Reflections from Bernard Tumaru

When We Are Ready

I learned something important today about God's love for us.

We often wonder why God takes so long to bless us. We get frustrated when we do not get things immediately. We become impatient and start to question God.

I have asked the same questions whenever I wanted something badly. I become worried and frustrated when God does not seem to answer my prayers. I remember Him telling me, "Ask and you shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened unto you," and yet it does not seem to be the case at times.

Like everybody else, I have focused so much on those words that I have forgotten a much more important point. For after those immediately come the following verses "Who among you fathers if whose son asks him for bread gives him a snake instead?" Key words: father and son. The relationship that we should have with God is like between a father and a son!

How more often than not that we treat our relationship with God with a degree of impersonality? God has become too impersonal for us that we neglect to act as obedient children should do. God, as Father only wants the best for His children, and basing from His own judgment, he knows who we are and what we are capable of.

God knows who we are! He wants to bless us so much but He also knows that sometimes we are not ready. We are not ready to face the 'consequences' and responsibilities of His gifts. He knows how much we want things badly but He also knows that our characters are not prepared to receive those blessings. How often have you heard people pray for good health but yet are not committed to exercise everyday? Or individuals who want to find a good wife and get married and yet continues to be self-involved and selfish?

But then you may say, "But I have seen people in the world who got married and continue their self-centered ways." That is true, but just the same, that person was never ready for the responsibilities and most often the marriage ends up in painful separation or divorce.

God as our Father wants to bless us. But most importantly He wants obedience from us as His true Sons/Daughters. If you find yourself praying for the same things over and over again for a very long time maybe you should stop and reflect what God wants to change in you so that you may be ready to receive those blessings and the responsibilities that come with them. He is such a wise and loving God that He knows which gifts would help you or ruin you, which ones you can manage and you can not cope up with. As His true children, we receive this loving and extra special attention from God.

So next time we pray for things, our prayer should be "God, please prepare me for all the many blessings you want to shower upon me. May I have the right heart, mindset and character to be able to face the challenges of those gifts, that I may use them for the benefit of your kingdom."

It does not matter whether you are praying for a relationship, a good career, a new car, better lifestyle or having children, our Father would want to make sure that His Sons/Daughters are in the best position to receive it.

Praise and glory to God, the Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus Christ!

Message from David Teo

Hi all,

We (David Teo, Shirley, Jessie & May) will be going to NZ for our adventure self drive trip from 2nd May to 14th May.

Please be praying for us to have safe and fruitful trip. We really need God in our journey to protect us.

Our flight detail :

Flight Out : 2nd May 08
----------

Flight QF 320
from Singapore (SIN) on Fri 2 May 08 - 19:45
to Sydney (SYD) on Sat 3 May 08 - 05:15

Flight QF 45
from Sydney (SYD) on Sat 3 May 08 - 08:35
to Christchurch (CHC) on Sat 3 May 08 - 13:35

Flight Back : 14th May 08
-----------

Flight QF 206
from Christchurch (CHC) on Wed 14 May 08 - 06:45
to Sydney (SYD) on Wed 14 May 08 - 08:10

Flight QF 5
from Sydney (SYD) on Wed 14 May 08 - 15:50
to Singapore (SIN) on Wed 14 May 08 - 21:50

Sharing from Shirley Goh

Time

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.

There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with those important to him. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over "his side of the fence" as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important... Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... .Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said.

"What box? " Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days, the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! - Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most...was.. .my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the
moments that take our breath away,"

Time has a way of getting away from all of us relatives,friends ,near
& dear ones.
TAKE THE TIME...NOW.
Remember the past, plan for the future but the present is very precious.

Good News from Kota Kinabalu 2

Dearest NE region,

Another good news letter from Loriot...

with love,
Grace and Zq

KK Update 2

We are so grateful, excited and encouraged by your continuous mails and prayers! Gods work is still encouraging us here in Kota Kinabalu. Last Sunday marked the best attendance we ever had in a looooooooooong time!! We had 20 (12 disciples)head count!

Bible study lesson with Jumil continued to sin studies. Hes been coming to every meetings and hangouts! Really awesome guy. Last Sunday service, he brought his younger brother who just finished Form Five and is looking for a place to further his studies.

