Pray...

for my mum. She had a fall on Sat which triggered shingles/herpes happening on her head, affecting her eyes. It's difficult for a 68 year old to go through the pain and if she contracts pneumonia during this time, it'll be really difficult. She needs all the calamine lotion (for itch) and bicarbonate soda (for bath) and food to get her through these 2 weeks. Her pain could be prolonged due to her age and her eyesight will be affected. Apparently, her falls could have been due to the virus in her as it causes imbalance, but not sure.

Know that God will take care of her better than I will. I've to learn to trust Him as she goes through her illness without me for the first time. We should really be dependent on the Lord who sustains us. Friend was saying to me recently that when we're sick, it's actually the norm base on the fallenness of this world, and when we're well, we should thank God for giving us our health. But yet, we forget our Creator God when everything is going well.

Have to keep doing His good work and prepare for my 20min practice talk on Colossians this Fri. Praying I won't be distracted and able to put down words to teach the passage correctly. Depending wholely on the Holy Spirit, doing it's work in my heart to make me Christ-like.

God's creation power...

...amazing stuff!

Evangelism topic was mentioned at student event "Only One Life" at All Soul's and also the CTC's women's stream "Evangelism with Women" session, and both brought to mind 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.

6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

What struck me is verse 6...God's creation power in Genesis 1:3 converted us, made our blind eyes see! Not our own claims of exercising our belief, but God's work totally. Left to ourselves, we will never want to believe, which some will debate that there is good in us such that we'll want to believe, but there isn't. All our being rejects God. If it wasn't his work to open our eyes & minds to see Jesus, we'll never be saved. Amazing stuff! Mind blowing!

Sunrise - a rough illustration of what the word "glory" means. Something I'd asked DJ about what picture would give a similiar idea of the blibical word "glory". He said sunrise would be good. My original amateur picture was crown jewels covered then unveiled. Sunrise is much better! Light shining out of darkness.

iSWOT

i=international
SWOT = Study the Word Of Truth

So iSWOT is the international student bible study at All Soul's church which happens between 3 - 4.30pm on Sun afternoons, and which is my placement for the year whilst doing Cornhill Training Course.

There are 3 leaders, 2 guys (SE from Serbia, K from London) and myself. The other members are: JT from HongKong, J from Malaysia, M from Indonesia, S from Australia, Y from Korea, S from Romania (4 girls, 2 guys). Didn't realise that we all represent 1 country each until M noticed it when I mentioned it to her. Mostly students, with 2 who just started getting into working world. Their english standard is very good. Other iSWOT groups have students with english as second language. There are alot of students coming to London to study english, which is a surprise to me, as I thought most countries teach english locally already.

It's been good as we study the book of Philippians which is packaged as "Discipleship Explored", the second series from "Christianity Explored". All 3 leaders giving feedback to each other as we understand more about leading the group to have lives/hearts changed by God's word, relying on the Holy Spirit who works in them through the Word. To love all of them, just as God loved us by sending Jesus to die for us.

I lead 2 out of 8 studies and it's been humbling as I see my weaknesses and seek to teach faithfully and clearly with His help. Not possible by myself since nothing good can come from me. The moment I pride myself and my works, I lose my reliance on God.

Only one life...

how true!

Went to "Only One Life" annual event last night. So encouraging to see all the students in London gather together and commit their year ahead to the Lord.

Learnt lots from Rico Tice's talk on Romans 1:18-25...

Why evangelism?
Romans 1: These are the reasons...Grace, Gehenna, Glory & Godliness

Grace
1) My heart is filled with God's grace
2) I long for God's grace for my friend

- Most important, our value in Lord Jesus, not in whether people reject or accept me (Romans 5:8)
- Sinner and righteous at the same time?
- How does God feel about you? Think about it. He's delighted because it's not through my own performance, but Christ's performance.
- Is that in the center of my being?
- If you knew the way God knows all about my weaknesses, you won't ever let me do his work
- Is God's grace in the center of your being?

Gehenna
Die with sin unpaid for >> go to Gehenna
Or with sin paid for >> go to the cross

- How we relate to God matters, how we relate to each other matters, how we relate to our loved ones matters, etc
- Think about non-Christian friend

(can't remember what was the last thing I'd learnt, or maybe need to relearn...)

Courting Disaster...

