“为什么”是我们很喜欢问的问题。我们不止问别人为什么，也很喜欢问上帝为什么。
愿这个真实对白给你带来答案。
美國著名牧師葛培理的女兒安妮，於911後被美國某電視台邀請出席節目。
主持人單刀直入問：「為何上帝會讓此等悲劇發生？」
她以神的睿智，道出一番見解︰
我深信神跟我們一樣，為此事極度痛心。
但美國人在這些年來，將神從學校中趕走、將祂從政府內踢走、將祂從我們生活中剔走。
我相信神只有默默地從我們的生活中無奈淡出。
當初是我們自己叫神離開，為甚麼現在又要問祂到底在那裡？
為甚麼我們有權質問神，為何不保護美國人？
不如讓我們回顧美國這幾年的道德發展，好嗎？
某年，有人提出，學校內不可祈禱，因為學校應宗教中立，學校無權要求學生祈禱。
我們說︰「無問題！」
某月，有人覺得教導人「不可殺人、不可偷盜、要愛鄰舍」的聖經落伍，不如把它從學校中拿走。
我們說︰「無問題！」
某日，有人說︰「孩子的自尊心很脆弱，我們不應使用體罰。」（說這話的人，他的孩子最終自殺身亡。）
我們說︰「無問題！」
某刻，有人說︰「時代變了，老師、校長不應責罰學生 ，學生承受太大壓力了。」因怕惹怒家長，引起傳媒報導，學校不敢處罰學生。
我們說︰「無問題！」
又有人說︰「孩子有人權，他們有權接受墮胎手術，更沒有責任通知父母。」
我們說︰「無問題！」
他說︰「與其閃閃縮縮，不如主動教孩子如何使用安全套。反正孩子都是好奇嘛，婚前性行為，沒甚麼大不了！」
我們說︰「無問題！」
有人說︰「工作跟私人生活應分開，只要那總統能搞好經濟.....我們幹嗎要管人家的私生活？！人人都有私隱嘛！」
我們說︰「無問題！」
有人說︰「瀏覽色情網站是個人自由，即使是兒童色情網站又如何？這都是個人言論自由，關你甚麼事！」
我們說︰「無問題！」
有人說︰「現代人應有開放思想，電視、電影的色情、暴力，只不過在反映社會實況。關於毒品、強姦、謀殺、惡魔的歌詞，也不過是宣洩情緒、紓緩壓力......為何要大驚小怪？想做就去做嘛！」
我們說︰「無問題！」
成年人為社會訂下以上種種「社會制度」後，我們又要追問︰為甚麼現今孩子沒有良知？為何孩子持槍殺人？為何13歲的孩子已為人父母？為甚麼911慘劇要發生？
神無奈地答︰「孩子呀！是你們不許我踏入你們的生命。」
若細心思索，不難發現這一切是我們自己做成的，我們親手摧毀了自己所栽種的。
有趣的是，人們離棄神，卻又質問神為何整個世界正走向地獄的門口。
有趣的是，我們相信報紙所說的，卻質疑經上所說的。
有趣的是，你可以透過電郵發出笑話，並且很快被廣傳，但當你發出與神有關的信息時，人們卻猶豫。
有趣的是，不雅及色情的文章在網上自由地發放；但在學校及工作環境中，對於神的公開討論卻被抑制。
你正在想什麼呢？
有趣的是，當你把這封郵件轉送出去時，你不會發給很多人，因你不知道其他人會怎樣看你。
有趣的是，你對別人怎看你比對神怎看你更加在意。
若你認為這是有意義的，把這封電郵傳給其他人吧！
否則，把它棄掉吧！沒有人會知道的。
但是若你棄掉這思想過程的話，便不要投訴現今的世界不像樣了！
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Beautiful touching story (thanks for the sharing by Joseph Ng)
This beautiful story was written by a doctor who worked in Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby
and a crying two-year-old daughter.
We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive as we had no incubator
(we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special
feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often
chilly with treacherous drafts.
One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton
wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the
fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to
tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily
in tropical climates).
