Jacelyn Tay supernatural way of being converted to Christian

She also went to Paya Lebar Methodist Church to share her testimony. Below is the testimony she shared in CHC.

Jacelyn Tay's testimony in PDF (IMPACT magazine) - Link 1
Jacelyn Tay's testimony in PDF (IMPACT magazine) - Link 2

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I finally pass my IPPT

I finally pass my IPPT with $100 incentive.. haha.. my chin up also CMI.. luckily the instructor close one eye... haha.. Two stations I quite disappointed lor... the sit up I should get 5 points lor... I thought I do till 38 is 5 points liao .. then I stop and look only 4 points nia.. then i look puzzled... I reaction too slow lor... or else...just one more sit up i get 5 points lor... The other is the shuttle run... I should be able to get at lease 3 points nia... cos I touch the ground, no alarm sounded, i pause and think a while, later i continue run... that slow me down lor.. aiya... then lazy .. no retake one more time .. then go do 2.4km... that time my morale super high already lor cos I already pass all 4 statics stations... and guess what??!! I ran 12:10 min for my 2.4km... haha... that's not bad already nia... really... haha...

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At the cross road

jnwk is at the cross road of making a major changes. Please pray for him that God gives him the wisdom to make the right decision.

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how many legs are there??

Ok, I work out the answer to Eunice's quiz.

there are seven girls on a bus..
each girl carries seven bags...
each bag has seven big cats..
and each big cat has seven little cats..
HOW MANY LEGS ARE THERE???
(assuming each cat has 4 legs..)

1. Calculate the total number of cats in each bag.

Small cats=7x7=49
Big cats = 7
So the total number of cats in each is 49 + 7 = 56


2. Calculate the total number of cats each girl is carrying.

Since 7 bags, so each girl carrys
56x7 = 392 cats


3. Calculate the total number of cats in the bus.

Since 7 girls, so there are
392x7 = 2744 cats in the bus


4. Calculate the total number of legs

Cats' legs: 2744 x 4 = 10976
Girls' legs: 7x2=14
Therefore, total number of legs = 10976+14 = 10990

:D

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The inevitable new world order

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, in his speech, also talks about a new world order (which idea has already existed in the past) .. hmm..

http://www.moe.gov.sg/media/speeches/2009/03/11/speech-by-dr-ng-eng-hen-at-the-19.php

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CIA report: Israel will fall in 20 years

Israel will fall in 20 years? How accurate is this report (see below)? We shall see. Anyway, it is prophesied Israel will face worldwide persecution which result in invasion during the end times (great tribulation period). It is only then Israel will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah ...

CIA report: Israel will fall in 20 years
Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:44:41 GMT

International lawyer Franklin Lamb

A study conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has cast doubt over Israel's survival beyond the next 20 years.

The CIA report predicts "an inexorable movement away from a two-state to a one-state solution, as the most viable model based on democratic principles of full equality that sheds the looming specter of colonial Apartheid while allowing for the return of the 1947/1948 and 1967 refugees. The latter being the precondition for sustainable peace in the region."

The study, which has been made available only to a certain number of individuals, further forecasts the return of all Palestinian refugees to the occupied territories, and the exodus of two million Israeli - who would move to the US in the next fifteen years.

"There is over 500,000 Israelis with American passports and more than 300,000 living in the area of just California," International lawyer Franklin Lamb said in an interview with Press TV on Friday, adding that those who do not have American or western passport, have already applied for them.

"So I think the handwriting at least among the public in Israel is on the wall...[which] suggests history will reject the colonial enterprise sooner or later," Lamb stressed.

He said CIA, in its report, alludes to the unexpectedly quick fall of the apartheid government in South Africa and recalls the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, suggesting the end to the dream of an 'Israeli land' would happen 'way sooner' than later.

The study further predicts the return of over one and a half million Israelis to Russia and other parts of Europe, and denotes a decline in Israeli births whereas a rise in the Palestinian population.

Lamb said given the Israeli conduct toward the Palestinians and the Gaza strip in particular, the American public -- which has been voicing its protest against Tel Aviv's measures in the last 25 years -- may 'not take it anymore'.

Some members of the US Senate Intelligence Committee have been informed of the report.

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Absolute Truth

Written by: Joshua Joscelyn

What is truth? What is the nature of truth? Is there even such a thing as truth? Some would argue that truth is relative, and that they are absolutely certain that we cannot be absolutely certain of any truth. As ridiculous as this statement sounds, the logic goes something like this. I perceive reality through a different lens or filter than does anyone else, and therefore, my reality is different than your reality. Those who subscribe to this school of thought claim that truth is relative - based upon perspective or perception. This relativism, known as subjectivism, states that absolute truth does not exist, and that reality is contingent upon the subject.

There is another side to this debate, however, and those on this side claim that we can be absolutely certain that there is absolute truth. This is called objectivism, and holds that truth is not determined by the subject, but rather is inherent in the object. In other words, this truth never changes - no matter who is looking at it or how. In the scientific realm, these objectivists believe that their theories do not provide just a better understanding of reality - as the relativists believe - but rather, that they are reality in themselves. Instead of agreeing with the relativists that theories help our perception of reality, they claim that their theories are reality - or absolutely true.