You can download these notes and have a read and check up the references:
Just finished reading this book during trip to Cambridge this week. Don't think there is a book out there which puts it all together quite clearly the reasons about whether Christians and non-Christians should not date each other.

Great thing is there are 2 pages of notes to ponder and distribute to friends to have discussions with!

Met the author via my landlord and he's also an ex-Cornhill student. His sister is my school-mate currently.

Listening...

Listening to Christ (Luke 10:38-42// Jane Tooher)

Was really built up by J's talk!

She has chosen what is better: listening to Jesus
- we always say we should have listen & we weren't actually listening
- wish we didn't hear it sometimes
- consider the number of hrs divided on what we spend it on

1. Everyday we do the ordinary (v38)
- ordinary = sleep, eat, play, work >> all necessary to live out our God-given lives
- ESV: Martha welcomed Jesus into her house, but how welcoming is she? It was extraordinary...Jesus was her guest!

2. The ordinary can distract us from listening to Jesus (v40)
- Martha got distracted
- got us frustrated reading it "shouldn't Mary help Martha?"
- Martha focused on herself "do you not care....", "Tell her to help me"
- why didn't she (Martha) see it? why include this passage in Luke?
- Luke wrote it to bring certainty (1:1-4)....How does each account bring certainty to us?
Go back to Genesis: mortal, profound insecurity, many things threaten to kill the body, trying to survive (society) to find security (eat, drink, clothes, respect, relationship, etc), but all FALSE SECURITY. Security found only in Christ (Luke 10:21-24, 35-37)

3. Listening to Jesus is the priority for the Christian woman (v39, 41-42)
- Jesus came to preach Kingdom of God. How you know that's the content? see v42 something that lasts for eternity
- Martha needs to choose
- Mary chose on what's base on Kingdom of God
- Struggling with Quiet Time? Make a choice/choosing...makes us more willing! not whether we feel like having it
- Listening to Jesus is a LIFETIME. Not like choosing to listen to Jesus on day of acceptance, like listening to husband on wedding day only
- True listening = obedience

May my mind be shaped by God's word!

Do you think heaven is up in the sky somewhere?

Since young, I've always thought heaven is a place in the sky. Probably influenced by all the chinese drama serials I watched on TV, depicting how good it is for immortals living amongst the clouds. Even in Sunday school, heaven was always a place somewhere up there.

After understanding the gospel/good news later on in my life, discovered it's about my relationship with Jesus, a reconciled relationship with God through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Further reading in Revelation 21:1-4 showed what heaven is...
' Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." '

I saw a graphical illustration (see attached photo) of Revelation 21 when I was at the London Women's Convention, held at Central Hall Westminister, helping with stewarding the event. In summary, it's restoration of garden of Eden, reversing effects of sin and what it did to us. So great are God's plans!

CA who loves the sea, and who apparently body surfs, can't believe there won't be any sea. He gave insight today on how to do expository on the gospels, in-between showing us that "sea" in the bible is used to depict chaos, evil, etc. It's unlike how those who love the sea, view it. Understanding how the bible uses terms like sea, is so important. Being aware of our own backgrounds/horizons which in our tainted sinfulness, we use it to read His words. Pray that we'll always want to listen to his word, working hard at understanding it, keeping in mind our horizon and not let it determine his words for us, making it sound what we want it to be, even in our own piousness. Thankful for God's grace on us all.

burst pipe

wow! On Fri, 12 Oct, as I came back from school, the buses and vehicles were diverted and streets were extremely quiet. At first, thought maybe there was some bomb scare. Got abit cautious of my environment as I quickly tried to get home.

Nearer home, noticed some road construction with a big hole in the road. Was saying to myself, I'll be amazed if they diverted such huge load of traffic just to do road construction. Recognising that in my past experience, 3-day tube strikes do happen with inconvenience to masses of people.

I turned to the street where the shops were and noticed how muddy the roads were. Finally, upon getting home, found out from Helen & Chris that there was a burst pipe. And all that happened while I was oblivious to it...more news...

God is so amazing!

I was telling my dear school-mate from 1st year Cornhill, Northern Ireland girl, R, that I really like a song which I've been hearing at All Soul's Sunday services and at Tuesday's 5th annual evangelists conference organised by All Soul's. She managed to find it online this evening! It's by Chris Tomlin. Song title is Indescribable.

Told R that I'm going to include it in my list of songs I've chosen for my funeral. She was surprise, I think.