"And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it
is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be
considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on
trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job
is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any
of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about
the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm
enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily
die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying
because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed,
"Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the
baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl
so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
say "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I
know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits,
aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would
be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for
almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel
from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water
bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses'
training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front
door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the
verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I
could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage
children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each
knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement
was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the
large cardboard box..
>From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes
sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the
leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box
of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the
weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really
be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water
bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying
out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully- dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly
to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of
course, I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that
afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24)
(How miraclously God works in our life!! So never for one second doubt Him!!)
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in
spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby
and a crying two-year-old daughter.
We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive as we had no incubator
(we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special
feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often
chilly with treacherous drafts.
One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton
wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the
fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to
tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily
in tropical climates).
"And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it
is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be
considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on
trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and
sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job
is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any
of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about
the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm
enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily
die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying
because her mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed,
"Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the
baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl
so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly
say "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I
know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits,
aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would
be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for
almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel
from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water
bottle? I lived on the equator!
Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses'
training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front
door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the
verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I
could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage
children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each
knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement
was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the
large cardboard box..
>From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes
sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the
leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box
of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the
weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really
be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water
bottle. I cried.
I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could.
Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying
out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully- dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly
to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of
course, I replied!
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the
girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in
answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that
afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer." (Isaiah 65:24)
(How miraclously God works in our life!! So never for one second doubt Him!!)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
NEW: Prayer Concerns Board
I have set up a new feature in our SMCGC blog, the Prayer Concerns Board!! I'll try my best to update the prayer concerns board weekly.
What you all can do?? First, everytime you browse through this SMCGC blog, care to spend afew minutes to pray for these items. Second, if you any concerns to pray for, kindly leave a comment in the chatbox. Or if you prefer privacy and would appreciate your name not to be disclosed, email it to smcgc.love@gmail.com or any of these prayer concerns ambassadors (*winks),
Jeremy Yong (ymerej151286@yahoo.com) preferably English
Carrie Wong (siyite@yahoo.com) your new vice secretary!!
Angnes Tiong (angnesnt@hotmail.com) social concerns (Chinese)
We'll keep your name anonymous and still post your prayer concerns on the board. =)
Let us keep the whole family in our prayers at all times!! AMEN!!
What you all can do?? First, everytime you browse through this SMCGC blog, care to spend afew minutes to pray for these items. Second, if you any concerns to pray for, kindly leave a comment in the chatbox. Or if you prefer privacy and would appreciate your name not to be disclosed, email it to smcgc.love@gmail.com or any of these prayer concerns ambassadors (*winks),
Jeremy Yong (ymerej151286@yahoo.com) preferably English
Carrie Wong (siyite@yahoo.com) your new vice secretary!!
Angnes Tiong (angnesnt@hotmail.com) social concerns (Chinese)
We'll keep your name anonymous and still post your prayer concerns on the board. =)
Let us keep the whole family in our prayers at all times!! AMEN!!
SMCGC Newsletter 6 - 18102008
Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
How’s the week going on? I’m so glad most of my assignments are done for now. What are left for me are my “major” design project and two more tests. No finals for me this semester!! Haha. Anyway, I’m sure all the rest of us will do GREAT!!
Coming up this week, we have birthday celebration in Chinese fellowship and the commencement of dancing class.
The birthday celebration in Chinese fellowship will be held on this coming Friday, 24th October, at 730PM. Come join us in the celebration of members with their birthday from July08 to Dec08. If anyone needs transportation, do contact PengHi at 016-8890613 for arrangements.
The dancing class is back to business!! Haha. Led by PingPing from English fellowship, the dancing class will start again this coming Sunday, 19th October, at 545PM. Venue is at SMCGC centre. Interested? Come join us in Introduction to Basic Dancing 101.
Note also that the SMCGC official blog has been set up (http://smcgc.blogspot.com). Come visit it on updates to upcoming events not to be missed. Check out also photos and videos shared by members. Everyone is most welcomed to send in anything (testimonials, photos, videos and etc.) to share with the family!! Just email it to smcgc.love@gmail.com or ME, the official publisher at ymerej151286@yahoo.com.
