Meeting Session with Pastor Chan

Yo Bratz,

FYI - We will have a meeting session with Pastor Chan this Saturday, 3rd January '07
@3pm (after choir practice) in the Youth Room.

I'd like to invite all of you to attend the meeting, as you all know Pastor Chan is helping Balestier and it is his intention to work hand-in-hand with all of us youths.

Spare your bz time, let's get together, hope this will be a fruitful one.

Thanks.

An Impressive Dream

An Impressive Dream

TESTIMONIES FOR THE CHURCH
VOLUME 2
Page 595

While at Battle Creek in August, 1868, I dreamed of being with a large body of people. A portion of this assembly started out prepared to journey. We had heavily loaded wagons. As we journeyed, the road seemed to ascend. On one side of this road was a deep precipice; on the other was a high, smooth, white wall, like the hard finish upon plastered rooms. As we journeyed on, the road grew narrower and steeper. In some places it seemed so very narrow that we concluded that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback.

As we progressed, the path still continued to grow narrow. We were obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the steep precipice. As we did this, the luggage on the horses pressed against the wall and caused us to sway toward the precipice. We feared that we should fall and be dashed in pieces on the rocks. We then cut the luggage from the horses, and it fell over the precipice. We continued on horseback, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance and fall. At such times a hand seemed to take the bridle and guide us over the perilous way.

As the path grew more narrow, we decided that we could no longer go with safety on horseback, and we left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another. At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, to aid us in keeping our balance upon the path. As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes, so we slipped them from our feet and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet.

We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.

Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. We pressed close to the white wall, yet could not place our feet fully upon the path, for it was too narrow. We then suspended nearly our whole weight upon the cords, exclaiming: "We have hold from above! We have hold from above!" The same words were uttered by all the company in the narrow pathway. As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which increased in size as we progressed.

I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood. It caused a feeling of regret to see the wall thus stained. This feeling, however, lasted but for a moment, as I soon thought that it was all as it should be. Those who are following after will know that others have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude that if others were able to pursue their onward course, they can do the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet, they will not faint with discouragement; but, seeing the blood upon the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.

At length we came to a large chasm, at which our path ended. There was nothing now to guide the feet, nothing upon which to rest them. Our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had increased in size until they were as large as our bodies. Here we were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in fearful whispers: "To what is the cord attached?" My husband was just before me. Large drops of sweat were falling from his brow, the veins in his neck and temples were increased to double their usual size, and suppressed, agonizing groans came from his lips. The sweat was dropping from my face, and I felt such anguish as I had never felt before. A fearful struggle was before us. Should we fail here, all the difficulties of our journey had been experienced for nought.

Before us, on the other side of the chasm, was a beautiful field of green grass, about six inches high. I could not see the sun; but bright, soft beams of light, resembling fine gold and silver, were resting upon this field. Nothing I had seen upon earth could compare in beauty and glory with this field. But could we succeed in reaching it? was the anxious inquiry. Should the cord break, we must perish. Again, in whispered anguish, the words were breathed: "What holds the cord?" For a moment we hesitated to venture. Then we exclaimed: "Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord. It has been our dependence all the difficult way. It will not fail us now." Still we were hesitating and distressed. The words were then spoken: "God holds the cord. We need not fear." These words were then repeated by those behind us, accompanied with: "He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far in safety."

My husband then swung himself over the fearful abyss into the beautiful field beyond. I immediately followed. And, oh, what a sense of relief and gratitude to God we felt! I heard voices raised in triumphant praise to God. I was happy, perfectly happy.

I awoke, and found that from the anxiety I had experienced in passing over the difficult route, every nerve in my body seemed to be in a tremor. This dream needs no comment. It made such an impression upon my mind that probably every item in it will be vivid before me while my memory shall continue.

DON'T SAY LATER

Just thought I'd share some thoughts with my dearest friends.

The devil works very hard to keep us from reading the Bible. The TV, the internet, school, video games, mirrors (to constantly admire ourselves), shopping, sports, social gatherings with alcohol, smokes and music, and a lotta other stuff keep us busy everyday.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying all these stuff is evil and we must not do ANY of it. But they can great stumbling blocks. Spending too much time on stuff like these and a lack of proper discernment results in little or no time for God and/or a poor relationship with Him. I am guilty of spending too much time on things like that too. We must remember to always put God first in what we do. One very important thing is to read the Bible.

