Dying To Live.

2006-07-22T11:28:00.000+08:00

当别人告诉你“God loves you” 的时侯，你有什么感觉呢？可能因为从小就在教堂长大，所以以前的我听到这句话时，没什么特别的感觉。

但，当一个人在人生中对周围的人感到失望，受到伤害，甚至开始不再相信任何人时，你就会深深地了解这句话的意思。

从小，我就很怕分离。我真的很怕我爱的人从我的生命中消失，真的很怕付出真心却得到的是失望，真的害怕带着伤口活着的日子。可我却不断地对身边的人失望，在心中留下一个又一个的伤痕。为了不再受伤，自己决定离开一个又一个我爱的人。

我好感激上帝。感激祂对我永恒不变的爱，感激祂从不忘记承诺，感激祂一直陪在我身边。虽然周围的人会辜负我，但是上帝永远都不会。只有祂不会离开我，不会伤害我，不会放弃我。

现在的我，听到“God loves you”的时侯，就会很感动，很知足，很幸福。你呢？　

"Go and die lah!"

2006-07-11T01:21:00.000+08:00

Romans 6:8 - 14

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Post-Retreat

2006-07-05T21:40:00.000+08:00

HELLO EVERYBODY!!!

(This is a really long post. I don't know how I can speak so boldly even though I'm so immature and uninformed and there are so many things I haven't learnt yet, but well...>< boast cos of what God's done, eh)

Do you know that it's been exactly one month since retreat?

So what's been up in your life since then?

(Yes, that's for you to think. Seriously. And share with people! I shall share my bit here.)

Since school started, I've been thinking a lot. Not that I've never been one to not think a lot, just that I usually do most of my thinking at night, living the rest of my life rather brainlessly. I've always wondered if we were meant to think so much and drive ourselves nuts, and whether I'm just a person who thinks too much, but I've realised that God didn't create us with brains to just bash through life and live it brainlessly like that. We are meant to live for so much more (as the song goes). And use our brains to make the right choices for God, I think. ANYWAY, yeah, last night I was quite tired (and I was falling sick, which has been happening quite a lot since...well since post-retreat, I guess; maybe it's God's way of telling me to Be Still), and I was frustrated at myself for trying to do things to live my life for God, yet things never seemed to work out the way I imagined it to be. It happened through last week and this week, and I had wondered how God was going to use me, and sometimes I would hold imaginary conversations in my head like how I would talk about God, or help others and stuff. And many times, where I asked God to use me, He didn't (well, or appeared not to, not in the way I wanted); but instead He would send people for me to help (people that'd never cross my mind on a normal basis), and He'd give me the words to best help them. Cool eh.

And so, I am learning to trust in God's plan, and in God's timing...and not rely on myself so much and try to build my own future. Lately when I try to ask God questions about things I don't know, people I feel I don't know how to help, circumstances I don't know how to control, worries and frustrations that I have, God always reassures me with this song: "If He carries the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother/sister that He will carry you"...and I know, He's more than able to carry me through all circumstances, so I really need to trust Him and surrender all that I have to Him. (Which I did! The other night, and I felt this deja vu feeling of being in the labyrinth the day we spent time alone surrendering Everything in our lives to God, and I was REminded of two REs in the REtreat - REflect and REsurrect) Btw, God also carries YOU. (:

This morning I was totally zonked out somehow, though I slept a lot, and I was struggling with like doing stuff FOR God and trusting God and do stuff WITH Him, like by His strength and with Him, in that sense. And THEN! I saw my ReGeneration nametag (it was in the place I put it, but today it seemed to stand out, like there was A Neon Sign From Heaven Pointing Towards It. Or something), and I decided to look back to that page in my diary I wrote about it. On that page, I wrote down the lyrics of Healing Rain, as well as the theme verse and the verse from Titus.

Titus 3:4-5 says "But when the kindness of God our saviour and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds, which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". Next, from Ezekiel. "The Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life...I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord." And I was reminded, through both verses, that it is not anything by anything we can control, or anything that we have done/can do to deserve EVERYTHING God has...because God has already done it for us! Through everything that He has done, and everything that He will continue to do, in His time He will show each and every one of us that HE IS THE LORD. And so, we can always live every day knowing that He is the Lord. (: And He is ALWAYS THERE, even when we can't tell, and He Knows Everything.

For me, people know (especially people who went from retreat who heard my testimony) that I am a Private Person. (: Well, after retreat, God kind of convinced me that I could no longer be a private person (at least not SUCH a Closed person), because if I don't share stuff, how can I really show God's love to people and how can I really know God's love through other people? I suppose that's part of fellowship and evangelism too right, to honestly share your whole life with another person, to glorify God (okay I'm not too sure about this). And so, I've been asking God to show me what it means to show God's love. And stuff. God has been teaching me about relating to people, and He's been moulding me, putting me through circumstances where I interact with more people and we share things deeper than what's on a surface level. I'm trying, and I've been learning how to be more open and vulnerable to others. Through all this, I've discovered that though all humans are different, we're actually more or less all the same underneath. We've got different circumstances, fears and experiences, but we all have this Need for God that can't be replaced by anything else in the world. And well...I'm just learning lah. I'm quite fascinated about how God can create such variety in all of us, though we're so similar.

The other Sunday somebody prayed that I would stop chasing activity after activity and just choose to live a LIFESTYLE that is right before God. And that was exactly the word I needed, I think. (Thanks Yiting! If you read this, hehe) For me, I do a lot of stuff. As in yeah. For me, there are usually events in my life that I can look forward to (especially in drama! Because you always prepare for productions and things like that). Well. All this while, when I trust God, I've been praying for the thing I'm doing, and like also that God can show me stuff and make a difference through me through the activity so I can achieve stuff. But then, I was reminded that we are not here to chase after activities or just get achievements etc. (chasing after the wind, like Ecclesiasties says). And that is so not the point! I've been denying that I do this for way too long. I just had my performance last week, our CCA's final production. It was fantastic. Seriously.

