AGPC
uthtalk onlinegenealogy of christ
remember that we talk about christ’s genealogy a few weeks ago during fellowship? one day my school discipleship group leader asked whats the difference between the one in matthew and the one in luke…? (most probably you wont even realise that there are different versions!)
here are some differences and explanations as well. really interesting. 1. if you were to compare side by side the genealogy, you will realise that some names are recorded on one and not on the other.
eg. Solomon is missing. the lineage between solomon to jeconiah is not recorded in Luke.
2. no women was mentioned in Luke. Matthew’s version is “Father of” and Luke is “Son of”.
3. Matthew records the line of Joseph (Christ’s legal line)
Luke records the line of Mary (blood line)since Christ was born of the virgin mary, technically Joseph cannot be the dad right?
so Luke’s record should be more accurate (if, according to bloodline). Heli is actually Mary’s dad… but legally Matthew’s record can also be accepted.
4. the interesting thing is both lineage has King David (prophesized); Abraham (also prophesized)!
5. What is the purpose of the difference?
(1) to demonstrate the qualification and rights of Jesus Christ as the Messiah King as promised in the Abrahamic & Davidic convenant (Matthew’s version)
(2) to demonstrate the humanity of Jesus Christ (Luke’s version)
so what?
well, you might not be too impressed by the difference but you know what? The Word of God is so precised in the purpose of it‘s writings that even in writing the lineage, there is also great thought put into it for the intended audience. you see, Matthew was written to the Jews who were expecting a Messiah that they have heard about since eons ago… the genealogy in Matthew would make sense to them. Luke was written primarily to Gentiles who need to know that Christ came fully God and fully man to die on the cross for us… the systematic records would enable to trace the lineage of Christ.
My Love For Soccer
How well do you know our fellow brothers and sisters in christ? Hope that through this short sharing you will get to know a little more about our fellow brother Brendan! 
My first contact with this game came when I was still in primary one. At that time, the only sports that the guys in our class liked was either basketball or soccer. Of course, I preferred the latter. If not I would not be typing this anymore!
I remembered those times where we played this nice sport every time we could during PE and especially recess time. During recess, our school’s PE teacher would release a few basket and soccer balls. The guys in my class would rush down to the PE store and lined up for those balls. Then, we would have a whale of a time playing soccer in the field. Also, we would find opponents to challenge, which is usually another class of guys. The whole field is dominated by my guys, while the netball court belongs to the girls. Sometimes while playing, we would get into fights – there was even a time when a teacher was called to resolve the matter. There was also another event when a boy fainted after the ball hit him directly on the head. He was brought to a near-by clinic straight away. The principal then gave the school a stern warning on being more careful of others when engrossed in your stuff. But now, in my secondary school, we could only bring our own soccer ball to play and we also needed to change into our PE shirt to play and then, after recess, we will have to change back to our school uniform again. So, this is the reason why I could not play soccer these few years. Sad thing.
Thinking of the old days, I remembered that time when the guys in our class went to book the soccer field in the nearby Meridian JC. Almost everyone was present. There were almost 20 people, enough to form a team. The match then started but half way through the match, when my opponent’s team was losing badly, the father of one guy joined in and thus, my opponents had the last laugh. They trashed us, 6-3. That was one of the biggest matches I ever played in my life although it was a really tiring one.
In my family, I have a younger brother who especially loves basketball. This is why we never get to play sports together. He likes to play basketball and I love to play soccer, thus we never mix together. Also, I support Manchester United, while my brother supports Manchester United’s diehard enemy—Chelsea F.C. Although I may have suffered lots of injuries, especially on my knees while playing soccer, I still love this sport. This sport can help you to get into contact with more people. I will always remember those 10 over scars etched on my knees.
Brother Brendan
United in Christ
Hello my dear fellow youths!
