Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
~ Contributor: Troven
Thursday, 18 March 2010
17 Mar 10: Memory Verse
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Preparation for Cell: 17 Mar 10
Do highlight to me if you are not able to make it (especially for rostered members) so that I can make advance planning and adjustments. Thanks much!
Worship Lead: Adriel
Preparation for Questions (don't know which team you belong to?):
God bless and see you all tomorrow! :)
Worship Lead: Adriel
Preparation for Questions (don't know which team you belong to?):
- Priscilla's Team - 1. Who is God's anointed? What constitutes "touching God's anointed"?
- Stanley's Team - 2. State Joshua's basic life conviction found in Joshua 1:8 in your own words.
- Adriel's Team - 3. Samson's unguarded strength and unprepared heart had finally put him in bondage. Please comment.
- Gabriel's Team - 4. How could a wise ruler like Solomon allow rampant compromises into his personal life?
God bless and see you all tomorrow! :)
24 Feb 10: Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"
~ Contributor: Adelene
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Pain and Growth
I am currently reading the book Boundaries with kids by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Though I'm not a parent but a teacher, this chapter speaks to me so much that I couldn't help but to share it.
Lesson number one in parenting and life is "Growth involves pain." Lesson number two is "Not all pain produces growth." Learning to tell the difference is the key to having someone stay on the bottom, or grow past where he or she is.
When I played basketball in junior high, our coach had a big banner across the locker room that read, NO PAIN, NO GAIN. This saying became our team's mantra as we conditioned, trained, and practiced, sometimes past the point we thought we could endure.
I had experienced the reality of this phrase before, but I had never understood it quite like this. If I'm not struggling, I'm not getting better at what I have to do. This lesson has served me well for life. If you are independent, you are used to doing things that "hurt" so you can receive something you desire.
For example, as I write this chapter, I am very tired. I'm tired from traveling, and I'm tired of writing. It's a weekend, and I don't like working on the weekend. In addition, I haven't managed my time too well lately, and I'm behind. But as I write, I also know that to continue through the struggle is the only way to get what I desire. I want this book to be published. I want you, the parent, to have it. I want to fulfill this part of what I think God has called me to do. And if the book sells, I can also buy food.
As I write at this late hour, I also groan and gripe about it. Luckily, no one is listening. But what if I called my mother and cried to her about how difficult writing is, how hard it is to make things work in today's world, how cruel life is? And what if she had no boundaries herself, felt "sorry" for my pain, and sent me a check? What if she "compassionately" listened and agreed that I should not push myself so hard? (Don't worry, this is not killing me. But good complainer I am, I could make it sound that way for a codependent mother.) I could be assuaged out of my suffering enough to just let it go and feel okay about not accomplishing my task.
I can actually remember just such a day when I was in the sixth greade and tried this with my mother. I had had mononucleosis and had missed a month of school. When I came back, I was overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to catch up on. I remembered going to my mother and saying, "I do not want to go to school today. It's just too much. I can't take it anymore."
I will never forget what she said. I can see her and hear her words tonight as if I were standing there today: "Sometimes I don't want to go to work either. But I have to go." Then she hugged me and told me to get ready for school.
I was hurting. I was tired. I was in pain. But my mom knew it would not harm me to keep going. She evaluated my pain - the pain of momentary discipline - and encouraged me to keep going. Today, I am thankful for her boundaries. Without them my life would be full of half-done projects and unfulfilled goals. Later, I talked to her about this, and she told me parts of the story I had never heard before.
When I was four years old, a childhood bone disease caused me to lose the use of my left leg for two years. At times I had to use a wheelchair, and at other times I wore restrictive braces and walked on crutches. I was unable to get around much and play with other children.
As you can imagine, this was difficult for my parents to watch. However, when I see home movies, I see an active youngster wheeling through the zoo, going to birthday parties, and hopping around on braces and crutches. For a crippled kid, I did a lot.
I never knew what my parents had to go through to help me become this self-sufficient. The orthopedist told them that they were going to "ruin" me if they did things for me. She told them that they had to let me suffer through learning how to walk on crutches, steer the wheelchair, and explain to others what was wrong with me.
It was extremely painful for my parents to watch me struggle. They already felt sorry for their four-year-old son, who had lost the ability to walk like other children. They wanted to rescue me when I cried about having to wear the brace, or when I was in pain. Instead, they spanked me for trying to walk on my bad leg (something that would have deformed me for life). After she disciplined me, my mom revealed later, she would have to call a friend and cry.
My mother also told me of one day when I was struggling to get up the stairs to church. She overheard someone say, "Can you believe those parents, making him do that? How cruel they are!" But she was able to keep the limits. Another day, my crutch slipped on the marble steps of the post office; I came tumbling down, shaken, bruised, and cut up. But Mom continued to make me go up stairs on my own.
I cried, complained, and tried all of a four-year-old's games to manipulate my mom and dad into not allowing me to suffer the pain of learning self-sufficiency. But they kept their limits, and we made it through.
