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Friday 2 December 2011

The 'issues' of life!

Hullo everyone! I hope you have been keeping your heart with all diligence..

Anyway, this is the announcement:

Dat KS MEGAzine 2011 Issue 2 is out!

Distribution has begun. This time, it's free, so you don't have to find $2 from somewhere. That also means that anyone else can take a copy, so grab yours while stocks last!

~Timothy

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Sola Scriptura

God’s Word is the only foundation of our faith – no other text has the same authority, and certainly not the words of the Pope. Through the ages, Christians have often been martyred because they treasured God’s Holy Word, and it is this same Word that churches should teach in its entirety.
 
(this tract is typed by Timothy, because the Holy Spirit overcame his writer's block)
 
What is the Bible to us? It is more than just another religious document, isn’t it? Yes! The Bible is aptly named so, a Book of Books, written by more than thirty faithful authors moved by the Holy Spirit [a]. The fact that men from different time periods, cultures, languages, and social status could put together such a consistent collection of works is almost unbelievable. Unless, of course, they were working under the direction of God.
 
In His wisdom, God chose to present the Bible to us with all its historicity. Through it He reveals Himself to us. The passages in scripture tell of His mighty deeds, they tell of His ways, and above all, they tell of His love. The Bible is a love letter from God to His people! In it we discover ourselves – the wretched sinner that we are; in it we learn about Jesus’ love, and how believing in His death and resurrection allows us to come to God. To the unbeliever the Bible offers good news, and then to the unrepentant judgement is promised. No other book in the world describes the reality of life and death as the Bible does.
 
God’s Word is sufficient, nothing more, nothing less
Throughout history, the devil had attempted to alter scripture. As the father of lies, he sows doubt against the authority of God’s Word. His very question to Eve, in the garden of Eden, began with the phrase “Did God say .. ?” The Bible strictly warns us to reject any attempt to change God’s Word. Moses, the author of the first five books, wrote[b], “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.”  John the Apostle echoed this in the last chapter of Revelations[c].
 
In the days before the Reformation, the authority of the scriptures had been reduced. God’s holy word was augmented by Papal decrees and the decisions of Councils. The Apocrypha – uninspired works of man – were the foundation of unbiblical doctrines such as Purgatory and Prayers for the Dead.
 
In our age, there have also been attempts to add to the Bible. Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormons, claimed to be a prophet and wrote a few books – he tried to supersede the canonized scriptures. In certain churches, the Bible is treated as an outdated book, where presumptuous prophecies and dreams are supposed to supplement it. 
 
More common are attempts to take out, or ignore, parts of scripture which do not agree with man’s philosophy. People have produced Bible versions by taking out what they do not like: the Jehovah Witnesses have pulled out verses describing the trinity, and other groups have made ‘gender-neutral’ versions. No! The Bible is above man’s ideas. Similarly we cannot throw out Genesis chapter 1 to 11 because secular science denies it. We must not flip over passages which tell of severe punishment upon the wicked, even if we are uncomfortably reminded of God’s justice – otherwise what would we need saving from?
 
The Apostle Paul was bold to declare the whole counsel of God [d]. Therefore we must treasure every part of the Bible. Do we ourselves commit the sin of undermining scripture? Let us examine ourselves, do we ignore verses which go against our own ‘personal preferences’? We commit sin twice over if by reading a verse we are pricked in our hearts and still refuse to repent. May God grant us the courage so that we are not only hearers of His Word, but doers too.
 
Every Christian a student of the Bible
Be very grateful for the English Bible which you have. It was difficult for learned men in the 16th century to translate the scriptures. The Roman Catholic church at that time insisted that the general public was not to read the Bible, because they would misunderstand it. Monasteries and churches only kept Latin Bibles, and thus the common folk were unable to read it. Now a man by the name of William Tyndale had a desire to translate the Bible so that any farmboy in England could read it. By God’s grace, he finished this work, and soon after he was executed (strangled while he burned at the stake). His execution was followed by many others – the authorities searched for anyone who possessed a copy of his translated Bible. Yet God caused the light of His Word to keep shining, so that now more copies of the Bible has been printed than any other book in history.
 
The concept that anyone has a right to read the Bible was not new, of course. Luke wrote[e] of the Bereans, who tested and proved the gospel, having “searched the scriptures daily”. The Bible is meant to make sinners wise unto salvation[f]: Recall the story of the rich man and Lazarus, where Abraham told[g] the rich man that his surviving brothers could avoid hell by hearing ‘Moses and the prophets’ (i.e. the old testament).
 
If God meant for any literate man to read the Bible for himself, then surely scripture must be clear enough so that the layman can understand it and thus accept Christ. This is true! Where it comes to salvation, the Bible could not be clearer, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). We do not need to be a priest to understand that.
 
Now I am going to assume here that my readers learnt to read in school, and therefore you know what it means to be a student. Since God has revealed Himself in Christ, the Word [h], do you cherish the truth of the Bible by placing it above all other readings? If you believe in Christ, then the Holy Spirit dwells in you and He gives you the ability to understand it [i]. Do you thus prioritise your study of the Bible? Will you be a student of the Bible?
 
References
  • A.      2Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
  • B.      Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
  • C.      Revelations 22:18,19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
  • D.      Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
  • E.       Acts 17:10,11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
  • F.       2Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  • G.     Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
  • H.      John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
  • I.        1Corinthians 2:11,12 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Friday 14 October 2011

Adressing ANGER

The following is an excerpt taken from a pamphlet created by SYFC (Singapore Youth For Christ) in a series called 'Age of Opportunity'. As it is addressed to parents, I've edited it a little so that it addresses us youths.

The reasons we teens give for our anger or angry expressions are to some degree valid (except the last one listed below)
1. Unreasonable authorities
2. No freedom to make decisions for themselves
3. Inconsistency of adults
4. Parents showing preferential treatment or double standards
5. Having too much to handle, unable to cope
6. AFter a bad day and yet those around are not sensitive
7. People trying to help when they don't know the problem or that they've not heard the whole story or give simplistic solutions
8. Having to clean up the mess that others made
9. When people are rude and inconsiderate
10. God made them with an angsty nature

The problem arises when anger leads to sin. When we are angry, we are in danger and highly vulnerable to do wrong - which is why Ephesians warns us not to "give the devil an opportunity"...

