Made for Perfection

Humans are on a search their entire lives.

A search for this thing called Love.

Oh love.

Whatever that word means and encompasses. But the stark truth of it is that no matter what hills we climb or how many valleys we wander through, we just cannot seem to find that ONE. At the end of the search, we reluctantly concede defeat and admit that yes, there is just no perfect love. Imperfect people attempting to love other imperfect people produces imperfection: friction, hurt, regret, disappointment, sadness, guilt etc.

Augustine in his (brutally honest) confessions said "Thou hath made us for thyself; Our heart is made restless until it repose in thee"

No wonder.
Our hearts were made for P-E-R-F-E-C-T-I-O-N. To receive perfection and embrace perfection, for all its beauty and awesomeness. And by now we all know that no one meets that standard but God Himself.
No wonder.
Our hearts just get more restless as we keep searching to satisfy that longing by expecting so much more than what other fellow beings can give.

Was just thinking if we can't even love a perfect person with our heart, soul and mind, whats more an imperfect one?

To those who are searching, hurting, waiting, take heart for we have a perfect love exemplified for us way before we existed and we were planned for it. Embrace it :)

God is love. 1John4:16

Lord, In The Strength Of Grace

Lyrics: Charles Wesley
Music: So Heng (2007)

Lord, in the strength of grace,
With a glad heart and free,
Myself, my residue of days,
I consecrate to Thee.

Thy ransomed servant, I
Restore to Thee Thy own,
And from this moment, live or die
To serve my God alone.


在恩典的大能中
译词：苏恒、蔡以昕

主啊 在恩典的大能中
获释放的我带着欣喜的心
把自己和我仅存的岁月
分别为圣归祢

祢的仆人 被赎的我
将属祢的归还
而从此刻起 生或死
都单为事奉我主

I’m completely humbled. What transpired over the entire weekend, was definitely of divine power. Just when I thought I had understood the lyrics of this song perfectly, He put us to the test and made us see what it means to restore to Him what belongs to Him, what it means to serve Him alone, what it means to serve in the strength of His grace.

We were asked for a perfect, unblemished lamb for sacrifice and we had none to offer. Many a times, our best just isn’t THE best. We despair, we grieve, we hesitate to put it on the altar. What would God do with such an offering? Why would He want it? Torsten gave me timely reminder: remember the widow with the 2 copper coins. It wasn’t a lot in terms of quantity but it was her all. All that she possessed, she placed it in that offering box and offered it up to God. Can you imagine the courage she had to put the 2 coins into the box? Can you even fathom the reverence she had for God?

Then it hit me: everything I have isn’t mine. But when asked for our all, we cling on to some things like our life depends on it. It reminds me of Abraham. He had a son, Isaac. Isaac was a promise from God, a blessed possession for Abraham. A son, coming so late in Abraham’s life, Abraham must have love Isaac a lot. Then one fine day, God dropped the bomb on Abraham: he was to offer Isaac up as a burnt sacrifice.

Why did God do that? Perhaps God knew Abraham loved Isaac more than he loved Him. Isaac was something that stood between God and Abraham, and unless Abraham learnt to part with his beloved possession, he cannot love God above everything else. Our love for one another may exceed that of our love for God. What are the “Isaacs” in our life today? Academic results? Family? Some sister or brother-in-Christ? Dominant 7th?

“Restore to Thee Thy own”: are you ready to give them all up and return to God what really belongs to Him?

Frankly, when faced with the choices, I only saw my accountability to men: how not to let people down, how one’s efforts must somehow be proportionate to the outcome. When none of the choices can please both God and men at the same time, what do we do? “To serve my God alone” means to pit oneself against the world’s charms. Yes, surely you’ll let some people down. Our deepest concerns will show us who we serve, our Master: so is it going to be men, or God?

In making my final decision, I have let a few people down, seen the “Isaac” of my life and my inability and unworthiness to serve if not for His strong, unwavering grace. The anthem was no longer just a song but a part of my life.

I thank God for the painful experience for I have seen His power and sovereignty through it all!

100th!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm the first! I'm the first! Yeh yeh yeh :)

I get the honour to publish the 100th post!

Okay sorry for the nuisance.

Dom7th-ers can you believe we made it to the 100th post?! Wow, 100 ways in which God has led us and touched us to share with one and all. Not just through our voice but through words! Amazing!
I was just looking through the older postings and aww man, its so, so heart twisting... From the very 1st when Aiping first started this blog and then the period leading up to the concert where there were silly, sad, encouraging, heartwarming sharings coming from everyone to now where its peace and quiet...

