The GOSHENS

3 Muskateers

2011-07-22T04:21:00.002+08:00

Joyce, Shermin and Dennis are back! A good time of fellowship and catch-up!

Dennis' Farewell

2010-10-03T16:05:00.002+08:00

Had a great time at steamboat to bid Dennis farewell

The girls and the uncle..

Massive amount of food..

3 happy people..

and 3 cool guys..

Festival of Praise!

2010-08-22T23:07:00.003+08:00

Long overdue photos...Goshens goes Festival of Praise! We started queueing at 2pm (initial plan was 1pm) when FOP only starts at 7pm..

Still good in a sense..look at the queue behind and how far we are from the starting line (2nd in queue)

Smiling for being second in the row..

Having fellowship while waiting..

and lunch..and tea break..and dinner..

din't know BK burget is thaaat bigg..haha..

A Moment to Remember

2010-05-16T21:07:00.002+08:00

Hanging precariously on the spider web in West Coast and HTHT'ing till 12:30am..

Chinese New Year Steamboat!

2010-03-21T21:37:00.005+08:00

A good time of food fellowship over the festive seaon..and many "properties and cash" exchanging hands...haha

1st Fellowship Saturday 2010!

2010-02-02T21:17:00.003+08:00

Our first fellowship saturday for 2010 was a pretty happening full-day event..

Started off with the Luge..slowest Luge ride with many photo shots along the way..

Followed by good company, sand, sun and...a lot of food..good food..

Had a tour of Resort World Sentosa..

and finally dinner in vivo with a trolley..haha..

1st Small Group for 2010!

2010-01-19T20:29:00.000+08:00

Direction for 2010
To focus on individual spiritual growth through more solid spiritual food
Continue bonding and growing together

Convenant
1) Our conversations should be God-focused
2) Pray before every fellowship activities
3) Have a check point every 6 months with the Small Group Covenant
· To have it in June and December
4) To remember that we are a gift of God and we belong to Him
5) Have equality and love and to go through thick and thin together
6) Not to keep out unhappiness with each other, but always seek to resolve and restore peace and unity
7) Help each other grow in our relationship with Christ
· SSG leaders to keep watch for their groups
8) Carry out the Great Commission
· Joshua to be Evangelism IC
· To bring friends for Fellowship Saturday
9) Not to give up meeting one another
10) Be sincere with our words and conduct
11) Pray for one another
· To find someone in the group to confide to for prayer
· To voice out prayer to SG
· SSG leaders to keep watch

Activities
To adopt Fellowship Saturday format (fellowship activities every 5th Saturday of the month) – Jan, May, Aug, Oct

On top of those, to include the below activities:
February – CNY Visitation
28 Mar – Goshens 1st Year Anniversary (Sunday)
June – SG Retreat!

Roles
Admin – Audrey, Marcus
Worship Team – Joshua, Dennis, Daryl
Fellowship – Joyce, Crystal, Marcus
Phone Caller – Shermin, Bixiu
Blog Master, Bible Study – Dennis
Birthday IC/Food – Crystal
Prayer – Ardi, Pauline
Evangelism – Joshua

Smaller Small Group (SSG)
Shermin, Bixiu, Crystal, Daryl
Joshua, Ardi, Pauline, Marcus
Joseph, Joyce, Dennis, Mel

To split up during bible study for discussion in 2 groups

DG1: Joseph, Audrey, Joyce, Mel, Ardi, Pauline, Joshua
DG2: Shermin, Bixiu, Crystal, Marcus, Daryl, Dennis

To pair up one from each group to facilitate each bible study
One person to share a reflection for every cell

Time
3:30pm – 4pm Worship
4pm – 5pm Bible Study
5pm – 5:30pm Discussion Groups
5:30pm – 6:15pm Smaller Small Groups

The Goshens Christmas Party!

2009-12-25T21:12:00.007+08:00

It was a simple, yet meaningful party..

An overwhlemingly huge carolling team came..

