Sermon by Pastor Russel Evans =)
I hope he doesnt kill me for posting his sermon but...
here goes nothing..
The first step to getting a breakthrough is learning how to recieve from God
Many Christians complain that they dont recieve any of God's blessings..
One reason why this could be is because, the truth is God hands us alot of stuff,
but somehow, our hands are always filled with other stuff, so we cannot pick the things he gives to us up.
We juggle too many things in our lives, holding on to things of irrelevance.
We cant open the word if our hand isnt open to recieve or is filled with too many other things
We cant recieve the blessings of God is our hand isnt open to recieve or is filling with too many other things.
Now that we can recieve what do we do?
Many Christians stop here at step one.
Some others stop at reading the word.
Some others stop at proclaiming the word.
Many of us forget to live it..
Why is it that we dont do all these things?
Imagin a bear in a cage in a zoo..
All it does all year is pace around, around and around...
So when the zookeepers finally decide to let it go free,
All it does is just pace around, around and around..
Because its mind has been conditioned to do this, its all its been doing for years..
Sin is our cage.. we've been doing this for years and years, so when Jesus came to die for us and set us free, all we thought about was just sinning somemore..
But it is nothing but a mental barrier.. it can be overcome..
All it takes is one step of faith in the right direction.
Breakaway and change your patterns of sin into patterns for the lord, to a pattern of breakthrough..
We've been saying speedlights gone cold and needs a revival,
But what have we been doing?
Are we really Recieving? Reading the word? Proclaiming his promises? Living in him?
All it takes is a step of faith..
Live a life of breakthrough.
Resist and fight because youre a soldier of God!
-Joel-
Friday, February 16, 2007
Taste and see that He is good
This is a sermon conducted by Pastor Judah Smith
Im not gonna tell it exactly, but ill put in the key points and see what goes..
Psalms 34:8 : Oh taste and see that the lord is good..
Often people get the wrong perception of Christ..
When asked what Christ is like, we tell them about the bible, we tell them about all the theoritical stuff but we leave out the practical stuff.
Look at a piece of steak for example.
Why is it that some people call it beautiful?
Is a lump of flesh really beautiful?
Or is it because they've tasted it before, and know that it tastes wonderful that they call it beautiful?
Another example is in Exodus 16
God sent "bread" from heaven
The people were initially sceptical about it..
They didnt know what it was.. it looked so weird.. it didnt look like bread at all
So they named it mana, meaning what is it?
But then they went on to try it and it is described as wafers made with honey.
It WAS good..
But they couldnt tell from just looking..
Christianity must be more than mere observation.
People who dont know Christ are like the people of Israel of that time..
They dont have a conceptualisation of who God is..
So we should just let them taste and see what God really is like..
Say a prayer for them, bring them to church..
Let God just do his work in their lives..
And for those who are running dry in your faith,
Taste again for yourself, and once more see that God is good..
Its no point observing, you must partake of it, and then you will see that God is good..
All the best,
-Joel-
Im not gonna tell it exactly, but ill put in the key points and see what goes..
Psalms 34:8 : Oh taste and see that the lord is good..
Often people get the wrong perception of Christ..
When asked what Christ is like, we tell them about the bible, we tell them about all the theoritical stuff but we leave out the practical stuff.
Look at a piece of steak for example.
Why is it that some people call it beautiful?
Is a lump of flesh really beautiful?
Or is it because they've tasted it before, and know that it tastes wonderful that they call it beautiful?
Another example is in Exodus 16
God sent "bread" from heaven
The people were initially sceptical about it..
They didnt know what it was.. it looked so weird.. it didnt look like bread at all
So they named it mana, meaning what is it?
But then they went on to try it and it is described as wafers made with honey.
It WAS good..
But they couldnt tell from just looking..
Christianity must be more than mere observation.
People who dont know Christ are like the people of Israel of that time..
They dont have a conceptualisation of who God is..
So we should just let them taste and see what God really is like..
Say a prayer for them, bring them to church..
Let God just do his work in their lives..
And for those who are running dry in your faith,
Taste again for yourself, and once more see that God is good..
Its no point observing, you must partake of it, and then you will see that God is good..