The content in the song makes me amazed at God!! I'll need to get the music, learn to play it on piano and teach it. There's a piano at my place, though some keys are out of tune, but can still hear the tune. Lyrics in this song makes a difference!

(15 Oct: R made my day, she passed me a copy of the music!)

do we really listen?

Do we REALLY listen/hear God's word and be doers of it? We do want to lead godly lives and please Him, don't we? But why do we hear and not repent? Are our lives changed once we're convicted by his Word? Maybe, just maybe we're not convinced and hear it only as knowledge in our minds, it doesn't affect our hearts and hence it did not energise our wills....

Principles of Expository Preaching by DJ:

Amazing stuff what I've learnt from DJ!! He's so passionate and he teaches himself God's word and prays what he learnt and taught himself into his listeners at the same! Each time he preaches, he reminds himself that it's the Holy Spirit who does the work. Such dependence on God and we very well should have such dependence since we're such failures left to ourselves.

Some points I've learnt which is mind-blowing...
- We need to be aware of the lenses we read the bible with, ie, culture/personal/tradition/people who have nurtured us/prior understanding of bible, etc
- Every translation = an interpretation
- scripture = human (individual styles/historic particularity) & divine (God's truth) = Lord Jesus (incarnation of scripture)
- It's God preaching God
- Be aware of boredom, always ending/concluding with Jesus. Not have it in a straight jacket, let it loose (this might raise some eyebrows, but I sort of know what DJ means by letting God's word be the authority amidst it all since he gave some examples from 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, 1 Peter, etc. Not sure how to explain in writing though)

EXEGESIS
* question to ask "What is he saying?", "What verses mean?", NOT "What verses mean to me/you?"
* drawing out the meaning
* development of arguments
* any parallels in other scripture? Scripture interprets scripture, ie, NT text controls OT interpretation
* discover specific/original meaning of the text
* keep reading, reading, reading! keep reading 3 months before teaching it...
(Ask God to enable us to draw out meaning of text. Holy Spirit to help us know what author is writing)
* more than just exegesis, getting connections to everyday life

EXPOSITION/HEMENEUTICS
* question to ask "Why is he saying this?"
"what objections is he dealing with?" because he writes to address it
"what arguments/evidences?"
"what is he persuading?"
* applies exegesis to current lifestyle context
* significance of text, ie, if it wasn't there, would it make a difference? What is significance of meaning? (application/implication of text)
* 1 meaning >> infinite applications
* meaning never changes
* don't think applications = commands, no grace
think implications = impact lives
* find the melodic line = theme tune
* book by book = exposition + theme tune >> teaches whole counsel of God
* (1) historical/theological context = Bible = What/Why
(2) literary context = Book = How does this fit in
* Book as a whole, look at (i) issues (ii) facts/encouragements (iii) obligations which translates to action
* truth of gospel needs to be beaten into our heards
* shock through with the gospel! will give us BIG visions & BIG hearts. if not correct, could drift back to religion (works approach), rather than on Jesus' work & ministry
* 2 ways to deny: religious, irreligious (relative, pragmatic)
* know how Bible works, ie, Romans for modernist, Galatians for post-modernist

STRUCTURE
* engaging at deep level with people. Logical on fire, not on ice. Speaking the truth in love
* failure of sermons/talks: lack of clear program, muddle in the middle, hence can't sift out what's going on
* structured talk >> [strategy] >> conveys message
* how it's made contemporary (see Paul's preaching example in Acts 17)
* preaching pastorally to Christians (see 1 Corinthians 5 which gives the issue/problem > why > what to do, showing the gospel principle > pointing to the cross > showing up the inconsistent behaviour)
* (1) Questioning & Undermining Assumptions
(2) Deconstructing arguments, stating the truth
(3) Answering objections, whether it'll hold up
* assume human heart won't want to listen, will object
* decide on central theme, ie, message of the talk, in 1 sentence / what holds it together. If can't articular, probably don't understand, so need to exegete more
* relate it to aim sentence, ie, purpose of the talk...why am I preaching this?
makes aim to be my prayer! into myself, into my talk
* construct the outline. What are the marker posts/big points/main things in the passage you want people to know
* main points > creates structure of talks
* theme sentence expresses the main points
* got the skeleton, how to put flesh?
State...have I?
Explain...have I?
Apply...have I?
* is there enough explanation?
* "so what" factor between Explain & Apply
* weakness for most evangelicals = exposition
need to get nose into passage, take me into text, finger on the text, built it into talk
* thinking yourself into the passage, present the content, anticipate objections/issues
* illustrations are mental photographs that illumines ideas of sermons/talks
* not good to rely on illustrations to keep people awake, but it should be the content to engage people
* choose your way in > INTRO (draw people in)
choose your way out > CONCLUDE
* how will it be gripping? Hey (factor), You, Look, Do
* every sermon/talk counts! get people hook into the event
* be confident, be dependent on the Lord! invite congregation in
* aim to end with application, go back to central theme, with few crisp sentences & END
* give people time to think/pray about what they've heard, to respond

