Week 11 - The Indescribable

Words cannot describe. Speech cannot express. But most of all, it is all because of Him.

A lil nice wallpaper for you guys. Taken from inspiks.com.

Some announcements:

Continue to be in His presence. Crave for it. Cultivate it.

Week 10 - Bible Study

In this bible study, we learn't about taking up the responsibility for our own sins. Indeed it is true, that:

Sow a thought, reap an action;

Sow an action, reap a habit;

Sow a habit, reap a character;

Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Sow the wrong thought, and we will reap a wrong destiny. However, sow the right thoughts, Godly thoughts, and we will reap a Godly destiny. Here's how...

Wanted to end with the picture above but... on second thought... this might be a better and more appropriate jpeg file to upload...

Let us be committed to help each other through the ups and more importantly, the downs.

Fellowship by Napkin Theology

Being a Christian is about so many things, but some essential things are basic to our growth, and to our purpose on this earth. Reading the Word, prayer, spreading God's love and also fellowship with one another.

Let us meet together, not just for social benefits, but for a purpose.

"Fellowshipping with other believers on a deep and meaningful level is not a luxury, it is a necessity." ~ Quoted from an unknown person

Rebuilding our Homes

Let us be ever ready to help and to support our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us continually offer up prayers and to show concern so that none of us would be trapped by the sin of holding an offense against another.

Let us release all unforgiveness, and not let anger cause our fire for Him to grow cold.

word, faith and ACTION

Ever wondered what is the difference between us and our pre-believer friends? Does going to church make us different? Regularly attending CF? Knowing John 3:16?

The thing that makes us different is that we believe, while unfortunately our friends don't. In believing, we also accept what the bible says about us being the salt and the light.

Read the following article and think about how we can change ourselves, and change our CF.

Are we willing?

The Best Book We Can Ever Forget to Read

Courtesy of Derk for crafting out this post.

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

Americans seem to do interesting surveys all the time. Take a look at a few statistics I found:

-Fewer than half of all adults can name the four gospels.
-82 percent of Americans believe “God helps those who help themselves” is a Bible verse.
-A survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

Now what do we Christians understand about the word of God?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”

Paul of Tarsus, to Timothy
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Yeah it’s obvious that the Bible is completely crucial for all the undertakings that Christians will be called for, but what jumps out to me is that it is GOD BREATHED.

“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

Author Unknown (Some say it’s Paul)
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Though it may not necessarily have that kind of link, when I read “GOD BREATHED” I think about when God first breathed the breath of life into that physical container that became Adam. And then I think about “life” in a wider sense. Life!

Sometimes when we discuss Bible study techniques we talk about how to make Bible Study more “interesting” or make it less “boring” by adding pictures or activities because “let’s face it, it’s boring etc etc”. But then ah, yeah maybe going in with this kind of pre-set attitude isn’t the best way to do it.

What we need to ask ourselves is whether in our heads we’re putting the Bible alongside other things we Have to Do, but reluctantly, like cleaning the toilet or Pengajian Malaysia. How about we think of the Bible as something indispensable, like one of the three things we’d take with us if we got stranded on a desert island or in some far-off place like Banting =P

When my dad was young he met this elderly English man named Mr. Impit. He was about 80 at that time, and he had arthritis that was so bad that when stood up his head was level with his shoulders and he wasn’t any taller than when he was sitting (about four feet). Besides that, his eyesight had deteriorated to the point where he could not read any more. (Kinda like Isaac in Genesis 27)

But the thing is, every time the assembly gathered to worship, Mr. Impit would always stand up and share from the Bible – anything from a Psalm or the Gospels or Paul’s letters. He had memorized the entire Bible so it didn’t matter that he couldn’t read anymore.

Bibles come in lots of pretty shapes and colours these days. They even come with pretty informative footnotes, maps, illustrations... whatever. But it’s a crying shame to think about how many of those are just collecting dust somewhere just like how my Bible used to collect dust when I was younger.

But I’m not a kid anymore. WE are not kids anymore.

Leaving aside the fact that through the Bible God provides comfort for those who are distraught or the fact that God sometimes chooses to reveal his purpose for our lives through the Bible (Psalm 119:105) or that with the Spirit and the Word we are to do the work of apologists (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) or many many more.

First and foremost, we should study the word simply because it is obvious that God WANTS us to and that should be enough reason for any Christian.

Week 7 - BGR Talk

"Begin with the end in mind"

This phrase has been so widely used, we don't even know where it came from. At least I don't. This phrase describes a principle of life, and can help us determine whether our boy-girl relationships (bgr) will turn out as He wanted it.

Some will quote 1 Corinthians 7:9 and say that there are different types of people. Those who can stand being alone, and those who cannot stand being alone and thus must get attached at all times. This seems to justify our need to perpetually look out for a potential boy or girl friend to get ourselves attached to, but note the word "marry" used in the verse.

God created humans for a reason. Similarly, He also made man and woman differently for a reason. I believe the main takeaway from yesterday's talk is the principle of having a purpose. This is contrary to what the world tells us, but as Christians, the only reason why we should enter into a close and intimate relationship with another should be for the sole purpose of considering marriage.

So then, for those already attached, some of us were wondering where should we draw the line. After casual kiss but before passionate embrace? After passionate kiss but before petting? All the way? If you weren't there, or did not catch Uncle Jason when he explained about the line, the line that tells us where should we stop in our intimacy with our dear ones, let me paraphrase what he said.

THERE IS NO LINE

Really, there is no line. The line has been cheating us for the whole session. If by casual kissing, it arouses sexual desires that makes us sin, shouldn't the line be taken one step higher? If by gazing, we sin against God, shouldn't we check our hearts again? The line is a guideline, but the principle is that our relationships should be in such a way that it honors God.

What is the purpose of BGR? And for that matter, what is the purpose of our life? I believe the answer to these questions will help us go a long way.

For more readings, click [here].