I'm sure most of us have been told probably a million times why we should read the Bible, so I shall spare you guys that. But if anyone out there doesn't know why we should read the Bible, well, you can look for me, or better still, check out the book with all the answers to life's questions - the Bible. (:

Now to what this post is meant to be about. I just want to tell you guys, to read the Bible and DON'T SAY LATER. Why? Well, let me share with you my experiences.

I used to give Jia Jia Bible study over the phone. When this happens, the connection cuts off several times or develops poor sound quality. But we speak quite long before starting and after closing and at those times, the connection is clear and problem-free. When we talk on the phone and not have Bible study, this problem NEVER occurs either.

At work, I'm often quite free after lunch. Sometimes I say to myself, I'll rest for a while and then read the Bible a little later. Sometimes I'll just start reading. But many times the moment I start reading (after my rest or not), my supervisor has some work for me. You may say it's coincidence. But I'm telling you, it happens too many times for it to be a coincidence.

So friends, take heed: read the Bible, and don't say later. Don't open the door for the devil to occupy your time for God.

Shine

"sometimes our light out but is blown into flame by another human being..

each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light.."

I love this quote, came across it today. Many ways it can be interpreted, but as for me I want to be the one who rekindle the lights of others. It somewhat serves as a reminder to keep our lights burning bright, gotta have enuf oil, gotta keep re-fueling and exactly what Nelson Mandela once said,

"And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same"

So let our lights be burning, my brothers n sisters =), and let us SHINE for the road we are on, is a narrow & winding road. But then hey, if it aint hard, it aint worth our time.

C u all@ church tmr!

There are Roman Catholic CHRISTIAN CHURCH?!

From: The Great Controversy

The Roman Church reserves to the clergy the right to interpret the Scriptures. On the ground that ecclesiastics alone are competent to explain God's word, it is withheld from the common people. Though the Reformation gave the Scriptures to all, yet the selfsame principle which was maintained by Rome prevents multitudes in Protestant churches from searching the Bible for themselves. They are taught to accept its teachings as interpreted by the church; and there are thousands who dare receive nothing, however plainly revealed in Scripture, that is contrary to their creed or the established teaching of their church. {GC 596.3}

Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy. There are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour's teachings almost 597

unnoticed, and place implicit confidence in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible? How can we trust our souls to their guidance unless we know from God's word that they are light bearers? A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of the world leads many to follow in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error. They see that the truth for this time is plainly brought to view in the Bible; and they feel the power of the Holy Spirit attending its proclamation; yet they allow the opposition of the clergy to turn them from the light. Though reason and conscience are convinced, these deluded souls dare not think differently from the minister; and their individual judgment, their eternal interests, are sacrificed to the unbelief, the pride and prejudice, of another. {GC 596.4}

Many are the ways by which Satan works through human influence to bind his captives. He secures multitudes to himself by attaching them by the silken cords of affection to those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. Whatever this attachment may be, parental, filial, conjugal, or social, the effect is the same; the opposers of truth exert their power to control the conscience, and the souls held under their sway have not sufficient courage or independence to obey their own convictions of duty. {GC 597.1} The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous opinions. Many claim that it matters not what one believes, if his life is only right. But the life is molded by the faith.

If light and truth is within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light. {GC 597.2}

"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 16:25.

Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there is every opportunity to know the will of God.

Scary. Alot of Christian do not study the bible much for themselves. Alot of false teachings in swimming around. How to bring the truths to everyone? need to warn others...

ANNOUNCEMENT

ahem!

choir practice/MEETING 1.30 music room this sabbath (6jan).

ALL TO ATTEND! :) it's important. cya there.

KAREN HERE!

HI MY SWEET FRIENDS! I MISS YOU GUYS ALREADY!!!

ANYWAY, MY MEALTIMES ARE 8AM, 1PM AND 6.15
SO GIMMI HALF AN HOUR TO EAT! AND I'LL TRY AND COME ONLINE AT DINNER OR LUNCH OR BREAKFAST.

keep me informed k!

PS. i can onliy come online during mealtimes which is one hour each time.

see my blog for i'll be blogging to keep in touch k!

LOVE YOU GUYS A WHOLE LOT!

Karen