C-ing Christ
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
I'm currently reading through The Purpose Driven Life and today's topic was something that struck a chord with me. I know, I know...I should be studying but I really feel like sharing with you guys what I learned today. Disclaimer: This is my first time writing out my thoughts on a blog so it feels weird and thus if I've said anything wrong or sounds funny please forgive me :) Also, I think this post might be quite long.Today I learned about cultivating community (fellowship). What does fellowship means? A time where we catch up with each other? Find out what's going on in his/her life? Chit-chatting over makan? According to Rick Warren, fellowship is much deeper than that. He wrote that real fellowship 'is so much more than just showing up at services' (or meetings, or cgs!) and that it is about 'experiencing life together'. To experience life with each other we have to be involved in each other's life: ministering to each other, encouraging each other, serving each other. In the New Testament, the phrase 'one another' or 'each other' is used over fifty times. Obviously, the Bible place emphasis on living our life with other people, not cocooned in a self-imposed shell.
Rick Warren laid down 9 characteristics of a growing, genuine, real fellowship:
Authenticity-sharing our true feelings
Mutuality-encourage each other
Sympathy-support each other
Mercy-forgive each other
Honesty-speak the truth in love
Humility-admit our weaknesses
Courtesy-respect our differences
Confidentiality-not gossip
Frequency-make group a priority (meeting up regularly and frequently!)
A few of the characteristics seemed more prominent to me. One of them is honesty. Being honest means that we are not afraid to be frank and to speak up if there is an issue that needs to be addressed. Another is mutuality. I think that each and everyone of us needs constant encouragement and reassurance so let us not be lacking in encouragement for each other! And lastly, frequency. I'm glad that our CG makes effort to meet every week even when there are so few of us. Even when we thought that not many will show up during the holidays or because of activities, by the grace of God, quite a number still find time to come. It is really encouraging to see this group of Christians who are committed in learning more about God together and at the same time to help each other grow in their own personal relationship with God. I'm really glad that I got to know all of you :)
Also, if I may add, we should be accountable to one another. I think that being accountable to someone whom I trust really helps me grow and keeps me on the right track because I know there is someone who watches over me and gives me less inclination to fall away from my resolution and principles. And finally, Rick Warren wrote that fellowship requires an investment of time and commitment. I couldn't agree with him more. I really want to encourage all of us (me included!) to be willing each day to sacrifice part of our time for each other, even if it's just spending time listening. Let's make our CG a real, genuine fellowship!
Ok...sermon is over...hahaha...I hope what I just wrote helped all of you, even a little bit. At the same time, I would like to invite all of you to hold me accountable: that I try to put into practice what I'd learned.
All the best for your coming papers, and I pray that God will keep all of you healthy during this stressful period
love, esther
Friday, November 24, 2006
dearestleewee, marc, daniel, julian, esther, chris h, deb, shiyun, lester, hanrong, hasikin
thank you for taking time out and allowing God to make this exam blessing a success through you! i hope u all had fun blessing the blk and was refreshed in the process as well!
enjoy ur studying!
keeping u all in my prayers,
cherlyn
Thursday, November 23, 2006
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 (ESV)Sometimes I feel that when I am under trials or temptations I seldom see the side that if I stand the test, the rewards are so much greater. We can always count on the Lord for forgiveness for we all are weak and imperfect. But IF we stand the test with Him there is just so much more in store for us. Nick from B block shared this verse for the morning prayer and I think its so real. Trials and temptations will come, if we stand by God's ways he will help us walk thru them and its so easy to give in or give up but always remember that if u get pass them the trials they will be easier to fight next time.
Take the step to obey Him and He will bless you with so much more.
At The Cross
Darlene Zschech, Reuben Morgan
Intro:
Verse 1:
Oh Lord You’ve searched me,
You know my way;
Even when I fail You,
I know You love me.
Verse 2:
Your holy presence
Surrounding me
In every season,
I know You love me;
I know You love me.
Chorus:
At the cross I bow my knee,
Where Your blood was shed for me,
There’s no greater love than this.
You have overcome the grave,
Your glory fills the highest place,
What can separate me now?
Verse 3:
You go before me,
You shield my way,
Your hand upholds me;
I know You love me.
Verse 4:
And when the earth fades,
Falls from my eyes,
And You stand before me,
I know You love me;
I know You love me.
Bridge:
You tore the veil, You made a way
When You said that it is done.
Liwei
Saturday, November 18, 2006
hey all... hmmm suggestions for blessing?? i'm alright with the barley water thingie but i'm not sure everyone loves or enjoys barley water rite?? just a thought... how abt the cold dessert like the one they had outside brendon's room the other nite... or sweets as door gifts?? like lil packets of sweets that we can go door to door to give them... everyone loves sweets rite?? i think julian's idea to give the aunty some food is cool... and its even better now tt we know wad she likes... yup.. thats my 2 cents worth i guess...~dan vai~
Speaking of Doulos, my friend managed to get on board using some kind of exclusive pass..so she got to see parts of the ship that visitors don't normally get to see. Check out the link at
http://shireene.blogspot.com/2006_07_01_shireene_archive.html
Haha.
