TRIP TO THE NORTH COAST

North Coast

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Shortly after we arrived in Belfast, we took a day trip to the north coast of Ireland. The strong smell of the Atlantic Ocean (fishy and salty), the steady rhythm of the ocean waves, and the coolness of the ocean breeze make this a memorable experience. Even the nine vast glens (valleys) that we passed through in Antrim were a beautiful sight.

TAKE A STROLL ALONG THE SEA FRONT

Newcastle

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During our free time at the orientation, we visited Newcastle, a seaside resort in County Down. At Newcastle, we saw many elderly people taking a stroll along the sea front. Watching elderly couples walking slowly while holding their partners' arm in one hand and a walking stick in another made us envious of the deep love they must have for each other.

LIVING LIKE ROYALTY

Castlewellen

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We stayed in the Castlewellen Castle as part of the orientation programme. It was fun. We enjoyed the worship, the sharing of the Word, and the sharing of life stories. This year, Belfast Bible College has about two hundred full-time students from thirty two nations. Many of them are young adults (teenagers?) who have just completed their A-levels. In spite of their youth, they have a passion for the Lord and are seeking his direction for their lives.

HE CARES

Stormont & Bangor

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We intended to visit a particular church on our first Sunday in Belfast. By Saturday morning, we were still clueless about the whereabouts of the church. We then said a little prayer to God for this small need.
While waiting at a bus stop that morning, we saw a Chinese lady walking to the bus stop. Since we were the only people at the bus stop, we started a conversation with her. Her name is Angela. And guess what? She is actively serving in that particular church which we were looking for. She even offered to give us a ride to the church the next day.
Isn't God good? Our small need was in his to-do list! The amazing thing is that Angela does not normally wait for the bus at this bus stop. She decided to walk from her regular bus stop to our bus stop as she was early and the sun was shining brightly that morning. God's timetable is just so precise!

THE C. S. LEWIS ALBUM

C S Lewis

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To all our friends who are C. S. Lewis' fans, Enjoy!

Belfast Pictorial Update

A CELTIC ADVENTURE

"Where? Belfast? Northern Ireland? It is too far away.” That was what I said to Casey when he first shared with me the possibility of going to Ireland, if Dr. Graham Chessman should agree to be his dissertation supervisor. I was not too keen to have my life routines disrupted for three months. Just in case I sounded too negative, I quickly added, “Let us pray about it; if it is God’s will, he will have to open all the doors for you.” However, I was already whispering quietly in my heart, “Lord, I pray we don’t have to go to Ireland.”

Well, God worked on Casey’s behalf. In his time, he opened one door after another. Now the possibility has become a reality. We will be leaving for Ireland on 7 September for the Centre for Theological Education (CTE) at Belfast Bible College. This is a great opportunity for Casey—to study under Dr Chessman, the director of this Centre—as his research topic is contextualization in theological education. The Lord also miraculously provided a scholarship from CTE for Casey to do this sabbatical research.

As for me, God had to work in my heart. Over time, the initial reluctance turned to passive resignation then to willing acceptance. And now, there is eager participation. Since I am not enrolled as a student, I will have time to read up on my research topic in the library. The excitement is also fuelled by my friends’ envy whenever I poured out my anxiety of going to Belfast to them. Those who had visited Northern Ireland before waxed lyrically about her beauty. In my reading, I discovered that C. S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, was born and spent his formative years in Belfast. Maybe, this short stay in Belfast will awaken my creativity and inspire me to write a dissertation that could be the world’s next bestseller. Dream on, Davina! Truly, I am now ready for this Celtic adventure!

TAKARA TOMY TRAIN LAYOUTS (2)

Here are more layouts on creative rail engineering:

 
 
 
 

DOHA. THE CAPITAL OF QATAR

Doha Photo Album

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This is the last batch of photos from our Jordan/Israel trip in November 2008. Since we took Qatar Airways, we had to stop over at Doha on our way to Jordan. We took an early morning city tour walking around like zombies. We boarded the plane in Singapore around 2 am and reached Doha after 8 hours, about 5 am. We were more asleep than awake. I think we all woke up when we visited the Old Souq as there was so much to see at this "shopping mall."

THE SEA OF GALILEE REGION

Around The Sea Of Galilee Photo Album

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Lower Galilee Part 1 Photo Album

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Lower Galilee Part 2 Photo Album

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It was at the Sea of Galilee that Jesus called his first disicples: the fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew and the brothers John and James (Mark 1:14-20; Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11). Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount on a hill overlooking the lake and many of his miracles also occurred here, including his walking on water, calming a storm, and his feeding five thousand people.

THE DEAD SEA REGION

Dead Sea Region Photo Album

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We did not expect the Dead Sea to be so beautiful. After all, it is called the "Dead" Sea. We were surprised to see crystal clear waters. Though the sun had just risen, it was still a bit chilly. We enjoyed ourselves as we played around in the water.

