young people fellowship

To conclude the year 2009

2009-12-21T11:49:00.004+08:00

Well, I guess if I don't write something, this blog is might as well considered dead. :)
Info and photos of YPF outings, camp etc. are ALL on facebook, since technology is now so advanced.
Thus, we should all have a facebook account, so that it's easier to tag you and to keep up-to-date on what's happening. =)
Thank God that another year has passed smoothly under His guidance through Marcus and our group leaders, Weiwu, Darius, Mei Yun and Le Yi. (applause!)
It's also glad to see that people are coming to church more often and coming for YPF gathering and outings.
And I'm sure that we learnt a lot this camp, after the lessons Marcus taught us.
It's truly a 'Really Experiencing Abundant Life' Camp!
If I were to list out what I want to give thanks for, I think you have to spend 1 month reading it. So I shall skip that. :)
Lastly, pray for Christmas Gospel Concert this upcoming Friday, do invite your friends!!:)

YPF Camp 2008

2008-12-25T22:55:00.015+08:00

Our youth camp was held from 8 to 10 Dec, and it was indeed a joyous time of fellowship for young brothers and sisters in Christ. Not only did we have an enjoyable time, we also truly understood that God is the Lord of our lives, and that we ought to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The first thing we did when we arrived at the Girls Brigade HQ was to check out our bunks, and got busy ‘dressing up’ our beds.

Mei Ling’s ‘banana boat’! =D

And some of us posed for the camera while taking a break

If you think this is cute…

Check this out! =D

Throughout the camp, we played “sheep and shepherd”. Here we are, writing notes to our sheep and replying our shepherds!

Shiao Hong seriously finding a verse for her shepherd (me!) =) *Honghong, thanks for your encouragement!*

Mei yun the Postman~

Reading our notes of encouragement

Laughing at the handwriting-disguised note to Jia Ming from his secret shepherd (Gloria!)

Who is disturbing Zhou Wei from reading her book? ^.^

Group discussion during learning session

After brother Marcus’ teaching, we took some time to seriously reflect upon our lives and commit ourselves to truly live for God, and we prayed together.

Mei Ling excited over Wee Ling’s baby =)

Thank God our dear little baby Qin En was born safely on 18 dec!

Stoning… Waiting for lights off at midnight

After a good night’s rest, we headed back to the church office, and had graduation for YPFers moving up to YAF! I pray that all of us, besides maturing in age, will also grow spiritually too. =)

2008-07-29T15:36:00.003+08:00

BY MARCUS MOK

As the mission month comes to an end, consider planting your 'seed' to advance God's kingdom.

Have you set aside a portion of your saving to give towards mission? Perhaps it is the North Thailand children and students we had visited last year. Or the needs of the new teaching ministry in Malaysia. Or even our existing literature ministry.

More importantly, have you invested time and effort in praying for them?

The LORD will increase your harvest. You must first plant.

Ignorance is NOT Bliss (or Not All Ignorance is Bliss)

2008-07-15T19:49:00.003+08:00

BY MARCUS MOK

Could God hold people responsible for something they didn't know is wrong?

What if someone said, "Sorry God, but I never knew You existed in the first place!" Can our ignorance count as a defense when God judges us at the last day?

I believe the answer to that question is a no and yes. No, because God being a righteous Judge will judge rightly; he will not condemn the innocent. Yes, because no person is truly and absolutely ignorant of God. No one is truly innocent.

Here's what Romans 1:18-20 says:

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse."

Men are without excuse! Now that says a lot about our pretense of "ignorance". What may be known about God is supposed to be plain to us. The attributes of God can be seen from His creation.

Why is it that this knowledge is not obvious to some? Paul argues that, by our wickedness, we had suppressed the truth about God that we know deep within.

Ro 1:21 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."

Deep inside each of us, we have a knowledge of God. We knew that God exists. We knew that He is holy and righteous. The problem is not with our brains. It is with our hearts. Our hearts are too darkened to acknowledge what we knew deep down inside us, what we had suppressed all along.

Ro 1:25 "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator".

Ro 1:28 "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile
to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

Verses 25 & 28 show us why. It is because our darkened hearts refuse to acknowledge God. We would rather live with a lie, than with the truth of God.

Sometimes I wonder which one comes first: was it man who desire to live a sinful life, and therefore he reject the idea of God? Or was it that he rejected the idea of God first, desiring to live his own autonomy, and therefore ended up living a sinful life?

The verses above seem to suggest the latter: Man's depravity follows after his decision to reject the knowledge of God. Not before.

Ro 1:32 "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."

So, there are several things that we do know about God:

1) His invisible qualities--His divine nature and eternal power (v.20)

2) His Person and thus, by implication, His existence (v. 21, 25, 28)

3) His righteous decree (v. 32)

That's a lot of things we do know! The sense of the divine, or sensus divinatus, in each of us, demands that we face up to our own pretense of ignorance and really acknowledge God for who He is. Either we be plainly honest that we are atheists who reject the knowledge of God outright (despite the evidences, the force of logic, and our sensus divinatus), or we submit to Him in faith and love.