Feel free to use the chatroom in the blog as notice boards or forums. Discuss academic stuffs if you like to. I’m sure there will be members willing to help out! Or even notice on vacancy of rooms to rent?! Who knows through this we can also set up more “Christians houses”?! AMEN!!
That’s all for me this time. Take care all of you!! Better start preparing for your finals!! Don’t do last minute preparations!! God bless!!
Regards,
Jeremy Yong
Secretary
Senadin Methodist Campus Gospel Church (SMCGC)
How’s the week going on? I’m so glad most of my assignments are done for now. What are left for me are my “major” design project and two more tests. No finals for me this semester!! Haha. Anyway, I’m sure all the rest of us will do GREAT!!
Coming up this week, we have birthday celebration in Chinese fellowship and the commencement of dancing class.
The birthday celebration in Chinese fellowship will be held on this coming Friday, 24th October, at 730PM. Come join us in the celebration of members with their birthday from July08 to Dec08. If anyone needs transportation, do contact PengHi at 016-8890613 for arrangements.
The dancing class is back to business!! Haha. Led by PingPing from English fellowship, the dancing class will start again this coming Sunday, 19th October, at 545PM. Venue is at SMCGC centre. Interested? Come join us in Introduction to Basic Dancing 101.
Note also that the SMCGC official blog has been set up (http://smcgc.blogspot.com). Come visit it on updates to upcoming events not to be missed. Check out also photos and videos shared by members. Everyone is most welcomed to send in anything (testimonials, photos, videos and etc.) to share with the family!! Just email it to smcgc.love@gmail.com or ME, the official publisher at ymerej151286@yahoo.com.
Feel free to use the chatroom in the blog as notice boards or forums. Discuss academic stuffs if you like to. I’m sure there will be members willing to help out! Or even notice on vacancy of rooms to rent?! Who knows through this we can also set up more “Christians houses”?! AMEN!!
That’s all for me this time. Take care all of you!! Better start preparing for your finals!! Don’t do last minute preparations!! God bless!!
Regards,
Jeremy Yong
Secretary
Senadin Methodist Campus Gospel Church (SMCGC)
Bday celebration during Friday night cell group
Many thanks to Alvin for sharing this:
We [Ferdinand's cell group] had out usual Friday night cell group's gathering at Ferdinand's house but apparently, there are 3 sisters in our group whose birthday fell on the same day.
So after our bible studies session, we celebrated their birthday and Fenice thinks that it is a good idea to post this out on the SMCGC's blog.
We also requested the three birthday girls to write out their feelings on that night：
琦琦：感谢玉玲带我来到这小组里，让我认识了这么多的朋友，我也要感谢燕芬、勇仁、国林在每次小组的时候都会给我们准备食物，尤其是这次的生日，他们还为我们准备了蛋糕，真得很高兴又惊喜。
绍微：谢谢你们的支持。谢谢小组的关心，帮我们庆祝生日。蛋糕很好吃。第一次找到跟我同一天生日的人，而且还是在教堂的小组里，这都是主的旨意，感谢主~
在这里，我觉得很温暖，就好像我的第二个家。这里有关心我的哥哥姐姐，
谢谢你们，爱你们 o ！感谢主~
Janet: Yay! I am 19.Haha.I am really happy because this year I have the chance to celebrate my birthday with the other two sisters in our cell group. I really thank our sister Fenice and brother Alvin for remembering our birthday and prepared a birthday celebration for us during our cell group. Besides I also thank God for His abundance grace and guidance in my life. Well, I am glad that I am in this cell group. Our group is surrounded with love from brothers and sisters. And each time, I am looking forward to cell group meetings too. In future, I wish to grow together with all the brothers and sisters in our cell group in terms of spiritual life and can continue to serve for God. That's all.
~ May Lord's Peace Be With You All ~
Sent in by Alvin Chung
We [Ferdinand's cell group] had out usual Friday night cell group's gathering at Ferdinand's house but apparently, there are 3 sisters in our group whose birthday fell on the same day.
So after our bible studies session, we celebrated their birthday and Fenice thinks that it is a good idea to post this out on the SMCGC's blog.