BETHLEHEM

Bethlehem Photo Album

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Our visit to Bethlehem was rather short. We only visited the Church of the Nativity. However, I must say that it is an interesting place. See it for yourself!

HEROD'S PORT & PALACE

Herod's Port & Palace Photo Album

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Herod the Great, King of Judea (40–4 BC), was the superstitious despot and tyrant who ordered the killing of all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under (Matt 2:16-18). His paranoid nature caused him to kill even his own family members. In a fit of jealousy, he ordered his beautiful wife, Mariamne, to be executed. It is said that he kept her dead body in honey for seven years because he truly loved her and regretted his rash act.

Knowing that his death would not be mourned by his subjects, he gathered distinguished men from Judea and imprisoned them in the hippodrome in Jericho (Ant. 17.6.5). Herod then ordered his sister Salome to execute them immediately after his death to ensure that his death would be greeted with mourning, not joy. The order was never carried out as Salome released them instead (Ant. 17.8.2).

However, Herod the Great was a gifted man. This is attested by his colossal building projects. Masada's palaces, Herodion's cylindrical fortress, Caesarea Maritima’s artificial harbour, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem's Temple Mount are just some of the works of his creative inspirations. When we look at each of these buildings, we can only agree that Herod the Great was one of the greatest builders of the ancient world.

A NEW CHAPTER WILL BEGIN FOR DAVINA SOON

When I first stepped into EAST about 6½ years ago, I started a new chapter of my life that was rather different from my previous ministry place in at least three aspects.
* EAST is not a denominational Bible school. The staff and students represent a wide spectrum of theological persuasions.
* EAST has a multi-cultural environment. The staff and students come from more than ten different countries.
* EAST is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ—a non-profit, faith-based missions organization. Faculty members are fully responsible for raising their own support to cover their salaries and ministry expenses.

Upon reflection, I realized that God ordained this move to EAST as an opportunity for me to grow. Firstly, learning to work with and among people from different theological persuasions is an enriching experience. Secondly, the rich cultural diversity of the school provides a fertile ground for intercultural communication as well as miscommunication. The latter can be both amusing and frustrating. But this makes life at EAST fun! Lastly, I learn more about faith and the faithfulness of God. Raising support is a real challenge for me—a quiet introvert. In all these years at EAST, both Casey (when he was still serving at EAST) and I could not raise 100% of our monthly support. However, the Lord has graciously seen us through even though there were many months when we did not receive our full support. I can now understand better the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:11-13.

Since the end of last year, I sensed God was redirecting my path. Casey and I had prayerfully deliberated over this matter. Though a little apprehensive initially, I finally accepted God’s new challenge. My ministry at EAST will officially cease at the end of May. A new chapter will begin for me in June: I will focus full-time on my doctoral studies so that I can complete my thesis as soon as possible. My prayer is that this temporary hiatus from full-time teaching will both enrich me personally and impact my teaching ministry in the future.

Thank you, friend, for believing in me and God’s calling upon my life. Thank you, friend, for your partnership in equipping seven batches of graduates for the harvest fields of our Lord!

OUTSIDE THE WALLED CITY

Outside The Walled City Photo Album

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Since I am working on photos related to Jerusalem, I decided to include sights outside the walled city.

WITHIN THE WALLED CITY: PART 2

Within The Walled City Part 2 Photo Album

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WITHIN THE WALLED CITY: PART 1

Within The Walled City Part 1 Photo Album

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These are photos of sights within the walled city of Jerusalem.

JESUS' LAST WEEK: PART 3

Jesus Last Week Part 3 Photo Album

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JESUS' LAST WEEK: PART 2

Jesus Last Week Part 2 Photo Album

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JESUS' LAST WEEK: PART 1

Jesus Last Week Part 1 Photo Album

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Since Good Friday and Easter are just around the corner, this would be a good time to show sites related to the events leading to Christ's arrest, crucifixion, death, and burial.

MOUNT NEBO PHOTO ALBUM

Mount Nebo Photo Album

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Due to my hives condition, I did not work on my photo album for a month. Well, I am recovering and am alert enough to work on my photos. This are photos taken at Mount Nebo, the place where Moses had a glimpse of the Promised Land before his death.

RECOVERING SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH COMMUNITY

RECOVERING SPIRITUAL FORMATION IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH COMMUNITY

 

Spirituality has now become such a desirable fad that every Christian faith community (whether church or Bible college) is initiating some forms of spiritual formation. Christian leaders are especially concerned about developing a holistic spirituality and integrating such intentional spiritual formation within our faith community. While many openly acknowledged the important role of spiritual formation in our faith community, yet in practice it has often been eclipsed by many other more "necessary" activities or pursuits. There is therefore an urgency to recover this "lost" spiritual formation within our Christian faith community.