All the best,
-Joel-
Welcome to the revolution
Well... thats all i could save.. sorry rachel for leaving out the photo entries..
I didnt see the point in aving the text without the photos..
So yeah..
Ill post again tommorrow or something.. =)
And change the layout and all that..
And the password and users still the same as before, just so you guys know..
Just something short:
I know its been a tough year so far..
Alot of you guys are really running dry..
Some of us are really stressed out by work,
Some feel like we're just believing blindly and arent feeling God there,
Some are facing relationship problems in general (be it family, friendships, bgr),
And others are facing identity crisis problems..
Even though it may be tough on the going and you just feel like giving up,
its not all that bad, God will pull us through..
Like what Alvin said to us before, jut tell God that you hunger for him,
Open up your heart and let him come in and be first..
God will speak to you in his own little way ^ ^
Goodluck you guys.. We can do this!
Colossians 3:15 -Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful
Romans 8:37- No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
-Your friendly neighbourhood spiderman-
J***
I didnt see the point in aving the text without the photos..
So yeah..
Ill post again tommorrow or something.. =)
And change the layout and all that..
And the password and users still the same as before, just so you guys know..
Just something short:
Not sure if you guys even come to this blog anymore..
BUT to all of you out there..
I know its been a tough year so far..
Alot of you guys are really running dry..
Some of us are really stressed out by work,
Some feel like we're just believing blindly and arent feeling God there,
Some are facing relationship problems in general (be it family, friendships, bgr),
And others are facing identity crisis problems..
Even though it may be tough on the going and you just feel like giving up,
its not all that bad, God will pull us through..
Like what Alvin said to us before, jut tell God that you hunger for him,
Open up your heart and let him come in and be first..
God will speak to you in his own little way ^ ^
Goodluck you guys.. We can do this!
Colossians 3:15 -Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful
Romans 8:37- No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
-Your friendly neighbourhood spiderman-
J***
God's blessings are overflowing
Sunday, January 21, 20076:54 PM
This is a sermon by Pastor Chris Hill, an evangelist who came to Planetshakers today to share God's word with us.It might be copyrighted, I'm not entirely sure, and I hope he'll forgive me for posting this if it is, for I mean no ill intent, but would simply like to share it with you guys..
Its gonna be a very simplified version compared to his, hes a great speaker and Im no where near but i just wanna share with you the essence of the sermon..
Hope this helps..
2 Kings 4: The Widow's Oil..
This is the story of the prophet Elisha and a poor woman..The story starts off with a poor woman, who lost her husband, who was a prophet, crying out to Elisha for help.
Her husband is dead, and now, left with no money to pay her bills, creditors are after her two sons, wanting to take them to work as slaves for themselves..Now you must know the emotional stress she would have been feeling.Imagin the person you love most dying, and now the only things left to remind you of your memories with that person is about to be taken away..
I think it would be better just for the creditor to take away all her other possessions, her house, her food, and everything else, rather than to take her two sons away..
Many would fall away from God just because of the event. But even with the stress of the second, the woman did not fall from faith..
Instead, she decided it was time to fight back.She told herself," My husband may be dead, but my husbands God is not.My husband may be dead, but his beliefs in God and God's word will never die."
So she went off to find Elisha..
Now Elisha says to her," How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
If I were in her situation, I would probably have said something like.. " Youre the prophet, you tell me.. I came to you for help, so you help me.."
But instead, she further showed her faith by saying," There is nothing there at all, except a little oil"
How is this showing faith you ask?
Notice how Elisha asks how he can help her instead of just going straight to do the miracle.He wants her to help herself first, and go to God with an open heart to recieve blessings, instead of going with a negative heart. And that is exactly what she does. She identified that she did indeed have something back at home, a little oil. She doesnt say,"Its just a little oil, what can it do?" No, she trusts God to help her.
In reply, Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars, dont ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons."
Now it was her sons' turn to act in faith, going around the neightbourhood asking them for empty jars. The neighbours must have thought them crazy, because they didnt have anything to put into the empty jars, they were so poor that all they had was just a little oil. But they gave up their jars which the woman brought back to her home.
By shutting the door, she kept out all unwelcome negativity, all cynitism from the neighbours and she kept the miracle private between her and God,And then she started to fill the jars.
