This week many of our gang members are around......the world... yes Aty Helen and family in Canada and Uncle Edwin and family at the other end in Australia/NZ... so its a small group of us. And its the first time in our GG history that we have food before worship (shh!)!!! Anyways, Jia Hua who led us in worship shared an interesting but we believe significant dream about a Tempest Tree - and we(uncle Chris) decoded the dream as the church needs to be a tempest tree that is strong from its roots and can withstand the stormy weathers that others can depend on.
"But blessed is the man who trusts me, GOD, the woman who sticks with GOD. They're like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers-- Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.
(Jer 17:7-8 MSG)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
GG Journal 30th November 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Bethel ANC Journal : 9 NOV 08
Venue : Hoi Meng's Worship Leader: Hoi Meng Songs: Be Still, Still, Betapa Hatiku Tuhan, The Potter's Hand...
“Lord you have done such great things! How deep are your thoughts!” Psalm 92:5
“God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours. We aren’t even in the same neighborhood. We’re thinking, ‘Preserve the body’; He’s thinking, ‘Save the soul’. We dream of a pay raise. He dreams of raising the dead. We avoid pain and seek peace. God uses pain to bring peace. ‘I’m going to live before I die’, we resolve. ‘Die, so you can live’, He instructs. We love what rusts. He loves what endures. We rejoice at our successes. He rejoices at our confessions. Max Lucado “Grace For the Moment”Sharing: Chris: God is absolutely guiding us as a church with regards to the direction we are heading, when people may say 'Times are bad, God's people must remember that God is good, all the time'. Aty Lai Leng received two words - 'Lifelong Learning' during Fri P&P for the concept of our new premise in CP BU, and coincidentally... not, that Aty Irene has plans for a tuition centre! (Hallelujah Chorus) Edwin shared his dream of the month : (i will just put this down in keywords... ) new premise, successful sunday school, church slept over, white moths, neighbor wanted to extend his place, chris presented himself as the elder of the church... no matter what happens God will provide a way out.
Word: Beth Moore Discussion
Announcements:
1) Youth Adventure Camp 13-14 Dec 2008 @ FRIM (RM100/person) Limited to 20 persons 13-25 yrs old. Organised by MAP (Ministering through Adventure Programmes) for evangelism and discipleship. Register with Yoke Kheng asap.
2) Kota Damansara Community Christmas Carnival -GG to decide game stall -Contribute new or used household goods, clothes, etc for Cottage Sale or Prize for Christmas Draw and Stage Games. Bring items to church first sunday in Dec.
3) 16 Nov - Congregation @ Antioch - Speaker: Chris - Bethel on duty - Chris B'day
4) 23 Nov - Congregation @ Antioch - Speaker: Sister Mei from S'pore - Beit Parach on duty
5) Mission Trip to PH 21-30 Nov - ANC team YK, Chris, HM, JL - MGC - PJGH Pray for mission trip team.
Happenings: Edwin leaves for NZ on 10 Nov for Masters study, remember our dear leader in prayer.
16 Nov Sun 3pm @ KLPac- Crazy little thing called love Play
SPM & STPM Exams start this Tue: Jia Yein, Jia Tee, Xiang Jiek, Chua Hui Ling
Written from memory ... YL
The Journal of Bethel ANC
On the 26 Oct 2008 we had gg in Aty Helen's new apartment, and everyone had so many good testimony to share and i told aty Helen it would be cool if each of us can journal for ourselves what is meaningful to us in every gg.
Two weeks passed.
And on the 9 Nov 2008 we had gg in Unc Hoi Meng's house. And Aty Helen asked me, " So have you started recording down our gg sharing every week?" And I'm like..."Uh why is Aty Helen asking me? I thought its an individual thing..." -.-
And it dawned on me (Hallelujah Chorus) that she meant write a journal for our GG to record down our journey, especially now that we are heading towards house church structure.
And so here is the beginning of our journal to testify of God's working and goodness in Bethel ANC....
YL
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Church camp pics
Journey to Haven
The Haven...Harvest Haven
Our superbly ingenious nametags
Clean-ups?
