What is a good sermon?

Source: CG Leaders' Training by Dr. Lee Ken Ang, 20.10.2013

Does doing yoga make you a Hindu?

Definition

• Yoga is such a broad term - that's what causes a difficulty.
• "The word yoga is a Sanskrit word that means 'union with god' or 'yoke'," says Laurette Willis, the founder of PraiseMoves.

Types of Yoga

• bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion
• hatha yoga - a path towards enlightenment that focuses on building physical and mental strength
• yogic asanas, or positions, retain elements of their earlier spiritual meanings 
• Yoga classes vary. While some feature the chanting of Hindu sutras, others will make vaguer references to a "life force" or "cosmic energy". A session might end with a greeting of "namaste" and a gesture of prayer. There will probably be a moment for meditation, at which point participants may be encouraged to repeat the sacred word "Om", which Buddhists and Hindus regard as a primordial sound which brought the universe into being.

History

• Yoga stems from the Vedas - the Indian holy texts that were composed from around 1900BC. Besides yoga, three major religions came from those texts - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.
• Around 200-400AD, a sage called Patanjali composed the Yoga Sutras. His "eight limbs" of yoga still inform practice today and discuss posture, breathing, meditation and correct living.
• For many centuries yoga was all about meditation and austerity practices, such as standing on one leg for weeks or hanging upside-down from a tree. There were only 14 yoga asanas or postures.
• The big explosion in hatha yoga didn't come until the early 1900s in Mysore, India - now there are over 100 postures.

Malaysia
Similar prohibitions on spiritual yoga exist in Malaysia, where a 2008 fatwa - a religious ruling - resulted in a yoga ban in five states. In the capital Kuala Lumpur, the physical activity is permitted but chanting and meditation are forbidden. Clerics in the world's most populous Islamic nation - Indonesia - make a similar distinction.


Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25006926

Sharing Your Story (Testimony)

World Demographic Statistics

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24864587

Silent Meditation

Source: Bro VH, YM Planning Retreat, 27 October 2013

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ

27

The way I thought my spiritual life should bead down the tracks began with the engine, were the drive of the train was fact – what God said in Scripture. If I felt angry, for example, I needed to start with fact: “What are you angry about, Pete? So this person lied to you and cheated you. God is on the throne. Jesus was lied to and cheated too. So stop the anger.”

After considering the fact of God’s truth, I considered my faith – the issue of my will. Did I choose to place my faith in the fact of God’s Word? Or did I follow my feelings and “fleshly” inclinations, which were not to be trusted?

As the end of the train was the caboose and what was to be trusted least – my feelings. “Under no circumstances, Pete, rely on you feelings. The heart is sinful and desperately wicked. Who can understand it? This will only lead you astray into sin.”

When taken in its entirely the practical implications of such an imbalanced, narrow, biblical belief system are, as we shall see later, enormous. It leads to devaluing and repression of the emotional aspect of our humility that is also made in the image of God. Sadly, some of our Christian beliefs and expectations today have, as Thomas Merton wrote, “merely deadened our humanity, instead of setting it free to develop richly, in all its capacities, under the influence of grace.”

35

Few Christians make the connection between love of self and love of others. Sadly, many believers that taking care of themselves is a sin, a “psychologizing” of the gospel taken from our self-centered culture. I believed that myself for years.

It is true we are called to consider others more important than ourselves (see Philippians 2:3). We are called to lay down our lives for others (see 1 John 3:16). But remember, you first need a “self” to lay down.

As Parker Palmer said, “Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simple good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give it the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

37

By failing to let others be themselves before God and move at their own pace, we inevitably project onto them our own discomfort with their choice to live life differently than we do. We end up eliminating them in our minds, trying to make others like us, abandoning them altogether or falling into a “Who cares?” indifference toward them. In some ways the silence of unconcern can be more deadly than hate.

44

A person can grow emotionally healthy without Christ. In fact, I can think of a number of non-Christian people who are more loving, balanced, and civil than many church members I know (including myself!). At the same time, a person can be deeply committed to contemplative spirituality, even to the point of taking monastic vow, and remain emotionally unaware and socially maladjusted.

49

Mary and Martha represent two approaches to the Christian life. Martha is actively serving Jesus, but she is missing Jesus. She is busy in the “doing” of life. Her life, at this moment, is filled with “should” and “have tos.” Her life is fragmented, pressured, and filled with distractions. Her duties have become disconnected from her love for Jesus.

Martha’s problem goes beyond her busyness. Her life is uncentered and divided. I suspect if Martha were to sit at the feed of Jesus, she would still be distracted with everything on her mind. Her inner person is touchy, irritable, and anxious. One of the surest signs of her life being out of order is that she even tells God what to do!

Mary, on the other hand, is sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to him. She is “being” with Jesus, enjoying intimacy with him, loving him, attentive, open, quiet, taking pleasure in his presence. She is engaged in what we will call the contemplative life.

Mary is trying to master God. Her life has one center of gravity – Jesus. I suspect that if Mary were to help with the many household chores, she would not be worried of upset. Why? Her inner person has slowed down enough to focus on Jesus and to center her life on him.

