The Lord is Our Banner

The Lord is Our Banner
Greetings to all from the capital of Bavaria... and more importantly, tthe beer capital off the world!

Whoo hoo... This is an ir-regular update of my life here in Munich.

The post has been inspired by the insane temperatures here. Today's temperature was around 34 degrees. Heard it was 39 in some other part of Germany! And for all u going 'chey.. singapore hotter what' , no no no, thats not even half the story... The thing is, they dun have air conditioning! Ok, they think that air - conditioning is really really bad for the health. So, in the building I am in, I heard there are only 2 offices with air-conditiong, those belonging to top management. Conclusion: Germany is a truely welfare state. See, if you are not rich enough to fall sick, they make sure you don't! And thus, only top management who are real rich, can afford to fall sick. Hence they get airconditioning... But wait, that's not all! There is no fan at all! Why? Because my company is so poor they dun buy fans for the staff! So wee the staff, get to soak in sweat while we work... Ok, but come to think of it.. that's what blue collared - workers do.. so i think i should change topic...

So the next topic is ICE! yeah yeah.. not ICE as in those fast trains.. but ice as in the solid state of H2O. They dun sell ice here! nott anywhere~! why? because that's unhealthy for you too! When u buy drinks in cups, or in glasses, you just dun see ice in them! It just can't be found here.... OK.. next topic

Next topic! Learn a new word everyday! 'Hitze-frei' Being in a foreign land, learning the language is of utmost importance. Esp words like this! It means... ok, i dun really know the exact translation.. my guess would be heat free! heh.. duh.. no brainer. So anyway, it means when it gets too hot, school children can go home early! So, I used it today! I told a colleague, 'HITZE-FREI!' , coz he asked me to do work. And he was like, Ok, Hitze frei, go home! Whee.. Hmm, but it wasnt all that ridiculously early either. It was 5pm.. but then.. that's really early right?

And for all those who think that Germans are lazy people who work short hours.... You are wrong! hahha My colleague, had so much work to do, he couldnt watch Germany play world Cup live! and the match was at 6pm.. he had to work till 8pm or so! Not that he was forced to , but he just wanted to do things properly and not come up with sth crappy. Ok ok, butt they are still a welfare state. It is illegal to work beyond a certain amount of hours a month.. ok..

watever,,, my brains have been fried, due to the immense heat. You must understand that for people that get winter for 4 months, and 20 degrees kinda temp for another 5-6 months... 34 degrees is simply mad! But of course, the humidity is nowhere like Singapore .. Whooo HOoo.. BEER!

The Lord is Our Banner

Hi All...

After almost 2 mths, its finally ready... Anita Benson's sermon on.. "The Search for Contentment". Really applicable for our cell at this point. Er... have a confession to make though... when I was typing my sermon notes.. there were a few points that I didn't really understand.. so... don't just read the otes posted.. refer to the verses. It will make more sense =) Enjoy!

Sarah

THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT
Phil 4:10-14
Anita Benson

1) Contentment is learnt
2) Contentment is constant
3) Contentment is elusive

Contentment comes not from getting what you want, but knowing what you already have.

What is NOT contentment?

- Discontentment:
- Can lead to negative attitudes that can lead to negative actions (e.g. Stealing out of greed)
- Discontentment is draining while contentment is restful.

- Complacency

- Laziness

2 sides to contentment (Phil 4:13)

1) God
Gal 4:4 - adoption into God’s family. God does this for us. Are we grateful?
Heb 13: 5 - what God has done

2) Us
- Admit that we are discontented
- Decide that we want to be content and change our attitude

How to learn to be content?

PRACTICE – doesn’t come overnight.

1) Watch your thoughts
- STOP your grumblings. Be filled with gratitude
- Hold on to the truth

2) Watch your comparisons
- Not even downwards (e.g. I’m better off than the next person)

3) Watch the company you keep.

4) Watch for God’s presence wherever u are.

