Chapter 1: The Greatest Invitation of All Time

Well, here's the link for the second set of readings, do read it beforehand and spend some time thinking about the questions that follow: http://download.yousendit.com/ADE140026805C0ED

This is slightly more content heavy (well three times the pages haha), but i think youd find it more interesting and heart/thought provoking than the intro chapter we did on tues :)

as always, feedback is appreciated. meaningless? meaningful? whatnot. can be sent to awwcomeon@gmail.com if you have no one else's email

In love,
K

Lesson 1: Intro

:)

We'll be starting on Drawing Near as of tomorrow, the 27th of March. *hurray*

please download and print the introduction, the link is on the side there, in the downloads section.

These are the group allocations we've got thus far, please sign up if you've yet to :/ leave a tag on the tagboard with the desired group!

John Tay
1) Shaun Lim
2) Daniel Song
3) Christina Chew
4) Edmund Cheong
5) Mary
6) Emily Low

Min Kyeong
1) Christabel
2) Lin Xunliang
3) Jonathan Pang
4) Evelyn
5) Michelle (unconfirmed)

Emil
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Daniel
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Tim
1) Derek Lim
2) Kenneth Ho
3) Audrey Low
4) Amanda Goh
5) Shane Yeap

Alex Lua
1) Benedict Chen
2) Justin Boey
3) Amanda Mae
4) Philip Goh
5)

Kenneth
1) Gareth Lim
2) Yang-Jian
3) Daniel Leong
4) Ryan Goh
5)

hurry fill the slots! or you'll have nothing to do on tues/thurs :/

Through Christ,
K

Meeting outcome

Well, it's not everything we discussed today, but do take a look at the Term2 directive for FireAC by clicking on the link.

REMEMBER that we're joining alistair's group on monday

K

Meeting

Date: 17th March

Time: 1500hrs - 1600hrs
Venue: Swimming Pool Bleachers

Attire: Casual
Cost: Free

Things to Bring: Bible, Paper?

Agenda: Review of Term 1, Contingency Plans for Term2, Koinonia, AOB

Haha. All interested parties are invited, attendance is highly encouraged, almost mandatory, for my council of leaders. haha. I have some important stuff to tell you, which makes the second item on the agenda a little more tricky.

PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE.

Through Christ,
K

What is Love?

One of the most irritating and difficult to deal with issues, LOVE. What is love? Is love that little warm fuzzy feeling you get when you see someone, that special someone you have in mind? Is love an emotion which people express like happiness and anger? Is love something that can be done forcefully? Well, love is a really big word, and is can be divided into many different types. For example, there is God's love(Agape), there is human love(Philia), sexual love(Eros) and so on.

As Kenneth shared this morning.
"Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Okay, the verse John 3:16 is probably very overused, but oh well, I believe it shows the true love which God has for us, sinful people. When God sent his Son down as a fully God yet fully man, to die on the cross with the burden of all our sins on it. This act of love which Jesus showed on the cross for us men(and women), tore the veil which separated us from God. Sin, the big evil thing, separated us from God. But Jesus took the sin away when we lay it down at his feet, and we are brought to the father through Jesus Christ.

In the old testimony, man had to make sacrifices to make up for their sins, there were many strict orders/procedures that followed. For example specific animals for specific sins etc. However, no matter how many sacrifices are made, man can never redeem himself, even all the sacrifices in the world are not enough to save one soul. However, Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice was more than enough to be a ransom for all man who believe in him. This love which Jesus showed, this grace which never should have been given, was given because of God's love for us. This love which we should not deserve, was given. So God's love is love which we don't even deserve. Perhaps this love, is the bridge built by Jesus Christ, to link us with God.

Let's compare God's love with say human love. Human love, is probably very flawed to some extent. You see right, what is human love in the first place? Perhaps human love could be a strong affection towards someone, maybe its a "role" which parents have to fulfill, or possibly the puppy love which many feel. Alex asked me the question, is love about being concerned or is it being addicted to someone, when you can live without this person or hopefully God. When all you think about is this person(or God), and you can't help but babble to all your friends about this love and addiction which you hopefully have for God. When humans are in love, we can't help but declare to the whole world about how much love we have.

Okay, I don't think I've been answering the question yet. But what I believe right, is that love, or at least human love, is the cement which holds things together. Its so hard and firm and stuck on to stick people together that sometimes to some extent, it does harm. Have you noticed that in most pavements, there are these gaps with some black stuff to fill up? This is to prevent the pavement from breaking apart or cracking when it expands and contracts. But if it is all cement, we would be prone to crack(take the IB building for example :P) because we are too caught up with this relationship that it distracts us from God, well at least a bit. But you see, if you fill up these gaps with the black stuff, they stay together, but yet, won't crack under changing temperatures. We have to put this black stuff as the centre of our relationships with anybody, be it relationships with friends, parents, siblings or that special somebody. And do you know what this black stuff is in reality? It is God, God's love.

So thus, my take on love is that its not just an emotion, its the link or adhesive that keeps people with people together and people with God together. Yup, please mind my bad English and not so easy to follow perspective of love. :P

Something written on the Wesley YM Bulletin:
Love is intentionally doing something in Jesus' name, regardless of the cost or consequence of oneself. "My Command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" - John 15:12


In the Faith of Jesus Christ,
Lin Xunliang

Footprints

Footprints

One night a man dreamed he was
walking along the beach with the Lord.

As scenes of his life flashed before him,
he noticed that there were two sets of
footprints in the sand.

He also noticed at his saddest, lowest
times there was one set of footprints.

This bothered the man and he asked
the Lord, "Did you not promise that if
i give my heart to you that you'd
be with me all the way?

Then, why is there only one set of footprints
during my most troublesome times?"

The Lord replied, "My precious child,
I love you and would never forsake you.

During those times of trial and suffering
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then I carried you."

What a marvelous story, don't you think so? Just as we go about in our daily lives, remember that God is always so real in our lives. He is walking with us. He carries us when we are down. God is so real in our lives. A day not lived for God, is a day lived in vain. So take that step of faith, trust the Lord, and do what He wants us to do. We have nothing to lose by following in the footsteps of Jesus. The Lord has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,plans to give you hope and a future". So trust the Lord, cause we are unable to see how what we are going through now will actually affect the future. Remeber that it's all in the Lord's HUGE HUGE plans. Something which would never understand.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

God loves us so much that He gave His son to die on the cross for us. He gave up His one and only Son for us! Sinners like US! We are just mere sinners who do not deserves any love, yet He gave His Son for us. We are so undeserving of His love yet He chose to love us. Despite our sins, despite our actions, He loves us still. So right now why are we sitting here reading blogs or msning or gaming? Instead of doing such things, let us invest our times in spreading Christ's love and let us just continue to shine for God.
I'd like to end of with the chorus of a familiar song.

As bread that is broken,
use our lives.
As wine that is poured out,
a living sacrifise.
Empower us Father,
to share the love of Christ.
As bread that is broken,
Lord, won't you use our lives.

In the Lord's service,
Lua