When she had filled them all, the oil stopped flowing. She went back to Elisha and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
I'd like you guys to think of this maths problem. What is zero plus 0.5?
0.5 right?
Not with God.When God blesses, he pours out his blessings so that many people will recieve, instead of just a single person.The woman and her sons borrowed empty vessels, the emptiness of their neighbours, and filled them up with whatever little she had.Oil back then was used as a symbol of the annointing of God. So God basically filled the emptiness of every soul in the neighbourhood, using just a little bit of faith that the woman had, gave the woman and her family themselves enough to pay her debtors, and then still leave enough for her and her two sons to live on with.Isn't God amazing?
God can fill your emptiness today too,All it takes is an open heart to recieve, an open mind to what hes given to you and a little faith.
=)Cheers, Joel..
This is a sermon by Pastor Chris Hill, an evangelist who came to Planetshakers today to share God's word with us.It might be copyrighted, I'm not entirely sure, and I hope he'll forgive me for posting this if it is, for I mean no ill intent, but would simply like to share it with you guys..
Its gonna be a very simplified version compared to his, hes a great speaker and Im no where near but i just wanna share with you the essence of the sermon..
Hope this helps..
2 Kings 4: The Widow's Oil..
This is the story of the prophet Elisha and a poor woman..The story starts off with a poor woman, who lost her husband, who was a prophet, crying out to Elisha for help.
Her husband is dead, and now, left with no money to pay her bills, creditors are after her two sons, wanting to take them to work as slaves for themselves..Now you must know the emotional stress she would have been feeling.Imagin the person you love most dying, and now the only things left to remind you of your memories with that person is about to be taken away..
I think it would be better just for the creditor to take away all her other possessions, her house, her food, and everything else, rather than to take her two sons away..
Many would fall away from God just because of the event. But even with the stress of the second, the woman did not fall from faith..
Instead, she decided it was time to fight back.She told herself," My husband may be dead, but my husbands God is not.My husband may be dead, but his beliefs in God and God's word will never die."
So she went off to find Elisha..
Now Elisha says to her," How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?"
If I were in her situation, I would probably have said something like.. " Youre the prophet, you tell me.. I came to you for help, so you help me.."
But instead, she further showed her faith by saying," There is nothing there at all, except a little oil"
How is this showing faith you ask?
Notice how Elisha asks how he can help her instead of just going straight to do the miracle.He wants her to help herself first, and go to God with an open heart to recieve blessings, instead of going with a negative heart. And that is exactly what she does. She identified that she did indeed have something back at home, a little oil. She doesnt say,"Its just a little oil, what can it do?" No, she trusts God to help her.
In reply, Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars, dont ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons."
Now it was her sons' turn to act in faith, going around the neightbourhood asking them for empty jars. The neighbours must have thought them crazy, because they didnt have anything to put into the empty jars, they were so poor that all they had was just a little oil. But they gave up their jars which the woman brought back to her home.
By shutting the door, she kept out all unwelcome negativity, all cynitism from the neighbours and she kept the miracle private between her and God,And then she started to fill the jars.
When she had filled them all, the oil stopped flowing. She went back to Elisha and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."
I'd like you guys to think of this maths problem. What is zero plus 0.5?
0.5 right?
Not with God.When God blesses, he pours out his blessings so that many people will recieve, instead of just a single person.The woman and her sons borrowed empty vessels, the emptiness of their neighbours, and filled them up with whatever little she had.Oil back then was used as a symbol of the annointing of God. So God basically filled the emptiness of every soul in the neighbourhood, using just a little bit of faith that the woman had, gave the woman and her family themselves enough to pay her debtors, and then still leave enough for her and her two sons to live on with.Isn't God amazing?
God can fill your emptiness today too,All it takes is an open heart to recieve, an open mind to what hes given to you and a little faith.
=)Cheers, Joel..
Youtube stuff
Thursday, January 18, 200711:38 AM
In case you guys havent gotten this yet through your mail, im just sending it round.. found it really heart wenching.. =)
and no its not written by me..
-Joko-
[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles ina marathon. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in aWheelchairbut also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his backMountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike.Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right? And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life. This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. "He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.'' But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told.. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.'' "Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed.Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed himto control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried.``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.'' That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' And that sentence changed Dick's life.
