26 Mar 2010, Friday CG

Before going to CG
On Friday, before I knock off from work to go for CG gathering, I had a bad head ache. Then Sister A called and offered to buy dinner for me. Initially I declined as I intended to have my diet dinner. After I hang the phone, I realized I had to pick up a cake before 7pm, the shop closing time. I will be making a detour if I go for my diet dinner. As I had such a bad head ache, I don't think I can make it to walk the extra distance for dinner. So I called Sister A to help to buy dinner. She graciously agreed. God is truly a good God. Whether the issue is big or small, He will always bring people to help us in time of need.

In CG place
In the CG gathering place, we had a great time of sharing our lives together.

Sister J gave away her wrong size jean that she brought online. Younger brother M gave away a big T-shirt that his boss gave to him to a brother.

CG started
During CG time, Sister L update us about our Ms Zone Mentor delivery of her new born baby boy. On Thursday night, a group of us visit her after she delivered her baby safely. Initially, when the baby is 31 weeks in her womb, the feeding tube was stuck. So the baby did not have enough food and is under weight. We prayed and the baby weight increased. Then there are concerns that baby need to come out early due to the mother’s condition. Eventually, the baby was born at week 37, which is consider full term. And the baby weight 2.8kg, which is in the healthy range. Our God is indeed a good God who answers prayers. Issues in life is an opportunity for us to trust God and increase our faith in our mighty God. John 16:33

We shared our PDA opportunities. And also pray for our FRANS. Sister A shared her encounter with her niece. Sister L shared God goodness with her colleague.

In our "getting to know you" introduction, we are to introduce how many siblings we have, and the position that we are in. We found out that in our midst, we have 4 guys that are the youngest in their families, 4 oldest sisters, 3 middle child and a only son.

WORD - Post-Sermon Study of Revelation 1:4-8
1. Study opener – Share about someone whom you admire. What is it about him/her that inspires you?

Elder Sister G admires her grandfather for his 10 good characters. One of them is leadership. Another is self-control. He had diabetes in age 80 and he had good control of his diet. He died at the age of 97. Wah! He lived a long life. He even wrote a book to express his love for his wife. He is cool.

Sister L admires John the Baptist on his focus in pointing others to Jesus.

Sister S admires a Christian sister unwavering faith in God in spite of difficult situations in her life. That sister was a very gentle lady. At age 30, she was diagnosed with nose cancer. At the same year, her mother died. When she got cancer, she resigned to treat her cancer. The cancer treatment caused her to become physically weak. After the treatment, she went to do charity work. She spent her last 10 year sharing Christ with others. Faithfully bringing people to church despite of her health. She died of flu bug due to weak health. During her 3 days wake, many people attended her funeral. Many shared their testimonies about her. It was obvious that she was well love.

For myself, I admire Pastor Edmund Chan, our senior pastor. Recently I listen to his sermon that he preached in 1997 on the Sermon on the Mount series. Back then, he was about 38 years old. He explained the word of God clearly, practically and profoundly. He is faithful and consistent in his calling.

2. Look at verse 5a. Talk about one description of Jesus (faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, ruler of the kings on earth) that is personally meaningful for you.

Revelation 1:5a "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth."

Brother M shared "the firstborn from the dead" is meaningful to him. He read to us some verses in Romans 6. He especially highlight the following verses:
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:4-5).

"In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11).

3. Verses 5b-6 reveals two things that Jesus did for you, out of love. What are they & their significance for our lives?

Revelation 1:5b-6 “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

A priest is to serve God. We are co-heirs with Jesus. Sister A shared that a priestly responsibility is to reconcile people to God.

Sister AM shared that 5 to 6 earthquakes had happened in this year. It is aptly on having sermons on Revelation. End time is really coming. Recently Her associate shared with her on the Discovery history channel talked about Moses parted the Red Sea. She shared to him that Bible is not just a history book, it also predicted what is going to happened in future. Refer to Matthew 24.

In our prayer time, we update one another of our prayer needs. And also not forgetting to pray for our FRANS.

Celebrate birthday
At supper time, they celebrated my birthday. I brought a Fruits Crêpe cake from GLACE that is located in Icon Village in Tanjong Pagar. The norm is the CG will buy a cake for the birthday boy or girl. But this cake is so good that I wanted to share the good news with them. Many tried and find it special. Their cake is good because they make it fresh and with good ingredients. Similarly, Jesus is like the cake, you must come and taste it. Then you can declare “The Lord is good.”

Last CG gathering in Cementi
This is the last time that we use Sister J’s place for CG gathering. Thank you Sister J for your hospitality. Hebrews 6:10

We end our gathering by taking some group photos in the place.

