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.