The Mighty Ducks ...or something like it

Copa IBA anyone? (That is Copa I-B-A, not sure why everyone calls it 'iba'). Maybe its me.

Anyhow, how many of you have watched The Mighty Ducks?

Actually I have yet to watch the whole thing myself, but that is not important. What is important is that the movie tells about a group of underachieving kids who want to excel in ice hockey and they have this inspirational coach that helps them along the way (hehheh). Knowing Disney movies, you can guess the end loh. They overcome odds, they triumph and they are the paragon of sportsmanship. I think lah ... hey I told you I have yet to watch the movie ...

Anyway, how does this tie in with Copa IBA? Every year, the Inter Brethren Assemblies (a partnership of Brethren churches) organises this sporting event, and this year is no different. They usually have a few games like Captainball, football and some newbies like Floorball (BUC rocks) and this year, Ultimate Frisbee, where in all the members (or most of them) send teams to 'battle it out' on the field. It is a day of full fledged action (the players going for glory), drama (injuries and the like) and ultimately triumph. (But let's not forget that we do all this for Jesus Christ's glory and in the name of fellowship lah. Different churches uniting in sport.)

Bringing you back to the topic, this year, different from previous years, we have a specially crafted role of 'Team Manager'. A team manager is unlike a coach. He or she (oklah, for 'chivalry's sake' haha) she or he will take charge of a team and be the person to encourage and foster good relations between the team players, working closely with the Team Captain and the Chief Team Manager. Sort of like a 'big brother or sister' (kuyas or ates). Our most important role though, is to model our Saviour Jesus Christ for the younger ones, and hopefully, bring them into His Kingdom.

I have the honour of being named a team manager this year for one of our floorball teams, under our able captain, one Ho Ming Yue, esq. It is a huge responsibility, but nonetheless, I am up to the challenge. Bring it on. Woo hoo. My team, my 'Mighty Ducks' comprises 6-7 young players (early teens), not very far removed from me in terms of age (kindly stop laughing now), so I think I should have no problems (God give me the strength and the grace) establishing friendships with them. To God be all the glory.

Copa IBA, make way for the 'Mighty Ducks'.

More updates to come.

I bless you God.

God bless the players, the team and you.

A Dawning

He is Alive!

This post is actually to supplement my Easter post.

The great recollection of the miraculous Easter/Ressurection story is found in all the Gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20) and it tells of how our Lord Jesus conquered death and hell and emerged victorious, proving to all the world that He is what He claims to be: God Himself.

The odd thing is that even though He mentions it several times in the Gospels to His disciples (see for example Mark 8:31 and Luke 18: 32 - 33), they were all so surprised when it happened (and some even lost hope and returned to their hometowns and to their lives before it all began, after the crucifixion).

This reminds me of ... me.

Given that God has spoken and reassured me many times through His Word, other people and circumstances of His precious promises and that He will answer prayers, sometimes I can be forgetful and start to wonder. And I would actually be amazed sometimes when He answers prayers (eventhough His Word says He will). Oh, for that extra measure of faith! It is such a blessing that our Lord Jesus is gracious. Amen.

The stained glass

This beautiful image picturing God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit was made by our very creative sister, Charmaine. It reminded me of cathedrals of old.

There is something very mesmerising about stained glass, something very archaic, something very fragile but at the same time resonant with strength. The myriad of colours coming together in perfect harmony and the beauty and power of pure sunlight filtering through them is ... hypnotic. If you have been to any cathedral or church with a stained glass you would understand.

Anyhow, if you remember in one of the stations, the worshipper was asked to write a love message to God? Look at the bottom. There they are ...

Glory to God in the highest! Victory belongs to our God!

The cross at the centre of the church hall

The cross you see before you stood at the centre of the church hall during our MSW. It was, in the sense, a focal point for people to gather and hear a message of God's love and grace during the worship service. Time to time, a bell would ring (sounds cathedral-ly) and the worshippers and guests would be asked to gather at the centre of the hall to hear some words of encouragement.

There was a story of some pieces of wood that were used differently for God's glory. Have a look at Lik Ee's blogpage for a recollection.

All in all, our MSW was an eye opening one. I hope you had a time of refreshing and a time of renewing. Please do come and visit the next time we have one. Keep posted on this site. I will inform all.

God be praised and blessed.

God bless you all.

The end of the road?