Watching the Christmas Opera..

Having some BBQ'ing fun..

2010, here we come!

Goshens @ Bodyworld

2009-11-15T20:52:00.001+08:00

Bodyworld and Sakura Buffet was fun! Forgot to take photos though!

7 Nov 2009 Small Group

2009-11-15T19:14:00.005+08:00

What is Spiritual Growth?

Spiritual growth is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins the process of making us more like Him, conforming us to His image. Spiritual growth is perhaps best described in 2 Peter 1:3-8.

2 Peter 1:3-8 tells us that by God's power we have “everything we need” to live lives of godliness, which is the goal of spiritual growth. Notice that what we need comes “through our knowledge of Him,” which is the key to obtaining everything we need. Our knowledge of Him comes from the Word, given to us for our edification and growth.

There are two lists in Galatians 5:19-23. Verses 19-21 list the “acts of the flesh. These are the things that identified our lives before we came to Christ for salvation. The acts of the flesh are the activities we are to confess, repent of, and, with God’s help, overcome.

As we experience spiritual growth, fewer and fewer of the “acts of the flesh” will be evident in our lives. The second list is the “fruit of the Spirit” (verses 22-23). These are what should characterize our lives now that we have experienced salvation in Jesus Christ.

Spiritual growth is identified by the fruit of the Spirit becoming increasingly evident in a believer’s life.

When the transformation of salvation takes place, spiritual growth begins. The Holy Spirit indwells us (John 14:16-17). We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old nature is replaced with a new one (Romans 6-7).

Spiritual growth is a life-long process that depends on our study and application of God's Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in. We can ask God to increase our faith and knowledge of Him.

God desires for us to grow spiritually, and He has given us all we need to experience spiritual growth. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome sin and steadily become more like our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

11 Oct 09 Bible Studies

2009-10-13T22:12:00.005+08:00

How much can we be engaged in politics as Christians?
- It is difficult to draw a line on whether politics is right or wrong.

However, we have discussed and come to a consensus that applying politics without ill intent or malice may be acceptable to a certain extent.
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Case Study: You are a project leader/member of a large-scale project and one of the other members are not up to the job/incompetent/lack of work ethic. What should you do?

-Situational management/leadership comes into play.
-Pray for the person, for a change of heart.
-Pray for maturity to understand the situation, both for yourself and for the group.
-If no one has spoken to the person, it would be a good thing to do so, however, restraint must be used, neutral but sincere words and tone. Calmly explaining the situation
-Above all, peace and mercy should be maintained.
-Telling the truth in love is crucial here.
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Case Study: One of your colleagues is notoriously renown for a poor work attitude. However, you maintain a relatively good relationship with him/her. One day, the said person approaches you and asks if you would like to group up for a project. Despite having been on good terms with him/her, you turn him down as you do not feel comfortable working with him/her. Is this considered hypocritical?

-As long as you do not mean the person any harm, and accept him for the way he is, saying nothing about his flaws is not regarded as hypocritical.
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As you may have noticed, there is very little actual biblical backing on our discussion. I hope that more light can be shed on this topic soon enough.

Do MSN me your input/opinions on the topic should you have any.
God bless,
Dennis

26 Sep 09 Small Group

2009-10-06T22:40:00.002+08:00

We have met up for 6 months (or about there..since 28 Mar 09)!

We will be breaking up into smaller groups

Joshua
Ardi
Pauline

Shermin
Crystal
Marcus
Joyce

Joseph
Audrey
Dennis
Millicent

* Those in bold will take care of each group

Purpose of breaking up into smaller group is for better bonding and sharing. There will be more opportunities to work together as a smaller group, such as group sharing on any topic for SG meeting, group organized activities

We'll have a corporate prayer, led by Ardi and Pauline, to pray as a group for greater concerns.

We will have Bible Study once every 2 weeks instead. This is to better prepare for the bible study and to read up before the meeting.

If possible, bible study will start before cell. If not, we will try to put it on Sunday after service.

