The Basel Christian Church of Malaysia, Sandakan: September 2009

Sunday, September 27, 2009

One Family Discovery Camp (Part 2)

by Rev. James Wong

Last week I shared with you on the One Family Discovery Camp which we organized for the church on the 20-22 September 2009 during the Hari Raya holidays. How was it? There were 50 of us there. God had given us fine weather and we had a good time of worship, fellowship, learning, sweating and great fun together. I would summarize the camp as a fantastic experience of discovery for most of us. Here are the highlights of the camp. Participants were divided into 4 groups from the beginning and there were various competitions going on.

Discover 1: The theme for this session was Love One Another. We watch a very moving movie FIREPROOF. Most of us laughed and cried through the movie. What do you do with a marriage that is breaking down? The easy way out is to get out of a relationship where there is no hope for mutual love, respect and reconciliation. The 40 days ’Love Dare’ book is a book that talks about how to treat your partner in a loving way. But how do you love someone who rejects you repeatedly? You cannot give what you do not have. Unless you have the love and forgiveness of Christ in you life it is impossible to keep on loving. The movie teaches us what real love is in a marriage.

Discovery 2: The theme for this sessions was Accepting One Another. Genesis 1:27-28 tells us that God created man and female according to his image. However God used dust to create Adam and a rib from Adam to create Eve. The difference of substances here has a deeper meaning. Both man and woman were created different although they were created equal. We explored some of the major differences between the thinking of a man and a woman. Not being aware of these differences can be a source of constant conflicts. The key in a marriage relationship is to accept each other’s uniqueness with love and respect (Eph 5:33).

Discovery 3: The theme for this session was Encourage One Another. Everyone was given an A3 size paper to draw a picture that represents his/her life. This was where everyone got a chance to see the creativity of others. After the sharing, everyone wrote a positive comment on the work of others. Then everyone moved around and see the works of other group members and also put down a positive comment. It was a moment of great encouragement for everyone and it was a practical way to put into action the words of Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) “Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Discovery 4: The theme for this session was Involve one another. Each group acted out a biblical story to the great surprise and laughter of everyone. The creativity of each group was beyond expectation. It was through teamwork that each group was able to present the message in a clear, creative and hilarious manner. The best actor award went to bro. Yap Fook Lim who played the role of Samson’s girl friend who betrayed him.

I thank God for this wonderful One Family Discovery Camp and for those of you who had a good holiday during the Hari Raya holidays.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.” ~Matt 4:1 (NIV)

1. The Pain & Pleasure Test
2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil* came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" ~Matt 4:2-4 (NLT)

Don’t worry... Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” ~Matt. 6:31-33 (NLT)

2. The Popularity and Praise Test
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.'*" 7 Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.'*"
~Matt 4:5-7 (NLT)

•Just when Rehoboam was at the height of his popularity and power, he abandoned the Lord, and the people followed him in this sin.”
~ 2 Chron. 12:1 (LB)

The purity of silver and gold can be tested in a crucible, but a man is tested by his reaction to men's praise. ~Proverbs 27:21 (TLB)

3. Prosperity and possession Test
8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of the world and all their glory. 9 "I will give it all to you," he said, "if you will kneel down and worship me." 10 "Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'*" 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. ~Matt 4:8-11 (NLT)

•25 If we are living now by the Holy Spirit's power, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26 Then we won't need to look for honors and popularity, which lead to jealousy and hard feelings.
~Gal 5:25-26 (TLB)

Quit Trying to Please Everybody

by Rick Warren

"It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you" (Proverbs 29:25 GN).

When we worry about what other people think, we let them control us. We waste a lot of time and energy trying to figure out what other people want us to be. Then, we waste a lot of time and energy trying to become like that rather than just being what God made us to be. You're manipulated and controlled by somebody else.

Worrying about what other people think is dangerous because we're more likely to cave in to criticism. It means we don't always do the right thing; instead, we do the thing that everybody wants us to do.

And we're in danger of missing God's best because we're so worried about what other people want us to do that we can't stop to think about what God wants us to do.