He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon. ``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor.. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year. Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?'' How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried. Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think? Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.. This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon , in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.'' And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him,``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life. Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and work垄s in Boston , and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland , Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy. ``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.'' And the video is below.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE>
In case you guys havent gotten this yet through your mail, im just sending it round.. found it really heart wenching.. =)
and no its not written by me..
-Joko-
[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly] I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay For their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles ina marathon. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in aWheelchairbut also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his backMountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike.Makes Taking your son bowling look a little lame, right? And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life. This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. "He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him And his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an Institution.'' But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes Followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was Anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told.. ``There's nothing going on in his brain.'' "Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed.Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed himto control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want To do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried.``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.'' That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' And that sentence changed Dick's life.
He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon. ``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor.. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year. Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?'' How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried. Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud Getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think? Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.. This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon , in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.'' And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him,``you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life. Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and work垄s in Boston , and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland , Mass. , always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy. ``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.'' And the video is below.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE < http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE>
Planetshakers
Wednesday, January 17, 20078:48 PM
ok so much for a title..hahaha grOssness
Hey everyone back in singapore!Miss mi?!?! ahahaok in case you dont know (and you really should so slap yourself if you dont) im joel..Ive just made PLANETSHAKERS my resident church!!! WOOTSS!!!
Theres something about melbourne that makes you grow up..seriously..I thought i was independant and mature before i came here.. (dont laugh ok?)But now i realised that i wasnt really..
Anyway.. back to planetshakers..IT ROCKS.. seriously!!
It went like thisI went in with a bunch of friends..I saw the church people and i could sense the air of excitment and expectant hearts already..It felt so awesome.. hahahaAnd i went in.. PnW started.. and it was like.. WHOA!!!! coolness.. everyone *except a few people including mi initially =X* was jumping and dancing and totally singing their hearts out..There were many kids around.. the equivalent of Lighthouse's Sparklighters.. AND...THEY were dancing too.. in fact they were more enthusiastic than most of the people..
Although i didnt know any of the songs i got really excited and i started singing like a madman and jumping insanely as well.. at that point i thought to myself..wow.. look at this.. this is a revival right here..God is working wonders in this place..
I turned out right..
Then we went to worship..And you all know planetshakers is known for its loudness.. Lol.. so the worship wasnt really worship either.. kinda..But still.. i felt my heartstrings being tugged and somehow i just broke down and cried..
And then the pastor came on stage and started singing and dancing and going crazy with us.. YES A PASTOR LOL!i was thinking to myself.. ummmmm??? this is.. weird.. hahahahabut it was actually kinda cool..
As we settled down and prepared ourselves with the message, it wasnt the total silence that i was so used to that emerged..The crowd actually interacted with the pastor, making jokes and laughing and cheering..It was amazing.. Ive always thought the pastor superior and all, so we should all give them respect and keep quiet..But once again i was proved wrong here.. it was so much better, to feel that we have a close relationship with the pastor, to have this brotherhood and some kind of equality with a giant in christ..It taught mi that everyone is equal in christ.. and once again, the church amazed me..
The message started out with millions of jokes, loud laughter echoing around the stadium *yes thats what it was* and i laughed till my tummy ached.. seriously..
Later as the sermon drew nearer and nearer to its end, the message became more and more serious.. And it also became more and more touching as all the jokes and parts integrated to form a whole new meaning..And i tried to hold back my tears.. again..Till finally these words were said..
" 'Pastor, where was God when i was raped?' And i walked right up to the girl and hugged her in front of the whole congregation.. saying 'What if you had not been raped? Would you be here? Would you have lifted all your 'stuff' to God? would you have let him carry you?'
And then, overwhelmed, i caved in once more..And when we sang the closing song, i cried..And when the altar call was given, i cried..Though i hardened my heart and refused to go to the front, giving the excuse that i was on the second level..I prayed for God to forgive me..
I left the church feeling totally refreshed and felt like a whole new being.. I had not had such a passion for christ in like.. forever..
Now Ive made a new pact with God, and ive promised to live my life for him, to honor him and give all glory onto him..You may think im a hypocrite or whatever..Maybe so, but im trying my hardest not to be and i believe with God's help i will make it though..
