Pondering

I was thinking, how do we define our parishioners as part of OLPS?




1. Someone who goes to OLPS regularly? (eg. Mass every sunday.)

2. Someone who is actively involved in OLPS regularly? (eg. Serving in a ministry.)

3. Someone who is seen around in OLPS regularly by higher authorities?

4. Someone who is 'socially accepted' by members of the OLPS; viewed as active member of OLPS?

5. Someone who did not serve in OLPS or is serving other external ministries for an extended period of time but have served before in OLPS previously?

6. Someone who has not been to OLPS or any other catholic church for an extended period of time but was with OLPS/ the church previously?



So if we define parishioners of OLPS as someone who goes to OLPS regularly, then for theory sake, 90% of OLPS population are considered parishioners.
( We give 10% buffer as those who cannot make it regularly due to external commitments etc.)



If we define using number 1 and 2., then perhaps about 50%.
(a conservative theoretical estimate, given a parish population of 10,000++, 5000 is really a big estimate.)


If we define using number 1,2 and 3., then maybe about 40%.
( We assume that the person involved does not actively seek the presence of higher authorities.)


If we define using number 1,2,3 and 4., then maybe about ??%.
( This is definitely subjective. Results may vary.)


Now, look at point number 5. Point 5 states that perhaps someone like me, who has served OLPS before but currently am not, is to be considered 'secondary-OLPS parishioner' and not 'primary-parishioner' even if I go for mass in OLPS regularly, or consider in my opinion OLPS to be my home parish!

Simply because I did not fulfill criteria 2,3 and 4!

Alright, then without considering point 4 and bearing in mind conservative estimates, I am said to be outside of the 40% to be considered OLPS! Meaning 60% of the parishioners of OLPS also cannot be considered to be OLPS parishioners! Goodness!




I am aghast at the answers I get, reasons why I am not being recognised as a 'primary-OLPS parishioner' but a 'secondary-OLPS parishioner'. Always having to constantly endure the pain and suffering of being viewed through tinted lenses; one that seeks to label me with my ministerial affliations rather than my roots in my church.

No longer am I called OLPS first, but OLPS second.

Nevermind if Sylvester thinks he is OLPS first. As long as he is affliated to his ministerial works outside OLPS, we'll consider him that first and OLPS second. Nevermind if he once played a part in OLPS, the past is not of much significance to us. If he is not for us in OLPS, serving and putting his efforts here in OLPS, he is against us. That betrayer! Choosing to serve other ministries rather than those ministries in his own parish!

Oh, how radical. But sadly how true.

Disappointed

Just yesterday, I was in church for the Christmas party that was held in OLPS. When I was there, I happened to meet Person 'A'. Shaun was there and he wanted to show Bryan a verse in the bible, and he flipped the bible and handed it over to Bryan.

Person 'A' was there and commented, "That is so Amplify-like.". I am shocked and stunned at that moment when Person 'A' uttered that comment.

What exactly was so "Amplify-like"?

Did Person 'A' meant the useof the bible to show another person a paassage was 'Amplify-like'?

Or did Person 'A' meant that only Amplify uses the bible?

Or did Person 'A' mean that the bible is not part of the church at all?

I am shocked beyond words. So it means that only people from Amplify reads the bible?

Why do people from our parish OLPS look at us through tinted lenses? Everytime I step into OLPS and I greet the youths in our church, they give me the kind of look that goes like "Oh its you again, hello." or "I wonder what you are up to this time." Why is it Amplify first then OLPS?
Why do they not see that I am OLPS first then Amplify? Why do they take such a radical stance of "You are either for me or against me."

I am disappointed. All my life I have been a parishoner of OLPS, almost all my life I have served in OLPS, for OLPS. My thoughts are for OLPS, my worries my concerns my hope are all for OLPS. Why do people seek to reject me because of my current status? Simply because I no longer serve in OLPS therefore I am branded? I am sad.

30th december

Hello happy seven people!

Please do not forget 30th december to come down to OLPS to pray together. Many people from other parishes will be joining us to pray for our church. Spread this to all your friends and get them down to pray also.

New Year New Direction

Hey there to everyone in happy 7 people..

As the new year approaches, i've been thinknig about the new direction that i feel HSP may want to adopt..

But first, i wanna retell sly story that he told me and john today
HSP is like a ball that is almost stationary there are 3 ways to get us started again.
1) remove the surface that the ball is resting on (or put it in space)
2) push it (eventually it will stop but for now it will move)
3) increase its mass (increase inertia which is its reluctance to stop moving)
and this means to
1) pray together in agreement
2) organise activities so that we can come together'
3) include more people
respectively..

To accomplish this, John, Sly and I came together and agreed that we need to do certain things and these are:
1) Come together to pray every week when the new year starts so we are starting with our first prayer gathering on the 3th jan..
2) invite others to pray with us
3) pray in agreement for the youth in OLPS to have a passion for Christ

Keep this few dates in mind:
30th Dec 08 - General Prayer meet organised by me and John, we're inviting everyone down
01 Jan 09 - HSP first anniversary, we should all come down together to pray
Every subsequent Sat/Sun when we come to pray together



Let's keep each other in our prayers and God bless.. See u all on 1st Jan

Hey Jude people,

Please keep me and my relationship with eugene in prayers. It's been a very hard time and tiring time for me.

When are we meeting up again to have jude meeting?

Miss you people badly!

Liberation 08 - Shaun's Testimonial

This YISS 08 Liberation was really a humbling experience for me..
It was more service compared to the logistics team which i served before..
Instead of doing various fun decoration and setting up stuff (quiet time station among), i now had the privilege of washing countless numbers of cups, making cordial (and milo in the morning), and clearing rubbish. It sort of became a routine for me..
I felt disappointed and fear in me each time meal time approached, but each time i picked up courage from God to go forth joyfully to carry out my task (obviously the kitchen team was extremely good so it was also fun serving with them, that's one of my other motivation to carry on despite being exhausted).
It was physically tiring also, but God provided me the strength i needed to carry on, plus the army training helped me see this camp thru.. I feel that God was in a joyful mood during this entire camp.. Each time i prayed, i felt a sense of peace and joy and i would be reminded of one of my favourite quotes Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always and again i say: rejoice". Also, the verse from Hosea "As surely as the sun will rise, the Lord will come."