That's the way it usually is with my CCA (drama). During productions, we lose ourselves in another world for a moment, and we get into the state of post-production ecstasy, but after it's over and reality whacks us on the head and yells at us to WAKE UP, that dangerous momentary bliss just crashes and burns, and it comes down on us SO HARD when we know it's over. It can get painful. It's quite hard to put down in words, really, it's like fireworks, a burst of beauty and a surreal thing and then it diminishes into nothing but darkness again. I don't know why we do it, or keep doing it...it's what you'd call an addiction I guess, a deep craving to ESCAPE into another world, even if it doesn't last long. But I told God that week that I didn't want to get sucked into the black hole of this Alternate Reality and I wanted to just lead a lifestyle that pleases Him. When the production was over, my friends all had (and still are having) bad post-production withdrawal. But I'm not! Because I told God to do what He wanted. Right now, most of them are still obsessing over it, and that common topic is what keeps us together. I feel left out at times, and quite an alien, and it gets me so Frustrated! (capital F, exclamation mark!), wondering why God chose to get me out of the same mindset that they have so I can't share in their joy/misery...and at times, I wish I could feel like they did, at least a little bit. But I know He has a purpose for that, and He has a purpose for rescuing me from that post-production jungle just before this production. I'm still wondering, but I know even though it's difficult and uncertain, He'll carry me.

And well, likewise. It's not the activities that we should chase after, because we can chase after highs that don't last (even spiritual highs from retreat and camps don't last long, as I've learnt)...we should chase after God, and seek Him in everything that we do. I guess the thing about chasing after God that makes it different, is that when you chase after God, God doesn't run away from you or disappear like anything else we chase after does, but instead He embraces us and leads us on. So. Yeah. We give our ENTIRE lives to God! Every Single Bit of it. And yeah. It's only a life changed by God that will really have long-term change. So, I shall encourage everybody who reads this (if anybody still reads this, I bet people do cos people still tag, HA), all of us mere mortals struggling in this fleeting world, to BE FAITHFUL! And Keep Following Christ (KFC, yeahh). For God will NEVER leave nor forsake you, and He will carry you through whatever circumstances you are going through! Our God is not a tiny God that can be put into a box and shipped away to Pluto, He can only be put into the box our minds choose to limit Him to. We have a BIG BIG God. BIG BIG, in caps, bold and italicised in the largest font, doesn't even begin to describe how BIG our God is. Our God is an awesome God, and He totally cares for you. Like, totally. (:

Yeah lor. Let's not just live a lifestyle and be able to write thick books of testimonies for God, but let's let our lifestyle speak to others in even greater volumes that words can't even describe, that thick books can't even contain, living a life of love that God has commanded us to. I guess, this verse kind of sums up everything. I read it when I was asking God how to love people.

1st John 16-24
This is how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material posessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. / Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of His son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the spirit He gave us.

Even if this blog dies and nobody reads it anymore, God is still very much alive and working! So much for not knowing what to say. I just told Enzheng I have too much to say to fit into one blogpost...God is SO GOOD! (:

Btw, France is so gonna win the world cup (:

Love,
Joanna

Order your ReGeneration Media Pack and Workshop CDs this Sunday!

2006-06-13T11:57:00.001+08:00

As promised during the Retreat.

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ReGeneration Media Pack ($2)
This CD contains photos and the daily Dropoffs/Recording that was sent to your rooms daily. They say memories are priceless, but we make memories affordable!
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ReGeneration Workshop CDs ($2)
This CD contains the workshop handouts, workshop Powerpoint slides, workshop recordings of ALL the workshops during the Retreat. A must-have for those of you who wants to review what was taught and for those that missed out on the Retreat!
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ReGeneration T-Shirts ($10)
Unclaimed ReGeneration T-Shirts will be sold this weekend. Limited sizes left. While stocks lasts!
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Buy one for yourself! Bless your friend with one!

The two CDs above will be available for order this weekend ONLY! Look for Joanna and Edith before/after services to place your orders. Cheap cheap!

CDs are payable upon order. So bring your cash, and place your order this weekend! You will get your CDs a week after your order is placed.

Drop Offs II

2006-06-13T11:55:00.000+08:00

Here's the Wednesday and Thursday drop offs!

Must be more! Must be more!

2006-06-10T01:16:00.000+08:00

We are back and GOSH. What a retreat. It was a Spirit - filled time. The service orders and song lists were thrown out of the window and the Holy Spirit took over.

Thursday
It was a time of repentance, rebuke and ReGeneration as we learnt to move and respond in the presence of a Holy God.
Some dreamt dreams, others saw visions.
No one was excluded from this event because the worship team responded ... the committee responded. And none who sought the face of God left empty - handed.
Is your life a form of godliness but with its power denied? Then it is an IMPERATIVE that you come before God to deal with your heart before you can be transformed.

We evangelised to a total of 282 youths at Berjaya Times Square. 41 people were interested to know more and 9 people were saved. Fantastic ain't it? Before that, we embarked on the spiritual discipline of fasting and praying. After that, like an army, we went out to fight the battle for the souls of man and it was such an experience many people would not forget.

Many testified of God's strength and boldness in the face of rejection and it was definitely an experience to be replicated.

Titus 3:4-5

"But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit..."

DropOffs!

2006-06-06T16:32:00.000+08:00

Here are the DAILY DROPOFFs that the Retreaters are getting each night. Do download them to find out more about the Retreat happenings and to pray for us as well. =)

Tuesday's dropoff.

Monday's Dropoff.

Life!

2006-06-06T11:56:00.000+08:00

Greetings from Berjaya Times Square!

I just came back from a exhilarating time of soaking in the presence of God!
This morning, the youths came together for the first time in this retreat for morning service. If they had though it was going to be the usual praise-and-worship, sermon, exaltation, go-back-to-room-and-sleep scenario; by the end of the service; everyone can tell you that God had other plans.

The morning started off with some people exploring the labyrinth; the theme being surrender.
The labyrinth focuses on:
physical surrender
intellectual surrender
emotional surrender
moral life surrender
spiritual life surrender
surrendering your future.

Others gathered in Bronx 4 (I promise the pictures will be up later!) at about 0845 for a time of interceding and praying. It was encouraging to see so many people gathered at the back of the hall seeking God and expecting marvellous things.

Johann and his team led worship and by the third song

The music stopped.

Not intentional of course but how appropiate! Indeed, when the music fades, the REAL heart condition of the congregation surfaces. Pastor Ronald, our speaker for the retreat, said that TRUE worship happens with or without music.

In fact, when a believer is truly worshipping, everything else will cease to exist. The people around you, the music ... it's only God and you.

Pastor Ronald spoke about deadness ... are we dead and cold and HAVE NO IDEA that we are dead and old?
Do we have specific areas in our life and in the ministry that is disobedient to God?