Despite the danger, Paul says it is possible to choose not to sin. Even if one has done wrong, he must change and do good - sharing what he has with others, and edifying those to whom he speaks.

A second danger is holding on to the anger. Paul says "do not let the sun go down on your anger". While we disapprove of Jonah's petty anger, so often, when we ourselves are angry, similar words like "I'm so angry I could die" creep in. THey may not be said aloud but they are repeated in our minds...Anger unchecked can eat away at the heart, affecting the wellbeing of a person as bitterness, wrath and rage develop. We want to "seek justice". The malice of seeing harm come to others surfaces. THese Paul says the believers must work to rid themselves of.

To let go of the anger, Paul turns us to the gospel of forgiveness. The next time the phrase "I'm so angry I could die" comes up, learn to let go of the anger by realizing the Christ has already died ( we don't have to die anymore) so that God's anger against sin is turned away. Since God has forgiven us in CHrist, we can also forgive the hurts we receive, and not fall into sin, from which Christ has redeemed us.

This is all well and good theologically but how do we practically work it out?

Here are some tips...
. Recognize and admit when we are angry.
. Practice restraint...don't react immediately...Replace angry words with gentle words - "A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harshw ord stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1
. Look at how we are coping with our anger - whether we are repressing (which hurts ourselves) or expressing (wrongfully hurting others). There are people who suggest that the anger be directed to punching pillows or shouting it out, but these methods do not resolve the problem. Work towards resolving the root of the anger...
. Pray...ask God to help us determine whether our anger is righteous or unrighteous. Is our anger motivated by righteous anger or unrighteous, selfish anger? When our anger springs from selfish desires, we use anger as a weapon to manipulate, to get what we want. Throwing tantrums or flying into a rage can be very effective in getting others to bend to what we want, but it is absolutely wrong.
. ...tell God how we honestly feel and ask for His help.
. Work out practically how to use our anger to solve the problem quickly and in a godly and loving way.

Monday 10 October 2011

A post about God's Tests amidst our academic tests and assignments. YAY!

Dear all :)
Before I begin with the message, I would like to congratulate those who have been through most of their papers by trying their best given the circumstances. I also encourage the rest to press forward! :) Remember, He would never give us a burden too heavy for you to bear, and that His grace is sufficient for thee. His strength is made perfect in your weakness. (2Cor12:9) WOAH. Which is more important? (God’s strength/Glory!)
 Don’t beat yourself up badly (figuratively, or maybe for some, literally!) if you feel overly lousy and inadequate. More importantly, don’t dwell on it for too long, that your mind becomes clouded from God’s purpose for you at the present moment. Move on, seek God in prayer and be resolved to improve.

That is the basis for this sharing, actually ;), concerning God’s purpose.

Disclaimer: Remember the memory verse about how unsearchable His ways are? Well, I am not contradicting that verse nor the bible, No WAY. We may not be able to gain full knowledge and be anywhere near are wise as Him, but we can be thankful for the wisdom and thoughts, for even the ability to read His word, that enables us to pick up truths and know more or less what we ought to do and ought NOT to do.

I’m only day7 of this book that my neighbor passed to me upon entering a residence in NUS. However, I cannot wait to share some insights with you!

I’ve shared with two of you recently about the 3 T’s that the author mentioned, and how they can help to guide our time here in this temporary “home” (although we should be cautious not to think of this world as a “home” where you belong, where you return to, per se). So what are the 3 T’s?  I’ll cover the first here, with some personal thoughts.

#1) Life is a Test.

Yes life is a test, but don’t be quick to groan at this! It’s written all over the bible and I’m sure you have come across words like trials, temptations, testing and refining. Even from Genesis, we see the test of Adam and Eve’s faithfulness and obedience towards God! So right from the beginning, we are told, and instructed about such tests that will come our way. Not randomly like cannonballs, but as in Romans 8:28, they are given to us by God. 

Certified, confirm PLUS chop PLUS stamp.

As I mentioned earlier:  “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Cor 10:13)

So…What kind of tests are these? They are tests of love, faith, hope etcetera, mentioned briefly in the book. They are tests/Opportunities given to you to demonstrate your love to God and others (Two great commandments!), and your DEPENDENCE on God. Note: not all tests are obvious to you, and some may be too easy to pass, or to Fail. I hope that all of us would pray first, for AWARENESS of His presence and His tests, of which we often take for granted.

These are my thoughts:
By bearing this in mind, we know that things and people may be instruments of God, who help sharpen and refine us, and what 
would a test be without a “marker” or an invigilator? Yes. He is watching over you, every step of the way, even on simple things like picking up something that lies in your path, how you respond to your friend’s swearing and using God’s name in vain etc.

Do you contemplate picking up the litter? Do you continue to smile politely at someone who says “OMG!!”? (I framed this question hoping that the user of such terms is not any of you, I pray to God for that.)? If you are unsure and would argue that “the bible did not say we cannot smile when people take the glory away from God”, maybe you can try thinking, would Paul be smiling? Would God be smiling when you smile politely? I guess not :X

The idea of tests may be scary, and that people tend to tremble before receiving their results as we often heard our primary schoolmates going “I feel like peeing in my pants :S” *look of restraint and effortful control”.

However, many of you have noticed how people LEAP for joy J Don’t we wish we were one of them when we receive our results? And if we have been there before, does it not feel great? But as Christians, we want to leap for joy because we’ve put in effort to please God, not the education system. And if the education system don’t reward you with a “temporary crown” or as well as you expected (peppered with the amount of pride in you), are you ready to humble yourself and seek His kingdom further? Even if it is an innocent wish, I hope and pray that such a wish approximates being like those children of God who have been tried and tested for His Glory, and may have even passed on without getting any earthly rewards, but benefitted those who would follow (Hebrews 11). Their life wasn’t in vain, nor were their tests unreasonable. I learnt and was encouraged by them, and this lesson in itself is precious. Christ’s crucifixion was also a test which worked together for (our/His/God's eternal) good, now would you groan or complain? Accept and relish each test for what it is, seeking the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting God, and looking unto Jesus.

Stay Tuned for the remaining two T’s! PRESS ON!!

Monday 26 September 2011

A Prayer for Examination (special thanks to Jo for it!)

