Vivos (vée vos) ζωε (zōe)

Hey

2006-12-01T20:18:00.000+13:00

Come visit me "http://zanipolo.multiply.com/" I think you might have to copy and paste it, I know you're all eager mcbeavers but you don't have to spend all day trying to click on the address to see if it works, you can if you want though :) ...

Evangelism - the crux of the matter

2006-09-27T15:08:00.000+12:00

I was talking with Sis about this yesterday.

When talking to my friend about the StudentLife people who come and share the Gospel, he was saying that it was a waste of time. That he was not interested in whatever they had to say.

*fair go.*

And he asked them some questions that probably stumped them. And it stumped me as well, to an extent.

He asked, "Look, if I was to ask you to come to my temple, sing songs to a God that you don't believe in but I do, pray to a God you deny exist, and discuss about a God that you don't want to know about, would you?"

My first spontaneous reaction would be, "No."

*Did not say that, though. I was more to like, "yeah.."*

Then he continued, "So, if you're not willing to come to my temple, why should I come to yours?"

Sis gave a pretty good commentary back to that question. I'll paraphrase as best as I can.

"We go into temples everyday. If a temple is not a place of God, then we're stepping into places that are not of God everyday. At school, in town, in the library...these are places where these people don't know God and don't want to know about God. We live in a flat that is blessed because we are all Christians. But to step out into the world where so many other people don't want to know about this relationship with God, what's the difference between a temple and the rest of the world?"

"The reason why we go out and tell people about God is that we believe that our God is one and true. You believe that your God is one and true, that's good for you. But we believe that at the end of the day, when your time has come, you either go to Heaven or Hell. And we also believe that everyone who does not know our God will go to Hell, as bad as that sounds. That's why we want to tell you about our God. That's why we ask you to come to church and get to know more about this God. We don't force you. God never forces people to do things. We ask you. It would be great if you can come along."

Later that night, we were talking about reaping and sowing. That it is important that we leave the reaping part of the harvest to God and that we do our part by sowing. However, sometimes, we get too caught up in the whole reaping process that we forget to sow.

Sis made a pretty profound statement when she said this.

"We should measure the harvest by how much we sow, not how much we reap."

Think about it. Have a good think.

Out.

~Reach one more~

Klados

2006-09-18T00:06:00.000+12:00

I was thinking that the lifegroup that Jian's leading should have a name of it's own, to help with a sense of identity. But also, I felt that the name needed to reflect the roots of the group, and it's links... so, I'm proposing that we name it Klados, which is the Greek word for branch. And it's Greek to reflect a solidarity with Zoe, which as you may know, is the Greek word for life.

According to Strong's Greek Lexicon...

Kla·dos [klad'-os]
( κλαδος)
1) a young tender shoot, broken off for grafting
2) a branch

Homegroup this week

2006-08-04T00:05:00.000+12:00

Hey Vivos and Zoe,

Homegroup Meeting

Date: 5th August 2006 (Saturday)

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Knox Church Herron Hall

See you all there!! =D

I'm back, all right!

2006-07-21T14:55:00.000+12:00

http://cerebralrebellion.wordpress.com

I'm back.

Oh yeah..

Week of 1st July

2006-06-29T00:44:00.000+12:00

Hey Vivos and Zoe! =)

Hope everyone’s holidays have been goooooood! =) High-schoolers are starting their holidays next week right? For those of you far away, you’re lucky that you’re not trapped in Dunedin’s cold cold weather =P (it’s even colder than the night Krystal left!) But Dunedin is the just the best place to be despite the weather, ain’t that right? =P Hope everyone enjoyed homegroup last weekend with Cranium and mafia! =P Though it was a bit too loud and saliva-y for me (yes…people were shouting so loud that saliva kept on flying everywhere =P)

Anyhoo, I should get straight to the point =P For those of us who are still here in Dunedin this weekend, we’re having G12! =) We will have steamboat at my place (24 Duncan Street) on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. So just to cover the costs, can everyone bring $5? =) Hehe.. Ji, can you help me collect money? (coz u did such a good job last time =P) Let me or Las know if you guys have any preference in terms of food k? =P