This site has been plagued by a temporary lack of activity. Am guilty of it myself but I can assure you that this ailment will start healing itself. : )
I just came back last week from a a VCF (Varsity Christian Fellowship) freshman orientation camp. It was a camp that allowed me to meet other freshies and past and present seniors who are enrolled in NUS, so that we can become each other’s support in our 4 years at the university.
I haven’t written anything for the uthtalk or uthonline for a very long time. I needed a hiatus so as to make an inquisition of my own writings. My self-imposed hiatus hasn’t been lifted yet, but I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to write this for my dearest youths.
One of the very important truths that I picked up from the camp, and would like to share with you, would be the idea of “Unity in Christ”.
In life, we always talked about the importance of laying foundations. Whether is it about our academics, servings or work, we talked about the best way to go about doing things, right down to the very details that mattered. But yet sometimes we will fail, and we wonder where we have gone wrong, having immaculately taken care of the smallest of details.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” – 1 Corinthians 3:11
Our foundation lies not in anything else but Jesus Christ alone. (read Psalms 127). Paul says everybody are fellow workers under the order of God. This is synergy. The whole field belongs to God.
When we talk about Christians, we talk about the denominations that we are from, our debate about our practices and our beliefs. We concentrate on our ‘corporate identity’ – meaning that Presbyterian are conservative and traditional and we should not associate with churches of other types.
We stress on what makes us distinct, when in fact, these distinctions are actually strong divisions among the churches and also ourselves.
I realised that I seldom looked at the similarities that we have with other Christians.
And that hurts. Because God commanded us to bring the harvest in together.
I was taught by the speaker to focus on the foundation in Christ. His death and resurrection meant that all of US are living in a new body, a new commission, a new role and a new faith.
Thus our mission is to encourage and enable people to worship the God in holiness and truth.
And that beg the questions: What can you do to become an encouragement other people? How can you build up your Christian community?
The world out there is tempting and consuming. And it is easy to lose sight of the Godly ways in which we should live. I’m the first one to admit that.
But I remembered what made me stayed at church. It was the sense of warmth, unbridled passion for the Lord, acceptance of each other despite our wounds and other short-comings, displays of love that went beyond rhetoric (remember the angel mortal days?) during fellowship.
Let us not give up in ordering our lives to give reverent honour and glory to God and His people. : ) Be United in Christ. Amen!
in His Love,
Xianjie
Book review: When God Writes Your Life Story- by Eric and Leslie Ludy
In a world of technological and evolutionary ascendency, people joustle with each other for survival. We ravage the lands trying to make a living, to make ourselves feel needed, or in search of profound knowledge to add to our pedigree. Many have integrated into the ‘norm’, and life seems to revolve around making money to live. The search for a purpose in life seems to have sunk deep within the human sub-conscious, where formulae and equations take precedence over all life long fulfillments and dreams. We move at a frightening pace, brushing past all the lifeforms streaming by, not even stopping for a glance (unless it is a gorgeous looking female or a hunky bachelor). In a world where time is mana, do we even dare to stop and think about our dreams? ‘When God Writes Your Life Story’ challenges you to do just that.
The book brings back to those nostalgic feeling of childhood, when we dream of becoming the next superhero that would save the universe from evil. Its purpose is transpicuous: It is trying to reignite those dreams we once swore we would fulfill. Why? Because life is much more than churning money for materialistic pleasures. Life has a purpose, and this purpose can be found when we seek to come back to the Father, and embrace the plans He has for us.
‘For I know the plans I have for you’
This book acts as a motivational book as well as a spiritual guidance simultaneously, as it seeks to bring you closer to God and reveal the way to live a truly purposeful life. Not only does it impart to you the correct values of life, how to stand firm during adversity and the wisdom of our Heavenly Father, ‘When God Writes Your Story’ actually go that extra mile to tell you how these has been implemented into various aspects of those alive, which in turn provides you with an idea of how all these teachings can be applied in real life.
