Here at the BCEC, we have baptisms lined up for April 26th 2015. I thought it’d be nice to have one of the teens from our youth group write a blog post on his own experiences and thoughts on baptism. It’s always nice to get a refreshing stance and seeing how far God has moved someone since the process of baptism. Read on and enjoy…
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?
Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
Are we attempted to be God and control every element in our lives? Or micromanage everything else? Or playing God in the instance of creating babies from three people? Or shouting at each other, or our kids and family members all in the name of love–just to be heard and get our own way? I find it interesting when someone says “Are you following Jesus or are you making Jesus follow you?” Have we just become a generation where it’s me-first and then everyone, and if I have time and I can be bothered, eventually I’ll think about God and pray to Him?
But if I think about it, God went all out for us.
The question I like to ask people sometimes is this:
What are some things that have been pressing on your heart lately?
Perhaps it’s not necessarily facebook-status worthy for you to share out in the social-media-sphere (or maybe it is but it’s too personal?) But I’m pretty sure everyone always has at least something that has got them thinking about something or someone. Something that occupies your thoughts, either about something that happened, or a current situation, or a concern for the future. Something fills our minds and hearts. It might get you anxious and worried. It might be something you have a tendency to put off until the day before the deadline. It might be uncertainties.
I like to subscribe to certain Christian newsletters so I can receive a dosage of encouragement in my inbox every so often, God willing and Godly-appointed. Yesterday I received a timely message. One that I wish to share with you. Not my words, but an author. It is an excerpt from a book entitled “The Soul” by J.P. Moreland. I hope it encourages you as it did to me…
I remember when I was a wee kid, probably about 2, I went with my mum to college. She would be upstairs in a class. And I would be downstairs in the child day care room. One time, I was the only one at the end of the class, and my mum was still upstairs. So the teacher took me upstairs. My mum was talking to a scary-looking man. She introduced me to him. And I remember hiding behind my mum’s leg while the man remarks “Isn’t she shy!” I remember that was my first ever feeling of being scared. Shy? I don’t think so. On one hand there was a scary man, on the other hand, I was seeking comfort from the security of my mum. It was the first feeling of fear in my life.
A lot has been written about the terrorist attacks in the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The death of the journalists and artists has been declared a war against free speech. And any attack against free speech is an attack on freedom and justice. Here in the west, we hold firmly onto the values of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. And yet we live with this awkward tension between the defence of free speech and the defence against hate speech.
I think I’m becoming more forgetful as I get older.
I forget where I left my car keys. I forget where I parked my car.
I forgot what time my kids finish school. I forget what days they have activities.
I always forget something on my shopping list. Even when I write it down.
And people over 30 will agree with me, at some point we start forgetting how old we are. (though that might be a deliberate forgetting.)
On Sunday we had our first worship service of 2015. We were introduced to the theme verse of this year, based on Micah 6:8. This is a verse that I, personally, really really love. But have never really truly explored it in full. So when Bert went up to preach on it this past Sunday, we were all in for a treat.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
-Micah 6:8
We spend a lot of our time wondering what God’s will is for our lives. I think it’s one of the most common questions people ask me. “What does God want me to do?” And many times it’s a legitimate question. We’re seeking God for his guidance in a particular situation, or wisdom in how to act.
Usually, in-between Christmas Day and New Years, I always tell myself I’m going to schedule some time for personal reflection about the past year. But I find I never get around to it. So today at the BCEC, we spent some time personally and corporately reflecting on our past year. I used these 8 questions as guidelines for thought, and encourage you to make some time to go through them as well:
In memory of our beloved Rev Frank Cheung and to celebrate his dedicated life for Christ, COCM and the Birmingham Chinese Evangelical Church will hold a joint thanksgiving memorial service in the UK. We welcome all friends to attend.
Read more on Thanksgiving & Memorial Service for Rev Frank Cheung…
This year at the BCEC we will be holding a special Christmas Special on the 14 of December. It’ll be a different kind of service, with comedy, interviews, some fun acts, and carols. So come one, come all to this year’s BCEC Christmas Special!