Not sure what we’re gonna do after dinner yet, might make it a social or might have some light bible study =) Will let you know on that night, so to summarise it (for those that don’t read the whole email =P):

Date: 31st June 2006 (Saturday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: 24 Duncan Street
What to bring: $5

For those of you who are not here, looking forward to have you back next semester, and I believe that God has some amazing things in store for us! I believe that we can step up a notch next semester and with unity in the group, we’ll be able to equip ourselves and pushing each other towards the goal that God has set us! =) I love doing life together with you all, and from both Las and I – thank you for putting a smile on our faces everytime, thank you for the laughter, and thank you for making an effort to make G12 work this semester =)

I’d better stop before I start getting teary (or u getting bored). Hehe…till the next time I see you, take care and be blessed! =)

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” – 1 Timothy 4:12

Love,
Ah Gong and Ah Ma =D

Week of 24th June

2006-06-23T03:03:00.000+12:00

Hey all! =)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! =D (except for those in high school, but you'll get your turn in July and you can laugh at us then =P) Hope all exams went well, and that you all are stress-free now! =D The weather has been very very chilly, so do dress warmer ya? And keep your immune system up this winter! Eat lots of veges and fruits..teehee =P For those of you who are away back home, hope that you're enjoying all the yummy food and warm weather! =)

Anyhoo, this is just an email to inform you all that there'll be big homegroup meeting this week (since we haven't meet up together in a long time already), it'll be potluck dinner so do bring a dish ya? =) Anything will do, for those of you in halls of residence, if it's too troublesome to cook, just bring dessert =) After dinner, we'll probably have some games planned up or something to fill the night. So the details for this week's meeting are:

Date: 24th June 2006 (Saturday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Elim Christian Centre MTC Room

So really hope to see you all there! =) Can always invite friends to come along to see how International Network is like and a chance for us to meet new people as well =) I pray that God will fill this holiday with peace, love and joy for each and every single one of you, a time to rest, a time to recuperate for the tired ones and a time to just relax in His presence. Pray that everyday will be a day full of opportunities to sow into His kingdom, let's press on together shall we? =)

Love,
Jess.

Hee.

2006-06-18T23:10:00.000+12:00

Rate the funniness level of this joke on a scale from 1-10:

To keep milk from turning sour, keep it in the cow.

lol (=

Homegroup t-shirts

2006-06-17T01:19:00.000+12:00

Hi guys!

Hope everyone's enjoying their well earned holiday now, with the exception of Jian, Jess and Robyn who still have exams next week. Keep it up guys!! Dont give up! Our prayers go with you :)

Anyways, just thought that i'd let u guys know that Jonathan's been notifying the rest of the groups that the production of the international / homegroup 2006 T-shirts will be commencing pretty soon, and that he needs to know how many shirts to get by the 21st of June, which is next week. (He's going up to christchurch to get shirts at low prices at dresssmart :) ) I think the overall cost of the shirt will be about 20 something odd dollars... assuming that i'll be similar to last year's cost)

Last year's T-shirts for Jon's g12 members turned out pretty good and this year he's decided to go bigscale so everyone in homegroup gets to have one :), so i'd say it'd be a good idea to have a t-shirt made. In any case, let me know what sizes you guys would like if you're interested so i can give jonathon the details asap ya?

Take care ppl! See you tonight!

In Christ,

Alastair.

Power of the Blood?

2006-06-16T17:11:00.000+12:00

Right.

Cerebral Rebel is back.

Thus, another (hopefully), thought-provoking entry in which we can better understand our faith.

Blood comes to mind.

Yes, life-giving blood.

The stuff that if we cut ourselves, will flow copiously (if the cut is deep enough.)

Even in Communion, the act of the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine, to be literally seen as the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ..

Why blood?

What is it with blood?

Thinking back to the olden times where sacrifices in the temple were made to cleanse people of their sins and allow them to come back into the temple for worship..