The new timeline for SG meeting is (if bible study is before cell):

1:30pm - 3:15pm Bible Study
3:30pm - 3:50pm Worship
3:50pm - 5:15pm Study Material
5:15pm - 6:15pm Discussion, sharing and prayer in smaller groups

Vision for Goshens
- To seek God's truth and apply it in our lives
- To allow God touch one another lives through Goshens

Marina Barrage

2009-10-06T22:30:00.003+08:00

Marina Barrage was fun! More pictures in FB!

5 Sept 2009 Marina Barrage Bible Study

2009-09-05T22:36:00.002+08:00

Prosperity Gospel
- Wealth is a gift from God and gifts are given without asking
- Should be good stewards of what God gives us
- The amount of money given to us is given to us -> wanting more than given leads to greed

What is the right amount to give away and the right amount to enjoy ourselves?
- To be good stewards
- Further discuss in Getting a Grip

Is Abram selected by God?
- God may know the person's heart (e.g. Esau's heart might not be with God - can see through his "killer instinct" when seeking revenge. Might not be apparent in the bible about the state of heart of the person)

Should we avoid all strife?
State the truth first, then appease. However, if it has to do with basic beliefs, we should not avoid strife (the same way Jesus was angry in the temple for selling things)

Why should we pray even if God knows what we want?
- Relationship with God
- Worship
- Spiritual warfare?

What is spiritual warfare? (To be further discussed)

8 August 2009 Bible Study

2009-08-10T21:43:00.004+08:00

Differences in denominations still prevelant no matter how we try to come together. Some common issues are different practices or other half in a different church.

Tower of Babel -> God confused the language to prevent self-glorification

What does it mean to be righteous in Psalms 5? How do we know it is not a culture difference, tradition vs openness matter? To pray and focus on God when making decisions.

Matthew 5

Poor in Spirit - humility
Mourning - To find comfort in God (refer to Psalm 51, James 4:7-10)

27 July 2009 Bible Study

2009-08-10T21:37:00.003+08:00

Genesis 8:1
God remembering us is a way to say that he remain aware of us and he pays special attention to us.

Asking for signs? It should be more of prompting by the Spirit. There was drawing of lots in the past, but after Jesus' time, this practice stopped.

Genesis 9:4-5
Is backsliding about not feeling God? No, it is drifting away from God as there is some other treasures.

18 July 2009 Small Group + Goshens' Covenant

2009-07-19T22:43:00.004+08:00

Things that were done well in SG
A lot of different kinds of activities
There are people in the group whom you can turn to
Intensive Bible Studies and cell being important in our growth in faith
Group is very enthusiastic and engaging
Can depend on one another
Very good fellowship
A lot of initiative taken by various people to make SG work

Things that we can improve on
To stay God-focused – SG might be carried away with fellowship
Hard to find a common time for everyone
Get to know one another at a deeper level
Take up more roles in SG

Why is a covenant important?
It shows what is important and whether you are deviating from it. It is a commitment and also a gauge of growth
It helps in spiritual growth and to have changed lives

Goshens’ Covenant

Roles
Leader – Joseph
Assistant Leader – Joshua
Administration - Audrey
Worship Team – Mel, Joshua, Crystal, Royston, Ardi
Bible Study – Dennis, Audrey, Crystal, Joseph
Phone Caller – Crystal, Joyce
Prayer Leader – Ardi, Pauline
Blog Master – Dennis, Joyce
Fellowship – Joyce
Outreach/New Comers – Shermin

* Those in bold to take charge of the group

Small Group Timing
Held every odd weeks of the month
3:30pm – 4pm Worship
4pm – 5:30pm Bible Study
5:30pm – 6pm Prayer Group

Understandings
1) Our conversations should be God focused
2) To pray before fellowship activities
3) Have a check point every 2 months with the covenant
4) We are a gift of God, and we belong to Him.
5) To have equality, love and go through thick and thin
6) Do not keep out unhappiness with each other, but always seeking to resolve and restore peace and unity
7) Help each other grow in our relationship with Christ
8) Carry out The Great Commission
9) Not to give up meeting each other
10) Be sincere with our words and conduct
11) Pray for one another

3 July 2009 Bible Study

2009-07-06T22:39:00.002+08:00

1) Cell support and prayer helps us in fighting our temptations and sins

2) What is the spirit to body interaction? Some people cry when they receive the Holy Spirit while others feel differently. Why? Might be inconclusive as no proper mention in the Bible on this.