Disobedience creates distance from God. Distance from God leads to death because God is the source of life!

After the short preaching, Pastor Ronald urged us to press into the presence of God and encouraged people to speak the thoughts that God has placed in their hearts. In particular, the specific sins that are afflicting the ministry.

Some of these included wrong attitutes towards parents, teachers and friends. Others spoke about losing our love and sincerity for the Lord and lusting for worldly things. There were many similar themes as God affirmed all these within the body of Christ.

What followed was a POWERFUL and I daresay life transforming experience. WITHOUT MUSIC, WITHOUT HYPE, WITHOUT ANYONE FORCING OR IMPOSING, the youths came to the front and declared that they wanted to get right and BE right with the Lord.

This continued on and on and it was fantastic! God was and IS awesome! We prayed for the youths who did not really know God, the generation that heard about His signs and wonders but still did not know Him. We prayed for each other. We prayed and we prayed.

And the best part was even after the service is over, Pastor Ronald said that what we experienced was but an initial spark of what the Holy Spirit is going to do! I am so excited!

The service concluded with Pastor challenging all of us to hear God's voice all the time. In order to do that,we embarked on the spiritual discipline of silence. For the next 2o + hours till the next worship service, ALL of us will be silent. Not a punishment, but so that we start to question our thoughts and intentions. We learn to stay silent so that God can speak!

You at home! Are you excited too? Remember that this is what's happening in the MINISTRY, not just to those who are here. Let's pray and believe God for ReGeneration wherever you are!

I shall be back with pictures soon! Soon!

Can You Hear The Sound of REvival

2006-06-04T23:21:00.000+08:00

Can you hear the sound of REvival

It is one more day to retreat. Has everybody done with their packing? Throughout the week, many people have asked me what to bring to the retreat. How many t-shirts, how many shorts, how much underwear to bring?

I would really like to say, “All you have to bring is an expectant and willing heart”

I hope that you the blog reading out there who is still doing the last min packing and last min check on this blog will pack in such a crucial item and bring it to retreat.

The advance party has reached the hotel and is doing their best preparing the place for your arrival, and just to keep you a bit excited, here’s a little peek at the place!

Very interestingly, there are posters all around the hotel, promoting their band “Break Thru”. There’s this one interesting line that caught my attention: “Break Thru Nightly.” That just kinda totally made me giggle and think. Isn’t that what we want? To have a break thru on a daily basis. Hmm. And now they are singing this line “I don’t care, I just wanna be yours…” Do we want God to this extent of abandonment? To really say: I don’t care Jesus, I just want to be yours and I’ll do whatever it needs. I don’t care who is next to me in the worship hall, I will choose to worship you. Or to say: No matter what is happening in my life, I will choose to worship you.

Among us, there is a youth who has dreams that she didn’t receive anything during the retreat because she didn’t prepare herself. It would be quite sad to come to the retreat and to leave without having received anything because you don’t want to.

For those of us who can’t come for the retreat for some reason or another, do check out the blog DAILY. We’ll be updating it with summary of events, maybe even recordings of sermons / workshops, and of course lots of pictures! Not being in Berjaya Times Square doesn’t mean you are not part of the action.

Enzheng

The Seduction of Our Souls

2006-05-22T10:59:00.000+08:00

As I was listening to Ps Cuixian's sermon on the book of Acts and how the Spirit's power enabled Peter to overcome persecution, I reflected on the modern circumstances facing our church. We do not really face much persecution, with a relatively liberal and tolerant religious environment coupled with stability and prosperity, rather, I believe what we face is a seduction of our souls.

Seduction while conjuring images of sexual enticiment is simply defined as enticing someone astray from right behavior and encompasses anything that leads us away from our obedience and love for God.

While we may perceive this as a modern phenomenon, surprisingly(to me at least) the Bible details one church's slide away from their first love. It is the Church of Ephesus, the recepient of Paul's letters as well as the warning in Revelation 2.

In Ephesians 1:15, Paul commends the Church for their love for God and others, writing "For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."

The Ephesian church then grew into a large and probably by our standards a successful church and soon the first generation of elders died and were replaced with the next, to whom the warning in Revelation was addressed to.

"I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches." (2:2-5)

While Christ had commented them for their many positive attributes, including working hard in their ministries and persevering, He faulted them for losing their first love for Him. In the case of the Ephesian Church, pride and busyness replaced love for God and people as their motivation.

We need to examine the condition of our hearts and whether our first love for God is still burning strong or have we let other things entice us away from living the life we were meant to live.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do." (Proverbs 4:23)

Lionel

What Am I Livng For?

2006-05-19T11:04:00.000+08:00

For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell then without being sent? this is waht the scriptures mean when they say, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" Romans 10:13-15

As I was praying today, this verse came to mind and as I meditated I realised that God's heartbeat is to save the lost. Throughout the Bible, it is God's story of His endless attempts to redeem our fallen race and to reach out to us. I guess it kinda dawned on me that the Bible really is a love story taken in its entirety with our creator reaching out to us since the beginning of time till the very end.

As I continued, I realised that the ambitions, goals and purpose of my life just wasnt in tune or in line with God's heartbeat - saving the lost. It was an awful feeling to know that I have been so far away and that I missed the mark. I could feel the Holy Spirit's conviction about my goals and behaviour and whether they served to advance God's plan to reach the lost or hinder it.

I re-read John 3:16 and coupled with Edith's post, realised that God's love is so so great. But more than blessing and making good things happen in our lives, I believe God's heart yearns and burns for the peope who dont know Him. I think I need to look beyond my circumstances and self centeredness and move with God's desire to reach the lost.

Lionel

God's Love

2006-05-17T22:08:00.000+08:00

情绪低落时，碰到困难时，泪流满面时，总觉得心里的痛，
只有我一个人明白，只有我孤独承受着，只有我苦不堪言。。。

As the term comes to an end, I started getting back my test papers. For a long time, I have place a lot of emphasis on my academic studies. To a certain extent, it became my source of security and self significance. I tried my best to place my priorities right, I tried my best to convince myself results is just that small part of my life and God wouldn't even ask about my marks when I see Him.

