When Your Status Changed

The following story came into my Inbox today. Though a very simple story, it speaks much and reminds us to be grateful and thankful.


A Story To Live By

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her.
When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.
He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'

The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her.
She hadn't expected that.

The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'


This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before,
and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.



Life Is a Gift

Today
before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before
you complain about the taste of your food
- Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before
you complain about your husband or wife
- Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today
before you complain about life
- Think of someone who died too early

Before
you complain about your children
- Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before
you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep
- Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before
whining about the distance you drive
- Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when
you are tired and complain about your job
- Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But
before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
- Remember that not one of us is without sin.

And when
depressing thoughts seem to get you down
- Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Second TWOS Fellowship Update

Praise God for the 10 sisters (3 from Youth/English Service) who came for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship yesterday (1st Sep 07), with one new sisters who attended our Sunday Services once in awhile.


The order of event:

Maryaan (Chairperson) - Introduction and welcome
Rachel (Worship Leader) & Deborah (Musician) - Worship with 2 songs
Deborah (Programme Coordinator) - Testimonies and sharing from sisters
Del (Speaker) - Study and discussion on "How To Be A Secured Woman: Knowing my Heart"
Mimi (Refreshment Chief) - encouraged sisters to have fellowship and refreshment


Gist of the Discussion:

Title: "How To Be A Secured Woman: Knowing my Heart - the alternative routes women take to find identity"

Questions: What are the things women hold on to instead of holding on to God? What do we use to compensate for lack of love, value or purpose?

Sisters shared their views on possible things women or themselves may hold on:
1. Career - Achievements - Status
2. Family relationships
3. Appearance
4. Possessions
5. Food or drink
6. Ideal home
7. Being spiritual
8. Flirtation affects
9. Close friendships

Conclusion: Our answers show the source of our security. Maturity is when we depend not on the things of God, but ON GOD Himself.



My Reflection:

Although our attendance was slightly lower than our 1st TWOS Fellowship (11 Aug 07), our fellowship was indeed heartwarming and touching when two sisters shared their deepest struggles in their lives. Such sharing not only helped these sisters to feel more relieved, instead of keeping their struggles to themselves, but also help the rest of us to learn what it means to minister to each other and to bear one another's burdens. We practised these through prayers, encouraging words, sensitivity, understanding, and even a shoulder to cry (literally).

During the meeting my conviction regarding having the sisters support group became even stronger. I began to see that things are not always what they seemed, so are sisters. Behind a happy face or a strong personality, may be a sister crying out for help in silence. Indeed, all sisters need such a group/place to pour out their sorrows and struggles. In so doing, they can be comforted, encouraged, and be more effective in serving God or be a better wife and mother.

Praise God for this sister fellowship that is made possible by the sisters who came. I want to thank the sisters who have helped/served in the various roles to make TWOS a success.

We look forward to seeing more sisters joining us for our 3rd TWOS Fellowship on 6 Oct 07, at 3.30 p.m.

Cheers!

On-The-Street Witnessing

On-The-Street Witnessing shows videos on how street evangelism were carried out, even to gangsters. The way the 'evangelists' did their evangelism is inspiring and it reminds me of Romans 1:16,

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

It is not easy to do what these 'evangelists' did in the videos, for most of us. I think the spirit of willingness to witness for Christ is the gist of the videos, even if it is embarrassing or uncomfortable to our natural self at first. I believe that with training, encouragement from God's word, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and our willingness to do it, we can do likewise or even more.

"Seal Beach Kid" is another interesting one:

"See how the Moral Law (Ten Commandments) humbles a young man as Ray shares with him at Seal Beach in Southern California."

Maybe we can put into use what our Church is currently studying (the Ten Commandments) to do personal evangelism just as seen in the video? :) ... with much prayers and wisdom, of course.

I really hope that we can all learn something about how to do personal or Church evangelism outreach. The Church can helps equip us with proper evangelism training. Most of all, we need God's courage to witness for Christ.

First TWOS Fellowship Update

Thank God for the 13 sisters (3 from Youth/English service) who came for our 1st TWOS fellowship on 11 Aug 07 (Sat).