So when it all falls apart, and your stuff becomes too heavy for you to carry, what would you do?When you feel weary and dry, stumbling on the obstacles along the way, who will you turn to?I will turn to GOd for i know hes there for me, always..To hold me and to guide me..To carry me till i can walk again..
-Joel-
P.S. Ill always be there for you guys too if you need a shoulder or you need a rant or you need an opinion or whatever ok? =)
ok so much for a title..hahaha grOssness
Hey everyone back in singapore!Miss mi?!?! ahahaok in case you dont know (and you really should so slap yourself if you dont) im joel..Ive just made PLANETSHAKERS my resident church!!! WOOTSS!!!
Theres something about melbourne that makes you grow up..seriously..I thought i was independant and mature before i came here.. (dont laugh ok?)But now i realised that i wasnt really..
Anyway.. back to planetshakers..IT ROCKS.. seriously!!
It went like thisI went in with a bunch of friends..I saw the church people and i could sense the air of excitment and expectant hearts already..It felt so awesome.. hahahaAnd i went in.. PnW started.. and it was like.. WHOA!!!! coolness.. everyone *except a few people including mi initially =X* was jumping and dancing and totally singing their hearts out..There were many kids around.. the equivalent of Lighthouse's Sparklighters.. AND...THEY were dancing too.. in fact they were more enthusiastic than most of the people..
Although i didnt know any of the songs i got really excited and i started singing like a madman and jumping insanely as well.. at that point i thought to myself..wow.. look at this.. this is a revival right here..God is working wonders in this place..
I turned out right..
Then we went to worship..And you all know planetshakers is known for its loudness.. Lol.. so the worship wasnt really worship either.. kinda..But still.. i felt my heartstrings being tugged and somehow i just broke down and cried..
And then the pastor came on stage and started singing and dancing and going crazy with us.. YES A PASTOR LOL!i was thinking to myself.. ummmmm??? this is.. weird.. hahahahabut it was actually kinda cool..
As we settled down and prepared ourselves with the message, it wasnt the total silence that i was so used to that emerged..The crowd actually interacted with the pastor, making jokes and laughing and cheering..It was amazing.. Ive always thought the pastor superior and all, so we should all give them respect and keep quiet..But once again i was proved wrong here.. it was so much better, to feel that we have a close relationship with the pastor, to have this brotherhood and some kind of equality with a giant in christ..It taught mi that everyone is equal in christ.. and once again, the church amazed me..
The message started out with millions of jokes, loud laughter echoing around the stadium *yes thats what it was* and i laughed till my tummy ached.. seriously..
Later as the sermon drew nearer and nearer to its end, the message became more and more serious.. And it also became more and more touching as all the jokes and parts integrated to form a whole new meaning..And i tried to hold back my tears.. again..Till finally these words were said..
" 'Pastor, where was God when i was raped?' And i walked right up to the girl and hugged her in front of the whole congregation.. saying 'What if you had not been raped? Would you be here? Would you have lifted all your 'stuff' to God? would you have let him carry you?'
And then, overwhelmed, i caved in once more..And when we sang the closing song, i cried..And when the altar call was given, i cried..Though i hardened my heart and refused to go to the front, giving the excuse that i was on the second level..I prayed for God to forgive me..
I left the church feeling totally refreshed and felt like a whole new being.. I had not had such a passion for christ in like.. forever..
Now Ive made a new pact with God, and ive promised to live my life for him, to honor him and give all glory onto him..You may think im a hypocrite or whatever..Maybe so, but im trying my hardest not to be and i believe with God's help i will make it though..
So when it all falls apart, and your stuff becomes too heavy for you to carry, what would you do?When you feel weary and dry, stumbling on the obstacles along the way, who will you turn to?I will turn to GOd for i know hes there for me, always..To hold me and to guide me..To carry me till i can walk again..