Boy..imagine the scene.

Animals running everywhere...feathers, fur, skin...the chanting of the prayers of the priests as they butchered the offered animal upon the altar. The blood scattered upon the altar and the meat from the animals roasting fragrantly upon the fires that burn alongside with incense, rising up to Heaven..the sounds and sights of animals breathing/mooing/bleating/cooing their last, the desperate believers, knowing that by the blood shed, they were purified.

But it was not enough.

The sacrifice of animals were only a temporary redemption from the eternal sin to which man was bound to.

Thus, the ultimate sacrifice that came down in the form of God into man, Jesus.

The eternally pure and true sacrifice that once his blood was shed, we were cleansed forever.

But why blood?

Read somewhere before that Christianity is one bloody religion.

Literally.

With all the sacrificing and stuff, all the blood that was required to be shed..

It is one bloody religion.

And what's up with that?

*the everlasting question of mine*

What was it with blood? Was it only the thing that could purify us and wash us clean of sin?

Was there no other way?

*okay, right now, I'll become heretical.*

God is all-powerful. *check*
God is all-holy. *check*

Then why couldn't He deal with sin in a less loso manner?

Why did He require blood to be spilt?

Is He unable to forgive if there was no blood shed?

*hm*

The animals, all the sacrifices, God-in-man..

On another note..

Pagans do blood sacrifices as well, don't they?

You see in all kinds of shows depicting paganistic/satanic rituals, blood has to be shed.

A goat/bull/animal of choice would be slaughtered, the blood spilled to appease the gods/deities/Satan.

And again, what is it with blood?

Is it the relation of blood = life that it becomes an offering so much sought after, even by the supernaturals?

And one question I hold back.

Is God in any way, (heaven forbid) limited by the lack of blood if He wants to reunite humanity back with Him?

Another issue for your ponderings. Especially for those Health Sciences, who've finished and are already partying. I hope your intellectual cogs are running still.

Out.

~Trying to find an answer that satisfies~

Week of 16th June

2006-06-15T22:27:00.000+12:00

Yoohoo everyone! =)

Just a quick one from me before I get started studying on my last paper! =P I think by now everyone must be finishing off their exams already, poor me that I have to be at Burns cal now alone looking through my Labour Law notes. Well, not alone, save a seat next to me for my bag and the Holy Spirit =)

Anyhoo, this week we decided to have a catch up session tomorrow night (Friday) before some people leaving on Saturday (so early!!!) so it should be a quick one, just sharing and praying for one another.. So details are:

Date: 16th June 2006 (Friday)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Elim Christian Centre

So yeah, it will be earlier this time so that we can end early, and whoever that needs to get back to study (probably only me... ) can do so and others can have the night doing whatever you guys do, coz the night is still young!!~ So Health Sci first year, one more to go and you all are free!! (till the next semester =P) I'll see some of you for prayer tomorrow morning, for the rest, have a blessed Friday and I'll see you tomorrow night!!~ Something that I found on the web so thought I will share with you all:

It is appropriate to recognise the issues of tomorrow, but if we lose sight of
what we know today, we have begun to worry. Worry is fearing that God is not
sufficient.

Love,
Jess.

Cerebral Rebellion

2006-06-12T17:19:00.000+12:00

Note: From time to time, I become weirdly evil and anti-Christian. Don't mind me. In fact, there's not really even a need to comment or reply on this. I'm just acting up.

The verse above says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Pastor A talked yesterday about the realisation that God is real and that God is that big. We sometimes tend to forget that God is the Maker and that we take Him as a joke. *or maybe its just me.* And that we fall in awe of His greatness. That we become still...and know that He is God.

But sometimes, in the weakness of human nature, the fact of the fact that God is God once again slips our minds and we become increasingly rebellious. Akin to stepping up to someone you know that can easily and effortlessly turn you into a pile of human mince meat, giving that person the finger and saying, "Screw you."

Incredible, isn't it, the human mind is capable of deluding you to believe.