Rebecca (Grace cute little friend in KK!) came to church last sunday and loved it! She stayed for fellowship over lunch! Today I had the privilege to join my wife for the study with Rebecca. She got this pure heart that really hungers for the truth . Really pure hearted girl. Very hard working, alert, and totally discipline!! (Grace, personally I am very confident that she is going to make it!! Like you said, Super Open....) Shes looking forward to come to church this sunday. Bible studies with her has been fixed on every Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Wei Kean the UMS student Bible Study lesson is also still on. and so is Michelle.

Last Sunday, my wife brought a friend name Prisilla. Very friendly girl but yet to work out time to study the Bible. The Chinese sister Ching Yeun also brought her brother Ah Ming.

This week Wednesday the church took a whole day of fasting. Meanwhile, I cooked porridge for everyone, mixed with 2 ayam kampong, brought it to the mid week meeting and we broke our fast together!! Every single grain of rice in that porridge was licked!! It was an awesome night followed by an exciting Bible Trivia Quizzes!!

I also had the privilege to get connected with Halbert (Penang) and Karmen (JB) for a morning prayer on wednesday morning through SKYPE! This was initiated by Halbert. That was really cool inspiring.

Well this is all for today. More good news to come. We love you all and thanks again for all your prayers.
Loriot and family

Good News from KK Church!

Dearest NE region,

Thank you so much for all your prayers for the KK church. We are so moved to hear from Loriot and karen of how faithful God has been in KK. It's a revival that has made all the trips there so special and worth it! To all the brothers and sisters in KK, we love you and we respect every single one of you as you go out doing God's mission. You are constantly in our prayers. Zq and i will be going again in June and we'll be bringing our whole family. God is so kind...air asia has free tickets promotion at that time. 4 other sisters from KL will be joining us and some from singapore. i've been praying to God daily to be fruitful since Jan 3rd. it'll be exciting if Rebekkah makes it. Below is Loriot's good news letter....

Love,
Grace and ZQ

On Mon, Mar 31, 2008 at 9:29 PM, Loriot Moujing wrote:

Hi ZQ and Grace, how are you? The KK church here owes you guys so much!!! The encouragement, Inspiration, Prayers, etc. etc.etc. Since the singaporean left kk mid of march, the kk church has not been the same! The fire is still blazing. Juliana's mother Betty that was restored is doing well. Physically she has not been fine though. We are also still following ups on the contacts you gave to us. Let me share with you some of these awesome news.

Chris Emin followed up with one of the contacts through email. He is studying at the local Polytechnic and has been praying since last year for someone to come and study the Bible with him. He is yet to arrange his time to meet us.

The UMS (University Malaysia Sabah) student Wee Kean met by micheal and came to church service has been hanging out with us. We have brought him out for tea tarik near the campus and he love to hang out with us. Two studies have been done with him and the next study is on tuesday night this week!

Sister Anna brought his brother for dinner at my house last Friday. His name is Jamil. He stayed on enjoying the fellowship and later followed us boys for a hang out at the UMS. He is 22 years old and studying at PTPL College for Diploma Teknologi Makmal Perubatan. PTPL (Pusat Teknologi dan Pengurusan Lanjutan) group is affliated to the Managemant and Science University (MSU). On Sunday he came to church and we studied the bible right after. He want to seek God and want to continue studying the Bible! Super Open. I felt like he really is a gift from God! His goal later is to be able to help his Dad to become a christian! Infact, the father has already been asking how to be a christian! This Wednesday we will continue the study and go hang out!!

My wife and sister Jihen met and studied seeking God with Rebecca on saturday last week. This is the girl that Grace met and was fired up about!! After the study she really want to come to our church service BUT she was required to work on accounts every sundays! She also is in her final year at the same college that Jamil is studying!! and besides work and studying she also give tuition part time! She work to support herself and her family. So she really have no time to come to church! So last sunday at work, she decided to ask her boss if she could take time off to go to church. To her surprise, the Boss ask her to take sundays off!! Incredible. I really believe this is from the LORD! And what amaze me is that these two great studies we now have goes to the same college!! I really believe that God is opening more doors through these two studies!