The book also provides thought-provoking questions at the end of the book for you to reflect on your current life, and seek to, through self assessment, make you understand yourself better so that you can live your life to its fullest potential. However, no book is perfect, and in trying to reignite the passion within you, it neglects the more logical side of the human being. Therefore, this book is more for the spiritual believers rather than those that have yet to believe in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you ever want to invoke compulsive thought to kick start a purpose driven life, then this might be a book that you would want to consult.
Lost and Found Concert @ AGPC
Date: 7th July 2007 (Saturday)
Venue: Abundant Grace Presbyterian Church
Address: 240 Jalan Kayu
Time: 7.30pm
I know that everybody has been busy with some thing or another in their lives may it be those taking special sems in university, those working or those preparing for their school exams just to name some. But finally, here is the concert that all of us have been looking forward to. Let it be a night of music, heartfelt testimonies, humourous skit, good food and not least, some of our closest friends whom we love dearly will get their first inkling of light – the same source where we draw our strength from.
Please refer to your friends to uthonline and check out the details here ok. Continue to keep everybody working in this in prayer as both the excitement and anxiety mount closer to the date. =) God Bless!
-Uthonline
Youth Fellowship Videos
These are the humorous clips of our youth fellowship skids on friendship.
好人坏“仁”之差
Similar to 雪薇, I shall set precedence on Uth Online by writing our first bilingual post! Your residential 好人patronises both languages because this mix represents AGPC youth colloquialism. Without further ado, a story:
夜晚，一位盲人提着灯笼走在路上。碰到他的人便问他：
“真是奇怪的家伙，你明明就看不到前面，干嘛提着灯笼走路呢？”
他回答：
“那是为了让你不与我相碰撞，这个灯笼不是为了我自己，而是为了你。”
I love this story because it brings out a point on perspective. Some times matters can seem so conclusive when we become over confident of our own experiences and maturity. Strangely, love is a matter of perspective too.
I recently finished a book about Lena Maria Klingvall (a Swedish girl with no arms and a defective left leg), incidentally 陈牧师mentioned the book in a recent sermon. And I quote from the book:
对我这样残障人士来说，教会是个让我在能接受我的人群中成长的好地方，因为所有的人都为我留下了空间。
I had a hard think on what she meant by 空间. I think in space she meant the freedom to express herself in her own unique way. But more than that it also means a space in their hearts to love her in her truest self and perhaps a space that gives them an extent to see things from Lena’s point of view. I think that is why to them, she is such a radient daughter of God.
Love is patient, love is kind. (1Corinthians13:4)
The word ‘is’ signals an equality of identity, meaning we cannot claim to love without being patient and kind. Patience is a passive kind of love, it is a kind of love that gives up the right to retaliate (in any way). It is tolerance and fortitude. However, a passive love is always deficient and that’s why we need kindness. I like this definition of kindness: proceeding from benevolence. That is to proceed from the desire to do good to actually doing good. This is an active kind of love and it can range from a birthday surprise to simply standing in your friends’ shoes.
In a way kindness is proceeding to step into another’s shoes. It’s difficult because it means putting aside our egos, presuppositions and desires, it’s counter intuitive because we’re all so self-centred. But all the more it is love. An irritating driver speeds down the lanes, honking and flashing away. Does he get on your nerves? Or have you considered the possibility that he is just trying to make it in time for his son’s musical recital.
A personal experience. I used to find my grandma irritating, she would put the wrong clothes in the wrong closets. We’ve asked her umpteen times to put all the cloths in the common area and we’ll take our own clothes back to our closets so there’d be no mix up. She refuses to oblige. I used to fume at her cause I didn’t get it. Our suggestion not only solved the problem, it also reduced her workload. That was until I stepped into her shoes, I tried to go through her 80 years of live largely working as a hotel keeper. I went through her habits of putting things in their place by herself, I looked through her eyes and found 3 lazy boys who were too lazy to bring their own clothes from the common area hence causing a pile up of clothes.
