a talk!
Speaker: Brian Thomas, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries
Date/Time: 1-4.30pm, 5 September 09 (Saturday)
Venue: Mt Carmel BP Church, near NUS
Excerpt from leaflet (hope link works) "As Christians we believe that the Bible is the Word of God. But how do we know that the Bible has the right books?"
the apocrypha, btw, is a body of writings that's in the Catholic Bible but not the Protestant one.
let me know if interested :)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
john piper: very short, on how Jesus treated women
been reading a bit about the way people think about gender issues today-- complementarianism (sp?) and egalitarianism (sp?!). But at the end of it we still gotta love one another, eh.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Unit of measure
Doctrine is a unit of measure for belief, but doctrine is not a unit of measure for righteousness.
The unit of measure for righteousness is persecution. 2 Tim 3:12
The unit of measure for righteousness is persecution. 2 Tim 3:12
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Friday, July 10, 2009
Abundant Life
The thief comes only to steal and e kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
Lord give us the promise of the abundant life.
Lord give us the promise of the abundant life.
as mentioned
the imitation of Christ by A Kempis.
an e.g. of the practical applications.
psalms would also do, la. but still.
oh, today i mentioned the pursuit of holiness by jerry bridges. ask if you wanna borrow.
an e.g. of the practical applications.
psalms would also do, la. but still.
oh, today i mentioned the pursuit of holiness by jerry bridges. ask if you wanna borrow.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A loaf of bread
And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” Rev 6:6
A denarius is the equivalent of a days wage. A loaf of bread today costs as much as what certain people are earn per day in other parts of this world. Food for thought.
A denarius is the equivalent of a days wage. A loaf of bread today costs as much as what certain people are earn per day in other parts of this world. Food for thought.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
On abortion
A plane crashes in such and such a place. 70 people were on that plane. 50 people died and 20 survive. What kind of a God are you worshiping; who arbitrarily chose 50 people to die and 20 to live, He's not a very good God, is he; not a very moral God?
Then explain this conundrum: When God is blamed for arbitrary choices, that He allowed some to live and some to die, you call Him evil. When you give to yourself that right to determine the life of someone else, you call it a moral right?
Then explain this conundrum: When God is blamed for arbitrary choices, that He allowed some to live and some to die, you call Him evil. When you give to yourself that right to determine the life of someone else, you call it a moral right?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Nature is your enemy
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8119428.stm
And to Adam he said,
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife
and have eaten of the tree
of which I commanded you,
‘You shall not eat of it,’
cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground,
for out of it you were taken;
for you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.”
Friday, June 19, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
hey
firstly, i have yet to respond to the eschatological (i think that's the word) posts so far, because my home pc unexpectedly fried (literally-- it was quite a nice smell) and i had to leave my laptop at home. But i will get the chance to listen and reflect soon (who was it who gave the Haggai revival msg? i listened to it halfway that night) Lin, have also started reading the book you gave us-- the cry of the soul-- and i have to say so far what it says really resonates (will think about it before adding more). it's the only book i've read so far that addresses the feeling of -contempt-.
i just wanted to say hi, and encourage us to continue to pray for each other esp those who are going thru things in this period-- Richd for his family, Swi for her work and stuff and Clem i think his final exams are this week? There are many more personal needs that i won't put here but you guys know so let's share and pray for each other :)
<3 lo
ps i have seen a roe deer. it emerged from the thickets beside the coach and retreated hastily.
i just wanted to say hi, and encourage us to continue to pray for each other esp those who are going thru things in this period-- Richd for his family, Swi for her work and stuff and Clem i think his final exams are this week? There are many more personal needs that i won't put here but you guys know so let's share and pray for each other :)
<3 lo
ps i have seen a roe deer. it emerged from the thickets beside the coach and retreated hastily.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
It is easier to be a legalist than to be lover of Christ.
Law, principles, and wisdom without the presence of God is legalism, and legalism always ends in immorality and sensuality.
If you find legalistic people in any denomination, people given over to legalism; and if you get in among them, you will find the grossest sensuality and immorality behind closed doors that you could ever imagine. Why? Because if you put the law on someone without the working grace of God, it will encourage and lead them to sin.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Romans 13:12-13
Dear friends,
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
Rom. 13:11–12 In this section (12:3–13:14) the final verses call Christians to action, given the shortness of the time before Jesus returns. Sleep here is a metaphor for a life of moral carelessness and laxity. Salvation is viewed as a future reality here, and it draws nearer every day. the day is at hand. The nearness of the end summons Christians to put off all evil works and to live in the light.