But when I realized the results I have gotten for my two strongest subjects fell way below expectation, my heart sank. When I saw the mark I got for a paper I thought I would do well, my hands trembled and my mind went blank. I really thought I was just going to faint in front of my teacher and scare her. Although the teacher miscalculated and I had three marks more, I was still disappointed, very disappointed. I questioned God why, why did I do so badly despite my efforts and time. Then I told myself that I should trust God, He knows what is best for me. For the rest of the day, I struggled with this internal conflict- a conflict between falling into depression and placing faith in God.

Someone asked me if I could praise God at that point of time. I said I do not know if I am able to do so. I was still struggling to convince myself that God is in control and all will be fine. Then, the bus I was waiting for came immediately. I praised God for letting the bus come so fast. Last night, when the marks started to haunt me again, my friend called me to inform me that there is NAFA (physical fitness test) re-test today. I did not want to go because I just cannot pass standing board jump no matter how hard I try. To me, SBJ is one of the most horrible things I have to go through annually. But my friend spent an hour convincing me to sign up and even volunteered to stay back after school just to help me jump. I know we have many assignments to complete, so when my friend said she was willing to stay back just to help me pass and cheer me on, I was really very touched. I thank God for giving me such a great friend. Then, my mummy came into my room to console me about my marks. I thank God for blessing me with such wonderful parents. I do not usually look at the retreat Blog on a weekday night but I just felt like looking at it yesterday night. I saw a comment on the tag board, saying that my previous post was very encouraging. I do not know that person but the comment encouraged me greatly. I felt really happy. Thank you very much. My quiet time material for yesterday was on how Solomon proposed to cope with mysteries of life. One will never know why some wicked people are praised while other righteous people suffer. The best solution- eat, drink and put your trust in God. Throughout the entire day, I was sending test messages to a close friend of mine. Thank you for encouraging me, thank you for being there when I needed someone to lean on, thank you for lending that helping hand to pull me up.

These may seem small things to you, but I felt really encouraged and loved by God. I used to think nobody can fully understand the pain I go through, but I realize God can. He knows everything, He understand everything. Through the many things that happened yesterday, I am truly convinced that God loves me and He is in control. God love us in His own amazing way...…

上帝一直在身边，上帝了解我所有的不愉快，上帝以神奇的方法抹干我的眼泪，
上帝微妙地带来了希望，上帝深爱着我。。。

edith

Regeneration is like....

2006-05-17T01:03:00.000+08:00

Regeneration is like packing a table.

I don't know about you, but I have a problem with my table. I pack it very nicely before every CNY or Christmas or before the start of every school term, but without fail, a big mess will always build up and i will find it more and more difficult to find space to do work, or even find stuff.

I just packed my table yesterday because i have an ant problem. ants are crawling all over my table and i didn't know why. i was kinda sick and tired of having the ants biting me while i do my work. i mean, i could have gotten used to the ant bitings, working with little space on my table, and live with the dust and dirt. but enough is enough and i decided to do something about it. to tell the truth, i wanted to clean the table on monday, but i was too lazy and didn't do it, but finally did it yesterday. i'm quite proud of myself now with a nice clean ants free desk. (=

so how is regeneration is like packing a table?

our lives are like tables. things take up space in our lives and it does get dirty and grimmy from all the things we go through. if we don't regularly clean up our lives and put things away to the places where they are supposed to be, it will get dirty and messy. then there has to be a decision made to clean up the table. regeneration is a choice (just like what Jo said in the last post). sometimes we tell God that we want to clean up our act, but we sit on it.

so are there ants on yr desk? do the choices you make in life bite you back? I've cleaned up my table. Will you?

I hope that as retreat draws nearer, we have a clearer picture of what regeneration is, and go with an expectant heart.

one way

2006-05-15T00:10:00.000+08:00

i don't quite know how to phrase what i want to say (i had a whole chunk of thing but it was kinda incoherent), so koping pastor ronald's words from a previous blog entry

"Overwhelmed by the busyness back here, it seems like I am trying to keep my head above the water. Wow! is that the kind of life I have been saved for?"

school (school activities, tests, classmates, blah) has been eating up my life in the past month or so, and honestly, my spiritual life is pretty much in ruins right now. kinda like dry bones. heh (refer to verse above). seeing a lot of people around me so busy, so caught up, so plugged into studies/feelings/relationships/obsessions, you'd think it was normal. you'd think that's the way life is and that's all there is to life. but today God kinda reminded me that we are not to conform to this world we live in right now, cause His love has given us so much more.

maybe it's just me, but i thought from the back of the service hall, everybody worshipping God during power praise today was quite a sight. that's the kind of life we're called to live right. though we may not always worshipping God with our singing and/or lifting of hands, but always with our hearts. we're not MEANT to live like that - it's not quite an entitlement. but cause of what God sacrificed out of His love for us, He's given us the privilege to do so...and so we're CALLED to do so. it's more of an instruction than anything else.

we sing it, and God's word says it..there's only one way to live. one way to life - and that's a life in God that's regenerated lor. i'm not living a regenerated life at this point in time...but the first step to it would be to not make excuses not to. not to say you're too busy for God, and have no time for God, or to say you're too young, or too old, or anything in between.

yeahh..so don't make excuses. choose to live a regenerated life today (:

joanna

WWJD

2006-05-12T13:18:00.000+08:00

I was spending time with Chan Hong, Daniel and Samuel last sunday. It felt good that I finally have the time & made the time to meet up with them. I do miss spending time with them.

After lunch was when I had a more alone time with Samuel (Ho ho was there too, and Chan Hong had to go off early). We talked about how the retreat planning was progressing & how people got involved with the preparation. We then talked about how important it is to make the right choices and to have the right attitude in life, for example when serving in church, or the music we listen to. I then shared with him what I learnt from Charles M Sheldon's In His Steps. It was from this book the popular phrase of WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) came about. Thanks Sam for sharing your life with me and for your love.

During the week that followed, I was thinking of what to share with the committee about living a regenerated life. It was during then that this phrase of WWJD kept popping in my head. For some time, I could not directly link these two topics together. It was only when I was led to recall how I USED to live with WWJD as my motto. Comparing what I was, and what I am, it made me realize how far I am from living a truely regenerated life.

Regeneration is when one chooses to renew his life everyday, to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and seeking His direction. To continually to die to the old sinful self, and to be alive in Jesus and to be more like Him. Thus WWJD is a guide to be like Him.