Stewardship of Affluence and Influence

Hey all,

cara fwd me this email. See if u guys are interested.

ed

Dear Friends,

Calling all Christians working in the Marketplace. Whether you are a CEO, a professional, a business executive, or a civil servant - all of us have a God-given stewardship. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Rick share from his heart on how he responded to the challenge.

Seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

Stewardship of Affluence and InfluenceRick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, in person
When? Friday 7 July 2006, 7.00pm-10.00pm
Where? Trinity Christian Centre 21 Adam Road, Singapore 289892
How? Visit Website : http://www.sccc.org.sg/modules/paper/?page=Ad_-%3E_Rick_Warren_Stewardship
Register by 28 June and pay only S$20 (incl GST) per person
After closing date on 28 June and for On-site registration (subject to availability of seats), pay S$25 (incl GST) per person

For further queries, please email us at seminar@crusademedia.com.sg (Subject: Stewardship) or call us at (65) 6292 7511.

Co-organised by Purpose Driven Ministries Singapore in partnership with Campus Crusade Asia Ltd-Mass Media, Marketplace Christian Network, and Trinity Christian Centre

Hi all..

my prayer request

TOPS on the list
1. The motivation for living this life (Hopefully as I prepare for the harvest event I myself will find it before I help others to find it). I need purpose. I need direction. Because feels as though i'm floating thru life i.e. day in/day out/whatever will be, will be etc.

Ok the rest are secondary:
2. that i'll desire more of His word (nowadays i tend to fall asleep while reading the bible on the mrt)
3. confidence & security in the lord & that the rest of my family & a friend called suzanne will know God soon!!

Hey all we have abt 15 days left before JUNE is officially over... thanks for praying.
:)

hwee cheng

The Lord is Our Banner

Yo how's everybody?? No entries recently so I decided to post one. Thks to everyone who prayed for my exams cos i managed to clear all my modules. And most importantly, I thank God for the ok results despite falling sick halfway thru the papers.

Nothing much going on in my life right now, just working on and off at tuas and jurong area.

I do have another prayer request though. My grandfather is falling sick recently and his body is rather weak. My prayer for him is that he will get well soon and he and his whole family will accept Christ.
I have been praying all these yrs but still no result. I know pple will tell me to have faith and keep praying, so I'm doing just that and hoping that something will happen.

Anymore prayer requests? Pls post them here so everyone can have more things to pray for.

----------------------------Ruijie-----------------------------

God's love letter

From the video showed during service today:

My Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you...(Psalms 139:1) I know when you sit down and when you rise up...(Psalms 139:2) I am familiar with all your ways...(Psalms 139:3) Even the very hairs on your head are numbered...(Matthew 10:29-31) For you were made in my image...(Genesis 1:27) In me you live and move and have your being...(Acts 17:28) For you are my offspring...(Acts 17:28) I knew you even before you were conceived...(Jeremiah 1:4-5) I chose you when I planned creation...(Ephesians 1:11-12) You were not a mistake...(Psalms 139:15-16) For all your days are written in My book...(Psalms 139:15-16) I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live...(Acts 17:26) You are fearfully and wonderfully made...(Psalms 139:14) I knit you together in your mothers womb...(Psalms 139:13) And brought you forth on the day you were born...(Psalms 71:6) I have been misrepresented by those who don't know Me...(John8:41-44) I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love...(1 John 4:16) And it is my desire to lavish my love on you...(1 John 3:1) Simply because you are My child and I am your Father...(1 John 3:1) I offer you more than your earthly father ever could...(Matthew 7:11)For I am the perfect Father...(Matthew 5:48) Every good gift that you recieve comes from My hand...(James 1:17) For I am your provider and meet all your needs...(Matthew 6:31-33) My plan for your future has always been filled with hope...(Jeremiah 29:11) Because I love you with an everlasting love...(Jeremiah 31:3) My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the sea shore...(Psalms 139:17-18) And I rejoice over you with singing...(Zephaniah 3:17) I will never stop doing good to you...(Jeremiah 32:40) For you are My treasured possession...(Exodus 19:5) I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul...(Jeremiah 32:41) And I want to show you great and marvelous things...(Jeremiah 33:3) If you seek Me with all your heart you will find Me...(Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart...(Psalms 37:4) For it is I who gave you those desires...(Philippines2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine...(Ephesians 3:20) For I am your greatest encourager...(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17) Iam also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles...(2 Corinthians 1:3-4) When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you...(Psalms 34:18) As a sheperd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart...(Isiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes...(Revelation 21:3-4) And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth...(Revelations 21:4) I am your Father and love you even as I love My son, Jesus...(John17:23) For in Jesus my love for you is revealed...(John 17:26) He is the exact representation of My being...(Hebrews 1:3) And He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you...(Romans 8:31) And to tell you I am not counting your sins...(2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled...(2 Corinthians 5:18-19) His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you...(1 John 4:10) I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love...(Romans 8:32) If you recieve the gift of My son Jesus, you receive Me...(1 John 2:23) And nothing will ever separate you from My love again...(Romans 8:28-39) Come home and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen...(Luke 15:7) I have always been Father, and will always be Father...(Ephesians 3:14-15) My question is...Will you be My child?...(John 1:12-13) I am waiting for you...(Luke 15:11-32)...Love, Your Dad, Almighty God.

