THIS SAT, ARROW MINISTRY! 4.30! LEVEL 6 OVERFLOWROOM!! GET EXCITED PEEPZ!!!!

Hey guys, The following Selene from NUS read the following in a book and shared it with theCGLs in NUS cluster. It's really powerful and I thought it would begood to share it with all of you.

STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW

I was visiting a church where the youth pastor was explaining how wewere arrows. I couldn't help but make the application to my life.Isaiah says: "He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadowof His hand He hid me; He made me into a polished arrow and concealedme in His quiver" (Isaiah 49:2 NIV).In the light of the fact that He apparently makes us into polishedarrows, there are some things we need to understand about the creationof arrows in order to grasp the importance. Unbeknownst to me, thereis a fine art to the creation of an arrow. There is little room forerror as the arrow is created for one specific purpose- to be shottoward a target or goal. Most important, there is the selection of theentire basis of the arrow- the wood, which becomes the shaft, thefoundation of the arrow

SELECTION OF THE WOOD

Now, there isn't a magic arrow tree, you know. So the selection of thetype of wood is very important. An arrow needs to be constructed fromheavy, strong timber so it can withstand the strain of being firedfrom a hundred-pound-plus bow (that is the force) and also be able toimpact an animal or steel plate without shattering. Not just any treewill do. Cedar, pine, and fir are the most common wood types becauseof their strength. God selects us in the same way. "you did not chooseme, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit thatwill last" (John 15:16 NIV). Have you ever thought to consider thatthe Lord has chosen you because you have an innate strength He wouldlike to use for a specific purpose? One He gave and anointed you for?

PAINS OF PRUNING

The next natural step involves the pruning of the branches. Ever seenas arrow flying though the sky with leaves still attached? If youhave, it didn't go far! The extra weight and sprigs must be removed,or they will disrupt the air flow and agility of the arrow, causing itnot to be as efficient. Similarly, God works in our life to removethose things that hinder our service for Him. "I am the true vine, andmy Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bearsno fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that itwill be even more fruitful" (John 15:1-2 NIV). God makes sure that Heremoves things from our life that will impede our flight. On the otherhand, He sometimes adds to our life people and circumstances that wemight not even enjoy for the sole purpose of drawing us to Himself soHe can change us."And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing thattribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; andcharacter hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of Godhas been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given tous ." (Romans 5:3-5 NKJV)

STRAIGHTEN IT OUT

Now, wood doesn't just grow completely straight, and the shaft makingprocess does not turn out perfectly straight shafts on the firstattempt. Wood can bend under stress or in differing humidityconditions or, ironically enough, just on its own- like us. all duringthe arrow-making process. Then they continue to perform remedialstraightening after the arrows have been shot.Once a noticeable bend is sighted, the maker can try to preliminarilystraighten it by rubbing another piece of wood against the outside ofthe bend. This actually compresses some of the cells in the wood andshortens that side so the shaft pulls back straight. Note how themaker uses the same material to encourage the wood to action. this iswhere our friends come into play. "as iron sharpens iron, so a mansharpens the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17 NKJV). Ourfriends are similar to the arrow maker in this respect. The producerof the arrow doesn't want to press too hard (leaving dents in theshaft or even breaking it), but needs to be firm enough to compresssome of the wood and encourage it back to the straight (and narrow)way. in the same fashion true friends pull you back to the Lord, notstrong-arming, but firmly holding you to the truth. Proverbs says,"Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6 NKJV). It may notfeel good, but if you have the right people surrounding you in yourlife, they will hold you accountable and call you on things when youget a little too "curvy".In order to further straighten a shaft, the best choice is to soak thewood in oil. This makes the wood much more pliable and willing to bendto the creator's wish without stressing (which weakens) the wood byforce. if you try to bend a branch, it can break if pushed too far;but by softening the wood in oil, it becomes pliable, willing to bend.I find it interesting that the Lord used oil for similar purposes: "They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil andhealed them." (Mark 6:13 NIV". Notice the order: oil first and thenthe healing, which is analogous to the application of softening oil tothe arrow before correction.

FEEL THE HEAT

Once the maker has allowed the arrow to soak in the oil for apredetermined period of time, he applies the heat to get the "kinks"out. He places the arrow in the middle of the flame, using the heat toburn away all the impurities and to continue the straighteningprocess. He cannot take his eyes off it, because it could become toohot and catch fire, completely destroying it. Instead, he continuallytwists the shaft, careful not to leave it in the hottest part of theflame too long. Sound vaguely similar?"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if needbe, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness ofyour faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, thoughit is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at therevelation of Jesus Christ ." (1 Peter 1:6-7 NKJV)Read Jeremiah 17:7-8: "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose confidence is in Him. he will be like a tree planted by thewater that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear whenheat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a yearof drought and never fails to bear fruit" (NIV). Feel the heat?The final step in the shaft-creation process is to bind the refinedarrow with two already-tried-and-true, proven arrows. The two straightarrows finalize the straightening of the shaft under gentle guidanceby example, drawing the shaft to their already perfect straightness.Isn't it just fitting that the commands of the Word line up with that?"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live,not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what isgood. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands andchildren, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to bekind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malignthe word of God ." (Titus 2:3-5 NIV)"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. Ineverything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teachingshow integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech ." (Titus 2:6-8NIV)