The problem with objectivism in science is that science alone simply cannot yield absolute certainty due to its inductive nature. Science observes clues about reality, and makes assumptions and conclusions about reality, based upon these clues. In essence, science starts at the bottom, and seeks to understand the truth at the top without a first-hand knowledge of reality. Their perception is limited to their theories. Though science can give us a good idea of reality, or reasonable certainty, only God's Word can give absolute certainty. A detective cannot be absolutely certain of what took place based upon the clues alone. Though he can formulate a good theory and be reasonably certain his theory is correct, this cannot be compared to the absolute certainty that comes from a first-hand account such as viewing security camera footage of the event in question. So while science is important, it cannot be compared to the first-hand account recorded in Scripture. Absolute truth does exist. The Bible tells us "thy word is truth" (Jn 17:17b). Our foundation for absolute truth rests upon God's Word. All other ground is sinking sand.

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鄭秀文正式洗禮 成為基督教徒 - Sammi Cheng officially baptised and becomes a Christian

Happen to come across this video. Was surprise to know..





Sammi Cheng's testimony

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Why Won’t God Heal Amputees?

Please click this link if you want to read the article --> http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2009/01/30/feedback-god-heal-amputees

I quote one part of the article which really captured my full attention:

If there is no God, why should we care if people have lost limbs? To borrow from C. S. Lewis, in a truly godless world, amputations wouldn’t be “good” or “bad”; they would simply be, a fact of life no different from a tree shedding leaves. Attacking theism on a moral basis undermines the argument.

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A Cool Idea - me2everyone

Hello,

Something incredible has arrived!

I just became a shareholder in me2everyone and I never had to pay a single penny for the shares! It can only be described as the gold-rush for 2009. This company is going to be huge and shares will soar in value over the coming months! You can register for free and it never has to cost you a single penny!

me2everyone is going to be a cool new virtual world where you can meet friends, chat, shop, play, watch videos, create an art gallery, open a virtual newspaper, play the free inworld lottery and make money from your own online store! You and everyone you know make the decisions, shape the world, create real incomes and share in the profits. It's a new place where you meet new people or invite your friends. Learn new skills or expand your business. Find the love of your life or help the planet.

Membership is free and every member automatically becomes a shareholder in me2everyone Limited. Personally I have 14500 shares in the venture and I am going going to increase my shares very soon. This is an excellent chance for all of us to make some real progress in 2009 and beyond! Please do not miss it.










If you are looking for something really good in 2009: something that changes your view on the world, then you really have to spend just one minute and look at this website.

Please click visit www.me2everyone.com/8826 for the details.

PS: More than 350 people signed up every hour during the first 2 days and the owners expect 100m+ over the next 3 years!! Be in now and get ready to share the wealth! :)

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Seven women begging for one man

Happen to come across this verse.

In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, "We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!" (Isaiah 4:1)

Search for commentary online. It seems to be also prophesying the end times stuff - most probably the tribulation times. Wah, the male population has a sharp decline due to war and women becomes desperate for a male to marry to for "status". [A woman's sense of worth is linked to marriage, home, and family more so than is a man's. - quoted] I don't know whether to say how "fortunate" male was at that time or how "frightening" male was when so many were prophesied to die in wars. I can't help but picture the terrible scenes of war during the tribulation periods and picture the desperateness the women at that time now.

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Molecular Manufacturing will change the world

Overview: Molecular manufacturing (MM) means the ability to build devices, machines, and eventually whole products with every atom in its specified place. Today the theories for using mechanical chemistry to directly fabricate nanoscale structures are well-developed and awaiting progress in enabling technologies. Assuming all this theory works—and no one has established a problem with it yet—exponential general-purpose molecular manufacturing appears to be inevitable. It might become a reality by 2010 to 2015, more plausibly will by 2015 to 2020, and almost certainly will by 2020 to 2025. When it arrives, it will come quickly. MM can be built into a self-contained, personal factory (PN) that makes cheap products efficiently at molecular scale. The time from the first fabricator to a flood of powerful and complex products may be less than a year. The potential benefits of such a technology are immense. Unfortunately, the risks are also immense.

Click here to read more.

Just some thoughts
I believe the future will be frightening. The world will going to have a "global" leader, with "global" currency; "global" religious system, "global" financial system, "global'" order... etc etc ... Many people will hate Christians, ban christian teachings .. etc.. Many things are already happening but all these are just the beginning of the end. I strongly believe Jesus Christ is coming "real soon". But it is difficult to say how soon - whether during my times or the future generation times. (I do not know how long the window of grace will be open.) Biblical prophecies are slowly unfolding as I watch the world news and how events are occuring. I am convince a new world order will definitely emerge. It is just a matter of time. Fear not if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. Let those who choose not to believe continue to scoff lor. The future ahead is not going to be as easy for Christians as before.

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Going rate to kill pastor: $250

WorldNetDaily
Going rate to kill pastor: $250
Rewards offered for murdering Christians, destroying homes, churches

---

Posted: November 20, 2008
11:30 pm Eastern

By Chelsea Schilling

---

WorldNetDaily

Hindu extremist groups are offering money, food and alcohol to anyone who murders Christians and destroys their homes.

The violence is nothing new in Orissa, India, where India's Communist Party estimates that more than 500 Christians have been killed by Hindu mobs in Orissa since late August, 12 times more than official government claims of only 40 homicides.

But now the stakes are even higher – and pastors have a bounty on their heads.