The order of event:

Del (Chairperson) - Introduction and welcome
Tresa (Worship Leader) & Deborah (Musician) - Worship with 2 songs
Ps Mark (Speaker) - Message on the importance of sisters' role in the "hurting" ministry
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - Ice breaking game on "fire, tree, wind" and also "paper that represents my feeling now"
Irene (Programme Coordinator) - facilitated discussion on "Myself, Programme, What we can Teach, and What ladies need"
Del (Refreshment Chief) - encouraged sisters to have fellowship and refreshment


Gist of Ps Mark's Message:
TWOS is a ministry to hurting women. Some examples of hurting women are:

• women who can't conceive
• widowed women
• single ladies
• single mothers
• women who had abortion
• women with unfaithful husbands
• women going through menopause

Wives of husbands in ministries need help, for what affects the wives affects the husbands and their ministries.

Sisters in TWOS need to learn how to identify "hurting" women. They need to:

• Train their spiritual eyes - to detect women with depression, have been spouse abused, with troubled marriage, experiencing menopause mood swing, etc.
• Educate themselves - by reading more on hurting women issues
• Organize support group - for each unique women's problems
• Organize Workshop - by special speakers
• Counsel Women - some e.g.
  - Titus 2, Women2women
  - Shepherd Women, befriend a hurting women, walk through life with her
  - Wounded Healer, helping another woman in crisis after we have personally recovered from a similar crisis
  - Practical Helpers, e.g. hospital visits, demonstrate how to care for new born, etc
  

Discussion on what sisters want out of TWOS:

For Myself - what each sister wants for themselves

• learn how to help other sisters
• to train my spiritual eyes to identify troubled women
• to grow in godly wisdom
• mutual encouragement
• counselling skills
• learn to sing, keep fit, how to find right mate (for the singles), how to keep marriages
• learn skills in cooking, handicraft, paperwork, home & interior decoration, props making

The Programme - the activities each sister like to participate

• Workshop by good speakers
• 1 to 1 discipleship/bible study
• evangelism
• mission trip
• community works
• visitation
• lessons on cooking, grooming
• outdoor together, e.g. movies, walks, spa, Hi-tea
  

What I can teach - some of the things sisters can teach each other at TWOS

• Mrs Alan - baking/cooking
• Sharon - languages
• Betty - blogging
• Betsy - magic show
• Maryaan - keep fit
• Janet - singing, stewardship of money
• Tresa - personal grooming
  

People in need of help - list people we know who needs help


My Reflection:

I felt very encouraged, especially by the young sisters and also a few sisters who came, though I thought they would not have come. Some sisters who were supposed to come didn't show up though... I guess they may have some last minute commitments. I hope they can make it for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship on 1 Sep 07.

Personally, I feel that our 1st TWO Fellowship is a success even though the number who came wasn't a big crowd. It was a time for me to get to know some sisters a little bit more on their gifts, strengths and struggles as we worship the Lord and play together. Yes, we literally played together and it reminded me of my younger days. :D Some sisters were very transparent in sharing their feelings and struggles. That helps me to know what to pray for them.

I look forward to a even more fruitful time for our 2nd TWOS Fellowship. I hope more sisters will come together to make TWOS their 'hiding place' from all their cares of life. TWOS Fellowship exists because of YOU, ladies! :)

The Women Of Substance (TWOS)

Praise the Lord that we have officially formed a ladies' support group in our Church, named, The Women of Substance (TWOS).

Thanks to God for planting the burden of starting the group in the hearts of two sisters on 12 Jul 07.
Thanks to our Church leaders for supporting the idea, making this ministry possible.
Thanks to the many sisters who have shown interest and support for this group.
Thanks to all who have prayed for us and will continue to pray for God's leading and works amongst the sisters.