NOTES
* best is with A5 paper with big fonts
* every point separated for easier referencing each time you look up and look down to your notes

God (through his Word, by his Spirit) should be the driver lest we crash if we were the driver of the text, ie, Bible in driving seat (determines how we do it). An issue/problem with evangelicals is that preacher in driving seat and bible is in passenger seat. Something to watch out in ourselves.

SUBMIT under WORD (mind to mind) >> EFFECT takes place (heart to heart)

It's more than get it right, it's to get it INTO the text!

For a 20min talk, we'll need to give 2hrs30mins for each of the above 4 sections to really have done work on it, total of 10hrs. Not too much less we spew commentary onto our listeners, but enough to work with. Want a sermon that grabs people otherwise won't nurture the congregation. Wow! Nurture! I wouldn't have thought of that all these years.

Nurturing by preacher > Bible nurtured > build church/one another up
(Takes nurture of text/God's word into our world to nurture us)

Produce gospel people (long term/strong disciples), not religious people

DJ: "Through MIND, to HEART, to activate the WILL". Such a clear understanding of his role as teacher of God's word! How could this be lost?

God's word in sermon can (1) harden or (2) soften hearts. (1) can be hardened naturally by doing nothing after hearing, no change, no penetration. Great responsibility to teach AND to hear it!
Pray: Fight against assumption of text and thinking that I know it. Need to apply my mind to God's word.

rebuked...

Wow! Ke-nah rebuked today by placement supervisor in a loving manner today, considering I wasn't put on a guilt trip for forgetting our first appointment and had to re-schedule to today's time.

Scripture below was brought up as a reminder (which I need to read again to double-check what it meant and whether it really meant what she had said). In addition, she mentioned if I'd paid for the course and during the course since I do practice talks, I should try it out in real life, otherwise what is the use of doing the course?

I was apprehensive and wanted to think about it for awhile, since it came as a surprise and I wasn't expecting any opportunity here until I had finished the course, and I wanted some feedback at least before I did it for real. It's really daunting when I did it last year in GB and once at children's church with some friends giving me feedback on what I need to improve on.

Supervisor was gracious enough to let me give talks in Term 2, after i've received feedback at my course. Will have a chance at 8am communion service (which has few people and usually, a non-christian/traditional crowd), and also once at int'l students' social night on a Friday. Both should be 5 minute talks, but basically evangelistic.

Amazed at how God provided this chance and a supervisor who's pushing me abit more which she said plainly. Quite intrigued how christian brothers & sisters here trust in Him, willing to trust PT in their acceptance of me and hence helping me progress in my decision making in ministry. Though I would not have a bigger crowd to speak to, if it was me as church staff, I would choose to control it abit more and assess the person before offering the opportunities at church. Thinking of why I would choose to do so compared to how my brothers & sisters here make choices. Have we been too controlling and not trust God? Even if wrong decisions are made, Christ is preached, that's what matters, right? Did we not put others first above ourselves when we manage an apprentice? Not being able to draft out the progression for them and their needs, then see how church work and opportunities can be made available for them to work at and then review thereafter? Instead we're concern about the daily operations and lay on the apprentices the work as an after thought or it just needs to be done? I wonder....good to think through and especially for me to check myself and my motives!

Matthew 25: 14 "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' 24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

thursdays and fridays...

Met another group of Cornhillers...all in their 2nd year at Proclamation Trust.

Thursday

morning:
A student did an exposition on John 13:1-5. Aim of expositions is to open up the meaning of the passage, but not to preach it to the class. It's a public exposition of a bible text, not a short sermon, camp or youth group talk. You're given 7 mins, disciplined in focussing on central theme of text in context, no time for illustrations and 7mins doesn't include prayer before and after, and it doesn't include reading of the passage.