Dennis to find out

3) Demons possess bodies only, not the Spirit (as we can see how Jesus drive the demons to the pigs)

28 June 2009 Bible Study

2009-07-06T22:30:00.004+08:00

1) Gluttony as a sin - does it mean greed?
No, greed is a separate sin.

In the Book of Proverbs, it is stated that the Lord specifically regards "six things the Lord hateth, and the seventh His soul detesteth." namely:

Haughty eyes
A lying tongue
Hands that shed innocent blood
A heart that devises wicked plots
Feet that are swift to run into mischief
A deceitful witness that uttereth lies
Him that soweth discord among brethren

The Seven Deadly Sins were developed in the 4th century by the monk Evagrius Ponticus which was later revised by Pope Gregory I.

Description of the seven sins:

Pride - Excess belief in one's abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as vanity.

Envy - Is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities or situation.

Gluttony - Is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.

Lust - Is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

Anger - Is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. Anger is also known as wrath.

Greed - Is the desire for material wealth or gain; ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called avarice or covetousness.

Sloth - Is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

The Seven Deadly Sins Vs. The Seven Heavenly Virtues

Luxuria(Extravagance/Lust) vs. Self-Control/Chastity
Gula(Gluttony) vs. Faith & Temperance
Avarita(Avarice/Greed) vs. Generosity
Socordia(Sloth/Discouragement) vs. Zeal
Ira(Wrath/Anger) vs. Kindness
Invidia(Envy) vs. Love
Superbia(Pride) vs. Humility

2) The bible advise us to flee from temptation does not mean that we cannot fight against temptation. It means that we should as we are weak against temptation, but if temptation is present already, we should fight it.

3) Some prophecies might be a calling -> Carrying out the Will of God. Does prophecies mean that there is pre-destination? Why is there a need for prophecies?

Prophecies is to authenticate prophets for nearby prophecies. Similarly, it is also to authenticate that Jesus is truly the Messiah through the fulfillment of prophecies.

Prophecies are also present to give hope and to attune us to God's plans

4) What happened to Gentiles in the past? Are they saved?
Audrey to find out

2009-06-21T21:05:00.002+08:00

SHERMIN AND CRYSTAL SAYS HI! :D

SHERMIN WANTS TO SAY SHE MISSES ALL OF YOU, AND WISHED YOU WERE WITH HER WHEN SHE VISITED DISNEY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

CRYSTAL WANTS TO SAY SHE IS SUPER BORED BEING QUARANTINED, AND PRAYS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE H1N1, OTHERWISE JOSEPH, DENNIS AND AUDREY WILL HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED TOO! :(:( SORRY

OTHERWISE, GOD BLESS FOR THE WEEK!

19 June 2009 Bible Study

2009-06-21T17:33:00.006+08:00

1) If baptism just a ceremony, why is God so pleased?
He is pleased because it's Jesus being baptised. Baptism is a sacrament.

2) If someone commit suicides, will he be saved?
Crystal to find out

3) Can we marry a Roman Catholic?
Crystal to find out

4) Can Satan put thoughts in our mind?
Job 1:7 Satan is not omnipotent
Dennis to find out. To also find out on the men of renown, men of old in Genesis 6

5) Why did God harden Pharoah's hard so that Israelites can get out of Egypt?
The Lord making Pharoah's heart hard refers to the events happening before the last plague. This is only mentioned in the last plague.