Faiz Rahman, chairman of Good News India, said Hindu militants are targeting Christian leaders, the Christian Post reported.

"The going price to kill a pastor is $250," he said.

Rahman, a head of several orphanages in Orissa State, said he's helped 25 pastors to leave refugee camps, but 250 Christian leaders are still in shelters.

"All of the pastors are high value targets," Rahman told the UK-based Release International. "We've got to get them out of the refugee camps."

An All-India Christian Council spokesman said, "People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene."

(Story continues below)

One official said he personally authorized "cremation of more than 200 bodies" found in jungles after Christians were blamed for the death of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on Aug. 24. They continue to be persecuted even though Maoists openly admitted to murdering Saraswati.

Thousands of homes and churches have been destroyed, and an estimated 50,000 Christians have been forced to flee the violence. Mission Network News estimates 5,000 Christian homes have been burned and 200 churches ruined. According to the Christian Post, 30,000 people remain in government-operated refugee camps. Tens of thousands are living in forests – many seriously wounded.

Father Manoj, based at the archbishop’s office in Bhubaneshwar, said Christians remain in hiding.

"They are too scared to go home. They know that if they return to their villages they will be forced to convert to Hinduism."

Religious rights group Barnabus Fund told the group Hindu militants "forced" Christians in Orissa to "convert" to Hinduism by threatening them with rape if they refused.

Neighbors reportedly gang-raped a Hindu woman after her Christian uncle refused to renounce his faith, according to reports.

Another Christian woman named Jaspina was told by neighbors, "If you go on being Christian, we will burn your house and your children in front of you." She and her family were forced to eat cow excrement to "purify" themselves of Christianity.

Other Christians were doused with gasoline and told to participate in conversion ceremonies or be lit on fire.

This week, Hindu extremists said they have set a deadline for the capture of Saraswati's murderers. If the killers are not caught by Dec. 15, they promised to begin a massacre on Dec. 25, Christmas day.

According to the latest report, Orissa's Catholic bishops wrote an ominous letter to the state's chief minister. It read, "This conflict is a calculated and pre-planned master plan to wipe out Christianity from Kandhamal in order to realize the hidden agenda … of establishing a Hindu nation."

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Something to think about..

Happen to come across this comment...

Hmmm.... something to think about..

Only a Christian nation would have allowed this atheist a choice to not believe. Not even atheist nations give you a choice. You have to believe what they want you to believe. So the fact that he is able to freely protest proves to me that we live in a free Christian nation. History proves that there is no freedom without God. If only the atheist would learn this.

Below is a good enough answer to those who wants to know... Happen to come across this comment too..

I have to agree with Jack Kelly's commentary on the holiday season. It was and is originally a pagan holiday season. Let's let them have it back and begin to celebrate Jesus' birth at the time that he was most probably born, which is around Rosh Hoshana. The Romans are the reason we celebrate Christ's birth at this time in their attempt to combine the old Roman pagan gods and Christianity. The same goes for the Resurection and Easter. Ever wondered what bunnies and eggs have to do with the Resurection of our Lord and Savior? It comes from the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, the goddess of fertility. Lets celebrate Resurection Sunday when it supposed to be celebrated, the Sunday following Passover. Let the pagans have their rituals, lets celebrate our Christian Holy days when they should be celebrated. The atheist is right about this, these are not historically Christian holidays/festivals. I know this is probably not a popular view. I've never been able to really wrap my arms around Christmas for this reason, not since I was a kid. As for Santa Clause, again I have to agree with Mr. Kelly. Lets stop lying to our kids about where blessings come from, and exhalt our Lord to them instead, give Him the glory for all blessings. Kids, ultimately, don't care one whit where the presents come from, as long as they come. Just my 2 cents.

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Children are born believers in God, academic claims

Children are born believers in God, academic claims
Children are "born believers" in God and do not simply acquire religious beliefs through indoctrination, according to an academic.


By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 11:36PM GMT 24 Nov 2008


Dr Justin Barrett, a senior researcher at the University of Oxford's Centre for Anthropology and Mind, claims that young people have a predisposition to believe in a supreme being because they assume that everything in the world was created with a purpose.

He says that young children have faith even when they have not been taught about it by family or at school, and argues that even those raised alone on a desert island would come to believe in God.

"The preponderance of scientific evidence for the past 10 years or so has shown that a lot more seems to be built into the natural development of children's minds than we once thought, including a predisposition to see the natural world as designed and purposeful and that some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"If we threw a handful on an island and they raised themselves I think they would believe in God."

In a lecture to be given at the University of Cambridge's Faraday Institute on Tuesday, Dr Barrett will cite psychological experiments carried out on children that he says show they instinctively believe that almost everything has been designed with a specific purpose.

In one study, six and seven-year-olds who were asked why the first bird existed replied "to make nice music" and "because it makes the world look nice".

Another experiment on 12-month-old babies suggested that they were surprised by a film in which a rolling ball apparently created a neat stack of blocks from a disordered heap.

Dr Barrett said there is evidence that even by the age of four, children understand that although some objects are made by humans, the natural world is different.

He added that this means children are more likely to believe in creationism rather than evolution, despite what they may be told by parents or teachers.

Dr Barrett claimed anthropologists have found that in some cultures children believe in God even when religious teachings are withheld from them.

"Children's normally and naturally developing minds make them prone to believe in divine creation and intelligent design. In contrast, evolution is unnatural for human minds; relatively difficult to believe."

