Gotong Royong Day!
On Saturday, 25 Sep 2010, 8 youths from Joshua House went gotong-royong at Parit Buntar Methodist Centre.
The given tasks were just to wash, clean and mop the hall and stage area. With good team work, the team managed to get things done up within a couple of hours. Although the youths were required to sweat it out…it was quite fun at the same time. I suppose it was a way to learn servant hood.
Thanks to those who came and “work out”!
jL
I Will Follow You…
When we started out following Christ, it seems to be so easy. The fire of wanting to know Him and to surrender everything to Him burn so greatly within us. As the days go by, comes the months and the years, there were times when we started to feel as though the cross is too heavy to carry. When the snowstorm comes, the strong wind blew against the course of our journey, all of a sudden, we begin to see that we are by ourselves. Is the love we have for Christ only based on situation: that we love Him with all our heart, mind and soul during happy moments?
But, remember, Jesus had already given His promise to us that never will He leave us nor forsake us. So, let us not fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Yes, we may fall, we may wander off (sometimes to a “faraway land”), to some may face persecution from their very own family, but let us be mindful that amidst what may come, God is with us always. Some may argue that Christians are always the minority, but nevertheless, if we pause and look around us, though we may be minority but most of the time, we will find at least one or more Christians persevering together with us in school or at work.
hp
Cuci Longkang…!
Joshua House youths went bowling last Saturday at BJ bowl, Bukit Jambul Complex.
Although the condition of the bowling alley wasn’t all that good, we all still had lots of fun and excitement. There were basically plenty of drama, loads of laughter, high-five-ings and all sorts. There were also some stupendous moments especially when someone got a strike and also…when the ball just went cuci longkang…!!
We also saw plenty of unorthodox bowling styles…from ROLLING…BOWLING…THROWING (looked more like chucking)… and even KICKING (as performed by Calvin)!!!!
It was hilarious fun! We should go again!…yeah!
joshLim
Food For Thought
How are you all? It’s sad that I couldn’t attend service last Sunday & see all of you as I was in Malacca for my CG retreat. We stopped by Ipoh, KL (stayed a night), Malacca (stayed a night) and Seremban (stayed a night). It was more of a food tour of the peninsula – the main thing we did was EAT! Dim sum, chicken rice balls, chendol, sago gula melaka and lots more Malaysian junk food… Paradise. =D
On the topic of food, I’d like to share something cool that happened to me on Wednesday. During PE that day, our class had to do a (kind-of) cross-country style run, and when I got home I was totally exhausted, but I also had homework and lots of stuff to do. So at the end of it, I had this gigantic headache. I tried taking Panadol & going to sleep, but I still felt horrible.
Well, when dinner time came I was like, “Ugh, I wanna throw up.” Then when I took my first mouthful, I realized why I was feeling so bad… I was starving! All throughout dinner, I was singing and praising God and eating and eating and eating. I never really appreciated the food that I had until I was really, really hungry. I guess now I know why fasting is a spiritual experience! (Imagine the willpower Jesus had…) You all should try it someday.
JW
Approvals…
It has become accustomed to our lives that we never realized it. Do some reflection and you will begin to see that we have been trying to gain approvals from our teachers, from our bosses, from our leaders, from our parents, our friends and the list will go on. But the One and Only person whom we should seek approval from seem to be always the last person in our list.
For those who went to watch the movie “Grown Ups” last Saturday, (although I don’t really like the movie.. as most of you could guess why :p ), but there was one part of the movie which spoke to me. It was during the celebration when the kids won the basketball game, their coach congratulated them by saying that at the end of the game when the final “buzzer” sounded, the kids should know that they had play their best and that they had the last ball of the game. Similarly, at the end of the game of our life, when the final “buzzer” sounded, we wanted to be found we live our lives purposefully, the way He molded us to be as well as that we have given our best to God, as a living sacrifice.
As what we learned from Church Camp, let us then live up our lives that when people who come behind us will find us faithful in our walk, in our deeds and in our words for our Lord Jesus Christ. May the footprints that we leave behind point to our God, our Friend. Take us and break us, O Lord, as the potter shapes the clay so that it will be pleasing to You in all that we do, approved by You in everyway, and to hear You one day say “Well done” to us. Amen.
hp
Church Camp 2010!
Hey, ya’ll! 😀 It has been a week after church camp and i’m only posting this up.. Sorry for my lateness. heh heh…..
Well, from the 27-29th of August, the youth of Penang Wesley (Joshua House) attended our church’s annual Church Camp at Hydro Hotel! This year, the theme of our church camp was Lifelong Discipleship. Many attended and we had lots of fun and excitement! Awesum games, Awesum sermon, Awesum rooms and, as Penangnites food plays a pretty big part but… unfortunately the food wasn’t all that great ( Sorry Hydro Manger, its the truth ). We were denied BBQ Night!!! REFUND!! (nah i kid i kid) 😀
As we reached the Hotel lobby, we unpacked and went straight to the hall to prepare the musical instruments for the worship that we were going to have during camp.