BTW, they start on time! which i'm trying to get used to. I think it's great since I always think people should be on time for any meeting/appointments. But strangely, it feels pressurising when the whole group keeps time, though I see the difference between the 1st years and 2nd years. 1st years are more punctual, while 2nd years seem to be a more relaxed group since they had been through 1 year of Cornhill already.

After exposition, we usually break off to pray for an ex-Cornhill student and amongst our 2 or 3s. Quite amazing and such a blessing to be amongst people who simply and have only our Lord to rely on for their lives!

afternoon:
Once again, a PT staff came to explain the new library system which has been computerised. Think MW will be surprised at how many changes has taken place, like computerised library system, bigger pantry, more seminar rooms, new carpet, power points on the floor just below desks, 2 round glass tables to have our pack lunch, etc. At least all the 2nd years were raving about the changes. More changes coming, ie, wireless LAN to send out notes wirelessly to students' laptops, etc.

I went to help out with barcoding library books on last Tue and got to know more people when I helped out on Thu.

SA started to explain how we could make better use of the preaching classes, in particular how to give feedback amongst ourselves. There was a skit by 2 students to simulate the scenarios which we needed to look out for, ie, give feedback on the bible text itself and not about the person, being sensitive to the preacher student, giving constructive feedback with specific improvement which could be taken into consideration, if nothing to say then don't say.

Friday

morning:

After student exposition, DJ came to talk about principles of exposition of the epistles. I've heard most of it when he came to S'pore last year to teach us tools of digging deeper into the bible. Found it interesting this time that he says we do have interpretation problems to be aware of and also what kind of lenses we use to read the bible, our background/culture/personal life/tradition/people who nurtured us/prior understanding of bible, can all affect our interpretation.

Ultimately...
every translation = is an interpretation
scripture = human (individual styles, historic particularity) & divine (God's truth) = Lord Jesus (incarnation of scripture)
christians = founded in historic evidence

Another note I took down:
If God is God, he reveals himself to us (through His Word = bible).
If not, then he'll be smaller than your mind and what god is that?

events + explanation = revelation

DJ talked about exegesis (drawing out the meaning of text) and hermeneutics (significance of text)

Basically, it's the keep reading and reading and reading the text. Before teaching it, to read it 3 months beforehand to have had the time to ponder about it.

Interesting how DJ mentioned to be aware of boredom, where everything is about Jesus. It is, but not having it in a straight jacket, but to let it loose and preach the text. It was REALLY exciting when DJ gave an example of how it was done with 1 Peter and 1 Corinthians 1:1-3.

Also gave an estimation of preparation time for 25-30min talk, about 10 hours will be enough, lest if you prepare more, you'll want to give too much out.

DJ said you'll want to have a sermon that grabs people, otherwise won't nurture the congregation. One with application and relevance, because they'll have questions like "So what? How does it impact?". We're to make connections for people.

It was just exciting to hear him as he made the bible come alive! Reminds me of a korean-american sunday school teacher who made an impact in my life by bringing the bible to life during teenage years. What he taught, how he lived and parented his children was a big eye-opener for me.

afternoon:
It was also exciting as all the 2nd year Cornhill women gathered for free lunch provided by PT and met with 3 women teachers who had various minitries (youth & children, 20-30s women and older women).

CS shared from Ephesians 4:11-16 on what ministry is about. Out of 3 teachers, only 1 teacher has gone through Cornhill Training course.

Thereafter, the history of how the Women's Ministry stream came about was mentioned. It's so exciting, because they are going to discuss and help women think through blibically our role as women in the ministry. It's a 10 week course covering Biblical manhood & womanhood, ministry issues which women might face, pastoral issues, teaching workshops. Imagine we get a chance to think about the possible scenarios we'll be in and get to think it through blibically before it happens to us! It's just an answer to my prayer! All the women will want to complement the men in their ministry and be good helpers, yet recognising our role as women which God has given.

I'm surely looking forward to my Friday afternoons!!

school started!!

Monday

First time taking tube in the morning peak hour human traffic and it was scary and stress. I was squashed for the majority of time and reminded myself that I'd much prefer taking bus, as I could breathe better and enjoy the scenery. If not for learning God's word, I wouldn't want to come all the way here. I could love parts of the country or seek to satisfy my own desires by being here, but it'll all end up as nothing.

morning (9.10am - 12.15pm):
Director CA, started by opening up bible from Nehemiah 8:1-12. Jokingly, CA said even in the time of Nehemiah, there was a Cornhill course pattern...