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A/P Ang Whye Teong has joined my church

Ok, A/P Ang Whye Teong taught me Mathematics 3 before. I saw him a couple of times in English service last year. But saw his testimony yesterday. Alright, below is his and his wife testimony:


This is him (in case some of you forget):

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Planet Earth

Psalm 19:1-3: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

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KNS!! I did badly for my IPPT today!!!!!!!!!

I failed 3 stations - SBJ, chin up and 2.4km - today. Damn it! I was doing night shift on Sunday and Mon. Went back home on Tuesday morning to sleep and then went to bedok camp for IPPT. My body was not on good condition to pass IPPT. I only do better for sit up while the rest I did not improve on my previous IPPT results. I believe my body has too much cortisol and too little glucose storage and too little serotonin today.... Never underestimate the health damage caused by doing night shift. Read the articles below for more information:

Sleep Deprivation Can Hinder Sports Performance

Logic would say that getting enough sleep is important for optimal sports performance, but there wasn't much evidence to support this theory -- until now. Some recent studies have found that that sleep deprivation can slow glucose metabolism by as much as 30 to 40%.

Eve Van Cauter, Ph.D., from the University of Chicago Medical School, studied the effects of three different durations of sleep in 11 men ages 18 to 27. For the first three nights of the study, the men slept eight hours per night; for the next six nights, they slept four hours per night; for the last seven nights, they slept 12 hours per night.

Results showed that after four hours of sleep per night (the sleep deprivation period), they metabolized glucose least efficiently. Levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) were also higher during sleep deprivation periods, which has been linked to memory impairment, age-related insulin resistance, and impaired recovery in athletes.

Van Cauter said that after only one week of sleep restriction, young, healthy males had glucose levels that were no longer normal and showed a rapid deterioration of the body's functions. This reduced ability of the body to manage glucose is similar to those found in the elderly.

Most of what we know about sleep deprivation has to do with immune function and brain function. This study is interesting because it shows that sleep deprivation can negatively impact physiology that is critical for athletic performance -- glucose metabolism and cortisol status. While no one completely understands the complexities of sleep, this (and other research) indicates that sleep deprivation can lead to increased levels of cortisol (a stress hormone), decreased activity of human growth hormone (which is active during tissue repair), and decreased glycogen synthesis.

Other studies link sleep deprivation with decreased aerobic endurance and increased ratings of perceived exertion.

What does this all mean?

Glucose and glycogen (stored glucose) are the main sources of energy for athletes. Being able to store glucose in muscle and the liver is particularly important for endurance athletes. Those who are sleep deprived may experience slower storage of glycogen, which prevents storage of the fuel an athlete needs for endurance events beyond 90 minutes.

Elevated levels of cortisol may interfere with tissue repair and growth. Over time, this could prevent an athlete from responding to heavy training and lead to overtraining and injury.

Obviously, more research is necessary. But this study indicates that a chronic lack of sleep may affect metabolic function. For the endurance athlete, proper sleep during heavy training and before competitions certainly may help and is unlikely to cause harm.

Why Athletes Need Rest and Recovery

It is the alternation of adaptation and recovery that takes the athlete to a higher level of fitness. High-level athletes need to realize that the greater the training intensity and effort, the greater the need for planned recovery. Monitoring your workouts with a training log, and paying attention to how your body feels and how motivated you are is extremely helpful in determining your recovery needs and modifying your training program accordingly.



======================

Why You Should Try to Avoid Shift Work and Irregular Sleep

By Dr. Ben Kim on July 31, 2008

• Health Warnings

According to a study published in the August 1, 2007 issue of the journal Sleep, rotating shift workers have significantly lower levels of serotonin (precursor to melatonin) than people who work regular day shifts. A total of 683 men of European ancestry were evaluated for this study; 437 were day workers, and 246 were rotating shift workers.

Serotonin is a hormone that circulates throughout your body. It is also a neurotransmitter in your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). A chronically low level of serotonin is associated with many health challenges, the most common of which are:

• Poor quality sleep
• Problems with body temperature regulation
• Tendency to feel depressed and anxious
• Poor ability to regulate anger and aggression
• Sexual difficulties

The findings of this most recent study confirm the importance of maintaining a regular circadian rhythm by resting when you are tired, and striving to maintain a regular routine of sleeping.

If your current life circumstances do not allow for a regular sleeping routine, you should at least strive to acquire restful sleep whenever your schedule allows you to. Here are a few suggestions on how to accomplish this while working on a rotating shift schedule:

1. Within your irregular sleep schedule, strive to maintain a steady routine of eating, getting cleaned up, spending time with loved ones, and taking care of necessary errands before going to sleep.
2. When you must sleep while the sun is out, use a sleeping mask or dark and heavy curtains to provide a dark sleeping environment. A dark sleeping environment is important to your body's ability to produce serotonin.
3. Do everything you can to minimize potential disruptions during sleep time, like turning the phone ringer off, posting a 'no solicitations' sign outside your home or apartment, and wearing earplugs.

For more information on this topic, including suggestions on how to support your health via high quality sleep, view the following articles:

Why You Should Sleep in Darkness

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need to Be Healthy?