We just cannot plead ignorance.

Relationships and the Meaning of Life ~A Youth Rally

2008-07-01T12:56:00.003+08:00

Our upcoming Youth Rally is on the topic of "Relationships and the Meaning of Life" on 12 July (Sat), 2008, 7.30pm at Civil Service Club Auditorium.

"No man is an island", says the old adage. None of us live for ourselves alone. From babies tochildren to teenage and young adulthood, our lives are always centred around relationships with people that meant alot to us. Parents, siblings, friends--and of course that special someone in your life-- each of them hold a special place in your heart.

Don't we all long for such beautiful relationships to last forever? And so we build the meaning of our life upon these people whom we hold so dear.

Yet all around us,we see human relationships that are broken and shipwrecked by the storms of life. Some of us may still be recovering from a hurtful and disillusioned past of loss, betrayal or abandonment.

Is this all there is to life? Are there such things as "Friends Forever"? Can we find real meaning in real relationships that will really last forever? Or is our search for meaning in relationships ultimately a futile one that will end in despair?

Join us as we contemplate together, "Relationships and theMeaning of Life".

There'll be songs, choir presentation and a special dance item on that evening as well. Refreshment will be provided after the session.

We would love to see you there. =) Do invite your friends as well.

YPF June Camp @ Coasta Sand Sentosa

2008-06-11T14:24:00.002+08:00

Venue: Meet @ 65 Tessensohn Road / Sentosa Costa Sands Chalet 0313, 0315

Date/Time: 12th June (Thurs) 9.00 am to 13th June (Fri) 12.00pm

Camp Fee: S$10 per person

To-bring List
Extra sets of clothes (1 set dark-coloured)
Undergarments
Towels
Toiletries (shampoo, soap, facial wash etc.)
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Water Bottle
Sun Block
Cap / Hat
Sleeping Bags
Sandals / Slippers (not advisable to wear sports shoes)
Bible
Stationery
Cash in EZLink
Money (less than $30)

Do-not-bring List
PSP
Ipod

YP Outreach! Bowling (31 May 08 Sat 10am-12pm)

2008-05-29T16:31:00.004+08:00

Date: 31 May 2008 (Sat)
Time: 10am - 12pm
Venue: Planet Bowl, Civil Service Club (Tessensohn)
Meeting time/place: 9.45am @ Farrer Park MRT
Cost: New friends $3; YPFers $6 (2 Games)

Dear YPFers,

We'll be having out YP Sports Outreach: Bowling this Sat morning! There're already 6 new friends who had signed up with us. Pls contact Weiwu if you've more new friends coming. We've already booked 4 lanes so there's more than enough space for all!

Pls pray for this event that the hearts of the new friends may be opened. For those who're coming, pray also for willingness and courage to befriend newcomers and share Christ's love and gospel with them.

Pls let us know if you wish to make your way there yourself. Otherwise...see you at 9.45am @ Farrer Park MRT! :)

Sandcastle Building Competition (10 May 10.45am East Coast Mac)

2008-05-06T15:00:00.005+08:00

Dear YPF, this Sat our YP Fun! will be at East Coast Beach, building SANDCASTLES!!!

These are the possibilities of sandcastles you can build...

We'll be teaming up with Singapore Youth For Christ in this mini-event. They'll provide the toolkit, we'll come!

Interested? Do sign up with us by 7 May (Wed)!

Date: 10 May 2008 (Sat)

Meeting Time & Place: 10.45am East Coast MacDonalds

Estimated End-time: 3pm

Wear: Beach wear (T-shirt, bermudas) and sandals
(Bring extra clothes if you want to be thrown into the sea)

Cost: Only $2 per person (for lunch)

Invite your friends along! Take this chance to BUILD rapport with your brothers and sisters in Christ, while you're building sandcastles. Rem: deadline for sign-up to be part of the competition is this Wed 7 May! Hurry~!

How to Share the Gospel Through SPORTS

2008-05-03T14:02:00.002+08:00

Speaker: Bro Lionel Chan (Singapore Youth For Christ, Sports & Adventure Ministry)

Date: Sun, 4 May 2008

Time: 3.30-4.45pm (please stay back after service)

Venue: CSC Auditorium

You know the sport. You play it everyday with your buddies, be it in the soccer field or at the basketball courts. But do you know how to use it as an opportunity to share the gospel? In this week's YP Live! Seminar, we're inviting an experienced youth worker from SYFC Sports & Adventure Ministry, to share with us—how can we share the glorious gospel through the sports we love.

Is it alright to tell lies--even 'white' ones?

2008-04-25T20:36:00.004+08:00

BY SIS. MADELINE, 20 April 2008 YP Live!

Lies, what exactly are they? A quick search into the dictionary reveals that lies are words or statements made by persons known to be UNTRUE.

