My Walk With Christ

Aug 4, 2005

G.R.A.C.E

Been compiling this over the years, please feel free to add to the list! :)

G.R.A.C.E = God's Redemption At Christ Expense
P.U.S.H = Pray Until Something Happens
F.R.O.G = Fully Relying On God
W.W.J.D? = What Would Jesus Do?
A.S.A.P = Always Say A Prayer^[1]
B.U.S.Y = Being Under Satan's Yoke
G.I.F.T = God Is For Truth^[2]
Y.A.H.W.E.H = You Are Honourable Wonderful Eternally Holy
B.I.B.L.E = Best Instructions Before Leaving Earth^[3]

credits:
^[1] - colleen
^[2] - http://www.freewebs.com/devshout/coolsayingsandverses.htm
^[3] - http://www.citycc.org/?p=74#comment-4

Posted at 04:32 am by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink

Aug 2, 2005

how to get noticed? set yourself on fire!

Some one once asked a pastor who is a great communicator, the secret to communicate, sharing the gospel effectively and turning people attention to Christ. The pastor simply answered, "First, you need to douse yourself in kerosene and then set yourself on fire. That will surely get the attention from people that you seek."

To get others to listen to us about what we are going to share about Christ, we first need to set ourselves on fire for Christ. If we are burning for Him, people will notice the change in us, He likeness on us, the joy, the peace and all the fruits. The hotter the fire the faster it spreads. Therefore, seek to be on fire for Him, and sharing will just come naturally.

Torch yourself in God's flame, be the light to the world!

Posted at 10:12 pm by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink

Jul 15, 2005

Of Squares, Preps, Skater Punks, Goths, Techno-Ravers and the Tattooed Kids with Colored Hair

I caught this song 'Gift of Cool' by 'Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus' song today on K-Live, and was attracted by they blend of fresh music. I went over to google for the song, just like wat i always do to look for the song that I never heard of. K-Live was playing the song but I did not catch the song title. Then I googled part of the lyrics that I could make out [lyrics "we will run and never stop" "taking everything we are" "praising him forever"] and was lead to this article.

Tears rolled down my cheek as I continue to read on how the Lord have shown Himself to the group which people in general will call the 'difficult' types, the "squares, preps, and skater punks, Goths and techno-ravers and the tattooed kids with colored hair" youth. Then it continue to share about how this youth came to know the Lord and how the Lord let them out of drugs and pornography. And how the Lord uses this bunch of talented youth to instead channel it to secular things but for His Glory!

It reminded me on how much the youth nowadays needs the Lord and how much He cares for each one of them and how He wants to reach out to them.

My prayer is that this small article will be an encouragement to all and youth workers specifically to continue to reach out to those individual eventhough some times the tendency to label them creeps in.

Jesus never gave up on them, why should we?

Worship Circus Recounts When God's Love 'Landed in Our Town'
Kelli Cottrell
Baptist Press

LONGVIEW, Wash. — "I remember the day when the love of God landed in our town / He took all the silent and broken hearts, fixed them up and gave them a sound / You had almost every different kind of kid from every different kind of social background / Taking all the cool they had and praising God, as He spun them around / When God came to town."

The lyrics by Gabriel Wilson, lead singer of a Christian band named the “Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus,” recount a time when the Holy Spirit swept into the lives of teens in his hometown of Longview, Wash.

While doing a sound check prior to a performance in Las Vegas, Wilson began talking out loud to the band: "Remember back in the day ... when God came to town...." Although the song – “Gift of Cool” – was birthed in a matter of minutes, the 29-year-old singer-songwriter said it had been “brewing in me for awhile.”

Justin Rossetti, then a teen in high school, was one of many teens who lived the lyrics of the song, which is part of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Worship Circus’ latest CD, "A Beautiful Glow."

"I was brought up Catholic but when I turned 16 years old I wanted to be extreme," Rossetti, a local Starbucks employee, said. He tried hardcore drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and crystal meth before he started “mixing combos.”

Sporting “messy hair” and a T-shirt, he also hung out at “rave parties” where teens used drugs while listening to punk bands.

Meanwhile, a small group of area youth pastors, in praying for their youth, began to catch a vision for holding their own version of "raves" two to three times a month.