Steady Ratatouille session
Twister!
Swimming...main free time activity
Guitar jamming/strumming session
We shall all follow the 'blind' leader!
Still can smile lah..
Of course we can!
Duh!
Hear ye hear ye! Bring your thumbs to the front desk!
Bring on the young!
Maybe not the veeerryyy young!
Nightly message session... :p we're all toes!
Healing...
Caving
Indiana Jones?
Top of the world!
Back to the light!
Final worship session, last minute discussion
Brekkie!
Late night twister
Human snap!
Longest line! :pTuesday, July 29, 2008
Retreat, Forward,
Woohoo! Our annual GG Retreat will be on the 9th of August (Let's hope this happens every year!)
This time, it's at Harvest Haven, speaking if which, we'll be posting up the long-awaited pics soon!
Other than that, we will kickstart our Alpha on the 17th of Aug, so if you are still blur, check THIS and THIS out.
Additional FYI stuff
Cheerios
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Kids are all grown up! *sniff
"Send me!"Well, looks like he's been enjoying himself:
Visit his blog HERE for his updates, let's uphold him in prayer!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
GLOP Ep6 : 25 Days to Camp! (Expectations)
This episode, we highlighted what campers can expect...
Very reluctantly so...because we wanted to keep everything a surprise! Now that y'all know quite a bit, make sure you do your "Ooohs" and "Aaahs" when you get there!
Well, from the previous episode we had a sneak peek at where we will be spending our 4 days and 3 nights, and ain't it a lovely place. Middle of nowhere, plenty of space, green all 360 degrees. Spick and span mansion, with a pool right outside. Perfect.
As for the activities and progam, we are only letting on a bit, that is, the caving part. Yep, nature lovers listen up, bring your shoes and torchlight.
The caving experience is part of our enlightenment on being the "light" to the world full of darkness. ..
"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill…"
Matthew 5:14 (MSG)
Apart from he above, what should we expect spiritually? After all, this camp is about God!
And these are not easy expectations.
~ Expect God to use you in great way ~ Expect breakthroughs from God ~ Pray for oikos ~ Pray for Pastor Aow & Sister Mei
Jaeson Ma said something like this: Don't ask God for something you can do. Ask Him for something you can't do. And from "GM4O": “Don’t expect a thousand-dollar answer to a ten-cent prayer.”
And lastly, our Antioch NetWork CommUnity t-shirt will be launched 'sempena' our camp!
We'll talk more about that in another post! - "Symbols Secrets!"
Saturday, May 03, 2008
This Is Home
Hello!!! Now everybody knows the Narnia movies, from C.S. Lewis' Cronicles of Narnia. And I'm sure everybody knows the next one: Prince Caspian is coming out SOOON.
It's gonna be a cool family movie and its even cooler cuz Switchfoot did a song for the movie.
Bring your friends, their kids, your nieces and nephews, your kids, your god-children, your neighbours and most importantly, your OIKOS to experience this movie with eternal truths in fairy-tale setting.
Now, enjoy the music video!
...and the trailer..
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Origami Earrings
A deft-handed member in our Growth Group has been making delicately intricate origami earrings for the purpose of raising funds for the upcoming camp,
and these unique hand-made ornaments have been the adoration of the ladies since their debut.
For those who want to order or see the catalog, drop a line in the comments box!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
GLOP Ep 5: Passion for People Pt 2 :Oikos
Occasion: Lunch and Church Camp Meeting after GG
Atmosphere: CHAOS.
Our meeting intensifies, with ideas, arguments, reasoning, clarification, confusion thrown over nasi lemak and noodles of all sorts. I guess that’s what inspired Unc Hoi Meng to pen this poem for Episode 6 of our GLOP announcement. Being one of the quieter of the lot, he must have thought: “What is this hoo-ha over a camp?”
Year in year out, why Family Camp?
So much need to do and so much need to plan,
I remembered Helen says can ah…and I said.……can can,
Now I wonder whether I am in a frying pan!
