Results

Alright, I know you have all been waiting for it. It's just that I didn't not get everyone's votes. But here are the books:

Weekley Reflection Sharing: Gospel John
Daily Bible Reading: Genesis

We shall start this coming Sunday with the new books. Please try your best to finish your last chapters by this Saturday :). God Bless!

Luke chapter 23

Theme: the correspondence and the significance of  particular dates

This subject is cross through chapter 22 to 23. Jesus was sold, died and resurrected on particlar dates. It helps me to connect the events in Old Testimony with Jesus's work here as God's whole plan. Let's take a look at the correspondances between the original meanings of these dates and what happened here, and reflect their spiritual teachings.

1. the Passover

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching. (Lk22.1)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. (Lk22.7)

Originally, at the night of Passover, those firstborns who have blood of lamb on their doorframe could be passed over from doom. Here, Jesus himself is just the Passover lamb which was sacrificed to redeem us, the firstborns of God. Just as what Isaiah recorded:

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, [...] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is53.4-6)

Jesus was sold at the Passover night, as a prepared lamb, to fulfill God's plan of salvation.

However, what's irony is that:

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (Lk22.3)

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. (Lk22.4)

At this saving night, Judas didn't hind under the lamb's blood, but exposed to the street. He was not passed over by doom, but was conquered by evil. In the end, he spiritually died eternally. So that we sould be watchful that if we are always hindden within Jesus's holyness.

2. Preparation Day and Sabbath

It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (Lk23.54)

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Lk23.56)

Originally, the preparation day is for preparing the Sabbath, and the Sabbath is for remembering God's completement of his work. Here, the Preperation Day is used to prepare spices and perfumes for Jesus's death, which is exactly the accomplishment of God's greatest work in the world. That's why Jesus said: It is finished.(Jn19.30) and then died. So that the Sabbath is not only for remembering the accomplishment of God's creation, but further for remembering the accomplishment of God's work of salvation.

1 Timothy ch1

Ok so I know its late but better late than never right :). This chapter contains many very valid points that help to shape and mold us into the Christians we should be. I really feel that in TJC we have a perfect and complete doctrine, The Holy Spirit and many diff rent gifts. The one thing I really feel we lack is love. It makes me think of a story a brother told me when he saw a church called The Church of Love. He stopped in to see what it was all about and they said it was for only for Koreans. So what am I trying to say and what point am I trying to make. Well in verse five it says " Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" I really think we need to have this attitude and to always think how can we evangelize and how can we give God the glory by doing charitable deeds OUT SIDE THE CHURCH. Sure we sing, play piano, give sermon, lead Bible study and pray until our knees are red. The reason I say this is because it is important for the Church to grow and after thirty years in America we can still count the Americans on one hand. Praise and thank God we have that many I don't wont to sound ungrateful and I know God has his timing. As the new generation it is up to us to break away from the traditional culture and do Gods work.
May all The Glory be to God

1 Tim Chapter 2-6

1 Tim 2:1-2 "....that requests, prayer, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all men....that we may lead a quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness."

From this verse, i came to understand that to lead a quiet and peaceful lives, it must comes from our prayers and also intercessory prayers from each other despite having to live in this perverse and iniquitous generations. Prayers is the solitary exception that will take us into living a godly and peaceful lives, nevertheless not lacking in this knowledge of the truth in vs 4, but by combining these two essences together and acting it out in our lives, we could not possibly go wrong with it.

1 Tim 3:9 "They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience."

Although Chapter 3 is a requirement for the church ministers, but if we are able to pursue after all these, it will truly have a significant improvement in our whole spiritual life, from the very little task we do it well for God determines our character for the bigger task to come.

From this verse, it requires of a clear conscience to keep the truth, in other words, we need an upright heart to keep the words of God. Our heart needs to be upright to hold the truth without simply changing it.

Job has a deep understanding into this, being able to cultivate an upright heart even during the times of peace, he offered burnt offerings for his children worrying that they may have sinned against God in their hearts, this shows that he has a practice of cultivating an upright heart in his lifetime and eventually when crisis hit, he is able to overcome it with an upright and God fearing heart. Jobs 33:3 My words come from an upright heart, my lips sincerely speak what i know.

Matthew 6:22-23 says the eye is the lamp of the body, if your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

Likewise, if our heart is good and upright we speak of what is rightful and true, whatever we do in our lives, let it be in-line with the truth practicing it with an upright heart, not affected by the trends and concepts of this world how they lead life but holding to the truth till the end and we shall receive the crown of life.

1 Tim 4:16 "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

For Paul to say this to Timothy in his letter, he was aware of the strange teachings that has been taught/arose in Ephesus at that time, warning young Timothy to watch his life and doctrine closely, to maintain and hold fast what has been given to him (Acts 19:23-41).

