sort of a bit lonely when i got home and also very tired... guess i need to talk to God and have a long chat with Him...

Ok, till next post, take care... :)

Busy!

Hello everybody.. this week has been really busy so far... =) for example, yesterday my schedule was like this:

9 am - QT @ Cheng Hung's house with Wei Hong
12 noon - Lunch, buy organiser, buy running shoes
3:30 pm - Reach home to grab IPPT attire
4:15 pm - Meet Yanheng @ Dover MRT, go IPPT
7 pm - After IPPT & bath, dinner @ Chinatown
9 pm - Reach home, grab guitar, go to neighbour's house to teach him guitar
10:30 pm - Reach home, conference prayer
12 ++ - Bathe, sleep

As you all can see... yesterday was really tiring.. haha.. guess it's the busiest day of the week...

Well tomorrow onwards will still be as busy... =) do pray for me that i'll be able to really keep focused and keep my mind tuned to God - its easy to get distracted once i go out, but i guess home is even more distracting... its so important to keep our minds stayed on God in every moment, every day, every circumstance, and in every smallest activity of the day.. Or we can easily become drifters.. drifting thru life without a clear mind and purpose...

Another thing to pray for is the retreat, of course... Pray that God will guide us and we will be used by Him to accomplish His purposes for His glory. Really really hope that CYYAM will be able to reach out and touch the lives of many many seekers in the future, and make disciples out of each one of them... and us...

Yup.. lastly.. announcement...

Friday 4th July - Extended Prayer & QT
10 am @ Wei Hong's house

We'll probably go for lunch together after that.. and maybe all the way till retreat timing (optional)... yup... =) register early with me!! hope to see you all there... those that can't make it, dun be sad, cos there'll still be chances next week and next time...

Ok see you all again soon...!

The Past Week

Hello everyone... its been some time since i last posted... well, hope you all found inspiration in the 2 videos i posted and do set aside time and resources to support the ministries involved (links on right hand side) as much as your faith would have you give... =)

This week is really unique for me.. Think about this for a moment: imagine your friends are going out one evening. What are the options for things to do in Singapore? The likely answers: Movie / Karaoke session / Shopping / Some form of exercise or interest or sport. Well, all these are great... but it just seems to me that most people require some form of common activity to bring them together, some interest in common, as well as usually some money to spend, to be able to enjoy the time together. Otherwise, interaction with others is generally a bore.

Not so with the children of God... while we also do the things mentioned above, there's obviously at least one more noble and significant reason that we spend time together and enjoy the time. The basis for our coming together is not a common interest in the activity or like the need to find entertainment. Instead, being brothers and sisters in Christ we have these --> mutual love (possibly strong enough for us to lay down our lives for one another), a common purpose in life, common overriding interest in each others' lives and the lives of non believers, a common values system, and of course love and loyalty to God. Having these things, all the activities that are mentioned above can be transformed into meaningful activities that build our lives as we spend time together. Also, new entertainment and stimulation to make us temporarily happy are no longer necessary, since we are really happy just sharing our lives and loving each other by prayer support and encouragement. Of course, these are again only possible when we have a common purpose and the love is there... This is definitely why we enjoy fellowship so much, even having dinner together is so joyful.. =) hours together seem like minutes and days seem like passing moments when we are filled with love for one another...

Yup... this week, like i said i would, i had 3 sessions of extended prayer and QT.. of course the fellowship was wonderful - something that even time and money cannot buy for people who do not know God. Also, i think i finally could settle down and talk to God more about stuff... u know, take a step back and refocus on Him... and read the Bible in large chunks at a time - something i havent done for a long time... Praise God, the more i read, the more i want to read.. (^_^) well... read the psalms quite a lot, and the as i read, the words began to look so much more significant than they did usually when i skim thru the passages thinking that i read them many times b4 and knew what they were talking about...... God is really wonderful and loving... ever so patient with us and waiting for us to turn to Him and be ready to listen to Him speak to us.... also another great thing was that i found myself more able to focus on God and talk to Him as i faced everyday stuff... like a constant dependence on Him, a constant conversation with God.. have to work on this even more... really helps to focus my life (",)

.....was thinking about how we can discern God's will in my last few blog posts right? One of the things i remember best about Pastor John Piper's 1988 sermon (mentioned below) was that he pointed out an important thing to note: the quest for guidance has to be the quest for holiness. We want answers and solutions, but they only come when we are in tune with God.. and He will guide our thoughts, when we are in tune with Him and focused on Him, to the things He wants us to see...