Some points I took down:
- a gathered people learning under God's word
- attentive to God's word (verse 3)
- people had a relationship with God
- it was taught clearly (verse 8)
- there was conviction (verse 9)

Looked at Ezra 7:1-11 (especially verse 10) where we were challenged to look at how Ezra
"set his heart"
- his study of God's word shaped his lifestyle
- he does it / personal obedience
- teaches it
(have to figure this out, as my heart is prone to waver and mind gets distracted with other tasks)

He ended with Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught."

There were lots of introductions
- the course and homework
- announcements
- the Proclamation Trust (PT) staff
- building facilities
- cleaning duty roster, etc

afternoon (1.30pm):
Came back to hear an exposition by SA, PT staff, on Philippians. Strict 7 mins to open up the meaning of the bible (ie, what it says and means in context, what's the big idea and why, also some pointer to the implication of the passage for us today), but not preach it to the group of 50 students (12 are full-timers).

(Something to think about: teaching and preaching a passage is different? But you need to learn to teach it before you preach it - conversations I'd had with friends and even my landlord, CH)

After that, I signed up for Greek, and was apprehensive about it, as we were given a Greek starter sheet to do homework by learning the Greek alphabets. How to read it? The symbols look like my maths university subjects, but I'll still give it a try.

Some had tutorials from 2pm, which just means meeting with a PT staff, to have a mentor to be able to discuss stuff with. I think these 1-2-1 meetings help alot in not getting lost in the midst of studying God's word. A personal touch and consideration by the school.

End of day, we were given homework to read through 2 Timothy.

My tutorial was on Tue, so I spent afternoon getting to know other people and got some banking stuff figured out.

Getting to know people, it helped when CA explained how different all our backgrounds were. London is really MORE cosmopolitan than other cities I've been.

Tuesday

Tube ride to school was wonderful! I wasn't squashed and could find a seat to sit. But, I still have to find out how to get to school by bus, just in case there's another tube strike!

morning (9.10am - 12pm):
Urgent prayer request for an ex-student who had cancer of liver. Broke off in small groups to pray for her. Quite amazing stuff when a paper detailing her condition/situation and what she asked us to pray for, helped us to know how to pray for her. And the paper contained a helpful reminder about "how good to know that the prayers of even us made righteous in Christ are 'powerful and effective'...what a great God."

Another morning exposition on Philippians by SA. Thereafter, we broke off into groups to discuss what we've read from 2 Timothy and share what we had picked up about what was going on with the writer, the recipient, the recipient's church. Also what clues there were about the circumstances that prompted the letter.

CA looked at 2 Timothy, showing us how to listen to the text and also how it gets from the text to teaching it and proclaiming the message.

lunch:
Interestingly, the one of the girls in 1st year decided to group all the girls together to go to a nearby park to have lunch (see photo). Amazing! Thank Him for his providence of such girls. Certainly helps to break the ice, since we're so new to each other. There were girls from Britain, Pakistan, US (Chicago), Northern Ireland and me, S'pore.

afternoon (1.30pm):
Had 2pm 15min meeting with CA's wife for her to find out how I am and whether I've settled down and what I hoped to get out of the course.

3.30pm, went with 5 other girls who met CA's wife, to go to CA's home nearby for tea. There was sharing of lives and how we were saved by Christ, and I got so caught up that I forgot I'd 5.30pm doctor's appointment. Sigh. I ran to tube and was 5 mins late, which thankfully they didn't strike me off their list, as notices around some clinics said it will do.

Took a leisurely walk back and pondered about the day.

what to look for in a church...

"42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
(Acts chapter 2 verses 42 to 47)

Went to All Soul's newcomers evening since I'm so new and my main aim was to get to know the staff at All Soul's.

Evening started with writing name tags, getting a drink (orange, apple or tea/coffee) poured by the rector/pastor, Hugh Palmer (wow! amazing humble service! *grin*) and finding a table of 8 chairs to sit at. Table had muffins, sponge cakes, cookies, brownies *drool*. Had to have the details because it's so simple to organise.