Likewise, today we have also been given this doctrines, it is now our responsibility to hold onto this truth because we are at the end times period where savage wolves will come into amongst us to take some of us away (Matthew 7:15, Acts 20:29), however by persevering and holding to the truth continually, understanding this truth inside out-we need a lot of time devouted to reading the Bible and praying then we will not be devoured by Satan (Matthew 13:4), nevertheless we need to constantly watch our lives, staying alert all the times throughout our lives and not falling asleep :) and we will not fall away eventually.

1 Tim 5:5 "The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help."

I thought this is really an exemplary conduct to learn from throughout our lives that we don't live for pleasure in this life but that we are able to exercise this God-fearing manner like the widow who dedicated her whole life in prayers and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

1 Tim 6:6 "Godliness with contentment is great gain."

This is indeed a phrase we need to go through at a certain part of our life to be refine as gold and it is what i have been taught by the holy spirit for the past 2 years of my life in Newcastle - to be contented.

It all begins from when i was 15, holy spirit moved me to rid of all the little little things in my life - gadgets, pop musics, tvs, movies - as i grew up in Singapore, the cutting edge of advanced technology and electronic city, it is so not easy not to be influenced by the next gadgets out on the market which everyone will be talking about and possessing one of them at home.

But because God wanted us to be carefree from the things of the world, i slowly learnt to live detached from all these things. Therefore each time reading 1 Cor 7:30-32 "those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep, those who use the things of the world as if not engrossed in them...and be free from concern", i am glad God has mold me into living detached from the things in life, and then further practicing living in contentment.

God wanted us to be godly and also contented, because only with contentment we will not greed as men have the tendency to greed for more and more. They are actually more people dying today for earning more wealth than to actually die for lacking of food. In Exodus 20:17 has long since warned us not to greed after other people's houses, wife, possessions etc, this is our society and life today in the world. But let us live with a God fearing attitude and be contented with what we have and also practice godliness in our lives because this is great gain at the end of our journey.

1 Timothy 5

"8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

I think this is very prevelant in the western countries, especially in the USA. Many people place their parents in nursing homes when they are old so they don't have to take care of them. I think this verse can be taken to another level, the emotional one. Even though the children may pay for the nursing home fees, but they have rejected their parents by emtional neglect, thinking they are just naggy and useless; only visiting them perhaps once or twice a year on major holidays. Perhaps it is different in Europe. It is definitley better in Asian countries, although they have been somewhat influenced by the American culture. Hopefully we are able to draw wisdom from God instead of the trend of this world and take care of our own, so that we are not denying the faith and become worse than unbelievers.

Vote

Thank you for those of you who submitted your vote. For those who haven't, please remember to vote so we can continue with our spiritual fellowship. Thank you!

Books

Sorry, I'm just the one whom you don't want to give pressure to... And I don't know if I have the right to nominate...

Anyway, my suggestion is like this:

Daily reading- John

Weekly sharing- John

Sorry that I nominate the same book in two categaories, becasue I really want to have dialogues with each other about what we read, even though we only share a little piece once a week. I don't know. When I read, I want to share and to know others' reflection. I'd like to follow our daily study in Gospels. But if we only can choose another book to share, I think I will be very upset to be unable to know others' reflection on John. It's hard for me. So...sorry for my wilfulness....

Nominees

Here are the books that have been chosen for each category. We will vote by Thursday, so we know which books we shall start after Spiritual Convocation. We will pick 2 choices for each category from the Nominees. The first choice will be given 2 points, and the 2nd choice will be given 1 point. So far, these are the choices, hopefully more will come in later. We will close the Nominations by Wednesday night. Please vote Thursday!

Reflection Book:
2 Timothy
John
Judges
Colossians

Reading Book:
John
Genesis
Psalm
Proverbs
Ephesians
2 Kings

Reflection sharing : 2 Timothy
Daily reading: Ephesians

BOOKS

As it is so long ago since i wrote about my suggestion i will post them again^^

reflection sharing : john
daily reading psalm or proverbs

1.Tim 4.

"16 Hab acht auf dich selbst und auf die Lehre; beharre in diesen Stücken! Denn wenn du das tust, wirst du dich selbst retten und die, die dich hören."

After the Amoklauf we discussed in the school RE how to prevent people become like that and become that aggressive. What can we do? Many voices proposed to care more for other people, to talk to people who are alone, be there if others are in need and to be aware of people who might become like that.
So after that many people said that it is needed to care about others there was one person suggesting that we should care about ourselves at first and try to live a satisfying life and than to care about the surrounding people.

There is also a saying that: Wenn jeder um sich kümmert, dann ist für jeden gesorgt (When everyone cares about oneself then no one will be forgotten) Of coarse this saying has some flaws. Because there will always be some people who will have problems to care for themselves properly. What will happen to them? But I think that as long as the word “only” is missing in this saying than it does not say that people do not also care for one another besides caring for themselves.