The activity life in the world for God can only properly flow from a life with God.

50

When we gain the ability to integrate activity with contemplation, we find the arrow of our lives has a beauty, a harmony, and a clarity that makes “doing” life straightforward and joyful.

The reason we need to stop and be with God is so we might create a continual and easy familiarity with God’s presence at all times – while working, playing, cooking, taking out of the garbage, driving, visiting friends, as well as during worship, prayer, and Bible study. This requires that we slow down to pay attention. Our goal is to love God with our whole being, to be consistently conscious of God through our daily life – whether it is when we are stopped like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, or active like Martha, taking care of the tasks of life. We know we have found our balance when we are so deeply rooted in God that our activity is marked by the peaceful, joyful, rich quality of our contemplation.

68

The reality, however, was that my discipleship and spirituality had addressed neither my insecurities nor my understanding of myself. Breaking free would require learning to feel, learning to distinguish feeling and thinking, and finally, summoning the courage to follow my God-given “true self” rather than the voices and demands around me.

71

Take a few minutes and reflect on the implications of our God feeling. You are made in his image. Go d thinks. You think. God wills. You will. God feels. You feel. You are a human being made in God’s likeness. Part of that likeness is to feel.

At the very least, the call of discipleship includes experiencing our feelings, reflecting on our feelings, and then thoughtfully responding to our feelings under the lordship of Jesus.

72

So it was with me. I never really explored what I was feeling. I was not prepared to be honest about them with God or myself. As a result I often said one thing with my words, but my tone of voice, facial expressions, and body posture said another. The problem is that when we neglect our most intense another. The problem is that when we neglect our most intense emotions, we are false to ourselves and close off an open door through which to know God.

73

One of our greatest obstacles in knowing God is our own lack of self-knowledge. So we end up wearing a mask – before God, ourselves, and other people. And we can’t become self-aware if we cut off our humanity out of fear of our feelings.

This fear leads to unwillingness to know ourselves as we truly are and stunts our growth in Christ.

74

Allow yourself to experience the full weight of your feelings. Allow them without censoring them. Then you can reflect and thoughtfully decide what to do with them. Trust God to come to you through them. This is the first step in the hard work of discipleship.

88

Some of you reading this may be saying, “I don’t have anyone to walk with me in this journey.” Pray. Ask God for this person(s) during this season of your life. Let him surprise you. Often God seems to lead us to people who are very different from us and who are not pastors or leaders. Ask those you respect for suggestions. And pay attention to what the might be saying to you.

Source: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life In Christ, by Peter Scazzero

Cottage Pie or Shepherd's Pie & Pancake

Source: YM Retreat by Sister Lilian

6 Ps – by DL (22.10.2013)

1. POWER

·         Rely on Go

·         Not to dream for God but dream in God

·         1^st Commandment

2. PEOPLE

·         2^nd commandment – to love people

·         Meet the needs of people

·         Are you running ministry or caring for people

3. PURPOSE

·         What is God’s calling for you?

·         Not only ministry purpose but individual purpose

4. PASSION

·         Keep lasting/going

·         Heart to do something

5. PLANS / PROGRAMME

·         develop by people

·         naturally comes with purpose and passion

6. PRODUCTIVITY

·         Quality

·         Quantity

DISC (C to D)

Dominance 统治 – task-orientated

Influence 影响 – people-orientated

Steadiness 稳重– people-orientated

Compliance 完美– task-orientated

D

Big Pictures

Not abiding rules & regulations & Methods but creating them

Challenges

Try new things

Decisive

I

Focus to people and must be paid attention to

Not realistic

Talk but walk cant

Emotional (show in face)

S

Follower

OK man

Minority follow majority

Introvert

Attentive to the feeling of others

C

Precise

Rules & Regulations

Comb tidily

Detailer

Slow to accomplish task

Last to leave the house

CàD

Learn to let go, not holding tightly but trust your team members

Flexible to change

Taking care of the big picture

Navigator like the bus driver

Faith on God, results hand over to God

Dare to try also about relying on God

Focus on goals not problems

Move forward and think far

Good leader owns both C & D

Trinity God

We know this order of rule and submission is descended from the nature of God Himself. Within the Godhead there is both the just and legitimate authority of the Father and the willing and joyful submission of the Son. From the union of the Father and the Son proceeds a third personality, the Holy Spirit. He proceeds from them not as a child proceeds from the u

nion of a man and a woman, but rather the personality of marriage proceeds from the one flesh which is established from the union of two separate personality.

Here in the reflection of the nature of the Trinity is the institution of marriage is the key to the definition of masculinity and femininity. The image of God could not be fully reflected without the elements of rule, submission and union.

Source: Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

163
An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him. But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God – that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying – the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on – the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life of the three-personal Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man is saying his prayers. The man is being caught up into the higher kinds of life – what I called Zoe or spiritual life: he is being pulled into God, by God, while still remaining himself.

