Bethesda

For God's glory and Malaysia

2008-07-24T10:52:00.003+08:00

A few days ago, Christians all around Malaysia started our annual prayer and fasting for Malaysia and currently we are in the third day of the 40 day fast.

Got a prayer booklet?

Please do not feel you cannot do anything if you did not get a hard copy as you can download it at http://www.necf.org.my/index.cfm?&menuid=159&parentid=144 (or the NECF website).

Malaysia is at a point in her history when the Church of Jesus Christ HAS to arise and pray. I am sure you have noticed what is going on in the papers and so much more that is or is not revealed. Please let us take this seriously and try not to have the attitude of 'Oh someone else is going to pray, so why bother'. God has called us for such a time as this. If you will not pray (yourself) for your country (whatever you feel about it, God placed you here), who will?

Let Jesus our Lord and Saviour's glory be over Malaysia.

Jesus bless you all.

Prayer: the FIRST resort

2008-05-16T10:35:00.003+08:00

Have you ever heard it said when someone has nothing else to do in any one given situation (when they are desperate): 'What shall I/we do now?'; the answer is usually 'Pray'? I remember an episode of the Simpsons where Lisa saw Bart praying after he did not study for his exams (that was to determine whether he would be held back or progress to a higher level in school), and under her breath she muttered 'Prayer, the last resort (I think that was the word, or was it refuge?) of a scoundrel'.

It is amazing how most of us take for granted that we have this amazing gift/privilege of prayer: direct communication to the very Creator of the Universe, the Almighty God Himself: our Father in Heaven, and yet many of us use prayer as a last resort, instead of a first one.

We recently had our Global Day of Prayer (11 May 2008), a truly amazing and groundbreaking (and stronghold tearing) day where Christians around the world were united in prayer.

Can you imagine a greater thing? A day when all of God's children are united in prayer, praying for the same thing? God's will be done. Jesus would be so joyful that His prayer in John 17 is coming to pass ... and it will come to pass.

GG members, at this time let us not stop or forget to hold our country and her church in prayer. God is surely shaking the foundations of this land ... let us pray that into being. Truly, God the Father's/Jesus' will be done in the power of God the Holy Spirit.

Let us participate in the 40 days Prayer and Fast with joyful, grateful hearts.

Let us also come for a time of refreshing at our camp: God's love, Our Passion.

Jesus bless you all.

GM 40 (Give Me 40 Days)

2008-02-13T10:58:00.001+08:00

Dear all,

Hi. Today we start our 40 Days. Woo Hoo.

This will not be easy, but as far as my experience goes with my first 40 Days, it is well, well worth it. Even as you begin, commit yourself to the 40 days as it is a covenant time between you and God, and ask for a spirit of expectation in Jesus, that we will expect in faith for God to bring about our (and others') transformation. :)

So, I wish you all the best in your covenant time. Enjoy it. Remember, time spent with God is not meant to be condemning, it is time well spent and there is liberty! (2 Cor 3.17)

For those with the book, enjoy. For those who did not buy the book, may I suggest that for these 40 Days, you pray for needs of others as well? The book is a wonderful devotional and reminder of God's promises, etc, but the gist is praying for others. So please try to spend about 40 mins a day just praying for others' needs. If there are any needs at all, pls send them to me and I will post them here.

I am waiting to hear you share your testimonies after 40 Days ... or even within ... hahah.

Jesus bless you all.

Rivers and Birthdays

2008-01-31T16:20:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Happy belated new year ... :)

2007 ended with a milestone: the entire church, previously Bandar Utama Chapel, currently Antioch Net-work CommUnity took a giant step of faith and symbolically crossed the River Jordan into our promised land. Praise Jesus.

Let the Joshuas and Calebs arise!

Also this year, Antioch's various home groups, i.e. GGs have been renamed and ours is 'Bethesda'. For those of you who remember, Bethesda is the name of the pool where our Lord Jesus healed a man (John 5). Bethesda means 'House of Grace' or 'House of Mercy'.

I feel it is apt as ours is a GG (leadership right all the way to toddlers) which needs and gives (as well) a lot of grace and mercy ... praise Jesus for that. Also Bethesda (the pool) is associated with healing.

A belated birthday blessing to our two January babies:

(i) Darren Saw and

(ii) Gan Yoke Kheng.

Let us start the new year right and keep praying for our GG, our oikos and ourselves.

Jesus bless you all.

We bless you too Lord Jesus.

Clearing cobwebs ...

2007-08-22T08:33:00.001+08:00

Dear members,

It has been ages (literally months) since this blog was updated. My humblest apologies.