"We used our worship raves as an option for the teens to come to," said Greg Sanders, who served as youth pastor at Abundant Life Apostolic Church in Olympia, Wash., and is currently a worship leader in Colorado.

"We [the youth pastors] decided we needed to get outside our walls and we wanted to make a genuine impact on our youth.... We loved on those kids ... some guys came stoned out of their mind ... some had pink mohawks. But the churched youth would love on them. The [Gift of Cool] talks about the so-called freaks who got saved ... [as they] started to fall in love with the Lord."

“... And the people in our churches,” Wilson’s lyrics recount, “they were constantly amazed at the kids kneeling at the altar with their different fashion flavors / You had squares, preps, and skater punks, Goths and techno-ravers and the tattooed kids with colored hair / And they were all getting saved.”

"God was doing something really unique," said Sanders, who saw the lives of a couple hundred teens change. "A lot of lines were crossed." At the worship raves, football players, cheerleaders and golfers stood worshiping God in song next to punk rockers and graffiti artists.

"It brought tears to my eyes," said Todd Anderson, youth pastor at Longview’s Shekinah Christian Fellowship. "They didn't care what their friends thought of them."

Rossetti's curiosity and love of raves prompted him to attend one of the worship raves in February 2000.

"One night my friends invited me to go to hear the Rock N Roll Worship Circus with one of the best headliner punk bands, so I went," said Rossetti, now 22. "There were tons of people my age that I had seen around town. Then the Worship Circus got up and prayed and started [singing] worship songs and everyone was raising their hands ... something inside me broke open."

A few days later, Rossetti met with a friend from school who asked if he was saved.

"She put it so simply. If I believed there was a God and He forgave me of my sins, I should ask Him to be in charge of my life,” he said.

That night, Rossetti asked God to make Himself real as he went to bed.

"If Jesus was real, I wanted to believe in Him," Rossetti said. "I asked Him to show Himself to me. I told Him I wanted to believe in Him but I didn't. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and wash me clean. I asked Him to come into my heart."

Rossetti’s prayer was answered. As if on a film projector, he could see his life crashing before him with smoke and fire. "I was freaked out,” but then he heard a calming voice speak the words of John 1:1, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."

The next day Rossetti met with Sanders at Starbucks. After asking a number of questions, he gave his life to Christ wholeheartedly.

"I went home and threw away all the drugs and alcohol in my room," Rossetti said. "I threw away a stack of pornography and from then on served God."

“... Suddenly almost every kid in town had finally / Found the way to take all the gifts and talents and beauty they had and worship God every day,” Wilson wrote. “Man, you had all the high school parties, and / They were turning into worship raves / And the sounds of the underground in town had turned into praise.”

With the term "gift of cool," Wilson said he means any type of influence a teen has, whether he or she is a skater, punk rocker or a golfer. “It was amazing to see that all these different stereotypes were using their gift of cool to influence their peers to worship" and “to bring others to Christ.”

Popular kids also were among those getting saved, he said. “The very best musicians in the town were getting saved, and going to a drinking party was uncool.... [The] raves were packed with worshiping teens."

"It was exciting, but scary," said Anderson, who experienced the revival in his 50-member youth group. "We have an amazing talent pool in our small town and all of a sudden all the kids who wanted to be rock stars now wanted to be worship leaders. They came crying to the altar. All of a sudden Jesus was the ‘cool’ thing."

“... You think the 60’s had good vibrations? / Well, check out my generation,” Wilson wrote in leading into a chorus. “We will run and never stop / Yeah, we all will stand together / Taking everything we are / And then praising Him forever / Well, anyone and everyone, come and join us for a good time / We are breaking all the rules by praising God / With your Gift of Cool ... / When your people sing, all of heaven sings ... So sing! Is that cool?”

On their CD, the group describes the song as “Inspired by a move of God in our hometown of Longview, Wash. Lord, please use this song to encourage people of all ages to take their gifts and use them for the glory of Your name.”

Wilson said he hopes to begin a mentoring program with area youth pastors to help raise up the next generation of worship leaders in Longview, a town of 35,000 people.

"The talent pool here is scary," Wilson said. "We hope to meet with potential worship leaders once a month and mentor them. We don't want to be selfish about the talents God has given us."