Rom. 13:13 Things not fitting for those who belong to the light include (1) sins of addiction in drinking and partying; (2) sexual sins; and (3) social sins.
(via: ESV Study Bible notes)
Ask God to show you truth and be ready for people to scorn you, including those in church, and at home. Ask God to remove the things that displease Him in your life, and be ready to lose your friends, your hobby, your passion. It happened to me. But in return He will give you everything He has. An abundant life he has promised us. Start living. It begins with a thought.
"My sheep know my voice."
Sunday, May 24, 2009
The End
http://farewellisrael.com
The Totalitarian Lie
The Late Great State of Israel
http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34762
The day is coming when grey areas will be trivial.
The Totalitarian Lie
The Late Great State of Israel
http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=34762
The day is coming when grey areas will be trivial.
Grey Areas.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Prov 1:10
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; Hosea 4:6a
There is no grey area.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; Hosea 4:6a
There is no grey area.
btw, some very very very rough notes from pastor wesley's message on sin and grace. prob better if ppl post with recounts or reflections if any :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Pride Manifested
I have the unfortunate previllege of knowing someone who wants to have a family strictly for the sake of pride, but is not interested in taking care of the family, nor is interested in the welfare of the family. Such a person, in my flesh deserves the harshest condemnation, but when I think about God and what He has done for us, I shudder and wonder. When we picture the word 'abuse', we often think of physical punishment, an image of a scarred child with patchy skin from scalding hot water. Today I have an additional image; a family unit by law, but without love, excuses, only darkness, harsh words, shouting, accusations, threats, slander, void of attention, without communication, where the only valid order of system is presentation; in other words, strictly for show. Not only the family unit, but also the extended family unit; back biting, gossip, nested lies, manipulation of the naive, bribery, support for the abuser, to an extent, emotional blackmail. Emotional abuse is the term. I have the unfortunate previllege of experiencing the above, second hand, and like smoke from tabacco, its equally potent, and in this case emotionally potent. I wonder the source of the state, how it all began; from the very choice of clothes to entice, from the vainity of appearance, from the lust of the eyes and flesh, from the desire to be like everyone else, from the desire to prove adulthood, from the desire of wealth, from the desire to appear in control, from the desire to prove sanity, from the desire to please, from the desire to sound intelligent on a blog post. Is this not the pride of life? Perhaps my expression comes in the form of deliberate encryption, God will judge. Perhaps I am pretending to be humble now? God will judge that as well. Pride manifested. It's happening to all of us. Surrender is an easy word to say. It means even taking a hammer and be willing to smash the computer we're using now. If it's hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinner?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
coming of age
hey all.
Clem thank you for posting, it means a lot to hear you share about what God has been doing in your life :) i can probably update for the rest of the cell that things are busy or "challenging", to use Swi's word. Except for Sean, Evelyn, Andre, Jared, the younger new members and myself, the rest are in exam fever state (even Swi). Will probably lift in a month or two, but meanwhile it's hot eh.
Praise God, i heard about your house thing, i'm really glad to hear how it was provided :D sometimes i think we mind daring to ask things more than God minds giving them. Similarly, it's great to hear that being co-CGL has stretched you in faith. Stretched is too uncomfortable a word-- when answered faith is more like walking in a garden and finding there is no end to it. "How I've proved Thee o'er and o'er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for faith to trust Thee more"... Yeah i pray that you (not only you but all of us man, we really need it) will have a closer walk with God each day.
How did Easter Week go?
yeah i always found arms and stuff nicer than abdominal things, possibly because you can see and feel them...?
spent some time in perth and returned very spoiled because of all the good food and yummy yummy snacks. beware clem!
why i entitled this post coming of age: not because things have been high spiritually, but because of other circumstances.
in school, we've just started two months of very basic clinical training; stuff like venipuncture, catheterization, physical examinations. it's a huge transition to me, because it's been just books up to now, and it's slightly scary for me to consider that now skills like arterial blood sampling, iv plug setting and orthopaedic examination procedures are not only expected but essential. Over the last two years i have perhaps come to believe that a dr is someone who swallows lecture notes & textbooks, and draws up summary tables about them. i don't feel ready for clinicals; feels like i've not quite recovered from exams, travel, and irregular sleeping hours. I suppose one is rarely ready for change when it comes. There is a time for everything...
