Can you feel it?(:

Natasha beddingfield is one of my favorite singer because of her song 'unwrtten'
I think many of you have heard it before and know it as feel the rain on your skin.

I am unwritten
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined

I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines

We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way, no

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/n/natasha-bedingfield-lyrics/unwritten-lyrics.html ]

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
To the years where your book begins
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
To the years where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
To the years where your book begins
Feel the rain on your skin

No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
To the years where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

I like this song, hahaha(:

I feel it encourage me to do what i wan, not controlled by others. (:

Heehee

My Favorite plus a side track story.

I love reading the word of God. Why? Because it is always there to remind me that God wants to talk to me, if i take the first step to open it. It reminds me that God has not left me. And I love Hebrews. Also, Ephesians, Some parts of Philippians. And John, especially John. haha.
I feel That the most sincere in writing the gospels is John.
Why?
Because he wrote the gospel not to make sure Jesus will be remembered for as long as possible, but to save as many lives as possible.
That's why i like him.
Also, he didn't pick the most glamorous things to tatlk about, but the most impactful parts of Jesus's life to talk about. He didn't want to just exalt Jesus, but to get people into the kingdom of God.
#respect
I Love people, do you?
It is important to feel the urgency, and catch it.
Now, to a story,
back then, a pastor, i think pastor paul scanlon came and spoke about spring time and how we may feel winter in the spring but we must adjust to it before that.
I finally understand what it meant.
As i was reading my book, by garry kasparov, the world most renowned chess chanpion, titled ' how life imitates chess', Kasparov talked about the differences in our mindset when playing the opening phase, the middle game, and the end game part of chess. If we are uunable to switch at the right time, we will suffer a great loss. Thus Kasparov trained himself to recognize the patterns of chess and know the differences in the approach towards the different phases of the game. Once he challenged an opponent who went into end game mode while still in middle game. He changed phase a  few steps too early. Thus it caused him the game as he is unable to react. Thus we must be good at discerning the spring time.
Anyway, have fun. Holidays in Singapore has started(:

Perception

Everything works in your mindset.
If you're, for example, a chess player.
You have to bring yourself to the level and mindset of a GrandMaster.
If not, you will be a very petty rookie and go crazy over every action your opponent makes.
Enough of chess, let me give you another example.
If let us say, you are an admin assistant.
And well, you want to start your own company.
But when you start your own company, do not keep your old mindset of an admin assistant.
If not, your shop will be limited by your mindset.
You know what i like about this blog?
I can share just about whatever i want.
So.
Now shifting the focus to my life for a while.
Currently pondering junior college.
If i pursue this route, i would just end up being a teacher until God calls me to fulfill my calling.
And when He calls, i will respond.
Hopefully. (:
If I don't become a teacher but a motion grapher, haha, that's good!
Sigh...
Now, back to main topic.
Perception is very important.
How we perceive ourselves often lead to many of our decisions in life.
If we feel we are not good enough, more often than not, we will be afraid to do new things, that's for one.
So it is really very important to set everything straight.
Have the right mindset, and the right perception of yourself.
Also, it is always a plus point when you are able to perceive things from other people's point of view.
So now, spent more time thinking about the feelings of others, and less on the mundane things of this world, and less on boring things, like, fantasizing about love. and worrying about where to hang out in 2 hours time.
If we only just take 30 minutes to think about one of our friends, and that would give us so much more insight about why that friend does what he does, or she does.
Think, people, think.
If we only care more about the people that care for us, and not heartless people who will abandon us, we will have gain a much deeper relationship with those people.
Therwe is a reason why I have few but strong friendships.
In fact, I challenge you.
If i were to put trouble in all your relationships with your friends, how many would stand through the fire?
I can tell you i know of 5 already. And this 5 relationships are super strong.
Nothing can change it.
There are a few others that might not change too, like i have maybe another 3 to 4 more.
But i know 5 people that would have my back if me and them were in a quarrel.
They respect me, and I respect them too.
Do we have even 5?
Or do we have not one? (:
Or rather, what is your perception of true friends?
I don't know for you, but I often find myself thinking what are the perceptions others have on me.
But I know that for at least 5 people.
They know me for who I am, and they know my background, they know my feelings.
They see through me in like, 3 seconds.
Seriously, they see my sad face like even when I show that I am happy.
Those are the people I love the most.
Especially Tianyong and kaihwee.
These two people, whatever I share with them, is of my highest thoughts.
And they are able to converse in my language which few could.
Now, the focus shifts to you.
"Do you have these kind of friends?"
Yes? If yes, how sure are you they would die for you?
Because if i have to die for those two I mention earlier on, I would. With no regrets.
But if no. Then why no?
Is it because You don't feel connected to them?
Then make the 30 minute effort to see things in people's shoes.
Now, the next question.
"How many would die for you?"
That, even I can't answer.(:
But I know something.
I have this friend who understands my personality inside out, and he has a similar personality to me. He is my role model in life. And I know that if i was in a fight, he would be the first down with me.
Do you have that friend?
If not, find him/her.
He could be anywhere.
She could be that person you ignored for 3 years.
She could be the one and only person who in the time of adversity, stand by you.
He could be that guy you shun away from a month ago.
He could be the one friend who would turn up when you are sad and down.
If only you allow.(:
Now, side track for a moment.
What kind of people should we invite into our lives?
People that are mature and trustworthy and understanding.
That's it.
IF we invite such people into our lives, and only such people, I tell you, your life will be so much better.
That is, IF.
But many a times, we don't because these people happen to nag a lot, and talk very deep, and more often than not, these people make no sense, but just go by intuition.
But, if we slow down our paces and search for these people that have been placed in our lives, we will no longer be insecure.
We will have found our friends for life.
And these friends, even if you lose contact for a year, are still your best friends.
Why?
Because they have the most accurate perception of who you really are, and who you really can be.