The Lord is Our Banner

REIHNHARD BONNKE RALLY

Hey people, the evangelist Reinhard Bonnke will becoming to town for a conference on 30 June and 1st July. He'll be having a conference in the day that will cost $45. But the night sessions are evangelistic and miracle sessions. We can consider bringing our friends down for this. But be warned, I would expect that it'll be super packed, mayb e on the scale of the past Festival of Praises. Oh yah, it'll be at the Indorr Stadium.

Alvin in Adhesive

Alvin took the effort to take a similar photo too =) thx.

so after adding the words, this picture will be submited together with the other 3.

Photos for Adhesive!

hey! the photos r done... added the text and removed the cupboard lines.

the guys....












the girls...












and josh...
















erm... we could submit 3 photos n let media pple rearrange as they deem fit... or one possible arrangement as shown below...




















anyway, if therez any changes or improvements to be made, lemme noe by the end of sunday before we submit kiez.

The Lord is our Banner!!

The Lord is our Banner!!
Hello everybody! I have decided to blog! Oh wow.. so exciting... heh heh ... My first time..

So anyway, let me just update you all on my boring life! I spend my weekdays designing handphone filters. Put it very simply, handphone filters just get rid of unwanted signal outside its passband. (haha , okok, i can't be bothered to think of another way to put it more simply, so never mind if u dun understand.)

Yeah, so that's all i do nowadays, work on weekdays, and weekends? hmm, that's a good question man. It used to be good when it was winter, where i'll head to the mountains everyweekend to get some snowboarding done. But now, oh well, I just swim, cycle, run, read, watch stuff and play games. Oh well, but Munich is a really nice city, where if you cycle far enuff, the sights become real pretty, so it's all good. But, the swimming pool entrance is just mad! The pool nearest my placce costs 4 euros ! and if i wanna save, the cheapest ones are 3.30 euros! just for one swim! The conversion is roughly 1euro = S$2.

Yeah, enough of complaining, overall, I love it here! haha, definitely more than Singapore.. But, the racism here is outta hand man!

The worse group of people are dogs !(in fact the only people that seem racist here) They seem to love barking at me. I mean rite, they dun seem to bark at anyone else except me, and i dun disturb them or anything! And so one day, as i was jogging with a friend, i told him bout the dogs being racist and all, he agreed too! The dogs only bark at him! and not anyone else. It's terrible man! How do they train dogs to be racist?!?!?! So anyway, dogs are everywhere here! They are on the subway, they are in the restaurants, they are in the shopping centres! Basically they are allowed almost everywhere. On a really crowded train, you might be squeezing for space with a real big dog. It happened once to me, I was slowy butt surely pushing one leg further and further into the dogs tummy.. coz i was literally falling already.. heh, poor dog. Good thing that one was cool about itt, and he wasnt racist... so that was good, coz everytimei moved my leg more into his tummy, i was afraid he would bite me! so scary. Oh well, the issue of dogs being everywhere, it's cool, except for the fact they bark at me!