-Joel-
P.S. Ill always be there for you guys too if you need a shoulder or you need a rant or you need an opinion or whatever ok? =)
Christmas Post
Monday, December 25, 200610:54 PM
well well, it's that time of the year again isn't it? christmas, the day when presents come out of stockings, well words of wishing and blessing depart our acid-lined mouths for one single day. also the day when certain newspapers unanimously decide that it's time no longer to report the news, drat.
but moving on, here in the sunny lil isle of singapore, it's not exactly the powdery white snow descending upon us. more likely it's the large dollops of water,a.k.a rain, that's been deluging, and to certain extents spoiling the festive season, and definitely plans for the holidays.
but then again, depsite all the hassle of getting gifts, and for me, thinking of what to get - cumulating in not getting anything due to too much time being spent on thinking, it's all good to give, and also to receive, but it's still the thought that matters most in the end.
and as such, i can't say how glad i am to be in this cell, well..that may be pushing things a bit, for i'm now ALUMNI, and hence maybe not definitively in this cell, but still glad, and somethings just don't change with time. for one, i hated not being able to join you gals for the play today (i say gals because i don't really think any guys went) because of an incessant, inherent communication breakdown that seemingly runs throughtout my family, ah the wonders...
and for two, being expressionally-challenged, writing cards isn't a forte to be proud of. but i'll try my best to muster up some certain words to a few special people in my life, bear with me, here goes -
To:
Rach- she of the mighty brainpower, believeth that the pen is mightier than the sword,for a simple poke can produce ink, and swords don't produce anything anyways. but work hard next year, vj's particularly stressful, according to my co-leader, cos frankly, if there's anyone who can solve some funny algebraeic question involving vectors and trigo and whatnot, it'll probably be you. since you travel so much, i do as the japanese do, you never know where you'll be heading after S.Africa - gambatte!
Tiffy- let's start with this, i've said it before and i'll say it again, still one of the meekest, and most explosive people i know, but that's a good thing, since you're in mass comm. radio should be a cinch (think its spelt this way) for you. as far as charisma goes, shouldn't be a problem too, once you get erm..excited and your volume goes up..heh..let's just say it's dy-na-MITE.
Charlene- i didn't think you'd like me calling you char, since that's like singe/roast, but never mind that now. the karate kid of our cell, ye of the mighty justice, thou that wieldeth the law and physical enforcer of..err..stuff. =p not sure where you're going next year, but you'll definitely be able to hold your own, and no matter what obstacles that be in your way, i'm sure you'll be able to hack your way through. you a fighter girl, and steely determination gets people places.PS: i love puns =D
Karen-hello pseudo mummy, i know you don't come online often/read this blog, but i thought to myself, if there wasn't one for you,it'd be too empty. i know i like teasing you a lot, and we've had our problems before, but all that is past, and i'm glad there's someone like you out there watching over me. so all in one short word, thanks.
Louisa & Denise-i'm pretty sure, 90% to be exact that you two don't really come here, but i'm trying not to miss anyone out, specially since you belong in this group of special people. first and foremost, i don't know you two very well, but to be certain, it's been an honor knowing two more beautiful people. for loui, continue to work hard next year, and i'm sure you'll definitely make it with god, and i certainly hope the new year ushers in good tidings upon you two.PS: it's obvious i love puns isn't it?
Shu Hua-yet another vj-cian..oo la-la, and yet again, chances of you coming here isn't too high, but never mind that agin, let the festivities continue. yet another one blessed with overwelming smarts, work hard next year, and it's been great knowing you.
Wen Ying-ah yes, the girl with the nice eyes, something i'll never forget since joel keeps drilling that into me, but still it's true. i hope christmas's been good for you, and that you'll continue growing in god in every way, and shine for him.