I really want to live a regenerated life and to walk side by side with God and to live the way He guides and speech, action and thoughts. To think of WWJD before a word is spoken, before a thought is sprout and before a finger is lifted (or not). I have to seek forgiveness when I have given up on practicing WWJD, and to think that I have "made it". I can never make it, God please forgive me when I have thought that I have.

The Art of Living

2006-05-07T17:55:00.000+08:00

对于这世界
我感到无奈
对于这生活
我感到厌倦

脸上的泪痕
脑里的烦恼
心灵的闯伤
眼里的绝望

我好想离开
请求早日走
到世外桃园
到上帝身边

但我发现我错了

活着的目的
是完成使命
是听从上帝
是带来荣耀

上帝赐于爱
也给了力量
每刻陪伴我
每秒鼓励我

因为有上帝
天空变晴了
世界变美了
我变勇敢了

- edith

Whatever is true ...

2006-04-26T21:24:00.000+08:00

HEY! This is Rachael. How has your week been? I finished my exams, by the grace of God, unscathed! Woohoo! For these past two weeks, the verse from Philipians 4 has been twirling around in my mind, and this truth has LITERALLY set me free ... I'll share the secret with you.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Many of us will probably be having exams before the retreat. So it is safe to assume that some of us may be befuddled and anxious about grades and how we are going to perform but the Bible offers us a living and practical solution. Offer up your praise, requests and thanksgiving and VOILA! The peace of God will be yours to keep. Of course, according to Matthew 6, do check if your piorities are right i.e. are you serving God or man and allow your FAITH to show itself!

THINK about things that are true (synonyms: factual, real) because Proverbs also says, what a man thinks, that he shall be. Allow your life to be transformed by the Word of God even during exams and let the Word of God set you apart!

Therefore, I chose to think about such things. It was truly liberating to think only thoughts that were positive because my perspective changed. I could focus more and it was my defence against lies that the devil tried to put in my head.

Let's all prepare to experience His presence by guarding our hearts (i.e. mind) well because it is the wellspring of life!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

2006-04-15T00:33:00.000+08:00

Greetings.

At the final moments of the week, if you are still contemplating whether or not to sign up for the Retreat, don't bother thinking anymore! Just pick up your pen, fill up the form and SIGN UP NOW!

The cost of doing it is great, the cost of not doing it is greater.

We have put up the details of the GREAT workshops that'll be coming your way during the retreat. Check out the links on the side of the blog OR just below. NOTE TO ALL: The Youth Workshops are SEPARATE from the Young Adult Workshops. =)

Youth Workshops
Click here and see the different things that will be imparted to you during this Retreat.

Young Adult Workshops
Young Adults take note! You will have the flexibility you've been asking for all this while. Plus, your workshops will be more in-depth and relavant to your phase of life. In simple English, THE WORKSHOPS ARE CATERED SPECIALLY FOR YOU!

So what are you still waiting for? The deadline for registration is this weekend. SIGN UP NOW!

Here to Eternity

2006-04-12T12:33:00.000+08:00

Time waits for no man! Has it been one week since I last posted? How have you spent your past week? Has it counted for eternity?

One of my cell mates remarked recently that life has become a linear pattern of eat, sleep and school and it was on the edge of spiralling downwards into meaningless-ism. This being the week we celebrate Easter Sunday, the cruxificion and ressurection of Christ, I was particularly introspective.

Jesus said in John 10: 9- 11

9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved (or kept saved). He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

The Sherpherd laid down His life that I may have life to the FULL. While this is not an excuse for satisfying the lusts of the flesh, it does mean that our lives have VISION and PURPOSE.
What is it that God wants us to accomplish today? How can I die to myself so that He might live in me TODAY?
Many things have seeped into our lives to steal, rob and destroy, but as retreat nears, let's press in together to TAKE HOLD of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us.

Rachael.

Simply Live or Live Simply

2006-04-11T09:12:00.000+08:00

In my recent trip to Hanio, Vietnam, I noticed many Vietnamese are "simply living." They are busy with daily things. Their purpose in life is to survive life.

I am reminded the kind of life I am living in Singapore. Overwhelmed by the busyness back here, it seems like I am trying to keep my head above the water. Wow! is that the kind of life I have been saved for? We have been saved by the gift of another Life. We cannot just let life slip us by. We cannot just simply life. We have to live simply. Paul says, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." That is the kind of life that we need to live. We need to managed out time so that we can live in the "kairos" time of God.

Let us pray that God will regenerate us to live for His purpose and not be engulfed by the system of this world. Let us get ready for a regeneration process through the 5 days retreat udnder the power of the Holy Spirit.

PastaRona

Perspectives & Paradigms

2006-04-07T17:40:00.000+08:00

Was lying on my bed this morning feeling extremely overwhelmed. My exams are next week and this week was meant to be my study break. However, it seemed the more I did, the less I achieved or accomplished and I was feeling insecure and wasted.

I guess I just decided to pause and pray, something which I had neglected in my busy-ness over the past few weeks. I wondered what to pray about and what I could do through praying. then I prayed this, "Father, help me know your plans and desires, that I might be a part of it."

I guess it dawned on me that so many times I've approached prayer as a means to move or make God do something. And when things werent accomplished, that my prayers were ineffective and unimportant, which is far from it. At that point I just wanted to be in the center of God's Will and do the things He wants me to, rather than accomplishing my own agenda. It was immensely refreshing and I felt a big load was lifted.

So Im learning as I go along and its gonna be a interesting journey.

Lionel

Babies and life.

2006-04-05T13:50:00.000+08:00

My baby cousin Tse Kye was delivered last Sunday in Mount Elizabeth Hospital and his tiny body reminded me of myself.
When we were babies, our lives DEPENDED on our parents. Food, drink, going to the toilet. In many ways, we were helpless. Then as we were older, we learnt to think for ourselves, had opinions and God forbid! we started to argue and do things that break their hearts.
This semester has been an extremely tough one and I wonder if I have not broken my Father's heart. When did I start to "have an opinion" so that what He says take second place? When did I start to think that what I wanted was important, what He desired could be done only when "I had time"?
I want to go back to depending on my Father in heaven; completely and utterly. Because the busy-ness that accompanied this term has only increased my desire for the abundant LIFE that He promised.
I want to live out the purpose that He has for me and to do that, I need to die to my flesh so that I can live in Him.

Would you like to run into your Father's arms again?

Rachael.

Living Everyday!