This is cricantrail, signing off.
Post script: call me samuel, huangxi, cricantrail, anything will do.
Take it easy.

Friendly ok!! And a kasparov story.

Yes, i am friendly.
In fact, i am very friendly la, please, haha.
Oh until i start to get blur.
But if I am not blur, i am actually very understanding to people's situation, Just ask my friends.... haha..... And secrets are always safe with me. But i find it hard to share my life with others.... esp my future plans. My actual plans.
I do actually plan. I plan it like chess. The tree branching out variations.
I spent most of my time thinking what is the best move to make. That;s why i am constantly tired. I keep thinking, never stopped thinking. I multi tasks about 1-4 thought processes. Like, I can have a conversation with you, while thinking about how to solve someone else's problem, and thinking if chess strategy, and what to eat at the same time.
i think that's actually why i am hungry, cause i use up a lot of my brain power going over the same items meticulously.
But that's why i seldom make mistakes, but when i do, they are huge errors.
But i love my friends when they encourage me. And i don't really have many friends who would encourage me, so i love those friends like, with my life. and they trust me too, that we would lay down our lives for each other(at least i would).
but yeah. i'm human. If not i wont be researching about garry kasparov, or rather, call him gary winstein. hahaha..... yes, if you recognize what i just said, i love chess. it is what kept me active. I do firmly believe that life is in actual fact, much like a game of chess.
in chess, there exist a material time quality concept.
material-
your possessions. in actual fact, your assets, both liquid and fixed.
Time, the amount of time you have ahead of others.
Quality, the positioning of your assets and liabilities, along with your position in life, your social status, your net worth.
In chess, the number of pieces you have, the number of moves you're ahead in attacking your opponent, and the position of you seeds are very important. And that is what will affect our human life.
So, we must always consider all three components to succeed(yes i finally started on the blog post).
its important to have all 3 at your advantage.
As much as possible, always put yourself in your competitor's shoes, and think, what would i do?
Then think of the best way to counter that, and execute the move after that.
Sigh... I'm tired.
But God, for this calling, and this destiny, I will serve you. (:
To lean on God everyday of our lives and not take control ourselves.....
That's what we should all strive for now.(:

Links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7Ka_LrDgHw&feature=g-user-u
Support kloe julynn!!!!  i love her voice, hahaha. haha, nearly cried listening to her rendition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=M90TBCk2Pz4
My favorite song!
My ghost by kloe!
I often tweet the lyrics to this song. haha :D
So.....if you're bored, click and listen. she's cool.

All about YOU

For whom do we live for?

For what do we live for?

For what reason do we survive regardless of stress, to achieve success, and survive?

Do we know the reason?

And i was reminded by this song:

"Cause we're all about You

And the world You promised
And all we have will give you praise
Cause we're all about You
And the world can't stop us
Living Your Way
Always "

That's the chorus.

I'm living for Jesus, and his promises keep me going.