In addition to Wilson, the band, which records for INO Records/Epic Records, includes Wilson's wife, Blurr, who plays keyboard; drummer Zurn Praxair; and guitarist Eric Lemeire, nicknamed "E." They are currently on a national tour with Delirious.

source: http://new.crosswalk.com/fun/music/1255996.html

Posted at 02:39 am by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink

Jul 11, 2005

[Songs] Maybe You _by_ BDA _from_ Better Days Ahead

Heard this of K-Life today. This song is depicts third person view of the joy and the peace in knowing the Lord and how these are being reflected in the person's life. These joy and peace then causes her friend to want to same blessing she is having.

This is how we are as to live in this world, to be a living testimony, to be the salt and the light. When all seems lost and doomed, dark and weary, we are to shine and warm up the shattered hearts around us. Radiates the very love that our Saviour have graciously given to us and share it with the rest.

Artist: BDA (Better Days Ahead)
Album: Better Days Ahead
Song: Maybe You

She says she's just a girl
I think there's something more
She says You changed her world

And the smile on her face is a dead giveaway
And I just got to know

So won't you tell me
Is there something more to You
Maybe You could be the one for me
And turn my life into
Just what I need
Maybe You could save my soul
Maybe You could be my best friend, too
Maybe You

There's something in her eyes
Something behind her smile
She says You changed her life

Well maybe You or maybe not
All I want is what she's got
And I just got to know

Chorus:
She says no one knows her like You do
She says she's nothing without You
And all I know is that I need You, too
Cause I can't see her without seeing You

lyric source: http://www.christianrocklyrics.com/bda/maybeyou.php

Posted at 07:01 pm by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink

Jul 8, 2005

Misconceptions about Christians and Their Faith

Yesterday, we had a great time in our young adults cell tackling the topic, “Misconceptions about Christians and Their Faith”.

It all started on Monday when I sent out this invitation,

“…

We are tackling “Misconceptions About Christians and Their Faith” this Thursday at Sea Heng’s place.

So If you have heard any questions, any question at all, (just make sure it’s from your heart hehehe), no matter how outrageous and totally out of this world, bring it to the forum this Thurday. If you have your personal answer/biblical view to answers the question, by all means share it! Encourage your friends to drop by for the visit.

…

Here are some that I can think of my head now just for you all to have a 'feel' of it.

1. Christians tends to be so pushy and tends to force down their 'religion' down ppl's throat with out being sensitive.

2. Christians are so ... into their "Only one true God" and all are condemned! What makes you think you are so so right?

3. Why Christians drink Jesus's blood one ah ... eeek.. so geli.

4. Denominations?

5. Isn't Catholics Christians?

6. Is the Holy Water so 'powderful' one ah? Like in Constantine?

As you can see, hopefully I managed to demonstrate, it can be any whacky misconception you have came across!”

As a follow-up to the invitation, I later sent out two mails to the rest of more 'senior' young adults cell member to give a feel of where I stand in the midst of all these and the objectives of discussion:-

"The objective is to have the member to feel open to ask any questions they have in mind. Not to be shy and be troubled by it, that may even hinders one’s spiritual growth and rather having hear the ‘answers’ else where."

AND

"The bottom line will not be answering the question it self

But cultivate a open discussion and interest

Sure . .it might end up with more questions …

But at least they will feel .. ‘I am not alone’ …"

This topic came up because I personally feel there are a lot of misconceptions by the non-Christian community in general and even some in the Christian community itself especially with the explosion of information through Hollywood and the Web. It was an attempt to recognize and to acknowledge the problem that we are facing today with all these ‘false messages’ rather than ignoring and ‘sweeping it under the carpet’. I am being asked some of these questions occasionally when I am sharing Christ. These are real questions and not question to provoke our faith or to attack and ridicule what we believe in. It was to encourage fellow cell member to express their doubts and open a platform for them to voice out or to cry out even.

Then in order to gather more misconception to share with the rest of my cell members and to facilitate the discussion I posted a request in of ex-CF members with this offer.

“If you have heard any question directed by Non-Christians or even Christians themselves no matter how outrageous and totally out of this world you have come across, appreciate it if you can share. If you have your personal answer/biblical view to answers the question, by all means share it! Here are some that I can think of my head now just for you all to have a 'feel' of it.

