It's Easter Today!! Well, It's my first time celebrating Easter Day and I celebrated it in Bethany Chapel in Klang, Kelvin & Kelsern's church. I really have to thank their parents, Uncle Moon Meng and Auntie Whye Ying for letting me stay over at their house and treating me as if I am one of their own.
Well, back to Easter...The first thing that comes to mind when we mention Easter, especially to children, would most probably be Easter eggs and the Easter bunny. Not many know the real purpose of Easter and why we celebrate it. Easter Day is a where we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from DEATH, and symbolizes the victory over sin that was won by Jesus FOR US!!
Our Easter service started at 10 a.m. today and we started of as usual, in a word of prayer and moved on the the praise and worship. After the whole praise and worship session, we actually had a few performances, consisting of mimes and singing. The first performance was a mime act which was gracefully done (danced) by Rebekah and Joanne as well as Joel. The second performance was a song originally performed by Chris Tomlin titled 'This Is Our God'. Michelle was singing, Ser Young was singing and playing the guitar, Uncle Chandran was playing the piano while Uncle Roy played the bass. I couldn't imagine how beautiful it was when Michelle and Ser Young sang together. Michelle sang so beautifully while Ser Young complimented her perfectly.
Next, it was our turn. Our group consisted of Grace, Kelvin, Kelsern, Joanne, Matthew, Edwin and me. Edwin sang while playing the guitar while I was playing the other guitar. We performed a very meaningful song called 'I Will Rise' by Chris Tomlin (again...). After all the performances and the worship, Uncle Chandran came out to give a message. He started of the message by telling 2 jokes, basically talks about people who had lost hope in life. He continued by addressing some of the issues the world is facing today; global warming, the 9/11 attack, poverty; even displaying a picture of a Times Magazine cover titled, 'Is God Dead?'.
In this world where we would definitely face hardships and challenges; sorrow and despair; our only reason to keep on moving is HOPE. He talked about an ordinary family of 5 children and their parents in America. The news of their deaths come out in the newspaper earlier this year. The parents who were working in a hospital as technicians were fired fron their jobs earlier before their deaths. The parents lost all hope and decided to shoot their children before committing suicide. Is there really no more hope in this world? Money, health, education and even religion; the things that we put our hopes on has all failed us. Only by hoping in the Lord, we shall have security and the reason to live. Then why did Uncle Chandran mentioned that we should not rely on religion when he asked us to hope in the Lord? The reason is, Christianity is not a 'religion'. It is a RELATIONSHIP, a relationship with GOD and not simply a religion.
He ended the message by singing a beautiful song called 'There Is Hope'. The song is really meaningful, saying that despite all hardships, there is hope for our Lord is with us for He loves us.That is the Gift of Easter.
Too bad I don't have pictures. Will post it up as soon as I get it from my friend. =P
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread...
Well, today is a Wednesday and it's our last Bible study for the semester with Adrene. For those who don't know, Adrene is a staff from the Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES) who is helping in our Christian Fellowship (CF).
Since Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is coming soon, Adrene decided that we would have a Passover of our own. So, we actually bought 'chapati' as our Unleavened Bread. Haahaa..Adrene cooked some other dishes as well, including delicious meatballs, mashed potatoes and Adrene's 1st attempt on 'ratatouille', which was good. We discussed on the significance of this Feast and it is actually (sorry if it's not accurate...we only discussed not researched it...) to remember the time when God saved the people of Israel by striking down every first-born son of the people in Egypt. The people of Israel who obeyed God marked their houses with animal blood and was then 'passed over' and was saved. The Pharaoh then released the Israelites. The reason why they used unleavened (bread without yeast) was because when the were escaping, they didn't have time to wait for the bread to rise, so they made bread without yeast. It is also said that yeast symbolizes sin as even the littlest amount of yeast present in the bread will spread and make the whole bread rise, just like sin in us.
After we finished eating, Adrene brought out a few basins of water. We initially thought that it was for us to wash our hands. Apparently, it wasn't. She took out a container of salt and a bottle of handwash and actually offered to wash our feet. We were so shocked! Our first reaction was to decline the offer, not many were very willing to let her wash our feet. So 'pai seh'....
When she washed my feet, it was a mixture of feelings. I was 'pai seh' as well as very humbled. My heart broke when I saw the expression on her face. Her expression was that of great humility and love. It reminded me of the time when Jesus washed his disciples' feet. He did that with great humility and with great love. After that some of us including myself went and washed the feet of others. It was a really humbling experience and also a great honour to be able to wash your friends' feet.
Adrene later mentioned on how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples even though he knew one of them was going to betray him and one of them would deny him in times of persecution. Yet, he still washed their feet, showing such great love for them; for us. It was a great night and Bible study was excellent. It was really a life changing experience. Looking forward to the Bible study next semester!!! =P
Since Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is coming soon, Adrene decided that we would have a Passover of our own. So, we actually bought 'chapati' as our Unleavened Bread. Haahaa..Adrene cooked some other dishes as well, including delicious meatballs, mashed potatoes and Adrene's 1st attempt on 'ratatouille', which was good. We discussed on the significance of this Feast and it is actually (sorry if it's not accurate...we only discussed not researched it...) to remember the time when God saved the people of Israel by striking down every first-born son of the people in Egypt. The people of Israel who obeyed God marked their houses with animal blood and was then 'passed over' and was saved. The Pharaoh then released the Israelites. The reason why they used unleavened (bread without yeast) was because when the were escaping, they didn't have time to wait for the bread to rise, so they made bread without yeast. It is also said that yeast symbolizes sin as even the littlest amount of yeast present in the bread will spread and make the whole bread rise, just like sin in us.
After we finished eating, Adrene brought out a few basins of water. We initially thought that it was for us to wash our hands. Apparently, it wasn't. She took out a container of salt and a bottle of handwash and actually offered to wash our feet. We were so shocked! Our first reaction was to decline the offer, not many were very willing to let her wash our feet. So 'pai seh'....
When she washed my feet, it was a mixture of feelings. I was 'pai seh' as well as very humbled. My heart broke when I saw the expression on her face. Her expression was that of great humility and love. It reminded me of the time when Jesus washed his disciples' feet. He did that with great humility and with great love. After that some of us including myself went and washed the feet of others. It was a really humbling experience and also a great honour to be able to wash your friends' feet.
Adrene later mentioned on how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples even though he knew one of them was going to betray him and one of them would deny him in times of persecution. Yet, he still washed their feet, showing such great love for them; for us. It was a great night and Bible study was excellent. It was really a life changing experience. Looking forward to the Bible study next semester!!! =P
My First...
Well, this is my first blog ever and it's really something new for me...
The reason I'm having this blog is so that I can share the things and the experiences that have an impact on me...Not just so that you all can know me more but also to share the things that keeps me moving in life despite the obstacles that I may face...So, I do hope as well that I'll be able to encourage others to face whatever life has to throw at them and not to lose hope, but always hope in the Lord for he is our God, who will always love us...
So, do enjoy reading...
God bless.
-DaNiEL-
The reason I'm having this blog is so that I can share the things and the experiences that have an impact on me...Not just so that you all can know me more but also to share the things that keeps me moving in life despite the obstacles that I may face...So, I do hope as well that I'll be able to encourage others to face whatever life has to throw at them and not to lose hope, but always hope in the Lord for he is our God, who will always love us...
So, do enjoy reading...
God bless.
-DaNiEL-
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