Augest/Sept 2014

Faithfulness & Loyalty

2Content Page

Content Page

English Revelation Article 4

Chinese Revelation Article 6

Church Service Summary 8

Recommendations 11

3The Contributors

Hannah Xu Qian RuChinese Revelation

Jeanette ZeeEnglish Revelation

Yvonne Teo Yen PinRecommendations

Jason LeeCover Page Photo & Newsletter Design

Chris Benhard A. SembiringChurch Service Summary

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Faithfulnessby Jeanette Zee

English Revelation Article

During this trying period of the church, let us always remember the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”Deuteronomy 7:9

We serve a God that is faithful and just. How assuring it is when we know that our God is always there for us? No matter what we have gone through or will go through in the future, God will never leave

5English Revelation Article

us nor forsake us. This is one of the promises that He has given for us to hold on to – a promise that will never be broken.

As God demonstrates His unfailing love to us, let’s also stand by Him building our strong faith on our Lord Jesus Christ. Being deeply rooted into Him, knowing that He will never fail us because God is love and Love never fails! During our tough times, always remember that God is always there to guide us.

“I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime.”1 Peter 1:6-7

Gold put into the fire comes out of the fiery furnace nothing less than pure; genuine faith put through intense suffering comes out of the trial nothing less than genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, which God will have on display as evidence of His victory. Just like how He has assured us in the many verses in the Bible, let us continue to trust in Him that He will not let us go especially during tough times in your lives. Every single thing that has happened, and will happen, is for a distinct purpose that God has planned for your life.

God’s ultimate purpose is for us to be refined as pure gold; refined to become the person that God has called us to be. God sees the bigger picture and so trust in Him, because He is God, the one that provides, the one that restores, the one that loves. Just like how He has been faithful to us, let us be faithful in the works that God has called us to do. Don’t grow weary in doing good and doing godly! ☺

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震撼的巴西世界杯by Hannah Xu Qian Ru

前不久,巴西世界杯圆满落幕。球员们一个月的竞争,球迷们一个月的兴奋,最终还是有人欢喜有人忧。虽然很多人认为,今年的整场巴西世界杯,比赛并没有以往来的精彩。但我仍然看到了每个人的热血沸腾。我承认,我从来不是个足球球迷。但近年来受到了家人和朋友的影响,也逐渐了解了一些。世界杯上很多球星,例如阿根廷的梅西;巴西的内马尔和路易斯;荷兰的罗本,而更多时候他们都在自己的俱乐部练习和比赛。梅西和内马尔就是巴萨罗那俱乐部的成员。但是,当他们迎来了2014巴西世界杯时,他们便各自回到了自己的国家队去参赛。球星们在世界杯上的努力汗水和球迷们情绪的起伏波动让我震撼 ---- 这就是所谓的忠诚。

很多时候,人生给我们带来太多的震撼。震撼这个词非常的虚拟,因为遇到任何事情,如果你只是平淡的对待,随意的应付,人生就不会有震撼。而有震撼的人生才是完整的人生,因为震撼挥之不去。还记得你们第一次感受到上帝吗?那就是你人生中的震撼。上帝给我们带来太多的震撼,所以我们感激,感概,感叹人生中的种种。巴西队每次出场唱国歌的时候,内马尔总是激动的落泪;受伤后,巴西的每一场比赛他都会来为队员加油。这是他对自己国家的忠诚,为自己是一名巴西人而骄傲。路易斯每进一球,他都会跪下来,脸和双手的食指朝天,闭着眼睛说话。这是他对上帝的忠诚和感恩。一幕幕让我无法忘怀,那样的神情,那样的虔诚。就算最终巴西队没有获得冠军,但我相信他们的心是满怀感恩的,没有留下任何遗憾的离开了世界杯。