*not too sure about anyone else but I go through this.*

When you think about it, in real life, you wouldn't go up to that bully who steals your lunch or empties your bag into the toilet bowl and do that, would you? Neither would you actually summon up the courage to go and beat the crap out of him. *assuming that you don't get turned into dog chow first.*

But I see loopholes the size of the circumference of my waist in this analogy of mine.

God ain't no bully. But my mind makes Him to be.

After all, if He's the God of the Universe and He can control everything, why the hell do I have to go through this?

Other Christians would say, "It is His will, and that He has your best interests at heart."

Pretty hard to believe when you're down on your knees in despair, reaching out for someone whom you can't even see. The verse that I keep close to my heart from Jeremiah saying that "God has plans for you...plans to prosper you and give you hope" suddenly turns to ashes.

But the mind only believes in what it can see.

There's this song on Radio Rhema (621 AM Dunedin) that I hear often and its words now ring in my ears..

As I live among the scoffers and the questioning
How can you trust a God that you have never seen?

But I still believe..

Yes, I still believe.

And the verse that goes, "Blessed are those who have seen and believed. But even more blessed are those who have not seen but still believe."

I believe. Or at least I think I do.

I may be like one of the Pharisees who ask Jesus for a miracle. And yet, Jesus turns to them and tells them, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!" (Matthew 12:38) I'm just as good as one of them.

Then it all comes back to the faith game again.

It's a cycle. A vicious one too, I must add.

One thing to ponder on. Maybe something to think about as well. Then...maybe there is a need for comments or replies to this entry.

We are Christians. We base our beliefs on a God that made the Universe, a God that formed man in His own image with His hands, and all of it, on a book we term the Holy Bible. The living Word of God. Soooo...

How do we know its real?

It could be a very clever concoction.

Could it be another Dan Brown-like creation?

From a very smart person whom I stand in awe of his theological knowledge, the book we base our faith upon has raised so many questions that make me doubt a bit.

If this book is indeed changed so much from the original God-inspired Word, why do we read it?

We may be committing heresy by doing so.

Why do we still base our beliefs on this book if the authors are varied and many, the words here and there are changed through tons and tons of translations from Aramaic, Hebrew to Greek and Latin and now to the current languages around the world.

We could be just as bad as the Mormons or the Jehovah Witnesses in whom we hold in contempt. We say that their version of the Bible is flawed. What about us?

We call them a cult. Could it be possible that we are one as well?

My mind needs a break. Bad.

Out.

~To believe or not to believe? That is the question~

Yup..

2006-06-11T12:58:00.000+12:00

So I thought I'd make my mark here.

The first combined blog for both our G12s.

Just wanna say a biggie thank ya! to everyone who made this event really really special.

Thanks, peeps..

On a slightly more sombre note, exams have hit us straight in the face.

Some of us have survived and rose through the first wave of exams.

Others, like me, have yet to face the turmoil.

And Marcus, thank you for the wonderful book.

I just sat there last night and marinated in the quotes on love.

*beautiful. Just beautiful*

One of my faaaav-riiite quotes is this one. Waning and I both melted and took down this quote for further references.

The tragedy is not that love doesn't last.
The tragedy is the love that lasts.

Awww...

Out.

~Sentimental value~

Be still.

2006-06-11T11:07:00.000+12:00

When the oceans rise,

And thunders roar,

I will soar with you above the storm,

Father You are king over the flood,

I will be still

Know You are God....

(for those having exams.. hehe, if it means something to you... cause it does to me...)

Lalalala :)

2006-06-10T01:47:00.000+12:00

BIG HAPPY FAMILY ( couldn't find one with everyone in it )

ni shi it zhi ji!

2006-06-09T23:51:00.000+12:00

HEE! hilarious..

YOU ARE A CHICKEN

A man runs to the doctor and says, "Doctor, you've got to help me. My wife thinks she's a chicken!"

The doctor asks, "How long has she had this condition?"

"Two years," says the man."

Then why did it take you so long to come and see me?" asked the shrink.

The man shrugs his shoulders and replies, "We needed the eggs."

