Saturday, January 27, 2007
10:24 PM
Anyway, I was reading the previous entry posted by Rachel about the Lord's supper and it reminded me of a conversation I had with a friend a pretty long time ago about the bread and wine, and what they represent. His priest shared it with him, so I've decided to share it with you guys! It's just one intepretation though, so you don't have to take it all in.
Bread represents two things. First, bread is seen as food which provides nourishment to our body, because it fills us up. Likewise, Jesus is our nourishment to our spiritual bodies, and we need Him. Bread also represents unity because it is made from mixing various grains together to form a loaf of bread. The parallel meaning is that we need to be constantly united with God.
Bread is also referred to as the Bread of Life. To think of it, money is much better than bread, and money can get you (almost) anything you want, but bread just fills you. The point is, no one can ever get enough of money, but once someone has eaten bread, he'll be so full till he can't take in anymore - he's satisfied. Jesus is like this. He comes into your life, gives you the best, and fills you up completely, and there's so much of Him that you're totally satisfied.
Wine, on the other hand, also represents two things. First, it represents suffering. Why? Because in order to produce wine, grapes have to be pressed and crushed. Contrastingly, it also represents joy because wine is usually drank on celebratory occassions. So here's the parallelism: Are you willing to deny yourself and follow Christ? Giving up everything you have to follow Him may seem like a big sacrifice - a suffering, but it actually brings you the greatest joy, just like how the grapes are 'sacrificed' to produce good wine for joyful occassions.
Bread and wine together represents the coorporation between human (Man) and the divine (God). God is not a supreme being that is out of reach and uncontactable, but rather, God + man = 1.
In the process of making bread, you need the wheat - which is from God because He created it, and we (Man) process it to form bread. Similarly, grapes are from God, and we crush them to form wine. Without the wheat (from God), we can't produce bread. Likewise, without the grapes, there's no wine.
"...If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5Yes of course we know that God himself can turn wheat into bread and grapes into wine without our help, but the things is, He wants us to be part of this transformation because He wants to change us in the process. Why? Because He loves us so much! The call of discipleship = the call of sinners - people who need a change in their lives.
"Jesus answered them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'" - Luke 5: 31-32.He loves us so much that He wants to change our lives so that we can change the rest of the world - just like the 12 disciples did. And this involves the coorporation between God and Man. It can't be seperated. In whatever we do, we can never seperate the works of God, or else our deeds will be futile (i.e bread representing nourishment and unity). Also, allowing God to change us means sacrifice on our part. In order to experience God's miracles and blessings, we have to lay down everything at the foot of the cross, and follow Him wholeheartedly (i.e. wine representing suffering and joy).
Yeah, so that's what I had to share. Hope it helped you guys in some way! :) Anyway, Fely had her water baptism today! *clap* *clap*. Haha. Here are the pictures I took. Please pardon me for my lousy photography skills and 1 megapixel camera phone.
Spot her!
Getting ready to be baptized...
Pastor Clarence presenting her with the certificate
Happy Fely!
Loves~
Victoria.
+ AMEN
Thursday, January 25, 2007
3:00 PM
Anyways, we will be covering the Lord's supper this Sunday in cell. would like you to read up on 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 - identify and consider the mistakes Paul was addressing to the Corinthians and think about the relation between the communion and worship.
read up also on 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 and think about the reasons why we partake of communion - think about the prayer we say before partaking of the bread and wine - we will cover a little theology here to get the biblical foundation for this prayer.
Let's keep each other in prayer for those across the seas be it Tekong or Finland but whom we hold dear in our hearts in our quiet time spent daily. Will cya all Sunday!
Love in Christ
Rachel
+ AMEN
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
7:50 AM
1. Greater spiritual growth both as a cell and individually
2. Greater outreach and evangelism
3. Greater fellowship as a cell
4. Finding a ministry
Spiritually as a cell, it is my prayer that the coming Bible study sessions, together with what we learn from Health and Longevity would be helpful in your personal walk with God. Lessons in cell will cover the topics/questions you’ve raised last year. Your questions reflect a hunger for more of the Word; it is my prayer that your QT this year will be even more fruitful. Having said that, I would like to encourage you to share on your individual quiet time spent; on the insights/revelations you’ve gained or on whatever is new to you and has encouraged you from the Word. What you share will serve to inspire and strengthen all of us. As we grow closer as a cell, sharing will become increasingly larger as a way for us to better know, encourage and pray for one another.