Whenever i sing this song(which i do very often lately) I have laughter, no idea why, but I can't stop smiling.

I don't know about you, but sometimes we do ask ourselves, why are we doing this?

Why am I working so hard?

Is it really because I want money?

I want success?

Fame?

Wealth?

Status?

Car(with COE)?

And when people look at us, what will we be about?

I want to be able to say, my life has been about looking to Jesus, and to live to bring people to the land of promise, the world He promised, and to, with the blood of Jesus, enter into His world.

And I want my life to be about Jesus, to be Christ like.

(:

stay happy, for he is the giver of joy

In christ alone.

Lyrics:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.




This.


Makes me cry since p6.
Without this song, i might have been more sad then. 
Whenever we sang this as a school, i remember i would cry like a baby... hahaha.
Still cries now.

It's okay:D

Repost. (parts by me in blue.)

It’s Okay to Be an Uncool Church

April 30, 2012 By Erich Bridges

Is your church defined more by its reaction to “boring” churches than by its response to a needy world?

I had to sympathize with rock singer Bono when he discovered he was uncool.

Uncool? The frontman for supergroup U2, one of the biggest bands in the world? The activist who travels the globe and meets with kings and presidents? The guy so hip he probably wears his trademark designer shades in the shower?

Yep. Uncool. He learned the hard truth a few years ago from his teenage daughters. First off, to teenage daughters a dad is uncool by definition, especially if he’s pushing 50 (Bono was 48 at the time). But they were particularly mortified when he droned on and on about global issues while some other celebs were visiting their home. He overheard one daughter telling the other, “He’s probably boring their [pants] off talking about Africa.” Actually, he admitted, “I probably was.”

The horror. I can relate.

In truth, I’ve been uncool so long that I no longer know (or care) what is cool. I haven’t even heard the bands that were topping the charts 10 years ago, much less the ones with the most iTunes downloads now. On the plus side, there’s liberation in being terminally uncool. You don’t have to watch trends anxiously and waste a lot of time and money trying to keep up with fads. That’s for teens. There’s something sad about a middle-aged man or woman trying to look and act like their kids — or grandkids.

Too often, however, churches try to do that.

Tullian Tchividjian, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has a “You may be too fashionable if …” list for Christians.

You may be too fashionable, he warns, if:

– You look around at church and notice that everybody is the same age and looks and dresses pretty much like you do.

– You can’t stand singing a worship song that was “in” five years ago — much less singing a hymn from another century.

– You believe social justice is more important than evangelism, or that evangelism is more important than social justice.

– Your goal in spending time with non-Christians is to demonstrate that you’re really no different than they are. To prove this, you curse like a sailor, drink like a fish and smoke like a chimney.

– You’ve concluded that everything new is better than anything old, or that everything old is better than anything new.

– The church you’ve chosen is defined more by its reaction to “boring” churches than by its response to a needy world.

– You’ve decided that everything done by the church you grew up in was way wrong and you’re now, thankfully, part of a missional “community” that does everything right.

– The one verse you wish wasn’t in the Bible is John 14:6, where Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” That’s way too narrow!

Way back when I was cool (like, 35 years ago), I played drums in a Christian rock band. We took old-time hymns and turned them into 15-minute jams. “Jesus freaks” with long hair and tie-dyed T-shirts were coming into traditional churches in those days, and it caused a commotion. I remember when we played at our church and cranked up the amps. Our pastor’s wife, who had really big hair and played solos on a grand piano like Liberace, stood up and walked out on us. We needed a spirit of unity. We — some of us, at least — found it in the words of one of our favorite songs, “Little Country Church” by Chuck Girard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrUXQ60NiQw

“They’re talkin’ ’bout revival and the need for love

That little church has come alive

Workin’ with each other for the common good

Puttin’ all the past aside

Long hair, short hair, some coats and ties

People finally comin’ around

Lookin’ past the hair and straight into the eyes

People finally comin’ around. …

God’s house can accommodate many styles. He doesn’t have security at the door deciding which sinners are trendy enough to enter.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking relevance and connections to the world beyond the church. Effective missionaries are passionate and respectful students of the cultures they’re trying to reach with the Gospel. They seek to learn which aspects of culture are bridges they can use to share Truth, which aspects oppose Truth and which are neutral. As the Apostle Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, said, “I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b, NASB).

But Paul never hesitated to deliver Truth straight up, unvarnished and in your face when the situation called for it, regardless of the consequences.