The Lord really touched the lives of everyone present. By the time the commissioning mass ended, everyone was praising God for all that He has done, not just for the transformation of participants' lives but also the renewal of desire in the service team. The call to serve and to love resounds very deeply in each of us.

God's love for us is simply amazing. We are such sinners but God's love for us is so much that He sent His only Son into the world.. Nothing is greater than Christ and hence all things are made possible thru Christ.
It reflects aptly in this song here How can i keep from singing his Praise

Joy

Happiness isn't joy. I'd say.

Happiness is an emotion, joy is a state of mind.

Happiness can come about because you're with good company, eating, drinking, merry making. But joy comes from suffering; joy comes from the victory over suffering. Joy is seeing the goodness in your suffering and hence, finding the meaning in life. Joy... Joy is living life for something or someone and doing your best at it.

When I was growing up, I could never understand how my parents work so hard for me. Slave their whole lives away to put food on the table, money in my pocket, the opportunity to take a major exam. But I understand now. And for reasons unknown to me, I brought meaning to their lives.

This meaning translated to joy. Despite the hardships, heartaches, pain. Happiness might have escaped us sometimes but joy has stayed.

So... I have to take back what I've said about being happy always cause you can't do that. However, you can be joyful always.

Taken from my blog: http://makingcents.livejournal.com

funeral??

I was talking to issac (log team for my glorious)
he reminded me bout what i wanted for my funeral..
and i thought about what he reminded me..

i wanted the song oh happy day by tim hughes for my funeral..

weird song to choose for a funeral right.. actually not so..
look closely to the second verse...
V2:
When I stand, in that place {i would bein heaven already!!!!)
Free at last, meeting face to face {i'm face to face with God)
I am Yours Jesus You are mine {i would belong to God permanently)
Endless joy, perfect peace {imagine the joy of reaching heaven}
Earthly pain finally will cease {no more suffering and sin!!!)
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He's alive

Kinda unique cos funeral mass supposed to be solemn but u have such a jumpy song...
i dun mind ppl jumping at my funeral cos they're celebrating that i've moved on to a better place...

Lost in Thoughts?

The fact is that I am Human the Fiction is when i become Human

The truth of living with ourselves is we become human in our own way either good or bad. Many times I find that being human is harder than i thought being a Christian would be, Being a Christian means to love God and others. Being human is to love yourself and you only. SO the real question lies in this: "Are you being a better christian lately? " or should the real Question be " Are you becoming more human lately?". Yeah, i am becoming more human lately, that's why this topic compels me to write this.

"If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23).

So in this all familiar verse it sums up why I am(we are) confused, confused as to how should i stop being human, I feel that this feeling can never be denied nor explained, somehow God is teaching us to be more like him and encouraging us to do the right things. At this point we can only do two things : Enjoy the hypocrisy or suck it up like a man/woman . I have chosen the 1st choice as i am tired with the second choice. anyone feeling the same? i am reaching with this tiny palm and fingers to my saviour once again under a dark blue sky to the moon up above saying " this could be my halo, when can i come and get it?"(this is definetely not a suicide note, I love my life that i have been given too much). I have pondered and Thought through that how we break out of this chain is to figure out where we belong while stumbling in our darkness for we know that there is light at the end of it. I have fallen but i have not forgotten the warmth in the darkness. Therefore let us embrace the fact that we can never stop falling or failing, in this way we can face the day again.

Contradictions and reasoning stand by each other with a thin line, however love and logic stand against each other, so how now do we comprehend what to keep or what to leave behind? One word solves the question "Yourself". Yes, we only need to keep or leave behind"Yourself". That's what i feel the bible tells me, everyone keeps and leave behind themselves everywhere. I feel that if you have lost then you would have gained, when everything is lost and forgotten, that is the time when we really have gained something. Something irreplacable and Precious. In this way we will be leaving "Yourself" behind and keeping "Yourself" for a new Mission, a Cross that needs to be taken up somewhere else. Somehow we would always be wondering what the new misson would be. If this is not too arrogant a comment, i think the mission would be "Yourself", People says to love others, You need the love yourself first. How true is it then? i think its quite true to build ourselves in what we want to be which makes us less human and more "Yourself".
I am still bulding a "Yourself" for myself, of course in a combination of what is right and wrong after all i am "human". I feel that living for the present is most important not how i have lived in the past nor how i am goin to live in the future. you need to be "Yourself" to be stronger, Stronger for a purpose more significant than any other plans aka PLAN "to enter the kingdom of heaven". I have no doubts I will complete mission "Yourself" at the end of this life as it will turn out perfect no matter the outcome. So if you are wondering why there is no meaning in your living on with this life, as you have lost your former faith,love,life,friends,memories,dreams or hope or maybe u can pick and mix these for more of the agony that you want to self inflict on yourself then maybe mission "Yourself" is waiting for you as you have definetely lost yourself.


As to why i have selfishly repeatedly sayin "Yourself" without god being in it lies in this song:

Hillsong - You are Here (the same power)
The same power that conquered the grave
Lives in me, Lives in me
Your love that rescued the earth
Lives in me, lives in me





So do you have "Yourself" now?

jesus take the wheel

i remembered this song while watching the movie flywheel
the movie is about a man whose life was totally messed up until he put Jesus as Lord of his life.
totally amazed by this song and how its chorus relates to the movie which i was watching.
the chorus goes something like
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

i think each time when things get tough, i will resolve to make Jesus Lord of my life again.. no matter how many times i fall or fail, i will keep putting Him Lord of my life. no matter how many time i sin, He is still Lord of my life.
I will let Him take the wheels and lead me because i know i am weak and cannot go the long journey of life by myself. So Lord Jesus, take the wheel..

struggling christian

i find myself a struggling christian.. trying to live in both the material world and the spiritual world.
i've given up alot on both sides but also held closely on both side as well..
still i find things quite ironic
we want to grow closer to God but we seek the approval of those around us.
we want to be individualistic but also want to be part of a crowd.

sometimes it's hard to know what path to choose or what road to take,
the bible does give some useful guidelines but ultimately it's our choice

fashion, the lastest anime, tv serials, events, all these will pass and be forgotten
even friends, we tend to forget old friends as time pass.. hard to hold on to everything.. we only keep close those who are either dear to us or got some ability that we can tap upon.