Great stuff... will post more about it... really really thank God for this week, was great.. well hope that the coming week will be as well, though its much more busy a week for me.... also really thank God for all my brothers and sisters in Christ... you all are such a big blessing from God... ;) anyway now i'm really really tired too.. so let me end off with a psalm......

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith.
A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Indeed, lets remember who God is, His infinite almighty power and what it means for us, His children whom He loves so much, this coming week.... "You have set your glory above the heavens" - indeed Lord, may Your name be glorified in our lives... may we see You clearly for how awesome and amazing You are.......

Gospel For Asia: Joseph

Gospel For Asia: Hope For The Least Of These

Anxieties: To Be Cast Not Carried

Read another good sermon... =) the way my summaries are piling up calls for good time management and discipline... another reason to throw away any excuses for wasting time...

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1993/843_Anxieties_To_Be_Cast_Not_Carried/

(",)

The Goodness of God and the Guidance of Sinners

More on knowing God's will today:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/92/621_The_Goodness_of_God_and_the_Guidance_of_Sinners/

Read it if you're interested..
Maybe will post a summary soon, maybe not..

God's Will

hello, today i did my QT on a John Piper sermon again =) let me share it with you here today~

So, how exactly do we know God's will?

I read "He Will Send His Angel Before You" by John Piper.

Genesis 24:1-9
Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."

The servant asked him, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land? Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"

"Make sure that you do not take my son back there," Abraham said. "The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land'-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there." So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter.

How did Abraham know God's will so surely that he said God "will send his angel before you"? It wasn't like God had told him exactly what to do in this case, but rather only revealed His will directly several times in the past in Abraham's life. Pastor John says that it was because he could read the trajectories of God's Word. What are trajectories?

A trajectory of an object is the path that you know it will take based on some other things that you know about it. For example, if you throw a rotten egg at the dustbin, based on how hard you throw, the direction, the weight of the egg, etc. you can know what path the egg will take (which is, hopefully, a path ending in the dustbin). So knowing the trajectories of God's will is like this.. knowing some things He has said and promised, and then based on those things, it is possible to know some of what He wills in our lives.

So pastor John said that Abraham deduced 3 things based on his good knowledge and faith in God's promises and commands. They are:

1. Isaac Must Have a Wife
2. Isaac's Wife Must Not Be Taken from the Canaanites
3. Isaac Must Not Return to the City of Nahor

For #1, its cos Abraham knew God's promise to make his descendants numerous and a great nation. And he knew that Isaac was the promised son and not Ishmael, whom Abraham had gotten from his own methods.

For #2, God had previously told Abraham that 400 years later his descendants, the Israelites, will come back from Egypt and carry out God's judgement on the Canaanites - this meant that the Canaanites were not good people ==> not good to get a wife from there who may pull Isaac away from God right?

For #3, pastor John says "I believe the answer is that God had called Abraham out of his land and promised him and his descendants a new land. To go back could only mean unbelief in God's promise and power to fulfill it."

So, from these 3 indications, Abraham knew that his servant should go and take a wife for Isaac from his brother's household and bring her back......



What about us? how can we discern what God's will is nowadays? Won't it be great if we know for sure what God's will is for us in our daily lives? John Piper recommends that we become meditative students of the Bible. This means we dun just memorise or read the Bible or some Christian book like 10 - 30 mins per day.. it means that we ask questions like (the following passage is taken directly from the sermon):

"What's the point of this? Where does that lead to? Why did he say this? Where is he heading here? What does this imply? To ask those questions prayerfully is to meditate. If you are not spending much time in meditative study of God's Word, then probably doing God's will on earth is not the passion of your life. And if you ever ask the question, "What is God's will?" you probably get very confused.

Listen. Satan devotes himself 168 hours a week trying to deceive you and fill your mind with junk. He has seen to it that you are surrounded almost entirely by a Christ-less culture whose mood, and entertainment, and advertising, and recreation, and politics are shot through with lies about what you should feel and think and do. Do you think that in this atmosphere you can maintain a vigorous, powerful, free, renewed mind with a ten-minute glance at God's book once a day? The reason there are church people who are basically secular like everyone else except with a religious veneer is that they devote 99% of their time absorbing the trajectories of the world and 1% of their time absorbing the trajectories of the Word. If you want to bring forth the will of God in your life like a mother brings forth a child, you must marry the Bible. For some of you it is a stranger that you greet on the way to work but never have over for a relaxed evening of conversation, and seldom invite along to spend significant time with you on vacation. Do not, then, be surprised if you are ill-equipped to read the trajectories of God's will for your own life.