Healthy Foods that Promote Deep Sleep

Nine Steps to Better Sleep

Study Abstract:
http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?citationid=3306

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The 'R' word is getting louder and louder

Global economy very bad. I am starting to hear the echo of the 'R' word. When will it be my turn??

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I pass my 2.4km during my 6th IPT session

Ok, today I went for the 6th session. The PTI warned us that it is the last training (next week will be briefing) and the most siong. After doing some general exercise, we ran 3x400km intervals and then followed by 3x800km intervals. The last part is 2.4km endurance running. And I clocked a 12:37 timing. haha... I checked the score table and I passed by just 3 seconds. *_*Y Haiz.. next week like no training leh.. tues got briefing and thurs surpose to be my IPPT but postponed to 28th after clashed with my night shift after the much changes in shift system recently. sianz.. need to change with other people on that day but still sianz.. cos the day before my IPPT is also night shift.. let me think if I should change that day with other people or not. I hope to get a pass ... a silver will make me happy like siao.. haha :D

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Back to Jerusalem movement / 传回耶路撒冷运动

The Back To Jerusalem movement (Chinese:传回耶路撒冷运动) is a Christian evangelistic campaign begun in China by Chinese believers to send missionaries to all of the Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim peoples who live "between" China and Jerusalem. This movement was founded during the 1920s, however government restrictions and persecution forced the movement to go underground for decades.

Since 2003, the most vocal international proponent of "Back to Jerusalem" has been the exiled Chinese house church leader Liu Zhenying a.k.a. "(Brother Yun)". But many Christian leaders in China, such as Samuel Lamb have distanced themselves from Yun and his foreign-funded movement, which they believe has been largely discredited. Yun intends for "Back to Jerusalem" to evangelize fifty-one countries by sending a minimum of 100,000 missionaries along the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that winds from China to the Mediterranean Sea^[1].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_To_Jerusalem

"
The most audacious even dream of carrying the gospel beyond the borders of China, along the old Silk Road into the Muslim world, in a campaign known as "Back to Jerusalem". As [Time correspondent David] Aikman explains in Jesus in Beijing, some Chinese evangelicals and Pentecostals believe that the basic movement of the gospel for the last 2,000 years has been westward: from Jerusalem to Antioch, from Antioch to Europe, from Europe to America, and from America to China. Now, they believe, it's their turn to complete the loop by carrying the gospel to Muslim lands, eventually arriving in Jerusalem. Once that happens, they believe, the gospel will have been preached to the entire world.
"

Christianity finds a fulcrum in Asia
By Spengler

Ten thousand Chinese become Christians each day, according to a stunning report by the National Catholic Reporter's veteran correspondent John Allen, and 200 million Chinese may comprise the world's largest concentration of Christians by mid-century, and the largest missionary force in history. [1] If you read a single news article about China this year, make sure it is this one.

I suspect that even the most enthusiastic accounts err on the downside, and that Christianity will have become a Sino-centric



religion two generations from now. China may be for the 21st century what Europe was during the 8th-11th centuries, and America has been during the past 200 years: the natural ground for mass evangelization. If this occurs, the world will change beyond our capacity to recognize it. Islam might defeat the western Europeans, simply by replacing their diminishing numbers with immigrants, but it will crumble beneath the challenge from the East.

China, devoured by hunger so many times in its history, now feels a spiritual hunger beneath the neon exterior of its suddenly great cities. Four hundred million Chinese on the prosperous coast have moved from poverty to affluence in a single generation, and 10 million to 15 million new migrants come from the countryside each year, the greatest movement of people in history. Despite a government stance that hovers somewhere between discouragement and persecution, more than 100 million of them have embraced a faith that regards this life as mere preparation for the next world. Given the immense effort the Chinese have devoted to achieving a tolerable life in the present world, this may seem anomalous. On the contrary: it is the great migration of peoples that prepares the ground for Christianity, just as it did during the barbarian invasions of Europe during the Middle Ages.

Last month's murder of reverend Bae Hyung-kyu, the leader of the missionaries still held hostage by Taliban kidnappers in Afghanistan, drew world attention to the work of South Korean Christians, who make up nearly 30% of that nation's population and send more evangelists to the world than any country except the United States. This is only a first tremor of the earthquake to come, as Chinese Christians turn their attention outward. Years ago I speculated that if Mecca ever is razed, it will be by an African army marching north; now the greatest danger to Islam is the prospect of a Chinese army marching west.

People do not live in a spiritual vacuum; where a spiritual vacuum exists, as in western Europe and the former Soviet Empire, people simply die, or fail to breed. In the traditional world, people see themselves as part of nature, unchangeable and constant, and worship their surroundings, their ancestors and themselves. When war or economics tear people away from their roots in traditional life, what once appeared constant now is shown to be ephemeral. Christianity is the great liquidator of traditional society, calling individuals out of their tribes and nations to join the ekklesia, which transcends race and nation. In China, communism leveled traditional society, and erased the great Confucian idea of society as an extension of the loyalties and responsibility of families. Children informing on their parents during the Cultural Revolution put paid to that.

Now the great migrations throw into the urban melting pot a half-dozen language groups who once lived isolated from one another. Not for more than a thousand years have so many people in the same place had such good reason to view as ephemeral all that they long considered to be fixed, and to ask themselves: "What is the purpose of my life?"