Sometimes I find 伟仁unbearable, I mean the first time we really talked he totally put down my violin vibrato which I had taken years to learn. But looking at it from another perspective, his criticism has helped me develop a whole new and far superior vibrato. In this sense he’s no longer the 坏“仁”who all know but rather a 好人 who dares to spit out frank comments so we can improve.
The difference between 好人and 坏人more often than not lies within a matter of perspective. If we truely love a person, I feel we should make space for him/her in our hearts by standing in his/her shoes. This active kind of kindness combined with patience brings us all slightly closer to the wholesome love that Christ exudes.
- 棣嵩
雪薇的实习感想录…
hello 大家！
在这里让我打破传统，以华文来分享。最近我在写我的实习期中报告时，真的看到了神在我身上的作为，因此很有感动在这里与大家分享一下我的实习生涯的一些小小经历。其实我有很深的感受，无法一一诉说，就先说说我的领受吧。采访及工作经验就留到下次吧。。
首先，对于那些还不知道的人，我在10个星期前进入新加坡报业控股(Singapore Press Holdings)早报体育组实习，展开为期20周的实习生活。为什么会是体育组呢? 这就到追述到去年10月了。当时是我的假期，而老师就安排我还有一些同学到报馆体验短短三周的实习，而我在只能从财经或体育两者之间选一的情况下，只好选择体育。其实我很想很想很想超级想进入副刊组（早报现在），但是被同学抢前一步。就这样，我就加入了体育组，从此与体育结下不解之缘。很感谢神，体育组的人对我非常好！所以我在那里的日子还过得不错。我也一直感谢神赐给我这么好的同事。但是在公事方面，我一直感到不满足。特别是那三个星期过得非常快，所以也没有学到很多东西，而且体育新闻实在难上手，所以我基本上是做一天过一天，每天都混水摸鱼地渡过。
但是万万没想到，这次正式的实习我又被安排进入体育组！而他们的原因竟然是，因为我上一次来过。我就暗暗的抱怨说，上次去了体育组，所以这次应该到别组去啊。更惨的是去副刊组的愿望又再一次落空，可想而知我的失望吧？*SIGH* 所以再一次回到体育组的那一天，我的心情很复杂。但是谢谢神提醒我说，他为我预备的必定是最好的。所以我那时就决定“好，算了，体育就体育，谁怕谁！”
那天，我“抵达”体育组时，不知道为什么我竟然感到非常感动！哈哈，你可以说我感情丰富，但是我真的有很想哭的感觉。其实“弄”我想哭的人是副主任Uncle See，因为他一看到我，就说：“欢迎归队！”。你知道这超短的四个字有多厉害吗？对我来说，这代表了他们对我的信任及鼓励。感谢神通过Uncle See送给了我这四个字。还有其他同事都非常欢迎我，让我真的很感动。我还记得当天的情景，真的可以感受得到那种亲切弥漫在空中，哈哈，所以我在那个时刻就告诉自己，抛开那些烦恼，要好好干，不可以辜负他们对我的期望。就因为这样，我“撑”到了现在。也许是开始时的心态，做起事情来就没有那么困难。所以这段期间，在工作方面基本上没有太多的问题。不过我必须承认，有一小段时间，我看到其他组的同学可以采访一些社会新闻，意外新闻，娱乐新闻等等，除了有一些小羡慕之外，就是替自己担心。体育新闻不是不好，但是似乎不能发挥，在课堂上也没有学过体育新闻写作，况且体育新闻非常“专”（Specialized），感觉是受到“冷落”的新闻。但是那时我就告诉自己，这样想也没有用啊，因为事实就是要在这里写上五个月的体育新闻！所以只能往好的方面想，努力培养兴趣，多了解足球条规，多看体育新闻咯，就算我真的对体育没有兴趣，还是就要催眠自己，我真的很喜欢体育！所以我就凭着这个心态做事，真的就不同了。更奇妙的是，不知曾几何时，我不再看以前最爱看的娱乐新闻，而只留意体育新闻。也不只曾几何时，我不看电视节目了，只追看各样的体育比赛。我想体育已经成为我生活的一部分。