…

[the six by now infamous questions:D]

…

… hopefully I managed to demonstrate, it can be any whacky misconception you have came across!”

And it stirred up a great discussion there. Which to a point I felt oblige to post this to the group: -

“… I glad that this has paved way for a healthy discussion. Had a great response from some of you that actually increased my pool of misconceptions, thank you to all that contributed. Frankly, I don’t mind being put in the line of fire in attempt to stir up interest, but I think I some time exercise extra caution and have some damage control mechanism in place just in case things get out of proportion.

Quoting [erased out intentionally]:

Apologies if I'm wrong in
interpreting what Goofy said.

The fact is email is not the best mean of human communication; it comes after voice and full contact view. Just like reading a book versus watching a movie, it leaves the reading far too much room for his or her own imaginations and interpretations … heheheh…

Things can be misrepresent, for example, the emotions that we have at the moment of writing the email are not captured in the email it self (that’s why we have emoticons!) so some times a serious note can sound funny or vice versa. There is also a danger of taking statements out of context without following the email chain. (I know it’s been a long chain!) But let’s constantly remind ourselves how ‘powderful’ our tongues or in this case fingers can be. …”

I believe a lot of us are in middle of our spiritual journey, for me personally I have just began mine, and there are a lot of questions that we seek to have answers which we may never find it in our time on this earth. So let’s take all the opportunities to, instead looking down, condemning each other but take this time to nurture, to help, to encourage one another as we will continue this fellowship when are reunited again in the presence of our Lord.

Just exercise extra cautious and be tactful and of course be ready listen to others’ view point also letting everyone have the chance to say their piece, as long the discussion is under controlled and I am sure we are all ‘mature’ enough for this J

Now enough talk, let’s get back to the discussion holding on to the words in 1 John 4:1-3.

¹Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-3 (New International Version)

Posted at 04:10 pm by kuancheen
Comment (1) Permalink

Jun 24, 2005

Work Place Integrity

There was an ad/message i heard over K-Live on the challenges we face to keep Christ-like integrity in the workplace. It start was a conversation between a boss and her suboordinate and it went something like this: -

Boss: Hi, the will be a person calling me up on the phone later, can you please tell that i am not in?
Guy: Will you be stepping out? I can't can't say you are not around when the fact you are.
Boss: I just want to avoid the call. Couldn't you do me a favour?
Guy: Well i think it will be more assuring to know that a peson will not lie for you and at the same time will no like to you won't you think so?

It's really hard to strike a right balance between living up to Godly standard and to Earthly standard. Though deep in our hearts we know there is only one standard to follow, yet we constanlty struggle.

I was again lead to the verse penned by Peter in his First letter:

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:13-17 (New International Version)

One way we could to face this, is to face it with our fellow brother and sister in Christ. Encourage one another, pray for one another, share the challenges, testimonies for standing up for the Lord, in small groups or just among friends!

Posted at 05:14 pm by kuancheen
Comments (3) Permalink

May 26, 2005

Do not be boastful that you have been saved

do not be boastful that you have been saved
it is by His grace that we are saved
it was He who have chosen us when we are unworthy and undeservingly
we are still and will continue to sin in this world as we are not perfect

so lets not live a life that is boastful that as though we deserve such grace more than others
but instead live a life of humility and full of humbleness that we are the unworthy recipients of His amazing grace
so that others will be able to see the Grace of God through us
and not be shun away or put off by our boastfulness/stackupness and i-don't-care-about-you-cause-i'm-saved attitude

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Lord Heavenly Father,

We want to thank you for Your grace that you have showered upon us.

You sent Your Son from His Heavenly Kingdom to die on the cross bearing all our shame, an action that we truly do not deserved.
Lord, we pray that you guard our hearts, speech and action that we may live a life that is in full humility and open up our eyes to see that there are still some many yet to know you. Let us not be boastful, instead be gracious to share the love that you have showered us. Let us be as gracious as you and not holding on to Your grace to ourselves.

Lord, use us.

In Your Son Jesus Christ most precious name.

Posted at 11:59 am by kuancheen
Comments (2) Permalink

Apr 27, 2005

The Teacher's Legacy

This excerpt of RBC’s Our Daily Bread is specially dedicated to those of us that have put in countless love to those we serve; to those who are currently serving and needed a lift and encouragement and reminder of the joy of serving; and those who are currently seeking for God directions in leading them into ministries. A special shout out to all the Sunday school teachers, youth workers and ministers!

