Youth Aflame supports Earth Hour
It was an hour ago that Youth Alpha ended. And more notably, Youth Alpha was done in darkness, in support of Earth Hour. The session touched on who Jesus really is and what evidence is there to support his claim that he is God?
We first discussed whether Jesus was a mad man, a bad man or a God man? Was he crazy for making such absurd claims that eventually led him to his death, was he a con man who lied to the whole world or was He really who He claimed to be - God?
To Christians, Jesus was without a doubt a God man. But the question remains, what proof or evidence are there to support that 'fact'? Rachel, the facilitator for tonight's session mentioned 3 points:
1) His teachings are the foundation of today's western civilization.
2) By dying on the cross, Jesus fulfilled 29 prophesies where the event was mentioned.
3) He rose from the dead.
However, how can anyone be sure that Jesus really did resurrect? Over the years, people have developed many theories and 3 of them were tabled this evening.
Conspiracy Theory 1 - Jesus didn't really die
Some argued that Jesus merely passed out from the pain and exhaustion of the crucifixion. It is believed that he was taken off the cross afterwards and laid down in a tomb where he speedily recovered and left as soon as he was able to do so.
Weakness of this theory: If Jesus were to only pass out and left the tomb when he recovered consciousness would be quite an impossible claim because he was horrendously tortured by the Roman soldiers a day before crucifixion that he could barely stand on his wounded pair of legs. So how could he have gained consciousness, rolled away the heavy stone at the tomb entrance and fought off the Roman guards?
Conspiracy Theory 2 - The disciples stole the body
Others believed when his disciples found out he was placed in a tomb, they staged a mission to steal his body in the middle of the night. They crept up and overpowered the sleeping Roman guards and rolled away the stone that was blocking the tomb entrance. The disciples then started rumors that Jesus had risen from the dead in order to make themselves seem more important. Throughout the rest of their lives, they kept to themselves what happened that night.
Weakness of this theory: The disciples were already in shock and confusion after loosing their teacher, their leader. They would not have mustered the courage to steal Jesus' body, and defeat the Roman guards who were far more superior in brawn. Aside from that point, all disciples somehow suffered severely and some died for Jesus' cause; that he has risen from the dead. If Jesus did not really resurrect, wouldn't at least one disciple blurt out that they stole the body and Jesus did not rose from the dead to save his own life?
Conspiracy Theory 3 - The authorities removed Jesus' body
Another conspiracy was that the Jewish and Roman authorities stole Jesus' body to avoid the tomb becoming a kind of shrine or holy place crowded with Jesus' followers. So they simply took the body and buried it somewhere else.
Weakness of this theory: If the authorities stole the body, wouldn't they also parade Jesus' body to the whole world to prove their point, that Jesus actually died instead of being resurrected?
Towards the end of the evening, Pastor Noah took stage to close the session, asking (especially the Christians) if we really believe in what we believe in? "Because, mark my words, your faith will be challenged one day," he said. He ended with a question, "What kind of life do you want to live?"; a life that fulfills our ambitions or a life that fulfills God's will?
God's Weird Love
I read this story about a year ago and it has been on my mind since. I thought I might share it with all of you; the peculiar choice of friends our God has.
By Steve Brown
Source: ChristianityTodayGod makes what seem to me some very funny choices—meaning, they're not necessarily the choices I would make. You see, I always thought God had a big house in which the people who did what He said could live, worship, and enjoy fellowship. On the outside were the people who didn't do what God said to do. I, of course, was on the inside, because I did what He said—or at least tried to. I figured my sincerity would give me a pass.
But I was wrong.
God said to Moses in Exodus 33:19, "I will make all My goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you My name 'The Lord.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (ESV). In other words, God will choose His own friends, thank you very much.
That has always bothered me.
I am probably as religious as any person you know. Maybe even more. I teach religion to religious students at a religious graduate school. I stand before a whole lot of people and say religious things. I write religious books, I teach religious seminars, and I do religious radio broadcasts.