这就是体育的魅力，让一个从来不懂、不看、不听体育的人爱上它。其实这也就是神的带领。我现在才明白我第一次进入体育组不是偶然的，是神的旨意。他让我开始对体育有了一种认识，为正式的实习打下一定的基础。而我是到了正式实习时才体会神真的很爱我，他将最好的赐给我。体育在人的眼里虽然不是很“风光”的新闻，我的portfolio也可能没那么亮眼，但是我实习时感到很开心。神没有答应把我放在副刊组可能是因为他不要给我承受多于我能够承受的吧。在副刊组做事必须承受很大压力，需要面对的人（如明星）也比较难应付。我的朋友在副刊组做事，但是她常常一个人跑到厕所去哭。可想而知那种压力吧？所以我真的很感恩神很恩待我。我在体育组里遇到了一些简直就像天使的人。其中一个是秀金姐，她的人真的非常非常好，帮了我很大的忙，也教导了我很多。其他同事也同样很照顾我。每一天我都会和他们一起吃饭，犹如一家人一样。这种和谐的确令工作环境没有那么复杂，做起事来就没那么辛苦了。我常常也求神帮助我，在神和世人眼前蒙恩宠，有聪明 [to find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man] (箴言3:4)。惠清老师也常常这样为我们祷告。很感谢神应允了我的祷告，让我在体育组里没有碰到什么人际关系问题。所以无论你是学生还是工作人士，你也可以这样向神求。特别是那些已经踏入社会的，在待人处事方面更需要主的智慧。
除此之外，你知道吗，神也很奇妙。原来他把我放在体育组也有另一个目的。这几个星期下来，我对体育的认识增加了许多。以前从来不看体育、对体育一窍不通的我，突然懂了很多体育的东西。我也发现就因为这样，我与教会的弟兄（包括荣顺），还有一些姐妹（如Grace n Ching）多了一个沟通的话题及管道。那天我还跟棣蔚在谈Cavaliers 还是Pistons会进NBA总决赛，this is smt which I’ve never done before! 我可以与他们分享我的采访经验、分享我看球赛的经验。哦对了，也要借着这个机会在这里谢谢一群支持我的“忠实读者”！哈哈。（特别谢谢棣嵩、棣杰帮我宣传，哈哈，还有慧雯、慧珊等为我打气）。谢谢神把你们放在我的生命中，让我在采访时多了一份勇气。
所以说，这句话“世上无难事，只怕有心人”说得一点也没错。加入体育组之前，我对体育一窍不通，但是现在我懂了很多。我会翻译体育新闻，会看球赛，会写篮球赛等。更重要的是，我看到了神在我身上的作为。我清楚看到他带领我走过每一步，从我出生到读书到选择进入义安修读中文系，直到现在的实习，都有他美好的旨意。他让我深深体会到神的意念高过人的意念，神的道路也高过人的道路！希望我的小小分享能够帮助你多认识我们这一位信实的上帝！
What’s love gotta do with self esteem? (Part 3/3)
by Sister Soh Ai
Growing up in a more “law based” church made me very aware of my shortcomings and I was afraid of God. That when He gets angry when I do wrong He might just leave me. I feared God not out of a reverential fear but more of a little kid who was scared of the bully kind of fear. I didn’t truly understand God’s mercy and grace. I pictured God to be very much like us humans (truth is that we are very much like God not the other way round). That if He says He has forgiven, He might suddenly remember some other time and “use” my sin against me and that my sins keep piling up before Him. How ridiculous is that? It says in the bible that He will “remember our sins no more” (Jer 31:34, Heb 8:12, Heb 10:17), that He has “removed our sins as far as the east is from the west” (Ps 103:12), that He will “hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea ” (Micah 7:19).