Regards,
Julian
Friday, November 17, 2006
Hey hey..Anyone free to visit the Doulos this weekend??
James wants to go.
Anyone??.
Also, there's an OM mission talk this sunday (7-8pm)onboard the Doulos ship. Anyone keen can email James at jamesmay_81@yahoo.com.sg or msg him at 96948671. And it's free!
The Doulos is the oldest passenger ship on earth and it
acts as a big float bookstore and uses this to do evangelism.
Any info can ask Esther hehehehe...~shoots arrow~
Liwei
Thursday, November 16, 2006
hey pple,here are my suggestions for the three blessings that we are gg to give this christmas and exam time! pls EDIT this post accordingly:
- for new suggestions: put ur name and ur suggestion beside it.
- if u agree with any suggesting put "+ (ur name)" at the start of the suggestions.
1. Blk exam blessings
esther+ cher: boil barley for the blk and go to every flr, gather them and pray for them
cher: a slice of cake? i know sheng siong has nice affordable ones OR ice cream+bread? we can get a gigantic 10litre tub for $8 i think...
julian: good luck kisses for each person in the block...hahaha (cherlyn u know what i mean). Being serious, how about egg-mayo sandwiches? easy to prepare as well, and just need eggs and mayo, but if you all think it's too hard then can always go with the bread.
Liwei: -->good luck kisses for each person in the block...hahaha (cherlyn u know what i mean)
Ohhh manzz...is there something i dont noe? hahaha. ok anyway kisses are fine so are sweets. Barley's fine too...what to e rest think?!?
2. christmas thank you gift for the cleaning auntie
cher: i talked with her today n heard she likes dim sum...mabbe we can buy back or bring her out??
julian: bring her out? a bit wierd leh, i think she would feel out of place. I also found out she like jacob's weetameal biscuits cos she was cleaning the 2nd floor toilet the other day and i offered her some...haha.
Liwei: Maybe good to invite her for a meal, but where?? Cant let her leave her duties to come out with us la...
Ideas anyone???
3. thank you gift for the blk comm
Cher: water bottles + write their names on it with fabric paint + thank you notes in the bottle
julian: how about tupperware or a bowl instead? or photoframe with their names? or give them a 'message in a bottle', with the message written on the outside of the bottle using fabric paint
Liwei: How abt a massager from mini toons!!! of course with fabric paint and love from the CG. Again more ideas or suggestions everyone!..
Read this this morning, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field and a fine pearl.
Have you "sold all" you have to obtain/keep this treasure??
The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
44"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matt 13:44-46
Liwei
hey guys! i thought of something for the exam blessings. I thought we could boil barley water for them, then we invite them to come to the kitchen floor by floor. I was thinking that they might be uncomfortable if we offered to pray for them first before offering the drink, so maybe we could just offer them the drink first and then later go door to door, find out their needs and see if they would like us to pray for them. what do you guys think? any suggestions to make this plan better are welcomed! or better still, other ideas! we can buy the ingredients this weekend and carry it out next week.
esther
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
CG 31 Octooooh i think it's been pretty long since i updated on what's happening in our cg...
well here are some photos for the october b'day celebrations!
The october babies!L to R top row: daniel, josh & leewee
L to R sitting: shiwei & marc
5 b'day hands cutting an absolutely scrumptious cake: prima deli's banana chocolate mousse! definitely must try for choco lovers!
food galore during makan time! the makan pple really outdo themselves everytime...every makan session is better than the last one! i am so surprise how this happens every wk!! cos every wk's one is so gd!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
ANNOUNCEMENT:Dear all,
I hope that you all know what the 'filling the cradle' game is about by now. For references, please look back to my previous post on this same blog. Anyway, Daniel and me are planning to set up the game by this weekend, so hopefully we will be able to start it by Monday or Tuesday! We will deliver a note to your doors to indicate the beginning of the cradle filling.
Basically, for each good deed done to you, you're supposed to place one straw in the cradle that will be built for baby Jesus. Lets all aim to fill the cradle by Christmas time! It's only 6 weeks left and Orchard Road is already lit up, so lets all light up the hearts of our friends as well :)
The straws and cradle will be located in front of my room, so everytime you feel that someone from CG did something good for you, or simply when anything good happens, just come down and place a straw in the cradle. It's as simple as that. If you're too lazy to come down everytime, simply make a mental note of how many deeds you receieved and just come down at the end of the day and place as many straws.
As I was writing this, it struck me that this game will also teach us to appreciate the small things in life that people do for us, be it helping us take fruits during dinner, or write messages to uplift our spirits. Such things may not be large, but I think they do mean a lot as they come from the bottom of the heart. It's also in line with the spirit of Christmas, giving with all sincereness. So, I'm hoping that this will help us prepare for Christmas in the right spirit, instead of getting caught up in the rush of buying presents.
Finally, hope that all of you will participate enthusiastically!
Cheers,
Julian