6) What is the purpose of fasting?
Why do Christians Fast?: The New Testament assumes believers will fast (Matthew 6:16‑18; Mark 2:18‑20).

We fast because, if done with the right attitude, it can draw us closer to God.

How?

When we abstain from necessary things like food or permissible things like television, such discipline can draw us closer to God. The intention: All the time spent acquiring, preparing & consuming food will instead be spent in the presence of God through prayer/worship/meditation.

Without earthly distractions(TV, games, etc.), we are able to gain a state of mental clarity & deep intimacy with God. (Pretty much the same thing as a personal retreat/Quiet Time.)

By giving up something we love to do(eat, watching television, game) and focus our energies instead on fellowship with God.

A heightened sense of awareness also serves as a reminder of the purpose of this fast.

All in all, the main purpose is: To grow in faith.

Please also note:
Matthew 9:14-17- These verses may indicate that fasting should be done only when the occasion properly calls for it.

Matthew 17:20-21- These verses may also indicate that there might be occasions when prayer and fasting is needed.

7) Temptation
It is physical, emotional and psychological (Matthew 4)
Physical temptation shown as hunger in Jesus fasting. Jesus was hungry but he was not tempted to eat. Satan was temping by asking him to change stones to bread. In this way, Jesus would have broken the discipline of focusing on God. This shows that we can have physical "feelings", but have no temptations (thoughts) (giving lust as another example)

No food -> Hunger -> Temptation to break discipline
Seeing the obstacle -> Insecure -> Test God
Fallen Nature -> Greed for power and riches -> Not letting God rule
Need for significance -> Wanting to have things to make us significant -> Not letting God rule

8) The difference between no faith, little faith and great faith
No faith are people who do not believe in Jesus
Little faith and Great faith are only revealed through testing. When there was a storm and Jesus asked discipline to step out in the sea, it revealed their little faith in Jesus.

13 June 2009 Bible Study

2009-06-19T10:36:00.004+08:00

1. Singlehood?
No specific saying on whether singlehood is a "gift". 1 Corinthians 7: 25-40 speaks at length about singlehood

2. Purgatory?
When Jesus was on the cross, he told the thieves that he will see him in heaven today

3. Why is lineage important in the Bible?
To show the Jesus is the Son of Man and God

4. Incest ok? Genes pure?
Genes were mutated along the line

5. Nephilites? Genesis 6:4
Dennis to find out

6. People who were present before Jesus came - are they saved?
Hebrew 11 and 12 showsed that people before Jesus had faith in God. Symbolic animal sacrifices are done but they cannot clense their sins (Hebrews 10:4). In Romans 3:25 showed that they are justified by having faith in God and the forebearance of sins is done (to pay for the sins later by Jesus). It is followed by justification of faith in Romans 4.

7. Why did God destroy the whole world?
- Is it because there weren't any bible? "Re-start the world"?
- Regret after making man?
- It is because that there is no righteous man left in the world (refer Genesis 18)

8. Clean and unclean animals?
For the vision given to Paul, it is a symbolic vision to ask him to reach out to the Gentiles. There are 3 kinds of laws: ceremonial, communal and moral. First 2 doesn't apply to us anymore. Clean/Unclean animals are more communal laws as they are not able to eat unclean animals. Not being able to go to the temple if unclean (such as touching blood etc.) is most probably to re-emphasize the importance of keeping oneself clean, rather than being "spiritually unclean".

2009-06-07T23:16:00.000+08:00

Dear All,

As Joshua is going for an Operation this Tuesday, please remember to keep him in our prayers especially during this period of time.

Regards,
Dennis

2 June 2009 - Bible Study

2009-06-07T22:40:00.003+08:00

Genesis 1 – 4

Genesis is written by Moses for the people of Israel.
Garments for Adam and Eve is the first animal sacrifice.