当一个人在某处找到了归属感,找到了自我,那忠诚会随之而来。我看过世界各地的美景,感受过那么多的美好,看过

Chinese Revelation Article

7Chinese Revelation Article

中国种种的负面新闻和政府曾经的腐败。但是我仍然庆幸我是个中国人,我仍然骄傲我是个上海人。谈到教堂,谈到上帝,我依旧是那样。世界上有那么多美好的宗教,那么多美好的教堂,但我仍然选择忠诚于上帝,忠诚于城市丰收教会。因为在这里,我找到了自我和归属感。我很骄傲我是名基督徒。

让我们学会看每件事情,先发现它的美好之处。渐渐的你会发现,你变得更乐观了,生活感觉变的更好了,人生带给你的震撼越来越多了,那时你会发现忠诚离你不远了。去寻找自己的忠诚,因为忠诚会让我们变的更有责任心!

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Ps. Kong: “Engaging the Culture”by Chris Benhard A. Sembiring

On Sunday (20/7), Ps. Kong preached on how to engage the culture. As man is created in “Imago Dei” (Image of God), he should also fulfil the “Missio Dei” (Mission of God). Ps. Kong began his sermon by reading from Mark 16:15, where Jesus instructed His disciples to “go into all the world”. This verse has been widely interpreted as “to go to all corners of the Earth and preach the gospel”, but Ps. Kong interpreted it in a different light; we should also preach the gospel to the people in the “7 Worlds of Influence”.

Ps. Kong recounted the story of Paul and Silas when they preached in Athens as written in Acts 17. “At that time, Athens is the world’s capital city for culture and education; this is where you would meet the classical philosophers,” Ps. Kong said. Nevertheless, Paul and Silas took to the markets of Athens and began to preach there, attracting a number of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. They were then taken to Areopagus, a council of Athenian elders who ran the city. After both of them preached there, a council member Dionysius believed in the gospel.

According to Ps. Kong, the “Missio Dei” consists of three parts, namely “the mission to engage our culture”, “the mission to preach the gospel”, and “the mission to live for Jesus”. However, Ps. Kong reminded that before we can partake in the three missions, we first have to consecrate ourselves. At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that God will sanctify them, and as God had sent Jesus to the World, likewise Jesus sent His disciples to the World.

Church Service Summary

9Church Service Summary

What did Jesus mean when He said “sent to the World”? Ps. Kong proceeded to display a chart divided into four parts. The charts described the four different ways Christians and churches approach cultures. The first approach is called “Alienation”, which he described as “neither of the World nor in the World”. Alienation approach simply dismisses contemporary culture as worldly and therefore should be avoided. According to Ps. Kong, the subscribers to this approach are “heavenly minded but with no earthly good”.

The second approach is “Extraction”, in which the church emulates the outside world inside the church. By this approach, the church wishes its congregation to have a taste of the world but at the same time protects them from the danger of sins. Ps. Kong branded this approach as “not in the World, but of the World”. The third approach is called “Accommodation”, in which the church completely mixes the customs of the World into the church. In the hope of attracting more people to come to the church, the church allows its congregation to continue their immoral practices, reasoning that “God is a loving Father who wants His children to be happy”. Ps. Kong commented,

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“While it is true that God is a loving Father, we cannot treat Him like a buffet, in which we can pick and choose His characteristics as we like”. It is true that God is a loving God, merciful God and forgiving God, but we cannot ignore that He is also a holy God and just God. A church which uses this approach, Ps. Kong said, is “both of and in the World”.

The fourth approach is called the “Counterculture”, which Ps. Kong has championed for the past years. This approach allows reaching out to the World, but at the same time maintaining Biblical convictions. The Counterculture approach demands its subscribers to distance themselves from the “Works of the Flesh” as listed in Galatians 5:19-21 while partaking on the Missio Dei. Ps. Kong closed his sermon by recounting how Sun reached out to Wyclef Jean, a Haitian-born singer and DJ Rosita, a Taiwanese music critic during the heydays of her Crossover project. “Holiness is the mark of the Kingdom,” asserted Ps. Kong, reiterating the need for us to consecrate ourselves before we can be sent into the World.