Since lies are words or statements made by persons to be untrue, then why do we often find ourselves having to lie? That really got me thinking that maybe lies (known to be untrue) do serve certain purposes that the truth can't. I started questioning myself what purposes do lies serve and managed to come up with a few. They are:-

we lie so as to conceal what the truth will reveal
we lie to get certain persons into trouble
we lie to save ourselves from trouble
we lie to make ourselves look good / others to look bad
we lie out of lack of courage to boldly take a stand
we lie to conform to the majority (the stress is too great to be alone)
we lie out of hatred
we lie because we can't forgive
we lie out of boredom
we lie for some excitement and thrills in our lives

…and the list goes on and on.

In short, we often deploy lies to achieve a certain purpose or to get something by lying. Very sadly even before we begin to suspect, we have already allow the seed of the lying spirit to be planted in our hearts. In time, it will grow and flourish…

BUT WHERE DO LIES COME FROM? Listen to what God says about lies written in the Bible. The source of lies is none other than Satan himself. John 8:44 says "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding the truth, for there is no truth in Him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Are you taken aback by all these strong words God uses to describe the "father of lies"? God calls Satan a murderer, a liar and the lies he speaks is his native language. The native language here in John 8:44 is like the dialects we speak at home. These dialects signify the roots of our heritage, our culture. But God says that Satan's roots are nothing but only lies. When you read in between the lines of this verse, are you able to feel God's detest directed at the liar and how repulsive God feels about him?

As children of God, when we consider the source where all lies come from, there is no way we can sit by and allow the seed of lie to take root in our hearts. May it never be!

John 8:44 not only helps us feel how God feels about lies it also gives us a clue on how we can please our heavenly Father. It is very clear from the verse that only when we strive to live our lives in truthfulness can we then please God.

Do you know that God has many other names mentioned in the bible? All these names help us who are so small understand Him who is so great. For the purpose today, one name stands out above the rest and that is mentioned in John 16:13 – Spirit of Truth. Now, don't we think that makes a lot of sense? God is holy. In God there is only truth – nothing else. When you consider Proverbs 12:22, "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful", we begin to understand why.

Let us pause for a little moment to take stock…

We have now established what lies are.
We have also managed to trace the source where all lies begin and that source is Satan.
We are now beginning to feel how God feels about His children lying.

But do you know that lying has its consequences?
In Proverbs 19:5 says, "A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free." As children of God, we have to abide by God's ways and commands. We have to know without doubt that Satan is a liar and all the evil that he does begins with a lie. People who lie must believe that lying will make things better for them, or help them achieve what they want. But sadly, it does just the opposite. Telling a lie means that we choose to align ourselves with the devil and distance ourselves from God because our God is holy, in Him there only the truth. The more lies you tell, the more you open your hearts for the devil's lying spirit to be rooted and the further you will be away from God, for our God is holy and in Him there is only the truth. So where do you stand with God?

When we consider Proverbs 21:6, "A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare", we realized that the price we have to pay when we distance ourselves from God is simply too high. In other words, we may think that we can get what we want by lying and it provides quick fixes and solutions to our problems. But do not be deceived for the bible equate our gains and quick solutions to "fleeting vapor" that last only a moment and then no more and all we get in the end is but a "deadly snare". This leads me to think that the discipline and canings I received for lying when I was a child were definitely by far more pleasant and are nothing to be compared to the consequences of lying, such as a "deadly snare" from God's wrath!

If that is the case, then what about white lies?

Firstly, we need to ask ourselves, "What exactly is our motive for telling 'white lies'?" Is it helping to 'protect' another person (e.g. not telling someone that his father had contracted cancer)? Is it to prevent embarrassing the person (ever had someone asking you, "Don't I look pretty/handsome today?")?

The truth is, our hearts and motives are so often misguided and wrong. They are often actually self-centered (e.g. we want to protect ourselves from embarrassment, or to shield ourselves from an emotionally intense situation)

Proverb 14:12 tells us that, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." What seems right to us (i.e. white lies) may not be right in the eyes of God!

The biblical principle here is truthfulness—God wants us to be truthful because we want to conform to His image as a truthful God.

So, what is the solution to our dilemma, when we are tempted to tell a white lie? It is "to speak the truth in love" (Eph 4:15), and not to insulate ourselves from the consequences of telling the truth.

I wonder if you have ever felt the way I do sometimes about lying. Knowing that lying will not pleased God we did it anyway in our many moments of weakness. As such, we know we that we have sinned. This so called 'could not help ourselves' feeling is best describe by the psalmist 28:4 "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear." Nothing is heavier than sin. Sin weighs down on our bones to the point where we can't breath. Sin robs the peace in our hearts that only God can put it there. Sin robs us of the blessings God intends to give. We don't realize how destructive this crushing weight is until we smash into the wall that we have built between us and God because of it.