Lord grant me the right attitude towards my examination,
That even when I study, I want to glorify your name.
Give me the strength that I may press on,
Perseverance that I can endure,
Good health that I may study effectively.

Help me to be single-minded when I study,
Remove all other thoughts, distractions and anxieties,
Give me the power to concentrate,
The ability to understand and to remember.

Show me the way to study intelligently,
To know what is important and what is not.
Provide me Lord with quality time in my studies,
Remove all tensions and fears within me.
Fill me with Thy confidence,
Teach me to draw strength from you each day.
Let me learn to trust you in such times.

In the examination hall, be with me Lord.
Grant me the clarity and shaprness of thoughts.
Let me not get distracted by things around me.
Give me concentration and calmness Lord.
Help me to gather my thoughts of what I've learnt.
Grant me the discipline to space out time equally on all questions.
Most of all, help me to complete the question on time.

Despite examination Lord, continue to grant me
Quality time with you, let me not neglect You.
Give me a balanced diet between my studies and my service for you.
I just want to commit the whole examination into your hands,
Knowing that you are a God who cares and answers prayers.

THANK YOU!

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Saviour, AMEN.

Friday 19 August 2011

Are we the Masters of our Fate?


"13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that."
James 4:13-15


For the past few weeks, or months, (I cannot even recall when it started) my school has been putting the JC year twos through motivational talk after motivational talk, and all the while they trumpet these words to us: "You determine your future! You can succeed if you just believe in yourself!" I find it very easy to slip into that mentality, especially when the children of darkness are all around, and their self-sufficient attitude and pride can so subtly affect us, that we may not realise when we have become like one of them. I admit that there is value in these talks when they teach us to be disciplined and focused on our work, and the humanistic view of fate is, of course, what "works" for the children of this world. It is pleasing to their ears, and the best worldly wisdom has to offer.


Worldly wisdom, for all the benefits it may bring in this life, go only so far as this present life is concerned. In this matter of our fate, and success, it exalts man and makes man the master of his own fate. We are told to believe in our own abilities, that nothing we want will eventually elude our grasp so long as we have faith in ourselves. Very seducing. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. James slams reality right in our faces. How much do we truly control? Do we know what the providence of God shall bring upon us next year? Next month? Tomorrow? Not even in the next hour. Read the verses I quoted at the start again. See how the people James are addressing are making plans for their future, having such certainty about them, thinking that they will most definitely travel to another city, trade and earn profits. Then read his reply. It is almost as if he is telling them "Who do you think you are?" he confronts his readers with a cold, harsh fact: our life is only a vapour, appearing for but a fleeting moment, then vanishing away. Just like that, nothing more. It reminds us of two very pertinent characteristics of our life on earth: It is short, and it is fragile.


It is evident that we are not the masters of our own fate. For all of these people who had faith in themselves and eventually succeeded, there are, I reckon, countless others who did the same, yet ended up with a very different outcome. There is a God, and it is most certainly not you or me. We are subject to Him, for He is our Father, our Master, the Potter who moulds us, the clay. He told us that apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15:5) This is He to Whom we must submit ourselves, and our goals. If the Lord wills, we shall be rich, and again, if the Lord wills, we shall be poor. Sometimes we go the way of Vanity Fair, and look for worldly success. But by the grace of God, He brings His sheep back. We are frail creatures, yet wilful. We crave and strive with much vanity, till He batters us with affliction, and breaks us, ever gently still, till we see that there are just too many things out of our control, and that our future is really not in our hands. 


I am not saying that we should resign all worldly aspirations. Like James said, if the Lord wills, we shall live, and do these things that we hope to. But we must check ourselves as we go along, whether we are truly aiming to do well for the right reasons; whether we are glorifying God in our deeds and achievements, or for our personal glory. Whatever the case, one thing is clear in James' exhortation: be humble before God. We cannot but be humbled when we truly contemplate on His sovereign power, His infinite grace, His mysterious providence and His perfect justice, and then look at ourselves in our helplessness and dependency on Him for all things, even our very breath.


Our Lord Jesus Christ reminds time and time again, from the words of Scripture, that there is a life to come after this present one is over, and our fate in that next life is the one we should be particularly concerned about. His asks in Matthew 16:26, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" clearly the answer is: nothing at all. We must live this life with the next in mind. We, unlike the heathen, must consider the life to come, and make preparations for it, for regardless of our lot in this life, whether sickness or health, riches or poverty, if we are truly in Christ, we will certainly be gathered unto Him, and experience the joys of heaven forevermore. Such is the certainty that our faith looks forward to. William Guthrie was only forty-five, but his health broke, and his end was very hard. He suffered such violent pains that his friends were forced to hold him down. Between the attacks of pain he summoned the strength to say, "Though I should die mad, yet I know I shall die in the Lord." That is a bit hard to hold together. As if to say, "My pain may drive me out of my mind, but it cannot drive me out of Christ."


Amid the turbulent flood of uncertainties, our fate in this life is simply not in our control. We cannot know now how long we shall live, what we shall do, or what we shall attain to in this life. Yet this one thing is certain: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) and make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10). The only certainty in this life is that death will come. (Or that Christ returns before we die. Either way, the effect is the same.) Let us then live with this in mind, and not be sucked into the attitudes of the ungodly, who strive after vainglory and treasures that do not last.


Asaph

Sunday 31 July 2011

It is of the Lord's mercies..

Though we fall, though we fail, the Lord God upholds our spirits. No matter how dim upon our faces the reflection of Christ's glory is, the Lord stays faithful to His promises. This is a word of encouragement.

Proverbs 18:14  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Note (by Matthew Henry),

1. Outward grievances are tolerable as long as the mind enjoys itself and is at ease. Many infirmities, many calamities, we are liable to in this world, in body, name, and estate, which a man may bear, and bear up under, if he have but good conduct and courage, and be able to act with reason and resolution, especially if he have a good conscience, and the testimony of that be for him; and, if the spirit of a man will sustain the infirmity, much more will the spirit of a Christian, or rather the Spirit of God witnessing and working with our spirits in a day of trouble.