• Fact #1: You cannot please everybody. Even God can't please everybody. One person prays for it to rain; another prays for it to be sunny. In the Super Bowl, both teams are praying that they will win. Who is God going to answer? God can't please everybody. Only a fool would try to do what even God can't do. You can't please everybody.

• Fact #2: It's not necessary to please everybody. There is a myth that says you must be loved and approved by everybody in order to be happy. That's just not true. You don't have to please everybody in order to be happy in life.

• Fact #3: Rejection will not ruin your life. It hurts, sure. It's not fun. It's uncomfortable. But rejection will not ruin your life unless you let it.

Quit trying to please everybody! Remember that nobody can make you feel inferior unless you give them permission.

The Apostle Paul says, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 TEV) This means we can think like this: 'God likes me, and I like me; if you don't like me, then you've got a problem. If God likes me, who cares that everybody doesn't approve of everything I do.'

Remember, nothing you ever do will make God love you less. Nothing you ever do will make God love you more. He loves you completely right now.

Growing In The Word Series

Understanding The Pastoral Ministry Today

One Family Discovery Camp 2009

Miss BCCM

This is my story...

Finally, we found the sign

...yeah

We love durian...yummy

Wearing slippers,

doing exercise

Talent time...

Church Concerns

1. Words of Welcome
Welcome everyone to God’s house. It is indeed a pleasure that we can worship God together this morning. May God’s word enrich and bring transformation to our lives.

2. SUNDAY SCHOOL SUNDAY
Next Week, our church will celebrate Sunday School Sunday. It is a combined service starting at 8:30am.

3. FUND RAISING CONCERT FOR SABAH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY’S MULTI-PURPOSE EDUCATION CENTRE
A fund raising concert ,“Church Music In Perspective”, organized by the Association For Members Of Chinese Church Music Sabah will be held on 17th October 2009, 7:30pm at BCCM Sandakan. Our English and Chinese congregations combined choir, BCCM Sing Kang choir, BCCM Tawau choir and BCCM Sandakan (BM) tambourine group will be involved in this concert. Tickets, priced at RM1,000.00, RM500.00, RM100,00 RM50.00 and RM20.00 are on sale. You can buy the tickets from our choir members, Preacher Lo, Preacher Yoa or at the counter in front of the church. Please refer to the poster in front of the church for further information.

4. CHURCH FELLOWSHIPS BIBLE QUIZ
Books : Old Testament - Nehemiah
New Testament - James
Date : 24th October 2009 (Saturday)

Time : 7:30pm
Venue : Wisma Basel
Brothers and sisters are encouraged to read the two books and be prepared to participate in the Bible Quiz.

5. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
The Church Welfare Committee will give Academic Excellence Award to children of our congregations (English, Chinese & Indah) studying in kindergarten, primary & secondary school. The qualifying academic standard will be based on last year’s (2008) results. Details are posted at the entrance of the church and are also attached to the application form. Application forms are available from the Enquiries table. Please hand in completed application form to Rev. James Wong by 25 October 2009.

6. MARRIAGE ANNOUNCEMENT
We are pleased to announce that Bro. Henry Voo & Sis. Angeline Han will be getting married in this church on 3rd October (Saturday), 9:30am. May God bless them with everlasting happiness and love in Christ.

7. PREACHER LO’S ITINERARY
Preacher Lo will take leave on 29th September 2009 (Tuesday). He will be traveling to Tawau on 30 September 2009 (Wednesday) to rehearse with the choir members from Tawau for the STS Fund Raising Concert.

