The Crisis of Credit Visualised

Photos & Video of Countdown 2008 and JB Seafood Trip

Dear all,

Check out the following link for our video and photos:

Countdown video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK12Rf9u39I
(Please watch in high quality, the normal quality is not nice)

Countdown photos:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cheryung/2008CountdownPartyJuneSHouse?authkey=oQSPcRsgSFQ#

JB Seafood Trip photos:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cheryung/SeafoodTripToJB?authkey=hjBcdB5X-Vk#

Enjoy,
zhiyong

Reflections of a Disciple

Hi CG,

I found this post by Wenjiang an extremely meaningful post, an heartfelt sharing and something that struck a chord within my heart. At times, I could really identify with the things that is mentioned within his post..

http://reflectionsofadisciple.blogspot.com/2008/12/reflection-on-one-thing-i-love.html

The past year of ministry has really been an eye opener for me. Back then in student ministry, my perspective of church and people around me used to be that of trusting people unreservingly and trusting leaders in the decisions that they make for the kingdom. Subsequently, as my spiritually walk with God grew as I learn to lead and serve, my trust for people waviered and I started to realise and wonder how come people seemes to choose to stay at where they are and making sub-optimal decisions and struggling with the same old issues again and again. I started to think how come people/leaders are not making sense of their experience enough in their lives. I mean if God is indeed real, shouldn't we expect breakthrus' as readily as it comes as we choose to apply his principles and word in our lives? God consistently break my naviety as I continue to observe that people are easily succumbed by sins, enslaved by a lack of faith in their lives, self-absorption, trusting in deceptions and lies, being emotionally led instead of being from the word of God. (including me in case your are thinking it is an self-righteous thought.)

The issue of balancing grace and speaking the truth has always been of paramount importance to me, particularly as a spiritual mentor and probably one of the most difficult area to manage as a Care Leader. (I am still very raw in managing this area for my life and the flocks under my care)In the church setting, at one extreme, if grace is consistently being shown, people will turned out to be very inward-looking and self-absorbed, focusing on individual needs, yet at the other extreme, constant harping on confronting the truth only makes you a legalistic church and people perceive you as a cold person. I could have easily chosen the path of just being a member, focusing on my own spiritual walk with God.

But this part is so heartfelt, "I do not look from the outside and say that the church cannot make it, but I recognise that I am part of the Church of Christ who is as equally fallible as any other, and as I endeavor to keep my life right in His eyes, I endeavor to build church, to do church the way it is meant to be, not the way I want it, but the way that God wants it, that is revealed in principles in His Word, in His leading, directing and guidance through the counsel of the leaders, through observing the sign of the times and through patiently waiting on Him. I endeavor to be part of the process, to be part of the game. I do not wait until the church is right before I join it (again). I do my part to get it right."

As 2008 ended, one of the most important lessons learned personally has been the balance between empathising vs confronting the truth and doing what is right. Indeed I also readily agree to my shepherd's David reflection, excerpts of it : My understanding of how God works is that God tests us in areas that we need to be tested in; if we fail to measure up, it will be an issue that God would keep getting back to us on. Because He cares and He knows that we need strengthening in those areas. That those are the hindrances to the new and full life that God has for us. That means God would allow situations to surface the core needs and motivations of the heart. It's another way of saying that God's word shows us up for who we are deep inside, bones and marrow... We are not pretty inside. It is a fact that should always bring sobriety to our life.

May we have a good time of personal reflection as we round up our days in 2008 and hope the post by Wenjiang gives your a good perspective between our belief in God and our church. :)

Running the race together
Jinghe

Growing Good Corn

How is ur crop yield for year 2008?
James Bender, in his book "How to Talk Well" (New York: McGraw-Hill
Book Company, Inc., 1994) relates the story of a farmer who grew
award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair
where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed
him and learned something interesting about how he grew it.
The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his
neighbors. "How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your
neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each
year?" the reporter asked.

"Why sir," said the farmer, "didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen
from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my
neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade
the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my
neighbors grow good corn."

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot
improve unless his neighbor's corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help
their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help
others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it
touches. And those who choose to be joyful must help others to find
joy in God, for the good of each is bound up with the good of all.
The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must
help our neighbors grow good corn and spur and encourage each other towards goodness and good deeds.

Let us help one another draw closer to God as we desire to draw close to God! We are in the body of christ. And the greatest of all is LOVE that binds us all together. =)

1 Cor 12: 12 - 31
12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Bless,
June (*@*)

Photofunia!

And my favourite Photo is :

This is our God! =D

Hi prince and princess

Jus wana share this new worship song that caught me a few days ago while i was walking..
Its a life new album called "This is our God" by Hillsongs..
The song that drawn my heart is "With Everything"..

http://www.hillsong.com/music/product.php?xProd=4523

Listen to it on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSCE8uLuTJY

My heart was so touched by God's presence that i bought the cd on the spot..been listening everyday...its a great album. =) May u be blessed too

Here are the lyrics:

With Everything

Open our eyes To see the things that make your heart cry
To be the church that you would desire
Your light to be seen

Break down our pride And all the walls we've built up inside
Our earthly crowns and all our desires
We lay at your feet

Let hope arise And darkness tremble
In your holy light That every eye will see
Jesus our God Great and mightly to be praised

God of all days Glorious in all of your ways
Oh The majesty the wonder and grace
In the light of Your name

With everything with everything
We will shout for your glory
With everything with everything
We will shout forth your praise

Our hearts they cry Be glorified
Be lifted high above all names For your our king
With everything We will shout forth your praise

Trying my best at work

In responding to Sunday sermon on trying my best at work, I have been praying for a right attitude towards my work these few mornings. I have been praying to be more patient towards my students. Getting pissed-off easily by my students' misbehaviours has been my constant struggle as a teacher.

In the past, the only way out for me to get rid of my anger is just simply scold them. Scolding is a straight forward and easy way out. By doing so, indeed I'm not trying my best to change and educate my students. A more proper way should be discipline together with counseling.

In school I really can't find time to sit down and talk to them, but God convicted me to still try my best to arrange to meet up with them.

For the past few days, I find myself being more patient to them and was able to talk to them more graciously. May God's spirit continue to guide me to grow myself in this virtue - patience. Please also pray together with me so that I will really love my students as how God love them.

Do not just feed on milk, feed on solid food! =P

Beware!

Following items have been recalled due to China's milk situation:
• M&M's• Snickers
• Mentos Yoghurt Bottle
• Dove Choc
• Oreo Wafer Sticks
• Monmilk
• Dutch Lady Sterilised Milk
• Wall's All Natural Mango
• Mini Poppers Ice Cream
• Magnum Ice Cream
• Moo Sandwich Ice Cream
• Mini Cornetto
• Youcan Ice Cream

We've been asked by AVA to remove them if we have any of these items in the house and please do not consume them.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Randy Pausch, the guy whom June mentioned during Sunday lunch. It's an one-hour video clip. Quite long. 6,908,359. That's the number the video clip being viewed. Enjoy.

My fav worship song this week

Here in My Life

I have never walked on water
Or felt the waves beneath my feet
but At your word Lord, i received your
Faith to walk on oceans deep

And i remember how you found me
In the very same place
All my failings surely would have drowned me
Still you made a way

You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at your throne
Where would I be without you
Here in my life here in my life

You have said that all the heavens
Sing for joy at one who finds the
Way to freedom, truth of Jesus
Bought from death into his life

And I remember how you saw me
Through the eyes of your grace
And though the cost was your beloved for me
Still you made a way

You are my freedom
Jesus you're the reason
I'm kneeling again at your throne
Where would I be without you
Here in my life here in my life