hey guys...notice something different?

I GOT MY HAIR CUT!

-Gab

check it out! www.friendster.com/gabriel107

party at my house?

nah jus joking...nt really. well there wud b 1 and dats on oct7, and ur nt invited, harhar. guys. guess whos xams are over? hmmm....wat do i feel like blogging abt 2day? wat do u guys want to find out abt this superstar's life, yeah, hmm. hard qn. yeah, anyways, did any1 hear abt paris being released outta jail 20 days short of her sentence of 23 days? i heard she was on the verge of a mental breakdown...haha, probably serves her right 4 playin so many guys, bt then again, isnt that the reason we all love her? :)

recently, i read the cbox and i couldnt help noticing some comments abt the slow decent of tf into the abyss of boredom. frankly, i couldnt agree more. last night was 1 of sessions of tf in which i started dreaming of my future aston martin. no joke. oh allright, it was a joke, bt my point is...we need to SPICE up tf. gone are the days of outings and fun. we need a change! 'i have a dream...' ok yeah, ive heard that many times 2, hehe, couldnt resist slipping it in. im planning many more fun activities this second half of the year. its gnna include tf yearbooks, tf t-shirts, outings etc. so who would u rather have as ur guan huai? (in other words, dont u just love me?)

something else i didnt feel satisfactory abt is the 'ca jing'. firstly i couldnt understand a word that was being blurted out, and secondly i dont relate 2 it, and therefore nt very useful in my life. i wud actually push 4 bi-lingual texts in which every1 will understand and for material which can be better related to my life. so b4 any goal is accomplished, there is a dream, and i have a dream....

so guys, enjoy the 2 weeks off if ur on holiday, and il do my best nt to rub my 3 month holiday in your faces haha. yours truly, gab

'Gathering at Polo Club

Hi all! Just to update on the things that are currently happening in TF, once again would like to remind all of you that there will be no fellowship this thursday, as we're having a gathering at polo club from 2 pm to 6 pm (if im not wrong)


For those of you who are wondering, this coming Thursday is a public holiday, so there will no school =p (I think it's army day or something =s )


Erm.. yea, the other thing is Kim Yew and his family will be going to Singapore tomorrow where he will have an operation (remember about his leg operation last year?). Well, this time it's to take out the steel thing in his leg.

Please remember him in your prayers and pray that God will give him strength and let the operation be successful.


=s I'm like so cautious with how I post things up now that someone left this message on the cbox about this good luck thingi that I posted up about the exams. I guess that it's just how we encourage each other like not to have stress and all. But that person does have a point as well, like what happened to God's blessing? hmm... =/


Yea, we're all still growing spiritually and ermm.. all. =x I'm like kinda speechless here now. haha~ anyway, hope you guys get the main things that are happening in TF now and the most important of all is to pray for Kim Yew and his operation in Singapore.

The operation will held on Tuesday, for the specific time, well.. it's not given but do pray for him and his family that will be by his side.


Although most of us have already finished our exams, we should also pray for those who are having exams such as the CHMS'ians - Form 5 students who have 2 more days to go, Wen Zhe who is having his A Levels now (i presume, since my brother is having it as well now) and Gabriel who is in the midst of his GCSEs.


For those who I didn't name, ah.. I'm sorry but if you do want us to pray for you if you're still having your exams or other events (such as sports or others) going on, do please leave a message on the cbox or the comment thing.


Oh yeah, Bible Quiz was really enjoyable that night as we all discussed and brain-stormed about the book of Genesis and Matthew. Everyone was well-prepared and had a great time. =) I'm not sure which group won though, wasn't at fellowship last Thursday =x


Okay, that's all for the update and see you this Thursday at POLO CLUB and remember: NO FELLOWSHIP ON THAT NIGHT =)






- karen

Hi =)

Hi everyone! Hmm.. it's been quite a while since anyone updated here, despite that our cbox is constantly being updated. =p

Anyway, just want to wish everyone out there GOOD LUCK, STUDY HARD AND SMART for the upcoming Mid-Year Exams, and also some who are having End-Year Exams or their err.. GCSEs? Haha~ Just don't forget that God is always around and don't forget to seek Him for help or wisdom =)

DON'T STRESS =)

Tonight, it is the 'Song Be Tuan Qi' 感恩会， where, me, 团长 Ying Hee and two boys will be attending and representing 少团. For those who are free tonight, I guess it wouldn't hurt to come and represent more teens from TF. =)

It starts at 7.30pm tonight and I guess it would probably end at around 9.15pm?