Time really flies. But one thing remains, our dear Heavenly Father was there to witness every step of the way.

To many more 100ths to come!

Oh, and to all those who visit this place often, reveal thyself so we know who you are *Ahem Mag ahem* Haha kidding... Thank you for reading and growing with us :)

Alrightoes! tomorrow I shall talk about something serious. Serious stuff.

Goodnight :)

Hey Brothers and Sisters!

Yepp haven't written in a long while.

Recently my friend lent me a CD by Stuart Townend of In Christ Alone, How Deep the Father's Love for Us, Beautiful Saviour fame.
I'm falling in love with his compositions. Rich in meaning and powerful in theology.
This entire week this song has been ringing in my head, called See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn). Woah really must sing it for Easter someday man... I found a rendition on youtube, and discovered there is this channel on BBC called Songs of Praise that features programmes worship in a national day-like setting singing nice hymns and praise songs, with full orchestras. So grand really nice! Go see it for yourself! (Especially good for exam-laden tots!~)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNLT_WUQqXE&feature=related

See God's Salvation Plan
Wrought in love
borne in pain
paid in sacrifice
Fulfilled in Christ the Man
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead!

And we are raised with Him
Death is dead
love has won
Christ has conquered!
And we shall reign with Him
For He lives Christ is risen from the dead!

Another one, a wonderful rendition, not Townend's composition, of Be Thou My Vision. People we've gotta learn to sing like that man... haha! Girls match the fullness yah?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idu2_uV4QB0&feature=related

And Great is Thy Faithfulness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0oxobAZGfE&feature=related

Guys drop your jaws and sing like that guy man...

ok Cheers and continue training for Praise and Glory of our God who gives us the reason to Sing!

God be in me.

'God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.'

~Sir Henry Walford-Davies

I remember hearing this song sung the first time by a choir a few years back.
They sang it beautifully...

How could any soul that has been touched by God not be moved by such an earnest plea;
and be moved to pray it every day.

For we,
Whose mind is quick to judge;
For we,
Whose eyes love to lust;
For we,
Whose mouth is quick to slander, curse and gossip;
For we,
Whose heart is prone to wander;
Whose thoughts are full of evil;
But God,
Whose Love from beginning --
Knows no end.


Hopefully, dom7th will be able to sing this piece soon too!

Lost.

I'm lost. Very lost.

I am 'Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise. '

As Charles Wesley himself expressed it very endearingly in 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'; hymn no. 44, 'Hymns of Life', categorized under 'GOD-HIS LOVE AND GRACE.'

Indeed, I have been experiencing God's immeasurable love and grace upon me for such a period as this that I am literally lost. Yeh, lost for words, (pun intended) So, I can only sing and pray and meditate and it is still not enough to express it all!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by such a a HUGE downpour of mercy, grace and love? It is overwhelming to the extent that you get lost in its vastness.

How vast is your ocean O Lord, how small is my boat.

If my boat is lost in His wonder, love and praise; Ah, May it never find its way out...

I will willingly and indulgingly row about in the peaceful, still waters.

Of course, God's goodness never ceases so you might be asking why is it only now that I experience it. I think it is only when one knows the dangers, feels the fear, expects the unexpected, understands self-helplessness will one be empty and broken before being filled to the brim and all the goodness just keeps on overflowing and flowing and flowing... Then ta-da! one ends up in the light of:

'Lost in wonder, love and praise'

Dear friends,

Stop and meditate on His wonder, love, mercy and grace and may you then exclaim:

"Changed from glory into glory

Till in heav'n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love and praise."

I bet you you can't stop singing it.

Awaken our senses.

28 Have you never heard?

Have you never understood?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

29 He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

30 Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

- Isaiah 40:28-31



I am weak but He is strong!
I am clueless but He is omniscient!
I am powerless but He is omnipotent!
I am created, He is the Creator!


Maybe the reason why we so often waver in faith, worry about small and big things (size doesn't matter) is because we just "never understood" even though we have "heard".



Why are we just so dumb and dull sometimes or all the time, to what God says to us?



Hearing and processing it mentally does not equate to understanding.
Understanding the height, depth, breadth of Who God is.



He is the everlasting God.



Can you sense that? The power in those words that God speaks of himself?