we are called to be simple people, called to love but in this increasing complex world, but love has taken on many meanings..
we can say "i love you" or "i love this" or "i love that" but are we really using the word love correctly?
love is NOT about liking something very much, it's really about caring about something/someone and wants its welfare taken care of (taken from 1 cor 13).
love is not about judging.. it's patient, kind and it forgives all the time.
simplicity in this complex world is just difficult, with competition and needs to complete this and that just gets on our nerves. as soon as we complete someething, another thing pops up.. luckily we have God to sustain us

well, this is just another raving from me so i hope u dun mind and if u have any comments just tag it up

festival of praise

i went for the sunday festival of praise with baby rach. it was awesome to see so many christians from 142 churches uniting for this event to praise God.
though it's a christian event, i took back quite alot..

there was reuben morgan and his hillsong team together with the parachute band..
started off with break free and other worship songs.. it was pretty awesome seeing so many just jumping and hands lifted high to God..

also the Word that was shared was pretty inspiring.. the speaker talked about about 3 things that the world is spreading that is momentary and 3 things that was eternal.. the 3 things that the world was spreading was pleasure (that is fleeting cos it takes u high fast, and low even quicker), possession(u are born with nothing and u go with nothing), and prestige(first will be last and last will be first).
the three thing that is eternal is a friendship with God, love (1Cor 13) and investing your gifts,talents and resources for the good works of the Lord..

ended off quite high with jumpy worship songs like tell the world, salvation is here and the perennial favourites, one way..

well, had a little souvenir from this, which was a parachute band cd which i shared cost with baby rach (we bought 2 cds for S$30, mine was parachute band, hers was hillsong latest album)

jude meeting

hey jude members
long time since we meet up

let's all meet on 16th august in church? pray together then go for lunch nearby?
11am? sounds cool?
let me know?

Shaun

HELLO EVERYONE ONCE AGAIN!!!!!

I AM HERE TO INFORM YOU GUYS THAT THERE IS JUDE MEETING NEXT SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2007. SHAUN KOH SUGGESTED IT AND WANT ME TO INFORM YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS MEETING.

Time: 1130 am
Venue: Not confirmed.

I need to know who can come or who cannot come so please message me!

LAMININ

Heys pple.. Pls do check out this video. Its amazing, mind blowing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

loves
rachee

My Glorious

YISS was simply amazing. My failing faith was renewed by the wonders of God again.
Logistics and kitchen teams were simply like a never stopping production factory that keeps working to make sure everything is ready and for the Glory of God.
Was simply great to work with Shawn, Sylvester, Min Lun, Issac, Martin, Justin,Raymond..
Kitchen team, u people are wonderful too :P Alex, Evan and the 6 ladies :P (lazy to type all the names)

I arrived on wednesday night, after i booked out and rushed home from camp.. Was simply exhausted but something inside told me the best is yet to come so tahan a bit.. Everything was set up by the time i arrived so there wasn't really much for me to do..

Thursday was really a good day.. Woke everybody up with the CANTO YMCA.. got ready everything for our morning prayers.. Could feel the expectations of everyone that God was going to touch everyone who is coming for this camp. Did preparation for the games like water wars. During the afternoon, some of us refilled the water for water wars while i handed the napkins out (Your life is in my hands). Logistics and kitchen combined to formed a final team to compete against Marion's team. It was simply fun as we just chiong arh... Finally after the games, we packed everything up in record time.. (half an hour
Also,People said i was very very high. A lot of memorable stuff happen also (eg. like cooro asking me for chilli and i went to the nearest table, squat down and went chilli chilli and also phyllis keep forcing me to sit down and eat. She can be auntie after this )

Okay, think people will find a bit long winded after this so i just summarise everything lor then conclusion...
NOT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
we set up quiet time stations and took it down for friday and saturday.
Helped out with kitchen team (clear rubbish and more lonely walks with the opposite gender {i'm referring to the trolly}, played P&W during breakfast and certain other meals and during wash up, made syrup and took lotsa lotsa photos)
Prep for mass.
Prep for sessions
Took lotsa photos of log and kitchen in action
Lotsa P&W (jumping praising and worshiping)
Sleeping
Spiritual prep and Healing(Friday)/Outpouring of the Holy Spirit(Sat)
Wake up P&W music for both service team

I think this was one of the best YISS i ever been to. The service team was great and fun working in logistics for YISS again. I know linus keep asking me to be a facilitator but i guess i dun have time for the prep to be a facil and still not ready to be one yet. Hope to serve in Kitchen next YISS and maybe next year, with the help of the Holy Spirit, be able to serve as a facilitator.

Think Logistics guys were simply awesome, it's like the few of us working like crazy and with our humour and optimism and under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, achieved so much within so short a time. Set up and cleared many things so quickly and managed to do so much despite being so tired ourselves. Really think we were very high lor for YISS.
Kitchen was simply great with their services. They put the food and drinks on every single table before the participants came and cleared up everything and washed up everything (with the help of a PSP and speakers). Alex was simply wonderful, always calm regardless of what happen and always in for some fun (thanks for the great photos). But the best part is that they still have energy to be the A-Team, providing energy for everyone during P&W... Think the Holy Spirit was working to strengthen them.
For the rest, think they were simple marvelous too, working non-stop for everyone under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Think the most memorable times were the times we spend playing while setting up/clearing the logistics and everything else.
Prayer Prep before healing/outpouring was really really good. Really felt that God wanted to give everyone a tangible experience to know Him and then go out to TELL THE WORLD!!!
Think Fr Paul Yeo the mass was really really good.. It was about the jezebel in our life. How we allow sin into our lifes and that symbols can be a good sign to remind us about God.

can't wait for the Next YISS...

Just felt like sharing with you all something I wrote last time, as well as this song: Holy Over Me by Christy Nockels and Lauren Chandler

Can't seem to upload, but do go check out the song and lyrics. =)

Some simple things to note:
When you're tired, Praise the LORD, for all the work that will make you stronger.

When doubtful, Praise the LORD, for he will clear your questions and deepen your faith.

Whether happy or sad, Praise the LORD, for he is there to share them with you. When you feel alone, Praise the LORD, for he is always with you every single second.

When the road is long, Praise the LORD, for he said, take the one step to me and I will take the rest to come to you.