To have meeting……..good-lah over makan,
Yum, yum, talk, talk…….can still work and plan,
Young and old, never mind we are all part of the band,
For all in the GG ever ready to give a helping hand.
God’s Love, Our passion……this is the theme,
To evangelize, we need internally Christ driven steam,
Furthermore, to evangelize, we also need to work as a team,
For
His people, His creation…..Our LORD seek out with full compassion,
For you, me & the whole world, He last prayed before his crucifixion,
In His grace……we are all now saved from eternal damnation,
COME to CAMP & find out His passionate love for His Creation!
…..AND DARE TO DREAM FOR GOD TO CLAIM THIS NATION!!
SO WE NEED TO PROCLAIM & BE FAITHFUL FOR IT IS NOT AN OPTION……
THEN, BRING LAH OIKOS FOR THEY TOO NEED GOD’S SALVATION!
Honest poetry writing indeed.
Let’s ask God to give us specific oikos to bring to the camp, and act by faith. If you are feeling obliged to come yourself, maybe you are your own oikos! Challenge yourself to rediscover God’s love – the original lover, the only truth, the one creator.
And let me end by Hoi Meng’s compilation of chewable quotes from Mother T.
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”
“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.”
“I am not sure exactly what heaven will be like, but I do know that when we die and it comes time for God to judge us, he will NOT ask, How many good things have you done in your life?, rather he will ask, How much LOVE did you put into what you did?”
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”
“The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted.”
“There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation than for bread.”
“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”
“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
Good works are links that form a chain of love.
“Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.”
“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”
“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’”
GLOP Ep 4: Passion for People Pt.1
Two weeks ago (6th Apr) Charmaine gave us a lil brain workout during congregation Sunday. Asking us to draw a few strange objects (like almonds and whatnots), she made us write the pictographic message – Eye Heart U (turn). Basically “I Love You”.
God wanted to share His love. He demonstrated His love to us humans through the man Jesus Christ. His existence, His ministry, His death – was all to say – “I’ll do anything for you”. Jesus Christ was how we could understand the insaneness of God’s love. Without the demonstration on the cross, God’s love might seem like a fairy tale or legend to us.
Just as Charmaine has shown us how seemingly nonsensical icons can spell out a meaningful statement, we must bring the gospel – irrelevant at first to some, but meant for all, to everyone we meet.
Faith is an outcome of our love for God.
Works is an outcome of our love for His people.
What do we do to demonstrate our love for others, as God as loved us?
Simply put, we must be evangelists, bringing the good news and demonstrating it by caring and praying for them.
A few of us: Lai Leng, Jia Hua, Yung Ling, Jia Tee & Jia Yein attended Release Conference – an evangelism conference by Tony Anthony on the 21st March. Their testimonies ring in unison – it was a revelation; a liberation of our occupation as evangelists. Evangelism is as simple as leaving a tract for a stranger, or spending a few minutes explaining the gospel to our friends. Recently I had a chance of sharing my faith, and to my surprise, people are more curious and eager to know than I imagined. After a long time not sharing the gospel, I was taken aback by my own words – as if I was hearing the gospel for the first time again.
Let not our insecurities and fears take over our love. Imagine if you have not heard the gospel! Wouldn’t you want to hear it? Pastor Cally related to us how a friend wept when he heard the Gospel for the first time, realizing that he was waiting for that good news all his life.
Let’s ask God, to give us an open door to share, not out of duty, but out of love. If you have forgotten the message of the Gospel, ask God to tell you the good news again, and spread the word!
Friday, March 28, 2008
GLOP - Episode 3: Easter - Passion for God
Hi ANC-ers,
So, we have been visualizing the upcoming camp as a fire starter that will really help us learn about how God is really really just totally crazy and passionate for us to be with Him.
Easter is all about the grace and mercy of God through Jesus, the Passion of Jesus. When we fully understand what Jesus did on Easter, we make Him our passion, and then serve him out of this passion.
