Sunday 28 April 2013

Looking Back and Looking Forward


by Ireney See

     January’s youth fellowship was an amazing experience even though not many people were able to attend. The youth fellowship helped us have fun before getting to the serious part. We met a lot of new people and played games that got us all hyped up and not to mention, dizzy. After playing a few games we split up into two groups and went to our respective rooms for the main activity.


     Now, here comes the serious part. It was sort of a continuation of January 2011’s youth fellowship wherein each of us wrote down on a piece of yellow paper what we would like to change that year—sort of like a new year’s resolution. We found out that the church had kept all those yellow papers. They gave them back to us and we discussed about last year’s resolution. We talked about whether or not we achieved our goals of changing the things we wanted to change. We didn't expect that we would share a lot about our past and our personal lives, at least, that’s what happened in the room I was in. It was real fellowship and it was amazing. One thing I know is that what happened in those rooms was enough to make us realize some things. We were able to evaluate what we did in the past, if we achieved our goals to change what we ought to, and decide on what we want to do this year.

     Scattered all over the table, we were presented with pictures of various scenes and people. After those very emotional evaluations, each one of us had to pick a picture that would best represent our new year’s resolution for 2012 and write on it our actual resolutions. I’m assuming that next January we’ll do the same and look back and evaluate on our new year’s resolution for this year. I’ll be looking forward to the year ahead. It was a great youth fellowship. To sum it all up, January 2012’s youth fellowship was not only a fun fellowship but also a meaningful one. It was a fun, laugh trip, sort of tearjerker-emotional type fellowship that makes you realize things. It was downright awesome. 

Audacious Dare: Audacious Faith


by Katrina Chelsea Ong

     For a minute, I’d like you to examine youe relationship with God for the past year. How fruitful was your walk with Him? Did you go closer to or farther from Him? Were there certain things that were emphasized? Did He reveal to you your calling or purpose? Was there anything that He’s telling you to give up or surrender? Was it a level up or level down -- or a roller coaster, maybe? Now that your sixty-seconds are up, let’s take a look at this quote:
“If you’re not daring to believe God for the impossible, you’re sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life... If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating you, there’s a good chance that it’s insulting God.” (Steven Furtick, Sun Stand Still)
     I challenge you to dream big this summer. One of the wonderful benefits of youth is that we do not believe much in the word “impossible.” So, I dare you to not be a living testimony to the saying, “Monkey see, monkey do.” May your perspective of God not be so limited, but rather renewed and revived. Nothing is impossible for our great God. My prayer for you, my dear friend, is that you would develop an audacious faith that would be pumped into your transformed inner being -- forever. In short, I’d like you to invite the Holy Spirit to kick off a never-ending great riot within you.

     What exactly is this “audacious faith”? According to Steven Furtick, “It’s the stuff that triggers ordinarily levelheaded people like you and me to start living with unusual boldness.” I suppose that you have quite a number of questions already in your mind, like:

“How do I start living with unusual boldness?”, 
“Why put my faith in God?”
“I am way too young [or old] for this ... there is no way God can use me now.”
May ganun pala? Wehh... (with mouth wide open and sudden gasp)” 
Now, let’s answer one-by-one the matters above.

Speculation #1: How do I start living with unusual boldness?

     Mind the adjective “unusual.” I believe that this short -- yet, significant -- verse sums this all up:
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV)
     In this worldly generation, most people -- including us -- tend to be so dependent on visual and upfront miracles. A weak foundation built upon such basis, like that, just reveals our lack of confidence in the Alpha and the Omega. Let me give you an example of faith that was not based on sight: In Matthew 14:22-33, Peter could never have walked on water if he’d never left the boat. Just imagine the foggy scene that was described as
 “...the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves." (v24, NLT) 
     So, in the midst of the fog of this age, leave your boat and just walk on water.

Speculation #2: Why put my faith in God?

