Elim Youth: February 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

it happened in the bus

last saturday, out of curiousity why karkoon got himself a pink phone (i later learnt that his aunt bought it for him), i courteously asked for his permission to fiddle his nokia 5310 express music. upon opening the memory card folder, i saw a collection of christian songs. realizing that i havent a single holy song in my phone, i (courteously) asked karkoon again if it's okay to bluetooth some songs over to seriously song-deprived phone. he nicely replied a yes. 45 minutes later, i ended up transferring every christian songs he ever had in his phone! hahah!!!

sunday evening on my way returning to kl, to ignore the sad scene of the fading hills and luscious greeneries, i plucked in my earphone (stole it from uncle william) as i prepare to embrace the hustle and bustle of the city life once again.

i've always had a thing for slow songs. even more so if a piano hits the song off. this particular song i got from karkoon feels rather familiar. i might have heard it in night worship, but i wasnt so sure. all i know is that halfway through the song, i started crying. not the frantic, loud kind of crying. but the quiet small sob ones. thank God my dad got me the single seating. if not, i am so sure that the person sitting next to me will either be very scared of me, or think that i've lost my mind.

i was touched. and right there and then, i could feel His love enveloping all over me. it felt warm, despite the heavy downpour outside. it felt good, to know that someone so mighty loves someone as unworthy and as small as me. i must have look like an ant if God sees me from Heaven above.

yet, God is so detailed that even the hair on our heads are numbered.

**

27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

32As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

41In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " 44In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

**

who are we? that Jesus is willing to be flogged (v26), stripped (v28), crowned with sharp, piercing thorns (v29), mocked (v29), spat at (v30), struck with a rod over and over again on his head (v30), crucified (v35), insulted (v39), mocked again (v41) and jeered at (v44).

why did Jesus go through all these physical trauma and psychological torture? who am i?

i am Yours.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

YWAM

Last friday, for the EY caregroup, we had a combined fellowship meeting with a group of students from YWAM. They had just finished DTS in Australia (What's DTS?...Discipleship Training School...) and came over for a visit. They are from Canada, Norway and USA.

We had a wonderful time with them, well at least I did, no need to work, they did everything...nice huh? So we treated them dinner, and they shared with us their testimonies, played some games with us and worshipped together. All in all, great fellowship fun.

Enough said onto the pictures...

Any special meeting with us always start with ....'makan'!!!

One of the games that they thought us. How to play, not that important, the poses we ended up with is more important...Check out Chow Li Qi

Another game, mingle, mingle...where yours truly won!!!...errrr...okay Glenn helped...

YWAM sharing with us their testimonies...

Though short, but a very wonderful time of worship

After that, we had a birthday celebration for Amelia Ling...She joined us for a year plus and now is counted as one of our kakis. Well, Ling (or Ling - To, Shireen calls her that...why? Ask her...), we have always enjoyed your fellowship. Though you may not be as crazy as some of us but with practice and exposure, you will be... Have a Blessed Birthday and may you continue to grow and mature in Him...(PS: Now you are officially need not buckle up in the rear seat of my car...)

Oops took the wrong part of Ling, yeah I know, the head, but what to do, temporary camera man mah, plus forgot to bring his camera and used his handphone...haiz......(Camera, oh camera, where art thou?)

Okay, got it right, the face now...very 'Phua Chu Kang' looking Amelia Ling...Happy Birthday Girl and glad you are with us...

Katan

Monday, February 16, 2009

To the missionaries going to Indonesia.

Read --> http://ipohelimyouth.blogspot.com/2007/10/candle-in-dark.html

I sat in my room with the laptop and the Bible in front of me. Within the four walls of my room, I inhaled the music of Mars Volta, and lost myself to the riffs of The Widow (I'll Never Walk Alone). In my meditation, I was inspired to exhort my brethren, who will be leaving for Indonesia in one month's time.

Often, we are too complacent in our own comfort zones, forgetting less fortunate people; people who have not heard of Christ. We eat, we sleep, we live, with the Great Commission in the backs of our head; and that's where it stays most of the time. We are routined, we are scheduled, we are so programmed, to live without actually living out the heart of a Christian life.