174
All sorts of people are fond of repeating the Christian statement that ‘God is love’. But they seem not to notice that the words ‘God is love’ have no real meaning unless God contains at least two Persons. Love is something that one person has for another person. If God was a single person, then before the world was made, He was not love. Of course, what these people mean when they say that God is love is often

something quite different: they really mean ‘Love is God’. They really mean that our feelings of love, however and wherever they arise, and whatever results they produce, are to be treated with great respect. Perhaps they are: but that is something quite different from what Christians mean by the statement ‘God is love’. They believe that the living, dynamic activity of love has been going on in God forever and has created everything else.

And that, by the way, is perhaps the most difference between Christianity and all other religions: that in Christianity God is not static thing – not even a person – but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you would not think me irreverent, a kind of dance. The union between the Father and the Son is such a live concrete thing that this union itself is also a Person. I know this is almost inconceivable, but look at it thus. You know that among human beings, when they get together in a family, or a family, or club, or trade union, people talk about the ‘spirit’ of that family, or club, or trade union. They talk about its ‘spirit’ really develop particular ways of talking and behaving which they would not have if they were apart. It is as if a sort of communal personality came into existence. Of course, it is not a real person: it is only rather like a person. But that is just one of the differences between God and us. What grows out of the joint life of the Father and Son is a real Person, is in fact the Third of the three Persons who are God.

This third Person is called, in technical language, the Holy Ghost or the 'spirit' of God. Do not be worried or surprised if you find it (or Him) rather vaguer or more shadowy in your mind than the other two. I think there is a reason why that must be so. In the Christian life you are not usually looking at Him. He is always acting through you. If you think of the Father as something 'out there,' in front of you, and of the Son as someone standing at your side, helping you to pray, trying to turn you into another son, then you have to think of the third Person as something inside you, or behind you. Perhaps some people might find it easier to begin with the third Person and work backwards. God is love, and that love works through men-especially through the whole community of Christians. But this spirit of love is, from all eternity, a love going on between the Father and the Son.

Source: Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis

Boy Meets Girl – Joshua Harris (2000)

14
“Why, Lord?” she whispered. “Why is this so hard? What am I supposed to do with these feelings? Take them away if they’re not from You.”

From my vantage point, Shannon Hendrickson seemed happy, confident, and oblivious of me. I was sure she liked another guy. As I watched her drive away, I whispered my own prayer. What is Your will, God? Is she the one? Help me be patient. Show me when to act. Help me trust You.

17
This is why my phone call to Shannon was such a big deal. I’d reached a point where I felt I was ready to pursue marriage, and I was deeply attracted to her. What now? I had experienced God’s faithfulness as I waited on romance; now I was stepping into the unknown believing that He would continue to be faithful as I pursued romance.

21
There in the darkness I started to cry. I wasn’t mad at Rachel; I wasn’t bitter. I cried because I knew God was behind it all. He was the one who had closed the door on a relationship with Rachel, and He’d done it for my good. I was overwhelmed by the thought that the God of the universe was willing to be involved in the details of my life-that He’d be willing to reach down and shut a door that He didn’t want me to walk through.

Around that time I began to see Shannon in a new light. Her kindness to others and me caught my attention. She has a passion for God and a maturity that belied her short time as a believer. How can I explain it? She just began to pop up in my thoughts and prayers. I looked forward to the chance to see her and talk. What I learned about her through our interaction and from what I heard from others impressed me. I was that the reasons I had for why I wouldn’t be interested in her were shallow. God was changing my heart.

22
I was living with my pastor, C.J., at the time. Since my mom and dad lived far away in Oregon, C.J. and his wife, Carolyn, had become like a second set or parents to me. I told them about my interest in Shannon. Their counsel helped keep me on track: “Don’t let impatience get the upper hand. Be her friend, but don’t communicate your interest until you’re ready to start a relationship that has a clear purpose and direction. You don’t want to play with her heart.”

It wasn’t easy. I would swing between the conviction that I needed to conceal my feelings and the urge to send her signals just to find out if there was any mutual interest. I could trust God better if I knew she liked me, I argued. But deep down I knew this wasn’t true. I needed to be a man-a non-committal testing of the waters wouldn’t be fair to her.

I started seeking the advice of the most trusted people in my life-my parents, my pastor and people from our church who knew Shannon and me well. Was I prepared spiritually and emotionally for marriage? Could I provide for a wife and family? Was this God’s time for me to pursue a relationship? My prayers kicked into high gear.

26
Throughout history, communities and couples knew that meaningful intimacy shouldn’t outpace commitment. So they adopted certain practices-certain agreed-upon guidelines for behaviour-that helped them balance appropriate intimacy with the level of commitment. A man only pursued a woman romantically when he had the intention of pursuing marriage. He honored the protection care of the girl’s parents by seeking their approval for pursuing their daughter. With intentions clearly understood a couple was given the privileges of time together. A physical relationship was saved for the total commitment of marriage.