Stations 9 - 10

Station 9: Jesus' death; He took it all for you (and me)

The words in the background are some of the most heartwrenching in the Bible: Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani ...' (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) (My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?). Jesus cried to God the Father as he hung on the cross and as the sins of the world were placed on His shoulders. The sins of the world ... mine and yours, from time immemorial to time to come. What a burden, to be made sin, when Jesus was sinless. But He did it for you and I, and in the process, for a while, The Father turned away from Him ... as He took on our sins, humanity's sins.

What a Saviour, my saviour. Hallelujah.

As Jesus cried to the Father, the people thought that He was calling to Elijah (a great old testament prophet). The soldiers then took a sponge soaked with vinegar and raised it to Jesus' lips to drink. Jesus takes the meagre offering and declares finally, 'It is finished' and commits/surrenders His spirit to God the Father (dies) (John 19:30).

The picture depicts what happens next: the soldiers come to check on the victims of crucifixion, they break the two theives' legs and then find that Jesus had already passed. To confirm this they took a spear and pierced His side, bringing forth both blood and water. Once more the Scriptures were fulfilled ('Not one of His bones will be broken' (Psalm 34:20) and 'They will look on the one they have pierced' (Zech 12:10)).

The exhibits in this Station show the words of Jesus and beneath them, this beautiful picture (see pic below). The worshipper was invited to write a message of love, thankfulness, praise, etc to God as now we are cleansed through His sacrifice. Amen. Also beside the picture, there was a basketful of dried bread and vinegar, to allow the worshipper to dip the bread (sponge) into the vinegar and taste it as Jesus did.

Station 9(b): Transition

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split (Matthew 27:51).

The 'moment' the verse refers to is the moment of Jesus' death. The torn curtain in the Temple is most significant. You see, in Old Testament times there was a curtain which separated the Most Holy area of the Temple from the rest, and this is the place the High Priest met with God. By this act of tearing the curtain in two, God now provides a way for us, normal people, people under His grace and salvation, to come before Him. Jesus tore the curtain for us. Let us now approach the Throne of God boldly and courageously. Amen.

Worshippers were invited to walk through the curtain ... come.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

(Matthew 27: 51 - 54)

The centurion confessed and (hopefully) believed. Yes Jesus is the Son of God.

Station 10: Jesus Christ's burial

The Burial of Jesus

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb (Matthew 27: 57 - 61).

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. Prophetically, at Jesus birth (Matthew 2:11), the magi brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Gold symbolised His Kingship, the Frankincense symbolised His role as our High Priest (interceding for us) and the Myrrh foretold His death.

Our God is an awesome God. Amen.

To many of Jesus' followers that day was a most tragic day. To Jesus, it was necessary ... but the best was yet to come ...

God bless you.

The Vanishing ...

Updates, updates.

Today for KDU Christian Fellowship, we had a special screening of a very interesting, thought provoking and faith stirring movie: Left Behind.

If you are wondering whether the movie (or movies: there is a part 2 (and 3 I think), to be screened during CF soon) is related to the best selling books, the answer is yes, yes. The movie is basically about the events surrounding the rapture and the end of the world as prophesied in the book of Revelations.

The movie stars Kirk Cameron and Chelsea Noble, two actors who used to grace the small screens of my home on 'Growing Pains' (anyone still remember?). The last I read they are married and are very dedicated Christians (yayy). The storyline revolves around a group of people, separate at first, and soon brought together by the 'loss' of certain loved ones due to the rapture*. So begins the adventure of a lifetime for this small group of people, who have been left behind, in a most exciting and terrible time (end of the world) in earth's history. The story ended hanging, to be continued in part 2.

Personally it reminds me not to take our salvation for granted. God commands us, His children to live holy lives, sacrificial and pure, to take everyday we live as a chance to praise, thank and serve Jesus wholeheartedly.

Lord Jesus, into Your hands I commit myself again. Forgive me for my sins, for being complacent and for being disobedient. Yes, time is short. Help me to serve you in bringing others to You, so that no one need be left behind. Amen.

*(For those asking what the rapture is: the rapture is when Jesus Christ comes back to earth for a second time to bring His saints (us, those who put our trust in Him as our Lord and Saviour) home eternally to Heaven. The Bible makes a few references to this event. For example in 1 Thessalonians 4:

'The Coming of the Lord

13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.')

Run now to the Lord Jesus.

God bless you.