Ok, so that's a photo of a dog on a train! cool eh... good thing there arent .. er hmm.. many ... erm, people of other faiths here, if not, then the presence of dogs everywhere would be ... not good... OR MAYBE, they allow dogs everywhere so that those people would think twice about settling down here! maybe that's why this place is soo safe! heh

6May06 at Island Creamery (Serene centre)

Hwee Cheng & Edmund B'day!

RJ,

you are da man...will pray for u...hope u will pass with flying colours!!!

lets make this blog an avenue for putting down our prayer request, small or big ones.

Here goes my prayer requests:

1)My auntie who is in the late stage of stomach cancer...left 1 or 2 weeks left to live...pray tt she will accept christ...and that the lord will give her family strength and sensibility to handle this situation.

2)One of my best friend (Shangli)'s father who is in stage 4 of kidney cancer...hope the lord help his father to open up his feelings to his family....pray tt Shangli will get to accept Christ...was having a good chat with him tt day...even though he is a stauch atheist, he is beginning to recognise the importance of religion and the spiritual and social support it provides...well, at least he is questioning...

3) another best friend (jeszlene)'s father too...got a relapse of the cancer cells...heard tt he is undergoing chemotherapy...pray tt the lord will help him and his family.

so far, quite morbid...so here are the more interesting stuffs...

4)my interview with UOB on wednesday...really need God to bless me with the confidence, intellect and charm to impress my interviewers...it is in God's hands..okok...
will give cell grp a treat if i get the job...so pray for me!!! :p

5) for my exams end of apr...3 exams..1 not impt, 2 very impt ones(financial economics, econometrics)...pray tt i will get reasonably good results..tt i may get my 2nd class upper honours...will give u all a treat,smaller one though, if i get my good honours...so u all know what to do...wink wink

so pray for me ok...be motivated by love and not by the treats that i promise ok..hehee..
Many many thanks :)

URGENT!!!

///***URGENT PLS READ***///

Hello everybody, a good day to all cell grp members in Singapore and for Joshua who is in Germany...
I know we havent done this in a long time cause most of us started working. But if anyone of u out there who is looking for prayer pointers or maybe you are at bored at work now, pls help me by praying for my exams.
The exam season kicks off from 17/04/06 to 03/05/06. The big matches:

Effective Comunication
Maths 2
Computing
Physics 2
Chemistry // * Important!!! The-big-match *//
Marketing

Even though exams are not a big thing, however it can be quite draining mentally and physically for me. Chemistry is a killer subject for me because i have no backgrd and i do not wish to take it again next semester.
My prayer is that during this stressful period, i will be able to continually thank & praise God and also know that it is him who gives me strength to study.
"But seek his kingdom first, and these things will be given to you as well" Luke 12:31 NIV.

For those who have work related issues or exams which you want me to pray for in return, you can put your prayer requests here.(try not to ask for more money to buy ipod nano or strike 4D, progress package top-up, etc... just kidding....) All prayer requests are welcome.
good day and especially for those stuck in the office or at work, take care...

---------------------------- Rj---------------------------------

Online Devotions

Hi everybody.. just wanna share this website www.backtothebible.org/devotions Has a lot of material, take your pick.
my personal favs are 'streams in the desert' and 'psalms'

Anyway today during 9am morning teaching, ms anita benson was expounding on the commandment "Do not murder". if anyone wants the material can zap from me haha too lazy to type here.. quite interesting and relevant, abt mental and emotional 'murders', and ways that we express (or suppress) our anger, and the consequences. Also touched on suicide and abortion.
Next wk's topic is "Honour your father and your mother". Ok that's all folks. see u all next sunday, have a devotional-filled week! Hah.

hc

The Lord is our Banner!!

