Just something I was thinking about

Hey everyone! I was thinking about one of the famous stories in the bible, David and Goliath, and was just marveling about David.

David's stone was a bullet of faith, launched from his sling at about 100 to 120 mph, and with sufficient momentum to break through Goliath's skull bone. Therefore we can assume, from David's success in killing both lion and bear, that he was a fast runner and an accurate shot, probably able to put a stone into a 3 or 4 inch circle from a distance of about 20 to 25 feet (the accuracy of a pro baseball pitcher).

But what i was concentrating more on was not David, but David's antagonist, Goliath. Goliath the giant was a descendant of an evil race of giants during Noah's time called the Nephilim. Look up Genesis 6. The Sons of God (the one third cast out of heaven along with Lucifer) came to the daughters of Man and bore them children, hence the evil breed of giants. It was said that they inhabited the earth. Notice how these giants living on earth are echoed in legends and myths of nearly every ancient culture.

Which brings me to the other thing i was pondering over. Satan did not want Jesus to come and save his people from sin right? He would do anything to stop it from happening, right? Consider this:

Once it was made known that the Messiah was to come through Abraham:

Abraham's wife Sarah was taken by the Pharaoh in Egypt (thinking she was Abraham's sister) before Issac was born (Genesis 12)
Abraham's wife Sarah was taken by Abimelech, king of Gerar before Issac was born (Genesis20)

The attempted destruction of the entire male line of Israel in Egypt (Exodus 1:15-16):

15. And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other, Puah;
16. And he said "when ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him, but if it be a Daughter, than she shall live.

The fact that there were giants inhabiting Canaan before the Israelites (Numbers 13:32-33)

After David's line was singled out (2 Samuel 7):

Jehoram killed all of his brothers.

The Arabians slew all his children except Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22).

When Ahaziah died, Athallah killed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah (2 Chronicles 22:10). The babe Joash alone was rescued, and for six years the Jehovah's word was at stake.

Hezekiah was attacked by the king of Assyria when he was still childless (Isaiah 36:1).

Haman's conspiracy against the Jews (Esther 3).

Before Jesus was born:

Joseph wanted to divorce Mary because she was found with Jesus (Matthew 1:19).

Herod sought Jesus's life (Matthew 2).

After Jesus was born:

'Cast Thyself down was Satan's temptation.

Also the two storms on the lake.

Think about it.
Just a speculation.

Aspirers 25th Anniversary

As some of you many know, Aspirers recently had its 25th anniversary. For those of you who attended, the anniversary is not something you wanna forget in a hurry.

We started off by breaking up into our animal groups (the theme for the anniversary was Lions Pride). It was in these groups that the games (introduced to us by our beloved emcees Aaron Chelliah and Joel Chong) were played. My group, the smart, fast, and cunning Owls won!!

The worship, in my opinion was second only to Pastor Ben's short but meaningful message in the 'best event in the anniversary' list. I don't know what those ex-aspirers thought of the worship (we weren't exactly singing old hymns, get what I mean?) but all i gotta say is Rock On!!

Oh, yes, the current Aspirers did a tribal dance, and let me tell you, it was spectacular, with the drum beats and the tribal music (taken from The Lion King 1). I'm sure everyone there enjoyed it, even though it was kinda scary (in a fascinating way) at parts.

We also watched a video on the history of Aspirers, which brought back old memories to the ex-Aspirers.

There were 2 plays. One of them, Watch the Lamb, was done by me and my team. We had the Aspirers Take The Stage a few weeks ago, and my group came as runner up. The part i enjoyed most in the play was when we got to splatter Shannon's t shirt with red slime, to make it look like blood (I don't have a pic of that, unfortunately).

The other play was the skit 'Lonely' done by the Agape Drama Team, headed by Jenny Woon (Aunty Jenny). It shows how teenagers tend to put up an act on the outside, but feel very lonely inside, and how we may feel lonely, but we are never alone, cause God is with us.