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Romans 10:12-15

Today, you have been sent. Each and everyone of you. Not by the power of man, less they fail; but by the power and grace of God. It is time that we carry our crosses, to do that which we are called to. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, knowing that exposure, experience, fun, are only parts of what is of utmost importance; a heart for God's most beautiful creation - people. It will not be a smooth sailing journey, the winds may not be in favour, but do not lose heart; because God is above all.

In this last month of preparation, I encourage all of you to pray. Worry less about details, technicalities, or logistics. Pray for physical, psychological and spiritual preparation and continuous nourishment. Pray for the people whom you will be going to. The mission trip doesn't start with you setting your feet on the soils of Indonesia. It begun the moment you decided to be a part of this. And yes, all of us are in this together. Let us uphold each other in prayer. With this, I give you, my brothers and my sisters, all my blessings.

As it is written:

"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Romans 12:15

He who seldom blogs,
Fish.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Goodbye Bro!!!

On February 14, 2009, we bid our dear brother, Andrew Chun, good bye. He is off to London, UK for his higher education. So as usual, we had an impromptu meeting on Friday night to say our farewell to him, EY style....

So, Drew, you are a dear friend and brother to us all. We thanked you for the wonderful fellowship, fun, laughter, craziness and for some of you the late nights prowl of certain joints and scenic places which I shall not name here. You are and will always be part of EY and you will be a wonderful addition to any youth...working adults? group that you will be joining. So bro, continue to rock on for Him...

Some of the EYs that attended the farewell

A lot, huh?

Well, they probably thought that there will be food, but sadly....no such luck...

The many faces of Andrew Chun. We asked him to portray out the many facets of love as according to 1 Corth 13. The faces should correspond to the verses, but alas I forgot which is which (which also speaks of his expression...)

Some of the parting gifts (hmmm maybe I should go and get some gifts as well...)

GOOD BYE, DREW
.
.
TAKE CARE
.
.
OK BYE!!!

Katan

PS: Bro, remember, London = Stamford Bridge = Chelsea wink wink hint hint...

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Mission Trip!!!

People, its on...I can't believe I am saying this but we the EY are going on a Mission Trip. Here are the details...

Place: Jakarta, Indonesia
Church: Abba Love
Date: 18 March 2009 to 22 March 2009 (Leaving on the 1:00pm flight, and coming back on a 3:00pm flight)
Ministry: Two schools, A village, An overnight prayer program (Shi should feel so at home with praying by now), The ministry to the very poor
People: Shireen, Bernice, Eliza, Hui Xian, Carmen, Glenn, Steven, William, Kok Ming, Wan Wai, Kar Wai and Katan

I know this does not involve the whole EY but I do believe this that though only some of us will be going on this but the rest of the EY plays a part as well. Work done by men cannot and will not last, only the work that is done by God will and does. So people, you may not feel that this is an EY trip as a whole, but we seriously need your prayers. So do join us and lets start praying. Some of the items for prayer are:

Finances (Pray for wise stewardship of the finances)
Programs ( the language will be a problem, the target audience, the youths handling it)
Safety (Well, its warfare, for we are going into battle and lets not take this lightly)

Katan

CNY Celebration

People, sorry for this long delay in the posting of the pictures for the CNY celebration. We had about 40 youths joining us for the celebration and the youths were 'encouraged' to bring some of the CNY tidbits to share. We had a multitude types of food, from the good old love notes, to Dunkin Donuts as well as some local delicacies from the land of Vietnam!!!

Well, anyway, on to the more interesting stuff, the pictures,...(the stand in camera forgot to bring the camera, thats why he is only a stand-in, and used his handphone, haiz...)

Some of the people joining the CNY celebrattiom

Some of the girls, well, the boys and girls sit separately...brethren church mah...

The youths playing one of the games where they are required to stand up with their backs 'back' against each other

The thing is, the thing that happened after this was hilarious, Alan Wong went back down, but we did not catch that on film...haiz...first warning, Mister Stand-In Camera

The girls giving the game a go, had to be said, they were very sporting, even our guests...good job and great to have you all around (if any are reading this)