The World Christian Database offers by far the largest estimate of the number of Chinese Christians at 111 million, of whom 90% are Protestant, mostly Pentecostals. Other estimates are considerably lower, but no matter; what counts is the growth rate. This uniquely American denomination, which claims the inspiration to speak in tongues like Jesus' own disciples and to prophesy, is the world's fastest-growing religious movement. In contrast to Catholicism, which has a very long historic presence in China but whose growth has been slow, charismatic Protestantism has found its natural element in an atmosphere of official suppression. Barred from churches, Chinese began worshipping in homes, and five major "house church" movements and countless smaller ones now minister to as many as 100 million Christians. [2] This quasi-underground movement may now exceed in adherents the 75 million members of the Chinese Communist Party; in a generation it will be the most powerful force in the country.

While the Catholic Church has worked patiently for independence from the Chinese government, which sponsors a "Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association" with government-appointed bishops, the evangelicals have no infrastructure to suppress and no hierarchy to protect. In contrast to Catholic caution, John Allen observes, "Most Pentecostals would obviously welcome being arrested less frequently, but in general they are not waiting for legal or political reform before carrying out aggressive evangelization programs."

Allen adds:

The most audacious even dream of carrying the gospel beyond the borders of China, along the old Silk Road into the Muslim world, in a campaign known as "Back to Jerusalem". As [Time correspondent David] Aikman explains in Jesus in Beijing, some Chinese evangelicals and Pentecostals believe that the basic movement of the gospel for the last 2,000 years has been westward: from Jerusalem to Antioch, from Antioch to Europe, from Europe to America, and from America to China. Now, they believe, it's their turn to complete the loop by carrying the gospel to Muslim lands, eventually arriving in Jerusalem. Once that happens, they believe, the gospel will have been preached to the entire world.

Aikman reports that two Protestant seminaries secretly are training missionaries for deployment in Muslim countries.

Where traditional society remains entrenched in China's most backward regions, Islam also is expanding. At the edge of the Gobi Desert and on China's western border with Central Asia, Islam claims perhaps 30 million adherents. If Christianity is the liquidator of traditional society, I have argued in the past, Islam is its defender against the encroachments of leveling imperial expansion. But Islam in China remains the religion of the economic losers, whose geographic remoteness isolates them from the economic transformation on the coasts. Christianity, by contrast, has burgeoned among the new middle class in China's cities, where the greatest wealth and productivity are concentrated. Islam has a thousand-year presence in China and has grown by natural increase rather than conversion; evangelical Protestantism had almost no adherents in China a generation ago.

China's Protestants evangelized at the risk of liberty and sometimes life, and possess a sort of fervor not seen in Christian ranks for centuries. Their pastors have been beaten and jailed, and they have had to create their own institutions through the "house church" movement. Two years ago I warned that China would have to wait for democracy. [3] I wrote:

For a people to govern itself, it first must want to govern itself and want to do so with a passion. It also must know how to do so. Democracy requires an act of faith, or rather a whole set of acts of faith. The individual citizen must believe that a representative sitting far away in the capital will listen to his views, and know how to band together with other citizens to make their views known. That is why so-called civil society, the capillary network of associations that manage the ordinary affairs of life, is so essential to democracy. Americans elect their local school boards, create volunteer fire brigades and raise and spend tax dollars at the local level to provide parks or sewers.

China's network of house churches may turn out to be the leaven of democracy, like the radical Puritans of England who became the Congregationalists of New England. Freedom of worship is the first precondition for democracy, for it makes possible freedom of conscience. The fearless evangelists at the grassroots of China will, in the fullness of time, do more to bring US-style democracy to the world than all the nation-building bluster of President George W Bush and his advisers.

Notes
1. The uphill journey of Catholicism in China, August 2, 2007, National Catholic Reporter.
2. See Luke Wesley, "Is the Chinese Church predominantly Pentecostal?" in American Journal of Pentecostal Studies 7:2 (2004).
3. China must wait for democracy, Asia Times Online, September 27, 2005.



Relevant links:
http://gointl.org/?q=gointl/magazine/56/node/708
http://www.mbherald.com/44/02/books-2.en.html
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Jerusalem-Called-Complete-Commission/dp/book-citations/1903689031

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AFA is ending its boycott of McDonald's

(click link above)

The American Family Association (AFA) is ending its boycott of McDonald's.

Mississippi-based AFA called for the boycott in May after the fast food giant joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. McDonald's has notified the pro-homosexual organization that McDonald's vice president Richard Ellis resigned from the board of directors of NGLCC and his seat on the board will not be replaced.

In a press release on Thursday morning, AFA reports that in an email from McDonald's to its franchise owners the company stated its policy is "to not be involved in political and social issues."

Randy Sharp is director of special projects with AFA. He says McDonald's has pledged to remain neutral in the culture war surrounding homosexual marriage.

"The franchise owners understood very early that this was an issue that McDonald's did not need to be involved in from a corporate level, and [that] they needed to stick with serving good food products in a convenient way, at a good price."

McDonald's officials also said the company has no plans to renew its membership in the NGLCC when it expires in December.


Others can learn

AFA president Tim Wildmon says it's encouraging that the world's largest global foodservice retailer has pledged to remain neutral in the culture war. He says other corporations can learn from McDonald's decision to not be involved in political or social issues.

"That's been our appeal to these corporations," he explains. "...[J]ust stay neutral [and] don't give money to organizations that are going to fight against traditional values. And we try to tell folks [that] many of [their] customers are traditional values folks, and don't offend them by supporting gay and lesbian activist groups."