Let there never be a wall between God and us! To be separated from God is too high a price for us to pay! Let us not be blinded nor be deceived by the devil's lies. Let us experience this great relief when the crushing weight of sin is lifted from us through true confession and forgiveness by God.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am not here today to rebuke you for I stand being rebuked myself. The bible says that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I am not here to judge you for I have no authority nor the right to do so. I am not here to say that you deserve more wraths from God because you have told more lies than the person beside you did. No, I am not here today to do all that. But I am here sincerely today to identify with you and this struggle that we all face and hope to overcome. On our right is God and the truth lies in Him. On our left is falsehood, the dwelling place of the devil. Any step we take will only bring us closer or further from God. Let us remind ourselves and help one another to stay focused and never stray from what God has promised to those who love him. For it is written "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." None of us has any idea how great the future God has prepared for you and me but we do know that God says that our future will be so great that if we truly understood it, we would feel "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed" to us.

The devil and his lying spirit cannot take root in our hearts as long as we are walking with God, standing strong in His word and praying without ceasing. God's plan for our lives won't happen without a struggle and certainly it won't come to being with our lying lips. Let us all strive for truthfulness because only when we live our lives in truth can we please our heavenly Father.

If you think that what I have just said sound so much easier said than done, I assure you it is not. But allow me to encourage you to never forget that "the Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will hear their cry and save them. When you made up your mind to depart from lies, be warn that the struggle will be great because the devil will constantly remind you of the past when you were able to use lies to get your ways quickly. DON'T GIVE UP WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH. Abide in Jesus Christ and the Spirit of the Lord will take you from strength to strength.

Let me share a true story with you.

Hien Pham was a Vietnamese translator for Ravi Zacharias when he ministered in South Vietnam during 1971.

After South Vietnam fell to the communist Vietcong, Hien Pham was captured and forced to go through severe indoctrination against the Christian faith in the prison. Just when he was about to give up his faith, he found a Bible passage (Romans 8) on a toilet paper when he was clearing the bin! This providential event led him to reaffirm his faith in God.

Then the day came when, through an equally providential set of circumstances, Hien was released from prison. He promptly began to make plans to leave the country and to construct a boat for the escape of him and 53 others. All was going according to plan until days before their departure. Four Vietcong knocked on Hien's door and said they had heard of his escape.

Hien Pham was in a dilemma. 53 lives were in his hands. If he confessed that he was planning to escape, these Vietcong will surely arrest them and put them into prison. It makes perfect sense for him to tell a white lie at this moment. So he denied it and they left.

Hien felt relieved, but at the same time disappointed with himself. He thought to himself, "Here I go again, Lord, trying to manipulate my own destiny, too unteachable in my spirit to really believe that You can lead me past any obstacle." He then made a promise to God—fervently hoping that God would not take him up on it—that if the Vietcong returned, he would tell them the truth. He was thoroughly shaken when only a few hours before they were to set sail, the four men returned. When questioned again, Hien Pham decided to keep his promise to God--he confessed the truth, that they were planning to escape from Vietnam.

To Hien's astonishment, the men leaned forward and, in hushed tones, asked if they could go with him!

In an utterly incredible escape plan, all 58 of them found themselves on the high seas, suddenly engulfed by a violent storm. Hien cried out to God, "Did you bring us here to die?" But then he said to me, "Brother Ravi, if it were not for the sailing ability of those four Vietcong, we would not have made it." They arrived safely in Thailand, and years later Hien arrived on American soil where today he is a businessman.

You could read Hien Pham's story here, in RZIM's homepage. Imagine if Hien Pham persists in his 'white lie', believing that this will protect the 53 others who were escaping with him. The consequence of that lie would have been disastrous on the seas.

When we take specific steps to try to live our lives free from lies and deliberately run away from anything that might tempt us to lie, we will find ourselves being drawn closer to God. When we live right, God will keep us from sin. God says "Be holy, for I am holy". It is only by the grace of God that we can live in holiness, even after we have chosen to do so. When our hearts wants to live in purity and to the right thing, God will keep us from falling into sin. Let us go to God for help.

Quiet Time Picnic @ Bishan Park 12 Apr (Sat)

2008-04-08T00:04:00.005+08:00

BY YPF

We'll be having our YP Fun! @ Bishan Park this Saturday 12 Apr! Time is 9.30am to 11.30am. Bring your own food! It will be a Quiet Time Picnic, which Meiyun will share more details. Meanwhile, block out that timeslot so you can join us! =) Invite your friends along too!

TBC Church Website is now up!

2008-03-31T21:58:00.001+08:00

Our church website is now up and running! Praise be to God! Click the following link to access:

http://truthbaptist.sg

How can we make full use of the site? Currently, you can do these:

1. Refer your friends (real-life and online) to learn more about our church

2. Explore links and good readings already posted on the site (mostly in PDF files)

3. Checking list of forecast

4. Reading and understanding our statement of faith

5. Download the beautiful photos!

Do bookmark the website and watch out for updates! May God be pleased to use it in proclaiming His kingdom.