28
But we weren’t simply trying to get swept up in our emotions. Instead, we were letting our feelings grow naturally out of our deepening respect, friendship and commitment to one another. Setting a clear course for a defined season of courtship helped us keep from rushing into involvement with our hearts and bodies before we had time to get to know each other’s mind and character.

29
The only pressure a couple should feel when they begin a courtship is the good pressure God’s Word places on them to honor Hum and treat each other with purity and integrity. It’s the desire that can keep us from making courtship just dating with a different name.

31
Remember, your goal is not to create a painting that mirrors the person next to you, but to do your best with the materials I’ve given you to replicate my painting.”

This is our assignment in courtship. It’s good to be inspired by couples who have set a godly example. Still, god isn’t asking us to copy each other but to fix our eyes on our Lord and Master Jesus Christ and pursue courtship in a way that’s faithful to His character.

41
Proverbs 19:11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience.”

43
Wisdom calls us to slow down. We can be patient because we know that God is sovereign and that He is faithful. “I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O LORD my God” (Psalm 38:15).

44
Romance says, “This is what I want and it’s food for me.” Wisdom leads us to consider what’s best for the other person.

48
I talk to many couples like Rich and Christy who ask, “How do we know when it’s right time to start a  courtship?” The basic answer to the question is that you’re ready to start a courtship when you can match romance with wisdom.

50
The right time and age to start pursuing marriage will be different for each of us. But the one thing we should all have in common is waiting until romance can be guided by wisdom. Then we can experience the season of courtship at the right time and the right pace with a clear purpose and a clear head. This is romance at its best.

56
1. Am I prepared to lead my wife spiritually and serve her in every way?
2. Do I have proven character, and am I growing in godliness?
3. To whom and for what am I accountable?
4. How am I involved in the church? What are my gifts and ministry areas? What are hers?
5. Are my motives for pursuing marriage selfish and worldly, or are they to honor God?
6. Can I provide financially?
7. What do my pastors and parents have to say?

61
John Calvin wrote, “The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but in what we want it too much.” David realised his mistake. Marriage was a good thing. It was good for him to desire it. But God was mercifully using the difficult experience of having this desire denied to show him that he wanted it too much. He had been placing his hope for happiness in starting a courtship and getting married instead of in trusting God for his ultimate satisfaction.

63
A key encouragement to him was Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

64
As he prayed, David suddenly realised that it was the first time he wasn’t assuming that he knew who the girl was going to be. He had finally let go. “For me, it was evidence that God was transforming me,” he says. “I prayed, Lord, I need You to help me determine who just as much as when and how.”

65
David could hardly believe that his two friends were echoing the exact words of his parents. He began to tell them that he was content. He was really at peace and not in a hurry. As he talked, David realized the significance of what he was saying. He actually meant what he was saying! He really was content. He really was at peace.

And suddenly, in the midst of this God’s given peace, David sensed that God was telling him the time had come to try again.

67
God knows all things. He knows whom we’ll marry before we meet him or her. But that doesn’t mean our task to discover what He already knows or to worry that we might miss His perfect plan. Our responsibility is to love Him, study His Word, deepen our relationship with Him, and learn to evaluate our choices in light of biblical wisdom. If we’re doing these things, we can make our decisions in the confidence that we aren’t somehow missing God’s will.

75
I believe that in a God-glorifying, wisdom-guided courtship we have two central priorities. The first is to treat each other with holiness and sincerity; the second is to make an informed and wise decision about marriage.

In courtship our goals should be to grow and guard. We want to grow close so we can truly know each other’s character, but we also want to guard each other’s hearts because the outcome of our relationship is till unknown.

76
2 Corinthians 1:12 sums up what every Christian couple should be able to say at the end of a courtship:
Now this is our boats: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.

Instead of making engagement the finish line of courtship, our goal should be to treat each other in a godly manner, make the right choice about marriage, and have a clear conscience about our actions.

77
You could say in courtship we’re walking across the high wire stretched between friendship and marriage. The two priorities of growing and guarding are like the two ends of our balancing pole. We need to hold our pole in the middle for success. If we’re too guarded, we won’t move forward in the relationship; if we grow close too fast, we risk emotional injury or unwise choices later on.

79
Guarding each others’ hearts during this time means making sure the friendship has appropriate pace, focus and space.

The pace should be unhurried. Don’t try to become best friends the first week. Just like any other friendship, this one takes time and consistent investment to develop. Don’t rush or try to force your way into each others’ lives.

The focus of your friendship in its early stages should be on getting to know each other, not on creating premature intimacy and emotional dependence. In the beginning of your courtship, look for activities where the focus is on something besides being a couple. In your conversations and questions, avoid talking about the relationship. Instead, seek to learn about each other. Don’t grab for more intimacy than is warranted. The focus will change as mutual confidence about commitment process deepens. You’ll earn access to each other’s hearts over time.

The amount of space your friendship occupies in your life will also grow over time. In the beginning, be careful that it doesn’t crowd out relationships with friends and families. Don’t be threatened by the other person’s outside relationships.