“Christians make a difference in this world by being different from this world; they don’t make a difference by being the same,” Tchividjian writes. “To be truly relevant, you have to say things that are unfashionably eternal, not trendy. It’s the timeless things that are most relevant to most people. … When the relevance of God’s Word reigns supreme among God’s set-apart people, we influence the wider culture by expressing His revealed truth with both our lives and our lips.”

I guess what it means here is this, there is nothing wrong with keeping up with trends, nothing wrong with being a teenager who loves pop culture. I mean, music is made to be celebrated. And of course, to be enjoyed. Well, there's a difference in this world and of this world. 

When we are in this world we live a life that is pure before the Lord, but still remain a part in society. We do not distant ourselves in society, which a part of the early church did in the 2-3 century. However, we are not of the world, and do not engage in activities that bring guilt into our lives. Now this is a totally different thing from having faith in all things. you must have faith, but you cannot continue sinning so that the grace of God may abound. That's wrong. So we cannot be of the world, as in we cannot commit sins, which are stated in the old testament, and as written in the new testament, 

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. Acts 21 : 25

Now that was set by the Jews back in Jerusalem. Well, you say, what has that got to do with us? so many things have been strangled, and we can't even be inform of the origin. must we then abstain from all things unknown?

No, but in everything by faith and prayer. However, instead of the codes and laws then, follow and abide with the laws now. Be a good and upright, model citizen in your country. Thus we will not be of the world, because we were made to be out of the world.

It's ok to have people saying, oh you are from *** church? Oh you're from chc? and it is okay for you to say yes. Why, because there's nothing wrong with admitting. So what if other's perspective about your church is uncool? It is all about Jesus, and that's all that matters, isn't it? thus it is okay to be uncool. However, there's nothing wrong to be cool, too. For Jesus did not say, 'my son, do only cool stuff,' or 'do only religious works of mine'. No! He didn't because Jesus knew that would only cause the church to die out in isolation(more on the early church when i remember to post).

Thus, if people thinks you're church is uncool, or you're uncool, so be it(: For everybody perceives things differently.

My personality

Written below is an article on how my personality type works. Anything by me in black.

The Protector




 As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system. 


 INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types. 


 INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk. 


 INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive. 


 But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress. 


 Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals. 


 INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring. 


 In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not. 


 The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement. 







Jungian functional preference ordering:
 What it means is which is the more domineering part of my personality.
Dominant: Introverted Intuition
Auxiliary: Extraverted Feeling
Tertiary: Introverted Thinking
Inferior: Extraverted Sensing
The most domineering is my intuition, then my feelings, then my thinking, then my senses.

Prayer

We all need prayer, it is what connects us to God. It is what strengthen us in our walk with God. It makes us closer to God and understand him more. If you want to have someone you can talk to, dont look for anyone already! Look unto God! Yes, you ask how? He doesnt even like shows his face? Well, he show you his flesh. and everything he is. Where, you say. I tell,you, the BIBLE!You tell me, why there are so many pages, read which? why i tell you, if you cant choose start from matthew! if you are desperate read john! if you want something from the people near jesus, the saviour of the world, and accounts from people who knoew him well, read luke! And mark, if youre a teenager, read it. Mark was a teenager when jesus had his ministry.
Pray always that you will be in the LORD! amen!

copied from itsnowandthen.wordpress.com

In Singapore’s Society its was always said that we need the 5C
1. Cash
2. Credit card
3. Condominium
4. Car
5. Country Club membership

However often people forgotten one of the most important C we must all have not only for our life but our heart.

Christ.

Copied from itsnowandthen.wordpress.com

Five practices that take small groups beyond polite sharing to the disciplines that change lives.

by John Ortberg

God has entrusted us with his most precious treasure—people. He asks us to shepherd and mold them into strong disciples, with brave faith, and good character. I would not give my life to any church that was not serious about this calling—the transformation of human beings. God has decided, for his own good reasons, that people are not transformed outside of community.

Years ago, while on vacation, I was going to fix something on the grill. I made a pile of charcoal, I poured a few gallons of lighter fluid over them, and I started the fire. My son was just fascinated by fire, as most young boys are. He asked what I was doing, and I told him.

“There’s something about the way these little briquettes are constructed that when you put them together, the fire glows and they get real hot. And if you isolate one it cools off quickly. It loses the fire. But when they stick together, there’s fire, because they feed off each other. God designed them to work that way.”