*****

Okay, now for those who are stressing or having pressure due to the exams that are coming up, I recommend this website that might boost up your faith and make you laugh? haha =p


haptoon.com is a website that contains a one page comic strip or drawing that has scriptures or stories that are related to the Bible. It's kind of hard to explain but you'll get it when you visit the website. =)

Haptoon: Misguided Advice

If Mr. Cricket was truly born again of the Spirit, he would say "Place your faith and trust in the Morning Star, the Lord Jesus Christ and let the Bible, God's Word, be your only guide." Rev 22:1, Ps 25:4-5, Jn 17:17

Now that is true wisdom that will guide you down that narrow road that leads to everlasting life.

-Hap

That's how it looks like and there is usually a short message about the cartoon at the end. Hope you guys enjoy your weekend and see you this Sunday =)




xoxo,

karen :)

Hey all,

Here are some more pics of the 'Xiao Zhu Zhi Ye'! I've finally found time to put it on and a way of compressing the pictures!!

Andy with the clock (can you spot the hidden mickey?)

Xiang Sheng (first time eva!)

The dancers!

Gangster scene

The old man and little kid

Hand shaking time!

The singers

Our 'Zhu Xi' s

小组之夜 (19/4/2007)

Group photo

Congrats to all those that participated in the 'Xiao Zhu Zi Ye', especially those from '以西结' and '以利亚'. It was a great night and i'm sure all of us enjoyed it! The topic that night was '对家应有的责任'. I'm sure all of you learnt a lot more about the responsibilities we teenagers ought to have towards our family. After all, thanks to the Lord, we have loving parents, caring brothers and sisters, and put simply, a great family. And for this we should be thankful.

Just a brief overview of the night, it started off with the singing, Tuan Ge, mission statement and Apostles Creed. Then we had drama (staring Daniel!) followed by Xiang Sheng (相声). After that, we listened to Liang Wen Lao Shi's talk on the topic that night. It was very interesting and made me realised that i'm so fortunate to have such a wonderful family in this world. Later, there was a dance (单单只为你），followed by the choir singing '我们成为一家人'.

And that basically sums up the events that night. O yea, musn't forget to mention the great food!

Anways, i only managed to upload one image because my internet connection is slow. Will upload more soon.