How does the media view BGR (Boy-Girl-Relationship)?

2008-02-12T22:00:00.005+08:00

… He loves me, he loves me not ….
Love is the single most confusing word in the entire vocabulary that has baffled all humanity through the ages! The beautiful [and sometimes awful (^.^) ] thing about love is the many questions that overwhelm our brains once we step into adolescence. Many times, we take our cue and seek answers from the readily available resources of the media.

Join us for a fun-filled and interactive YP Live! session and discover for yourselves as Sis. Tracy Wong leads us to explore how the media views BGR, and what the Bible says about dating, courtship and love. Receive wisdom and insights from the Word of God and practice applying them into practical BGR issues youths face today.

Overview
1. How does the media view BGR?
2. What does the Bible say?
3. Practical application:
- When is the right age to date?
- Is he/she the right person?
- What should I do on a date?

Date: 16 Feb 2008 (Sat)
Time: 3 - 5pm
Venue: Truth Baptist Church Office, level 1 Fellowship Hall

Looking forward to your presence!

Thanksgiving 2007!

2008-01-01T12:55:00.000+08:00

On 31 Dec 07, we gave thanks to our Lord for his great work and guidance onto us this past year, and welcomed 2008 together as one big family in Christ. =)

****
After sharing, we had... nice supper & fun bonding together =)

So cute! =P

Haha doesn't this remind us of... Young Darius during the mid-autumn? =D

Hello meiyun! don't hide, 就是你了!! =D

Haha James got an oversized hat..

Nice food, nice ties! =)

Groupies! =D

Christmas Baptism 2007!

2007-12-27T13:22:00.000+08:00

8 of our brothers & sisters were baptised on 23 Dec 2007 =) Praise the Lord!

Look at our joyful smiles~ =)

Sharing Testimonies~

And all this is possible... Because Our Lord Lives. =)

God's forgiveness and the big fisherman--(Part2: Cracks in the Rock of Faith)

2007-12-10T19:21:00.000+08:00

BY JONATHAN LIAU

Greetings to you all, readers.. ('v')

Remember where we last stopped in the first entry, on God and the big fisherman? That's the moment when Jesus called his disciples and asked who they thought He was. After a few random guesses that the disciples made, it was Peter who spoke up for them, confidently proclaiming Jesus as the 'Son of the living God', a testament of his belief in the Messiah that was standing in front of him.

If the story had just ended there it would seem, well, a happy conclusion wouldn't it? Well, not really. As the Bible goes on to reveal, Peter sometimes puts his zeal for following God into his own complacent belief that he alone knows what God is doing. Let's find out what happened, shall we? Hees..

It all happens in the same chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16; the fateful shadow of the Cross fell across the disciples as Jesus began to reveal His impending sacrifice for the remission of the sins of mankind. Peter would hear none of it... much to the extent of denying God's plan of salvation by taking Jesus aside and started to "rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, LORD; this shall not happen to You!""(Matthew 16:22). Woah. That's some talk to God! Peter didn't hold the fact that he, a mere human who receives and understands facts, has boasted his confident assumption to the One who knows anything and everything!! Probably the reason why Jesus didn't take Peter's big talk lightly: "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."(v.23) WOAH. That's some reply.(*Do take note of this, readers)

We know that, as Jesus's close friend, the last thing Peter wanted to be was a hypocrite, or even a betrayer of his actions or words. He really did not wish for ANYTHING to happen to his best Friend. At the same time, we can safely say that it certainly is scary proclaiming to God how we can prevent things from happening, with our own knowledge and strength which, ironically, is God-given. Who are we to do so? It's self-righteousness, something God frowns upon. And unfortunately for the big fisherman, he would soon learn that, the hard way.

Towards the final hours of Jesus's life on Earth at the Last Supper, He wanted to comfort His disciples for He knew how hard it would be for them when He was gone, being sheep without a Shepherd. What a picture we have in John 13:1-11! The Son of God, girded with a towel, a basin of water in His hands, washing His disciples' feet! He wanted them to serve in the same spirit, that greatness is always measured by service. A pity indeed, that the big fisherman failed to see servant-hood in Christ; he attempted to deny Jesus from washing his feet (for those taking Literature, this is what one calls foreshadowing- the big denial... which will be discussed in the next entry). Jesus replied, "If I do not wash you, you will have no part with Me."(v.8)

Those words certainly affected Peter, for he gulped and mumbled, "LORD, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"(v.9), quite comically(if you could imagine it, of course):

At the Mount of Olives, Jesus emphasised the moment He was about to be arrested and tried, in Matthew 26:31: "..I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.." We can see the continued impulse in Peter as he confidently boasts of his loyalty, to the extent of putting himself above the others: "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble."(v.33) Let's double check that scene in Luke 22; Peter further presses his self-righteous confidence, that he was ready to be arrested and killed with Jesus(v.33). But Jesus knew otherwise, and made a jaw-dropping conclusion: "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day before you will deny Me three times that you know Me."