1. How did Moses know about Adam and Eve?
Oral Tradition

2. Did God create Adam and Eve only?
Genesis 5:4

3. Is Earth created in 1 day?

4. What is the Tree of Life?
The tree symbolises entry of the kingdom of heaven? It can only be eaten after one is being glorified (Revelations 2:7)

Tree of Good and Evil -> shows that obedience is needed even without knowing the difference between good and evil.

5. Gender equality?
Never mentioned that man and woman are created not equal. Audrey to find out more.

6. Who are Cain’s wife and the people killing him?
Relatives.

7. Curses and blessings? What is it?
To speak ill or well of a person

8. Lamech (Genesis 4:23) – was he talking to himself?

Psalms 1 – 3
We might get bad stuff that we prayed for so that we can learn from it.

9. Purpose of the law? To save by works?
Galatians 3: 19-25

10. Why is the book called the Law?
Matthew 1 – 3
A fulfilment of the OT prophecies
Mary was engaged to Joseph and need a divorce to separate due to customs
Angels are not present here as there is bible -> based on faith (Hebrew 11)

11. How can you be sure of your belief?

12. What is spiritual warfare? Can Satan enter our thoughts?
Refer to notes from Pastor Daniel's visit

13. What are the differences between Pharisees and Sadducees?
Pharisees
- Believe in Oral Law (a guide commentary to Torah) and Torah
- Believe in afterlife and Messiah
- Blue-collar Jews

Sadducees
- Elitist (Priest)
- Insist that only Written Law (Torah) is true and reject the Oral Law
- Believe in the Temple, therefore when Sadducees disappeared in 70AD after the 2nd Temple is destroyed
- Don't believe in afterlife since it is not mentioned in Torah

14. How can you be sure of your belief?

Pastor Daniel @ Goshens

2009-06-07T22:07:00.000+08:00

Pastor Daniel @ Goshens

Spiritual
1) How do you know God's calling in your life? How does God speak to us? Could you share with us how you received your calling?

Good calling might not be God’s calling (What we deem as good might not be what God is calling us to be).

One good way is journaling. When doing your QT, read with your SPECS (Sin to forsake, promise to claim, example to follow, command to obey, stumbling block to avoid). Write down the date that you read the passage. If using Daily Bread, read the assigned passage first before reading the text in the Daily Bread. Write down what verse and thoughts strike you the most. After which, read the story and write down what you want to do. Also re-read sermon notes and revisit the issue.

Half a year later, go on your own retreat (to you on place). Ask Pastor Daniel if you need to find a retreat place. Look back at your journal and see how God is calling you.

Do not let bible reading become a ritual or superstition (i.e. if I don’t read, bad things will happen to me). We will listen to where we tune in to (WGOD or WSIN) (i.e. what we pay attention more to).

Not sure whether God speaks through audible voice but do not put how God works into a box. Not sure whether the bible reference speaking is through an audible voice or spiritual prompting. He might speak through a good Christian friend.

People will see visions and dreams. Prophecies have 2 functions: foretelling (tell people of what will happen in the future) and forthtelling (warning people). Skeptical in some prophecies given – they are not fulfilled. Sometimes, you can minister by not saying a word and not just using prophecies.

2) What is spiritual warfare?

Some people might mix up psychological effects with spiritual warfare. Sometimes, it is our own flesh that is failing us. However, it does exist (e.g. people getting injured during mission trips).

3) Can Satan talk to us in our thoughts or can he just hear what we talk? Is it true that if we speak in tongues, Satan cannot hear us?

Not sure, but it is not important. It does not matter whether he can read our minds.

4) There are people who have faith but things don’t turn out as they expected (such as people dying). Is it because the faith is not pure or strong enough? How do we explain to those who prayed for healing?

Desire prophecies and love more than desire tongues. Bible can be prescriptive (what to do) and descriptive (what happened). The stories of people being healed by their faith are prescriptive. It is still up to God’s will.

There are people who are healed.

5) What are curses and blessings? Are they applicable now?
Deuteronomy 5:9-10 is often used to justify generational curses. But in verse 10, it shows that God will show mercy to thousands of generations (more than those who are cursed). Curses and blessings are speaking well or ill of a person. Need to read before and after the verse, would be better to read the whole chapter before and after.

