Xmas is FULL of parties! with new friends, old friends, colleagues & family... I'm so blessed :)
Woke up 6.45a.m to accompany CN playing at service on 14th Dec... Really take my hat off to the background bros & sis who wake up at such ungodly hours on sundays to prepare to serve God & His people...
Then nearer Xmas, there's the various church parties!
This Dec we also spent a special weekend with CN's family as they came from KL for his cousin's wedding. Wanna guess the eldest to 4th bro? ;o
Then xmas eve we had great services and supper to celebrate my birthday! Thank God for my JEDI family... feel so loved.... :) Thank You JEDIs for making this xmas so special because we worked & played so hard together! We really put a BIG smile on His face i'm sure ;o
Xmas day CN & myself pulled ourselves out of bed (sleeping just 5 hours...) to attend the Xmas Day service for Family & Kids just to celebrate Xmas in a special way (1st time we attended a Xmas day service). It was indeed special :) Then it was back to my parents' home to spend time with my family! Thank God for my mum... she cooked the whole sumptuous meal - we can't remember the last time she did it! The next day we caught movies with those free in the evening...
Thank God for one of the best Xmas i've celebrated... and i'm looking forward to 2mrw's new year's eve party! ;o
feelin: mixed... happy for a most memorable year ever... sad that it's going to be gone soon!
listenin: olivia
I don't like to think I need anything. I want to take personal responsibility. Do it myself. Get the job done.
Christianity says I need a savior. But what do I need to be saved from?
The Monster We Don't Like to See
A disturbing dream motivated one man to write feverishly for several days. We know those words today as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Holding a mirror to the modern reader, Robert Louis Stevenson's page turner from 1886 reveals something within all of us.
Like Jekyll and Hyde, I am two different men trapped in one body: the smiling man everyone sees, and the darker me darting from view.
Behind the smile, that other man snaps angrily at his wife, judges colleagues for so-called shoddy work habits, and acts preoccupied when a homeless person requests help.
Like everyone else, I excuse my Mr. Hyde, hoping that my kindly self overpowers him.
In Stevenson's story, Jekyll struggled to manage his evil alter-ego, thinking he could still be a good person. Jekyll was dead wrong.
Why One Fault is Enough
Mr. Hyde may hide, but his presence poisons the whole. If, for example, I had used just one rotten egg in my 8-egg omelet this morning, I would have ruined breakfast. My family would not have said, "This omelet is mostly delicious." No, one whiff of the sulfurous mixture and they would have begged for Cheerios.
Worse still, if eggs symbolize my private thoughts, I can't even collect 8 good ones to cook. Under stress, most of my thoughts barely reach "good"; the rest smell rotten to the core.
I think about me first, not others.
I hurt those I love.
I say things I regret.
About 2,000 years ago, a fellow struggler summed it up like this: "I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time" (Romans 7:19, 20; The Message).
When we're honest with ourselves, we have to agree. We're all guilty.
Punishment for Guilt
Once we face the insidious Mr. Hyde, something must change. We might seek to bury deeper this darker side of ourselves, choosing to ignore him or hoping to control him.
Or we fight and bring him to justice. Nothing satisfies or silences guilt like just punishment.
"All human beings yearn, deep in their hearts, for deliverance from sin and guilt," writes Charles Colson, author and one-time aide to former President Nixon. "Many try to suppress the longing, to rationalize it away, to mute it with lesser answers. But ultimately, it is impossible to evade."
In Stevenson's classic, Dr. Jekyll begins to become eclipsed by his evil persona. The bad Mr. Hyde starts showing up at wrong times. The good doctor can't seem to control when he changes back and forth, from model citizen to crazed madman.
Fearing Jekyll might "disappear," that one day he might not be able to return to his respected self, he transfers all his money and rights to Mr. Hyde in a will. Though concealing that he and Hyde are one man, Jekyll naively asks his lawyer to help Mr. Hyde.