Few key points from the story, we maybe stern and strict or not so strict; funny or scary; popular or unpopular; at the end is the love that we shown that leaves an lasting impression and may eventually leads a person heart to the Lord.

The Teacher's Legacy

We commend ourselves as ministers of God . . . by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love. —2 Corinthians 6:4,6

Pastor Paul Walker shared this story of his salvation experience: "During my lifetime I was instructed by many different Sunday school teachers, but only one stands out in my memory. He was a big, red-faced ex-Marine, who probably broke every rule and technique of good teaching. The thing I remember best about him is how much he loved us. . . .

"At the end of each session he would say, 'Boys, let's take time to kneel and talk to the Lord.' Then he would try to put his big arms around all nine of us as we huddled together, and he would pray for each of us by name. Are you surprised that seven of those boys are now in the ministry, and that I am one of them?"

If you have a Sunday school class, small group, or some other teaching responsibility, do you take a warm, personal interest in your students? The apostle Paul said he commended himself as a minister of God "by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love" (2 Corinthians 6:6).

The exact methods employed by the one who taught Paul Walker do not need to be duplicated, but the earnest attention he gave and the spiritual concern he showed toward each pupil is a beautiful example of the importance of teaching by love. —Henry Bosch

A Sunday school teacher, I don't know his name,
Was a wonderful person who never found fame;
Yet he shaped my whole life far more than he knew,
For his loving example has helped me be true. —Anon.

To love to teach is one thing—to love those you teach is quite another.

Related scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Humbly His,
kuancheen
20050427

Posted at 10:25 pm by kuancheen
Comments (2) Permalink

Positive Radio Spots for you Marriage

Here are some encouraging Radio Spots from EmbraceMarriage.org
click on the links and it should pop ups the mp3s.

"Inspirational Moments to Live By"
as heard on K-LOVE and AIR 1.

Building Common Interests
Danger Signs in Marriage
Dating After Marriage
Developing Your Own Signals
How to Affirm Your Mate
How to Cherish Your Wife
How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage
Great Expectations
Making a Spiritual Connection
The Art of Listening
Common Courtesy Goes a Long Way
How to Respect Your Man
Making Big Decisions Together
Sharing Common Goals
Taking Risks Together
How Much Career is Too Much?
In-Laws or Outlaws?
Finding a Form of Service Together
How to Choose a Church
How to Fall in Love Again
Planning Your Family
Sex... The Icing or the Cake?
Taking the "D" Word Out
Concept of Giving
Prioritizing Marriage Over Parenting

from http://embracemarriage.org/radio.html

Posted at 05:45 am by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink

Apr 22, 2005

Hurting And Hearing

extracted from http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml

Hurting And Hearing

Exodus 6

¹ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country."

² God also said to Moses, "I am the LORD . ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, ^[a] but by my name the LORD ^[b] I did not make myself known to them. ^[c] ⁴ I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they lived as aliens. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.

⁶ "Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD , and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ⁸ And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD .' "

⁹ Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and cruel bondage.

When we are experiencing deep sorrow or difficult circumstances, we may feel offended if someone suggests that something good can emerge from our adversity. A well-meaning person who tries to encourage us to trust God's promises may be perceived as insensitive or even unrealistic.

That happened to the children of Israel when God was working for their deliverance from Egypt. As Pharaoh hardened his heart toward the Lord's command to let His people go, he increased the Hebrew slaves' workload by forcing them to gather the straw they needed to make bricks (Exodus 5:10-11). They became so discouraged, they couldn't accept Moses' assurance that God had heard their cries and promised to take them to a land of their own (6:9).

There are times when our hurts and fears can close our ears to the hopeful words of God. But the Lord doesn't stop speaking to us when it's hard for us to hear. He continues working on our behalf just as He did in delivering His people from Egypt.

As we experience God's compassion and His loving care, we can begin to hear again even as the hurt continues to heal. —David McCasland

O yes, He cares—I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares. —Graeff

Even when we don't sense God's presence, His loving care is all around us.

Posted at 11:28 pm by kuancheen
Make a comment Permalink