When you feel broken, Praise the LORD, for he mends you whole again.

At all times, just Praise the LORD for our God is everlasting and almighty and nothing we do could make him love us any less.

loves
rach

healing rain

healing rain,
it washes away our stains regardless who we are..

Revolutionary love

simply amazing isn't it his unchanging love
fickle-minded humans, can't u make up ur mind whether u want to follow God?
but i'm one of them, torn between God and the world

This are the long awaited photos since april.

Shall post them up here to make the blog more colourful!






PEOPLE PLEASE BRING BACK JUDE BLOG BACK TO LIVE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS

Hey Jude,

HOW ARE YOU GUYS???

WHY IS THIS BLOG SO DEAD!!!

ANYWAYS, I SHALL MAKE IT ALIVE AGAIN!

I suggested to shaun that we should make a tee shirt for ourselves.

Shaun ask me ask if you guys are alright with it.

If you guys are alright with it, inform me asap, then I can come up with the designs.

AND AND AND

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A JUDE MEETING AGAIN!

I MISS YOU GUYS!

MAKE THIS BLOG LIVELY AGAIN PLEASE???

Keep Posting or spaming!

hey Jude people,

In case some of you don't know about this coming sunday at my place.
Shaun suggested a gathering at my club house. I have no reason why of all the places in singapore he chose it at my clubhouse.
Also he has been bugging me to inform you guys about the time at my place.
It's 10am SHARP!

I hope after typing this post out, shaun will NOT bug petrina and me again!

Take Care

God Bless You

Devotions for Lent: Passion Week

The week of the betrayal
and crucifixion of Jesus: Holy Week

This is the week of Jesus' Passion. On Friday of this week, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. But we also remember all those who were together with him in the last days. We try to put ourselves in the disciples' shoes during what was certainly the darkest period of their lives. Through the Scriptures, we will play the part of Jesus' followers as they fall asleep, betray, deny, flee, despair, and generally fail to "get it". With God's help we will imagine what it was like for them to watch their king, their savior, be arrested, whipped, humiliated, stripped naked, crowned with thorns, and hammered to a wooden cross. ... It's reasonable to ask, "If this is Holy Week, what would an unholy week look like?"

The horror of holy week is a stumbling block to the Jews, even for Jesus' own followers. They stumbled on the fact that this "King" was killed by the Romans when he was supposed to be conquering them! Instead of taking the throne, he was nailed to a tree, and forever cursed by it, they thought. But Jesus' way was not their way. He knew that by dying, the Jews could not only be saved from the perceived tyranny of any military power, but from a far worse tyranny, that of sin and evil. Jesus chose the path of suffering and death so that they—and we—could be free forever from the punishment due to us because of the evil in our hearts. He took our place on the cross. If we are able to "get" this truth, then suffering and death are no threat to us, whether at the hands of a Roman soldier, or in the hand of a just God. We don't need to fear death because of what Jesus did.

Because of Jesus' suffering, we also have an advocate when we suffer. No matter what we are going through, no matter how tough or terrorizing, one thing is sure: Jesus understands. He has endured far worse, for our sake. When we are tempted to look up out of the dark holes we find ourselves in, to search the heavens and call out to God—we may wonder, "Where is God and why won't he rescue me?" Consider for a moment that Jesus doesn't gaze down at you from some great throne in Heaven. No. He is beneath you, waiting for you to let go and fall back into his arms. Jesus has experienced the limit of suffering and he is able to meet you where you are.

There is no depth of despair to which we can ever descend that is lower than Jesus went when he died under the weight of a worldful of evil. But no matter how low we have been, don't doubt that if we are found in Jesus when he ascends on Easter day, then we will rise with him, and will have no reason to fear death again.

---

Isaiah 52.13-53.12 (This passage foretells the Passion of Jesus by more than six hundred years.)

See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him � beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.

Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected � a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins � that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners. (NLT)

---

Prayer
Father, teach me your way this week. Teach me how to leave my selfish, sinful ways at the foot of the cross, and teach me how Jesus my Savior is willing to bear those sins in his own body and be punished for them. Lord, how can I thank you for this great salvation? I worship you and your amazing power: Jesus is greater than death, and could not be conquered. When he died, I know that my sins were destroyed: it happened "once for all time". And when you raised him three days later, you taught us that we too could be raised. I confess my many sins Lord Jesus: I lay them down at the foot of the cross. I turn away from them and ask you to give me a new way of living in the world. Walk with me this week, Father. Teach me your way.

---

Practice
(See the page on fasting for some important considerations before you modify your diet. Remember that these are suggestions: you are encouraged to modify this practice in any way that will lead you more readily into God's presence.)

Friday is Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion of Christ, and is a good day to fast (from a meal or more) and reflect on the darkness that came over the Earth at Jesus' death. If you are following the fast as outlined on these pages then you have been eliminating more foods from your diet each week. Continue to seek out God's will for you this week, the last week of Lent. Here is a suggested list of foods to cut out of your diet this week (including all that have been suggested so far): desserts and sweets (including refined sugar); red meat, poultry and fish; alcohol and strong caffeine drinks; milk products (including cheese); and fats and oils.

You may eat rice and beans, fruits, nuts and grains, vegetables, potatoes, soups made with vegetable stock, etc. Breads that are simply made (no oil or refined sugar) are very good. Bagels and pretzels are examples that you can find at the store (remember, pretzels have their roots in Lent: they were invented to satisfy the prohibition on the oils and egg found in many breads, and named and shaped after "little arms" folded in prayer). You may eat foods that naturally contain sugar (fruits, honey) or oils (nuts): just avoid adding oil, butter, or refined sugar to foods to make them richer.

And, this week, be deliberate about not turning to the media to fill your time. Try not to watch TV (also a good practice for kids), or listen to the radio in the car. Try to avoid computers (as much as work allows it). Trade newspapers or magazines for the Bible or quiet contemplation. Meditate on Easter and all that was paid on our behalf to make it possible.

A Little Story (Part 1)

This is just a story which I've decided to put up. I'd like to share this interesting story with you but do give me time to get it all out, part by part. The story does have some interesting things to note.

Setting:
Picture a Lord Of The Rings set

Characters:
Sir James - General of an army
Sir Winston - General of another army
Lady Joan - A soldier

Sir James, sitting on his white horse, twirling his sword. His helmet shines in the sun.
His troops, all in attention, standing behind him. They await the enemy.

