Easter Sunday!

Rejoice! For the Lord has risen!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" 1 Peter 1:3

In this Easter Sunday, let us be reminded once again of God's resurrection, and His love for us, that our "God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" Romans 6:8-11

On the third day, we see His glory revealed. From Matthew 28:1-10,

"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

In this Easter Sunday service, we have many youths in our midst who will undergo confirmation, rededicating their lives to God, as well those who have declared that they wish to be baptised. Infant baptisms will be carried out as usual, and we thank God for all these wonderful moments! Another piece of good news is the graduation of the latest discipleship class. They will be receiving their graduation certificate. We congratulate them!

The confirmation list:

1. John Ching
2. Nathaniel Neo
3. Lulu
4. Rachel Gan
5. Sophie
6. Dawn

Youths who baptized:

1. Sherly
2. Jill
3. Joycelyn Liang

The 5 who have graduated from discipleship class:

1. Joanne
2. Jacqueline
3. Rachel
4. Bing en
5. Sarah


Easter bunny

Good Friday

And so, after a period of lent, the day has arrived when Jesus was crucified. This day calls for us to remember our Saviour who bore all our sins as the living sacrifice. From Isaiah 53:12, "He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many."

Quite a recent video posted onto youtube, and with courtesy of Igniter Media, described Jesus' path to the Cross in a very innovative way.

Here's the youtube video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-hW680pCLs&feature=player_embedded

Let us continue to walk alongside our Lord during His journey to the cross, and dedicate our hearts to the Lamb of God that has overcome all sin.

A snippet on 2011

Update from Sarah on the new year:

For Sunday school: Our church youths are moving and adjusting to a new structure. We have formed cell group for youths JC2/Poly 2 and above. It would be less of sitting on small chairs every sunday for bible study but they will go out for cell-group activities, sports, talks on Sundays etc.

First Chinese New Year fellowship on 30th Jan. All the new year goodies and Ba Gua that cannot be missed.

Both Zhi Jian and Pr Luke's father have returned to the Lord in mid Jan and late Jan respectively. Do keep them and their families in prayer.

Playlist updated

Additional songs to the playlist. A song called 'Speak O Lord' which I sang in my service today. The lyrics are meaningful, and good song for worship. Enjoy.

灵修文章

今天看了这一篇灵修文章，提醒我们无时无刻聆听主的声音。

高灵敏的天线~看列王纪上十九章11~13节

那时耶和华从那里经过，在以利亚面前有烈风大作，崩山碎石，耶和华却不在风中。风后地震，耶和华却不在其中。地震后有火，耶和华也不在火中。火后有微小的声音向他说：（以利亚阿，你在这里做什么？）

上帝选择在平凡的场合中，把自己显现给以利亚。神的话不在崩山裂石的烈风、地震、大火里，而是在委婉的微声细语中。他的信息不在长篇大论的说教里，反而在一句简单轻柔的问句中：「以列亚，你在这里做什么？」以利亚习惯在火焰中经历神的作为，在大场面的动作中与神同工。如今，以利亚还有一个重要的功课要学习，学习去认识上帝的另一副可爱的面目，去体会他的轻微脚步声与狂飙巨雷一样，拥有无坚不摧的能力。

你习惯了礼拜堂的证道，可能会错过了大草原的赞礼。
你习惯了亢奋的激情，可能会错过了轻柔的微声。
你期待惊奇，所以错过了日常。
你期待神迹，所以错过了自然。
你一心等待太阳，所以错过了烛光。
你一心等待大餐，所以错过了小菜。

一颗柔软的心绝不会画地自限，或在卑微，或在尊贵，随时张开高灵敏的天线，接收上帝的微波。一颗轻灵的心绝不规范上帝，采用哪一个特定的模式显现，或处群众，或处孤独，或工作，或休息，任何的时侯，都准备好迎接上帝的启示。

Tommy

An article I received from my granduncle. I would like to share it with you the 30 suggestions that would benefit Christians.

"對基督徒有幫助的30條建議"

上帝賜福你，是要你成為別人的祝福！


1. 下次如果覺得自己了不起時，試試行在水上。
Next time when you think you are terrific, try walking on water.