Alitan-you'll probably hate me for calling you that=p.hehe,but it's been very long, i don't know if you even read this blog,and i know you've moved church,but all the same,you were a part of this cell,and still are to me(since i left before you anyways).it's been great knowing you,very fun,very interesting,and very hilarious.you're really sweet, god bless =)
AliHo-another one who'll hate me for that name,haha.it's been a tough year for you,definitely,but be strong ok?remember, god's all that we need, although we lose focus of that at times, he is the provider and giver of all things, and things we lose are those he takes back, maybe because we don't need them, it wasn't meant to be for us, or it simply wasn't good enough for us.he loves us, and that's all we need to know that we're beautiful,because if HE thinks so,who can disagree?so i hope you'll brave the future, and like rudolph, light up the misty world =)
Phina-now you're not in this cell,but who cares right?it feels like you are anyways.one way or another, i think i know a lot abt you, even though i only just met you this year. it was sometime in april/may if i remember correctly, so the timeline is kinda screwed up, frankly because you don't grow so close in such a short space of time right?but heck, it's been a rollercoaster of emotions, your emotions..haha..but it's been fun. weird at times, frustrating at times, but still it's great. next year you're gonna be a leader, which will, trust me, add a whole new level of stress to your life, so if there's anything you need, as always, my phone is always on,but the reply service isn't from erratic times in the night to 6am in the morn..haha..take care, and god bless =)
Rena-definitely one of the cornerstones of this cell, without question. up till now, i still think you've got one of the nicest names ever, its got this sweet, calm ring to it(hence the name i guess). it's the a's next year, and it's only beginning to get a lot tougher. it's been hard on you this year, having to cope with the demands of being a leader, the demands of school, of choir and also the stress of your previous accomplishments. as i've said before, i'll always be there if you need me, to listen to your problems or difficulties, but like vintage wine, things only get better with time, and i'm sure you'll be able to cope with all these, and more this coming year, with greater experience and wisdom. no matter what, god's blessings don't change, his cmiracles don't either, and so you are,and always will be a great leader, blessed with a great voice and character. born an angel of god,always an angel of god, amen and god bless =)
Jo-the moron 'brother' of mine.in a world where i'm so unable to open up from this shell of mine,i find someone who i feel i can trust. so if words could express what i've got to say to a guy whom i consider my best friend, it'd have to be 'thanks from the bottom of my heart'
Nard-you're another guy whom i feel i can trust, and thanks for being there with all the msn chats and all. it's been really cool, and i sincerely hope you make it to tp, and acheive your dream, for the both of us, one of us has got to do it. take care and peace out =)
now..i think i'm done..it's kinda messed up now, with some missing names from the guys, but i don't write much for guys anyways..so, sorry for hogging this much space, i know the pics look better.Merry christmas to all, and to all a good night.God bless us all, amen.-wiw-
well well, it's that time of the year again isn't it? christmas, the day when presents come out of stockings, well words of wishing and blessing depart our acid-lined mouths for one single day. also the day when certain newspapers unanimously decide that it's time no longer to report the news, drat.
but moving on, here in the sunny lil isle of singapore, it's not exactly the powdery white snow descending upon us. more likely it's the large dollops of water,a.k.a rain, that's been deluging, and to certain extents spoiling the festive season, and definitely plans for the holidays.
but then again, depsite all the hassle of getting gifts, and for me, thinking of what to get - cumulating in not getting anything due to too much time being spent on thinking, it's all good to give, and also to receive, but it's still the thought that matters most in the end.
and as such, i can't say how glad i am to be in this cell, well..that may be pushing things a bit, for i'm now ALUMNI, and hence maybe not definitively in this cell, but still glad, and somethings just don't change with time. for one, i hated not being able to join you gals for the play today (i say gals because i don't really think any guys went) because of an incessant, inherent communication breakdown that seemingly runs throughtout my family, ah the wonders...
and for two, being expressionally-challenged, writing cards isn't a forte to be proud of. but i'll try my best to muster up some certain words to a few special people in my life, bear with me, here goes -
To:
Rach- she of the mighty brainpower, believeth that the pen is mightier than the sword,for a simple poke can produce ink, and swords don't produce anything anyways. but work hard next year, vj's particularly stressful, according to my co-leader, cos frankly, if there's anyone who can solve some funny algebraeic question involving vectors and trigo and whatnot, it'll probably be you. since you travel so much, i do as the japanese do, you never know where you'll be heading after S.Africa - gambatte!
Tiffy- let's start with this, i've said it before and i'll say it again, still one of the meekest, and most explosive people i know, but that's a good thing, since you're in mass comm. radio should be a cinch (think its spelt this way) for you. as far as charisma goes, shouldn't be a problem too, once you get erm..excited and your volume goes up..heh..let's just say it's dy-na-MITE.