     Time is in God’s hands. He knows what’s best for each of us. The Creator has a far more illustrious plan for us, compared to the ones that we will ever make up for ourselves. You must believe that the God we serve is great and good.
“More than once I have heard God say that power belongs to Him and that His love is constant. You yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to their deeds.
(Psalm 62:11-12, GNT)
     Knowing that He is great and that He is good are two very different statements. Each of them has a special message to point out.
God is great (that power belongs to Him...)
- You know that He is able to respond to your dreams and prayers.
God is good (His love is constant...)
- You know that He wants to respond to your dreams and prayers.

     Is the God we worship awesome or what?

Speculation #3:  I am way too young [or old] for this...there is no way God can use me now.

     For the young ones, this is where Pastor Steven Furtick comes in. At the age of 16, he realized his calling. God was prompting him to plant a Church in a big city, which was already filled with Churches. He is the young and hip -- yes, hip! -- founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Elevation was deemed one of the “10 fastest growing Churches in America”, from 2007 till 2009. The messages he preaches about revolve around audacious faith and how to approach life’s situations from a godly perspective.

     I encourage you to focus on how God sees you -- through the eyes of His compassion. Still, its is also important to learn how to take in constructive criticism from others that are genuinely concerned. Stop taking into heart the lies of those judgmental haters. Preach to yourself, if you have to!
“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)”
     I believe that, even from this early on (or late) in life, we should already be striving to be a Christlike example to the people around us. It is never too early nor too late to set out the God fearing standards for your life. Be an example with your words by empowering, not degrading. Be an example in the way that you live by being disciplined, not slacking off. Be an example in your love by performing acts of kindness, without expecting anything in return. Be an example in your faith by persevering in your walk with God. Put your heart, mind, and soul into it. Your time with the Father should never ever be neglected. Finally, be an example of purity by waiting on God to bring to you -- in His perfect time -- your God’s best. Keep yourself pure and to preserve yourself for the one God has prepared for you. Do not engage in immorality which could leave deep scars not only physically, mentally, emotionally but also spiritually. Fill yourself with the God’s Word and don’t let the world pressure you into its mold. Do not settle for anything less, our Heavenly Father has a plan for our life and trust me.. it’s better than what we can ever plan or imagine.

Speculation #4: May ganun pala? Wehh… (with mouth wide open and sudden gasp)

     Yes, may ganun. It is vital for us to take in the fact that the epitome of who God is, is far too complex for our mere human minds to ever comprehend. Despite our evident lack of understanding and comprehension, we can still attain audacious about our faith. I’d like to further refreshen your memory (or maybe incite a great riot in your mind about the awesomeness of our God) with the following:
“So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up. (Exodus 3:3, NIV)
“So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, (Joshua 10:13a, NIV)
"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did. When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now! (John 2:8-10, MSG)"
     God can use you. He can use your particular situation -- whether good or bad. You might think that your personal testimony is not as dramatic as others -- so, what? God can still use you. The men and women God used are no better than you and me.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, NIV)”
The waiting period for our bold prayers to be answered is not the most fun of experiences out there. But always keep in mind. God is listening. Be still and wait on Him. It is never too early nor too late to activate your audacious faith.
“So go ahead: Pray. Pray imaginatively. Pray unstoppably. And expect a miracle.” (Steven Furtick)

The North of the Inner Compass


by J.I. Co

     I was the captain of this humble ship, and I named it, quite fittingly, Life. I am the master of its course, for I am the captain after all. The destination is unclear, yet the inner compass of me shouts that I had somewhere to go. It was starkly dark everywhere around (perplexingly so!), and I was confused: which way to go?

     Several big ships, shining brightly with their lights, pass by (somehow, frustratingly flattering, pretty much all named their ship after mine); they seemed to see with clarity that which I seek, so I simply asked, “Which way to go? Which way to that destination where all of our inner compasses shout of?”
One pointed due north, and he called that final spot which we seek the Land of Good Works. Yet another captain, a jolly fun fellow, simply shouted that we were captains: damned be the fool who endlessly seeks a destination from others, who better to dictate the destination of his ship than the captain himself? A third captain drew close his ship to mine, and he whispered a mantra of sorts and told of a land of milk and honey in the promising Land of Religion. Then another ship came, and he threw a thick book at my head to get my attention. He told me of his findings, of his experiments, of his logic, of his reason, and he advised me with classy intonations that I shouldn’t rely on such misguided sayings, but that I should use my captain’s brain to think of such questions as my destination. Several more captains with their big boats passed, and they told of different destinations.