This fits what Dallas Willard has said about the Christian life: “Personalities united can contain more of God and sustain the force of his greater presence better than scattered individuals.” Think about that. Personalities united—people in community—contain more of God and his transforming power than isolated individuals. We should not be surprised that transformation requires community; it’s how God designed us.

Confession: remove the masks
We all wear masks. We hide from each other. It’s part of our fallenness. That is why one of the most formative practices in a small group is confession. Confession is the appropriate disclosure of my brokenness, temptations, sin, and victories for the purpose of healing, forgiveness, and spiritual growth. Without confession we are a community hiding from the truth.

Without confession we cannot accomplish our God-given calling to transform people.

Throughout church history, whenever God has done great things, confession has always been present. In the church, confession must be freely offered—never manipulated. A small group serious about transformation should be moving into ever deeper confession—removing masks to reveal our core feelings and fears, sins we still struggle with, and areas where we’re not growing.

To see real transformation, small groups must begin with reality. By removing our masks through the discipline of confession, we acknowledge the reality of who we are and open ourselves to God’s transforming work.

Application: look in the mirror
James 1:23 says, “Those who listen to the word, but do not do what it says, are like people who look at their faces in the mirror, and after looking at themselves, go away and immediately forget what they look like.” A small group is a place for people to look into the mirror, discover who they are, and then ask, “How do I apply God’s word to my life as it really is?”

Accountability: stand on the scale
I have made certain commitments about food and exercise in my life, but how serious I am about those commitments is difficult to determine without measuring my progress. A scale serves as a tool of accountability for me. Am I achieving my goal, or am I missing it? Ultimately the scale reveals how effective I have been in living up to my commitment.

Small groups are the place for people to get on the scale and reveal how intentional they have been to pursue transformation into the image of Christ. William Paulson writes, “It is unlikely that we will deepen our relationship with God in a casual or haphazard manner.” I think he understates it. People do not drift into full devotion to Christ. People do not drift into becoming loving, joy-filled, patient, winsome, world changers. It requires intention and effort.

But the default mode of the human heart is to drift. If a person has experienced real transformation, it’s typically because someone else has cared enough to say, “I want you to live God’s way, and I want to help you know if you are serious about it.”

We need to make some key decisions on our journey of transformation: what are my commitments about prayer, about Scripture, about my use of money, about evangelism, about servanthood, about truth? Keeping these commitments requires a community of accountability to serve as a scale revealing how we’re achieving our goals or missing them.

During the spiritual revolutions of 18th century England, the Wesleyan movement thrived on small groups. When those groups originally formed, they existed to hold people accountable to their commitments as followers of Christ. They gathered in little bands to ask one another how their obedience to Christ was going. History notes, however, that over the decades the focus of the groups shifted from accountability to vague “sharing,” in the process the power of the revival was lost, and eventually the groups died out.

Guidance: follow the map
When people need directions to a place they have never been, they use a map. Too often when people have major life-forming decisions to make, they make them alone.

In every church there are people facing decisions about vocations, ministry involvement, finances, relocation, and relationships. How sad if they make these decisions without the benefit of community. Their decisions may be impulsive, emotional, based on too little information. The result is too many broken lives.

Encouragement: embrace each other
A hug is a gesture of love and encouragement. An embrace represents what we all need from a community of transformation. We need to know that someone is committed to us and loves us. That cannot happen when we are alone, and it cannot happen in a large gathering. It’s going to happen through smaller communities.

Today small groups have the privilege of loving and accepting human beings for whom Christ gave his life. In these groups we can supply the love, encouragement, and embrace people need to continue their journey of transformation.

A long time ago I decided I wanted to talk to someone honestly about my temptations, where I had messed up. I wanted to practice the discipline of confession. So I asked my friend Rick if we could meet. By that time, I had known him for about ten years.

When we sat down together, I told him everything there was to tell about me—all of the darkest stuff and everything I felt the most embarrassed about.

When I got to the end my confession, I could barely look up at him. When I finally did, Rick looked me in the eyes and said, “John, I have never loved you more than I love you right now.”

Those words were so powerful; they felt so good that I wanted to make up more bad stuff to tell him. To have someone know everything about me and still love me was truly life giving.