2. 當魔鬼提起你的過去時，請提醒牠的未來。
When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future.

3. 你不是幸運，是蒙福。
You are not lucky, you are blessed.

4. 若想要真正活著，得先徹底死去。
If you really want to live, you must go through the experience of death first.

5. 機會也許只敲一次門，但試探卻總是在按門鈴。
Opportunity may only knock once, but temptation is always at the door bell.

6. 我們常在強壯時，忘了神。
When we are strong, we often forget God.

7. 那些只在星期天呼喚"天父"的人，在一星期餘下的日子裡活的像孤兒。
Those who call out for "Heavenly Father" only on Sunday live like orphans the rest of the week.

8. 不要以自我為中心，要以基督為中心。
Do not be self-centred, be Christ-centred.

9. 沒有基督，沒有平安；認識基督，得到平安。
No Christ, no peace; know Christ, know peace.

10. 為什麼我們不常向朋友提起神？因為我們不常向神提起我們的朋友。
Why we don't mention God to our friends? Because we don’t mention our friends to God.

11. 當把你的一切獻給基督，因為祂把祂的一切都給了你。
Dedicate everything you have to God because He has given you everything He has.

12. 你現在所追求的，值得基督為它死嗎？ （好問題…）
Is what you are after worth the death of Jesus Christ? (A good question…)

13. 使你向神靠近的人，是你真正的朋友。
Those who make you get close to God are your real friends.

14. 神愛我們，不是因為我們是怎樣一個人，而是因為祂是怎樣一位神。
God loves us not because of what we are but because of what He is.

15. 神的應許像夜空裡的星星。夜越深，星星的光芒越亮。
God's promise is like stars in the dark of night. The darker the night, the brighter the stars.

16. 沒有基督的生命，是無望的盡頭。有基督的生命，是無盡的盼望。
Life without Jesus is hopelessness without end. Life with Jesus is hopefulness without end.

17. 我雖不知道未來掌管著什麼，但我知道誰掌管著未來。
Although I don't know what future will bring, I do know who rules the future.

18. 把你的重擔交給主，讓它留在主那裡。
Leave your heavy burden with God and let it stay there.

19. 不要畏懼明天，因為上帝已在那裡。
Don't be afraid of tomorrow because God is already there.

20. 當你除了神，一無所有時，你將知道 神就是你全部的需要。
When you are left with nothing but God, you will know that God is all you need.

21. 放手交給上帝，別再向 神講述你的風暴有多大，當向風暴講述你的 神有多大。
Let go and trust everything to Him. Don't ever tell God again your life's storms, but tell the storms about the greatness of God.

22. 能夠滿足人心的，是造人心的那一位。
The one who can satisfy what our hearts desire is the one who created our hearts.

23. 請常常保持著你心裡的光，因為你不知道，誰會藉著這光走出黑暗。
Always keep the light in your heart burning because you don't know who will need it to walk out of the darkness.

24. 當我們只顧工作的時候，我們獨自工作；當我們祈禱的時候， 神工作。
When our attention is directed only to our work, we work alone; when we pray God goes to work.

25. 神無所不在，所以我們可以隨處禱告。
God is omnipresent, so we can pray anywhere.

26. 一個沒有需要的人永遠見不到神跡。
A person without any need will never be able to see God's miracles.

27. 敬拜提醒我們生命的價值，但世界卻使我們忘記它。
Worshiping helps remind us of our life's worth, but the world keeps making us forget that.

28. 步履艱難的時候，別一味的禱告，卻不邁向神要你走的路。
When the going gets tough, don't just pray and forget to follow the path God has directed us to.

29. 祈禱會帶給我們很多好處，憂慮會給我們製造很多麻煩。
Praying can do many things for us, worrying can do many things to us.

30. 神賜福你，是要你成為別人的祝福！
God bless you, and may you be the blessing for others！


Tommy

What really is your walk with God?

Good day,

Seems that I have 4 viewers that view my last post. I'm glad... gives me reason to blog more about spiritual life.

today's topic is about Your Walk With God.

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

Let me ask you a question.