I'm really religious.
What bugs me is when God chooses to love people who aren't religious or, at any rate, not as religious as I am. I'm beginning to learn that God makes, by my judgment, some weird choices. He loves people who drive me nuts, and He has mercy on people to whom I would not show mercy. He moves beyond religious institutions and befriends people with whom I would not be friends.
God loves people who drive me nuts, and He has mercy on people to whom I would not show mercy.Whoopi Goldberg, who calls herself an atheist, is not one of my favorite people. But did you see her movie Sister Act? It's about a worldly nightclub singer who hides from some thugs who want to kill her. What makes it unique is that she hides in a Roman Catholic convent. She dresses like a nun and becomes the choir director, teaching the nuns to sing music that's more upbeat and fun than their usual convent fare.
What makes the story for me is this: Early in the film, the convent church is old and filled with old people who are very religious. Once the nightclub singer/nun starts leading the choir, however, the people on the outside (prostitutes, drug addicts, and other colorful characters) start coming into the church. In fact, they fill the church.
When I first saw that scene, I started crying. (I hardly cry at anything. I'm a guy, okay?) My wife, who was with me, gave me a look that said clearly, "Will you stop it? Are you a fruitcake? This is a comedy. Can't you see that everybody else in this theater is laughing, and you're crying? I think I'm going to sit somewhere else and pretend that I don't know you."
Nevertheless, I couldn't stop weeping. When the movie was over, I asked God about my peculiar reaction, and I felt Him answer that it wasn't me—it was Him. He was speaking through that scene.
I whined in response, But Lord, Whoopi Goldberg? Why couldn't it have been through Billy Graham or the Pope?
I didn't get an answer.
I have a recurring dream in which I'm finally home in heaven and am sitting at the Lord's Table for the marriage supper of the Lamb. All kinds of people are there. Clergy persons are present, some leaders of the church, and even one or two television preachers. But as I look around, I also see former adulterers, liars, and thieves. There are one-time prostitutes and pimps, tax collectors and drunks. There are also those who were once homosexuals, pornographers, and gluttons. And, frankly, I'm shocked.
Then, in my dream, I hear a voice from the throne, and the words are addressed to me. The voice is God's, and He asks, "And what do you think you're doing here?"
I think maybe He was kidding, but I'm not sure. I usually wake up before I find out.
I used to think God's love could be logically explained and measured. I now know that God's love runs far deeper than we can fathom.
There was a time when I was sure I could explain and defend God. I've found out, though, that He is beyond explanation—and not in need of defense. He was doing fine before I came along, and He will do fine long after I'm gone. Yet for some reason, this big, scary, and confusing God who chooses unlikely friends has chosen to love me. And I see His love in everything, without exception. The question is not, "Where is God's love?" The question is, "Where isn't God's love?"
Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy
The video is about a phone call from a young boy called Logan to a Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, Texas. He called to talk about his distress after having to put down his own calf that morning.
To those who have been away from our Father, as cliched as this may sound, remember that He is here and will always be here for you. Sometimes it takes something or someone else to remind us of God's love and it's so wonderful that our God does it through people halfway across the globe, like Logan.
What are you doing now, sitting there? Start running back to Him!
Sex? hmmm....
Soooo......
Got tons and tons and tons of question about sex??
Yes to all??
Good!!!!!
Cause we've got just the treat for you~
with..................
SEX & SENSIBILITY~
By Rev Victor Wong~
No.. No.. No to all???
Lemme throw you some topics about sex~
.jpg)
Ah hah!!
I bet you don't know every single one of them..
Yea.. And those will be exactly the topics we're covering on this talk~
This is for both SSZ and CSZ~ WEeeeEEe!!!!
It will be on the 15th of March..
So get your forms from your youth leaders, grab your friends together for it and go REGISTER!!!!
A.S.A.P~ (Coz the earlybird deadline will be on the 8th of March... hehe..)
And get bulk up in your knowledge on sexuality~!