It's certainly a wonder: won't that scare the pants off Peter? I'd probably would. The prophecy that Peter will deny Jesus in the 4 Gospels is a stark contrast to Peter's apparent penchant of boasting that nothing will happen to Jesus, or even dying for His life. Even though Jesus's words came as a shock to the apostles (with the -ahem- exception of Judas Iscariot), it was the big fisherman who spoke up for their confidence that they would never forsake their Lord. However, God knew what Judas and Peter would do. (Judas knew of his actions and consequence; Peter didn't.)

Tensions aside, let us reflect on the cracks that appeared in Peter's faith to the Lord- Jesus knows likewise of the rising and falling of spirituality. He Himself has been tempted in the desert. He knows what we do or think even before we were born, even for Peter!

Yes you might say, but what's the problem with Peter's boasting? Didn't he mean well for his best Friend?

Well, with my best usage of knowledge (which is unkindly pounded upon by orientation prep and revision.. Arrgggh) I can say that even though it is commonplace for us humans to fall in this sinful world, one thing we ought to remember is to confess our failings to God, and to accept what God has planned for our lives.

peter pushed his 'own' beliefs over the edge, and the price he had to pay.. was, literally, a self fulfilling prophecy (Pun intended here..) But that's another entry.. Haha. Keep in faith.

God bless.

God's forgiveness and the big fisherman--(Part1: Before the Storm)

2007-12-10T19:11:00.000+08:00

BY JONATHAN LIAU

Here's a really special entry I want to share with all readers.. A special gift that God bestows on us, in the highs and lows of our lives. And it is through the life of one of the most notable characters in the Bible, that we see: No matter how Man has been led astray in sinning against the LORD, He never fails to forgive. He wants us, like the big fisherman I will be sharing about, to lay our faith in Him... and be Fishers of Men, to spread forth the Gospel to the World:

Simon Peter was just like any other ordinary chap. He wasn't any great King like David, nor a reputed prophet like Isaiah. However, God has His way of choosing His people. He certainly has plans for every single person on this planet; probably the reason why Peter, the big fisherman, came to be one of the twelve apostles, twelve special friends whom Jesus personally chose at the time of His ministry.

We don't know much about Simon Peter's early years, but what we do know is that he was in the fishing business with his brother Andrew, toiling on the seas for days on end with only a meagre catch. (Just imagine if you were in that situation one day, and Someone who took a ride in your boat asks you to try catching again in another location... and lo, instead of 8 puny fish you get 8000 of 'em.. cool, eh?) With Jesus's miraculous instructions, Peter knew how amazing it was to be following Him.

Unfortunately, he knew in his heart of his past actions; how unworthy was he to follow the LORD, as he cried in Luke 5:8,

"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O LORD!"

At Luke 5:10, however, we see the forgiveness of Jesus already, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." God had a special role for Peter, the big fisherman: not to catch fish, but to spread forth God's wondrous message to the masses. Like Peter, God dosen't hold us on account that we are not perfect to follow Him, or that He is too good for us. He has a role for us likewise, to put down what we have and follow His Word.

Peter certainly was true to the LORD, much more to be His close friend. For instance, when Jesus asked in Matthew 16:15, "But who do you say that I am?" (For details, do check out my earlier entry: Who do you say that I am?) He was testing the aim of all His training of the chosen twelve. The climax of His ministry was reached. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!"(v.16) exclaimed the impulsive, fervent Peter. It grasps Christ as the Messiah, and the big fisherman knew. Peter's answer gave Him all the assurance that His goal had been attained. This confession is great because it exalts Christ as the Son of God and lifts Him above humanity and crowns Him as Deity. He said to the big fisherman and the disciples after concerning who He was, "..on this rock I will build my church.." (v.18) Bestowing upon Peter, among the other apostles, as the 'rock' (Peter's translated name Cephas means Rock), Jesus was paving the way for the big fisherman to live out His aim. It is the strong belief Peter proclaims in Jesus, and the Latter's love for Peter at the same time.

However, all things on this Earth are infallible. Even Peter.

Look out for the next entry on how a few words of impulsive confidence, and pride, robbed the big fisherman... of his best Friend.

God bless.

Welcome our new blog writer!

2007-12-10T19:07:00.000+08:00

BY MARCUS MOK

Welcome our new blog writer, Jonathan Liau! You can check out his blog at http://panzerboy89.blogspot.com/. We will periodically post quality posts from his site over here.

We're stil recruiting good blog writers! If you are interested to post in TBC YPF blogsite, just drop us a tag and/or email Marcus at mww@pacific.net.sg .