哈里路亚归于至高的上帝！阿门！

BIBLE PRINCIPLES CONCERNING MUSIC

Source: http://www.wolfeborobible.com/
This article was originally written for our Christian Teen Corner. The principles and biblical truths are applicable for all ages.
Biblical Principles Concerning Music:
Music in the American culture is a Million if not Billion dollar industry and teenagers, to some degree, are the major driving force behind current music of the world. Music in all societies during all times of history can take on a number of purposes:A simple expression of music through musical instruments with no words or message. An expression of music that includes musical instruments and lyrics with a message. An expression of music that involves only one or more vocalist communicating the message. All of these forms or styles of music still exist today.
The Bible mentions a number of forms of music, not all of which were involved in the Worship of our God.
Military purposes: Joshua 6:13 "Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets."
National Patriotism: 2Chron. 20:27-29 "Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel."
Love Song: Song of Solomon 1:1 "The song of songs, which is Solomon's."
Wedding Music: Jer. 33:11 "the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride"
In addition, we find Folks songs (1Sam. 18:6-7), Funeral songs (Mat. 9:23-24), Pagan Music (Ex. 32:17-20) and more.
We need to answer some questions:
What kind of music Honors the Lord? First understand that not all music is acceptable. It is unbiblical to assume that all music pleases the Lord. When Moses and Joshua were coming down from Mount Sinai the people of Israel were involved in horrible sin at the base of the mountain. They were worshiping an idol, the golden calf, and they were carrying on in pagan ritual. What kind of music did Moses and Joshua hear?
Exodus 32:17, And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." 18 But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear." 19 So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
Notice that Joshua knew right off that the music that he was hearing was NOT associated with worship to Jehovah. It was something different. Yes, some kind of music associated with pagan worship. It's the same way today. There are certain types of music that are associated with pagan worship and out right rebellion against God.
The problem is, many Christians in the past 20 to 30 years have gradually accepted the pagan and rebellious style of music as being acceptable for worship and edification. Let me draw some principles from the book of Exodus chapter 32. Moses and Joshua had been on the mountain top having close fellowship and open discussion with our Holy God. The people at the base of the mountain were not thinking of the God who delivered them out of Egypt. They were in fact in the process of making a god of their own design. They were breaking the 2nd commandment. In their rebellion, they became involved with the world's gods and the world's music. All of which were obviously not acceptable to Joshua and Moses that had been in CLOSE fellowship with God.
God's Word certainly is not silent when it comes to principles and evidences of biblical music. Read the following passages:
Ezra 3:11 "And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid." Isa. 12:5 "Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth." 2Ch 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
What principles do you see? Music should speak of God's holy character. Music should communicate who God is and what He is like.
Who is the focus in worshipful music? God is, of course!
Who is being exalted in words of song? Again, God is!
The music itself is not being exalted. The music is being used to Lift up God. Unfortunately, much of todays' music aims at lifting up the music itself. People come away "loving the music", "excited about the music", rather than being focused on an all powerful and Holy God! Worship Music in Scripture is designed to bring forth a CLEAR message about God's Character and God's wonderful works. The Clarity of the message is very important. If a preacher stepped behind the pulpit and began to shout, slur his words, mumble, screech out sentences, and do other things that were distracting, would his style of preaching enhance the Clarity of the message? Of course not! In fact the preacher of God's word has many warnings concerning the importance of "preaching the Word." A simple reading of Jesus' messages in the Gospels do not leave you wondering "Now what did Jesus just say?"
Music style SHOULD NOT DISTRACT from a clear message about God's character and God's works. Read the two messages below, but click "refresh" first!
Let's focus on worship! Let's ponder God's character! Let's be able to understand a Clear message in the song without distractions.
Now let's try a different setting!
Let's focus on worship! Let's ponder God's character! Let's be able to understand a Clear message in the song without distractions. Which message could you concentrate on? Now honestly, you can see the clear difference in the environments of the messages you just read. Did the atmosphere around the message make a difference on your ability to concentrate? Of course it did!
Christians need to understand that the music is not being Exalted, God is! In order for that to happen, in order for God to be exalted the message Must be Clear and the music Must help the one worshiping to focus on God and not on himself or herself. If the music gets you all excited and all worked up in the flesh - "Where's the worship in that?" You're glorying in yourself at that point!
Music Style IS NOT WHAT IS BEING WORSHIPED! It is God that is to be worshiped. If the music style get's you all worked up about yourself, your flesh, your good feelings, your body, you, you, you - It's Self-worship and Not God worship! The Worlds' music style is aimed at fulfilling the things of the flesh and worshipping the things of the world and the flesh.
The Worlds' music style does not concern itself with a CLEAR message about God's character and God's works.
The Worlds' music style is willing to put the listener FIRST, instead of God being first in focus. Here lies the Problem with much of todays' Contemporary Christian music. God is not First! No, with much of the modern Christian music - the Music and Man is first. A real evidence of that is seen in how popular Christian pop music has become even in the secular realm. One would think with this increase in popularity that the churches of the United States would be busting at the seams with people wanting to hear about the God of the Bible. Yet that's not happening. If God was truly the focus in much of the modern Christian Music, it would be as popular as the Bible is, as popular as straight forward biblical preaching has always been. Christian, I hope you see the point here! The fact is, our society is running from God and yet, society is saying "hey I like this Christian music." Something is Wrong with this picture. What's wrong is people believing that much of todays' Christian music has a CLEAR biblical message about WHO God is and WHAT Great wonders He has done. Christian rock and much of the modern contemporary Christian music has a music style that distracts from a CLEAR message. That's why unbelievers can enjoy it. When I preach from the pulpit about Sin, God's wrath, Future Judgment, Hell and yes God's love in the context... unbelievers are not happy about this. They are getting the message - Clearly! Music the honors the Lord should be JUST as crystal clear as the preaching of God's word.