Profanity can become natural if it perpetuate into our language. We need to say what we mean. It is possible to completely stop speaking profanity.

When approaching non-christians, we must build friendship first.

It does not matter if curses are effective or not – we have to watch what we say.

6) If a person has a headache, feels uneasy or feels something poking him when walking past altars with idols, what does it mean? Does it mean that the person is spiritually weak or strong (sensitive to spiritual beings)?

Luke 19 – God will judge both good and evil.

We should not do things to “avoid evil spirits”. Even if bad things do happen, we have to stay on top of it.

7) If a person can smell the smell of jasmine flower, does it mean that there is presence of evil spirits?
There is existence of spirits. Jasmine flower is still a creation of God.

Genesis

1) How did Moses know about Adam and Eve if Moses wrote Genesis a thousand years later?
Oral tradition. Will there be deviation? The bible is God-inspired. We should not go down the road of questioning the accuracy of the bible. It has survived thousands of years.

2) Did God just created Adam and Eve? Were there others? (Reference to Cain and others wanting to kill him)

Genesis 5:4. Incest is still allowed since the gene is pure.

3) Is it possible that the dinosaur died during the Great Flood?

Job 40:15-21 possible references to dinosaurs.

Others

1) It is said "Ask and it shall be given unto you". What is the real meaning behind this? How do we explain when someone keeps praying but never has his prayer answered? The gospels have many examples of people being healed because he has “great faith”? What does this mean to us?

Refer to 4th question under “Spiritual”.

2) Do animals, mentally ill or retarded, infants who died go to heaven?

Not sure.

Bible follows the patriarchal system then.

When reading the bible:
- Must read ahead and behind of the verse when reading the bible (best if 1 chapter ahead and behind).
- Look out for the genre (historical, poetry, story, prophecies, letters etc.) and read according to its genre.
- Look at whether it is descriptive or prescriptive.

Shermin's Farewell at T1

2009-05-17T16:52:00.000+08:00

Early in the morning, a few "illegal immigrants" squeezed into a car and made their way to Changi..

to send Shermin off for her 3-mth US work trip..

That is Crystal btw..

Having a hearty breakfast and fellowship..

Good-bye Shermin..We'll miss you and keep you in prayers..

Audrey's Bday Celebration

2009-05-12T23:25:00.000+08:00

Our SG had a little surprise for Audrey

Ok..maybe not a little surprise..it came with video, present, cake..and of coz..she brought her own wipes

Fortunately, she din't wipe us clean..

SG was followed by a really good Thai dinner at Crystal's uncle's restaurant..

Happy 21st Birthday, Audrey!

A Growing Community (Psalm 1)

2009-05-10T14:52:00.000+08:00

A Growing Community (Psalm 1)

This topic is talking about how to grow together in a Christian community, and equipped us with enough skills that we could survive the challenges/ battles in our every day's life in the world. It is not talking on how to get into highest position in a workplace nor talking about how to increase the amount of cash as fast as possible that we have in our bank. It is talking on how we could stand to be different in this corrupted world and how we stand strong together side-by-side as brothers and sisters in Christ keeping our Christ-like values in our daily lives with the constant war against the devil that tried to take away our eternal life in heaven.

Psalm 1 in the passage clearly stated that "..the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1:7) This shows that even though there are a lot of injustice in this world, take for example, a wicked man still prospered and became wealthy while the righteous man suffered and became poor, ultimately those that do not follow God's way will eventually be destroyed and justice shall be served including 'Christians'. But this also serves as a remainder to all of us, that although we are Christians, we cannot just act the same way the wicked people does. Because when we did, we would eventually perish as well. We can loose our salvation if we did not act it out according to our faith!

So, how do we know to act according to God's will? In Psalm 1:2, "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." This passage not only referring to that we know God's law, but also to meditates day and night. In our daily lives let us ponder each one to ourselves how often do we actually asked God to give us guidance in good times? It is easy to ask and depend on Him during bad times, but what about good times?