96
Once I bought a book called The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography. It had 201 questions designed to help people write their own life story. Using a black market, I changed the title so that it read The Book of Shannon…As Told to Joshua.

100
During his courtship with Ginger, my friend Chuck consistently initiated what he called “heart checks”. These were conversations in which he and Ginger talked about their expectations and concerns and their level of faith in the relationship.

107
Within the context of their equality, God assigned men and women different roles. He made Adam first, signifying his unique role as leader and initiator. He created Eve from Adam and brought her to Adam to be his helper in the tasks God had assigned him. She was made to complement, nourish, and help her husband. God’s greatest gift to man was “a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2: 18). This doesn’t minimize a woman’s role, but it does define it.

110
Assume the responsibility of leading and initiating in your relationships with women.

111
The same principle applies in your courtship. Do you initiate conversations? Do you carefully plan your dates? Are you thinking ahead and directing the course of the courtship? It’s your job to make sure that it’s continuing to grow at a healthy rate. It’s your responsibility to make sure you’re both guarding your hearts.

Be spiritual leader in your relationships with women.

144
Being captivated by God’s way won’t happen by accident-it requires purposeful effort before marriage. Author Ken Myers once told me, “True love doesn’t just wait; it plans.” He’s right. While we’re single or in a courtship, we need to do more than just avoid what’s wrong-we need to plan and work hard at being captivated by the good.

151
There’s another reason the struggle of waiting for marriage is a blessing. God not only wants to maximize a couple’s enjoyment of sex in marriage, He also wants them to learn to trust Him together. When a Christian man and woman systematically deny their own physical desires as an expression of mutual faith and submission to Jesus Christ, they are laying a solid spiritual foundation for their marriage. They’re learning to fight sin as a team. They’re learning to care for each other, pray for each other and challenge each other. In the most practical ways, they are submitting to Jesus Christ as the Lord of their relationship.

156
That’s why I jumped out of bed and cried out to God for grace in my times of weakness. That’s why I was accountable to my roommate, Andrew, and my pastor about my thought life. That’s why, when sexual thoughts about Shannon came, I did my best to turn my focus to thanking God for what our future held and to asking for His help to be patient and strong in the meantime.

160
Let me say it again: My goal in sharing our guidelines is not that you’ll adopt them. You might be able to do some of these things with a clear conscience before God. Whatever guidelines you come up with need to grow out of the clear teaching of Scripture and form sincere conviction so you can follow them with joy.

161
I’ve already mentioned that Shannon and I decided to save our first kiss for our wedding day. This is another example of an outward action that is meaningless unless it’s backed up by a heart of desire to glorify God and serve each other. I don’t encourage couples to make this or any other commitment so they can feel morally superior to other people. Neither do I think that this should be the litmus test of truly godly relationships. As you’ve already heard, I sinned more in my heart without kissing Shannon than many guys who kiss their girlfriends. The most important issue is our motive and our heart before God.

168
The effort will be more than worth it. Each time you feel as though you’re denying yourselves, you’re actually blessing yourselves. Each time you walk away from temptation and refuse to stoke the fires of passion prematurely, you’re sending yourselves the best gifts you’ll receive on the day of your wedding-gifts of trust and respect and increased passion.

173
As the authors of Preparing for Marriage wisely state, “It is better to speak the truth prior to your marriage than to live with the fear, deceit, and shame that comes from hiding the truth from your mate.”

196
The real questions are: “Are we ready to care for, sacrifice for, and love each other through good times and bad?” and “Do we believe that we would glorify God more as a couple than as individuals?” and “Are we ready for forever?”

220
I’m no expert. If you’re single, I’m not only a few steps ahead of you on this path. But I’m calling back to you with this encouragement: God’s way really is best. His timing is perfect. Waiting on Him is more than worth it. Honoring Him and practicing His principles as you walk the path to marriage will lead you to the greatest joy and fulfilment.

221
And the wait didn't seem so long now that she was in my arms.
It’s simple story, really.
Two people learning to trust God.
Two winding paths that God made straight.
Two straight paths that He chose to cross at just the right time. We watched Him do that. For all the moments of difficult involved, we wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
God wants to do the same for you.
Yes, you.
The Creator of romance, the Maker who arranged the first “boy meets girl” in the Garden so very long ago, is still at work

Source: Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello To Courtship – Joshua Harris (2000)

The Seven Feasts of Israel 以色列的节期

Source: http://www.google.com.my/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ltradio.org%2Fcharts%2FFeasts%2520of%2520the%2520Messiah%2FThe%2520seven%2520month%2520Feast%2520cycle.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ltradio.org%2Fcharts%2F&docid=Fip1JTfBG0ROiM&tbnid=szT6q2cEc5pcAM&w=977&h=720&ei=gm04UqOBN4ePrQeT0YGIAQ&ved=0CAMQxiAwAQ&iact=c

Source: 门徒

释经方针及信仰反省-启示录里启示多 (Revelation)

启 示 录 1

1 耶 稣 基 督 的 启 示 ， 就 是 神 赐 给 他 ， 叫 他 将 必 要 快 成 的 事 指 示 他 的 众 仆 人 。 他 就 差 遣 使 者 晓 谕 他 的 仆 人 约 翰 。