Dear God,
please awaken our senses that have been so dull to your teachings, to your revelations, to
YOU, yourself.
Help us to understand, to know who you are so that we might not sin against you by disbelieving or doubting your providence and your majesty.
In Your Son's name,
Amen.










He holds my hand.

What we did on 22.3.08

(photos mildly edited)

Stretching!

恒久忍耐!(It just happened that I wore the shirt with those words. Ha.)

I felt kind of bad not participating in the workout. So I made this one in that ‘holding’ position.

Now, the main thing…feet-washing!

Enjoying it?

Oh...The cute one-on-one wash!

In the midst of all the fun, laughter, screaming and enjoyment (or torture), the significance of this act stays in our mind.

He was the teacher of the 12 disciples, but he was willing to do this lowly task.
Jesus is above all, yet he chose to be the servant of man.
All that he did for us was…because of love. Because of love.

Let us continue to serve one another out of love. =)

Restless silence.

How did Barabbas feel when the soldiers came to free him? He was on the death row for the hideous crimes he had committed. He was going to pay for them with his life. Then all of a sudden, the soldiers unlocked the cell and told him he could go free. How did he feel when he knew that he was freed because the crowd had decided that they preferred to crucify Jesus instead? How did he feel when he found out that Jesus had done nothing wrong to deserve what the crowd had condemned Him to?

His life in exchange for mine. How should I live my life as a redeemed today?
__________________________________________________________________

How did Simon from Cyrene feel when the guards ordered him to carry the cross for Jesus on the way to that fateful hill? Did he do it willingly or grudgingly? Did he do it because he had no choice? Or because he felt he needed to do something for Jesus? Did he feel ashamed to walk on the road to the hill, meant for the most terrible criminals? What did the cross mean to Simon? A burden? A symbol of shame?

The burden of our sins on Him was probably heavier. How should I carry His cross today?
___________________________________________________________________

What happened on the day between the day of crucifixion and the day of resurrection? What did everyone do? Was life in the town normal again? How did everyone feel, not knowing that Christ is going to rise again? Emptiness? Hopelessness? Guilt? Disbelief?

The day of dark deafening silence, where hope was thought to be rotting in the tomb, slowly disintegrating.

But for me, this day is a day of anticipation. I already know He has risen!

Waiting for the glorious Easter sunrise.

All.Humble.Reflection.

This week is the Holy Week.
I went back to the bible to recall the events which occurred these few weeks many, many years ago. As I read about the events leading up to the death of Jesus, I spotted some relations.

Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume and wiped his feet with her hair (John 12:3). Jesus washed his disciples’ feet before he was captured(John 13).

Mary’s deed foreshadows Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet.
It models for us the humble service all followers of Christ are to perform.

While in the Temple, Jesus took notice of the people presenting their offerings. It was here that He took special notice of a widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41-44)

This event foreshadows Jesus’ fast-approaching sacrifice, when put in everything – all he had to live on.

To a world that was lost,
He gave all he could give,
To show us the reason to live…

In reflecting on Christ's sufferings this year, let us not forget our call as Christians to "take up our crosses" and follow in Christ's footsteps. As we reflect on Christ's gift to us on the Cross this week, let's ponder how we can give our lives as gifts in return. Then, we can more fully experience Christ's glory on Easter morning.

Holy Week schedule

Good Friday (Rehearsal)
Date: 19/03/08 Wednesday
Time: 7:30 - 10 pm
Singers/Lectors: Yi Le, Beatrice, Aiping

Easter (Rehearsal)
Date: 21/03/08 Good Friday
Time: 1pm - 2:30 pm
Singers: Fu Xing, Wen Xin, Beatrice, Aiping

________________________________________________________

Good Friday 21/03/08
Meeting Time: 7:30 AM
Attire: All black
* 十架心情 scores in black file

Easter Sunday 23/03/08
Meeting time: 10 AM
Attire: Red top + black pants
* Hallelujah Chorus scores in red file

生命的流露 －为主发光

I was just listening to our 简牧师's sermon and January anthem.
Somehow, I find that certain parts of it are relevant to our March anthem.

"我们需要在言语上见证我们的上帝。我们更加要在行为上来见证我们的上帝。如果你什么都不讲，你不讲你是基督徒，甚至说你不传福音，但是你单单通过你的行为，人家就感觉的到你不一样，你是基督徒，那你就成功了. "

从此要在罪恶的黑暗里
闪烁真理的光芒
May the word of the Lord be in our hearts.