CK introduced this women name Michele to the church many months ago. She has been coming on and off to various activities organised by the church but never really was open to learn about christianity. Last sunday she came to church with another friend. The chinese sister ching yeun has been following up with her closely and they have build up good friendship. On sunday I preached in Bahasa about the Prodigal Son. After the service, she spoke to my wife that she would like to start studying the Bible! That was so awesome.

Last Sunday, My wife Karen brought a mini cooker to church and cooked pizza for everyone!! She used her Tupperware deep pan to cook!! What a way to deepen the fellowship!! Everyone stayed on for great fellowship and at the same time enjoying freshly cooked pizza!!.

Lastly, we are still working on the couple bonny and his wife. He has not been free to meet us. But the wife has been coming. However, the sisters will continue to work on with the wife first.

Well, this is all the good news. more to come. let us stay in your prayers as we continue to shine here. love you all and God bless.

New Widgets!

Hi Christians!

I want to announce the addition of two new widgets to our North East blog! These are in addition to the other helpful very helpful widgets we now have such as the Chatterbox, Calendar, Bubbleshare photo album, and Online Sermons from church.

The new widgets are:

1. Window widget to Disciples Today
2. And Window widget to Special Events announced in church.

AS your administrator, I have been trying the best I can to make sure that our blog remains updated and functional. Hopefully everybody will take full advantage of its benefits as our blog enters its 2nd mothlyversary.

If you have any other suggestions and ideas to improve our blog, please let me know. Of all the ministries in Church, only NorthEast, Campus and Teens have their own blog. So I want to congratulate everybody for their contribution to making this blog. Let us truly use this God-given tool to bring our faith higher and to know and worship God.

God bless!

We Welcome a New Brother

We welcome a new brother in the Kingdom of God!

Our new brother is Yi Xiong, fruit of our brother Jeremiah.

Jeremiah recounted the story of how unfaithful he was when evangalizing in Ang Mo Kio. There he met Yi Xiong.

At first Yi Xiong wasn't very keen in attending church because he felt it to be so far away. I remember in the car with Raymond when Jeremiah told us about Yi Xiong's problem. Raymond suggested that Jeremiah invite Yi Xiong instead to study the Bible. Suprisingly, Yi Xiong was open about it.

It was through perserverance, desire to save someone, and God's faithfulness that Jeremiah is able to baptize Yi Xiong on March 30, 2008.

From us in the North east, welcome to the Kingdom brother!

North East Kota Kinabalu Mission Trip

BubbleShare: Share photos - Powered by BubbleShare

Post from Gary Loh

It'd been more than a week since our return from ê KK trip, & i'd like to take this chance to thank ê KK church 4 extending your hospitality 2 us. Though my stay had been brief, I'm treated to some impressive hospitality by the xtians there, especially from Michael & CK. I know they won't b receiving this email, so pls b conveying my thanks 2 them.
tat said, i've uploaded a slideshow of the memories shared between ê NE Singles & ê KK church @

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA9cfc_87kw

More photos will b subsequently uploaded too. Stay tuned :)


Juz Me, Gary

Reflections from Gideon Lu

Hi all,

I would like to share my insights from John 5:19-21

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it..."

I imagine myself as Son of God because we are all Children of God, created in his image. My Heavenly Father loves me as his son and will show me all that he does and what I should do. Yes, God has show me many amazing things, sometimes without me asking for it. God has always show me bible, people, events, ideas, etc to tell me something. The "shows" from God are truly amazing, God may even design them for me just like watching movies! I cannot revive the dead which only God can do but I can revive the livings who are as good as dead. The dead may refer to people who are stuck in their past, no hopes for future, or simply people who are as good as 'dead'. I am very blessed to be able to see and receive what God wants to tell me, and the life that God give through Jesus which many people cannot see and feel. God choose to give this life to me and he wants me to share this gift or life to others as well.

Gideon

Schedule from Raymond Wee

Dear Gremlins,
Happy Leap Year!!!!

Please take note of the following:
1. The Feb version of schedule sent last month is no longer applicable i.e. when i sent u schedule in Feb, it has the March one too but has been changed. Discard the old for the new.