Then there was the The-Js (Joel C, Joel T, Jonathan L, Jian and Jeremy T.) who created a band and emerged winners for Aspirers Take The Stage. Their song was really touching and was ideal for Christian youths.

Then there is the FOOD!! The food, though nothing fancy was tasty. All of us enjoyed the food. Then we sang the Birthday song to Aspirers, and cut a cake. It was as fun as it was tasty.

The anniversary was all done by the Aspirers, and we had all put a lot of effort into it. After Sunday service, we had from 12 to 3.45 to transform the Sanctuary into the 'jungle' in which the anniversary took place. The Aspirers worked tirelessly, knowing that we were doing it for God, thanking him for blessing the Aspirers for so many years.

After the event, we were all exhausted, and proud that we had made this a success, with only the slightest/no bumps.

After all this, I juz wanna look back and thank the Lord for letting everything so smoothly. There were so many things out of our control, but nothing unbecoming happened. In the end, all glory and honor to Him.

A very powerful encounter with God

This is my very first blog entry, so here goes:

It was during the Aspirers Retreat 2008, on the second night, when Pastor Willard asked us to give up everything for God. There were some things that I...well, lets just say i was not in a hurry to give up just yet...because of my hormones, my love for fun (I'm the happy go lucky type) I found it hard to give up certain things.

There was a battle raging inside me, so when Pastor Willard had the alter call, i felt the need to go. As i went, I had that familiar feeling of knowing what was about to happen was not in my control. As the pastor asked me to lift my hands up and pray, i just opened my heart, and prayed more earnestly than i had ever done before.

It was at that moment i surrendered everything, and I felt God. Tears began to flow uncontrolled, as i truly felt His love. (this should be a very private thing, i know. But everyone who went for the Aspirers Retreat saw it, and more than half of them experienced it for themselves, so whats there to hide) As the pastor finished praying for me, i moved to the back of the room, to let the next person (Alethea Loo, i think) go 4 the altar call. I felt a tingling sensation from my legs to my head, like the aftershock of an electric shock, only much milder and not painful. But it made my legs weak, causing me to kneel even as I was crying and praying.

One by one people lined up at the back of the room, weeping and praying. The entire room was filled with prayer and you could feel the presence of God there. Ever since that day, I have tried (and failed, many times over) to live by Gods commandments. It is not easy. At first, I thought all I had to do was ask God for strength, and just 'live like a saint'. But as i tried, i realized how much more difficult it is, and how much more i needed God. Changing my life from the Azriel-happy go lucky, live in the present, careless about everyone else and not worrying about the future-Chelliah to the Azriel-walk with God, obeying His commandments-Chelliah was and is not easy. But then again, who ever said a Christian life is an easy one?

The commandment 'love your neighbor as yourself' is really very hard to obey, especially when the class teacher is yelling her head off at the class. Most people almost never see me angry, never hear me shout in anger, as in really really angry. But those who know me close enough-family members, very close friends, God-know that i am very quick to anger if I'm tired or irritated. Its true, i do not shout when I'm angry, but i can reply with cold calmness, ruthlessly bringing out the bad points in others, that makes up for any amount of shouting or screeching. I'm not proud of it in any way. It, i find, is one of the greatest barriers in my walk with God.
The fact that my parents are the type who, if start scolding, never stop, does not help ether.
I'm not blaming them. I am still trying, and failing to live like Jesus did. But I'll never give up trying.

What I want to say, is, there's no easy way if you want to live your life for God on earth. I've tried to find a loophole in all his commandments, and believe you me, if there is a loophole, I'd have found it. Thats the grim truth of all this. We Christians have to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him. But I want you all to remember this, that for all we suffer on earth for Christ, we will be rewarded for it in Heaven (the Bema Judgment = Judgment of Rewards)

I hope this (referring to the entry above) will be a blessing to all who read it =)