And one interesting point of view is that in Psalm 1:3, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season.." The word 'fruit' here is referring to the fruit of the spirit. The result of the fruit of the spirit could be found in Galatians 5:22-25. As we walked the our walk with God as our main guide, this fruit could be shown in our lives and it transforms us!

However, let us be careful not to neglect about the other opposite of characteristics that are not the fruit of the spirit which can be found in Galatians 5:19-21. This is because as it stated clearly that "..who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:21) Let this be a warning to us to live in accordance to God's way and not based on our own desires.

After our small group meeting there were several interesting changes that we could find in our lives as we walked together with God. There are several 'negative' points that could be found namely: pride, looking down on people, vulgarities, easy to get angry, achievement-oriented, possessive and domineering, stubborn, wanted to control everything, self-blame for anything that is wrong, never accept any weaknesses, and also violence. Some of these negative traits occurred because of our position as a leader in our job/ school, some because of our family and our friends that we mixed around with, and some we are just born with it.

However, there is some changes that happened after our walk with God which result in: accepting one's weaknesses, more open up to people, toning down on criticism, better management of anger through prayer, surrendering more on God instead to control all that we can, became more aware about our words that we use, became humble, and also to learn that we need to walk our life and not just knowing how to do good!

It is interesting that these changes occurred through different reason as well, some of us changed because we sang doxology in the church, some through prayers, some through a very difficult situation such as unemployment and confrontation from people around us, even through a near-death experience. And more surprisingly, these changes not only happened with those who just became Christian, but also to those of us who have became Christian for our whole life! These changes does not occurred just in overnight but it takes time to change us, and sometimes, through painful experiences. Expect this, and do not think that life as a Christian just as bed of roses, there are a lot of thorns as well. This is how Jesus molded us to become closer to what He has planned for us to be since before our birth in this world.

As a final word, we must also acknowledge that we are not yet perfect and there are bound to be more changes that we need to experience to be closer to God, and some may not be pleasant. However, that was a Christian community is for! That is to provide us with shelters and replenishment that we need for our wounded soul after waging a war with outside world in our spiritual battle but also to make us more aware of our sinful self that yet still need to be changed and be equipped to handle our struggles with it. So that in the end, we all could say that "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith." - 2 Timothy 4:7

A New Beginning!

2009-04-28T21:51:00.000+08:00

Hello all!

We'll be using this blog to keep track of our discussions during small group. This is so that we don't lose what we discuss and can see our insights over the many small group meetings to come..so watch out for the first discussion summary soon!

Joseph

Pictures

2008-07-07T22:47:00.002+08:00

Introduction!

2008-07-07T22:26:00.001+08:00

We all met in Wesley Church Baptism and Membership Class (Jan 09) Group 2. Through God's providence and grace, our group grew together and is now an official Small Group in Wesley - The Goshens!

SGMeetings are normally held every fortnight, 1500Hrs to 1800Hrs on Saturdays
Fellowship Events are also held once a month

Member List

2008-07-07T22:11:00.005+08:00

Members
Joseph Tan
Joshua Tan
Millicent Chen
Ardi Agnar Abednego
Pauline Chew
Crystal Soh Harn Wei
Audrey Esther Tsan
Shermin Teh
Joyce Tang
Dennis Lim
Marcus Lee
Chia Ailin
Tan Xinyi
Lim Bixiu
Daryl Tay

Member Responsibilities
Leader – Joseph
Assistant Leader – Joshua
Administration - Audrey, Marcus
Worship Team – Joshua, Crystal, Dennis, Daryl
Bible Study – Dennis, Audrey, Crystal, Joseph
Phone Caller – Shermin, Bixiu
Prayer Leader – Ardi, Pauline
Blog Master – Dennis, Joyce
Fellowship – Joyce, Crystal, Marcus
Outreach/New Comers – Shermin