MAKING A POINT

Once the shaft is as straight as the creator can make it, the arrow iscompleted by attaching the point and the flights (feathers that aid inairflow and guidance). Its finally time to shoot it. if you are trulythe "arrow" God has been working on and refining for His service, thenyour cry should resemble this: "'Whom shall I send, and who will gofor Us? Then I said, 'Here am i!' Send me'" (Isaiah 6:8 NKJV).What target are you shooting toward? One you have created or the oneGod has destined for you? Where do you find yourself in the refinementprocess? Are you seeking out the better thing or skipping steps andskirting the edge? Are you planning for compromise or leaning towardthe best? An arrow flies alone, but someone has to shoot it. Wheredoes your "flight" come from? When a master marksman is shootingtoward a goal, he is trusting that the arrow he has chosen was createdwith care and accuracy. He's assuming that all the steps were in placeto create the best arrow possible. The backup plan is a lot like justplucking a branch off a tree to use as an arrow and trying to hit thebull's eye. You're never going to get the outcome you want withoutgoing through the right steps. Stay on target.

Excerpt from:Virden, Holly & Mckinney Hammond, Michelle, If Singleness Is A Gift,What's The Return Policy?. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003.p.162- 167.

not Steven Curtis Chapman -When Love Takes You In,

but Daddy God - I have taken you in.

- cherie~

Monday, April 23, 2007

50 BUCKS!!!!!!!!

Haha contrary to the title, this entry is yes a little about $50 but actually it is to show the goodness of The Lord. How you may ask. Well, last thursday I lost my camp pass which requires me to pay a fine of 50 bucks for a replacement. Well I thought to myself, maybe I can just report it lost and just use a temporary pass till I ORD, after all I only have like 11 days left in camp.Well I was wrong,it so happened that no matter what I had to pay the fine if I reported the pass as stolen/lost.
Well this caused me to be down as I didn't want to pay the fine. Well good thing I put what I learnt into practice, I chose to rest in The Lord played the United We Stand and By Your Side CDs and they sure helped minister and keep me up. Then I don't know something kept drawing me to my main office which was just next to the OPS room, well ya to top it off I really had to sign my off passes for the week.Well the great thing is that I went back to the OPS room to check for my camp pass even though i had checked it last thursday before I left for church. This time i chose to take the torch light in the room and this time I saw it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was overjoyed!!!! I believed that The Lord would lead me to the camp pass and HE DID!!!!!!!!!!He is definately faithful and he can even lead you to find your stuff amazing. REMEMEBR TO REST IN HIM

God Bless

- Slugger

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.



The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

- eLf

Thursday, April 12, 2007

This Saturday..

Hey Beloveds! Jiahao wants to share this with you all, and any questions about this can be directed to him!

"In Greek terminology, sin was an old archery word. Every archer tried to hit the center of the bulls-eye on the target; or in other words "hit the mark". The distance from the bulls-eye to where the arrow actually hit was called the "sin". So, in Greek times this word sin meant you missed the mark by "x" amount or "by this much". This means that in the Greek culture, when sin was talked about they instantly gained a mental picture of missing the mark with an arrow."

- Joe Mcgee, founder and director of Faith For Families and Joe McGee Ministries.

Wow.. It's so awesome to know that Jesus took our sins for us on the cross that through Grace, WE WILL hit the mark.

- eLf

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Campus Ministry!

Hello beloveds! GUESS WHAT?

I DUNNO!!

GUESS !!!!!

hmmmmm.. you cut your hair?

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! :@:@ Campus is having a change of ministry name! As in the bible, a name change signifies a new beginning! So COME on down this sat and get ready to be blast away.. ;)

- eLf

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Good Friday Care Group

Hello Beloveds! This is the details for the Good Friday Care Group..

VENUE: Joseph's house -

MEET: 4pm at tanah merah mrt where Joash, will lead us there!

HOW LONG: Dinner will be at 7, and it's special =) so just bring yourself down!

WHAT WE'RE DOING: Surprise! Dinner! Sharing! Worship! and most important of all.. Remembering the finish work!

See you there! or be an EGG.

- eLf

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

heads up!

This is a day to be declared a public holiday!!


For all Ben & Jerry lovers...

Ben & Jerry's annual Free Cone Day is just around the corner!!!

Join us at 8 selected Scoop Shops for free cones on Tuesday, 17th April from 12noon-7pm. If a single serving doesn't deliver enough of a sugar rush, join the queue again for seconds or thirds!!

It's our way of saying thank you to our loyal fans!

Please help spread the word.

Peace, Love & Ice Cream,
The Ben & Jerry's Singapore Team

- cherie~

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

so said Ps Lian

catch a tiny glimpse of our awesome Daddy God

- cherie~