We also requested the three birthday girls to write out their feelings on that night：琦琦：感谢玉玲带我来到这小组里，让我认识了这么多的朋友，我也要感谢燕芬、勇仁、国林在每次小组的时候都会给我们准备食物，尤其是这次的生日，他们还为我们准备了蛋糕，真得很高兴又惊喜。
绍微：谢谢你们的支持。谢谢小组的关心，帮我们庆祝生日。蛋糕很好吃。第一次找到跟我同一天生日的人，而且还是在教堂的小组里，这都是主的旨意，感谢主~
在这里，我觉得很温暖，就好像我的第二个家。这里有关心我的哥哥姐姐，
谢谢你们，爱你们 o ！感谢主~
Janet: Yay! I am 19.Haha.I am really happy because this year I have the chance to celebrate my birthday with the other two sisters in our cell group. I really thank our sister Fenice and brother Alvin for remembering our birthday and prepared a birthday celebration for us during our cell group. Besides I also thank God for His abundance grace and guidance in my life. Well, I am glad that I am in this cell group. Our group is surrounded with love from brothers and sisters. And each time, I am looking forward to cell group meetings too. In future, I wish to grow together with all the brothers and sisters in our cell group in terms of spiritual life and can continue to serve for God. That's all.
~ May Lord's Peace Be With You All ~
Sent in by Alvin Chung
Sunday, October 12, 2008
SMCGC Newsletter 5 - 12102008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace be with all of you!! It has been quite some time since I last wrote to you guys. I bet everyone is now cranking their heads, going through sleepless nights to meet assignment dues and prepare for tests and exams!! Just like to remind you all to stay healthy always!!
There are a few announcements to make for the weeks to come. First, the Chinese fellowship be having a Bible knowledge quiz this coming Friday, 17th October, at 730PM. The context will be from the Book of Matthew. Please do some reading on this book to prepare yourself for this exciting fun quiz!!
The English fellowship will be organizing an evangelism night this coming Saturday, 18th October, at 730PM. We’ll be featuring a DVD on Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s testimony. Please invite your friends to come witness this spectacular sharing!!
You are all also encouraged to join the English short term mission school during our semester break. It will be for a duration of 6 weeks (January to February 2009), held in Methodist Theological School, Sibu. The registration fee is RM680, inclusive of food, accommodation and minimal living expenses. SMCGC is most willing to subsidy one-third of the fee. If anyone of you is interested, please register with Pastor Connie before 1st December.
Do take note also that the sign language class held on every Sunday has changed time to 700PM – 900PM. A gentle reminder also to those interested in joining the Youth Life Camp (Mandarin) held in Limbang, the registration deadline is 16th November.
That’s all for this time!! All the best to everyone in their studies and/or works!! God bless!!
Regards,
Jeremy Yong
Secretary
Senadin Methodist Campus Gospel Centre (SMCGC)
Peace be with all of you!! It has been quite some time since I last wrote to you guys. I bet everyone is now cranking their heads, going through sleepless nights to meet assignment dues and prepare for tests and exams!! Just like to remind you all to stay healthy always!!
There are a few announcements to make for the weeks to come. First, the Chinese fellowship be having a Bible knowledge quiz this coming Friday, 17th October, at 730PM. The context will be from the Book of Matthew. Please do some reading on this book to prepare yourself for this exciting fun quiz!!
The English fellowship will be organizing an evangelism night this coming Saturday, 18th October, at 730PM. We’ll be featuring a DVD on Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s testimony. Please invite your friends to come witness this spectacular sharing!!
You are all also encouraged to join the English short term mission school during our semester break. It will be for a duration of 6 weeks (January to February 2009), held in Methodist Theological School, Sibu. The registration fee is RM680, inclusive of food, accommodation and minimal living expenses. SMCGC is most willing to subsidy one-third of the fee. If anyone of you is interested, please register with Pastor Connie before 1st December.
Do take note also that the sign language class held on every Sunday has changed time to 700PM – 900PM. A gentle reminder also to those interested in joining the Youth Life Camp (Mandarin) held in Limbang, the registration deadline is 16th November.
That’s all for this time!! All the best to everyone in their studies and/or works!! God bless!!
Regards,
Jeremy Yong
Secretary
Senadin Methodist Campus Gospel Centre (SMCGC)
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