Charlene- i didn't think you'd like me calling you char, since that's like singe/roast, but never mind that now. the karate kid of our cell, ye of the mighty justice, thou that wieldeth the law and physical enforcer of..err..stuff. =p not sure where you're going next year, but you'll definitely be able to hold your own, and no matter what obstacles that be in your way, i'm sure you'll be able to hack your way through. you a fighter girl, and steely determination gets people places.PS: i love puns =D
Karen-hello pseudo mummy, i know you don't come online often/read this blog, but i thought to myself, if there wasn't one for you,it'd be too empty. i know i like teasing you a lot, and we've had our problems before, but all that is past, and i'm glad there's someone like you out there watching over me. so all in one short word, thanks.
Louisa & Denise-i'm pretty sure, 90% to be exact that you two don't really come here, but i'm trying not to miss anyone out, specially since you belong in this group of special people. first and foremost, i don't know you two very well, but to be certain, it's been an honor knowing two more beautiful people. for loui, continue to work hard next year, and i'm sure you'll definitely make it with god, and i certainly hope the new year ushers in good tidings upon you two.PS: it's obvious i love puns isn't it?
Shu Hua-yet another vj-cian..oo la-la, and yet again, chances of you coming here isn't too high, but never mind that agin, let the festivities continue. yet another one blessed with overwelming smarts, work hard next year, and it's been great knowing you.
Wen Ying-ah yes, the girl with the nice eyes, something i'll never forget since joel keeps drilling that into me, but still it's true. i hope christmas's been good for you, and that you'll continue growing in god in every way, and shine for him.
Alitan-you'll probably hate me for calling you that=p.hehe,but it's been very long, i don't know if you even read this blog,and i know you've moved church,but all the same,you were a part of this cell,and still are to me(since i left before you anyways).it's been great knowing you,very fun,very interesting,and very hilarious.you're really sweet, god bless =)
AliHo-another one who'll hate me for that name,haha.it's been a tough year for you,definitely,but be strong ok?remember, god's all that we need, although we lose focus of that at times, he is the provider and giver of all things, and things we lose are those he takes back, maybe because we don't need them, it wasn't meant to be for us, or it simply wasn't good enough for us.he loves us, and that's all we need to know that we're beautiful,because if HE thinks so,who can disagree?so i hope you'll brave the future, and like rudolph, light up the misty world =)
Phina-now you're not in this cell,but who cares right?it feels like you are anyways.one way or another, i think i know a lot abt you, even though i only just met you this year. it was sometime in april/may if i remember correctly, so the timeline is kinda screwed up, frankly because you don't grow so close in such a short space of time right?but heck, it's been a rollercoaster of emotions, your emotions..haha..but it's been fun. weird at times, frustrating at times, but still it's great. next year you're gonna be a leader, which will, trust me, add a whole new level of stress to your life, so if there's anything you need, as always, my phone is always on,but the reply service isn't from erratic times in the night to 6am in the morn..haha..take care, and god bless =)
Rena-definitely one of the cornerstones of this cell, without question. up till now, i still think you've got one of the nicest names ever, its got this sweet, calm ring to it(hence the name i guess). it's the a's next year, and it's only beginning to get a lot tougher. it's been hard on you this year, having to cope with the demands of being a leader, the demands of school, of choir and also the stress of your previous accomplishments. as i've said before, i'll always be there if you need me, to listen to your problems or difficulties, but like vintage wine, things only get better with time, and i'm sure you'll be able to cope with all these, and more this coming year, with greater experience and wisdom. no matter what, god's blessings don't change, his cmiracles don't either, and so you are,and always will be a great leader, blessed with a great voice and character. born an angel of god,always an angel of god, amen and god bless =)
Jo-the moron 'brother' of mine.in a world where i'm so unable to open up from this shell of mine,i find someone who i feel i can trust. so if words could express what i've got to say to a guy whom i consider my best friend, it'd have to be 'thanks from the bottom of my heart'
Nard-you're another guy whom i feel i can trust, and thanks for being there with all the msn chats and all. it's been really cool, and i sincerely hope you make it to tp, and acheive your dream, for the both of us, one of us has got to do it. take care and peace out =)
now..i think i'm done..it's kinda messed up now, with some missing names from the guys, but i don't write much for guys anyways..so, sorry for hogging this much space, i know the pics look better.Merry christmas to all, and to all a good night.God bless us all, amen.-wiw-
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