i feel like i've been less disciplined with quiet time and Bible reading, and that's definitely affected the way i approach things and deal with ppl. even then, i think God has been reminding me that when we believe in Christ and accept Him as Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and will never leave us. I found this to be a great assurance. I tend to feel very bad if i don't do certain things-- say things to people, do stuff, pray a certain way. But i think God doesn't look at the outward consequences as much as He does the process, the heart of the matter, the intents and purposes. Not that my intents are blameless either, but i know if i set my heart to seek Him and Him only, He will be found. If i don't do QT because i was riveted to a novel and refused to put it down til i was tired out (confession, it's happened at least 4 times in the past week, because there were at least 4 novels), it's another matter.
actually i think a chief weakness of mine is using Stuff to make me content and happy; stuff like nice books, games (even hp games or simple things like tetris. very sad case.) and music, so i get lulled by it (like some kids keep getting fed candy so they have no taste for apples or watermelon) and slowly become dependent on it. Mind, i'm not saying those things are bad. They're just no substitute for a moment in relationship with God.
having said all that, i know God is faithful-- faithful to the promises He made, faithful to Who He is. More than that, He is Love itself. Even when the world is shaking and places, people, things, everything that anchored your identity turn out to be false, He is still true, and He is still trustworthy. Throughout history He, the Maker, calls to people: The LORD, your Father, your Husband, your Friend. Relational; He Himself knew love before there was any created thing to love, because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And because He made us to be relational, I pray now that all our relationships would reflect something of that love.
sorry for the long introspective post; i hope it was encouraging, and i also hope to hear from you guys :)
Clem thank you for posting, it means a lot to hear you share about what God has been doing in your life :) i can probably update for the rest of the cell that things are busy or "challenging", to use Swi's word. Except for Sean, Evelyn, Andre, Jared, the younger new members and myself, the rest are in exam fever state (even Swi). Will probably lift in a month or two, but meanwhile it's hot eh.
Praise God, i heard about your house thing, i'm really glad to hear how it was provided :D sometimes i think we mind daring to ask things more than God minds giving them. Similarly, it's great to hear that being co-CGL has stretched you in faith. Stretched is too uncomfortable a word-- when answered faith is more like walking in a garden and finding there is no end to it. "How I've proved Thee o'er and o'er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, O for faith to trust Thee more"... Yeah i pray that you (not only you but all of us man, we really need it) will have a closer walk with God each day.
How did Easter Week go?
yeah i always found arms and stuff nicer than abdominal things, possibly because you can see and feel them...?
spent some time in perth and returned very spoiled because of all the good food and yummy yummy snacks. beware clem!
why i entitled this post coming of age: not because things have been high spiritually, but because of other circumstances.
in school, we've just started two months of very basic clinical training; stuff like venipuncture, catheterization, physical examinations. it's a huge transition to me, because it's been just books up to now, and it's slightly scary for me to consider that now skills like arterial blood sampling, iv plug setting and orthopaedic examination procedures are not only expected but essential. Over the last two years i have perhaps come to believe that a dr is someone who swallows lecture notes & textbooks, and draws up summary tables about them. i don't feel ready for clinicals; feels like i've not quite recovered from exams, travel, and irregular sleeping hours. I suppose one is rarely ready for change when it comes. There is a time for everything...
i feel like i've been less disciplined with quiet time and Bible reading, and that's definitely affected the way i approach things and deal with ppl. even then, i think God has been reminding me that when we believe in Christ and accept Him as Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and will never leave us. I found this to be a great assurance. I tend to feel very bad if i don't do certain things-- say things to people, do stuff, pray a certain way. But i think God doesn't look at the outward consequences as much as He does the process, the heart of the matter, the intents and purposes. Not that my intents are blameless either, but i know if i set my heart to seek Him and Him only, He will be found. If i don't do QT because i was riveted to a novel and refused to put it down til i was tired out (confession, it's happened at least 4 times in the past week, because there were at least 4 novels), it's another matter.
actually i think a chief weakness of mine is using Stuff to make me content and happy; stuff like nice books, games (even hp games or simple things like tetris. very sad case.) and music, so i get lulled by it (like some kids keep getting fed candy so they have no taste for apples or watermelon) and slowly become dependent on it. Mind, i'm not saying those things are bad. They're just no substitute for a moment in relationship with God.
having said all that, i know God is faithful-- faithful to the promises He made, faithful to Who He is. More than that, He is Love itself. Even when the world is shaking and places, people, things, everything that anchored your identity turn out to be false, He is still true, and He is still trustworthy. Throughout history He, the Maker, calls to people: The LORD, your Father, your Husband, your Friend. Relational; He Himself knew love before there was any created thing to love, because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And because He made us to be relational, I pray now that all our relationships would reflect something of that love.
sorry for the long introspective post; i hope it was encouraging, and i also hope to hear from you guys :)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Summer's End
hellos guys
how's everyone?
i apologise for not posting anything here despite reading it periodically... somehow it's hard to translate fuzzy colours of thoughts into words. Or i lack practice perhaps.