2 约 翰 便 将 神 的 道 和 耶 稣 基 督 的 见 证 ， 凡 自 己 所 看 见 的 都 证 明 出 来 。

3 念 这 书 上 预 言 的 和 那 些 听 见 又 遵 守 其 中 所 记 载 的 ， 都 是 有 福 的 ， 因 为 日 期 近 了 。

4 约 翰 写 信 给 亚 西 亚 的 七 个 教 会 。 但 愿 从 那 昔 在 、 今 在 、 以 後 永 在 的 神 ， 和 他 宝 座 前 的 七 灵 ，

写作宗旨

1: 3 念 这 书 上 预 言 的 和 那 些 听 见 又 遵 守 其 中 所 记 载 的 ， 都 是 有 福 的 ， 因 为 日 期 近 了 。

22: 7 看 哪 ， 我 必 快 来 ！ 凡 遵 守 这 书 上 预 言 的 有 福 了 ！

Source: 释经方针及信仰反省-启示录里启示多, 吴荣滁博士/牧师, 21.8.2013

KL福音堂神学难题Q&A

1. 人死后往哪里去？

2. 一个人，两三个人，一百个人祷告，有什么分别？

3. 神的形象？

4. 基督徒可以喝酒吗？

5. 可以雇佣变性人吗？

Source: KL福音堂神学难题Q&A， 李健安牧师，Dr. Lee Ken Ang (14/09/2013)

BGR : Relationships - "God as Our 1st Love"

Lessons learnt from each sessions:
1. 3 M’s : Master, mission, meat/mutual (Speakers established strong fundamentals/principles)
2. Three criteria: faith, mission, character. Understand/be friends first.
3. Vision / Big picture (especially from male)

Source: YM CG, 13 Sep 2013.

I Kissed Dating Goodbye - Joshua Harris (1997)

19

Every relationship for Christian is an opportunity to love another person like God has loved us. To lay down our desires and do what’s in his or her best interest. TO care for him or her even when there’s nothing in it for us. To want that person’s purity and holiness because it pleases God and protect him or her.

20

True love isn’t just expressed in passionately whispered words or an intimate kiss or an embrace; before two people are married, love is expressed in self-control, patience, even words left unsaid.

31

Proverbs 3:3 states, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” God wants love and faithfulness to be connected. In His plan, the personal benefits of an intimate relationship – emotional or sexual – are always closely linked to self-sacrificial love and commitment to another person’s long-term good.

39

C. S. Lewis describes friendship as two people walking side by side toward a common goal. Their mutual interest brings them together.

In dating, romantic attraction is often the cornerstone of the relationship. The premise of dating is “I’m attracted to you; therefore, let’s get to know each other.” The premise of friendship, on the other hand, is “We’re interested in the same things; let’s enjoy these common interests together.” If romantic attraction forms after developing a friendship, it’s an added bonus.

65

As Christians, we need to remember that God’s perfect love is not only for our benefit. A model wars clothing to attract attention to the designer’s creativity. The model displays the designer’s work, but the designer’s reputation, not the model’s, is on the line. In the same way, as Christians, we model God’s love, whether or not we realize it. People watch us, and what they see affects God’s reputation for loving His creation. If we claim to follow Christ then wear the world’s twisted style of love, we drag the name and character o four Lord in the dirt.

For this reason, we must ask ourselves, “Am I modeling the love of Christ? Do my motivations and actions in this relationship reflect the perfect love God has shown me?” How would you answer those questions right now?

67

The world takes us to a silver screen on which flickering images of passion and romance play, and as we watch, the world says, “This is love.” God take us to the foot of a tree on which a naked and bloodied man hangs and says, “This is love.”

Christ taught that love is not for the fulfillment of self but for the glory of God and the good of others. True love is selfless. It gives; it sacrifices; it dies to its own needs. “Greater love has no one than this,” Jesus said, “that he lay down his life for this friends” (John 15:13). He backed up His words with actions – He laid down His life for all of us.

Christ also showed that true love is not measured or governed by feeling. He went to the cross when every emotion and instinct in His body told Him to turn back. Have you ever read about the night before Jesus’ death when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane? (See Mark 14:32) He clearly didn’t feel like enduring the beatings, hanging on the cross, and enduring God’s wrath for sin. But he submitted Himself to His Father’s will. Jesus’ feelings were not the test of His love, nor were they His master.

Christ wants us to have this same attitude. He did not say, “If you love me, you will feel warm, cascading sensations of religious emotion.” Instead He told us, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). True love always expresses itself in obedience to God and service to others. Good feelings are nice but not necessary.

We express true live in obedience to God and service to others – not reckless or selfish behaviour – and we choose these behaviours.

70

As we seek to love according to God’s design, we must pursue sincerity: “Love must be sincere.” This brief command given in Romans 12:9 leaves no room for misunderstanding. The love God wants his children to live by has no room for deceit and hypocrisy – it has to be genuine and earnest.