2. The grievances of the spirit are of all others most heavy, and hardly to be borne; these make sore the shoulders which should sustain the other infirmities. If the spirit be wounded by the disturbance of the reason, dejection under the trouble, whatever it is, and despair of relief, if the spirit be wounded by the amazing apprehensions of God's wrath for sin, and the fearful expectations of judgment and fiery indignation, who can bear this? Wounded spirits cannot help themselves, nor do others know how to help them. It is therefore wisdom to keep conscience void of offence.


Let's conclude this post with a bit of Hebrew poetry from Psalm 43 : )


Judge me, O God,
     and plead my cause against an ungodly nation:
O deliver me
     from the deceitful and unjust man.


For thou art the God of my strength:
     why dost thou cast me off?
Why go I mourning
     because of the oppression of the enemy?
 

O send out thy light and thy truth:
     let them lead me;
Let them bring me unto thy holy hill,
     and to thy tabernacles.
 

Then will I go unto the altar of God,
     unto God my exceeding joy:
Yea, upon the harp will I praise thee,
     O God my God.
 

Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
     and why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him,
     who is the health of my countenance, and my God!

Friday 1 July 2011

The Paradox of Happiness

I believe that the desire to be happy is in all of us; after all, is there anything wrong in being happy? Well, I'm not too sure about the answer to that, but I can be sure that sometimes the ways in which we try to get happiness can indeed be wrong.


We live in a world which tells us to live for ourselves, to live for the moment. Much of what people around us are doing is for pleasure. Look at how many people fill the malls, the LAN gaming centers, arcade centers, cinemas, etc. "Deeper" people will tell you that happiness is doing what you like, so follow your heart. But the root is still the same; it springs from pride, a pride which tells us that we are worthy of all this pleasure and enjoyment. Pride caused our First Parents to fall, and continues to perpetuate itself throughout the human race. In Psalm 82:6, the psalmist writes "Ye are gods", expressing how the wicked men of his time had set themselves up. The chief rulers in Jesus' time loved the praise of men (John 12:43). Pride, I feel, is very much linked to a love for the world; "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life..." - 1 John 2:16. This world offers us so many ways to feed our pride and increase our "self-worth".

The children of this world are living consistently with their belief system. Since they do not believe that they have to stand before God in judgment once their time on earth is done, since they do not believe that there is a life to come, this life is all they have, and all that matters. So they live for this life and try to get as much happiness as they can from it. However, we know that this is utterly futile at the very end. Children of God can have happiness while in this life too. We being in the world but not of the world, should possess a different kind of happiness.


Jesus said in Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." The word "Blessedness" indicates happiness; and not a simple carnal pleasure, but a genuine heavenly joy. This is a wonderful paradox. They that mourn are happy? Surely there is a logical disconnect here. The word of God often contradicts what the world thinks. Here, mourning refers to mourning over sin, mourning over the miserable, wretched state we are in, mourning over the fact that without God, we can do absolutely no good. James wrote in James 4:9-10:  "9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." This admonition goes against our natural inclinations. The world would tell us "No, stop thinking about sin, sin is depressing! Don't dwell on the negative, think positive! Tell yourself that you are a good person!". This is a monstrous lie. Scripture makes it clear that happiness never comes directly, but indirectly.


What does it mean to mourn? It means, for a start, to totally dispose of what the world calls "self-esteem". When we realise the extent of our sins, the blackness of our hearts, the stubbornness of our nature, we have no excuse to exalt ourselves. An article from the Banner of Truth website describes this mourning to be "...like an alcoholic who finally realizes that he and he alone is responsible for the heartache he has brought his loved ones, that he can no longer blame anyone else for his behaviour. This misery begins deep in the soul and begins to work its way to the surface of our lives. To mourn means to grieve over sin which eventually brings repentance. It is not merely feeling bad about getting caught. To weep over sin is a heartfelt, outward expression of sorrow due to the recognition of a great loss. We see this with Peter when he looks into the eyes of Jesus after denying him three times (Luke 22:60-62). Luke tells us that Peter wept bitterly. To turn laughter to sorrow and joy to gloom is like a gregarious father who has been neglecting his ten year old son due to his work schedule, who begins to notice rebellion and other ungodly attitudes in his son, who then realizes that his neglect is a major contributor. This is like David after Nathan says to him, 'Thou art the man!' and David repents with weeping, acknowledging that it is against God alone that he has sinned (Psa. 51:3). And to humble one’s self before God is to bow down low before him, confessing that he is God and we are not, that we have drifted from him, that we have rebelled against him."  This description is as far from happiness as it can possibly get.

Like mentioned before, happiness never comes directly. We therefore do not seek it directly. The beautiful paradox presented in Scripture shows us what true happiness is, and how God would grant it to us. We must weep over sin, and mourn in our hearts. But we do not look inward all the time, or we fall into despair. Look upward to Christ, and recognize that He is the one True Savior, Who alone is able and willing to help us. To look anywhere else brings no hope. He is the one who promised us, "28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28) Our souls, weary with the burdens of guilt from our sins, and laden with the misery of our iniquities, can find rest in Him. Look to His finished work on the cross, and flee to Him, for He will certainly not cast us out. (John 6:37) Then we shall know happiness, a happiness this world cannot offer, but yet again this true happiness is not what we directly seek, but what we receive when we turn to Christ in true faith and repentance.


"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."

Friday 10 June 2011

Addressing Dressing

Hey KSers!

Just read an article written by the staff at SYFC on 'Addressing Dressing' and I thought it might be good for all to read :)

"Let us now turn to God's Word for principles on dressing. WHile the verses chosen address the ladies - since adornment and dressing is an area with which women are often more concerned than men - the principles also apply to the rest of us.

1 Peter deals with holiness of the believer. 1:14-15 says,

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation

Holiness is demanded in all areas of life, including dressing... God values beauty (1 Peter 3:4). The question, then, is do we reflect the beauty God has created and godly values - through outward adornment or through good inner character that shines through attitudes?

Once we are convinced about dressing in holiness, we no longer ask 'how holey is too holey', or 'how short is too short'. Holiness is an attitude and direction we pursue, not just a line we try not to cross.

Since holiness includes our dressing, what guidelines are there for dressing?

In like manner also, that women adore themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. - 1 Tim 2:9-10

The three keywords are 'modest', 'shamefacedness' and 'sobriety'.
'Modest' denotes attire that is appropriate and reflects good behaviour.
'Shamefacedness' means dressing with a proper sense of honour, with reverence, regard and respect for others. Our dressing impacts others and so we dress with consideration for others.
'Sobriety' suggests self-control and soundness of mind. The mind is involved in one's attire. It literally means having a dress sense that is with restraint.