19 Mar 2010, Friday CG

TGIF! Thank God is Friday!
We had a great time on our CG night.

Sustainability
Before everyone came, some of us discussed about diet and gym.
The key issue raised is about sustainability.

Sister G recently try out the Herbalife nutritional shake as one of her healthy meal during weekdays. The nutritional shake has less calories and thus able to help to reduce fat (weight) progressively. Sister J feels it unsustainable to take liquid food as she likes solid food.

Sister G feels it okay as she has exposure on taking liquid food.

Sister G recently signed up for a 1 year contract on FitnessFirst gym that is near her house. Sister J find it expensive as compare to her 3 years contract on C gym. Sister S said she sign up on C gym for 7 years but hardly use it. Even though the monthly cost is double, Sister G thinks it is okay as she is trying out on her commitment to exercise more regularly. The gym is nearby her house. It is more feasible for her to walk 7 mins to the gym than to go to another gym that needs to travel by MRT. The gym location save her travel time. So it is more feasible and sustainable in going to the gym.

We are different in perceptions about sustainability. Overall, it is a good pre-discussion before the Post-Sermon Discussion of Revelation Overview.

Discussion of Revelation Overview
a.
Point ONE: Blessed is the one who see! (Rev 1:1-2)
Question: Have you met Jesus lately?

Sister G shared on her recent experience in the WBTW (Women Breakthrough Weekends) organized by the church. She met Jesus, her God in WBTW. God through many ways, encourage her in giving her the opportunities to learn, to serve, to share and to give her testimony on stage to all the ladies there. She is very thankful to God’s encouragement.

Point TWO: Blessed is the one who DOES! (Rev 1:3)
Question: What motivate you to be a doer of the Word?

Brother M shared that Rev 1:3 has similarity with James 1:22-25

James 1:22-25 (NIV)
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

He concludes that when we do what please God, He will bless us. He feels good when God said to him “Good and faithful servant”.

Brother C and Sister V find it a joy in obey God.

b. Share how you have been a messenger of the Gospel. How do you share the Gospel? When do you share?
Sister S shared her experience on “Don’t be afraid to ask and to invite your friends for Easter”.
Sister A shared on God’s given opportunities to share gospel to her student and relatives.

Brother C showed us on using EvangeCube to share the Gospel.
Sister G shared that there is even a kid version of EvangeCube. It is Kids' EE-Cube. A colorful, fun, interactive visual tool that flips and folds to reveal a clear Gospel message that equips kids to share with others.

c. Discuss what are your personal barriers to being a messenger of the Gospel.
The answers are:
* Fear of the response.
* Not sure how to approach it.
* Concerns that cannot answer the questions.

Brother M shared that few years ago when his mother was diagnosed with cancer, God gave him a dream. He knew from the dream that his mother barrier in receiving Christ was removed. And God wanted him to share the Gospel with her. His mother had been resistance on the Gospel and gave him a hard time in the past. But God made ways for him to share the Gospel with her. And she received Christ after his sharing.

Brother C shared about his grandmother conversion story. One day, she had a dream of her own mother that had passed away. In the dream, her mother was in a beautiful garden. She invited her daughter to come to heaven. When Brother C grandmother woke up from her dream, she asked “How to become a Christian?”

God does speak to us through dreams. There is more about this matter in the book, Surprised by the voice of God by Jack Deere.

Sister G shared that there are 2 conversions in the recent WBTW. One of the new babies said she no need to know everything to become Christian. Sister G agreed with her sharing as she found herself still learning as a Christian after 18 years of knowing Christ.

Someone shared that some pre-believers are put off by the inconsistency of Christians. However, Christians are not perfect. We are just sinner save by the grace of God.

I learn from the book, Healing for Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands in regards of “imperfect” Christians. We may find Christian A behavior not acceptable and find Christian B more cultural. But when we knows their background and experiences that they gone through, we will know that Christian A has come a long way and has made great improvement. While Christian B is from a good family background and is not as transformed as Christian A.

We can’t judge a book by it cover. Only God knows who belong to Him.
Let us not be discouraged by the inconsistency of other Christians.
But look to God who is more than able to save us and help us to be a consistent Christian. That we may be a shining light for Him.

I am blessed to be in the CG that night and heard in first hand all the sharing.
The writing in here is summarized for quick reading.

Sharing on health product: camellia oil (苦茶油)
Notice some of us have stomach problem. Recently, I read a Chinese health food that shared that camellia oil is a healthy oil that is good for the stomach. I saw it being sold in an organic shop in Haborfront (near the food court). I think it is also being sold in Blife @37 Kreta Ayer Road

Wishing all of us healthy and strong for the Lord.