Some of the most profound and comforting words of our Lord Jesus

Station 8: Jesus' precious words to the repentant thief

Personally, these words which our Lord Jesus spoke to one of the thieves crucified with Him are some of the most encouraging in the Gospels.

Two criminals were crucified that day with Jesus, one on the right and one on the left. One, the unrepentant one challenged Jesus to save Himself and them. The other one, the repentant thief admitted being sinful and that Jesus had done no sin and asked for Jesus to remember him.

Then he said. "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom." And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:42 - 43.

The worshipper was asked to take small black hearts and turn them around to make them white and pin them to the board, in response to Jesus' invitation. Amen.

Jesus gives us all this promise that if we will confess that we are sinners (and we all are) and ask for His forgiveness, He will forgive us of all our sins and take us to be with Him in Heaven when we die. Such sweet assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine ... Hallelujah.

Please, for those out there reading this who have yet to commit your life to our Lord Jesus, our redeemer and friend, pray for your sins. Jesus promises to save you, if only you will humble yourself and ask!

God bless you.

MSW: The journey continues ...

The journey of our Lord Jesus this Good Friday continues ...

Stations 6 - 7

Station 6: Jesus crucified - Salvation is free, but it cost God everything.

The journey of our Lord Jesus (this Good Friday) reaches it's peak with the crucifixion of our Lord. Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha only to have His hands and feet nailed to a cross.

"Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrendered ..." (from The Servant King).

Mel Gibson was right when he said during the filming of the Passion of the Christ that it was his (and our) hands that nailed Jesus to the cross - our sins, our iniquities. Jesus could have called forth armies of angels to rescue Him from the Roman soldiers, but it was LOVE for us, not the nails, that kept Him pinned to the cross.

And through it all (God dying for sinful men), Jesus said "Father forgive these people, because they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34.

The worshipper was invited to write their fears, sins on a piece of paper and stick it to the wooden cross: acknowledging that Jesus Christ's work of redemption for us is complete. Amen.

Station 7: Prophecies fulfilled

Hallelujah! God's Word is true.

The next exhibit shows how a prophecy about Jesus was fulfilled. It had been foretold in the Old Testament that after Jesus was crucified, his garments would be divided among the Roman guards and they would throw lots for them.

So they said, "Let's not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it." This fulfilled the scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe." John 19:24. (The prophecy is in Psalm 22:18).

The worshipper is called to meditate on the truth and accuracy of the prophecy. The Bible is filled with other instances of prophecies and prophecies fulfilled.

Two more examples are given (the two pictures on the left and right of the robe):

(1) Jesus Christ's birth to the virgin Mary in Bethlehem:

Prophecy:

‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.’ (Isaiah 7:14) (Immanuel means ‘God with us’; Jesus Christ is referred to as Immanuel).


Prophecy fulfilled:

The Gospels of Matthew (1:18-25) and Luke (2:1-20) record the virgin Mary giving birth to Christ.

(2) Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, riding a donkey (colt):

Prophecy:

‘Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Zechariah 9:9)

Prophecy fulfilled:

All four Gospels: Matthew (21:1-11), Mark (11:1-11), Luke (19:28-38) and John (12:12-19) record the Triumphal Entry, where the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

God bless you.

Cup of Life: the 'worldly' grail

Permit me to make an entry about the current craze: that of the Cup of Life.

The world cup, an event that overwhelms the globe every four years, has finally made a return to our big (or small or plasma or HD) screens, and for most, it is something that has been a long time coming. The beautiful game, as most call it, is truly an exciting event. For someone who follows the fortunes (or lack of it in recent years, haha) of one Newcastle United FC on the EPL, it is an event to enjoy - although I may end up going to work and giving lectures and tutorials half asleep (woo hoo). Nonetheless, footie is here big time!

I will be updating you more on my thoughts, raves and rants on the WC periodically, but let me say a word, or some words of reminder to all those out there who will be red or dark rimmed eyed in the coming month: it may be called the Cup of Life, but it is a worldly cup. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, that He is the way, the truth and the Life. :)

Enjoy the footie, enjoy staying up late with your mates (probably giving the mamaks a big increase in their pay cheques) and enjoy taking time off work.

Let the games begin ...

The Three Lions are starting today and I will be watching. Holland is my second pick for the team that lifts the cup (is it just wishful thinking?). Three Lions on a shirt, Jules Rimet still gleaming ...

More to come. Keep posted.

God bless you.