As we contemplate the length of skirts and tops, height of waist or hipline, sheerness of material, tightness of fit and the messages of prints, there are speific dimensions to also ponder:

Trend-specific: Bob Kauflin the author of How Do You Adress Modesty said, 'As trends change from year to year, we just want to continue to be thinking critically about what might not serve others'.

Occasion-specific: Different occasions demand different attire. That is why swimmers change from their swimsuits into tracksuits for medal presentations. While appropriate attire is acceptable to the society, believers still need to assess that acceptability. For example, should we condone ladies wearing tiny dresses at proms?

Age-specific: It is weird to see old people trying to dress young. Likewise, it is inappropriate that we, teens dress like children or dress too old. Since young people are eager to grow up and dress up like adults, let us ensure that we do not regret growing up too fast by keeping to a wardrobe that helps others relate to ourselves as teenages.

As we look to Christ, let us clothe ourselves, youths, with holiness that reflects love for God and modesty that reflects love for people.

Thursday 9 June 2011

A fortnight each.

Just last week, Mr. George Yeo, former Foreign Minister and MP for Aljunied, announced he might attempt to stand for presidency. He gave himself 2 weeks to consider.

The past Sunday, the church voted, and a decision was made to call Uncle Nam Tuck as pastor of our church. He is to answer within 2 weeks.

It's here that much of the parallels between the situations of these two leaders end (yes, they are already leaders, even before they are confirmed into their respective positions). There are a great many differences, here are a few.

First, God's calling for Elder Chong Nam Tuck to serve in the church is very much clearer. He has already served several years in the church, and has much love for the people of God. To accept the call to be a pastor is but a step further in his commitment. George Yeo, on the other hand, has to decide between attempting to stand because of a wide range of encouragement from the people, and sticking to his earlier decision to quit politics (which many online critics prefer). Even if he stands, he may not win the votes to become president.

The two men differ a lot in ability. George Yeo has vast experience dealing with his foreign counterparts, as well as in depth knowledge of Singapore's economy. He is more than qualified to be president (assuming that a claim to be non-partisan is not lambasted in the media). Elder Chong, on the other hand, struggled through his theology course. He readily admits his incompetence, and reliance on the grace of God to understand concepts. If he accepts the call, he knows he will need much more divine blessing. (Then again, which good minister would be useful, were it not for God's unmerited favour?)

The minimum level of commitment demanded from a president of Singapore is, in reality, not very high. He may or may not put his heart into his job, though he is usually expected to live an exemplary life. Each terms lasts up to 5 years. Thereafter he may step down. It would only be some hassle to replace the photos of him and his wife in every government building. In contrast, accepting the call to be a pastor is practically a lifelong commitment. Jesus said, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God' and this truth resounds acutely for ministers. So many ministers, unable to preach because of health reasons, retire to write words of edification to their flocks. Likewise Elder Chong must be prepared by the Holy Spirit to work all the way until God calls him home.

Next, the support Uncle Nam Tuck gets is almost unanimous amongst the people he serves. He is in a position to satisfy much of the church's needs, and the people recognise that - and the genuine concern he has for the church. This, again, is underwritten by grace. By divine providence, the Lord has opened a great many doors to prepare him, as it were. It seems God is answering 'yes' to the prayers of the church. George Yeo's position is less tenable. Kings (and presidents) are in the hand of the Almighty Ruler, and He chooses who to give authority to. However, at this point Mr. George Yeo is probably less concerned with the Creator's will than struggling to define his ambitions and what is politically correct.

Altogether, I hope this has emphasized the difference between serving God and serving the country. Both are worthy callings, however schools teach leadership as though they were similar everywhere. Yet to be a pastor requires grace beyond measure. I hope you pray for Uncle Nam Tuck too, for the Lord hears the cry of His people.

Sunday 5 June 2011

In prayer and supplication

dear fellow brothers and sisters,
may we in our own time pray for Ben Yeo who has met with an accident this afternoon (Saturday)
as Nathaniel beautifully wrote:
"God has preserved him remarkably,
but he still is in High Dependency..
and he still trusts God and really appreciate's everyone's prayer.
Please remember to pray for him at least once tonight
because we know that
"where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them"
and
"hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:
ask and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full"

Ben Yeo sought God as his first resort......"

We should continue to supplicate for our dear brother
that he may have a speedy recovery and
that God will place His healing hands upon Ben.
We thank God still for keeping him alive and conscious :)

Neither glucose nor sugar can heal him,
thus, please read this and pray.
Some of us will be visiting him :)

Monday 30 May 2011

KS MEGAZINE IS OUT!!! GO BUY IT!!! ONE FOR $2!!! :)

Friday 27 May 2011

The little things in Life :) and..Romans 8:28 -what is "good"?

Dear KSers :)

how have things been for all of you? Just before our little outing this Saturday at Lower Pierce Reservoir, I'd like to share some more words of encouragement and also, add on to the previous threads.

(psst, COME join us for KS! and this is not just a one-time invitation, but an every-saturday-with-KS-happening where possible invitation! :) Lord (very) willing!)

From the autobiography of Joni Eareckson Tada to the account of Juli's father in "Polishing God's Monuments: Pillars of Hope for Punishing Times", both of which are very good books as many have recommended, I have learnt valuable lessons (through the Holy Spirit's guidance) that have helped me through even some periods and moments in life where many would be tempted to dismiss as "emo" times or conclude such times as simply "wasted" and utterly awful. Sounds familiar? Yes, we won't deny that such moments exist and sometimes "intrude" into our lives, but we can find peace within when we know that God is in full control and contrary to the popular saying, we are definitely not at the whims and mercy of  blind fate. It's never too late to switch your thinking :) When people talk about and strive for individual freedom, they often neglect or fail to realise how liberating it is to be able to come before the mercy seat and submit all our cares and woes unto our Lord, who knows best and is by far the best problem solver one can ever ask for. That is, if we let God be God. Personally, taking the first step was not easy. Sometimes, I let my worries and anxiety overwhelm me, and there is a proclivity to be perfectionistic about the things we like or think we are good at. However, we are good at what we give our best in and what God blesses us with, and no one but Him can achieve perfection (esp for us when Christ comes). When things get frustrating, and I mean, REALLY frustrating, we eventually give it all up (to God). However, He should instead be our first option (what happened to Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God?), besides being there for us and beckoning us with "Come unto me, All ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11: 28).