To kick start this GG blog again, have a look at this refreshing article that I got from Christianitytoday.com on 'Fixing small groups'. Since our church, BUC, is virtually a home church with small groups, this could be a relevant article to many.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/fixmysmallgroups.html

More updates coming your way ...

In Jesus Christ,

Kenny

Happy (actual and Chinese) new years and happy birthdays ...

2007-03-03T12:39:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Happy new year (long overdue) and Happy Chinese New year (overdue).

Happy birthday to the following members too:

(i) Yoke Kheng (29 January);
(ii) Annie Boo (2 March);
(iii) Elder Ho Hok Seng (3 March);
(iv) Kenny (12 March).

Jesus bless you all.

More updates and posts to come.

This Christmas ...

2006-12-02T09:38:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Wondering what to do this Christmas season? I came across an interesting article about 12 ways to make your holidays more meaningful. Some may not be so appropriate but the majority definitely are.

Have a look ... let's make Christmas all about Jesus.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2006/006/8.28.html

God bless you all.

For your prayers ...

2006-11-17T12:10:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Here are a few prayer requests for all of us. Please uphold our brothers and sisters.

'... The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. ' (James 5:16)

1) uphold Yoke Kheng, Jia Ling, Hui En and Wan Yi while on their trip to the Philippines (also all those involved as per the prayer list you received either by email or last GG);

2) uphold Ming Han during his SPM;

3) uphold Tracy who is in Bangkok for work and Ernie who is in Europe;

4) uphold the GG core team as well as all other brothers and sisters in the GG.

God bless you all.

In the cool of the morning ...

2006-11-01T14:47:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

How's your individual quiet time with our God, Jesus? He's waiting to spend time with you ...

Here is a practical article about when to have quiet time. Let's make it our priority. We all have a lot to learn.

A Right Time for Quiet Time?

http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2005/006/5.14.html

We bless God.

God bless you all.

It's your birthday ... woo hoo

2006-10-20T09:59:00.000+08:00

It's birthday time! On behalf of the GG, here's a great, big, warm birthday wish to the following members:

(i) Rebecca Yip (we still consider you a 'GG member') ... :)

(ii) Phye Aun (our 'oldest' young people member and my bro) :)

(iii) Sahaya (our electric guy) :)

(iv) Xiying (among our newest members) :)

Celebrate, celebrate.

God bless you all for serving so faithfully and for being a blessing to the GG.

Bless our Lord Jesus for all He has done for you guys too.

Happy birthday.

Darren and Vivian

2006-09-28T16:39:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

As all of us would have known, our dear brother Darren and sister Vivian will be making their trip soon to Indonesia, where Darren will be running the franchise of 'The Chicken Rice Shop'. Let us continue to remember them in our prayers as this is sure to be a hectic and busy time for them and their families.

I have been informed that Vivian is leaving for Indonesia today and will be there for a week (if I am not mistaken). Darren will be leaving soon also.

Darren and Vivian, we have been very blessed as a GG, God's family, to have had you both in our group. We will remember you both in prayer and do keep us updated on your lives in Indonesia.

" ... the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you" (Numbers 6:25).

God bless you both.

The Apple of His eye

2006-09-27T17:49:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Here is an insipring story that our sister Tracy shared with us.

Something to think about ... deeply.

A few years ago, a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. The convention lasted all week, and all the salesmen had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. As they hurried to the airport to catch their return flight, they rushed down the airport's corridor with their briefcases in hand. In their rush, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all continued running so they would make their plane. All but one. He stopped after running a few more yards, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved goodbye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16 year old girl running the apple cart was totally blind. She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of the apples had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister ..." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued,

"Are you Jesus?"

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our call, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world (shopping, working, reacting to others that are serving us) that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. Let us live like we are worth the price He paid. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Let's bless our Lord Jesus for all that He has done for us and continue to be His salt and light to this world.

Devotion from Canaanland

2006-09-20T15:52:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

I received this from a sister in Christ and colleague. It is part of a series of devotions adapted from Experiencing God Day by Day and comes from Canaanland. It makes for good reading and practical application.

We bless God.

God bless us all.

He Has Shown You

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

God never conceals His expectations from us. We never have to guess how we should live. In response to the misguided ways in which people sought to please God, the prophet Micah clearly explained what God does and does not expect. The people asked: Should we come to God with many offerings? Should we bring a thousand rams and ten thousand rivers of oil? Would God be pleased if we gave our firstborn child to Him to express our devotion? (Mic. 6:6-7). Micah's response was straightforward: "He has shown you, O man, what is good."