Hey people, I was just reflecting on what RJ asked us to do during worship about a few weeks to a month back - He asked us to share about one thing that we have to give thanks to God for. I think that it is a very good discipline, and it teaches us to be thankful in all circumstances. Lets do it every week!

Also, I am thinking of getting the cell to pray for our family, relatives and friends who have not come to the Lord. That way we can really cover them in prayer, as time is getting short. Thinking of doing it every saturday during cell. Also, we can look out for opportunities to reach out to them (for eg: evangelistic outreaches, Alpha Course etc) and inform each other. What do you think?

CHeers,
JONATHAN

The Lord is our Banner!!

Hi pple, sorry that I took so long with this:

HOW TO FIND TRUE CONTENTMENT

Exodus 20:17

The Curse of Covetousness

WHat is covetousness?

In simple English, covet=insatiable craving to acquire things; usually in the areas of:

- Poisition
- Posessions
- Property

5 Curses of Covetousness:

1. Slavery - Genesis 13

2. Evil Temptation - Matt 4:8; 1 Kings 21:5

3. Death

4. Worries - Ecclesiastes 5:12

5. Conflict - James 4:1

CURE FOR CONTENTMENT:

1. RESIST comparing to others - 2 Corinthians 10:12

2. REJOICE in what you have - Ecclesiastes 5:18

3. RELEASE what I have to help others - 1 Timothy 6:17

4. REFOCUS on what's going to last - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Questions to think about:

- What fills our mind in our spare moments is often what we really worship. What is on your mind?
- Which do we look forward to most? A time of worship or fellowship, or a good day's shopping?
- How do we share the good news of Jesus to someone whose life revolves around possessions?

Application:

- Think of something you have always wanted badly, get it and give it away to someone.
- Make a financial contribution to an organisation or person.

What do you all think? Lets open this up to discussion.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Da Vinci Code

oops... looks like this blog has gone quiet for a while. hee.

anyway, herez a website on the da vinci code project www.davincivode.org.sg ... it has related articles and responses to some questions raised coz of the novel... oh, n for those who missed the sac seminar but still interested, therez a list of similar seminars available under the 'events n happenings' section =) shall we go for one of them?


amy

I have 2 ears and 1 mouth

I was reminded today that God gave me 2 ears and 1 mouth. I need to listen to God more, and talk less. No listen, no talk!

ed

The Lord is our Banner!!

Hi people,

Was really thinking about the issue of CONTENTMENT the other day, as i was sitting in my room and in one of my moods. Was just looking around my room and was just looking at all the stuff that I have and everything in my house, and was really quite pissed off at certain things, and my thoughts began to turn to the word CONTENTMENT! Have 2 questions really: (1) Are we really content only after God puts things in our lives or gives us the things that we want, OR (2) are we really content with just having God's presence with us? The perennial question that I am asking myself everyday is: what would happen to our faith and love for God one day, if like Job, God decides to take everything away from us. Would our love still be with Him? Or would we have enough faith in Him to trust that all would work out in the end to the good of those who love Him? Ah well, the discussion goes on...

More the next time.

Cheers,
JONATHAN

Interesting Parable

Luke 16:1-15: Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Came across this parable yesterday. Think that it is quite interesting and controversial (esp v9).

apparently, the word "shrewd" has been occuring a lot in my life. So, i felt the compulsion to share this with my cell.

Some examples:

Read somewhere in the gospel where it says
"to be as shrewd as the serpent and as innocent as the dove", and

Psalm 18:26 "to the pure, you show yourself pure.
but to the crooked, you showed yourself shrewd"

Thus, I asked myself this:

i) what does it mean to be "shrewd" in our world today? What are the boundaries to shrewdness and innocence?

ii) how do I become shrewd?

think this thread of "shrewdness" has some relevance to our BS of wisdom. So, just post this and hear from you guys. Any comments?

Ed