Arts Fantasy

31 July 2008

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
- 1 Peter 3:18

Why?- Nicole Nordeman

We rode into town the other day, just me and my Daddy.
He said I’d finally reached that age,
and I could ride next to him on a horse
that of course was not quite as wide
We heard a crowd of people shouting
and so we stopped to find out why
There was that man that my dad said he loved,
but today there was fear in his eyes

So I said Daddy why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is he dressed in that bright purple robe?
I bet that crown hurts him more than he shows
Daddy please
can’t you do something?
He looks as though he’s gonna cry
You said he is stronger than all of
those guys-Daddy please tell me why,
why does everyone want him to die?

Later that day the sky grew cloudy
and daddy said I should go inside
Some how he knew things would get stormy,
boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
if there was something he had to hide
So after he left I had to find out,
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds to a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from a cross:

And it said : Father why are they screaming.
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for my robes??
This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.
Father please can’t you do something?
I know that you must hear my cry.
I thought I could handle a cross of this size,
Father remind me why,
why does everyone want me to die.
When will I understand
why?

My precious Son, I hear them screaming.
I’m watching the face of the enemy beaming
but soon I will clothe you in robes of my own.
Jesus this hurts me much more than you know,
but this dark hour I must do nothing.
Though I’ve heard your unbearable cry —
the power in your blood destroys all the lies,
soon you’ll see past their unmerciful eyes.
Look there below see the child trembling by her father’s side.
Now I can tell you why,
she is why
you must die.

Signing Off.

28 July 2008

Spiritual Habit of Worship

As I read thru the teaching and preparing for this topic, I was reminded of this simple truth - that worship is about the heart attitude.
During caregroup last week, we discussed and shared on the topic of worship.

As i have said before, although the teaching on worship seems "back to basics", there are still insights to be learnt as we re-visit the truth.

What is not worship?

-Slow music
- Happens once a week
- Raising of hands and kneeling down
- Must be singing songs

What is worship?
- Glorifying and Edifying God
- A lifestyle
- WORTH-SHIP: Telling God the worth he holds in our lives

Why worship?
- Worship simply comes out of a relationship with Jesus
- Worship causes us to be more like God

How is your relationship with God recently? Do you have the habit of worship?

How to worship?
( John 4:20-24)

- In spirit (allow our emotions to come alive)
-In truth (in response to the biblical truths in the Scriptures)

In the passage, Jesus was telling the Samaritan woman at the well that worship is not about the location, but IT'S ABOUT THE ATTITUDE.

God is not trapped on the altar or locked in the temple.

Our body is the temple of God, in which the Holy Spirit given by God takes its dwellling. (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I have found a video clip about worship!

Remember, Worship is not what we can gain from God, it's about coming to the cross daily, to cry, to surrender, to laugh, to be humbled, to confess, TO GIVE OUR LIVES BACK TO GOD!

Spiritual Habits: Word of God, Prayer, Worship
These are the habits we have covered so far during caregroup recently. We really put action points to follow thru our understanding.

M&M this week . . .
~ Memorise & Meditate ~

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.
(John 4:24)

My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
(Psalm 108:1)

Signing Off.

21 July 2008

Both a musician and instrument

Wow! It's been quite a experience for me recently, having the chance to be part of the praise and worship team for the tertiary service.

Still remember my shepherd asked me to consider to serve the Body of Christ, to join a ministry at the church level. For quite a while, I wasn't sure what i am looking out for, every ministry seems like harmless, either to learn a new skill or maximising my current talents to serve in the kingdom of God.

1 thing i am sure is that the passion for the ministry i am going to join, must be something burning, something that is for-God, not self-glorifying but to bring glory to God.

These period of training as a support singer on stage was fun! Managed to be involved in trying out as a support singer during the UNI camp on St. John Island. Still remember Timothy told me that all of us are ministers of God, and that i should not see myself just as a back-up singer. He says we are ALL ministering to the people and leading the bros and siss to see God in the songs.

Similar to this, I was even more excited for singing during the service last saturday.

What are the moments i enjoy?

- I like the music practice we had on thursday, i enjoy the dinner time tog before that too! although i don't know many of the musicians then, I really appreciate Jason(Nehemiah) who initiated to talk to me and express his joy to talk to me more since we would get to serve tog more in the future. Makes me feel comfortable.

- I like to try out harmonising the songs at certain parts, and i enjoy the "weng~weng~" sensation when the notes hit at the right frequency. (hmmm hard to describe here, need to listen one...) I really want to see the songs touch people's heart, seeing myself as the "enhancer" of this spiritual atmosphere.

- I am glad to function as a part in this Body of Christ. Haha! impressed by the talents in the different musicians on stage, but also reminded by the passage about everyone is a part of the Body. One Body many parts.

After the evaluation, Joanne shared to us singers about her passion and burden for this ministry, which I caught as she share to us. Yes! This ministry will be one where all the singers will be part in bringing up the spiritual atmosphere in the church, where both believers and non-believers feel God's presence through the songs.

Perhaps we have so many things to share about God's love in words, in speech.
But a song of God's love is enough to soften and touch many hearts.

I want to be part of this vision for God.

Signing Off.

16 July 2008

In the first place, do we even have the right to sell our organs?

photo from: network.nationalpost.com

Recently i have been quite interested in the debate on whether to legalise the trading of organs.
And after following the news for the past few days, I was quite disappointed with the response of our Health Minister pertaining to this issue.

