Well, we've decide to have some fun and get our bodies moving a bit more. So lets go and roll some balls down the lane. Do you know that there are 6 different types of indoor bowling? Yes, there's candlepin, duckpin, 5-pin, 9-pin and bumper bowling. But unfortunately, we only have 10-pin bowling here. So that's what we are doing this Sunday 20/7 after church. Bring your friends and enjoy a good time. Contact Brett for details.
I like hearing people’s stories and reading about people’s lives. I remember going on long distance buses across provinces in high school, and like sitting beside elderly people so I could hear their story. Every person has a story to tell and it always fascinates me hearing other people’s experience.
The last year, I read a few auto/biographies including the former deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, the famous evangelist Billy Graham and the founder of the flying doctors John Flynn. All have interesting stories, but what struck me the most with all these Christian men are their unshakable faith, their absolute integrity and their genuine humility. It’s hard to be honest in the political arena, we all have seen corruption in the highest level of governments, yet John Anderson is regarded by his colleagues to be a man of integrity above all else. Billy Graham despite his enormous success in bringing so many to Christ, was grateful and humbled for God to use him at all. And John Flynn, facing such an impossible task and in such unfavourable conditions, never doubt that his God given vision would be fulfilled, and it did.
I’m encouraged to know and grateful for these godly men who have made such an impact in the world we live in and be examples that we can follow.
I was worshiping at my old church in Sydney this past Sunday. It happened to be a special family service celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Korean congregation. The Korean congregation was started by a Korean pastor who linked up with the church and hold their service after the English service each Sunday.
Among the many things in the service was a segment showing videos of various church members congratulating the anniversary of the Korean congregation. One of the messages was that the church, both the English and Korean congregation, would become one in Christ. This made me think about how this unity could be achieved if the 2 congregations meet at different times and therefore hardly see each other.
I can fully understand that the older generation would want to worship God in their native language, and rightly so. But that separation or segregation which exists in our churches today goes beyond the context of language barrier and cultural difference. It extends to ministries, age group and worship style etc., all encourage coming out rather than coming together. I recalled someone pointing out the many ministries in our churches today are but unnecessary because they separate people rather than bringing people together. I think there’s some truth in it. Although I won’t go so far as to say that ministries aren’t needed. They do serve their purpose in building up the body of Christ. But in order to maintain balance and bring unity, the church needs to put in place ways to actively and intentionally draw and bring people together.
Back to the Korean congregation, I thought the younger generation all speak English fluently, and would be good if their youth and young adults could work cross congregation. And I was glad to find out later that they do work together. Looks like their youth groups are combined which is one way to cross the great divide.