That kind of love is what we ultimately need in small groups to transform lives. We can make small groups so complex and difficult, we can build the perfect small group strategy, but if we do not have the love of Christ present, we are not really engaged in transforming people into his likeness.

Spiritual formation in community is mostly about loving people, and that is something we can do.

via One Passion One Devotion.

 Copied from itsnowandthen.wordpress.com

i’ve been wanting to find this illustration after hearing it on a preach one night… so here it is, cut and pasted from Hells Best Kept Secret, by Ray Comfort…

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim is true. As he puts it on he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders and he finds that he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact that he was told the parachute would improve the flight. So, he decides to give the thing a little time. As he waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him, because he’s wearing a parachute in a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they begin to point and laugh at him and he can stand it no longer, he slinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart, because, as far as he was concerned, he was told an outright lie.

The second man is given a parachute, but listen to what he’s told. He’s told to put it on because at any moment he’d be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on; he doesn’t notice the weight of it upon his shoulders, nor that he can’t sit upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without that parachute.

Let’s analyze the motive and the result of each passenger’s experience. The first man’s motive for putting the parachute on was solely to improve his flight. The result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the passengers; he was disillusioned and somewhat embittered against those who gave him the parachute. As far as he’s concerned it’ll be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again. The second man put the parachute on solely to escape the jump to come, and because of his knowledge of what would happen to him without it, he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he’s saved from sure death. This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude towards those who gave him the parachute is one of heart-felt gratitude.

Now listen to what the modern gospel says. It says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He’ll give you love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” In other words, “Jesus will improve your flight.” So the sinner responds, and in an experimental fashion, puts on the Savior to see if the claims are true. And what does he get? The promised temptation, tribulation, and persecution. The other passengers mock him. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ, he’s offended for the word’s sake (Mark 4:17), he’s disillusioned and somewhat embittered, and quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and lasting happiness, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed toward those who gave him the so-called “good news”. His latter end becomes worse than the first: another inoculated and bitter backslider.

Saints, instead of preaching that Jesus improves the flight, we should be warning the passengers they’re going have to jump out of the plane. That it’s “appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). And when a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking God’s law, then he will flee to the Savior solely to escape the wrath that’s to come. And if we’re true and faithful witnesses, that’s what we’ll be preaching. That there is wrath to come; that God “commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). Why? “Because He has appointed a day, in which He will judge the world in righteousness” (vs. 31). You see, the issue isn’t one of happiness, but one of righteousness. It doesn’t matter how happy a sinner is, how much he’s enjoying “the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25). Without the righteousness of Christ, he’ll perish on the day of wrath. “Riches profit not on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Prov. 11:4). Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but it’s not legitimate to use these fruits as a draw card for salvation. If we continue to do so, sinners will respond with an impure motive lacking repentance.

Now, can you remember why the second passenger had joy and peace in his heart? It was because he knew that parachute was going to save him from sure death. And as a believer, I have, as Paul says, “joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:13), because I know that the righteousness of Christ is going to deliver me from the wrath that’s to come.

Now with that thought in mind, let’s take a close look at an incident on board the plane. We have a brand new stewardess. She’s carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. It’s her first day; she wants to leave an impression on the passengers, and she certainly does. Because as she’s walking down the aisle, she trips over someone’s foot and slops that boiling hot coffee all over the lap of our second passenger. Now what’s his reaction as that boiling liquid hits his tender flesh? Does he go, “Ssssfffff! Man that hurt”? Mmm-hhh. He feels the pain. But then does he rip the parachute from his shoulders, throw it to the floor and say, “The stupid parachute!”? No. Why should he? He didn’t put the parachute on for a better flight. He put it on to save him from the jump to come. If anything, the hot coffee incident causes him to cling tighter to the parachute and even look forward to the jump.

Now if you and I have put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive, to flee from the wrath that’s to come, when tribulation strikes, when the flight gets bumpy, we won’t get angry at God; we won’t lose our joy and peace. Why should we? We didn’t come to Jesus for a happy lifestyle: we came to flee from the wrath that’s to come. And if anything, tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Savior. And sadly we have literally multitudes of professing Christians who lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy. Why? They’re the product of a man-centered gospel. They came lacking repentance, without which you can’t be saved.

Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble?
When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokeness

And here we see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Majesty.

Here I am. Humbled by your majesty.....
Here I am. Knowing I'm a sinful man.
Covered by the blood of the lamb....
I love you Jesus.
Majesty, Majesty,
Your grace is for me just as i am, Empty handed but alive in your hands.