Sir James: Today we fight. Today we move forward!
Troops: AYE!
Sir James: The enemy approaches. when they're out of the way, we will be home.
Sir James: Are you ready?
There is a sudden silence as they see a large army approaching them.
Sir James: CHARGE!
Troops: CHARGE!

The two armies collide. Swords meet one another, spears thrown, arrows pierce the skin of enemy soldiers.
From the other camp, a cold arrow was shot and it cut through the armour of Lady Joan, a close friend of Sir James.
Upon seeing this, Sir James goes towards her fallen body.

Sir James: Joan!
Lady Joan: Sir... It's the last time I'll fight with you. I've fallen.
Sir James: Nonsense! No one will get left behind! Not a single solider!

Sir James picks her and puts her on his horse. The two retreat to camp, hoping to restore her health. The rest continue the fight and hold the front. Hoping to gain the advantage.

*To Be Continued*

There is more than one thing we can reflect upon in this part of the story.
Think about what we're fighting for - are we even fighting?
Think about what we'd do if there really was a fallen friend with us - would we leave anyone behind?
Think about how people have went away, expecting us to keep everything in order - would we be discouraged? Or would we also retreat?


P.S. Please do NOT continue the story. If you would like to feedback on the plot, leave a message. Thanks.

All man seek Happiness

"All men seek happiness. There are no exceptions. However different the means they may employ, they all strive towards this goal... The will never takes the least step except to that end. This is the motive of every act of every man...

"Yet for very many years no one without faith has ever reached the goal at which everyone is continually aiming. All men complain: princes, subjects, nobles, commoners, old, young, strong, weak, learned, ignorant, healthy, sick, in every country, at every time, of all ages, and all conditions.

"A test which has gone on so long, without pause or change, really ought to convince us that we are incapable of attaining the good by our own efforts. But example teaches us very little. No two examples are so exactly alike that there is not some subtle difference, and that is what makes us expect that our expectations will not be disappointed this time as they were last time. So, while the present never satisfies us, experience deceives us, and leads us on from one misfortune to another until death comes as the ultimate and eternal climax.

"What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.

"God alone is man's true good, and since man abandoned him it is a strange fact that nothing in nature has been found to take his place..." (#428)
- Blaise Pascal on happiness

i find what he says very true..
we all seek for things to makes us happy
but we don't really see that God is the only thing that can satisfy our need for happiness, turning to all kinds of destruction actions like sloth, lust etc to find momentary pleasure

As lent draws to a close, let's focus on God and also on his greatest gift to make us happy, Jesus.
As the price of sin is death, Jesus came down to pay that price in order we can be with God in eternal happiness.. Let us not forget that

Devotions for Lent: Week Five

The approaching passion

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, which marks the day Jesus entered Jerusalem, and the beginning of the week of his passion. The word 'passion' comes from a Latin word which means 'suffering'. The suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross has always been referred to as The Passion. In modern times, we have come to apply the word to any kind of strong feeling, or commitment, though more properly it describes a suffering for some worthwhile thing.

We have lost this sense of the word, in part perhaps, because there is so little of this kind of passion left in the western world. There is little we care enough about to suffer for. However, we are still prone to "suffering" ... but of another kind. The root meaning of 'suffering' that we find in the word 'passion' occurs also in the related word, 'passive'. And though we don't associate passivity with strong feelings, the passive person suffers as well. But this suffering comes from outside forces, and is the result of inactivity and lack of direction.

How different is the passion of Jesus: directed by God and willingly accepted. Jesus actively chose his path and the sufferings that followed. In Jesus we see not only the full depth of God's passion for us and the suffering that was a necessary part of it, but the full depth of one perfect human's passion for God: obedience that led to death.

How do we respond to God's call to follow him? Are we passionate? Or passive? Both ways lead to suffering: if passionate, we actively choose God's way and follow Jesus obediently, often suffering as he did; if passive, the suffering we experience is not part of God's plan for us, and is the pain of being distant from him, out of his will. To walk with Jesus, who said, "take up your cross and follow me", we must accept God's direction and choose to follow the path laid out for us. This is a path of certain passion (suffering), but also certain hope, because Easter always follows Lent.

---

Matthew 10.24-32, 38-39 (Jesus teaches his disciples)

"No pupil is greater than his teacher; no slave is greater than his master. So a pupil should be satisfied to become like his teacher, and a slave like his master. If the head of the family is called Beelzebul, the members of the family will be called even worse names! So do not be afraid of people. Whatever is now covered up will be uncovered, and every secret will be made known. What I am telling you in the dark you must repeat in broad daylight, and what you have heard in private you must announce from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell. For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows! Those who declare publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in heaven.

"Those who do not take up their cross and follow in my steps are not fit to be my disciples. Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake will gain it." (TEV)

Psalm 130 (A song for the ascent to Jerusalem)

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.

I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of salvation. He himself will free Israel from every kind of sin. (NLT)

---

Prayer
Lord, thank you for your passionate love for me, that you would die for me. And thank you for your passionate love for the Father, that you would obey him, even to death. Lord, I am so often harassed and helpless, like a sheep without a shepherd—How can I find my way unless you help me? Have mercy on me. Lead me Lord. Come, and give me the strength I need to follow you in doing the Father's will. Bless the time I give to you this week. Pour your blessing over me. Give me a passionate love equal to yours, so that I would be willing to endure all for the glory of Easter.

---

Practice
(See the page on fasting for some important considerations before you modify your diet. A reminder: these are suggestions, drawn from the practices of various Christian traditions. Ask God in prayer to help you know what is the right fast for you. It may be that you follow this practice strictly. It may be that you pick and choose from the suggestions. The main goal is to make room for God by not filling our stomachs and our time with the distractions we are used to. In the course of Lent, if you are following a fast of any kind, you are building up a healthy dependency on God.)

Pick a day or two this week to fast from a meal or more. Continue fasting from desserts and sweets (including refined sugar), red meats, poultry, alcohol, and strong caffeine drinks (you may substitute tea or some other milder drink if you get headaches when you quit coffee).

Consider eliminating fish so that your diet is meatless for the last two weeks. By the end of Passion week (that is, the end of next week ...), it will be suggested that you fast from all of the above and from dairy (milk and cheese), and fats and oils. You decide for yourself whether to do this strict fast for a few days next week, for the whole week, or not at all. As always, ask God to teach you what is right for you.