We were greeted by the committee and checked in to our hotel rooms after setting up d instruments.
Of course, every camp starts off with ice breakers. So, as an ice breaker, we were all split into individual teams and we played a little game of Bible Charades. It was hilarious and tummy aching seeing our friends doing funny and retarded actions on what they were supposed to described.
We had our guest speaker which was….. *drum rolll…….*
Dr Sam Ong!
to join us and give us his sermons throughout the camp. His whole sermon outline was on Lifelong Discipleship ( duh… =___= ) and how we as Christians when we accept God we not only give our lives to God but to other people as well. The sermons were great and funny at the same time. Everybody enjoyed listening to the sermons and listening to what God had to tell us about discipleship. So, next year… Committee you know who to call… 😉 *hint: his name starts with the letter S* heh heh…
Games were fun and exhilirating! There were minefield games, carry the balls around (which my group only did 3 times where all the other groups did over 50 times… == haha.. :D) and.. Water balloooonnnsss!! FTW!! 😀 Kudos, to Kim Beng and d games committee!
On the second night of Church Camp, we had Family Night, where each group was to present a sketch on the bible story they were given. It was so funny!! All groups made their stories funny and creatively.There were singing sheep, Samson with the super wavy hair and Star Wars angels. There was also MTV! (Methodist Television) 😀 that was hosted by Kim Beng, Leslie and Victor. All ended with prize giving for the games for all the groups and a long free time enjoying the fellowship with each other.
Well, the main part of the camp was the sermons! So… let me summarize the sermon for you as short as I can. 😀
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Discipleship
What is a disciple?
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ. Easier said than done. As disciples we go through hardships, and endure sufferings. No one said it would be a bed of roses. Take Paul for example, a disciple of Jesus, Paul went through literally hell on earth but, he didn’t complain one bit because he didn’t live for himself. He lived for Jesus. A disciple lives for God. Now, what does that mean? When we live for God we give our lives to others. Also known as dying to ourselves. Mark 8:34-35 (NIV) “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” We are to die to our sinful nature and be born alive again in Christ. Rom 6:11 (NIV) In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. For God does not want us to die because the consequences of sin is death. Death in a sense of alienation from God and bondage of sin.
…it’s also about Loving Others.
Do we truly love one another? Do we as brothers and sisters in Christ love one another? John 15:13(NIV) Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. God loved us so much that he sent his own son down to die for our sins so that we would not burn in eternal hellfire. For all have fallen short of the glory of God. John 3:17(NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
As disciples we should bear fruit. Not just apples or papayas, but fruits of God. Fruits of Christ-likeness, and fruits of good works. (Just to clarify, We are saved by grace not by good works). The fruits that we bear are a form of worship to God because worship is not only through singing and praising God. Worship to God is through how we live our lives everyday. God is the vine and we are the branches. And we as branches are supposed to bear much fruit. Fruit that Glorifies God. Noted, we cannot bear fruit by ourselves, only with God we can bear fruit. God also disciplines his disciples so that they can be fruitful for Him and be perfect in His eyes
John 15: 1-8 says:
1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
As disciples, God has given us spiritual gifts…
1 Corinthians 12: 1-6: 1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
These gifts are to be used to glorify God. Be it, drum playing, speaking, piano player, youth babysitter(Uncle James), starcraft playing(Beng, Vic now we have a reason :D). All these gifts are given by God and to glorify God. Glorifying God not only in church but outside as well to bless others. As disciples, we are vessels of God’s grace.
ChURch. We as disciples are the body of Christ and the body of Christ is the ChURch. Each and every one of us, U R the ChURch. If U R not in the ChURch, ChURch would be.. Chch…. The body of Christ works together as a cummunity. Community life cannot function without each and everyone of its members not having an interdependant relationship.
1 Corinthians 12: 24b-30 : But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
All this is done through love for God and love for each other. For love is the greatest. As disciples, we should love just as Jesus loved us. Since Jesus loved us so much, do we truly LOVE Jesus?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Overall, Church Camp 2010 was an awesum Camp and everyone enjoyed it. Including Uncle James and Auntie Carol!~(they got ‘interviewed’) And they said it was..:
Uncle James: Quite Good! Message was good! Fellowship was good!
Auntie Carol: Fantastic! It was fun! And we got AWESUM PRIZES!!!! 😀
And… the post ends here. So… its random picture time! 🙂
cal
It’s Joshua Wong’s Birthday!
He says…
Yep…Hope you had a great day Josh! May God continue to bless you and keep you, as you continue to serve Him and give all glory unto Him!
jL
Joshua House 