Here is part of the article and my inner response to some of the points:

Let's not rule out organ trading yet, says Khaw

The Straits Times - 15 July 2008

SINGAPORE is not ruling out legalising organ trading.

The surprise comment from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday is bound to re-ignite the fiery debate on the benefits and dangers of allowing the buying and selling of human kidneys, lungs and other organs.

The Government has stood firm so far on enforcing the present laws, which prohibit organ trade.

Recently, five people were taken to court in the country's first kidneys-for-sale deals.

But yesterday Mr Khaw said that organ shortages and a black market in the region made legalising trading an option.

(Is it? Should we compromise our values to go along with the waves/or so call FORCE? Should we keep shifting the position of the goal post, changing the dimensions? This is chaotic man! This is not a matter of multiplication, where -ve x -ve = +ve. If we allow trading of organs in Singapore, we are adding up negatives with negatives, where -ve + -ve = even more negatives! Selfish minds and Bad policies give us a society that we can't live in.)

'I think we should not write off or reject the idea of selling organs. But I think we need to study it carefully,' he said.

There are no immediate plans to change the law, as there are practical reasons why overturning the ban could backfire - like shrinking the current donor pool, he added.

He said yesterday: 'I remain of the view that organ trading is not the way to go, but we should not reject any idea given the reality.'

(OH man! we shouldn't even think about it)

Meanwhile, the Singapore Medical Association (SMA) has come out steadfastly against legalising the organ trade, following an emergency meeting on Saturday.

Its spokesman, Dr Tan Sze Wee, said organ sellers face an array of short- and long-term medical risks. The sellers, almost always desperately poor, could also be abused and exploited.

Mr Khaw said the best approach is still one of prevention, such as better control of diseases like diabetes.

(Of cos right? Who don't agree? Common sense mah...)

Singapore should promote altruistic donations through the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota).

Mr Khaw added that he hoped to find a solution that protects the interests of the donor and the patient.

'How? I don't know. But if we do not force ourselves to think out of the box, then we will never be able to find a better solution,' he said.

(And what makes us think that we will be able to find a better solution if we force ourselves to think out of the box. Yes, I know, thinking out of the box mah!, we keep hearing it in schools also. However, I believe this issue can be discussed, and MUST be discussed and solved within the 'Morality Box'. Many times, we still need to confine things into a box, or else things will be in a mess! OMG!)

- My thoughts -

Legalising organ trading would mean . . .

Every piece of human body, whether alive or died, becomes a money machine - cheapening the value of human lives.

A leh-long of organs in the 'market place', whoever can match up with the price gets it. The POOR poor patients can only wait til the day of their death. - Sigh . . .

Blood banks need to buy blood from people (at market rates) to deal with demands for blood transfusion during surgeries (accidents, operations, giving birth.). There might be a strike by this greedy generation, trying to create a uproar for blood price hike. - Terrible! You just need blood (that is supposed to be free) to save lives yet some people are demanding for a blood price hike to offset the rise in fuel and oil. OMG!

Having the possibility of you feeling pain when a knife is stabbed into your body while you are walking on the road . . . and you find yourself with only 1 or none of your kidneys left when you wake up... - Pain + Shocked!

Having the possibility that young children are kidnapped by criminals to obtain their kidneys. - Oh no!

Having the possibility that all your family members are left with 1 kidney, and unable to donate their kidney (which is more compatible to yours to obtain higher success rate) to you when you need a transplant. - Desperate!

With only 1 kidney in your body, your kidney will be overworked, and you are more susceptible to diabetics and high blood pressure.
.
.
sorry if it sounded offensive to you. Not my intention. Really. But definitely something that is very possible to happen if we legalise 'Organ trading'
.
I can continue to paint this picture, but it seems too ugly and unsightly and unbearable, EVEN before the full picture is reviewed.

Why tear apart this box and will allow the 'rats and cockroaches' to run wild in this house?

Even movies and drama serials mentioned that a child is a gift from God. Wonderfully conceived at the moment the sperm fused with the egg and continue to form and take shape in the mother's womb.

Since it is a GIFT, what makes us think that we have the right to profit from something that is given to us without a price.

How ungrateful would that be?

Signing Off.

Ian's Water Baptism on 13 July 2008

Understanding of Water Baptism:
1) Baptism is an act that shows our obedience
2) Baptism is an act that shows our repentance
3) Baptism is an act that shows our readiness to serve

I am very encouraged to see how my sheep, Ian, is growing much in his understanding of God.
And this time round he decided to obey God in this area, to go for water baptism. And i have drawn 2 pictures for him, to remind him to live his life with salt and light. And with his baptism name - NOAH, he will lead a life of obedience to God. Although it might seem crazy for Noah to build a giant ark on top of the mountain, Noah continue to trust in God and followed what God has revealed to him. And God's timing is still the best. God's plan prevails!

I believe God will continue to grow the heart of this brother, and entrust to him more gifts to serve Him. And at the same time, I will definitely want to learn from my shepherd, Jan, and allow him to come into my life to correct my wrong motives and ungodly thoughts. How beautiful is such a brotherly relationship in guiding and spurring one another towards the character of God.

Signing Off.

03 July 2008

www.songofsongz.blogspot.com

Sorry for not updating my blog regularly. It's really an effort to keep it alive! Hee!

I want to intro to you a blog that contains new songs written about God, to God.
Although the song quality might not be the best, but it displays a humble collection of songs composed and written by my sister-in-Christ.

We pray that everyone who visits the blog will be blessed by the songs and that you will be ministered by them, capturing God's vision and His heartbeat for the world and for you.

Signing Off.