This will bring us to a rather stark diet. What's left to eat? Rice and beans, fruits, nuts, and grains, vegetables, potatoes, etc. Breads that are simply made (no oil or refined sugar) are very good. Bagels and pretzels are examples (the pretzel is actually a food invented for Lent: its name means "little arms" in German, and the shape is meant to be arms folded in prayer! Kids would probably enjoy making these on Palm Sunday. ...) You may eat foods that naturally contain sugar (fruits) or oils (nuts): just avoid adding oil, butter, or sugar to foods to make them richer.

For fasting from various media, continue the practices from last week and add to them if you can .... Cut back on, or eliminate, TV, the radio, the Internet, the computer, etc. And finally, whenever you have free time because you have given something up, be sure to give the time to God.

Here is something to share for the fourth week of lent.

The Fourth Week of Lent

Our godliness can often be measured by the line between our pride and humility. Scripture tells us that God has placed a spirit of "fierce desires" in us. Pride can ignite these God-given desires into an occasion for doing wrong. Humility, on the other hand, makes room for God, who tempers and directs our desires, and guides us to lasting fulfillment.

Lent is a season well suited to practicing humility. Scripture tells us that Jesus humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (a more humiliating event could not have been imagined). So we practice humility as a way to follow Jesus, and to cast off all our ineffective, prideful attempts at self-promotion, self-salvation, and self-satisfaction.

When we remember that Jesus' death is our only hope, and that all our efforts to save ourselves are at best short-term solutions and doomed to fail, we weep for our condition. But we also need to remember that humiliation and remorse, both appropriate responses to God, are temporary. Because on Easter day, the humble are lifted up, and those who mourn are comforted with an everlasting comfort.

---

James 4.1-10

Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you. You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it. And when you ask, you do not receive it, because your motives are bad; you ask for things to use for your own pleasures. ... Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires." But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says,

"God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble."

So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (TEV)

John 16.19-22 (Jesus speaks to his disciples before his death)

"Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn ... you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (NRSV)

Psalm 23, A psalm of David

The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. (NLT)

---

Prayer
God grant me the ability to see myself as you see me. Yet protect me from what I find in my own heart, for surely it is more awful than I can bear. Forgive me, and carry my burden of grief when I see my failings. And God, don't let me take credit for the good things you have given me. In your mercy help me to see the pride in my own heart. Heal and renew my spirit; refine the passion of my heart; and help me to walk in humility.

---

Practice

Pick a day or two this week to fast from a meal or more. If you haven't already, eliminate desserts and sweets (including refined sugar) this week. Also, eliminate red meat and poultry, alcohol and strong caffeine drinks (substitute tea or some other milder drink if you get headaches when you quit coffee).

If you watch TV, take two to three nights off this week. If you listen to the radio in the car, leave it off. If you spend a lot of time looking around on the Internet, cut back each day wherever you can. Leave the computer off at lunchtime or at night. And finally, whenever you have free time because of these practices, say a prayer and offer the time up to God. Ask God to draw near to you and to direct the time.

I am finally posting up a post.

Anyways, I decided to organise the March meeting. Since March is like the holidays for most of us and Slyvester would be going to the army in april, that's like super soon, and so I decided to have a so called gathering cum bonding session together with just the SEVEN of us. I thought of going sentosa to play at the beach, bond with each other [the seven of us] and JUST HAVE FUN TOGETHER. I've asked shaun's permission and he allowed me to do so.

The date right, we try to have it on a saturday and have it whole day. But the date we must discuss then majority agrees on one date then we decide on that date k?

Anyways, HOW IS EVERYONE???

I MISS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!

Take Care and God Bless.

* PLEASE GET BACK TO ME ASAP YOU READ THIS BLOG.

HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS SOON.

AND AND AND, I HOPE THE SEVEN OF US WOULD GO FOR THE SENTOSA BONDING SESSION!

refiner's fire

Refiner's fire

now is the season of lent..
i feel so impure, so much unforgiveness, lust, pride, sadness inside of me
but i know i'm worth more than gold, just that the impurities is keeping me from feeling valuable

God refine me, make me feel of worth,
purify me during this period of lent
put me thru ur fire

Refiner's fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold.

Chorus:
Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire
Is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord.
I choose to be holy, set apart for You, my Master;
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart;
Cleanse me from within and make me holy;
Purify my heart;
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within.

Everlasting God

Strength Arises When We wait upon the Lord..

It has been really a trying time for me in army. Getting ready for standby requires the store to acquire alot of stores and require stepping over many people toes.
Add the fact that my girlfriend is wavering between me and another guy.
Also a blow from my csm that i may be posted out of the company to do something other that stores (which i don't want).
Plus the fact that people keep bugging me for stuff every 2 minutes.

It really took alot of strength for me to carry on.
But each night as i reflect, what i'm doing i offer up to the Lord,
"cast your burden upon the Lord, put all your shortcomings at the foot of the cross"
I began reflecting and praying more and i find some kind of strength to just keep going on even though i have already given up and lost hope.
God won't just let u fall without giving you strength to carry on.
Although i'm weary and about to fall, God really encourages me on in little ways..

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

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

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

This hit me during the last few days especially the part where youth will grow tired and stumble, i have stumbled cos i relied on my strength, but when i realised i couldn't go on any furthur and started relying on God, he renewed my strength and allowed me to run without getting tired..

Only one thing left to say:
PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Amazing Grace

Well, 6 out of the 7 happy people watched the movie amazing grace today
it was about this guy, william wilberforce, who didn't know whether to do the work of God or the work of a political activist (be a politician in other words)
His friend, William Pitt, introduced him to some people who made him rethink, about doing the work of God and that of a political activist at the same time (work of God: to abolish slave trade, work of a political activist: to convince those in the house of Common the same way as he feels by pushing a bill against slavery)

He was inspired by John Newton (the guy who wrote amazing grace and was captain of slave ships) and worked hard against the slave trade..

However, his numerous failures arose from the greediness of the other politicians(who were for the slave trade as it was profittable). He nearly gave up but regained his passion after knowing his future wife..