在纷乱的人世中
显出内心的平安
May others see the peace of God in our hearts.

从此要在冰冷的空气间
散发主爱的温馨
This is what you can do for the 卖火柴的小女孩(s) in your life.
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35

在失落的心灵前
流露丰盛生命
May those who are lost know about this abundant life God promised us.

God help us all.

Stories for March anthem - Turn on your light and burn bright

When cold wind blew, lyrics of our March anthem came to my mind.

他颤抖在情感的寒冷夜晚
期待有人给予些许温暖

Whenever I sing this line, I seem to picture 卖火柴的小女孩儿.
A girl left alone on a winter night. She lighted up all her matchsticks, one by one, hoping that they would keep her warm and alive. But in the end, she froze to dead. This is … one tragic story.

你却说终日奔忙
你也挡不住严寒
可知道灯盏既点燃
应摆在台上

‘ You’ are there but ' you ' told her ' you ' could not help her in any way. Is it really true?
Where did ‘you’ place the lamp?

Max Lucado tells a story about some candles which refuse to be taken from a storage closet to provide light during an electrical storm. (To read the whole story, go to http://www.geocities.com/jf_game/maxlucado.html .) Each candle has its own excuses why it should not give out light. When the husband tells his wife that the candles don’t work, she explains, “Oh, they are church candles.” Often our lives seem to be like these candles. We choose to be lighted up bright in situations when there is already enough light or stay dim in circumstances when we may be the only light that is available.

The world needs the lights.
We are called to live imitating Christ.
Just as Jesus illuminated our lives, let us, being imitators of Christ, do the same for others.

借脚前的灯做世上的光
让每个生命的未来都可一样
永远灿烂

Announcement

Combined choir practice for Easter
9th March (Sun) 2pm to 4pm Sanctuary
16th March (Sun) [tentative]

Sorry if this disrupts your plans. It ruffled a few feathers last Sunday but I hope all is well now. It's hard co-ordinating practices for a 60+ ppl choir, so let's appreciate the effort that Esther is making.

Change in prac time
8th March (Sat) 3:30pm to 6pm

Shao Tuan's starting at 7pm this week, so to give you ample time for dinner or prayer meeting or prep for ling chang, we start earlier too. We've got lots to cover: mike test for March anthem, the Good Friday mood piece, the 'new' piece for April...We may not have time for Handel, so it's important that you all turn up for the Easter practices.

And please, for the umpteenth time: COME ON TIME!

Not that easy to Handel

It was a mad mad day of practice this afternoon: one moment minor and weepy, next moment major and happy!

And well, Hallelujah Chorus ain't that eay to Handel after all eh? For those who are interested, here's a video (more like audio) recording of it by Saint Severin Choir. Enjoy!

Valentine Medley

On 16th Feb, 6 boys presented a song to a group of girls, who were utterly (pleasantly) surprised and hysterical!... Haha.

"Wow, wow what a rare occasion for the boys to be so sweet...", were probably the thoughts that flew past their minds... But then again, it was such a rare and sweet moment that none had time to be picky. So they listened very attentively, watched very intensely and giggled very vigourously...

At the end of the song...

"APPLAUSE!!!!!!!..... Clap Clap Clap!" Standing Ovation

What a splendid performance it was! Sincere voices coupled with tootsie little actions, which looked very unrehearsed but, who cares? It could only make us go "Awwww..."

On behalf of all the privileged ladies of Dom7th:

"I love you,
You love me.
We are happy family.
With a great big hug
And a kiss from me to you!
Won't you say you love me too! "

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Thank you boys for the sweet-as-chocolate performance :):):)

But I do hope it lasts beyond Valentine's Day...

Looking back...


Arrangement by Jireh Chua

Will you give it to him?

Valentine’s day. The day when we think about hearts, flowers and chocolate.
If God is our valentine, how does our passion for God display itself?
Do we busy ourselves in Christian service? Do we wear the brazen Christian t-shirt so everyone will know we are a Christian?

We do, we say, we act, we show... but do we mourn?
Yes, mourn.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines contrite as, "Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent."

Sometimes, we think that God delights solely in all our efforts and sacrifice. The psalmist paints a different picture, however. God delights in a broken and contrite heart.

神所要的祭, 就是忧伤的灵. 神啊, 忧伤痛悔的心, 你必不轻看. (诗篇51:17)

I think sometimes we do all the other things so that we don't have to focus on our sins and how utterly broken we are. God knows of all of these moments and it saddens Him. The incontrovertible fact is that no amount of Christian service or any other thing will cover the sin that resides in our heart.