Barnabas, the Son of Encouragement

2007-11-05T23:30:00.001+08:00

-Focus Passage- Acts 11:19-24

19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

There's something about Barnabas! His name means "encouragement", and here's one who's truly true to his name! From the passage, you can tell that this man was evidently one of pure and good heart, who witnesses the hand of God at work and responded in praise and gladness, then immediately join in the fun! What a spontaneous, excited and exciting man of God! As we look at this short but insightful account of Barnabas, let us see how the gift of encouragement operates in a man of God:

The verse says that Barnabas "saw" the evidence of the grace of God. What we actually "see" is very important. Imagine if Barnabas was a narrow minded man. What would he see? An unclean alliance of Jews and 'dirty' Gentiles? An offshoot of the church needy of submitting to the Jerusalem church's authority?
But not Barnabas. He was different, because deep in his heart he has given himself to the Lord, to rejoice over the things that God rejoices, to be broken over the things that breaks the heart of God.
You might note that this was the same Barnabas who saw the genuine change in Saul (Acts 9:26-28) when the rest of the church was terrified by the ex-persecutor of all things Christian. That showed what kind of a broad heart he has.
"When he saw…he was glad"
Sometimes what we see really reflect the state of heart we're in. Are you walking so closely with God that your desires and interests reflect His own? Are you actively looking for evidence of God's grace working in people's lives?
If your answer is 'yes', think about this: when was the last time you heard about someone being saved? Some good thing happening in your brother/sister's life?
What was your immediate response?
"He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." That's a long sentence, but it speaks volumes. What do you encourage a new Christian? A brother or sister in Christ who's in distress? Do you religiously 'encourage' the person to 'do' his/her Quiet Time (as if it's something to be done?) Or do you get to the heart of the matter?
The heart of the matter is the heart. We can do all the external things, but for the wrong reasons, if we do it not for Christ. Barnabas knew that, and it's the first priority in his mind when he got to encourage them.
How is your heart today? Are you true to Christ? Can you honestly say that you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength?
Have you noticed how often the great men of God were described in Acts as "full of the Holy Spirit"? Remember Stephen (Acts 6)? Barnabas was also a Spirit-filled man. He gave his life to love God and serve Him wholeheartedly, and because of his love for God, the Holy Spirit was pleased to fill him.
I believe it means that Barnabas was constantly walking in the Spirit. It wasn't like, when we need to share the gospel, or make a public sharing, and we pay, "Please, Holy Spirit, I need You now!" then after the whole thing lived as if nothing had changed.
I believe it's something constant, something regular in Barnabas' life, such that people could see that the Spirit of God was evidently with him.
Question: Does God expect any lesser from us? Than to walk in the Spirit, that you do not gratify the desires of your sinful nature (Gal 5:16)?
There's a hymn that goes,
Fill me now, fill me now
Spirit come and fill me now
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence
Come, O come, and fill me now!
May we desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times…not just when we think we need Him!
"A great number of people were brought to the Lord." The evidence of true, fruit-bearing disciple of Christ. Barnabas' life was so attractive that he brought another wave of people to the Lord.
A good tree bears good fruit. A bad tree bears bad fruit. Out of the fullness of the heart a man speaks. And when Barnabas' heart is deeply in love and thoroughly immersed in the Person of God, out of his heart flows springs of living waters.
When Christ is lifted up in a person's life, He will draw others to Himself, naturally (and supernaturally!). Imagine the impact of our lives if we're fully surrendered to the Spirit of God!
Today many Christians are living their lives devoid of the Holy Spirit's filling and presence, and yet they're too lukewarm to think it a shame. As you look back on the opportunities you've lost in life, what are your thoughts? Will you take the Lord on His promise, that He will not turn away those who turn to Him (John 6:37)? Will you learn from Barnabas' example, and be an encouragement to others?
Your life can only make a difference if the Spirit of God reigns in you. Let it be today.
Let it be now.

Beautiful Fellowship

2007-10-18T18:56:00.000+08:00

BY YPF

Hello! Sorry the code to the slideshow earlier did not really work; but here's a (lengthened!) version of another slideshow created, with photos from the june church camp 2007 and mid-autumn festival. Most of the photos was from a particular someone's camera, so the collection of pictures may be a little subjective. :)

Take a look at how beautiful fellowship with our brothers and sisters can be. Despite our differences in language, culture, experiences, social circles, interests, all of us can be one family bonded in the love of Christ!

Enjoy! :D

Baptism of tingting,en hong & hongliang

2007-10-16T20:54:00.000+08:00

On the 14 October 2007, we went to witness the baptism of sister En Hong, Ting Ting and brother Hong Liang. :)

Baptism is a public testimony of their conviction in the salvation of Jesus Christ. The immersion in and out of water signifies the new life we have in Christ.

Here are some of the pictures, courtesy of a sister in YPF!

Their baptism certificates and gifts from TBC:)

Then the 3 of them shared with the church and their friends, their personal testimony.

Some brothers and sisters from the Friday Chinese Bible Study dedicated a hymn to them.