AFA founder and chairman Donald E. Wildmon states that his pro-family organization "appreciate[s] the decision by McDonald's to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations."

Related link:
http://jnwkthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/07/mcdonalds-usa-support-homosexuality.html

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Something to think about: The upcoming US election

Something to think about...


A reprint of a letter mailed out by the American Family Association:

The upcoming election is the most critical election in the history of our nation. The very future of our nation’s foundation is at stake. Every person will be affected. If the liberals win, then our foundation will no longer be based on the traditional Judeo-Christian morality. It will gradually but assuredly be based on an ever shifting, ever moving foundation. If the liberals win, the damage can’t be stopped with elections two, four or forty years from now. America will forever be changed. We will keep seeing a gradual and growing hostility toward people of faith, especially Christians. The morals of our nation will continue to decline. Our children and grandchildren will pay the price.

In case you may think I’m a “the sky is falling” type of person, you should know: When it comes to predictions, I am a very reserved person. But not on this one. I cannot overstate the damage a liberal victory will do to our country. The upcoming election is the most important in the history of our nation. Yes, if the liberals win you will lose some of your religious freedoms and free speech rights. Churches and pastors will not be exempt. You will not be allowed to say certain things about a particular group. Every item of the homosexual agenda will be approved. All the laws protecting the unborn will be wiped away.

I cannot overemphasize the importance of the Nov. 4 election. That is why I urge you to vote and encourage your family members, friends, Sunday School class and church members to vote. America’s future – the future of your children and grandchildren – is at stake.

Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

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My third session of IPT

Sianz.. today run 13 x 400m in total.. legs pain liao.. tmr how to work.. :(

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真的恋爱了?

Just watched this move "真的恋爱了？" There are some part of the contents quite meaningful. I have typed it out below. Another I record it and put it on this post.

你说神爱我， 那神的爱在那里
曾经有人说过
从来都没有人见过风
但是当我们看到羽毛被风吹起的时侯
你就知道风的存在
神的爱也一样
神是很爱你的
神从来都没有离开过你
(i find the last two sentences weird weird de.. anyway, you get the idea... )



内容介绍:

影片讲述六段老中青的爱情故事：中秋节前一个星期，六段在人生路上寻找“爱”的故事正在发生——有人苦苦等候着爱的来临，有人不敢向爱人说不想再爱，有人四处寻找回忆中的爱，有人为已逝的爱而流尽眼泪，有人热切憧憬着开展新恋情……与观众一起出发，寻找真正“爱”的老师，尤其教导年青人应该如何去爱，如何保守己心，等待真爱，从侧面带出《圣经》对爱情的指引。

该影片由众基督徒演员饰演，包括江华、罗霖、洪欣、梁艺龄、李亚男、高皓正、叶翠翠、李诗韵、欧倩怡、小金子、黄智贤和彭冠期等。

影音使团总干事袁文辉表示：“时下传媒就两性及恋爱观的报导均渲染着很多不良的意识，教年青人对恋爱拍拖等问题感到迷惘。而人生热线亦曾经辅导过不少对这方面求助的个案，加上近日坊间情色风暴的热烈讨论明显地反映了年青一代对恋、爱、情、色等问题既向往又好奇，但社会却缺乏正面指引，促使我们迫切地回应这方面的需要。”

If anyone wish to watch, can let me know.

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My second session of IPT

Ok, I went for my second IPT session yesterday. Do some warm up exercises and some general exercises. Then we split to specific training. Majority is weak in running so many join the "chongster" group. In total, I ran 8 x 400m during both the general exercises and specific training. This is only the beginning leh.. hope the next few sessions not very siong. Actually yesterday one is chicken feet liao :p ..

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I attended my first IPT session

I have not been taking IPPT for like 6 years already. I thought I can't make it for IPPT so I decided to register for the IPT (a 4 to 5 weeks course). Ok, the first lesson is to see which station you are weak in. So we did our IPPT. Although I fail my 2.4km run, I am quite happy to know that I can pass the other stations!!! I never expect that man.. haha

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The Final Analysis

人们经常是不讲道理的、没有逻辑的和以自我为中心的，不管怎样，你要原谅他们；
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;Forgive them anyway.

即使你是友善的，人们可能还是会说你自私和动机不良，不管怎样，你还是要友善；
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;Be kind anyway.

当你成功的时候，你会有一些虚假的朋友和一些真实的敌人，不管怎样，你还是要取得成功；
If you are successful, you will win some false friends.And some true enemies;Succeed anyway.

即使你是诚实的和坦率的，人们可能还是会欺骗你，不管怎样，你还是要诚实和坦率；
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;Be honest and frank anyway.

你多年来建造的东西，有人在一夜之间把它摧毁，不管怎样，你还是要去建造；
What you spend years building,Someone could destroy overnight;Build anyway.

如果你找到了平安和喜乐，他们可能会嫉妒你，不管怎样，你还是要喜乐；
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;Be happy anyway.

你今天做的善事，人们往往明天就会忘记，不管怎样，你还是要做善事；
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;Be good anyway.

即使把你最好的东西给了这个世界，也许这些东西永远都不够，不管怎样，把你最好的东西给这个世界；
Give the world the best you have,And it may never be enough;Give the world the best you have anyway.