God does not want your chocolate hearts, your flower, or even your food. He wants a broken and contrite heart for Valentine's Day and every day. Will you give it to Him?

大扫橱 – discard and rearrange

Hel…*Sneeze*…lo
I am here to blog about something related to CNY (大扫橱).

大扫橱. Something we do every Chinese New Year Eve.
It is also the activity which shows you how much dust you accumulated for one year.
And how badly my dust-sensitive nose suffers.

I guess in this festive season some reflection is never too inappropriate. So here are some questions for you. I would strongly encourage you to take some time and think about them.

Discard
We clear all the junk in our house each year.
Similarly, are there things that we need to discard in our lives ?

Rearrange
After discarding the piles of junk we get really tired so rearrangement would be a part left out during 大扫橱. It may not be necessary if the things you have are already at the places you want. However, it is sometimes not the case in our lives. Do our priorities need to some rearrangement too?

With God as our cleaning agent, let us clean up the specks of dusts in our lives .

Hope all of you would have a greater awareness of what is happening in your lives and move on to the (Chinese) new year with a clear direction in mind.

Have a mousy good new year! =)

---

entrusted with a heavier responsibility in tuanqi, i've been getting myself into more bible studies, personally trying alot harder to do my own quiet time.

recently during a certain bible study, i was asked this question.
Is jesus precious to you? What's the difference between christianity and any other religions?

well
think about it for awhile, dear reader.


when we say yes, jesus is precious to me, why do we say that?
because.. erm. he rescued us from hell and we get to enjoy the comforts of heaven?
(brings us back to the previous, previous post where God asked us if we loved his gifts more than we love him)

jesus is precious, because without him, i cant get anywhere.
when i die, i'll be eating God's wrath raw, in my face.
Jesus is precious, because im throughly wretched.

Am I totally wretched? I asked myself, on the spot.
I know i am, but i know in disbelief.

Again there is always a line between knowing and believing.

reminds me of how i was in a bus, and in a hurry at the same time, one fine day.

I was going to be late, and it wouldnt be nice. A traffic junction dictated my fate.
red light- late
green light- not too late.

shamelessly i was praying for a green light.
The light was green then.

just when the bus was inches away from crossing the junction, the lights moved from green, to orange, and finally red.

Right then in my mind, i was reminded.
some time ago, i was speaking with an atheist on the net.
he said " if there was a God, how come so many prayers go, but nothing happens?"

At that very moment, the red light made sense.
we've got everything wrong.
If we dont get what we pray, it actually proves that there is a God.
There is actually someone who has the ability to judge and decide, to give or not to give.


alright erm back to the point.
So whats the difference between christianity and other religions?

Could it be that in christianity we do good for God's glory and not for our own glory?
I'm afraid suicide bombers believe in the same thing.

i dont have other examples to offer so i'll head to my point.

the difference is, in christianity, we have a saviour.
the difference is, in christianity, we learn that we cannot do good.

to put it shortly, in christianity, we learn that we are nothing but useless bags of trash.
In us there is NOTHING good.
We cannot save ourselves, even if doing good actually earns salvation, BECAUSE WE SIMPLY CANNOT DO GOOD!

And thats why we have a saviour.
But unless we come to terms with our condition (hopeless, useless) we will never truly accept the saviour.
But the problem is pride.

We cannot deal with pride.
No proud person would even intend to deal with himself.

so my mentor said.
read the bible, read it with all due humility
And let the bible do the reprimanding.

there is no shame in being humble
but being proud is absolutely shameless.

God help us all.

Announcement

Practice is on as usual this coming Saturday, 9th February 年初三 4pm to 6pm.

Please tell your parents early so arrangements can be made and things won't turn out ugly. And I'm sure you guys wanna come for prac very badly, right? Right? Haha...

(I should say why this prac is crucial: 17th Feb is 献唱。Considering the amount of time you guys spend practising on your own, if we skip this prac and wait till the 16th, we'll be very very rusty.)

Be responsible choristers: please don't over-indulge on the new year goodies or your voice may just decide to walk out on you.

*end of annoucement*
_______________________________

I think you guys sounded quite good during rehearsal today: there were a few moments that sounded like ear-candy, oozing zest and zeal =)

Brought me back to my JC choir days.

Keep up the good work!