He fought for the bill for over 20 years and when he finally won, it was bittersweet victory for him

Some takeaway Quotes

2 things i know for sure: I'm a great sinner, and Christ is a great savior

People remember man like Napoleon, man of war. Seldom do people think of peaceful man.
Napoleon enters with pomp and splendor but his dreams will forever be haunted by the horrors of war. But Wilberforce will return home, contented, knowing that the slave trade is no more.

I have a glittering future ahead of me but in my heart, all i want is spiderwebs

circumvenio meaning we cheat

I wish i had faith like yours


Well, it's amazing how God's grace can sustain us thru out..


Amazing grace How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

(c)My chains are goneI've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures (c)

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

Insights

Hi my 6 other happy people!





Just to let you know, keep up your encouragements and keep flooding this blog with entrys okay? Once we start, let's do it all the way to the end.







Powerful insight #1





Have you ever noticed the scales on this statue that is near the roof of the Supreme Court? The Statue that holds the scales on the right and a sword on the left? I'm going to show you an insight that I gleaned from this image.

We are creatures of God, made in the image and likeness of God. Each of us have a pair of scales within us, one that weighs goodness and one that weighs sins. Picture this, and this pair of scales measure everything that we do and at the end of the day, it shows us our dues. Some people may have done more good than others, while others may have committed more sins. How the scales would determine who goes to heaven or hell we'll leave it to God.

In the laws of physics, if we remove away one side of the weights, this would cause the scales to tip towards the heavier end and crash the whole scale! In order to counter balance this change of weights, we either remove away the other weight, or we shift the pivot which the scales balances on. Understanding this, I do want to speak of this wonderful and awesome Saviour called Jesus who tipped the scales on one side yet still made it possible for all to go heaven.

This wonderful Saviour, is able to remove away the sins component from our scales! This in fact, has given us certain hope in knowing that heaven is just around the corner and with confidence that we may enter the kingdom of God through His death and resurrection!

Of course, as I explained, in the field of physics, this would cause the scales to tip off balance and crash. Yet, being the amazing Lord He is, Jesus also assumes the role pivot that helps us balance our scales!

Now, we assume that the amount of goodness and sins we commit are a finite maximum constant amount say k1 and k2. We know that Jesus is infinite amount of goodness only otherwise written as ∞. Mathematically speaking, Jesus has already defied the universally known law of mathematics. HE IS INFINITE.

Jesus is the pivot, He represents the turning point of our lives when we meet Him and experience Him personally! In this way, only then can He remove our sins when we know and love Him and open our hearts to Him. Naturally at the same time, Jesus, representing infinite amount of goodness and love, would fill our scales with more goodness than we can imagine.

Of course, in this case, we can't remove the other weight to counter balance the scales, therefore, Jesus must be the pivot that moves. He moves within us and places Himself in a position that tends to the infinite weight of goodness that is poured out into us. In this way, God balances us perfectly with only goodness. God shows us that it is possible to achieve balance in our lives filled with His goodness and love. It is simply God, that He works through the impossible ( a.k.a infinity ) and through the possible ( fulfilling the laws of physics ) at the same time! Isn't it amazing?

Thank God for giving me this insight to share with all of you. Praise the Lord for His infinite wisdom and His graces that enabled me to be able to understand and edify us all. I hope this would help you with your faith and journey, that in all hardships and tribulations, you will read this post and re-affirm yourselves that in God all things are possible!

Songs With A Deeper Meaning 2

Before this blog suddenly goes dead like all other blogs, I guess here I go again with another edition of Songs With A Deeper Meaning.
Do check this song up, there are many cover versions. Go have a listen.

Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin

My child arrived just the other day
Came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
He was talkin' 'fore I knew it
And as he grew he said,
"I'm gonna be like you, Dad,
You know I'm gonna be like you."

Chorus 1:
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
"When you comin' home Dad?
I don't know when. We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, my son turned ten just the other day He said,
"Thanks for the ball, Dad. Come on, let's play.
Could you teach me to throw?"
I said, "Not today. I got a lot to do."
He said, "That's okay."
And he walked away and he smiled and he said,
"You know, I'm gonna be like him, yeah.
You know I'm gonna be like him."

(Chorus 1)

Well, he came from college just the other day,
So much like a man I just had to say,
"I'm proud of you. Could you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and he said with a smile,
"What feeling like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys.
See you later. Can I have them please?"

Chorus 2:
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
"When you comin' home son?
I don't know when. We'll get together then.
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired, my son's moved away.
I called him up just the other day.
"I'd like to see you, if you don't mind."
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I could find the time.
You see my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu,
But it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad.
It's been sure nice talkin' to you."
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

(Chorus 2)



So, Dad has Son and Son has Dad. But Daddy doesn't spend anytime with Son while growing up. When Son grows up, he then, turns and 'pung sehs' Dad.
No, this song isn't about having bad karma.
This song is about influence, plain and simple.
God had placed Son in Dad's life for Dad to nuture the boy. Dad made the boy into a man. But what kind of man? Think about this, if a boy sees his parents throwing his grandparents into an old folks' home when they age, wouldn't he think that it's the right thing to do? And one day, they're thrown in there too. Parents wonder why this is happenening. Gee, i wonder why too.
Likewise, God placed other humans into our lives for us to nuture them. Maybe not in such an intimate way, like Dad and Son. Maybe as friends. Should we influence them to be good people or the other way around is ultimately up to us.
Yea, we are THAT powerful. Through our actions, our words, simple things like that, we can influence people in the right way. Though, in other times, we may turn around and influence them negatively.
So, then, are we doing anything about the 'Son' that has been placed in our lives? Is he going to hang up the phone on us in the future? Or will the story be re-written nicely?

Songs With A Deeper Meaning 1

What I've Done - Linkin Park
In this farewell
There's no blood
There's no alibi
Cause I've drawn regret
From the truth
Of a thousand lies
So let mercy come
And wash away

Chorus:
What I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done

Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands
Of uncertainty
So let mercy come
And wash away

(Chorus)

I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I'm forgiving what I've done
I'll face myself
To cross out what I've become
Erase myself
And let go of what I've done
What I've done
Forgiving what I've done


Have we ever said this to ourselves?
Even when we have wronged someone so?
Simply put, we don't let go of our past failures. We let them consume us from deep inside. We let our sins eat us alive.
All the regrets, all the lies, all our sins - it's so hard to let them go.
Even if it's going to hurt us a lot, even if others will look at us differently, so what?
Let's give ourselves another chance, cause God's already forgiven us, mercy has already fallen upon us 2000 years ago. We just have to repent and forgive ourselves for our faults and failures.

