Typing too many "0", now my that keyboard button got a bit defect. Sigh.
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Today being enlightened about the word "OMG". It is an unconsciously expression abbreviation from "Oh My God". It is commonly use in the world of online games such as DotA, Gunbound (do people still play this?!) etc. In the same world, the common replaceable words are "WtF", "WtH", "FFS", "PFFS", etc.
The word usually comes out from
it always expresses a longing for Him, a desperation, crying out, pleading to Him for help, and i think God's really pleased when we call out to Him like that.
Stephanie Goh
She's the one reminded me to stop using that word carelessly. And yes, I will =)
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The day is coming near. I know what will happen. I see myself that day. I know my expectation. From You, from you, and from you. That's all I want. To hatch the egg. To write "two" instead of "one" this time. Yeps. I await.
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Day 17: A place to belong
You are called to belong, not just believe.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life
We are not created to be isolated and become one-man-show. We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purposes by our own selves. We are not to be wanderer, spending time alone at weirdo places, meditating or whatever.
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Romans 12:5
We see a lot of clubs or groups that have "membership" style. But little do we know, according to C. S. Lewis, the word membership is a Christian-originated word. In church, it is just to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements nor expectations. However, just look at today. The meaning of the word has skewed from what it supposed to be. We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership.
The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organisation.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life
For organs of our body to function, they must be connected to our body. We are part of Christ's body, and we'll loose our second purpose of life if we are not attached to a living, local church. Disconnected and cut off from the lifeblood of a local body, your spiritual life will wither and eventually cease to exist. It is also why people often backslides if he/she attend inconsistently at worship services and other gatherings of believers. Everything will slacked, when we become careless about fellowship.
...I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Matthew 16:18
Here is tells us that church is a strong and indestructible foundation, which will exist forever.
"I don't need a church," is either arrogant or ignorant.
Rick Warren -The Purpose Driven Life
God commands us to love the church as much as Jesus does. But too bad, nowadays, many believers use church instead of love church.
Your local fellowship
A Christian without church is just like a sheep without its flock, an organ without body, or more clear and simple, a child without family. Independence has taken over today's world. Many spiritual orphans exist. Many hop around from a church to another without any identity, accountability, nor commitment. Many think that they can also be "good Christians" without attending church. But God says NO!
Why you need a church family
1. A church family identifies you as a genuine believer. You are a follower of Christ if you are committed to a group of disciples. You are not the body of Christ on your own. You need others to express that. Together.
2. A church family moves you out of self-centered isolation. Church is a place where you learn to get along with other brothers and sisters. And we go through things together, not alone. Liverpool's motto says, "you'll never walk alone", but God's Bible says:
If one part (of the body) suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1. Corinthians 12:26
And through regular contacts, we learn to be committed to each other. We know John 3:16, but do you know 1. John 3:16?
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1. John 3:16
And God expects us to love each other - a willingness to love them in the same way Jesus loves you.
3. A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle. In the Bible more than fifty times the phrase "each other" was used. We need to do things together, and only by that our faith can be tested. A runner will not know how much stamina he has without running. Same thing here: You will never know how strong you are spiritually unless you test it. We need Bible to grow. But we need others too. And often, learning from/with other people is faster and stronger.
4. The Body of Christ needs you. God assigns unique role for you to play in His family - a ministry". You local fellowship is the place where God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts.
5. You will share in Christ's mission in the world. As a member of Christ, He is the head, and we are the body. He works through everyone of us. And church is the instrument of God on earth.
6. A church family will help keep you from backsliding. Yes. This is definitely true. We are asked to encourage each other daily. We are asked to keep each other on track.
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back.
James 5:19
And we must always be reminded that detached believers are always the target of Satan. Because they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics.
It's all in the church
Worship helps you focus on God; fellowship helps you face life's problems; discipleship helps fortify your faith; ministry helps find your talents; evangelism helps fulfill your mission.
Although we were born again, but it's our choice to become member of a local expression of God's family. The difference between being a church attender and a church member is commitment. We need to do it, not just theoretically mean it.
You become a Christian by committing yourself to Christ, but you become a church member by committing yourself to a specific group of believers.
Rick Warren - The Purpose Driven Life
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Anyway, I need to sincerely confess that this post was not well done. I'm loosing concentration on EVERYTHING lately. Pray for me.
Vincent
2 comments:
juz wanna tel u tat i learn so much from u!!!
keep up the good job!!
useful thots!
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