I am glad to see that most of you hope for a more wholesome life; in your studies, in keeping and maintaining a good physique, in striving to improve your gifts and talents, etc. Let us keep each other in prayer as a cell unit and remember that as we seek first His kingdom and righteousness then all things shall be given unto us. Ivan and I will be here throughout; I will be here for the next 6 months, should you need to anything. You are in our prayers.
What lies ahead for us as a cell and in our individual lives will be exciting, joyful, challenging and perhaps even difficult and painful. But what I want to bring across truly is that on the inside of you, there has been given the nature of Christ since the day you chose this faith. You have been empowered and richly endowed. With each hardship we have to endure, our faith and obedience will be put to the test; but also because of each trial and tribulation will we see the triumph of faith and perseverance of obedience that will testify to the goodness of God and the preciousness of Christ. Never feel inadequate for you are never small in His eyes; you have been created unique, special and He will empower you what He has called you to fulfill. He will grant you strength to overcome – remember the battle is not yours to fight. We already have the victory. Allow God to speak with you through prayer and His word, allow Him to soften your heart and allow Him to guide you in all your ways.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” – John 15:7-8
+ AMEN
Thursday, January 11, 2007
6:00 PM
wow the blog looks so much better!
Anyway life has been good here, just that it is always freezing except when i'm eating i suppose. It just started to snow today and it looks really beautiful around here so i took some pictures of my surroundings from my apartment 'cause i think i'm gonna hibernate in my room for the next couple of days.
I visited this sea fortress - Suomenlinna yesterday so i uploaded some photos plus my apartment. Go to www.imagestation.com, search under ivantanwl, if and when you guys have the time.
I'm not too good as a photographer so pardon my humble beginnings, i reckon i will get better as i go on.
I just started registering for my modules, and for all those in Uni/Poly right now, work hard cos the semester will be over before you even know it. For those in Army and going to go army, I'll keep you guys in prayer. For those who are free and happy like bird, (i think only Nina), use your time wisely!
Anyway God bless you guys and i'll blog again soon when my fingers aren't freezing!
+ AMEN
Monday, January 08, 2007
8:49 PM
| Health & Longevity | Praise & Worship | |||
| Dates | Question | Person i/C | Musician | W.Leader |
| 070107 | 5.3-6.1 | Patricia | Victoria | Nina |
| 140107 | 6.2-6.3 | Felicia | Kingston | Alvin |
| 210107 | chap 7 | Nina | Victoria | Patricia |
| 280107 | chap 7 | Nina | Kingston | Marcus |
| 040207 | chap 8 | Jonathan | Victoria | Felicia |
| 110207 | chap 8 | Jonathan | Kingston | Alvin |
| 250207 | chap 9 | Eugene | Victoria | Jocelyn |
| 040307 | chap 9 | Eugene | Kingston | Eugene |
| 110307 | chap 10 | Marcus | Victoria | Michelle |
| 180307 | chap 10 | Marcus | Kingston | Marcus |
| 250307 | chap 11 | Alvin | Victoria | Nina |
| 010407 | chap 11 | Alvin | Kingston | Marcus |
| 080407 | chap 12 | Rachel | Victoria | Jocelyn |
| 150407 | chap 12 | Rachel | Kingston | Marcus |
| HP | HOME | |||
| Ivan | 92733081 | 67830282 | ||
| Rachel | 91110116 | 67674843 | ||
| Victoria | 91010544 | 67858086 | ||
| Nina | 93824468 | 65522990 | ||
| Jocelyn | 97835901 | 67853323 | ||
| Michelle | 97733525 | 67817360 | ||
| Patricia | 97695540 | 67825130 | ||
| Felicia | 90710739 | 67878902 | ||
| Kingston | 91457999 | 67897056 | ||
| Marcus | 98244749 | 67821423 | ||
| Eugene | 98487216 | 63449710 | ||
| Edward | 91278839 | 65882594 | ||
| Jonathan | 81002570 | 67869902 | ||
| Alvin | 81211922 | 67878284 | ||
| Dax | 93838234 | 64589691 | ||
Amendments are in red!!!
+ AMEN