Hugh gave a small talk "What to look for in a church" with slide show & points of the talk on it. He didn't start with an introduction of All Soul's, but went to scripture, Acts 2:42, 47. He said we could be looking around for a church to attend and checking out which one is suitable, but he challenged us on what we should look out for in any church, even if All Soul's turn out to be not suitable. Wow! Got me excited. Hehe

Here's the outline which came from the text and base on my memory:
- apostles' teaching, ie, bible teaching
- fellowship, ie, a loving community
- breaking of bread and to prayer, ie, to proclaim Christ's death/resurrection and his return, to have dependence on God
- added to their number daily, ie, evangelism, outreach/sharing of the gospel

He did explain that no church is perfect but that it strives to have those as its aims and they are making an effort.

For those who only want to attend services, they can't expect more from church since it's difficult with being a huge congregation to keep track of who is around, who has been sick or away. But they are welcomed in church. And coming to services only, you're bound to sit with different people each week. No real deepening of relationship in my opinion. Thought it was good reminder of having a realistic expectation, but challenged to join a bible study group, since that's a smaller version of church.

For those who are "sleepers", ie, have been serving for a long time and need a break, they are welcomed too. But it's best not to "sleep" too long lest it becomes permanent and you're out of fellowship completely.

I'm just glad I could still remember passages from talks after walking away. Must pray for pastors to instill God's word in people's hearts and leave it to do its work in each and every person because we know God's living and active word won't return empty and will fulfill God's purposes.

Thereafter, we had a tour of the church and the names of the different places in it which helps alot when I read their bulletin about events happening and meeting places. But a Northern Ireland lady I met, Joanne and I both felt like it was a museum tour. Haha! Know that the pulpit was a gift to infamous John Stott for his 60th birthday, if I'm not wrong and it weighs 2 tons, having an inscription something along the lines of preaching Jesus, a reminder to all the speakers who go up on the pulpit.

Next, a slide show on the different groups and activities in All Soul's. Finally a decision on which group to join or areas to help around.

"A small church needs help, whereas a big church doesn't need help"
2 statements where the first part is true. For a big church, it takes more hands to prepare and bring out the coffee/tea for example. How could anyone forget to take that into consideration?

Night ended with me surprisingly finding a link with an American girl, whose Taiwanese housemate I met last Sunday at my landlord's church. My landlord is a pastor at St John's Wood Baptist. Took bus home with her and her Kazakhstan housemate.

Leading yourself...

if you were given a title of a talk like "characteristics of a christian leader" to prepare on, what would you choose to say? Which passage to choose? Always find topical talks tough, as you need to fully understand the text within its context for all the passages you choose to include. Alot of work as compared to expounding 1 passage.

First things which came to my mind when I looked at the title of the talk was the fruit of the spirit, following Christ's example, etc. Little did I expect to be told the seriousness of sin (disobedience/rebellion against God) in us. Such an awareness of how sin has tainted our very being! Yes! Even leaders are not excluded as though they were made holy/pure/without sin because they chose to lead bible study groups or other types of groups.

Was totally humbled by Rico Tice's talk on Joshua 7. Through the passage, genuine fear of the Lord was understood. You'll come to understand that God's judgement will be carried out and sin needs to be dealt with. They were asked to stop praying and deal with the problem (Joshua 7:10-13). Quite funny when Rico said they were asked to stop praying, I took a second look at the passage again.

Interesting also from Joshua 7:14 onwards as God's judgement is carried out, question "Why God didn't just point out the guy/culprit?" and Rico explained that it's to give Achan (the guy/culprit) time to confess. Can imagine Achan standing there with his family and starts to wonder if he'll be found out for what he did.

It's a scary thought that God will depart from me because of my sin. I never want him to leave me. Always asked him not to leave me. In Joshua 7:12b God said "I will not be with you anymore...". Sin had to be dealt with - Numbers 32:23 "...be sure that your sin will find you out."

Why was Achan's sin so serious? It's due to the corporate nature of sin. Joshua 7:1 "Israel broke faith"/committed adultery, Joshua 7:11 "Israel has sinned", Joshua 7:24 it was whole of Achan's sin being judged.

Really puts the fear of the Lord in us! God withdrawing until judgement happens. Church discipline is important. Accountability is important. Judgement will come, see Revelation 6. My sin affects others and vice versa (Genesis 3), how could we forget! A statement to ponder about "christian maturity is lived in the presence of God all the time".

What's my besetting sin? Sin has contagious power. Who can ask about my sin? How much fear do you have about sin?

Don't kill sin, sin comes and kills them (1 Samuel 15). Matthew 18:9 "And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell". Have to be ruthless to deal with sin!