I'll Face Myself
And Erase My Old Self
And Let Go Of What I've Done

Lecture

Time for lecture people:

Was praying in the adoration room today. God gave me a lecture:

God said,

"How long must it be before mortals like you learn?
To the end of time? To the end of your lifetime? To learn to love?

How blind can mortals like you get? Before you realise that the
kingdom of God is at hand?

If only you knew how close the kingdom of God is at hand,
you would have been frightened to death.

You ask me how close is the kingdom of God?

A metre?

A centimetre?

A millimetre?

I tell you the kingdom of God is but a hair length's breadth away from you.
If only mortals like you will learn.



Is it only when you see death knocking at your door?
Is it only when you have breathe your last? Is it only when you see the dead rising again? Is it only when you have seen me for yourselves that you will repent and believe?"


God continued,

"You prayed for the peace of all who have departed. But how can the dead rest when the world is in so much suffering and pain? No! Not even the dead can rest in peace. What has the passing of your loved ones done for you? Oh mortal, open your eyes before it is too late! Has their death no effect on you? Repent! Even now, they pray ceaselessly for the coming of the kingdom of God so that all who are suffering may find comfort and rest in me."


God's final words to me,

"Do you remember the task I entrusted to you? You do. But you have not done anything about it. It is with great urgency that I have come to tell you to spread this message. Many people are suffering and continues to suffer because they do not know Me. Many are lost. They do not know the seriousness of their actions and never stopped to look back at the consequences."







This is God's personal message to me and I wish to share with all of you.


James 1:14-15 ( The Jerusalem Bible)

14 Everyone who is tempted is attracted and seduced by his own wrong
desire.

15 Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin is
fully grown, it too has a child, and the child is death.



My brothers and sisters, this is the message that the Lord wishes for me to spread to everyone. I am convinced that there is no other important task, that the Lord has entrusted me, than to share this message to everyone I come across. Tonight, He has reminded me again of this message. I ask you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to pray for me. To pray that God might grant me the strength and wisdom to spread this message for He has impressed upon me that there is nothing more urgent than to make known His word to all. I ask you all to spread this message to everyone you meet. It is of utmost importance.


God Bless,
Sly

Some insights I get while taking to my christian friends:

"He restores my soul." Psalm 23:3

In several ways does the shepherd restore his sheep. If one wanders away, he goes out after it, and seeks it until he finds it, restoring it to the shelter of the fold.
If one faints and grows sick by the way, in the hard journey or the burning heat—the shepherd does not leave it to die, but takes it up in his arms, and
carries it home, restoring it to the fold.
If a sheep is hurt, torn by a wild beast or injured by accident—the shepherd tends its wounds until they are healed.
All this suggests how our Good Shepherd restores our souls. Sometimes we wander away. It is very easy to drift off from Christ. The drifting is often unconscious—we do not realize that we are losing our first love—and little by little, we are far off from Christ.
Perhaps it is a cherished sin which eats out our heart-life. Or perhaps it is a worldly companionship which draws us away, loosening the bonds which bound us to Christ. Sometimes it is an absorbing business which leaves no room for God. Or it may be the cares of this world which choke the Word and quench the Spirit. We often need to have our soul restored, quickened, revived—or we would never get safely home, through this evil world. Then, what soul is not sometimes hurt, wounded, torn—by the wild beasts of temptation?
Sin is a fearful thing. It wounds the soul—and no hand but Christ's can restore it. But if we put our hurt life into His hand, He will give healing. What millions of sin's woundings—has our Good Shepherd cured!
Then, when sorrow has left the heart broken, it is only the Good Shepherd who can restore it. He is a most skillful physician. We may put all sorrow's wounds into His hand. He is most gentle, and His hand is infinitely skillful. He is a wonderful comforter. No human hand can heal a heart that is bruised—but the hand of Jesus has infinite delicacy and skill.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Picture!

1 of the many crisis we face in our world today.

Look at the picture carefully.

John 10:35 tells us that "The Scripture cannot be broken.."

Look at the picture carefully again.

Realised that atheists have used all their strength but

Scripture isn't broken!

Praise the Lord!

Thoughts

Hi people. just to share some thoughts I had today while working:


I was thinking about what would be the last thing that I wanted to do, if I had 24hours left to live..

What would be your answer? (:


I recall everything that I had experienced in my life, good and bad. I was thinking really hard and it took me a long time before I dawned on this new insight. I realised that there was one common link that tread every experience in my life. This common link, is forgiving and being forgiven.

I'm not a perfect person. I make mistakes like every human being on this earth. Some mistakes are big and have serious repercussions while others may be small and smaller implications. Yet, despite all these mistakes, I have discovered that forgiveness is in abundance all around me. I have come to realised that forgiveness is so readily given, if only we let go of our pride and ask for it. To this end, on my deathbed, I realised that there is nothing more painful than to know that I have not made peace with everyone completely and I have lost all chances of doing so in this short life span.

There are many things that are worse than death. I think dying without forgiving and being forgiven is one of them. I thought to myself,

"What a sadness it would be then to be ashamed, at the Day of Judgement, when I meet God face to face, only to have Him ask me if I had made the effort to make peace with the people during my time on earth."

My brothers and sisters in Christ, this is my challenge to you! Forgive everyone and ask for forgiveness from everyone!

Because God has showered upon us unconditional love and forgiveness and since we are made in the image and likeness of God, we too can get closer to Him through acts of forgiveness.

An act of forgiveness requires both love and faith ( read trust ). If there is no love, where else can forgiveness be derived from then? If there is no faith, where do we get the strength to forgive others?

Psalms 130:3-5 ( The Jerusalem Bible)


3 If you never overlooked our sins, Yahweh,
Lord, could anyone survive?
4 But you do forgive us:
and for that we revere you.
5 I wait for Yahweh, my soul waits for him,
I rely on his promise.

Our God is such an awesome God! He did not keep account of our sins but forgave us with an unimaginable, unmatched amount of compassion and mercy! Isn't it just so amazing?

Praise the Lord! Alleluia!