Often we start to care more about others and do not realize that our life is pretty messy. Until one day something bad or unpredicted happened and we can not cope with the situation at all and start to strange things or becoming depressed. Beside this, how much can you help when your life is messy or unstable? People may not be very happy to receive your help or they do not ask for your help because of your unstable live you may become unreliable to others.

So when you watch your life, your faith (which should be integrated into your life and become your life) and the doctrine, the word of God is your guideline you can not only safe yourself but you will be able to safe and help others by what you are saying and as I think also doing. Because I believe that you can help or save others not only through words but also actions, behavior or attitude. Because either good actions or bad doings will all affect people.

So the phenomena which I wanted to illustrate here is the person who is not caring weather its actions are acceptable before God and man or who will not acknowledge its own problems and just ignores them. So rather caring about others and pointing at their mistakes than improving oneself.
This also is related to the topic of being a good example for others.

Luke chapter 22

Theme: Jesus prays on the Mount of Olives

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

40 On reaching the place, he said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation.

41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

It's almost the destination of Jesus's journey in the world. He chose to pray to pass this precious moment. It comes to my mind that how do we often pass some special moments, like Birthday, New Year, or Farewell night? How do we recognize the meaning of them? To Jesus, although he deeply loved his disciples and all peoples in the world, and although it was the last chance to be with them, he didn't see fireworks with them, or talked with them all night long. Rather, he went out AS USUAL to pray, and even pray more than usual, because what he payed attention to was the harder work after the farewell -- the work for himself on the cross, and also the work for disciples of preaching after he died. Therefore it's the last chance to pray for himself, his lovely disciples and mankind. That's the significance of this precious moment Jesus recognised. I think that we should often ask ourselves, "How much time do I still have? What is the significance of this moment? What is the very thing I should to do right away?"

42 Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. 

43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 

44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

46 Why are you sleeping? he asked them. Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 

The disciples fell asleep because of their sorrows. By contrast, Jesus also sorrowed, and even was in anguish, but he eventually was strengthened by God. Actually, as a human being, Jesus was not so strong to have no weakness. We can see that he even like a normal man would like to escape a suffering. However, how does he face his pain and go through his struggle? Not to escape into sleep, not to let himself alone, or just to be weakened for a while, but immediately to ask for God's help. That's the only way to get strengthen and to escape from temptations. Sometimes we may say that, "Oh I'm too weak to pray. Please leave me alone to take some rest." Actually, it's impossible to gain any rest and energy in sleep or in wander. Rather, we will fall into temptation without consciousness. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit within us prays for us all the time, like Jesus did for Peter and for all disciples. He prayed for them even when they have fallen asleep. That's why they could stand again later. In brief, we should not fall into sleep due to our sorrows and make Holy Spirit worry about us, but sould try to overcome our anguishes with prayer. In this way, God must deliever his servants come, maybe as some brethrens' words, or maybe as some insights into our minds. In the end, we must be able to be strengthened after heartful prayers.

THE books

Hehe... so I guess I am the first one to post my two books. ; )


Weekly Reflection Sharing Book: Judges (Richter)
Daily Reading Book: John

1 Timothy 4

"8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

Godliness with plump is better than ungodliness with muscles :) . We all know that what is physical is temporary, and what is spiritual is eternal. This verse illustrates just that. Albeit an easy concept that we already understand, practicing it can be difficult when we are shortsighted. Many times we concentrate on what is right in front of us instead of our eternal life. When in fact, what is right in front of us will not benefit us in the long run, and I mean, the loooooooooong run.

We lay up treasures on earth instead of in heaven because we receive instant gratification on earth. Heaven may be so far fetched and out of reach that we do not think of the rewards we may receive. Especially when we know with certainty that when mom says we will get $10 (7.5 Euros) if we make an A (1 for Germany) on the exam tomorrow, mom means it and we really get the money the day we bring home the A. Although you have to wait a little, but you know it's coming, and you can predict when it will happen, because you trust the teacher always grades her papers that day and return it the next day.

But with eternal rewards, we don't know how long we have to wait, and we can't predict what will happen and when it will happen; on top of that, perhaps we don't even trust in our Father's promise more than we trust our mom's. Which brings us to the difficulty of working towards our spiritual reward rather than our physical reward.

Many times we say we trust God, but if we truly think about it, do we really? Especially in bad times, when we may think God is unreliable, and why we are being punished instead of being rewarded. But we must remember, our reward is in the life after, and not in this life. Now the hard part is trusting in that promise and believe that it will come, like the $5 (7.5 Euros) will come when we've accomplished the mission and met the standard.

I Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,[b] in faith, in purity

Paul instructed Timothy how he should conduct himself which is to be an example to the believers. This message also addressed to us (as youth). We, as the young generation, need to strive hard to be a good example for the believers around us. The youth are not only expected to be a good model for younger generation but also, the youth have to be able to show to elder generation that the youth capable to perform godly conduct.