Though we always tell ourselves that we serve God self-sacrificing-ly which is good, but its not the whole picture. We get burn out soon, our passion is for but a moment. But to serve God because we know His Passion for us, nothing is a sacrifice anymore. We can then go to the ends of the earth to tell others about him.
If you find yourself in a vulnerable position as a Christian and ashamed of your faith, you need to search the Word of God to reassure your salvation. If your passion for Jesus is stagnant and you are not exactly crazy about Him, then you need to discover His passion again, your first love.
Coming for this camp is not obliging to your parents, your gg leaders or even your own conscience. It's knowing for sure how much God loves you.
Having said that, this journey is not confined to the camp dates. Which is why today, we urge you to start your walk anew, go into the secret places to spend time with God and discover Him.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
GLOP - Episode 2: Aow! Pastor Aow
So okay, honestly, partly we came up with the idea of introducing our upcoming camp speaker, Pastor Aow in our episodes, is because I (youknowho) don't really know anything about him.
I missed Pastor Aow and Sister Mei last year because I wasn't around. So as I said to some, what if I met Pastor Aow on the street, accidentally spilled his shopping cart or something, and by impulse shouted "LOOK WHERE YOU'RE GOING!" (by the way, no, I don't usually do that. maybe when driving).
Imagine the horror when we meet in church camp! Just an extreme scenario.
But really, I thought it would be a good idea for all of us to know who's gonna be our special guest and ministering to us during the 4 days.
SO...
Pastor Aow is the pastor of His Arrows Church in Singapore. Besides pastoring his church, he has ministered in several countries in Asia and planted over 20 house churches outside of Singapore. Over the years, he has impacted many Asian leaders through his evangelism course taught in Haggai Institute--an ministry set up to train two third world leaders in evangelism leadership. Ps Aow is married to Mei and they have 2 children.
Recently we just had Sister Mei with us. She gave a powerful awakening for us to dress up and prep up for spiritual warfare.
Do pray for them as they are being used by God to advance His kingdom in the upcoming camp.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
GG Retreat Pics!
I just learned how to make use of this great pic-sharing tool..Slide! Kudos to the developers...
Now I can share facebook photos here without you guys having to go to the link... :D
But anyways, you can still access the link from facebook if the slide annoys you.
When you roll over pics in the slide, the captions will show up. Or at least I think that's how it works.
Baie Dankie.
Antioch Network Community 13th Anniversary
ANC celebrates her 13th birthday, marking milestones along 2007, including shedding the name Bandar Utama Chapel to Antioch NetWork CommUnity.
2008 marks a new covenant and new promised lands for us.
Along with the Church, the Bride of Jesus throughout the world, God is moving us into a new realm, with more prayer and power.
Antioch - the first place in the Bible where Christians are given the name.
NetWork - because we believe we are to work and serve together with other churches of Jesus
CommUnity - we are to create a community of God where people belong and pray with one voice
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
GLOP - Episode 1: Behind the Theme
For those who didn’t catch the “episode” at our congregational meeting last week, here’s what was “broadcasted”.
So! A few weeks ago in the house of our newly appointed GG leader (one of them) the members of Bethel (fed and watered) sat down to discuss the theme for our 2008 church/family camp. With Pastor Aow, an expert in evangelism as our camp speaker, we were having in mind an evangelistic themed camp, but as ideas were bounced off the whiteboard, the words “Passion” and “Love” keeps recurring. To be honest, I THINK we are not so good at the whole oikos thing… YET. (As the congregation in whole) But we always seek to edify one another through our fellowship and worship together.
Looking at the direction of the congregation – what is the church longing for?
As the congregation journeys on towards deeper prayer and intimacy with God with “Give Me 40 Days” by Freeda Bowers, as well as Jaeson Ma’s “The Blueprint” that calls for prayer and waiting on God above all else, it’s obvious that the only thing we are required to fulfill in our Christian walk is to simply – love God passionately.
Simple? But what is “passion”? What does it mean to have passion for God?
When we think about all our other passions and love, it becomes harder to ‘sacrifice’ for God. Passion means ‘to suffer’ in Greek, something you live for, something you’ll DIE for- so, not so simple after all right? No! It is still as simple, just not easy.