The used to think that my God is “small”, He doesn’t have enough resources to bless me as well as other people therefore I had to “strive” for my blessings. I got jealous because I thought God wasn’t being fair and I was losing out. I didn’t have a correct understanding of who God is. I knew in my head what people have told me about God, that He is love, He has great mercy… but all that was in my head and never really touched my heart. (that’s why I reckon Battlefield of the Mind is an excellent book, it dispels myths about our thought patterns and our believes cause often the UGLY one has “planted” thoughts in our heads and set up “strongholds” that we remain trapped in the wrong kinds of thinkings).
I belittled my parents and sister in thinking that they will run away. In fact the opposite has proven to be true. They stuck by me through this whole time. My parents flew to Australia to look after me. Even though my sister couldn’t physically be over there, she prayed, she asked her friends to pray, she packed a box of pastor prince’s CDs for me to listen along with the St Nick’s doll she bought at the 06’ funfair to represent her (even with her name tag on it)! (I made noise when she didn’t buy one for me then as there are 2 designs, one older sis and one younger sis!) It took me 3 weeks of observing my parents in Australia to come to the conclusion that they REALLY loved me, whether I was well or unwell. THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE ME!!! They possessed unconditional love (Agape love) for me, the same Agape love that God has for me! It took me another 3 weeks observing my family when I got back to Singapore to confirm once again that they really loved me. (yep… sometimes I’m a bit slow and stubborn… but I’m being changed from glory to glory).
I was afraid I’d lose ALL my friends. That didn’t happen either. What did happen was that I’ve been LOOSED from the UGLY one’s bondage! And I know it’s not by my own power that this has happened. In fact I don’t deserve freedom, it’s by Christ’s BLOOD that I’ve been set free! It’s by God’s agape on its own and manifested through my family and friends (agape) love that has set me free! I’m a FREE PERSON now! I live for an audience of one! I no longer live by people’s standards (I try not to at least, I’m sort of a people pleaser by nature). I’m accepted by God, my family and friends JUST AS I AM!!! I don’t have to struggle to gain approval or love. My God is a BIG GOD!!! He is more than able to provide for all my needs AND my wants (off course since He loves us he will not give us our wants if its bad for us, and He definitely knows which one would be bad for each individual per se, cause He made all of us mahz). He’s HUGE!!! He is more than able to provide for EVERY SINGLE PERSON or ANIMAL in this world.
“Seek His love, Seek His face, Seek His kingdom and all these things will be added unto you.” -Matt 6:33
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PS: kiddos, know that your parents REALLY love you. Even though at times you can get SO mad with them (just happened to me the other day), remember, they truly honestly absolutely love you and they are want the best for you. You can TRUST THEM! Often times what you want is different from what they want for you, in those times, speak to them, tell them how you feel, but always with the knowledge that THEY LOVE YOU!!! When talking to our daddy God in heaven, the same principles apply: talk to Him with knowledge of His love.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” -1Peter 4:8
Love in Greek:
1.) Agape: Unconditional love (God’s love & parental love)
2.) Philos: Friendship love (Love between siblings, relatives and friends; Mature love between couples)
3.) Eros: Romantic love/lust (Love between bf and gf; “love at first sight”)
Step into the Zone.
Deborah passed me an enticing handout last sunday and I thought it’d be nice to share with you!
Step into the Zone [Youth Concert]
Date: Friday, 15 June 07
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: The Max Pavilion, Singapore Expo
Price: $5.00
Speaker: Pastor Joseph Prince
This is a youth concert introducing the Planetshakers (sure heard of it ah?) , the dynamic band from Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne, Australia. Organised by the New Creation Church. And there’ll be tickets avaliable from 6 May 07 at Rock Gifts & Book Centre @ the Suntec City Mall, Level 3. Perhaps Lost&Found Committee can also go for it and have an insight on how youth concerts are held. Hopefully it’ll be helpful to all!
Have a blessed week ahead!
-Xiwen