What is your walk with God like? What does it mean to Walk with God?

I was going through my QT and went to search the word walk. This verse stuck a chord in me.

2 John 1:6 And this is love; that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

So dear brothers and sisters what is your walk with God? Like what the bibles talks about the walk... its really a walk of obedience; of following his commands of love.

Here, I would like to inject some theological knowledge.

3 processes.

1) Justification - Accepted Christ and He sets us right with God

2) Sanctification - Made Holy with God with the help of the Word as well as the Holy Spirit

3) Glorification - looking forward to an eternity with Christ

So dear brothers and sisters I would like you point towards the bible and look how they constantly refer the relationship with the Father.

Thus we see these processes are a part of your walk with God.

So what actually is your walk with God? Dear brothers and sisters I believe this is what you must find and THINK what is really the walk you want to have with God.

To me this walk is about a relationship that compels me to seek his Grace. May this also be your definition of YOUR walk with God.

Regards,

Sherman

37th Mission Conference in Chen Li

Good day folks,

As I've promise Tommy to keep the blog updated there are many things that happened these few weeks.

They are as follows. ( Just the main ones )

1) Tommy went off to Ireland with his family on 10 Sept.

2)The 37th mission week was conducted on the 9 - 12 Sept.

3)Daniel Loh will be going off to UK to study on the 30th of Sept.

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

So today's topic is talking about the mission week that has past. Well... I would like to post a rough summary about what happened.

In sum,

1) Prayers can work wonders

2) The passion for the gospel

3) Having the willingness is not enough, one must equip themselves with the word.

4) Being Gentle servants of the Lord

5) Tests from God is to help us know how much we lack and should compels us to seek the Lord.

So these are the main ideas that have been going around in mission week.

I would Just like to share with you all point 1; Prayers can work wonders.

Many of times we have heard people say how prayers have changed their lives. On top of that we just finish watching Fireproof, a show that show us how prayer was an important part in the show whereby it constantly gives hope to the main actor and his family.

One thing stuck a chord in me. The moment whereby the main actor was struggling with temptations and how he over come it. Well it is very surreal.

Let me share with you how God spoke to me about temptations.

These few weeks I've been struggling to fight temptations of purchasing things. So i decided to pray about these urge and seek help from God.

God spoke to me in 2 ways. Firstly was the sermon during mission week about how prayers will move mountains. Second, was what Sister Diana shared with me.

She said, "pray to God and ask him to help you. Shun away from the things that tempts you. You know, sometimes praying to God to help you is not enough... you must look at the rooted cause of the temptation. Is it greed? the desire that compels you to me tempted? If so pray about it and ask God to take away the greed."

These are the words of wisdom that she shared with me. I will continue to pray about it and DO pray for me : )

Alright this is for today. May the Lord watch over you dear brothers and sisters of Chen Li.

Regards,

Sherman

Music

Today's sermon was on the topic of music ministry as a sacred ministry, and the 'Daily Bread' devotion for today is titled 'How can we keep from singing?'.

'While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.' - Psalm 146:2

Good news

Lately, I have been hearing good news from people about their lives. Alex (my friend who came to Chen Li a few times) has an aunt who is willing to provide financial and emotional help for him to get a second opinion about his condition. Sarah passed her FTT. Jacqueline clinched a job as a clinical technologist at Gleneagles after excelling at her interview.

Behind these good news, there are struggles behind them. Pain, anxiety, insomnia. But each individual overcame their troubles in their own ways. The result is sweetness, joy, and thanksgiving. And in their joy, we shall rejoice with them.

However in times of adversity, when situations do not seem to produce good news, we must not forget that we have heard this 'Good News' from the bible, where we have received God's salvation through Jesus (See Luke 23:44-24:3, and John 1:12). I recall from the 'Daily Bread' about a lady named Katherine Hankey who wrote a poem, when she was seriously ill, that became a hymm that some of you may have heard of, 'Tell Me the Old, Old Story'. She wanted someone to visit and comfort her with the story of Jesus, just as she shared the story with many others.

Let's tell someone the good old, old story of Jesus and how He sacrificed himself for our sins. They need some good news too.

Tommy