Achan's sin - covetousness Joshua 7:20-21. Oh, how we need to examine our fear of sin! Doing gospel work is a soldier's life, not heaven.

"I don't trust anyone here and I don't trust myself!" said Rico in continuation about our sin. This blew me away! Which leader would say that? Except one who solely relies on God, meditating on his word to renew his mind.

AND Rico mentions about our struggle with $/greed which we need to watch out for. Something he understood from Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."? Hmm....

True christian fellowship = accountability/being challenged, not being nice & feel nice amongst the group. Wow! Something which I've been thinking about and it was put into such succinct words!

Let's all confess our sins. 1 John 1:9 "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.". We're a community of grace (ie, receiving salvation when we don't deserve it).

This was provided in the talk outline...

Ephesus - "Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." Revelation 2:5

Pergamum - "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. " Revelation 2:14-16

Thyatira - "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways." Revelation 2:20-22

If the above is unclear, do let me know. I'm more tuned to "numbers" than words. =P Just documented some of the notes I took down to remind myself of what I've learnt. Best if you could read through Joshua 7 by yourself.

As i left for london...

friends prayed and relatives sent me off. Thanking God for all of them and what was awaiting me in London.

The weather is...

Autumn Term:
Monday 17th September 2007 - Friday 14th December 2007
Half term week:
22nd - 26th October 2007
Reading week:
19th - 23rd November 2007

Spring Term:
Monday 7th January 2008 - Friday 28th March 2008
Mission Week:
11th - 15th February 2008
Half-term week:
18th - 22nd February 2008

Summer Term:
Monday 21st April - Friday 27th June 2008
Half term week:
26th - 30th May 2008

What's the weather if you come to London to visit me...

What I learnt at the wake

of P's dad…was quite tickled (unusual at funerals) whilst listening to a mandarin sermon/message. Some points I remembered which I'd to note down, since it was quite sound teaching which was localized...

• A christian funeral is not a gathering of people to send the spirit of the dead away, it's for us, the LIVING, to think about our lives which is only here for awhile and passes away (1 Peter 1:24-25)
  



• Worried about who is going to feed my spirit once I die, lest I turn out to be a hungry ghost? But how about our ancestors who have been forgotten? There would be a lot of extremely hungry ghosts currently
  



• Didn't expound on sin (us ignoring God/rebelling against God), so not sure if people understood the message fully
  



• Our God is great! Only Jesus had overcame death and resurrected (came alive)! He's indeed God himself. (Acts 2:31-32) No one else claims to have resurrected from the dead.
  



• People ask who knows what will happen when we die…the Bible clearly says "man is destined to die once and thereafter to face judgement" (Hebrew 9:27-28). Quite unlike what's said nowadays, where no one knows what's going to happen after you die.
  



• Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Quite an impact if you don't believe in Jesus...speaker then invited those who didn't believe yet to consider this point now, urgently.

Suck tummy in and upwards, squeeze butt and...

pull down shoulders! Remember to breathe normally. Make sure your feet are in V-formation. Try it. It tones your tummy muscles which is not used as much.

My dear friend J taught me after she went to Sydney to be trained as Pilates instructor. Still remember the time when she was telling me about how she needs to find the authentic Pilates instructor to be taught properly, like in search of truth. =)

Once she set up her own shop, I signed up for it, partly needing some form of exercise. You'll be amazed how it's low impact and you could still perspire and the next day, you can feel all your muscles aching. It was interesting to see her hubby, who has a big frame, doing Pilates. After the course of it, he says he feels stronger and I couldn't agree more, because I started to make use/concentrate in using other muscles. Think I had less neck and shoulder aches, all due to working on computer 8hrs/work day.

Check out her website - Classic Pilates

There's a trial session you could take just to see if you'll want to sign on for the whole package.

Let's train those tummy muscles of ours!!

any resemblence?

when you are cursed > you bless
when you are persecuted > you endure it
when you are slandered > you answer kindly

(from first corinthians chapter four verses twelve and thirteen)

How difficult it is! The instant/natural reaction is to give it back in same/equal doses.

Such resemblence of how Paul, the writer's reaction, being similar to his master, Jesus. Could it be that they saw beyond the persons' who cursed, persecuted, slandered? Beyond the situation/issues? What calmness and clarity they had! And such security in God.

My fav christian mandarin song which has lots of meaning...

Translation: There is one God

music