你看，说到底，它是你和上帝之间的事，而决不是你和他人之间的事。
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;It is never between you and them anyway.
——德蕾莎修女 Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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点着我的灯

我喜欢以下的歌《点着我的灯》。 很有意义。。写出了基督徒人生。。

点着我的灯

听说明天会比今天好，我心不必烦恼；我殷勤辛劳，我逐渐

变老，但明天没有更好。我已疲乏困倦又无力，我常怨我自

己，在世界游荡，在罪中浮沉，谁能指引我的路？如果这个

世界真有爱，为何我仍会觉得孤单？如果未来真的有希望，

为何道路愈走愈觉艰难。哪里可以找到避难所？哪里可以找

到万世磐？我主求祢点着我的灯，永远放光。

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I attended Stephen Tong Gospel Rally "耶稣是谁?" today

Actually I planned to go yesterday. But due to changes in weekends duty, I am able to make myself available today to attend the gospel rally. Thanks God for the changes! Dr Stephen Tong is a amazing lecturer/speaker - knowledgeable and with superb God-given reasoning skils. I am gladful that I am able to attend the Q&A session and the gospel rally. Both are really eye openers and interesting. I became more knowledgeable of how God is intervening in world events. God is definitely watching over us.

For the the Gospel rally, I have sent email invitations to some of my friends and personally send sms to a few. None came. Expected. I felt sorry that they missed such a great opportunity to hear stephen tong speaking on stage. However, my part is up to the invitation. Beyond that is both socially / politically incorrect and against the bible teaching. And beyond that is God's job. Anway, I will continue to pray for them.

Stephen Tong is in his late sixties. He told us that he hope to hold rally once for the next two years and one more for the following two years and leave the rest to God's decision. Doesn't it mean 2012 is the last intended rally?

Anyway, I tomorrow need to work - duty ah! So I will stop here.

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The 10th planet and the end times event

Happen to come across this video about the new finding of the 10th planet Eris (or 2003 UB313 or Nibiru or Planet X) and the correlation with the end times event according to the Book of Revelation and the Book of Matthew (if I'm not wrong). Quite interesting but not too sure how true it is. Watch it with a pinch of salt bah ...

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Albert Einstein is neither an atheist nor a christian. He is a deist!

After reviewing a few articles on whether Einstein is a believer of God; whether he is a christian, I have chosen this article to put on the this post. I feel the article below is good enough to answer these burning questions. I will put up more relevant articles if I happen to come across. If you are interested to know more, you may want to read: His Life and Universe

Did Albert Einstein Believe in a Personal God?
by Rich Deem
Introduction

I get a fair amount of e-mail about Albert Einstein's quote1 on the homepage of Evidence for God from Science, so I thought it would be good to clarify the matter. Atheists object to the use of the quote, since Einstein might best be described as an agnostic.2 Einstein himself stated quite clearly that he did not believe in a personal God:

  "It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly."

No personal God

So, the quick answer to the question is that Einstein did not believe in a personal God. It is however, interesting how he arrived at that conclusion. In developing the theory of relativity, Einstein realized that the equations led to the conclusion that the universe had a beginning. He didn't like the idea of a beginning, because he thought one would have to conclude that the universe was created by God. So, he added a cosmological constant to the equation to attempt to get rid of the beginning. He said this was one of the worst mistakes of his life. Of course, the results of Edwin Hubble confirmed that the universe was expanding and had a beginning at some point in the past. So, Einstein became a deist - a believer in an impersonal creator God:

  "I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings."

However, it would also seem that Einstein was not an atheist, since he also complained about being put into that camp:

  "In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views."

  "I'm not an atheist and I don't think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangements of the books, but doesn't know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God."

Why no personal God?

It is the second part of the quote that reveals the reason Einstein rejected the existence of a personal God. Einstein compared the remarkable design and order of the cosmos and could not reconcile those characteristics with the evil and suffering he found in human existence. How could an all-powerful God allow the suffering that exists on earth?
Einstein's error

Einstein's failure to understand the motives of God are the result of his incorrect assumption that God intended this universe as His ultimate perfect creation. Einstein could not get past the moral problems that are present in our universe. He assumed, as most atheists do, that a personal God would only create a universe which is both good morally and perfect physically. However, according to Christianity, the purpose of the universe is not to be morally or physically perfect, but to provide a place where spiritual creatures can choose to love or reject God - to live with Him forever in a new, perfect universe, or reject Him and live apart from Him for eternity. It would not be possible to make this choice in a universe in which all moral choices are restricted to only good choices. Einstein didn't seem to understand that one could not choose between good and bad if bad did not exist. It's amazing that such a brilliant man could not understand such a simple logical principle.

Conclusion  

These days, those who fail to understand the purpose of evil not only reject the concept of a personal God, but also reject the concept of God's existence altogether. If you are an agnostic or atheist, my goal for you would be to recognize what Albert Einstein understood about the universe - that its amazing design demands the existence of a creator God. Then, go beyond Einstein's faulty understanding of the purpose of the universe and consider the Christian explanation for the purpose of human life and why evil must exist in this world.

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Stephen Tong Gospel Rally "耶稣是谁?"

Stephen Tong Gospel Rally "耶稣是谁?" Would like to attend... Check dates... All dates I'm on duty!! Think will be going on the day I planned to take leave bah! Anyone interested?

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