The Irony

Just completed a major fundraising for my organisation and though it has been traumatising few weeks working round the clock and falling sick but it was amazing seeing how God provides and how at the end of the day, I was able to sustain through it all... As I wound down and took a walk around Orchard, I could not help but hear Christmas carols playing over the PA and that people sing. I started to wonder if people really knew the reason behind Christmas and even know the meaning of what they are singing? It seems that it is rather a paradox that some maybe celebrating Christmas without really understanding what it is really about? Behind this "season of giving", behind all the snow flakes, snowmans, doves, Christmas trees, santas, mistletoes, presents, celebration, is the greatest gift ever given by God. And even for many Christians, including myself, how many of us remember what this season really means?

In the following sermon, Elder Freddy Boey brings us through a critical reflection on what Christmas really means, highlighting the irony we face in life...

• The irony that we as humans who are so capable of things technologically, medically, scientifically which should mean a better life but life doesn't seem to be getting better after all; we are yet not able to resolve the hatred and anger in people.
  
• The irony that man, as creative as they are, are actually destructive.
• The irony that despite globalisation and all whcih makes the world a "smaller" place yet we have failed to love one another.
• The irony of Christianity that God, who is portrayed to be fearsome in many religions, would express Himself as a baby, born of a virgin to come to save humanity through forgiveness through the work on the cross.
  
• The irony of Christians being said to be inheriters of God's kingdom were be meek people told to offer other cheek when striked (Luke 6:28-30)
• The irony that pain is sometimes necessary or made necessary by ourselves.
• The irony that a technologist would be delivering a sermon on God when we think that science and religion do not go together.
• The irony that accepting the Lord is as simple as accepting the gift already laid before us.

Listen to Christmas Message: Silent Night, Holy Night here, given by Elder Freddy Boey at Riverlife Church on 21 Dec 2008.

一件礼物

Yi Jian Li Wu 一件礼物 - 基督教泉南堂

1。有一件礼物，你收到没有，
眼睛看不到，你心会知道，
这一件礼物，心门外等候，
是为了你准备，别人不能收。

副歌：生命有限，时光也会走，
如果你不珍惜，机会难留，
礼物虽然好，如果你不要，
你怎么能够得到，
怎么能得到？

2。亲爱的朋友，你是否想到，
马槽的婴孩，是为你而来，
亲爱的朋友，你是否了解，
最好的礼物是人子主耶稣。

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This is the verse which has spoken to me and brought me back to Christ. A friend once asked me "God has not forsaken you, have you forsaken Him?" Do you believe that God has His plans for you and that you can be filled with His love, peace, joy and hope? As the song reminds us, the gift is yours and it is for you to decide...

So You Would Come

So You Would Come - Darlene Zschech

Before the world began
You were on His mind
And every tear you cry
Is precious in His eyes
Because of His great love
He gave His only Son
Everything was done
So you would come

Nothing you can do
Could make Him love you more
And nothing that you've done
Could make Him close the door
Because of His great love
He gave His only Son
Everything was done
So you would come

Come to the Father
Though your gift is small
Broken hearts, broken lives
He will take them all
The power of the Word
The power of His blood
Everything was done
So you would come

OL3 Celebrates Christmas

Our CG Celebrate Christmas is here on 12 Dec (Fri), 8pm @ 31 Ris Grandeur. Join us a simple gathering with food, games, songs and a video on the hope of Christmas.
Join us by emailing jameslimsl@yahoo.com.sg by 11 Dec 2008.

Onelife 3

What's Your Compassion Quotient?

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying
But the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

She is yearning
For shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching
For a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Can anybody see?

If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

He is running a hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
Ask: In this world of hurting people, why have we been blessed?

A Blessing

Genesis 12:3 (NIV)
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."

An Ambassador in the Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-21
18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.


One with God's heart for His People

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

John 10: 11-16 (NIV)
11."I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15. just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 21:15-17 (NIV)
15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

People Need the Lord

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For peo-ple need the Lord.

People need the Lord.

We are the Reason


As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain
All because of love
All because of love

I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)
And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)
I’ll be giving my all just for Him, for Him (every thing for Him)

Will this be a merry Christmas for some and will they come to know the hope and good news behind the season?

Will it be a merry Christmas for you and have you yourself come to know and believe in the good news behind the season?

How are we treating the people who needs Christ? Do we truly love them and care for them as Jesus had cared for people?

How have you been treating outreach? Have it been stamping out of need to fulfill quotas, to feel good for playing your part as a Christian or have been stamping out of love of a Christ-follower for people; to see them overcome their struggles with God?