"If I am taken away," said Jekyll, "I wish you to promise me that you will bear with him and get his rights for him."
Confused by his own duplicity, Jekyll summarizes, "I only ask for justice."
Like Jekyll, we all just want what's fair. That's why we scream at the television when an umpire makes a bad call. Why we throw our hands up when someone cuts us off in traffic. Why we curse the woman with more than 10 items in the express checkout line.
But there is at least one situation in life when fair hurts. When what we deserve is not what we want.
And it affects every person on the planet.
The Difference Between Justice and Mercy
Justice for Hyde -- who harms a young girl and murders a man -- looks much different than Jekyll supposed.
Jekyll eventually realized that justice delivers exactly what is deserved. No breaks.
By the novel's end, the tormented man no longer wants justice. Instead he cries, "For God's sake, have mercy!"
Mercy, not justice, offers an unfair answer for what is otherwise deserved.
Benny Phillips remembers his first encounter with mercy. He and his friends were caught stealing cars: Three boys received a 3-year sentence in a detention center, while the others sustained a slap on the wrist.
Young Benny would receive his sentencing last, after his cohorts left the courtroom.
This judge knew the 15-year-old from 2 previous criminal charges, and Benny feared full justice for grand larceny. As the last boy left the courtroom, the judge sentenced Benny to 3 years in the detention center.
Justice.
"My heart just sank," remembers Benny 30 years later. "Then after a silence that seemed like forever long, the judge added, 'But I am going to suspend the sentence."'
Mercy.
Though I've never stolen a car nor murdered a man, Mr. Hyde runs rampant in my mind and sometimes makes a bold appearance in my actions. Like Benny, I deserve punishment.
Why All This Matters
Christianity teaches that the price for man's wrong -- internal or external -- is death. Of course, we will all eventually die, but this death penalty refers to an eternal death. Our wrongs earn us separation from God.
Ever hear someone say that Christ died for your sins?
We recoil at the thought of an innocent person paying a death penalty for a guilty man. "Unfair!" we cry.
And yet, Christianity teaches that God surpassed fairness, offering to pay for our penalty through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As perfectly just, He could not ignore our sin and wrongdoing. The penalty must be exacted.
Instead of leaving us to the harsh demands of justice, Jesus stepped in on our behalf. He extended both justice and mercy. He offered to be our Savior.
If we come to Jesus in surrender, sick by our sin and certain of justice's demands, He will take our place.
In exchange for our sin, Jesus gives us love, gives us hope, gives us Himself.
How the Story Ends
Things didn't end well for Jekyll, by the way. He kept thinking he had Hyde under control, but they both wound up dead.
The good Dr. Jekyll disappeared first.
Jekyll and Hyde's case is not as strange as the novel's title suggests. The problem isn't out there; the problem is me.
I know what I need, like it or not. I need a Savior.
Because my dark side lurks. And so does yours.
- By Erik Segalini "Why do I need a savior?"
Can you believe it?!?! I can't... after waiting one year, my fav day of the year is here!!!
So proud of myself because I managed to finish my xmas shopping/ wrapping & cards-writing in time this year (after many years...)! For at least about 60 people this year too! hahaha....
I LOVE CHRISTMAS... because it's one day in the year, people GIVE even in the midst of financial crisis... even in a small gift, the thought counts :)
I LOVE CHRISTMAS.... because it reminds me of the Love of Christ that is beyond my comprehension... the God that created the universe became man, for only one purpose - to die for mankind (me & YOU) - that whoever believes in Jesus as Lord & Saviour, will not die (an eternal death/ separation from God) but have eternal life (with Him in heaven!)
Thank You JESUS...
Thank You for dying for my sins of past, present, future...
Thank You for Your grace & mercy that i do not deserve...
Thank You for Your love for me that you provide all my needs...
Thank You for growing my character through tough times...
Thank You for your friendship. I just love talking to you anything and everything under the sun. You are my soulmate :)
I Love You Jesus.