2. Fasting Day: Next monday

3. Evangelism has been shifted

4. Many of us are going for the KK Mission Trip on 13March. Please pray that God will help us meet ppl who'll study the bible and be baptised.

5. Get urself psyched up for Nite Cycling on eve of Easter. It's followed by BBQ so the cycling's not too grilling.

So have a Magnificent March!!!!

Sharing from Clara Yuen

Church Humor – God does have a sense of humor…

There was a church that had problems with outsiders parking in its parking lots, so they put up a sign:

CHURCH CAR PARK - FOR MEMBERS ONLY
Trespassers will be baptized!"

CHURCH SIGN BOARDS:
"No God - No Peace"
"Know God - Know Peace."

"Free Trip to Heaven."
"Details Inside!"

"Try our Sundays."
"They're better than Dairy Queen's".

"Searching for a new look?"
"Have your faith lifted here!"

"People are like tea bags."
"You have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are."

"Fight truth decay."
"Study the Bible daily."

"How will you spend eternity?"
"Smoking or Non-smoking?"

"Dusty Bibles lead to Dirty Lives."

"It is unlikely there'll be a reduction in the wages of sin."

"Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church."

"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."

"If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again. "

"Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."

"This is a ch_ _ ch."
"What is missing? - (U R)"

"In the dark?"
"Follow the Son."

"Running low on faith?"
"Step in for a fill-up."

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep."
"Talk to the Shepherd."

"Come work for the Lord."
"The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."

An ad for one Church has a picture of two hands holding stone tablets on
which the Ten Commandments are inscribed and a headline that reads,
"For fast, fast, fast relief, take two tablets."

When the restaurant next to another Church put out a big sign with red letters that said, "Open Sundays,"
the church reciprocated with its own message: "We are open on Sundays, too."

AND THE WINNER IS -

- ON THE PASTOR'S PARKING SPOT - "PASTOR'S SPOT"
"YOU PARK, YOU PREACH"

Invitatiton from David Teo

Hi NEs


It had been a year plus that we getting together with Cheshire Home residents. From not knowing them to now the residents knew you as friends and being part of their life as well as our life. I am amazed by how God has stretch out his mighty hand to plan such an opportunity for us to reach out to the needy as the result we may soften our heart to feel and to love. I felt the more we serve, the more our heart moved. At the same times, many of us have more joy after monthly visiting. Not just with the residents, but definitely is because of the great fellowship with brothers and sisters.

We are going to invite 30 residents to come and join us for the Easter Sunday Service on 23rd Mar 08, and we really needed a lot of helping hands from you guys to stand by our sides on taking part in different roles. Be it in the usher team, escort team, refreshment team, reaching out team or many others areas, surely each individual are able to contribute with your talent. Please kindly approach either me or Bernard to signup within next week.

I always convicted by:

2Corinthians9:12-13 “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you are proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

1Corinthians12:4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit, There are different kinds of services, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

Through these two bible verses, we ought to know that whatever our works is through God and is Him that made all things possible and through the works that we committed, God glory revealed and men may know God.

Look at the joyful smile on residents’ faces in some pictures we took during our visit. Are you not felt joy in heart as well?

Just my though

Love
David Teo

Reflections from Andrew Oh

Dear brothers and sisters,

Just wanna share with you all something that I've learned today from my readings. I believe all of us knows the story when Peter denied Jesus three times. From the book of Luke it reads,

31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you[a] as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
and we skip to verse 54
54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.
I'm sure Peter did not mean to betray Jesus. We are talking about Peter, one of the closest disciples, the man whom Jesus hand the key of the Kingdom of heaven to, the very foundation God laid the foundation of the church. Yet God did not create man to be perfect and Jesus knows Peter's weaknesses like he knows ours.
Jesus knows that when given the right settings, even someone who always fought on Jesus' side would pretend not to know him. The night the situation was so "hostile" that Peter would immediately claimed to have nothing to do with Jesus when questioned. Do we have times in our lives that perhaps our speech, actions or our mind denies our Lord so easily that it became instinctive.
Perhaps it's when we are among pagans who practises the 'norm', the desire to stand up for Jesus becomes weaker and weaker. Or perhaps we feel that we are struggling alone, Satan told us lies about ourselves and about God that cast doubt in out beliefs.
Let us remember what Jesus told Peter before he sin and after he sin. Jesus prayed and pleaded for him to repent and turn to God, and when he is strengthened, he will build up the others. Jesus prayed this prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane for you and me. Let us be encouraged and turn back quickly to God when the rooster crows