86

“For I know the plans I have for you,” God says, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29: 11). Let’s live our todays for His kingdom and entrust our tomorrows to His providence.

128

The apostle Paul instructs his spiritual son Timothy to treat younger women “as sisters, with absolute purity” (1 Timothy 5:2).

At another point Paul tells timothy what the focus and purpose of these relationships should be. “Flee the evil desires of youth,” he writes, “and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

130

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10)

It’s important to be consistent – don’t show kindness only to those people you have a romantic interest in. Instead show kindness to all your brothers and sisters. This isn’t flirting for the purpose of stirring romantic interest in someone; it’s showing Christlike brotherly love.

132

Friendship is about something other than two people in the relationship; intimacy is about each other. In a true friendship, something outside the two friends brings them together. C.S. Lewis writes, “We picture lovers face to face, but friends side by side; their eyes look ahead.” They key to friendship is a common goal or object on which both companions focus. It can be an athletic pursuit, a hobby, faith, or music, but it’s something outside of them. As soon as the two people involved focus on the relationship, it has moved beyond friendship.

142

The Bible tells us the heart is “the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23), the source of our attitudes, words, and deeds. If we fail to keep our hearts clean, the rest of our lives will stagnate and become dirty.

145

“I want to stay focused on God. Until the right man comes along, I refuse to feed romantic expectations and let my heart get carried away.”

147

We should seek completely remove lust from our minds. We should pray, “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10). Help me to be like Job, who made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at others (Job 31:1). Forgive me for pampering lust in my life; help me to guard against it faithfully. May the “meditation of my heart be pleasing to your sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14).

149

“When I felt lonely, I would think, God is calling me back to Him,” she told me. During these times she learned to pour out her heart to God and talk with Him. Now she wouldn’t trade those intimate moments with God for the world.

Yes, our hearts are deceitful, but the promise of 1 John 3:20 gives us hope in our labor: “For God is greater than our hearts and he knows everything.”

166

A wedding is an event, but a marriage is a state of being. It’s not a one-time act; it’s a lifelong commitment to be developed and maintained.

170

Marriage is a refining process. Conflict will occur in every marriage. When issues erupt between the two of you, it will be easy for one to blame the others. “If you would just leave the air conditioner on when it gets this hot, I wouldn’t get upset!” The fact is, your spouse won’t make you sin. They simply reveal what’s already in your heart. One of the best wedding gifts God will give you is a full length mirror called your spouse. If He were to attach a card it would say, “Here’s to helping your discover what you’re really like. Congratulations!”

171

I have leveled with the girls – from Anchorage to Amarillo.

I tell them that all marriages are happy.

It’s the living together afterward that’s tough.

I tell them that a good marriage is not a gift, it’s an achievement.

That marriage is not for kids. It takes guts and maturity.

It separates the men from the boys and women from the girls.

I tell them that marriage is tested daily by the ability to compromise.

Its survival can depend on being smart enough to know what’s worth fighting about.

Or making an issue of or even mentioning.

Marriage is giving-and more important, it’s forgiving.

And it is almost always the wife who must do these things.

Then, as if that were not enough, she must be willing to forget what she forgave.

Often that the hardest part.

174

And to the guys, we have our work cut out for us, don’t we? My hope for us is that we would truly grasp the costliness, the pricelessness, of a woman’s love. It is no small thing, no game, to invite a girl to accompany us through life. May we earn the right to make such a request by striving to be men of integrity-men whose hearts are oceans “strong and true”. Then, and only then, should we stand at the bars of a woman’s soul and ask to gain entrance.

176

As we consider what’s important in a marriage partner, we need to get past the surface issues of looks, dress, and performance in front of others. “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at,” God says. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Proverbs 31:30 tells us, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting.” The same verse tells us that the kind of person who deserves praise is the one who “fears the Lord.”

We’re too easily impressed by image; God wants us to value qualities that will last. Wisely choosing a marriage partner requires that we get back to the essentials of a person’s character and attitude.

177

As we evaluate someone’s character (including our own), we need to carefully observe three areas – how the individual relates to God, the way he or she treats others, and the way this person disciplines his or her personal life. These areas are like windows into a person’s character. “As the daylight can be seen through very small holes, so little things will illustrate a person’s character,” writes Samuel Smiles.

178

Parents. You have probably heard this sage advice before: “The way a guy treats his mum is the way he’ll treat his wife.” It’s true. The same goes for the way a girl relates to her dad. I’m not saying that a person who has had a bad relationship with his or her dad or mum can’t have a good marriage. By God’s grace we can overcome old patters. But we do need to ask, “If he can’t be loving and gentle with his mum, why should I believe he’ll be loving and gentle with his mum, why should I believe he’ll be loving and gentle with me as his wife?” or “If she can’t respect her dad, will she be able to respect me as her husband?”

Don’t forget to evaluate your own life. How do you relate to your parents? Can you improve the way you interact with them so you’ll know how to honor your future spouse? If you’d really like the answer to these questions, ask your parents to tell you their perspectives on your relationship with them.