6 weeks have passed already and i must say i'm enjoying the work this semester more than last.
This semester will be covering heart/lungs/arms/legs and it all seems alot clearer than the mush of abdominal contents last semester. No more 8 am classes too so it's a bit easier to get up in the mornings.
I've moved house this year...and i wanna say it's really God's providence that makes me wonder why i worried so much about finding a place to stay. Just a day before flying i was still without a place to stay, but amazingly that last night in sg we got a place (where i'm at now) and were due to sign it the moment we touched down. Provided on the dot, right before i returned. It's a nice 3 room apartment just off Queen Victoria Market, at the edge of the city, a 25 min walk from uni.
Also, my OCF cell from last year has spilt, and i'm co-leading one of them. And it's tough and demands more and more of me. Probably due to my own character, but i don't find it comes naturally to me. But in my inadequecy, God's guiding is so much more relevant and real. Just this friday, we had home cell (which is a session at someone's home w/o bible study and just games etc) and it was really really good. The planning was patchy and ultimately, it's truly God's grace that allowed the newers members and older ones to mix and talk to comfortably, and be willing to share about themselves with us. And it was made me very glad to see some stay back even after it formally ended just to continue in a time of impromptu, casual worship and prayer.
It's my fault for not posting in so long that there's too much in my muddled head to remember at the moment...so another post ya? Please pray for me 1) for a closer walk with God each day 2) for bonding and a depth of desire to grow within my cell this year 3) the upcoming Easter and the week before that, which a combined effort of multiple Christian groups on campus comes together in a week of campus evangelism (the aptly-named J-week/Jesus-week).
Hope to hear from all you guys...prayer needs too!
how's everyone?
i apologise for not posting anything here despite reading it periodically... somehow it's hard to translate fuzzy colours of thoughts into words. Or i lack practice perhaps.
6 weeks have passed already and i must say i'm enjoying the work this semester more than last.
This semester will be covering heart/lungs/arms/legs and it all seems alot clearer than the mush of abdominal contents last semester. No more 8 am classes too so it's a bit easier to get up in the mornings.
I've moved house this year...and i wanna say it's really God's providence that makes me wonder why i worried so much about finding a place to stay. Just a day before flying i was still without a place to stay, but amazingly that last night in sg we got a place (where i'm at now) and were due to sign it the moment we touched down. Provided on the dot, right before i returned. It's a nice 3 room apartment just off Queen Victoria Market, at the edge of the city, a 25 min walk from uni.
Also, my OCF cell from last year has spilt, and i'm co-leading one of them. And it's tough and demands more and more of me. Probably due to my own character, but i don't find it comes naturally to me. But in my inadequecy, God's guiding is so much more relevant and real. Just this friday, we had home cell (which is a session at someone's home w/o bible study and just games etc) and it was really really good. The planning was patchy and ultimately, it's truly God's grace that allowed the newers members and older ones to mix and talk to comfortably, and be willing to share about themselves with us. And it was made me very glad to see some stay back even after it formally ended just to continue in a time of impromptu, casual worship and prayer.
It's my fault for not posting in so long that there's too much in my muddled head to remember at the moment...so another post ya? Please pray for me 1) for a closer walk with God each day 2) for bonding and a depth of desire to grow within my cell this year 3) the upcoming Easter and the week before that, which a combined effort of multiple Christian groups on campus comes together in a week of campus evangelism (the aptly-named J-week/Jesus-week).
Hope to hear from all you guys...prayer needs too!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
ahem
i'd actually wanted to post earlier to point out that if Ger is in Canada it must mean that her exchange application/budget went okay after all :) How's it been over there??? let us know how it's going! managed to find a church there?
much more immediate point:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERALDINE!!!!!!!!!!
(how come the font can't be made any larger?)
Here's wishing you a blessed year ahead with much joy each day in God :)
much more immediate point:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GERALDINE!!!!!!!!!!
(how come the font can't be made any larger?)
Here's wishing you a blessed year ahead with much joy each day in God :)
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