2006-04-04T12:05:00.000+08:00

I was driving home yesterday after droping Jean at her work place. My mind was preoccupied with my assignments. Organising, arguing . . . .lots of meditation on my assignment. Suddenly, the background song, "Everyday" broke into my chain of thoughts. Every word of the song began to fill my mind. The presence of God filled the car and I teared uncontrollably. I am reminded that a Christian's normal mode of living is "dying to live." Like what the song says - Everyday I live for you my Lord.

". . .anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for may sake will find it." - Matthew 10:38-39.

Are you dying to live?

pastarona

coming through.

2006-04-04T11:24:00.000+08:00

coming through., originally uploaded by regeneration06.

There are times in our lives that we feel like we are not deserving of God's love. We feel like we are in a situation when everything seems hopeless.

I am reminded of this song(lyrics below) by Steven Curtis Chapman. The chorus goes

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

Often we treat God as our last resort when things get rough. Even though we all know that God can work miracles and God can do the impossible, but how many of us really turn to God first when such situation arises? I am one of the guilty ones.

I'm currently working on this group project in school. And I get really frustrated with my group members at times because we don't see eye to eye on many things. And many times, I chose to pull a long face and start giving the 'ICan'tBeBothered' attitude instead of praying and asking God for patience and love for my friends. I don't hate my friends for sure. BUT I should have prayed and responded in patience and love instead of letting pride and impatience take over me.

Pastor Lim once said, 'God never wastes an experience.' And I personally think that's very true. In every single thing we go through in our lives, whether good or bad, we should always ask ourselves, 'What is God trying to say to me? What is God trying to teach me?'. We won't understand everything God does simply because we are not God. But what we must know and apply in our lives, is that no matter how hopeless, how bad the situation might be, God is still there. Just like the picture above, no matter how dark it might be behind the blind, God's light shines through anyway.

I encourage all of you, to look on the brighter side of things. It's not easy, but it's definately worth it. Being happy everyday is definately more exciting and effortless than dwelling on all your problems. Seek God first in all things. Let go, let God, because He is God. =)

Jon

---
God is God
Steven Curtis Chapman

And the pain falls like a curtain
On the things I once called certain
And I have to say the words I fear the most
I just don’t know

And the questions without answers
Come and paralyze the dancer
So I stand here on the stage afraid to move
Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must
On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust

God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge
How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne
Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

Today

2006-04-02T00:00:00.000+08:00

I love Edith's and Joanna's posts cuz they are so genuine and applicable. They're the ones who are gonna make sure u campers get ur room keys on time come 5th June so better be nice to them k? :) Haha
-----------------------------
TODAY.

Today was the first time i did not attend a full service over a weekend ever since i've called R-AGE home. I have been overwhelmed by projects and term papers that are swarming every NUS student at this time of the year, and as I trudge through this academic mud, I feel run down and superceded by it all.
Yet...
Edith's post reminded me of the devotion i read on the way to school today.
TODAY. A day meant for church, for cell, for fellowship, for rest... Guess what i ended up doing? Meeting four other of my proj mates and getting to know the DELL computer at the lab better.
And yet as i dragged my feet to school, the words that were shared in EDWJ spoke of....

JOY

Joy in the Spirit, Joy that Jesus gives, Joy that is not self-generated but is possessed because we live in Christ who possesses that JOY. Do we have that JOY?

BTW, if u're wondering hw come i read that entry...what u're probably guessing is right: I read the wrong entry. Don't ask me hw i could make that blunder...I don't know either! *blinks*

But ACTUALLY...maybe i misread the entry for a mighty good reason! ;)

I was really inspired to look at things in a different perspective after reading those words.

Did i really miss church? [miss as in...fail to attend]

Is church really defined as a Sunday in Church, singing worship songs and sitting through a sermon? I will ALWAYS remember the analogy that "being in Macdonalds' doesn't make u a burger, so neither does being in a church make u a christian".

And i thought to myself: If i couldn't go to church, then maybe it was good to bring church to my friends--my project grp mates. At the end of the day, I didn't really get to share the gospel with them, but i brought a spirit of encouragement to them, something i would never claim credit for because i've always known that this is a gift from God. Something i think is scarce in the dark, dark world.

And something i realised then...

Church is a lifestyle, not a place. We live Church, we don't do Church.

We ARE the Church.

And another...

Matthew 5:14-16. What kind of a candle.......are YOU?

Jeanie

Are you Happy?

2006-04-01T17:48:00.000+08:00

I have always wanted to know how to be happy. As my life becomes filled with loads of projects, as I mug for test after test, as I worry for my flunking grades, my heart really cries out, “Lord, what must I do to be happy no matter what my life has installed for me?”

During my quiet time, I came across this passage:
A blind woman was brought to her new room. Not knowing she was blind, the attendant who took her to her room described the new room to her on the way there. “I love it!", she declared. “But you haven't seen the room yet.” replied the attendant. “Happiness is something you choose. It is not how life arranges things for you. It is about how you arrange your mind.”

It was a simple story, yet it taught me so much. No matter how crazy life becomes, I should be happy because Jesus gave His all for me, I should be happy because He loves me. Happiness dependent on earthly achievements last for a moment, happiness in God lasts for a life time.

“Rejoice in the Lord” Phi 4:4

快乐　总是显得那么遥远
幸福　总是那么难以理解

为了学业　为了工作
愁眉苦脸　闷闷不乐

天空渐渐暗下来
笑容慢慢失去了

其实　快乐就在身边
其实　幸福垂手可得

上帝的爱　超出想像
壮烈牺牲　感激不尽

因为这份爱　我们应该快乐地生活着
因为这份爱　我们感受到真正的幸福

你快乐吗？你幸福吗？

- edith

Re: Generation

2006-04-01T07:31:00.000+08:00

my goodness, i've been trying to type (and retype, and retype, and retype, and retype...) this post since forever :P (this was supposed to be posted on friday, by the way...i'm so sorry for the delay :X THIS POST IS EXTRA LONG TO COMPENSATE) and i've been thinking about it for very long because i want to do it so that it will impact you, the reader who's reading it, and it'll challenge you in some way or another. but then again, i just remembered that i'm doing this as an act of worship to God, so i trust that God will speak to you through this (:

this is a starfish.

regeneration occurs in starfish in two ways (i think). the first way regeneration occurs is when a starfish that loses its arm grows a whole new arm after some time. most species can only regenerate if the central part of the body is intact, but the second way regeneration occurs is when a whole starfish grows back from a single arm. so from this single starfish that gets torn apart, several whole starfish are regenerated.

