endurance run

I had my remedial training earlier today. no, it has nothing to do with science or maths but rather, it's a physical remedial training.

so what we do? we run.

we had this endurance run today. 30 mins, run, non stop around the stadium. no minimum rounds, no minimum speed. the rule was simple -- just don't walk.

and while running, suddenly God spoke to me about something. i really didn't think about it this way until earlier on when it dawned on me.

you see, life is like this long run. some run a longer distance, some run a shorter distance. some try to cut the corners of the running track, but they all end the same way -- there is an end point.

and we are all of a different stamina. some run like they have unlimited resources of energy, like they could just go on and on and not feel tired.

others run slowly and give up easily when they tire.

and sometimes, you will notice, the faster ones will try to encourage the slower ones by pacing them -- running alongside them, to encourage them just so they will not walk or quit running all together.

sometimes the slower ones accept this, and run alongside the stronger runners, trying to keep up with them.

sometimes they give up, and rather walk at their own leisurely pace, preferring to enjoy the cool evening breeze.

Christianhood is exactly like that.

We, having God's grace, should be the stronger runners, with limitless amounts of energy to keep on running. and more importantly, we should be running alongside the slower ones, encouraging them to keep up with us. if they slow down, try to encourage them. if they stop, give them a gentle nudge.

what we shouldn't do is to just say "hey! don't stop! come on! keep on running! finish the run!" and then when they still can't keep up with us, we leave them behind, without pushing them to keep their pace or increase it.

so hope this little insight will enourage some of us (including me) who are trying to reach out to others not to give up and instead, enourage them all the way. who knows one day, they might accept it and run alongside with you!

Prayers for Team China!

Dear Youthies,

If you read this before 24th July, do pray for team China..as in the team that's going to China! - Pastor, Irving, Carmen & Mary...

• Pray for safety as we travel from Singapore --> Kunming --> Lijiang --> Kunming --> Singapore --> Hougang/Punggol/Marine Parade/Bukit Batok ... haa

• Pray for good health (especially for Pastor that he won't have spinning headaches or diarhoea) & for Irving who just recovered..
  
• Pray we will be a blessing to our China friends. We're doing WAIT tr'g for the youths there...do pray they will benefit from our tr'g & be changed for His kingdom!

• Pray for Mary & Irving to not be tongue-tied in their expression of our mother-tongue!
  

• Pray the team will love one another, just as how Christ has loved us!
  

Keep us in your prayers~ Thank You!!!!!!

Do you want to be like Moses?

Exodus 3:11-12

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

Exodus 4:10-17

10 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

11 Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

13 But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”

14 Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you.

15 Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do.

16 Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say.

17 And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”



i saw this scripture while reading someone's blog and it struck me, most of us are like Moses. we want to obey God but when He asks us to do certain things, we find ways and excuses to get around it because of our insecurities. Even though He assures us He will be with us, our faith is still tiny.

so the next time we feel intimidated of the task that God has told us to do, like reaching out to others for instance, remember, Moses was once in our position.

But he became a great leader in the end.

Good Job!

This wouldn't fit into the tag board so decided to write it here.

I was very encouraged to see so many new faces that evening at the BBQ. Kudos to those who managed to bring friends cos we know how difficult it is.

Especially Hannah. She brought 2 new people that night and that is a remarkable achievement cos usually when we invite, people may be hesistant and come up with a billion excuses in their heads why they cannot come or whatever. Or some may genuinely have reasons that they cannot make it and sometimes these can add up to our discouragement.

But let us not be discouraged for in God's timing, he will "reap a harvest", as the Bible says. Yes, you might feel tired after awhile getting rejected and keep seeing only the same regular faces every time that there's an event but we have to press on, to invite the people that rejected us last week, last month or even last year.

For if we let our guard down, or we lose hope in the person and feel that maybe we should invite someone else who is easier to reach out to (which is really not the point of evangelism as there is no "score" system on who brings the most friends) or worse, feel that maybe you weren't "called to reach out to others", Satan steps in and uses his tools of disappointment and discouragement and it could set us into a freefall in our faith.

For those who have a fear of inviting, fear that their friends may not like joining this sort of events, that in their mind they think that you are weird by asking them to have a BBQ with a bunch of strangers -- don't place your own obstacles in your own path. Sure it may be a bit awkward, or you might feel a bit shy, but you can never really know the outcome unless you ask.

Some might wonder how to start up a conversation. I just happen to be really bad at it too. So what i did -- i got straight to the point. Well, it helps that the person i'm reaching out to is a backslider so he does have some knowledge about God. So i just told him as simply as possible, that our church was having a BBQ and was wondering if he would like to be able to fellowship again with fellow Christians in an informal setting. Then you can go on to promote about the games and the food and the people and the car in the lucky draw etc etc. It's just that simple.

So to end off what wouldn't fit into the tagboard, just wanna say well done to those who managed to bring friends and I hope they would follow up with them and pray for them that they might come to know Christ sooner rather than later. For those wondering to invite their friends for future events/church service, pick up the courage and let's spread God's word!

Great Time of Fellowship

A big shout out to the peeps who organized the BBQ!

THANK YOU!!

(Cynthia + Judith + Josephine + Derrick)

Cynthia led the group of superheroes (namely Glen aka Spiderman, Derrick aka Ironman, Josephine aka Wonderwoman, and Irving aka Shrek) for some grocery hunting @ NTUC. Mary aka the Powerpuff girl joined after our hunt and we started making our way to Glen's house. It started pouring, I sang the off-tune version of Showers of Blessings while Derrick sung, of course ever in tune, Hear My Cry, O Lord... as we prod towards our FINAL DESTINATION.

Took a short rest before more of the youths came to join us! Kudos to Hannah Montana for bringing 2 friends along -- Zhi Sheng and Nicole! (*hope you guys had a great time!) Josephine led us in various indoor games which got us exposing some unique and interesting facts about ourselves. Pilot-tress (Esther), Anti-chewing gum and Mee Rebus rebel (Carmen) etc.. etc..

Then we moved on to the outdoor games! I'll let the photos do the talking.... and deepest apology... only got the photos of one team! @_@ Feel free to add on to the photo collection!













Ok... after uploading all the pictures... I am beginning to wonder... if any of the car owners will chance upon this blog! [x_@]

After which, the finale... the highlight.... the one... the only... BARBEQUE FIESTA! Cynthia single-handedly started the BBQ fire (despite much warnings not to play with fire.. Haha). After which, that was when I witnessed FIBC youth spirit burn passionately and furiously... everyone was playing their part... pple cooked... pple served... and more importantly... pple ate!

Putting this in another perspective with regards to spiritual growth.... Just like our hunger for BBQ food... let us all hunger for God's word together... and constantly edify one another in one way or another!

*Raises marshmallow with pride...*
(-_-)" ... zzz..