You are good to me O God. Thank you for everything you have given to me.
I will lay my life down as an offering to you. Amen.
Now, to read the bible.

Repost from owlcityblog.com

Repost from owlcityblog.com

Homesick

On April 16th, 2012 by Adam Young

No one has yet believed in God and the kingdom of God, no one has yet heard about the realm of the resurrected and not been homesick from that hour, waiting and looking forward to being released from bodily existence.

Whether we are young or old makes no difference. What are twenty or thirty or fifty years in the sight of God? And which of us knows how near he or she may already be to the goal? That life only really begins when it ends here on earth, that all that is here is only the prologue before the curtain goes up — that is for young and old alike to think about. Why are we so afraid when we think about death? Death is only dreadful for those who live in dread and fear of it. Death is not wild and terrible, if only we can be still and hold fast to God’s Word. Death is not bitter if we have not become bitter ourselves. Death is grace, the greatest gift of grace that God gives to people who believe in him. Death is mild, death is sweet and gentle; it beckons to us with heavenly power if only we realize that it is the gateway to our homeland, the tabernacle of joy, the everlasting kingdom of peace.

How do we know that dying is so dreadful? Who knows whether in our human fear and anguish we are only shivering and shuddering at the most glorious, heavenly, blessed event in the world?

Death is hell and night and cold if it is not transformed by our faith. But that is just what is so marvelous, that we can transform death.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1906-1945

Repost from OWL CITY BLOG owlcityblog.com

Repost from OWL CITY BLOG owlcityblog.com

Rachel Joy Scott (August 5, 1981 – April 20, 1999) was the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre, which claimed the lives of 12 students, one teacher and the two perpetrators, in one of the deadliest high school shooting in United States history. Rachel was shot while eating lunch with a friend on the lawn outside the school’s library. She was killed by Eric Harris with multiple gunshot wounds to her head, chest, arm, and leg. After the killings, her car was turned into a flower shrouded memorial in the adjacent Clement Park after being moved from the school’s parking lot by grieving students. A long chain link fence was installed for mourners to attach teddy bears, letters and other gifts. Rachel’s younger brother, Craig, was also at the school at the time. He was in the library where most of the killings took place. He survived unharmed.

Early news reports said that one of the gunmen, after having first shot Rachel in her leg, picked her up by her hair and asked the wounded girl if she still believed in God, and that she had answered “You know I do.” She believed in God all her life. Her response provoked a second, fatal shot to her head at point-blank range. This was based on videotapes made by the teenage perpetrators in which they are said to mock Rachel by name for her beliefs. — Wikipedia

Thank you for inspiring me to go out of my way to show compassion to other people no matter what life deals my way. You’ve truly started a chain reaction. God bless you, Rachel.

Majesty - delirious?

Here I am humbled by your Majesty
Covered by your grace so free
Here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man
Covered by the blood of the Lamb

Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since you laid down your life
The greatest sacrifice

Majesty, Majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed, but alive in your hands
Majesty, Majesty
Forever I am changed by your love
In the presence of your Majesty

Here I am humbled by the love that you give
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand, knowing that I'm your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire

Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since you laid down your life
The greatest sacrifice

 God you are all I need. You are awesome and more than enough.

God, I want to settle everything now. It is hard but i will do it. Lord dont lose faith in me. Use me Lord.

Arghhhh.... Hahaha, have no idea what to post. 
Currently doing a project, but taking a break, so yea, here I am blogging.
Will Blog something more interesting soon. Hahaha.(:

Meaningful Quotes

You can't just paint over rust, you've got to cut it out. To learn, sometimes we need to unlearn, then relearn.
-Jurgen Matthesius
What you do not forgive in your heart, you reproduce in your life.
-Jurgen Matthesius
The only constant in life is change.
The teacher appears when the student is ready. 
Watch your thoughts, for they become words. 
Watch your words, for they become actions. 
Watch your actions for they become habits. 
Watch your habits, for they become character. 
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Pray to God, but keep rowing towards the shore.
船到桥头自然直
heeheehee. esp that. tells me not to worry.
Yes i worry about life and EVERYTHINGGGG.
Close frriends know that. Closer friends think I'm freaking crazy.
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA.
^ exactly
Ok thats all for now, but be back for more.
ps, com need shut down and restart to update stuff. so see you guys soon!