2 Analogies: Ingedients in baking..and the rubbles amidst construction work
The author of Polishing God's monuments, Jim Andrews, wrote that "Not all the ingredients of experience the Lord provides for us delight our experiential tastes". He likened life's experiences to the process of baking/cooking and also, construction work in progress. For the former, he prompted the readers to imagine tasting each of the ingredients separately, even before they are mixed together, cooked, boiled or flavoured as a whole. Can you imagine eating..raw egg yolks? what about...vanilla essence by itself? Although I am a foodie, and I would not mind trying the latter out HAHAH :P, we know that such individual ingredients can be quite distasteful although a baked pastry tastes quite the opposite, where all the ingredients worked together for good :)  For the latter example, Jim Andrews wrote about how de(con)structive everything seems when bulldozers work their rounds and amidst all the noise and mess, we simply cannot fathom what the outcome would look like. However, when one revisits the location years later, he/she will be amazed.

These two analogies are very meaningful as they show how bits that seem destroyed, wasted, useless or even awful can come together to work out something delectable and more grand, under some sort of recipe or Master plan. Yes, everything is part of His plan. You may think that this might exclude the minutes you spend at the busstop waiting for your ride, or your birthdate even. However, take a step back, and it will be easier for you to thank God for such moments and events. Because you are there at the busstop, you are "exempted" from harsher realities elsewhere in the world, or you may have missed that bus which would break down anyway. Then you may ask, what happens if we waited for what seems like "forever" to board a bus that breaks down? Well, I'd give thanks still, although I admit I may mumble and grumble to myself before realizing that our God is still the Master of all things, even trivial things like this so sit back and wait for him to weave it all together! If after many years, you still cannot get the answer for being stuck in that broken-down bus, it does not mean the answer does not exist. It is because He has yet to reveal it to you, or sees it unnecessary as yet, judging from how your life has moved on, according to His plan, to many other things :) For our birthdate, I remember that it was mentioned during evening service one Sunday that hey, thanks be to God that we are born in Singapore, on habitable Earth, and I think for many of us, after Singapore went through the riots and war in the first half of the 20th century. Instead of comparing yourself to someone in greener pastures, why not take comfort in how green your pasture is already! (what about those is less desirable pastures than you? Take time to think and pray for them, it beats self-pity and frown lines :))

For those who think that the days are nothing but evil (well, it is very tempting to think so in this fallen world but there's a "BUT"...), the author mentioned that the devil can be in the details (My my..he sure is persistent! in our lingo, it may be called "irritating"), but God is in charge of the details :) When satan tempts me to despair, and tries his best to get me down at the oddest moments and when I (wrongly) feel that I should have the right to be happy, and it is unfair and awful that I am being attacked by the devil, I feel more ready to bounce back and refuse him with the grace from God. A daily devotion once pointed out that satan is using all his weapons to bring us down, but he can never succeed. Step back and think for a moment. Do we not have our own weapons? and which would you select out of the lot? your own wits? talents? strength? or God? God is the one who sent the devil on his belly to eat dust, and yes, the devil can attempt to slither his way into our lives when we let our guards down, but we must have faith in God who will deliver us from evil and secure victory for us. In trials and tribulations, I realise that I learnt much more and cliche it may be, but I emerged stronger. Don't you want to resist the devil with God's help? He can, and He will :) Here is what came to my mind as I am typing this :P Pardon me for the really shaky drawing because I work without a mouse on my laptop.



Remember, our Lord never changes. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever as written in Hebrews 13:8. (very very comforting!) so, fear not the changes that besought/beset you, for in His grand scheme, these are not random changes with the intention to frighten you, but they are necessary events meticulously planned longgggg before you were born to change your life for the better.

and one last thing, remember our good old friend, Romans 8: 28? this verse will never cease to bring many of us cheer and comfort, and I hope that it will do so for the rest of you. When we read that all things will work together for good, let us not exert our own limited definition of "good" here. In Genesis, we saw that God made all things good -but hey, to me, honestly, it was FANTASTIC. God was a truly great designer! and it was written as "good". So...our definition may come close, but we should not assume that our definition is congruent with His entirely, not hope that Our Lord humbles his own definition to suit ours. According to God, this "good" extends beyond the short term and the temporary; it relates to things eternal, to Christ and how we can conform to His goodness for our benefit :) Did not Christ take up the heavier end of the cross? If you answer "er..Dunno?" or "No?", think again :)

Let's give thanks and keep one another in our prayers. Here's my own take: Life can be hard, but life is full of people too, people who go through difficulties too and need our supplications/prayers. Press on KSers! We can do all things through Christ who strengthen us :):)

(oo..I hear the Majulah anthem playing at the primary school! GOOD MORNING Y'ALL!!!!!!!!)
ps: there is Southern Ridges Hike before KS tomorrow, so sms Em-ME-line or Zhisheng asap if you would like to go? meeting place: Buona Vista MRT 8.30am. Take care!

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Woeful examinations?

Just wanted to share some thoughts with you guys, and hopefully encourage those of us who are feeling down. I am still coming out of a rut myself, in fact.

KS has taken a break from activities for a while, because it is that time of the year again. We hope you have spent your time wisely and fruitfully in studying for your exams, but at the same time not neglecting your relationship with God. That is of paramount importance, and also a matter which cannot be left for a later time to manage, no matter our circumstances. Sickness or health, poverty or wealth, exams or holidays, we should yearn to walk close to God. This is a truth-laden principle I have learnt, but as yet am still trying to practice myself.

On 7 and 14 May, by God's grace, a bunch of us gathered in church to spend the day in preparation for our upcoming examinations. We thank God for the productive time of studying and fellowship we enjoyed there. However, at the same time, we could feel the tensions that our studies brought on.

Stress, and a whole host of other negative emotions, assail us when something dear to us is threatened, hurt, damaged or removed from us. I think we can identify with this. Our grades, I trust, are things which we hold to be important in this world. So it is indeed very natural to feel stressed, anxious or worried when we encounter difficulties in our studies. However, these negative emotions are detrimental to our health when taken in large portions; health meaning physical, mental, emotional and most importantly, spiritual health. (these are the categories of " health" people most commonly name, save the last one. I am not quite sure they should be partitioned as such myself.)