And then to round up the event, we had a cake and celebrated their Baptism, AND the birthdays of trixie theresa (twins!) and weiwu! :D

Mid-Autumn Fellowship 22 Sept (Sat)

2007-09-15T22:18:00.000+08:00

Mid-Autumn Felowship: Home in Eternity

Can't wait to taste more mooncakes? Wanna see your bros & sis in action during our impromtu talentime? How about watching the sequel to the all-time familiar Change-E story, scripted by our renowned producer and director Xubo-bo-bo and his robin sidekick Jerry?

Invite your friends to come for this special Mid-Autumn event held at Dr Yip's house, on the 22 Sept (Sat)! (You can download this picture and send to your friend.)

We're meeting at Newton MRT @ 5.30pm for a chartered bus to go there. The program will end about 9.45pm.

Do pray for the organising committee as well as the people we're inviting. Pray for opportunities to share God's love with those who come.

Let's be there! =D

P.S. There is no YPF in church that day. We will all meet at Newton and go there straight. Unless Eleen wants to organize something unofficial before that...

A Closer Look at the World of Narnia

2007-06-03T00:35:00.000+08:00

BY MARCUS MOK

This afternoon, our church Young People Fellowship had a movie screening on The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was a heart warming afternoon to see some old faces and welcome new ones, all tucked away in the cosy second storey room of our church office at 65 Tessensohn.

Personally I've watched the movie before, with my wife's cousins at the Toa Payoh cinema. But then I was too busy, half comparing the cinematic with the book, half attempting (in vain) to explain the symbolism behind the movie to her young cousins.

This time, I could sit back, relax and watch the show through, enjoying the cinematic and pondering on the themes.

It is still undeniably a children's movie, and a brilliant one at that. But the Christian allegory and the parallels still provoked me to think hard about my Christian faith.

In my opinion, I believe C S Lewis (the author of the book, not the director) is portraying for us his Christian worldview in a vividly fantastical manner. It is Christian, not just because C S Lewis was a well-known Christian theologian and apologist, but because the descriptions and details surrounding the world of Narnia are so reminiscent of the Biblical worldview, as I know it.

I have yet to read the other books in the Chronicles as yet. But here I shall make a brief and humble attempt to review the themes in the movie. [Beware: spoilers ahead!]

Firstly, the world of Narnia is created by Aslan, the Lion. This is reminiscent of Christ, the Son of God, through Whom our own world is created. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16)

Secondly, the rulership of this world is usurped by the White Witch (Satan), who controlled Narnia with an unending winter. The imagery of winter—cold, bitter, devoid of green life and energy, describes the torturous reign of the White Witch and, in turn, represents the lifelessness and slavish existence of our present world, for as men we are imprisoned by Satan through our sinful disobedience towards God. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” (Eph 2:1-2)

Thirdly, the world of Narnia longs to be delivered from the clutches of the White Witch, by the might of Aslan the rightful king. Similarly, the Lord Jesus Christ shall one day destroy the dominion of Satan once and for all, and restore the world to its original state and purpose. The four children, referred to in the prophecy as the Sons of Adam, were instrumental in the restoration of Narnia. Likewise—and this is an often overlooked doctrine—the elect of Christ shall be revealed to judge the world with Him. “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)

Finally, King Aslan delivered Narnia from the dominion of the White Witch through his death and resurrection. More specifically, he delivered Edmund, the boy who betrayed the other 3 siblings out of his lust for the Turkish Delight (symbolic of sinful pleasures?), from his punishment by taking his place. This, more than any other, speaks of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, in which He died in our place and took the punishment for our sins.

C S Lewis puts it this way,

“When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.” (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harper Collins, 2005, p. 176)

“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18)

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

This is, in short, my interpretation of this particular episode in The Chronicles of Narnia as a Christian allegory. Which leads me to another question: how do we view our Christianity? Some might find it rather amusing to think this way. After all, The Chronicles of Narnia as a story is still very much fantastical and “unreal”, quite like the Lord of the Rings and other fantasy genre stories. And I do admit that a person is rather questionable up there if he think of himself as some prince-to-be fighting sinister minotaurs and white witches with the aid of half-man-half-horses and talking beavers.

What I mean is this: are we as acutely aware of the spiritual realities around us, as the Bible puts it, or do we only see the material world, and—worse, interpret it as nothing more than matter and objects, devoid of the spiritual realms of God with His angels warring against Satan and his minions?

The fact, I think, is this: spiritual realities are more real than what we can tangibly see, and we are in fact in a cosmic-scaled spiritual warfare between God and evil. C S Lewis merely attempt to portray that reality in a fantastical world of imaginary images; the spiritual world is far, far more dramatic, vivid and serious than that.

My proof? Go back to the Bible. Read it as it is. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12) Rediscover your place in this world and the position you are in. Christian, you are called by God, redeemed from sin and justified by grace. You are not your own, so live not for yourself, but for the Lord Jesus Christ who loved you and gave His life for you; and you are equipped in the Spirit to snatch unwary souls from the evil one “with every grace endued”. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Eph 6:13)

The horn had sounded. The war is on. But which side are you on?

(All pictures by courtesy of image gallery, CanMag.com and the official Movie website.)