The end result is that I was soon able to get around and live a reasonably active and normal life with other children, and my leg eventually healed. Today I am grateful for their making me go through pain that hurt me, but did not harm me.
The parent who hears every cry or complaint as the ultimate concern will never develop boundaries and character in the child. When your children cry about homework, chores, or a missed opportunity because they did not do their part, what are you going to do? How you answer this question will have a tremendous effect on the course of your child's life.
Lesson number one in parenting and life is "Growth involves pain." Lesson number two is "Not all pain produces growth." Learning to tell the difference is the key to having someone stay on the bottom, or grow past where he or she is.
When I played basketball in junior high, our coach had a big banner across the locker room that read, NO PAIN, NO GAIN. This saying became our team's mantra as we conditioned, trained, and practiced, sometimes past the point we thought we could endure.
I had experienced the reality of this phrase before, but I had never understood it quite like this. If I'm not struggling, I'm not getting better at what I have to do. This lesson has served me well for life. If you are independent, you are used to doing things that "hurt" so you can receive something you desire.
For example, as I write this chapter, I am very tired. I'm tired from traveling, and I'm tired of writing. It's a weekend, and I don't like working on the weekend. In addition, I haven't managed my time too well lately, and I'm behind. But as I write, I also know that to continue through the struggle is the only way to get what I desire. I want this book to be published. I want you, the parent, to have it. I want to fulfill this part of what I think God has called me to do. And if the book sells, I can also buy food.
As I write at this late hour, I also groan and gripe about it. Luckily, no one is listening. But what if I called my mother and cried to her about how difficult writing is, how hard it is to make things work in today's world, how cruel life is? And what if she had no boundaries herself, felt "sorry" for my pain, and sent me a check? What if she "compassionately" listened and agreed that I should not push myself so hard? (Don't worry, this is not killing me. But good complainer I am, I could make it sound that way for a codependent mother.) I could be assuaged out of my suffering enough to just let it go and feel okay about not accomplishing my task.
I can actually remember just such a day when I was in the sixth greade and tried this with my mother. I had had mononucleosis and had missed a month of school. When I came back, I was overwhelmed with the amount of work I had to catch up on. I remembered going to my mother and saying, "I do not want to go to school today. It's just too much. I can't take it anymore."
I will never forget what she said. I can see her and hear her words tonight as if I were standing there today: "Sometimes I don't want to go to work either. But I have to go." Then she hugged me and told me to get ready for school.
I was hurting. I was tired. I was in pain. But my mom knew it would not harm me to keep going. She evaluated my pain - the pain of momentary discipline - and encouraged me to keep going. Today, I am thankful for her boundaries. Without them my life would be full of half-done projects and unfulfilled goals. Later, I talked to her about this, and she told me parts of the story I had never heard before.
When I was four years old, a childhood bone disease caused me to lose the use of my left leg for two years. At times I had to use a wheelchair, and at other times I wore restrictive braces and walked on crutches. I was unable to get around much and play with other children.
As you can imagine, this was difficult for my parents to watch. However, when I see home movies, I see an active youngster wheeling through the zoo, going to birthday parties, and hopping around on braces and crutches. For a crippled kid, I did a lot.
I never knew what my parents had to go through to help me become this self-sufficient. The orthopedist told them that they were going to "ruin" me if they did things for me. She told them that they had to let me suffer through learning how to walk on crutches, steer the wheelchair, and explain to others what was wrong with me.
It was extremely painful for my parents to watch me struggle. They already felt sorry for their four-year-old son, who had lost the ability to walk like other children. They wanted to rescue me when I cried about having to wear the brace, or when I was in pain. Instead, they spanked me for trying to walk on my bad leg (something that would have deformed me for life). After she disciplined me, my mom revealed later, she would have to call a friend and cry.
My mother also told me of one day when I was struggling to get up the stairs to church. She overheard someone say, "Can you believe those parents, making him do that? How cruel they are!" But she was able to keep the limits. Another day, my crutch slipped on the marble steps of the post office; I came tumbling down, shaken, bruised, and cut up. But Mom continued to make me go up stairs on my own.
I cried, complained, and tried all of a four-year-old's games to manipulate my mom and dad into not allowing me to suffer the pain of learning self-sufficiency. But they kept their limits, and we made it through.
The end result is that I was soon able to get around and live a reasonably active and normal life with other children, and my leg eventually healed. Today I am grateful for their making me go through pain that hurt me, but did not harm me.
The parent who hears every cry or complaint as the ultimate concern will never develop boundaries and character in the child. When your children cry about homework, chores, or a missed opportunity because they did not do their part, what are you going to do? How you answer this question will have a tremendous effect on the course of your child's life.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Slight Amendment To Teams
Due to some unbalanced team strength (considering usual attendance), I'm doing some slight amendments to the teams in cell.
You can view the updated list on the teams page.
Specific members who are affected are Harry, Troven, Siew Hor, Jessica, Diana, John Lee and John Chua.
Please take note guys! :)
Blessings,
Lionel
You can view the updated list on the teams page.