When we find ourselves drowning in a swelling tide of woes, could it be because we have placed too much priority on the wrong things? I learnt that lesson last year, yet am still trying to fully apply it in a practical manner. We know what Mathew 6:33 says all too well by now. It is living out this command that is critical, yet impossible. Impossible, except by God's all-sufficient grace. An endless flood of cares, treasures and vanities cry out for our attention and consume our thoughts and energies while we are in this world. During this season, (and also many other seasons yet to come) it is studies. Other times, diverse trials and temptations will meet us along the way. The one way to safeguard our spiritual health, our relationship with God, is to trust in Him fully, in His goodness, in His care, in His wisdom, in His faithfulness, and also in His word. A verse that I find particularly comforting to me in time of trial is 1 Corinthians 10:13. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  This verse speaks of God's unchanging faithfulness and providential care. For every tribulation He brings upon us, He will provide a way out, a light at the end of the dark tunnel, and we must patiently bear this testing, trusting in Him, knowing that He is not putting us through raging flames which utterly consume us, but a refiner's fire, one that purges impurities from us and makes us bear forth good fruit. When we put the things of God first, look to Him for forgiveness, commune with Him in daily devotion and prayer, abide by His commandments, He will give us all we need. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Finally, something I learnt from the Introductory Biblical Counseling Course conducted by Dr. Samuel Ling: Think good, spiritual thoughts to displace the thoughts of worry, stress, fear, etc. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8  I am currently trying to follow this advice as well.

May God help us, and cause us to draw closer to Him. We thank Him for bringing most of us through this period of examinations, while for the remaining few of us who still have part or whole of the battle yet to fight, let us trust God more and more. As KS resumes activities this coming Saturday, let us encourage and spur each other on, that each of us may run our race with patience, and fight the good fight of faith.

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

Refrain
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

Refrain

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.

Refrain
Written by Annie J. Flint

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Imagine if we voted unconditionally..

Okay, scratch that idea. God has His reasons when He picks our leaders. Yes, He who turned the hearts of kings does rule the votes of Singaporeans in our age.


I know most people who will read this paragraph are, like me, too young to vote. However, remember the Singapore General Election 2011 concerns our future too - if the Lord wills us to remain in this land. Now, consider that the future of our country hinges not simply on voting citizens. The voter may wield his vote in any manner he would, be it with prudent wisdom, or foolishly picking a party at random, or perhaps in indecision spoils his vote. Yet this power to 'elect' is ultimately given by God above, and while man is responsible for using this power, victors have already been chosen by divine providence. Therefore it is the Lord's sovereign power which chooses and authorises the men who lead this nation.


The following devotion is brought to you by CH, Spurgeon. Apparently it was in the church weekly bulletin for the Lord's Day Meditation on the morning of July 17. (That was in 2009!) So I kept this devotion for almost 2 years to share it here, hopefully, according to God's timing.

~Timothy•




"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." - 1Th 1:4


Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but they cannot learn it thus, it is only to be discovered by "looking unto Jesus." If you desire to ascertain your own election; after the following manner, shall you assure your heart before God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost guilty sinner? Go straightway to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell Him that you have read in the Bible, "him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." Tell Him that he has said, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Look to Jesus and believe on Him, and you shall make proof of your election directly, for so surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give yourself wholly up to Christ and trust Him, then you are one of God's chosen ones; but if you stop and say, "I want to know first whether I am elect," you ask you know not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are. Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in His wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him." Christ was at the everlasting council: He can tell you whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out any other way. Go and put your trust in Him, and his answer will be "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." There will be no doubt about His having chosen you, when you have chosen Him.


"Sons we are through God's election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe."

Monday 11 April 2011

what a coincidence! so..Spurgeon says..

HI KSers! I just did my daily devotions for Sunday :P before starting my work (*waves* to fellow midnight oil burners after this wonderful Sabbath/REST/Remember Christ- day :D) So, anyway, I think that Spurgeon's morning/evening text is rather apt for our last activity at Marina Barrage! :D AHOY!

Check this out before reading the devotion passage below! (which is..quite CHIM aye..)


Act 27:42  And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 
Act 27:43  But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 
Act 27:44  And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land. 


DONT you think that the soldiers resemble really nasty pirates? They seek to kill Paul, who is by definition, their prisoner..even though he has encouraged them to be of good cheer, prayed and thanked God in front of them for "feeding" them with meat and for bringing them safely to shore.. But, I am encouraged by the deeds of the centurion in verse 44, where in God's wonderful plan, He worked in his heart, that death did not fall unto the prisoners on that very day :) i.e. saved from death. So, don't give up as you are reaching out to others okay? He is with us always, and He'll act according to His will, in ways beyond our expectations, but for our good :) so here goes:

For there stood by me this night the angel of God.” (american standard version)

Acts 27:23


Tempest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of shipwreck, had brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case; one man alone among them remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured. Paul was the only man who had heart enough to say, “Sirs, be of good cheer.” There were veteran Roman legionaries on board, and brave old mariners, and yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than they all. He had a secret Friend who kept his courage up. The Lord Jesus despatched a heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation in the ear of his faithful servant; therefore he wore a shining countenance, and spake like a man at ease.
If we fear the Lord, we may look for timely interpositions when our case is at its worst. Angels are not kept from us by storms, or hindered by darkness. Seraphs think it no humiliation to visit the poorest of the heavenly family (possibly, US :), although we can be RICH in faith if we seek Him). If angel’s visits are few and far between at ordinary times, they shall be frequent in our nights of tempest and tossing. Friends may drop from us when we are under pressure, but our intercourse with the inhabitants of the angelic world shall be more abundant; and in the strength of love-words, brought to us from the throne by the way of Jacob’s ladder, we shall be strong to do exploits. Dear reader, is this an hour of distress with you? then ask for peculiar help. Jesus is the angel of the covenant, and if his presence be now earnestly sought, it will not be denied. What that presence brings in heart-cheer those remember who, like Paul, have had the angel of God standing by them in a night of storm, when anchors would no longer hold, and rocks were nigh.