in the same way, like the first type of regeneration, we need to surrender our broken/damaged/hurt/injured parts of ourselves to God, so that we will be made complete in Him. after these parts have died, we can live again! (: and who knows, maybe we'll be like the second type of starfish, and God can use our hurts/weaknesses to reach out to those who are dying/do not live, such that more people may come to live through knowing God. (actually another definition of regeneration, which was probably what pasta ronald had in mind when he came up with the theme, is 'the activity of physical and spiritual renewal' - interesting that the term can apply for both situations (: )

when you read 'dying to live' - i guess the phrase can be interpreted in two ways 1) dying to live (i.e. you really really really really really really really wanna live) or 2) dying, to live (i.e. you're dying, so that you can live). through the tagline of this retreat, i think God's reminding us to die to ourselves, and to give up our entire lives to God, so that we may truly live, and also not just settle for an existence on this planet, but to want to live SO MUCH that we're DYING to truly live. like we're dying to live this gift of life to the fullest lah. and we can do so, cause we know what life is (: and we know this brief time we have on earth isn't all to life...and we can be sure of it cause of what God's done, and His promise of eternal life that starts from right here, right now. (John 17:3 "And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent")

somebody once told me that everybody dies, but not everybody lives.

('living' = not merely existing, but having a life that's full of purpose; or at the very least, has a purpose)

to many people i've talked to (especially people who don't know God), death is the worst possible scenario, like the thing that makes everything equal, separation, blah blah...basically, it's THE END. it's seen as something negative, something scary, uncertain - yet we're here wanting to die. so strange right. 0__O but we're not wanting to die cause we're not happy, or have suicidal tendencies...we want to die cause through our 'death' (not literal) we want to give ourselves up to God and have life again! (but even if we do wanna die, like really be removed from the earth, when we give ourselves up to God, He restores hope in us through the better place He's promised)

thank God for who He is, that we no longer have to fear death, or life, or anything in between (except maybe God of course). instead, we can Rest In Peace, dying to ourselves and to our sinful nature, knowing that this peace we're resting in comes from God. and when we surrender our dying/rotting/decaying/broken selves to God, He reminds us He'll restore us with new life from Him, cause in Him we've got second chances, and are brand new again.

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life"

are you dying...
...from the stress of school/work?
...from the irony of this life?
...of boredom?
...cause there seems to be nothing to live for?
...cause jealousy/bad habits is/are just sucking away your life?
...spiritually, cause you're undernourished with God's word?

...to live?

Trivia! do you know that when you spell 'Live' backwards, you get 'Evil'? so, will you choose to live? or will you choose to follow the evil one? at the end of your life, will you have lived? or followed the devil? (yeahh, letters reversed again!)

joanna o.O

What are you going to do?

2006-03-30T16:06:00.000+08:00

Hihi all! Enzheng here! I've been quite excited about this blog thingy and i cant' wait to actually blog today! Haha!! i was telling a sec1 that i already had planned on what to blog about and couldn't decide exactly what, but i've finally decided to go with a more relaxed entry. *^.^*V (yes yes.. enzheng trying to act cute)

Just got home today and was all ready to blog. I had quite a busy week as i have reports and projects due. plus the fact that i wasn't feeling too well - LAU SAI!! for like 2 days. kinda suspect it was "somebody's" cake that did me in, but nevermind... back to the topic. i was thinking of what to blog and i decided i shall blog about what happened on sunday.

My sundays are packed. from 8am to 2pm. (those who want to know how packed, ask me okie?) Joey was leading service last weekend and he encouraged me to attend the adult service. My schedule doesnt allow me to attend the service fully, but i can go for the 1st english service worship. After thinking for a while, i've decided to do that. (that's why justin u didn't see me @ RP so early last week.. sorrie!! )

so there i was @ 3rd level hall all by myself. (next to rebecca la.. but that's not the point). it has been sometime since i was at 1st service by myself and it felt out of place. questions went thru my head like what if i don't know the songs, what if people thought i was weird?

i had to choose at that point of time. i had to choose that i will worship God and not care about the people around me. so i decided that i will not let this opportunity to meet God pass me by. i don't want to see God when i die and He asks me: "eh boy, why didn't you worship me on this sunday? "

This is the same, i believe, for our daily lives and for retreat. Do you choose to want to spend the time with God, or give up being in His presense for something else?

I had the most enjoyable worship that sunday. I have not worshiped like that in public for a long time. Thanks Joey for the invite. (= and likewise, i invite you to join us for this upcoming retreat.

So right now, i invite you - dearest blog reader, youth or YA, what is your choice for this moment now? do you want to glorify God? Will you choose to come for this retreat over something else? Are you dying to live?

(p.s. please tell us what you expect from this retreat! leave a comment)

Everlasting Love.

2006-03-29T10:16:00.000+08:00

Hello! This is Rachael checking in. I read 2nd Peter this morning and a portion of what I read [chapter one verse three] said:

His divine power
has given us everything we need
for life and godliness
through our knowledge of him
who called us
by his own glory and goodness

It humbles me to know that when Jesus calls us to die to ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him, He never leaves us to fend for ourselves! Because He is faithful and good, and as we enjoy a passionate love relationship with Him, we have ALL we need to take hold of the abundant life He promised. Most of all, we now can CHOOSE to be HOLY and obedient children because His divine power lives in us.
The struggle, then, is how to tap into the 'divine power' 24/7.
Peter continues from verses five to eight:

For this very reason,
MAKE EVERY EFFORT (empahsis mine) to add to your faith goodness;
and to goodness, knowledge;
and to knowledge, self-control;
and to self-control, perseverance;
and to perseverance, godliness;
and to godliness, brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Think of it as peddling a bicycle. The Lord has already enabled. Our simultaneous response, therefore, would propel us forward. We work hand in hand, or rather, foot in foot, with Him so that we can say as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must become greater, I must become less."

: Till the next time!

Valley of Death

2006-03-28T14:25:00.000+08:00

Do you live behind this sign?

Dying to Live.

2006-03-27T20:33:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the ReGeneration 06 blog!

Before we even get to the hotel and start enjoying ourselves in the presence of God, let's put our minds to work for a short moment.