Summer is a time for experiments. May I suggest one? If you are discouraged and perplexed about God's will in some area of your life, plan in the next couple weeks to find a quiet place totally alone, and read the Bible meditatively for four hours interspersed only by prayer. Here's what will happen. For some of you the clouds of confusion will lift, and the trajectory of God's will shall be perfectly clear. For others the precise decision won't come that quickly, but you will experience a wonderful purifying and stabilizing of your mind." (Emphasis added)

Thats exactly what I need to do. During the Church Camp sharing sessions, I shared that I needed extended times of prayer to discern God's will for me in making big decisions I'm currently faced with. Now that the Taiwan trip is over, its like my last chance to do it, before school starts and all the crazy stuff start coming in.

Pray for me that I will do this not just once but a few times.
If this sermon of John Piper touches you, you can read it at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/92/354_He_Will_Send_His_Angel_Before_You/. But whether you read it or not, I hope that we can together find out God's will for our lives and walk closely with him. How else can we have assurance in life? But if we do see the trajectories of God's will and follow them,we can be confident of God's power and triumph in every detail of our lives.

"He Will Send His Angel Before You".

A prayer I should pray, at least for tomorrow

Dear Lord,

So far today, I am doing all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent. I have not whined, cursed, or eaten any chocolate.

However, I am going to get out of bed in a few minutes, and I will need a lot more help after that. Amen.

Read it quoted in a very interesting book today, called "Today Matters" by John C. Maxwell. Funny and true.

A Broken and Contrite Heart God Will Not Despise

Just came across a good sermon..

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2008/2832_A_Broken_and_Contrite_Heart_God_Will_Not_Despise/


Hope it blesses you all :)

At last... my new guitar!!

hello... this is not a post to announce the arrival of my new guitar.. that happened sometime ago.. instead, here're the pics, hope u all like them...

I like the smell of wood especially when it sounds so good... the guitar features stuff like:

a solid Sitka Spruce top ("solid" means that it is not laminated or ply-wood, its one layer of 1 kind of wood), indian rosewood back and sides, a rosewood fretboard, branded grover tuners (which are really accurate and precise and reliable), and a nut and a saddle both made of a material that u all will have to guess... haha... those who already know, dun say!! let the rest guess... =) post the answer on the tagboard.....

Anyway, the guitar sounds fantastic and i can play it for hours without getting bored... any chord sounds good on it :) just in case u all want to know, its by Maestro, a singapore brand, made in singapore, and the model is EJ-3 which stands for elite series (just one of their series names) and the shape is jumbo, which explains the FAT shape and big strumming sound, especially the resonating bass notes (",)

Ok... here're the photos..

Front view... its in the foam case.... not a good photo. bad lighting and rather blur =/

This is the sound hole with pearl inlays around it... this is probably the best photo... :)

Another photo of the sound hole..

The fretboard... rosewood... the strings going above it at regular intervals is nice isnt it?

This is what they call the headstock of the guitar. Grover tuning machines, very accurate like i said....

Top view, in the foam case that i bought together with it..

Close-up of fretboard..

The Indian Rosewood back and sides. Indian rosewood is good because it gives a good balance of clarity and richness and volume... i think....

Close-up of the spruce top... nice wood grain... =)

Maple was used to bind the sides of the guitar as shown above, instead of plastic on cheap guitars...

Finally, the saddle is the white piece of thing in front of the 6 round things. What is it made of...??

Ok... have a few more photos but not going to post them cos they're not very nice anyway... hope u all like my new guitar like i do.. probably will get to play it some time lah... =) next post on the Church Camp coming up..... bye!!

Busy busy

wahhh.. been really busy these 3 days... back soon........

O Sacred Head

Picture the cross in your mind, with our Lord on it...


O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown:
how pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
which once was bright as morn!

What thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners' gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve thy place;
look on me with thy favor,
vouchsafe to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for thee.

So begins my Good-Old-Hymns series.. My thoughts on this hymn coming soon.... One of my favourite.

Hope the words touch your heart like they do to mine everytime i hear this hymn or read the lyrics...