A team of 46 people, led by Ps Eugene and Ps Julie, leaves this weekend for our first YouthNet Israel Encounter. Ps Melvyn and Ps Linda will lead another team from their networks the following weekend. This trip to the holy land of Israel is an exciting and significant trip for all of us. It is a spiritual journey for believers as we touch the very places where our Lord walked, taught and spent His earthly life 2000 years ago. Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Dead Sea, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Our God is the Faithful God, who keeps His covenant of love with His people (Deut 7:9). He honours His promises and keeps His Word. Israel is evidence of God's faithfulness to His people. Israel is one big prophetic act of God and the destiny of this nation is interwoven with our Christian destiny.
Please pray with us that as we walk, pray and seek God during this trip, we will develop a greater appreciation and understanding of our Christian roots and heritage. We need the Spirit of revelation so that we will not miss what God wants us to see, hear or do.
We will be praying for you too, especially for the special celebration service next week with the extraordinary Nick Vujicic. Remember to invite your friends!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
God Speaks!
I was reflecting on the call of Jesus' first disciples. Jesus saw Matthew. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9) No questions asked. No big debate. No calculations of risk and pondering over "what if".
Similar experiences with the other disciples Jesus called. Simon and Andrew left their nets at once and followed Jesus. James and John did not hesitate to respond to Jesus' call.
Ahh, we sigh... if only knowing God's direction for our lives and for our next step were that simple. But the fact of the matter is... it is that simple when it's the only thing in your life. No competing demands. No rival throne in our hearts....and we serve only Him. Did we complicate things or did things complicate us?
God is a great Communicator! He will get His message through to you, one way or another. He desires to speak to us much more than we desire to speak to Him. So, if we're not hearing Him, where's the problem?
Similar experiences with the other disciples Jesus called. Simon and Andrew left their nets at once and followed Jesus. James and John did not hesitate to respond to Jesus' call.
Ahh, we sigh... if only knowing God's direction for our lives and for our next step were that simple. But the fact of the matter is... it is that simple when it's the only thing in your life. No competing demands. No rival throne in our hearts....and we serve only Him. Did we complicate things or did things complicate us?
God is a great Communicator! He will get His message through to you, one way or another. He desires to speak to us much more than we desire to speak to Him. So, if we're not hearing Him, where's the problem?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
A Time To Rest
A bad bout of stomach flu forced me into rest for two days. Two days of catching up on sleep, taking my time to slowly get out of bed, lingering over each meal and savouring the joy of just being able to eat.
I breathed more deeply, thankful to regain health and life. Simple chores I do everyday take on a new meaning when I do them with appreciation. Opening up the windows to the sky and the fresh air and watching my two resident mynahs pecking away in the garden was a joy to behold. Whether sparrows or mynahs, they remind me of Matthew 6:26-27, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "
In the busyness of life, where stopping to rest has become a luxury, I'm glad for the daily reminder to place my priorities right as a citizen of the Kingdom of God where Jesus our Lord reigns as King !
I'm looking forward to 2008, the Year of Sabbath. It may take us some adjustment to enter into the spirit of the Sabbath. But we are going to enjoy the year with many opportunities to stop and thank God for creating the world as well as providing for His people, so that we can find freedom to enjoy the rest that He prescribes for us.
I breathed more deeply, thankful to regain health and life. Simple chores I do everyday take on a new meaning when I do them with appreciation. Opening up the windows to the sky and the fresh air and watching my two resident mynahs pecking away in the garden was a joy to behold. Whether sparrows or mynahs, they remind me of Matthew 6:26-27, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "
In the busyness of life, where stopping to rest has become a luxury, I'm glad for the daily reminder to place my priorities right as a citizen of the Kingdom of God where Jesus our Lord reigns as King !
I'm looking forward to 2008, the Year of Sabbath. It may take us some adjustment to enter into the spirit of the Sabbath. But we are going to enjoy the year with many opportunities to stop and thank God for creating the world as well as providing for His people, so that we can find freedom to enjoy the rest that He prescribes for us.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
New Beginnings
We celebrate many new beginnings this past week.
Chew Hiap Iuh ( from Ps Jeffery Lee's tribe ) testified at his baptism on 26th Oct as to how God has changed him from a self-centred young man struggling to find meaning and purpose in life beyond excelling in Tae Kwon Do, to one committed to pursue God. Woken up by a life threatening experience in a whitewater paddling trip, Hiap Iuh found his way to FCBC. He has since experienced the reality of God in restoring his relationship with his mum and in a new walk with God which gives him a future and a hope.
We had our first YouthNet Marriage Encounter Weekend which gave 30 couples a new beginning in their marriage. Some have been married for more than 10 years; a few just barely a year into their marriage. Nonetheless, all were refreshed by the time out for each other and the teachings as well as many practical lessons of how to make a good marriage better.
We congratulate Ps Lawrence Tan and Ps Fei Fei on the arrival of the 3rd child, Jonas on 23rd October.
It was also a new beginning for Ps Roland & Ps Laifun as they celebrated the birth of their first born, Reuel on 30th October. Many more new births to come!
What wonderful new beginnings in this Year of Victory!
Chew Hiap Iuh ( from Ps Jeffery Lee's tribe ) testified at his baptism on 26th Oct as to how God has changed him from a self-centred young man struggling to find meaning and purpose in life beyond excelling in Tae Kwon Do, to one committed to pursue God. Woken up by a life threatening experience in a whitewater paddling trip, Hiap Iuh found his way to FCBC. He has since experienced the reality of God in restoring his relationship with his mum and in a new walk with God which gives him a future and a hope.
We had our first YouthNet Marriage Encounter Weekend which gave 30 couples a new beginning in their marriage. Some have been married for more than 10 years; a few just barely a year into their marriage. Nonetheless, all were refreshed by the time out for each other and the teachings as well as many practical lessons of how to make a good marriage better.
We congratulate Ps Lawrence Tan and Ps Fei Fei on the arrival of the 3rd child, Jonas on 23rd October.
It was also a new beginning for Ps Roland & Ps Laifun as they celebrated the birth of their first born, Reuel on 30th October. Many more new births to come!
What wonderful new beginnings in this Year of Victory!
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