Specific members who are affected are Harry, Troven, Siew Hor, Jessica, Diana, John Lee and John Chua.
Please take note guys! :)
Blessings,
Lionel
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Preparation for Cell: 24 Feb 10
Greetings all!
Hope everyone had a fine Chinese New Year celebration! :)
Beginning with next week's cell, I'll start to post the roster here on the blog. Do highlight to me if you are not able to make it (especially for rostered members) so that I can make advance planning and adjustments. Thanks much!
Worship Lead:Adriel Stanley
Preparation for Questions (don't know which team you belong to?):
May our Lord and Father continue to bless each one of you as you faithfully undertake the challenge to answer these questions.
God bless! :)
Hope everyone had a fine Chinese New Year celebration! :)
Beginning with next week's cell, I'll start to post the roster here on the blog. Do highlight to me if you are not able to make it (especially for rostered members) so that I can make advance planning and adjustments. Thanks much!
Worship Lead:
Preparation for Questions (don't know which team you belong to?):
- Priscilla's Team - 11. As Christians, one may feel restricted and shortchanged. How can we overcome such misgivings?
- Stanley's Team - 10. List some of the blessings that Christians will lose out if they begin to doubt God's Word.
- Adriel's Team - 13. Discuss some safe boundaries a man and a woman should observe.
- Gabriel's Team - 12. List some "words of death" that ultimately water down our convictions.
May our Lord and Father continue to bless each one of you as you faithfully undertake the challenge to answer these questions.
God bless! :)
Monday, 8 February 2010
08 Feb 10: News Bulletin
Dear all brothers and sisters in Christ,
Welcome!
During last cell meeting, we have the pleasure of having Jessica Li, Joycelyn Yeo and John Chua in our midst! Praise God and let's give them a warm welcome! :D
There will be cell this week
Although the 2nd week of the month is the week when we have our break, we are going to have cell meeting this week nonetheless. Reason being next week is CNY, and I doubt I'll have the time to prepare for the materials with all the festive rush and visiting.
As Adriel and Priscilla have something to attend on Wednesday, I've decided to therefore shift the day of cell to be on THURSDAY, 11 February instead. We will be covering Convictions Chapter 2, questions 5-9.
Introducing teams
To instill a sense of ownership and to encourage a personal search and longing for God's Word, I'm hereby formalising smaller teams in our cell group. Please read this *important* announcement to find out which team you belong to. Members of each team, please prepare the following questions.
CNY Visiting
A number of people are keen to open their house for the cell to visit during CNY. As an official record, please SMS me or leave a comment on this post if your house is available for visiting. Also, please indicate your day of interest to do the visiting using the poll on the right of the blog. The poll will end on Friday, 12 February. So yup, if you want to have a say in which day, don't wait! (Just click only what. loL~)
Ordering of "Convictions To Live By"
New comers, if you don't have the above-mentioned book, please let me know via SMS or by leaving a comment on this post. I'll consolidate by this Friday before submitting the order to the church. Please prepare $11 to pay for them too ($10 for the book, $1 for the workbook).
See you all this Thursday! God bless and don't forget the memory verse! ;)
Welcome!
During last cell meeting, we have the pleasure of having Jessica Li, Joycelyn Yeo and John Chua in our midst! Praise God and let's give them a warm welcome! :D
There will be cell this week
Although the 2nd week of the month is the week when we have our break, we are going to have cell meeting this week nonetheless. Reason being next week is CNY, and I doubt I'll have the time to prepare for the materials with all the festive rush and visiting.
As Adriel and Priscilla have something to attend on Wednesday, I've decided to therefore shift the day of cell to be on THURSDAY, 11 February instead. We will be covering Convictions Chapter 2, questions 5-9.
Introducing teams
To instill a sense of ownership and to encourage a personal search and longing for God's Word, I'm hereby formalising smaller teams in our cell group. Please read this *important* announcement to find out which team you belong to. Members of each team, please prepare the following questions.
- Priscilla's Team - 6. Is experience always the best form of education? Please discuss.
- Stanley's Team - 9. Discuss some areas that Satan casts doubt.
- Adriel's Team - 7. Many intelligent professional people are bound by the most ridiculous cultic beliefs. How is that possible?
- Gabriel's Team - 8. What is Satan's usual first step of attack? Why does he faithfully use the same approach?
CNY Visiting
A number of people are keen to open their house for the cell to visit during CNY. As an official record, please SMS me or leave a comment on this post if your house is available for visiting. Also, please indicate your day of interest to do the visiting using the poll on the right of the blog. The poll will end on Friday, 12 February. So yup, if you want to have a say in which day, don't wait! (Just click only what. loL~)
Ordering of "Convictions To Live By"
New comers, if you don't have the above-mentioned book, please let me know via SMS or by leaving a comment on this post. I'll consolidate by this Friday before submitting the order to the church. Please prepare $11 to pay for them too ($10 for the book, $1 for the workbook).
See you all this Thursday! God bless and don't forget the memory verse! ;)
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