Love
Andrew

Reflections from Clara Yuen

I'll like to share a passage from my reading on matthew... currently reading til matthew 18... hee

I find this rather interesting.
in matthew 3:13, Jesus was baptized and heavens were opened and rejoicing for Jesus. v17 also shows how pleased God was with Jesus... "This is my beloved son, and I am fully pleased with him. (NLT)" wow God is so PROUD of jesus... :), praising his son, showing off to the world his rightful son, pure and perfect.

But guess what, IMMEDIATELY after that... Jesus faced extreme temptations from the Devil. Matthew 4. It's immediate because Satan is threatened greatly by Jesus who just made his commitment to God. Satan is afraid of Jesus and wanted to bring him down in his faith by these temptations... I believe these 3 temptations are the greatest among human. Satan's plan is to remind Jesus that he is still a HUMAN nontheless... by revealing the weakness of human- hunger and wealth... will Jesus fall by that???

So often I remembered the moment when I came out of the baptism water or when i renew my covenant with God once again, or simply decided to be spiritual again, the truth is Satan is threatened... and is very afraid. So Satan will try all means to use my weakest link to make me fall, and to remind me that I am just a human being, I am weak...

What choice do i make when i face temptations like Jesus'?
I am not subjected to discouragement but instead I am grounded with the word of God to fight off Satan... just like how Jesus uses God's words to fend off the 3 temptations...

I have to be constantly fight off Satan in my mind...
it's my mind power and will power that makes a difference. " Lets those who have ears, hear..."

I like to encourage everybody to take courage. Fight the spiritual war and stay strong. :)

love, clar

Reflections from Andrew Oh

Dear bro and sisters,

I'm convicted by the fact that God wants us to share our learnings in order that we may grow as a body in Christ. God wants us to be the light of the world. He doesn't put the light in us so that we may hide under a bowl or our bed. Hence let us lead a radiant life as a disciple, glorifying Him in every single way possible.

Recently i've attended a seminar on asking good questions. A good question sounds like this:
1)Is most of our convictions from God? If they are from God, did we get them just from the bible?
2)Is our God-based convictions always applicable in every situation?

As i read Mark 2:23-28 i saw how strongly the Pharisees held on to their 'convictions'. They were a devout sect of Jews that abides the Mosaic Law whole-heartedly and in its entirety. What started out to be God-fearing 'convictions' drifted over time, diluted as it passes down from generation to generation.

Sometimes i find myself so used to doing things in a certain way that i no longer question what are my motivations are. I just do them in a mechanical fashion without much thinking. Do we review and reflect our convictions when other disciples gave us input or do we simply brush them aside because our convictions became the 'untouchables' in our lives. Be mindful that not all convictions are not necessary from God. There are good convictions and not so good convictions and there are cut-and-paste convictions used in a unsuitable situation because the circumstances are different.

Jesus asked the Pharisees in Mark 3:4 whether it is lawful to save a life or to do evil on sabbath. The Pharisees could not answer because clear cut black and white area became a 'grey' area for them. Jesus got angry with them because of their stubborn hearts that refuses to unlearn and re-learn the correct convictions. He was hurt because he saw how much man's heart has drifted from fervor and zeal to indifference.

Some points to ponder:
1)Do i have any not-so-good convictions that i'm not humble to unlearn and re-learn?
2)Have i tried to look at the circumstances before doing a cut-and-paste of other's convictions in my situation?
3)Do i share with people my convictions or the values/reasons behind those convictions?

Three things i've learnt: Question my motivations, Validate the situation, Re-learn the convictions

If we do these, we'll be able to have that teachable heart to allow us to respond humbly whenever we stand corrected by God's Word or by his people.