Micah listed three things God desires. First, He wants us to show justice. The desire to receive justice is not enough. We must also be absolutely just in the way we treat others. If we have given our word, we should keep it with complete integrity. If we have people working for us, we should treat them as fairly as Jesus would. We should act justly in every relationship.

Second, we are to love mercy. The knowledge that we have received undeserved mercy from God should motivate us to show mercy to others. We must resist the temptation to retaliate against those who have wronged us, choosing to show them mercy instead.

Finally, God requires us to walk humbly with Him. God does not ask us for spectacular acts of service - He asks for humility. At times we try to make the Christian life far more complicated than it is. We may hide behind questions about the Bible or uncertainty about the second coming of Christ. We can allow ourselves to become distracted in order to avoid confronting what God has clearly told us to do today. If we strive to be completely obedient in the basics, the more complex assignments will become clear.

Adapted from Experiencing God Day-by-Day by Broadman & Holman Publishers

KCKK

2006-09-18T15:05:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Please be informed that on Wednesday morning, a plane will be taking off from KLIA, headed towards the land of Taiwan, and aboard the plane will be one of our leaders, KCKK.

Kevin will be in Taiwan on business from Wednesday (20th) to Sunday (morning, 24th).

Please remember Kevin in your prayers:

Journey mercies (for the flight and during his travelling in Taiwan)
Safety during his stay in Taiwan and wisdom in dealing with his counterparts
A time of refreshing and for The Lord Jesus' will to be done
Finances
Safety of his family and home back here in Malaysia

God bless you all.

See you all this Sunday.

Many thanks

2006-09-18T11:18:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

Thanks so much to those who came to help buy breakfast, set up and clean up after service and everything in between. It is an honour to serve our Lord Jesus with you guys.

Also a special word of thanks to the Yong sisters who came early and assisted with the chores.

This week we will resume meeting at Elder Ho's :) (uncle Hok Seng's) home at 9am. Please be reminded not to be late as after worship, we will all make our way to Antioch Centre for our prayer workshop by Ps Alice and sister Helen from Singapore at 11am.

All glory to Jesus.

Congregational service duty

2006-09-11T11:01:00.000+08:00

Dear GG,

As most of you already know, our GG is on duty this Sunday (17 th September). Among our tasks are:

(i) to open up the church (prepare for the Sunday service: arranging chairs, setting up the Communion Table, breakfast table),

(ii) to prepare/bring refreshments,

(iii) to clean up after that.

This Sunday, Sahaya will be buying 'nasi lemak' and we will also be buying additional food like cakes.

The following Sunday (24th), it is proposed that we will start our GG monthly collection (to pay for things like breakfast when we are on duty, photocopies from aunty Dolly or GG studies, etc). It will be RM10 per month, per member. Hope that is fine. Reimbursements will be taken from that fund. An email as been sent about this.

Please be at Antioch Centre by 8.15am to assist in preparing the premises and please stay back after to assist in the cleaning. Let's work together for God's glory.

See you all bright and early Sunday morning.

Hear the roar

2006-09-09T18:23:00.000+08:00

Dear fellow GG members,

Kenny here.

Welcome to our GG's blog page. Yup, KC's GG has one. Happening, right?

Firstly, let me give credit where it is due. The idea of a GG blog came from Helen's GG, where, our sister Yung Ling told me about their intentions (Dr Irene's idea): to put up prayer requests, latest updates about the GG and it's members and etc. I thought that was brilliant and discussed it with the other KC (haha) and ... here we are.

So the purpose of this blogpage is basically to:

(i) share testimonies, prayer requests and updates;

(ii) catch up with what is happening to each other;

(iii) share any moving, encouraging stories, etc with the rest of us;

(iv) anything else that is not stated as above;

(v) all the above (haha).

Please feel free to use this page. For the moment, please send me any of your posts and requests (prayer and others). E mail them to me at my gmail account, or Kevin's gmail account.

Also please feel free to visit our page at any time to read about updates and anything else of interest (church and GG events).

Origins of the name 'Roaring Lambs'

I actually got the inspiration from the title of an album Adrian lent me. I immediately liked the concept: a roaring lamb, a paradox if you consider it carefully. A lamb, by nature, is meek and gentle. Roaring shows boldness, strength. We are asked to be like our Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29), meek and gentle, and we are lambs of God. On the other hand, Jesus is also the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), mighty, majestic, glorious. We are also to be bold, courageous and confident for Jesus. So combining both of our Lord Jesus' attributes (meekness and majesty), we should be 'roaring lambs': meek but bold and victorious. After all Jesus said 'blessed are the meek ...' and also He has won the victory over death and hell for us and thus we have the courage to live for Him. All praise to Jesus.

All right, until the next post, take care.