N116 Appreciation 2009

2009 has been quite a year for us.

Some had a wonderful, eventful year. You had a supportive boss and kind colleagues. Your life is a bit more interesting as you found new friends that can click with you. You had shook away that boring working environment and the current one seems to be more exciting, at least for now. You are able to multitask well as you got the peace of mind at home because children and aging parents are in good health. It is a greater joy to see your children entered into new phase of their lives such as reporting for their first job, getting married & giving birth. Champagnes are popped when desires of your heart came to past. Oh yes, that miracle house, speedy recovery etc ... Praise the Lord!

To some, it had a challenging year. A loss of love ones; going in and out of hospital because parents were very sick; Career stuck; Juggling between jobs, study, family & ministry; financial struggle; health deterioration; heart break; don’t know what to do, etc.. Praise the Lord for His grace, strength and comfort during those hard pressed moments.

Changes do happen. In fact, only constant in life is changes. If change doesn’t cost you anything, then it wasn’t a real change. Without change, there can be no improvement. To some, change is grief. To some, change is growth. I am glad that the members of N116 have not given up on God when there are changes. After serving God in a cell group ministry for the past 8 years, I can conclude one thing. God is a faithful God. We have came out stronger as we persevere till the end of this year.

People who are successful, don’t have fewer challenges than anyone else. Successful people experience more failure, overcome more problems, navigate more changes, deal with more discouragement and fear than those who don’t succeed. How did they do it? They carry a different spirit from the rest. A spirit of great attitude.

Let us embrace 2010 with a choice of great attitude. It’s easier to maintain a right attitude than to regain it.

Here’s what happens on 27 Dec (Sun) for our CG appreciation meeting.

Arrived at Madeline’s house after Sun service. Video crew was busy setting up the TV. Didn’t know we had some potential ballet dancers.

Food was simply heavenly, mouthwatering, toothsome, yummy, palatable, scrumptious, flavorsome, etc.. The list just goes on. Don’t just believe, see below evidences.

Evidence 1

Evidence 2

Evidence 3

We played pictionary. Led by our all time favorite game host, Jennifer.

Saturday night fever

Praising God in all times

After a short word, Chee Foo sang solo and dedicated a touching love Chinese song to all – 老鼠爱大米. If you have missed this moment, you really miss it. Heard that he had been practicing this song secretly in the toilet.

A recap of what we did together as a cell in 2009.

This is the highlight of the session – Oscar winning award.

This is to reward members that have worked very hard and tirelessly for the past one year.

First Award - Best Cupbearer Award

What is Best Cupbearer Award ?

A cupbearer is one who fills, tastes and distributes cups of wine to the king. If the wine has poison, cupbearer is the first person that will die. Hence, a cupbearer is a person that the king can trust. Likewise, this person who wins this award is loyal, trustworthy and willing to bite the bullet for the cell group leader.

The nominees are Amanda, Jennifer, Shaoqing and Joshua

The cupbearer award goes to Joshua Thong

Joshua is willing to go for the extra mile for Chee Foo and members. Chee Foo commented that Joshua would often rearrange his busy schedule just to be available for him and any help when needed.

Second Award - Best Servanthood Award

What is Best Servanthood Award ?

This person just keeps serving tirelessly to the Lord and the members. He often works behind the backstage. Whether if anyone appreciates or not, it does not matter as sacrifice is a lifestyle to this person.

The nominees are Daniel, Mr Lim, Jennifer

The Best Servanthood Award goes to Daniel Ang

Each customized cake that Daniel bakes for the birthday boy or gal easily worth more than S$20. We have an average of 25 members. This guy does not collect money from cg fund for all the cakes baked for members, including new friends. More than this, Daniel often offers his help readily for members.

Third award - Best Supporter Award

What is Best Supporter Award ?

The best supporter is someone that has been a pillar and strength to the cell. This person may not be the loudest or having huge biceps to help out in the cell. Yet this member has been holding a BIG invisible banner in each gathering to support Chee Foo.