 

Underlying Principles of Spiritual Formation

 

The most appropriate place to begin is to enunciate clearly the underlying principles of spiritual formation. The following five principles are initial rather than exhaustive—there are possibly other dynamics that can further fine-tune the spiritual formation of the Christian faith community.

Spiritual formation is both intentional and voluntary

First, spiritual formation is both intentional and voluntary. Alistair McGrath compares it to taking a journey to the New Jerusalem—"a process of personal development" that requires purposeful and intentional efforts (McGrath 2000, 9). As such, spiritual formation is an inner process of internalizing the Christian story of Christ that results in a transformed contemplative and active life of grace and faith under the direction of the Holy Spirit, both personally and corporately. As a process, it requires intentional effort on the human end even though it is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit. It is also voluntary because the Holy Spirit is gentle and would not force himself against the human will. The Holy Spirit only guides us into the truth (John 16:13) and expects us to cooperate in working out God's will (Acts 15:28). There is a need therefore to balance the cultivation of spiritual life—an exercise of our free will to choose and a willingness of our will to cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit or be led by the Spirit (Chan 1998, 23).

Spiritual formation is holistic

Second, spiritual formation is holistic—it includes both our contemplative and active life. While contemplation and action sounds paradoxical, the failure to integrate the "creative tension between the two" in our lives often results in the tragedy of either frenzy living or escapism (Palmer 1991, 16). This is especially crucial for the Christians who are often pressurized to choose between the polarities of a "hectic lifestyle" and an "ivory-tower lifestyle". A holistic approach to spiritual formation thus helps the faith community to break free from the snare of the stereotyped yet unfulfilled life of either/or.

Spiritual formation implies spiritual direction

Third, spiritual formation implies spiritual direction. No one grows spiritually without any external helps, not even the most mature Christian (Chan 1998, 225). Spiritual direction then becomes the dynamic relationship that facilitates a mentor guiding the individual to grow in his or her experience of Christ, both individually and corporately. Therefore some form of spiritual direction is absolutely necessary to guide the individuals and the faith community to integrate theory and practice into real experience.

Spiritual formation is inclusive

Fourth, spiritual formation is inclusive. To be inclusive, spiritual formation must draw upon all resources available. These resources can be drawn from the Bible, and the rich Christian traditions around us. However, there is not a single Christian tradition that is best fit in all situations besides the Bible. Richard Foster in his book, Stream of Living Water, traces six major Christian traditions: the contemplative, holiness, charismatic, social justice, evangelical, and incarnational traditions. Each of these traditions has something valuable on spiritual formation for us to learn.

Spiritual formation is integrated

Finally, spiritual formation is integrated. Spiritual formation should be integrated into our Christian faith community mission. Community growth and spiritual formation are one, not separate endeavors. Spiritual formation without community growth is superficial, and community growth without spiritual formation is empty. In fact, an integrated spiritual formation means that it must be actualized and visible and not simply left inscribed on some "mission statements." This is an often sadly neglected aspect of spiritual formation.

 

Conclusion

 

Our Christian faith community agenda today is often sidetracked by various issues that are of little connection with spiritual formation of the faith community, viz. offering countless activities/programs that draw the crowd, pride in variety of services available, or delusion that one's total attendance is better than others. Our Christian faith community must carefully tread through this maze and follow through these underlying principles in order to stay focused on spiritual formation.

MASADA

Masada Photo Album

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Although Masada is not mentioned in the New Testament, it was an important site for at least one character of the Bible--Herod the Great. Herod's family took refuge here during the three-year reign of Mattathias Antigonus, who was supported by the Parthians, while he himself escaped to Rome in search of support. After Herod was crowned king in 40 BCE by the Romans, he decided to rebuild Masada in case he needed a place of refuge again. This is the third place of interest which we would like to share with you: Masada--one of Herod's great building projects.

Intricate & beautiful Japanese arts & crafts!

What intricate and beautiful Japanese arts and crafts! Captured at a recent Pergamano World Event Exhibition in S'pore by Casey.

WESTERN WALL PHOTO ALBUM

Western Wall Photo Album

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Finally, the second place of interest is ready for viewing. This album has the various sights around and beneath (yes, beneath) the Western Wall Plaza.

PETRA PHOTO ALBUM

Petra Photo Album

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We went to Israel via Jordan in December 2008. We took a lot of photos and are in the midst of creating a photo album. However, we realize that creating an album of the trip is a tedious process. Therefore, we will do a place one at a time. Our first place of interest is Petra, Jordan.

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

Very interesting......
What do you see? Read out loud the word inside the image.

(scroll down for the answer)























In black you can read the word GOOD,
in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter).
Interesting: It visualizes the concept that the absence of good is evil!

WHY JACELYN TAY (MEDIACORP ARTISTE) BELIEVES JESUS

Here is an interesting testimony from Jacelyn Tay (MediaCorp artiste):

. . .I found God when everything was going well . . .but there was still an emptiness in my heart which I didn't understand. I was actually pretty lost when I had everything.