From Uncle Hoi Meng and Yung Ling’s sharing during worship two congregations ago, we know we can’t force ourselves to be in love with God. Often times we sing “I love You Lord” thinking about a friend who is depressed and sick. Or that we just had an car accident. Or lunch.
So how la. Only by discovering God’s passion for us FIRST, how God pursued and died for us before we even know Him, then only we can fall in love with Jesus.
We work so hard for God, but how many of us are actually enjoying God?
Why is it more important to love God than to work for God?
So, to quote two writers our members have been reading:
“These… overwhelming works we are to do, are an OUTPOURING of our relationship with Christ, and not a replacement of our time and devotion with Him.” – Freeda Bowers
“Lovers outwork workers” – Jaeson Ma
Lets discover God’s passion for us even now, so that we may be of one heart with God, and share His passion.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
YV Orang Asli Trip 2006
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Give Me 40 Days - HHS 3rd Feb 08
Beloveds,
Here are the notes from Hok Seng's message on Sunday in conjunction for the launch of 40 days devotion that our church is embarking on base on the book "Give Me 40 Days" by Freeda Bowers.
The mp3 is available should anyone need it. Get from Seng Chor.
| The 1st purpose of the prayer is to move the PRAY_ER |
| Roy L Smith |
| |
| ………………… |
| GIVE me 40 Days |
| |
| INTO GIGAL |
| ………………… |
| •consecrate yourselves Josh 3.5 |
| •cross the river Josh 3.17 |
| •memorial stone Josh 4.5 |
| •circumcision at Gigal Josh 5.2 |
| •meeting “The commander of the Lord’s Army” |
| •instructions to invade |
| •fall of |
| |
| …………………. |
| |
| •return to the primary purpose |
| •learning to wait upon the Lord |
| •develop a mind-set of Faith |
| ………………… |
| 1. Return to the primary purpose of your life |
| ………………… |
| Primary purpose |
| •overloaded life lead to overlook living |
| |
| 1 Zech 3 |
| Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. |
| ………………….. |
| What is the primary purpose |
| Have you ever ask God this question? |
| ………………….. |
| Possessing the Promised Land |
| Return to Him |
| |
| Where is your Ark of Covenant? |
| |
| Where is the Presence of God in this place? |
| …………………. |
| 2. Learn to wait upon God |
| •recondition of the Heart |
| •art of listening |
| …………………… |
| Recondition our Heart |
| •give God the 1st fruits of our day |
| •put God first each day |
| •wake up a little earlier in the morning |
| •let God be the last person you talk at end of day |
| ……………………. |
| wait upon Him |
| |
| A covenant with God Matt 6. 33 |
| •take your commitment seriously |
| •40 minutes each day for 40 Days |
| •refuse to quit |
| •stay on course to see significant changes |
| |
| But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, |
| ………………….. |
| Art of listening |
| •don’t do all the taking |
| •background noises |
| •Fix your eyes on Jesus |
| •learn to wait |
| •how and what to pray |
| |
| Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. |
| …………………… |
| “In prayer it’s better to be heart without words than words without heart” |
| wait upon the Lord |
| John Bunyan |
| ……………………. |
| “In prayer it’s better to be heart without words than words without heart” |
| wait upon the Lord |
| John Bunyan |
| ……………………… |
| 3. Develop a faith mindset |
| •put work to Faith |
| •experiment “ Hit List ” |
| •a secret key |
| •power of intercession |
| …………………… |
| put works to faith |
| •expects God to act Heb 11.6 |
| •experiment on the Hit List |
| •secret key to blessings Jas 5.16 |
| •power of intercession Ezek 22.30 |
| |
| |
| And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. |
| ………………….. |
| “Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance; it is laying hold of His highest willingness” |
| Richard Chenevix Trench |
| ………………….. |
| “Heaven is full of answers to prayers, for which no one ever bothered to ask” |
| Billy Graham |
| …………………… |
| It is not about you .. . . . |
|
|
|
|
| Return to Him |
| |
| |
YL