Church Service Summary

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We all love to utilize our weekends to just relax, after a whole tiring week of work. Everyone have their ideal way of spending their weekend; personally, my favourite is to find a real nice café, have a cup of hot latte and spend some time with my loved ones.

On my search of cafes that provide a “slow down to life” atmosphere, and yet do not compromise on its quality of food and beverages, I have come to a recommended list of cafes that would make your weekends worthwhile!

Cafes in Singaporeby Yvonne Teo Yen Pin

Recommendations

12Recommendations

D’good café

Upon stepping into the café, I am firstly very fascinated by how unique their elevator is. It is a 3 storey premise and their ordering area is at level 2, while the dining area is at level 3. Thank God they have a (fascinating) elevator so I don’t have to balance my food up, watching my steps.

The light-hearted atmosphere really creates a very homily ambience. This café draws me to stay a little longer, chat a little more, or just spend my whole afternoon there. What’s best, during non-peak hours on weekdays, students are allowed to do revision! The next thing I like most is their coffee.

13Recommendations

The coffee bean aroma is really refreshing and same goes for their latte art! If you’re a packaging junkie, you will definitely enjoy this place. Also D’good café have a play area with couches and swings. It’s great for small groups to sit around and take pictures, especially for all the selfie fanatics. Although their food is just average, providing a limited variety of food than you would expect from a café brunch, it is cheaper than a lot of other over-priced cafes. This café is a must try, with reasonable pricing and a laidback atmosphere.

Address273 Holland Avenue #02-01/02 Singapore 278992Nearest MRT: Holland Village (3 minute walk away)Sunday to Thursday: 10am to 10pmFriday & Saturday: 10am to 11pmAverage Price per pax: $16

14Recommendations

Five & Dime

Five & Dime café is more suitable for night dining. Despite the location being slightly inaccessible and not within a walkable distance from nearest mrt, I am very welcomed by the New York designs and vibe of the café. The atmosphere is never laidback, instead it is fun, quirky, exciting and it makes me feel the night is always young!

I would go back there again for a nice dinner date. Enough of its architectural design, the next thing that is amazing is the food. The pictures are enough to tell, but I high recommend this place if you’re looking for quality food. You have to try their Braised Pork Belly if you haven’t felt pork melting in your mouth before. Also their pasta is a must try too! However, give the desserts a pass and go somewhere else for dessert. Well, it is not exactly bad but it just didn’t amuse me, it is very typical and lacked creativity.

Address297 River Valley Road. Singapore 238338Nearest MRT: Somerset MRTMonday - Thursday : 12pm - 10pm, Friday : 12pm - 12amSaturday : 10am - 12am, Sunday : 10am - 10pmAverage Price per pax: $25

15Recommendations

Brew Maison

This café is located opposite Singapore Chinese Girls Schools and said to be inspired by both Japanese and Korean cafes. Their drinks are marked with cutesy, kawaii 3D animals (or Disney characters). 3D artist may not be in all the time, so check their Facebook for updates. The kitchen serves affordable breakfast items, hot food, cakes and drinks that introduce Japanese and Korean flavours, using fresh ingredients. This café is not your typical “eggs benedict” brunch café as they serve more Asian food. Mains are usually below $10 so it is pretty affordable!

Address383 Bukit Timah Road #01-98, Alocassia Apartments, Singapore 259727Opening Hours: 7am – 10pm (Mon-Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat-Sun)Average price per pax: $10

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Old School Delights

The cafe seeks to transport its diners back in time to the retro 80’s classrooms, where teachers still use chalkboards and the school canteen, more traditionally known as the tuckshop, serves local delights.

Other than food, they provide games and entertainment like Enid Blyton story books, Erasers (aka ‘rubbers’), Tikam Tikam, Paper Aeroplanes, Chatek, Five Stones and beyond.

It is really an interesting place to be! Great for large group of gatherings, especially your ex-classmates! Time for a reunion! ☺

Address215M Upper Thomson Road S574408Opening Hours: 12pm to 11pm (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)Price per pax: $8

Recommendations