The following is a summary of TWOS:

1. The Group
- The Women of Substance (TWOS)
- We want to be women of substance and excellence for God

2. The Purpose
- to encourage sisters to grow in Christ, to serve in the church, and to harvest for Christ (reach out to other ladies outside our church)
- to provide bonding and support for one another spiritually, emotionally and socially
- to close the age gap amongst sisters and provide mentoring for the younger ones
- to pray for the church and the leaders

3. The Methodology
- have regular fellowship meetings to study the word of God (pertaining to women's roles)
- organize adhoc activities/talks for ladies, including our female friends
- do home visits to sisters in and outside the church when the needs arise
- create a "TWOS" blog for all members to share testimonies or things they learned from God, and to announce events.

4. The Meetings
- Our 1st "TWOS" meeting will be held on 11 Aug 07 (Sat) at 3.30 p.m. at A & O (subject to change)
- Subsequent meetings will be on every 1st Sat of the month at 3.15 p.m. (after church worship practice, basing on majority feedback but may change sometimes if it clashes with major Church activities)

5. What the Group Is Not
- not for personal gain, such as personal business transactions or selling
- not for gossiping or sharing negative views
- not for power or status striving
- not a threat to the brothers nor 'anti-male'

6. Personal/Spiritual Development Opportunities
The followings are ways you may help to make TWOS a success. In serving and helping you will learn to develop yourselves and other sisters into women of substance.

1. Chairpersons - to ensure smooth meeting operation
2. Worship Leaders - to chair and lead short worship, just 1 or 2 songs during meetings
3. Musicians - to work with worship leaders
4. Refreshment Chiefs - to provide simple light drinks
5. Liaison Persons - to help contact sisters for meetings, activities, etc
6. Prayer Warriors - to specially pray for the meetings, activities, needs
7. Programme Planners - to organize special bonding activities outside TWOS meetings
8. Study Facilitators - to lead small bible study group discussions during TWOS meetings
9. Mentors - to commit to mentor certain sisters for an agreed period
10. Treasurers - to keep account of offerings or collections for activities
11. Home Hosts - for TWOS meetings, if necessary (please specify day/time available)
12. Blog Contributors - to share at TWOS blog your thoughts, testimonies or things you learned that are beneficial for sisters (twice a month or more)
13. Blog Readers - to read the sharing or testimonies of TWOS blog contributors and offer comments or encouragements for them and others
    

The 'ladies only' TWOS blog was setup on 17 Jul 07 for all sisters and their female friends. Ladies who are interested to read or contribute to this blog need to register using their email addresses (gmail preferred, though not necessary to be readers). Invitations to join the TWOS Google Group and the TWOS Blog has been sent to almost all sisters in our church. If you are female and did not receive any email concerning the TWOS group or the invitation to join, please subscribe to it here and you will be registered soon.


As for brothers, we would appreciate your prayers support for us and also make it possible for your wives (if you are married) to join our once a month TWOS fellowship. TWOS Calender of Events can be found at the bottom sidebar of this blog, or you may click here to view.

Church And The Law

Three weeks ago, in the course of my work, I came across the DRAFT CODE OF GOVERNANCE FOR CHARITIES AND INSTITUTIONS OF A PUBLIC CHARACTER. The code of governance, if passed, will affect all Churches in Singapore as well.

One main tough code is that all Church salaried staff are not allowed to be in the Church Board, i.e. Pastors (usually drawing salaries) are not allowed to be in the Church Board. In addition, Church Board members must not have any relatives working as a salaried staff in the Church.

As always, "the Charity Council is seeking views from the public on the draft Code of Governance for charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs)" before passing it as LAW in Singapore. The public has up to 31 August 2007 to submit their views. So, if you do not want the above code to pass, or our Pastor to be out of the Church Board, or our full time sister to be out of our Church full-time ministry, please go and share your views here.

You may download the Draft Code of Governance here.

Singaporean Praise

I happened to come across a Malaysian website where, Pastor Ng Wah Lok, also a Christian music composer, talked about Singaporean Praise, i.e. Singaporeans' Christian Music.



It is inspiring and heart warming to know of our local talents. Well, I hope COSB could also see the rise of our own Christian music composers for the glory of God. :D