Isn't it strange that Man only starts to appreciate things when he is going to lose them? Like how we often only start to appreciate and treasure our lives when we are dying, OR when a loved one is dying. When the latter happens, most of us only remain in that 'thankful' mode for that little while. After we get over it, then things go back to normal.

What are you doing with our lives - living day to day OR living as though it was our last day on earth? Are you going to wait till you lose something before you treasure it? Are you going to die with regrets that you have not lived your life as a good and faithful servant of God would? Or are you full of confidence that if you should see God now, He'd only have those few words to say to you - Thou good and faithful servant.

Many of us do not realise the importance and the power of living a Spirit-filled life? I guess a good explanation for that would be that many of us do not comprehend the greatness, the sovereignty, the power of God. I'm sure all of us have read the Bible and we probably also know many of the incredible things that happened during Bible times. But can all of us really understand the greatness of God? It is something that mere words can barely describe; something that only an experience can make us understand. The day we truly realise that our God is a great God, is the day that we also realise that our great God has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us and to guide us. Do you call yourself a Christian yet live as though there is no God? Or are you living as though you are god?

ARE YOU LIVING TO DIE, OR DYING TO LIVE?

Wonder

2006-03-26T23:26:00.000+08:00

Is this what you look at, or is this what you look like..?

This Blog is Officially Launched!

2006-03-25T04:39:00.000+08:00

The people working to bring you this year's retreat: 1.Enzheng, 2. Rachael, 3. Jeanie, 4.Edith, 5.Joanna, 6.Jon, 7.Lionel, 8.Pasta Ronald.

Great news folks, this weekend we launch the ReGeneration blog as you have all heard by now( if you went for either service). Check back regularly as the ReGeneration Comm logs in daily to post updates and share their experiences and their walk with God. Leave a tag while you're here or drop a comment on an issue that you feel strongly about.

The theme for this year's retreat is "Dying to Live." We hope that you will have a hunger to live the life God meant us to live by the incredible power of the Holy Spirit at work in us daily. In order to do so, we need to first die to our will and nature and let the Holy Spirit regenerate us, breathing new life into dead bones as the theme verse goes, and hence "Dying to Live." ReGeneration is your opportunity to spend 5 continous days seeking after God with the focus on allowing the Holy Spirit to convict, renew and transform.

As part of the launch, we're gonna giving away exclusive ReGeneration T-Shirts.

First, for the 1000th person who logs on to this site. Simply take a screenshot and send it in to our email. We know that there is a temptation to just refresh the screen to up the hits, but hey anything short of hacking into the site is fair play(plus it looks great for our counter). So get cracking and bookmark the blog and make the counter ROLL.

Second, send in a photo that best captures the essence of the theme and the winning entry gets a T-Shirt and you will be featured on the blog together with your photo.

Finally, registration begins on April Fools Day(woohoo!), from 1 April to 15 April. Since time and tide waits for no man, you should strike while the iron is hot because the early bird catches the worm. Yes, i think you get the idea so I'll stop the idiom string. Remember to ask your Mummy and Daddy ya?

This is the ReGenerator signing out, till the next post, take care.

Speak His Mind

2006-03-10T09:32:00.000+08:00

Today we chat a little with the man in charge and find out more about his thoughts for ReGeneration.

Regenerator: Hi Enzheng, well lets begin with asking, what exactly is your role on the Retreat Comm?
Enzheng:I'm in charge of making life difficult for everybody! Haha! So that means i'm the one in charge of this year's retreat. I'm also invovled particularly in the services during the retreat.

R: Could you share with us your vision for this year's Retreat?
EZ: Well, my vision is to see the youths and Young Adults meet God and to experience Him in a life changing manner. Yeah!

R: Cool stuff bro. So let me ask, whats in store for the youth's this time?
EZ: A good time together! The programe for this year is going to be different from past years - so all youths watch out! expect something different!

R: Hmm, and how about the YAs?
EZ: The same for the YAs as well! It will be different! This year, the retreat is planned with the YA in mind, and they have special programes just for them! I'm all excited already. The YAs can expect to have more flexibility.

R: Finally, we all like secrets. Any interesting bits that you can disclose?
EZ: The hotel is great! There is lots of space in the rooms with funky toilets! (check out the previous posts) haha.. Besides that, I would like to introduce the committee, they are: Pastor Ronald, Lionel, Jonathan, Jeanie, Rachael, Joanna Hioe, Edith. And Please keep the committee in prayer! Thanks.

Well folks, thats all the space we have for this post. Do share your expectations and thoughts on ReGeneration in the comments page. Ciao.

Check out the Char Siew

2006-02-28T16:10:00.000+08:00

These are the photos taken on the recce trip to Berjaya Times Square, the Retreat Hotel. Check out the Char Siew from the chinese restaurant oozing with glorious fat. The next photo is the pool, kinda standard id say. Finally we see Enzheng making sure the rooms' toilets are up to standard for your occupancy. To find out more about the hotel, you can click on the link found on the right column under Retreat Details.

Were You There Today?

2006-02-26T20:16:00.000+08:00

Its hard to describe today's Power Praise Service because it was alot of things. The band was really tight and all, but there was something else. It started off pretty slow and all, even through the short sermon by Pastor Cui Xian, somehow I felt that I just couldnt "connect" in a sense and I think many of us do feel that way in service at times. I guess what really made a difference was when the altar call was made and it was heartening to see the young people responding with their friends and kneeling before the altar and the song Amazing Love really said it all. It was then that I chose to worship despite how I felt and gave God the praise and glory He deserves. And we really did end with a bang today with those Planetshakers all time hits haha.

As the retreat comm plans for the retreat, our desire is to provide the opportunity over 4 days to seek God intently like today. And through this experience, that our lives will be regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit. So keep seeking and keep building on your experiences with God.

So were you there today? =)

Logo

2006-02-25T01:13:00.000+08:00

Here's the logo for ReGeneration if you'd like to dl it and use it as your msn pic.

ReGenerator promises you a whole lot of exclusive content coming your way, like photos of the hotel, interviews with the ReGeneration comm, videos and more. So keep coming back and I'll keep all of you posted as we go along. Ciao.

Regeneration

2006-02-23T22:12:00.000+08:00

Well, this officially kick starts the ReGeneration blog after much sweat and work to make it right. HTML is not for the faint hearted but its pretty addictive haha. Wat you see on top is the tentative logo, do tag ure comments or any suggestions you may have. So this is the ReGenerator signing off for now. Till the next post, take care.