Love ya all
andrew

Reflections from Andrew Oh

Dear bros and sisters,

It's been a great start to the year 2008. Hope I'm not too late to share something from my time with God. The common quiet time has helped me to really focus on my quiet time, knowing that about 900++ disciples are doing it together, i can't help but feel it's so unifying and encouraging. (There's no way I'm gonna be left out :P ) Hasn't been writing down my thoughts on email for a long while but the campus really inspired me to get my engine going again.

Just wanna share some things that convicted me yesterday. I was reading from Matt 20 about the parable of the vineyard workers. All this while when i read this chapter i would focus on the attitudes and reaction from the workers. Yesterday i decided to dig deeper and see what i can find from the other character - owner of the estate instead.

As we all can guess the owner would most likely be God himself, he owns the vineyard, a moral/spiritual vineyard. As i read I've noticed that the owner went out early in the morning and hired idle men to come into his moral vineyard to do some productive work. He went out for a total of four times and three hours apart each time just to see if anyone would be interested to work. Why would God do something like that? It was not logical and in business sense totally crazy.

Another interesting fact I've picked up in the passage, the owner's concern was not his vineyard but the people at the marketplace. He would hire anyone who would be willing to work and he made sure that he go to the marketplace often enough to not miss anybody. I'm sure nobody does that nowadays.

A question floated into my mind - did the owner really needed the additional help? It seems to me that he was actually doing the men at the marketplace a favor by hiring them. I saw God's unconditional love in how he tirelessly reaches out to each and every one of us. He planned friends and relatives during the course of our lives to talk to us about him, he puts strangers along out paths to evangelise to us. He wants us to do productive work and get trained up instead of lazing around at the marketplace(world). He promises us a day's pay when we are done and it doesn't matter at which part of the day(our lives) we chose to respond. For disciples, this passage can be applied to certain areas of our lives that have slackened. We are lazing around, allowing the world to dominate in that area of our lives. Is God calling you to work? Is he prompting you to come into his moral vineyard/spiritual vineyard to get trained up?

At the end of the day God paid the last workers who came in first. It was because they were the most humble and grateful of all those who worked. Remember the gratitude and humility we had when we just got baptised! We have not done much, Jesus did the most and we are not worthy. God looks at our heart. Those who were there since the morning felt taken advantage of. They cannot believe that God is so unfair to pay the same salary to people who did so little work and those who did so much. We would only see it when we are those who felt we have done more and others have done less. Instead of focusing on our rewards, we should be thankful that God keeps his word. all the promises in the bible is 100% trustworthy. He does not change his standards, not for you, not for me. Have a great day!

Love Andrew

Reflections from Andrew Oh

Dear bros and sis,

It's great to start off this week sharing quiet time with you all. I believe the study of the book of corinthians will help us to understand the pauline epistle better when we do it as a group and share to one another.

As i read up on the history of corinth, it was a proud city. It was the city between two major trading ports and indeed one of the most affluent prosperous city in the region. It was destroyed by the romans in 146 B.C . and a hundred year later, Julius Caesar rebuild the city because of its strategic seaport. http://www.grisel.net/corinth.htm Soon the city flourished and many immigrants fro all over streamed in to populate the city. The wealth opened the gates for all sorts of corruptions and idolatry soared in the city of corinth. Money is power and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

If i were a disciple in corinth i would really struggle very badly. Imagine the whole city is like our modern day Geylang. People are not shy about lewdness nor immorality. They have no sense of shame as they believed that it is the sacrifice they are offering to the fertility goddess, Aphrodite. The temptations were so great and i could imagine how tough for the disciples to keep away from sin. I believe that's why Paul stayed in corinth for one and half year to help the church to grow and build the firm foundation. Corinth is also the headquarters for the west (because of the city's location) and hence Paul wrote two of his longest epistles for the church in corinth.

One thing i've picked up today, Christ is all that matters. There are so many divisions in the church of corinth is because the disciples are not following Christ. They are following apostles or in today's context, pastors and preachers. They let a matter of preference and opinion replace the fundamental truth. Is Christ divided? Aren't we all disciples? Be careful when we are tempted to have a bad attitude or conflict, is Christ in the picture? How would Christ react if he were you?

Love andrew