8. TESTIMONY SHARING BY PREACHER CHUNG SU MING
There will be a testimony sharing by Pr. Chung Su Ming as follows:
Date: 9th October 2009 (Friday)

Time: 7:30pm.
Venue: BCCM Sandakan
Theme: Love Can Make Up For The Breach Of life
Pr. Chung Su Ming, a Taiwanese, is married, with a daughter Hui Xin who is born with congenital brain damage and is physically handicapped in many ways, including eyes and nose which are not properly formed, vertebral column curved to one side, legs not of the same length, defect in the left ear and defects in the teeth and jaw bones. For 23 years, Hui Xin’s severe handicap has taught Pr. Chung wonderful lessons on life. Pr. Chung and her daughter have been to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor etc. and have shared in a total of 34 Meetings and 3 Talks, which stirred up a lot of positive responses from the public and churches in West Malaysia.

9. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ TRAINING
There will be a Sunday school teachers’ training on 10th October 2009, 2 - 5pm at BCCM Sibuga, to be conducted by Pr. Chung Su Ming. Sunday School teachers are encouraged to join this training. The fee for this training is RM5. Please register with sis. Yap Pak Shun.

Church Activities For This Week

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

One Family Discovery Camp

by Rev. James Wong

We will begin our One Family Discovery Camp this afternoon at 2:00pm during these Hari Raya holidays. The schedule of the camp is printed on page 7 of this bulletin. How do you keep the family as one in the home and how do we promote that oneness in our church, knowing that the church is our spiritual family? In this camp we will have four discovery sessions.

In Discovery I, you will watch a powerful movie Fireproof. This is a touching movie about a marriage that is falling apart. “At work, inside burning buildings, Captain Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind. At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage he lives by his own rules. His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb Holt is ready to face his toughest job ever … rescuing his wife’s heart.” Here is a movie that will excite you and make you cry and think. What does it mean to love one another in a very rough marriage relationship? You will discover the answer in this session.

In Discovery II, you will study the major differences in the thinking of a man and a woman. It is very often the lack of this understanding of the inherent differences between these two sexes that resulted in many marriage failures. The differences are more than biological differences. Have you realized that a man talks a lot while he is courting and almost go silent after marriage? Why is it so difficult to make a man to talk? Why man flips the TV channels continuously and woman can’t stop talking? What do you do with the differences? Discovery II will open your eyes to understand the mind of a man and a woman and what you can do about the differences.

In Discovery III, you will go creative to express yourself in your own ways through painting a picture of your life. Most of the time people see you and interpret you according to their perception and experience with you. This session will help your friends to know and understand you better and at the same time you will have many surprises that will spur you on to be a better person. In the process you will discover your uniqueness, your strength and your loveliness.

In Discovery IV, your group will work out a creative drama according to the selected stories in the Bible. Your group presentation will be judged according to 1. Creativity 2. Team-work and 3. Clarity of the message. This activity will enhance the involvement of every member of the group for a common project and at the same time learn about the significance of the Biblical truth on which the drama is based.

Throughout this camp, there will be six competitions going on. These competitions will require the awareness, contribution, and cooperation of each team member to achieve their level best. The winning team will be greatly rewarded. The visit to the Rainforest Discovery Centre on Monday afternoon is a journey of excitement shrouded in mystery. Each team must find their clue to the next destination to complete the trail.

Please pray that this One Family Discovery Camp will be a blessing to all of us to achieve unity, understanding and good fellowship during this Hari Raya season.

Repentance: Allowing God to Change Your Mind

by Rick Warren

"Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east. If you decide to reverse and head west, you have two possible ways to change the boat's direction.

One way is to grab the steering wheel and physically force it to head in the opposite direction from where the autopilot is programmed to go. By sheer willpower you could overcome the autopilot, but you would feel constant resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you’d let go of the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly head back east, the way it was internally programmed.

This is what happens when you try to change your life with willpower: You say, "I'll force myself to eat less . . . exercise more . . . quit being disorganized and late."

Yes, willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause. The change doesn't feel natural, so eventually you give up and quickly revert to your old patterns.

There is a better and easier way: Change your autopilot—the way you think. The Bible says, "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2 NLT).

The New Testament calls this mental shift repentance, which in Greek literally means "to change your mind." You repent whenever you change the way you think by adopting how God thinks—about yourself, sin, God, other people, life, your future, and everything else. You take on Christ's outlook and perspective