Week of 10th June

2006-06-08T23:11:00.000+12:00

Hey all,

Hope you're all taking care of yourselves as you hit the books... I know that meals and sleep usually suffer when you have to force and cram 100's of pages of information into ur brain in a few days, but still, hope you guys are not running yourselves to the ground :)

This week happens to be a special week, not only because of exams, but also because 2 Wongs in our vivos-zoe group are having their birthdays this week - Mr Paul Wong and Ms Robyn Wong!! As homegroup tradition has it, birthdays of our members usually dont go uncelebrated, so it has been suggested that we'd celebrate at pizza hut on sat night before homegroup. It's $14.95 per person for unlimited buffet. Does that sound alright to you guys? Lemme know if you any one of ya's cant make it at k?

Oh, and apart from that, there will also be lunch tomorrow (Fri 9 Jun) at 12.30 at the asian restaurant for those who can make it :) Just been informed about this...

For g12 this week, we will be doing worship and prayer...not too long so we can get some study done after that, for those of us who need to :)

G12
Venue: Elim church
Time: 7.30 pm

Right, that's it. All the best to you health science dudes and dudettes for the bio exam tomorrow! :) You can do it!! See you all soon!

Alastair

Week of 3rd June

2006-05-31T21:06:00.000+12:00

Hey pplz! =)

I think each one of you must be buried in your books this week since exam period is just around the corner. Don’t get too stressed ya? (did I say that last week already? Oh well, it’s a constant reminder that we have to drill into our stubborn heads – be people of joy coz His joy is our strength =D)

Anyhoo, the details of this week’s G12:

Date: 3rd June 2006 (Saturday)

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Elim Christian Centre MTC room

Alastair and I are still trying to figure out what bible study should we be doing, but definitely there’ll be some sharing and then probably followed by some games? Hehe… still trying to figure out what games we should play =P

So let’s get cracking on our studies during the weekdays and we can have Saturday night and Sunday off! =D I believe in putting our best into whatever we do – that includes enjoying ourselves when we’re meant to.

Anyhoo…gotta go and practice what I preach now =P Hope to see you all on Saturday! For those of you that might not be able to make it, we’ll be covering you in prayer and happy studying!!~

Just something to encourage all of us:

We are dependent on the strength
We draw from one another;
Words spoken give encouragement,
Love practiced draws us closer

Love,
Jess.

Week of 27th May

2006-05-26T06:21:00.000+12:00

Hey everyone! =)

How's everyone's week been? Hope you all are keeping warm and healthy despite the very very cold weather! Do wear an extra layer whenever you're outside k? =)

Anyhoo, just the usual weekly email to inform you all about G12 this week.. We're going to have a social night, i.e. no bible study. There won't be any material that we need to go through, but we'll have sharing among our little groups. Besides, worship this week will be led by our very own Dennis! *clapping hands* =D After worship and sharing, we'll have some games, will probably split into teams, at the moment still trying to figure out whether it's girls v guys or mix... but will let you all know on that day! =) After games, we'll have dessert! So everyone pls do bring along a small plate of something sweet =P

Another thing, Angela is composing the homegroup exam timetable, so it'll be good if you know your exam timetable and try to remember them on saturday, we'll have it written down and I can pass it to her =)

So the details for this week G12 are:

DATE: 27th May 2006
DAY: Saturday
TIME: 7:30 p..m.
VENUE: Elim Christian Centre MTC room

Hehe...hope that's big enough for everyone to see! =P As exams are approaching, I know that inevitably some of us might get overwhelmed by the amount of work and just the stress of having to finish everything, but do remember to take some time to rest ya? Don't burn yourself out, coz your health is far way more important =) Wanna see everyone of you still hyper and jumpy by the end of exams, coz I know God will want to see that too =) Pray that as you study, God will grant you the concentration that you need and as you submit everything unto Him, His peace will be upon you =)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus...
- Philippians 4:6-7

Hope to see everyone this Saturday! Do get back to me or Las if you can't make it k? Be blessed and take care!~

Love,
Jess.