     But nothing shook me; nothing excited my inner compass.

     It was starkly dark in the entire horizon, and I was confused: which way to go?

     Suddenly Light shines down, right at me, and darkness flees the scene. I heard some man drowning in the sea, but the Light was so bright that I had to look down to shield my eyes. Then, for the first time, I clearly saw my ship.  It was disgusting! And anger shot out my mouth, and I blamed the sea for dirtying my precious ship! But the Light shone brighter and brighter, and it became clearer and clearer: the dirt was mine. And I grew ashamed. And I felt guilt for not cleaning it. And I felt desperate, for I knew this filth on my ship could no longer be cleaned.

     But the Light grew brighter, and soon not only my ship was seen, but the sea as well. I realized that I had kept the drowning man waiting, so, curiously, I stepped forward to look to the sea. Then I saw that the whole ocean was dark red.

     And I saw the queerest sight: a queer captain, drowning in the deep sea, yet queerly, not drowning. He had been shouting out to me, but again, queerly not for help. Apparently, he has been shouting for a while now to tell me something, and queerly, I have never truly heard the words he spoke of. Queerer still, it occurred to me that I only truly heard his words when the Light almost blinded me just a few moments ago. So I hoisted a rope, and threw it to the queer captain. He waved no, thank you. Queerer and queerer indeed. He saw my puzzled face, so he kindly drew back and started from the beginning of his message.
“I once had a ship too, and it was quite the dirty ship. I only realized this as you did when the Light suddenly shone on me. Queer thing, queer thing. That filth won’t go away, I guarantee that. No, no. But I got my ship clean! And I’ll tell you how right today!”
     He had piqued my curiosity, and the queer conversation went on. I soon learned many a thing. The queer captain told me he got his ship clean by sinking his ship into this red sea. What! He must be joking. He told me the red sea was called the Blood of Christ, and the drowning and not drowning thing is one of the best parts of it all. Yes, I have pretty much confirmed his insanity at this point.
“You don’t understand,” he said. “I still have my ship, but now I have let its course be run by the currents of the Ocean. You know why I choose to drown and not drown instead of boarding your ship? Because this is where I wish to be. This is where my inner compass finally rested peacefully. I wish you would understand. It has always been better to drown and not drown with another companion.”

     And it shook me, and it excited my inner compass.

     Was he telling the truth? Was this where my inner compass has been pointing all the while? Not north, south, east, or west, but to drown and not drown in this vast red sea? Something sparked in me! My inner compass started to wiggle faster and faster! And suddenly it became clear. Suddenly it all made sense. Yes, what else could it have been? How could I have stayed so blind all this time? And I realized that without the Light, it would have been impossible for any captain to know.

     So I sunk my ship. As I continued puncturing the bottom of my ship, the red ocean started seeping into my boat. I saw the most marvellous thing: the red ocean started taking away those disgusting filth which filled my ship. Slowly but surely, the dirt disappeared. I punctured and punctured my ship named Life, and the red ocean rose to my knees. What feeling is this? I was taken by surprise, but it felt good.
The queer captain smiled and laughed with the most genuine laughter. Queer laughter, definitely, but more and more his queerness seemed the most perfectly sensible thing in the world. He explained that as the red ocean covered me, I will start to feel more and more of the strong current of the ocean. He had a queer name for the current (for as he would continue explaining excitedly throughout our drowning and not drowning lives, it was the core thing which the Light showed him). He called the strong current the Love of God.

     The minute I heard him say this, the current grew so strong that I was swept under it. I found myself drowning and not drowning. I was drowning in this ocean called the Blood of Christ, and I am being swept under by the strong current called the Love of God. Yet I was not drowning. On the contrary, I found it to be the very thing I needed. The very thing my inner compass had been shouting all along.

     I was shook to my soul, and my inner compass rested peacefully.