180

How a person uses time. I heard Elisabeth Elliot give a speech in which she said that one of the things that first attracted her to Jim Elliot was the fact that the memorized Scripture as he waited in the cafeteria line. That observation told her that Jim was discipline and efficient.

182

One of the things I respect most about my dad is his willingness to humble himself before my mum and the rest of my family by confessing sin. If he has spoken a harsh word or acted uncaringly, he doesn’t hesitate to seek forgiveness. A lesser man can’t do this.

Two people don’t keep a marriage strong because they never make mistakes; they keep a marriage strong by maintaining an attitude of humility that is quick to confess sin, put the other first, and seek forgiveness.

184

“You work so hard, and we’re trying,” said Jane, “but it’s pretty rough. I didn’t have quite enough money to pay the light bill. I didn’t want  you to know about it, so I through we would just eat by candlelight.”

Dr. Hill described his wife’s words with intense emotion: “She could have said, ‘I’ve been in this situation before. I was reared in the home of Dr. Caruthers, and we never had our lights cut off.’ She could have broken my spirit: she could have ruined me; she could have demoralized me. But instead she said, ‘Somehow or another we’ll get these lights on. But let’s eat tonight by candlelight.’”

Tears come to my eyes every time I read this story. Mrs Hill’s optimism and readiness to walk through tough times with her husband exemplify the two qualities I desire in my own life and pray for most in a wife. I am looking for someone who will light candles, not just curse the darkness.

190

Every time you feel attracted to someone, keep in mind that you’re involved in three kinds of relationships: your relationship with the person you’re interested in; your relationship with the people around you, including family and friends; and most important, your relationship with God. You have a responsibility toward each.

“Josh, what’s your relationship to this girl?”

“She’s a sister in Christ whom I’m instructed to treat her with absolute purity.”

“Exactly! She’s not just a pretty face or a potential wife!”

“No, she’s a child of God. God has a plan for her. He’s shaping her and molding her into something special.”

“So what is your responsibility to her?”

My responsibility is to make sure I don’t get in the way of what God is doing. I should encourage her to keep her focus and dependence on God.”

“Okay, good. Now to whom is your second responsibility?”

“My second responsibility is to the people around me.”

“Such as…?”

“Such as the people in the church group, non-Christians who might observe our relationship, and even my little brothers, who watch how I relate to girls.”

“Why do you have to care what they think?”

“I have a responsibility to keep the unity of the group here at church; I have a responsibility to model the love of Jesus to outsiders; and I have responsibility to set an example for other believers.”

“And your primary responsibility is to God, correct?”

“Exactly. I am responsible to keep my way pure, serve others as Christ did, and love my neighbors as I love myself.”

192

The first priority for a guy and girl is to get to know each other better as individuals-to gain an accurate, unbiased  view of each other’s true nature. How can you do this? First, instead of dropping out of your regular routines to spend time together, look for opportunities to include one another in your real lives. Find activities that pull you both into each other’s world of family, friends, and work, as well as areas of service and ministry.

201

Holding off the physical side of the relationship, though difficult, will enable you to focus on the soul of your spouse-to-be. A couple once told me their motto was, “Where physical progression beings, depth progression ends.” In other words, as soon as they began to focus on the physical side of their relationship, the spiritual and emotional side ceased to deepen.

Make a commitment to God, parents, Christian mentors, friends, and your partner to let your passion sleep, storing up your desire for the marriage bed. It will awaken with joy at the proper time.

210

What is Your will, God? Is she the one? Help me to be patient. Show me when to act. Help me to trust You.

Source: I Kissed Dating Goodbye - Joshua Harris (1997)

领袖的生命装备 Equipping of Leaders' Lives

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
(1 Timothy 4:12)

不可叫人小看你年轻，总要在言语、行为、爱心、信心、清洁上，都作信徒的榜样。
(提摩太前书 4:12)

Source: CG Leaders' Training by Dr. Lee Ken Ang, 23.02.2013

CG: Education & Career Fair

Employable VS Interest

For Employable - Always choose courses that can guarantee you a job in the future

1) What is the use if you cannot get a job after you have graduated?

2) Not wise to invest but with low/no/negative return

3) Education is extremely expensive

For Interest - Always go for the one that you are most/more interested in

1) It can last long

2) Meaningless or even torture to do something that you are not interested for years

3) Happiness and meaningful in doing the job

For me I think interest prevails employable in some circumstances because:

1) You will always perform better if you are interested in it

2) Better performance also helps you to be better employable:)

If you can choose to study a course that you are interested in and at the same time it can ensure a employable future, isn't this even better?

What is logistics?

Logistics is the science of planning. In simple terms, logistics means having the right thing, at the right place, at the right time.

Council of Logistics Management defines logistics as the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements.

Military  - Logistics original use was to describe the science of movement, supplying & maintenance of military forces in the field.

               

Business - Later on, it was used to describe the management of materials flow through an organisation, from raw materials through to finished goods.