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (Anywhere I go you go, my dear;
And whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
And it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
And whatever a sun will always sing is you
Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
And the sky of the sky of a tree called life;
Which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)
- Ee Cummings
Don't we look cool?!?!?! Just a few photos to show off first hehehe.... We had so much fun! Food, songs, dance, and a coach tour! Of course, with powerful sharing of the significance of Christmas and a life-changing testimony that touched many hearts.
More photos & videos to come!
Just look at the hard work behind our Annual Jedi Christmas Party!!!
The Jedis really worked so hard to make sure the party's going to be UNFORGETTABLE. Firstly, the theme is New York :) So we're all looking forward to dressing up to match "Sex in the City" and some will be dressing up in characters e.g. Austin Power, Merilyn monroe etc!
I'm really so so touched at the hearts of those who are serving... they practised 2 sundays (till 7p.m) and 2 weeknights (as above). The songs and the dance will be a BLAST for sure! We had soooo much fun and so amazed at one another's talents :)
GOD IS GOOD... We have amazingly 81 people registered for the party 2mrw! We are all just awe-struck at God's faithfulness as we pray & fast to make a difference and extend His territory through us. What is Christmas without Christ?!? Christmas is Jesus' birthday yet millions of people celebrate the day without knowing who the birthday boy is!!!
We are going to celebrate it BIG for JESUS. WE ARE GOING TO ROCK THE HOUSE DOWN for sure!!! Look out for the photos and videos! ;o
feelin: all ready to rock for Jesus!
listenin: Higher (my latest fav!)
Brought the twins out on monday to the Night Safari! Well, it was "Auntie Christine's" promise to them - to treat them after their PSLE ;o They haven't gone there since 2 years ago i think...Anyways, i LOVE the night safari.Wouldn't mind going once a month if not for the price hehe... Promised to bring them to Zoo next coz' they haven't gone there since P2...i haven't gone zoo myself for the longest time!
This pair of twins are really the most well-behaved and polite children i've ever seen... too polite for me! And really VERY matured in their thinking... i guess coz' of their parents, they understand situation and people pretty much like how a 16-year old (or 17) understand. I thank God for their lives and for the privilege to know them!
INCREDIBLE.... the past few weeks have really been eating more good food than usual! (thankfully i've been fasting too ;o) The first pic shows me & sheep at a Myanmar eatery at City Hall. We were VERY pleasantly surprised at the affordable & delicious meal! Then there was a good lunch with colleagues (with yummy desert). The next few pics are pics taken at one of my fav jap eateries (or my FAV eatery) with another sheep... There's always such a long queue & she queued almost an hour with me!!! And the rest of the photos were taken at a fine dining restaurant we treated CY (CN's elder bro) to for his birthday... YUMMY.... I loved the coffee & desert best! Not forgetting the great atmosphere and view too :) THANK GOD I'm now on a fasting stretch. But i can imagine more good food coming up already as Christmas nears!
Just some photos from a conference i attended recently with colleagues. The "Global Social Innovators Forum" aimed at promoting social entrepreneurship in S'pore :) Though the topic and things discussed are not new to me, the unique part of the forum was that the rich organisers managed to bring in some well-known speakers, such as Jet Li! Pity, i'm not his fan, but i met a media artist i prefer compared to other stars - Belinda! Managed to exhange contacts for further collaboration ;o
Finally have some time to post the JEDI JB retreat photos!
It was a short yet much appreciated get-away. A great pity we didn't have time to shop much, but we really Thank God for His presence and words of encouragement.
There was really much to Thank God for... from getting everyone safely through and back, giving us an upgrade of rooms, keeping everyone safe from sickness, to His strong presence during our prayer and ministering time. Thanks everyone for the love you have for one another, stepping out of faith to prophesy till the late night! It's definitely a night we'll remember till next year's retreat haha...
Oh ya, not forgetting the sumptuous suppers, buffet breakfasts and seafood dinner! ;o