“O angel of my God, be near,
Amid the darkness hush my fear;
Loud roars the wild tempestuous sea,
Thy presence, Lord, shall comfort me.”


Blessed week ahead my dear brethren! 

PLEASE make an effort to come down to Newton for Bible study this coming SATURDAY! I am learning so so much, and there really is NO LIMIT to what you can learn from His wonderful word! and can you believe this, this is only a FRACTION that He has chosen to reveal to us, for we recall..O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! so let us humble ourselves and not question Him wrongfully or before we can actually seek out every single thing that He wants us to know! have an appetite for His word, our spiritual bread :D

Thursday 7 April 2011

Just for...Viewing :D

since I've decided not to collage this...
I'd share this photo here.

this was taken during our 1st workshop session this year! Remember, the one conducted by Mark Chen?

I like this photo very much because.... it's one that speaks a thousand words. The facial expressions are classic. What are each one of them thinking? Could it be that the twins have "smelt" their surprise Birthday cake? and..why so Grumpy Asap? and..Rach, I'm beginning to think this is your permanent expression (check out the Notice Board -under construction- for MORE!) and Nat? well.. CLICK TO ENLARGE! it's essay-worthy :P

well, that's all folks! :P
KS Retreat 2010's Camp Master's (Jon aka Mohan Jr. Jr.) group presents...
THE STORY OF JOSEPH
(They even have a real Joseph in it too!)


AHOY! ks outing coming right UP!

yooohoo!
wow I feel so zesty because of all the CAPS LOCK and Exclamation marks that punctuate the blog! :D

Let's start wrecking our brains and tell Song KIA (ahaha..who's this funny brightsalty person?!) what verses or biblical stories they were enacting! (I know! I remember!) Maybe, you'll get..more stickers, golden stars if you take the initiative to tell her? (no promises though) :D:D

Either way, remembering your memory verses is Way better and it secures you a GOLD *bling bling* star! and no, I am not sounding infantile, but I guess part of the joy and excitement is derived from the nostalgia that complements the gold-star collecting activity, Right?! :) One important thing that Joanna said was : can u imagine a time when you don't have your bible (or your handphone or laptop) with you, and you just wished there was some words of encouragement that you can get INSTANTANEOUSLY? well, I can :) that's when memory verses come into play.

alright, before I scoot off to 6pm class (yes I am in school typing psych and lit essays .....let's chiong ah! chiong together! exams coming! crunch TIME! asaph will update you more on study groups if it comes to fruition), I'd like to say..

JOIN US THIS SATURDAY at Marina Barrage! at the MRT, there is a shuttlebus kinda transport that will bring us to the place! So come on down, PUNCTUALLY! Dinner thereafter is optional, but it is recommended for fellowship :) ps. i think it's nice to eat together with fellow sweaty-friends then becoming the only sweaty one amidst others whom you might meet! Bring..umbrella/poncho..things you might want to sit on?..mini fan or anything that will bring you comfort :) and CASH for dinner, of course. Take care my fellow brethren! :) Any questions, just post it up and someone will answer. heh.

Wednesday 6 April 2011

The 4 videos below are done by Ben Quek's group... Filming courtesy of Jo...
Can you guess which story in the Bible were they trying to portray?
Part 1...

Part 2...

Part 3...

Part 4...

Monday 4 April 2011

KS Retreat 2010 Videos!!! :)

During KS Retreat last year, the last night's activity was for each group to put up a skit that relates to what they have learnt during the whole retreat... Here are the group's videos! :)

Asaph's group!

Ben Yeo's group!

More videos coming up soon! Meanwhile, you can find some on facebook! Please visit it at http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=146198612113163&oid=123995200996950#!/home.php?sk=group_123995200996950&ap=1...

Saturday 2 April 2011

King of all Kings, Sovereign over all Things (Oo..it rhymed!)

HEY KSers!

sorry for the slow update. Busy busy times, but still, some things must never be neglected. I did enjoy the workshop on WHY we should seek the Kingdom of God first! although we did not have an external speaker like Mark Chen as we had for the first of this series, I feel really blessed that God spoke through Timo and Joanna and we were able to learn together. The role-playing was HILARIOUS! such creative juices and of course, lame thoughts..the non-mechanic FACEbook computer screen; the human clock; the human bar graphs & talking chicken; the really young mother and equally young teacher who were both SO gentle..etc etc (our group's main character : NICK, was supposed to be Nick Carter from BackstreetBoys who quit the boyband eventually, because he was enough of all the expletives (*tuuuuut*) by the "cool group" and he listened to the TOOT girl about 2nd Timothy, chapter Two verse twenty-Two :)). But we kinda left that out.

Some of you might have been embarrassed to stand up and voice your "WHAT?" and "SO WHAT?" at the end of the workshop, but I really like how we all mustered courage and chipped in eventually! It was insightful and encouraging to hear what God has done in your lives and how you guys would want to glorify Him as the days go by. You didn't just speak for yourself, but you spoke for Him and you taught us all other possible routes in seeking His Kingdom in our daily lives. Thank you :)

Remember, He is our King, Master, Commander and Lord.

In every little thing (1Cor 10:31),  glorify Him wholeheartedly and He will know, for He is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent! He deserves every bit... even in our eating habits, our thoughts, our studies, our facebook posts, let us encourage one another, obey His word and humbly seek to do our part in reaching out to our fellow man! Stand Up, stand up for...our dear Lord!

and last but not least, TRUST in him. Let us not simply pay lip services by saying "I have faith in You", but let us surrender all our cares upon Him. Do not be dismayed when things appear to be difficult, but once you share it with HIM first, and then your fellow brethren, TRUST that His wonderful plan will deal with it perfectly, in ways that are sometimes, beyond our limited human imagination. Let God be God.

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried" (2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30)

His way is perfect, HIs way is perfect.
Though I don’t understand
His wise and loving plan,
His way is perfect. His way is perfect.
Take my life and make a vessel purified.
God makes no mistakes;
His way is best.

oh yes, before I forget, DO JOIN US FOR NEXT SATURDAY's KS OUTING! :):)

I know that the church's Old Folk's home visit clashes with this, but do inform your CGLs if you're coming alright? it's at Marina Barrage, but more details will be posted soon! See you TMR!