The nominees are Sally, Mr Lim, Cindy

The best supporter goes to Mr Lim

Mr Lim has only absent one time for cgm in the whole year of 2009. He is absent because he had a very bad stomachache. This shows how committed he is to the Lord. Chee Foo commented everytime he sees Mr Lim around, he will feel strengthened and know that the meeting will be awesome. Mr Lim, we love you !

Fourth Award - Most Willing Award

What is Most Willing Award ?

The most willing person is someone that simply avails even when the moment is at his/her most inconvenient time. This person has faith to believe that as he moves, God will move. In fact, God uses willing person. A person that is unwilling cannot be used in the kingdom of God. Unwilling person will find himself place at the shelf for a very long, long long time, until every stubbornness and pride are dealt with.

The nominees are Eileen, Cindy, Jennifer

The most willing person goes to Jennifer

What can we say, she is a person that has faith, willing to step out and conquer new grounds.

As for the rest of us, we have got a special photo frame. Reminded us that life is like an espisode. Live once, live well. Nothing is impossible with God.

Celebrating Francis and Madeline birthday

It is a 3-in-1 joyous celebration. CG celebration, house warming and birthday celebration.

See you folks in 2010.

More pictures behind the scene

Christmas moods still in the air

When should we start fasting ?

What? Got sharks fins ? Where to take ?

Someone doing a head stand ?

Christmas Cellgroup Night

One of the best things about being in a cellgroup is the much anticipated cellgroup Christmas bash. There is probably no better way to celebrate Christmas with your spiritual family than coming together on a moonlit night in a big cozy house filled with fun games, caroling, gift exchanges, great fellowship, good wine and champagne plus a sumptuous Christmas feast! This is also the day where we had our last cellgroup meeting for the year, which is kind of like the grand finale of 2009! Check out the line ups that we had:

It's game time! We were divided into 2 teams and each person was to unwrap a layer of newspaper (don't underestimate, they were wrapped in dozens of layers!) wearing kitchen gloves before passing on to the next person and so on till the last person in the team. The team that unwraps the most layers wins.

The second game we played was the 'All About Christmas' Tic-Tat-Toe . Our game host Jennifer certainly did not make this an easy one, and many questions are so tough that you probably need an encyclopedia. Each time someone answers a question correctly, the team he or she belongs to will get a chance to draw on the Tic-Tac-Toe board and this continues until there is a winning team.

Prize for the winning team - Ferrero Rocher Chocs!

After the games, it's time to sing some happy Christmas Carols and festive cheers!

Up Next: Duet performance of Chinese song '关怀方式 'by Joshua and Meredith with Daniel accompanying on the guitar.

After that, it's the exciting segment for everyone - gift exchange! As all of us had already drawn the name of the member we are going to buy present for some time back, so every gift will be meaningful to the reciever in some ways. Each one of us also came up with a short speech to encourage the person we are giving to.

Angela's gift was for Gregory, who could not make it for cellgroup due to work. Hence, we recorded her words for him. So Greg, this is for you ya?

Last but not least, the celebration will not be complete without this and here's the highlight of the night - THE FOOD!

These are just some of what we had. Everything was so delicious that all of us went home with a full stomach that night. For those who wished they were here and wasn't, fret not because there's always the next one, for we are not just a cell group who loves God but loves food as well. It's never too late to join us.

From all of us. Wish you have a blessed Christmas and Awesome New Year !

The 5 minute Skit That Touched The Whole World

The "Lifehouse Everything Skit," performed by Mission Baltimore with music by Lifehouse, has deeply moved the hearts and souls of America, and the only "hook" pulling people toward it is a yearning to draw closer to a forgiving and embracing Savior.

Many are calling the "Lifehouse Everything Skit" a phenomena, but it is so much more than that, as more and more continue to fall in love with Jesus or revive their relationship with Him after watching it.....

Read more at http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/268780.aspx

Happy Birthday Richard!

We might think that meeting people of the same birth month with us is a common coincidence, and meeting people of the same birth day and month is a uncommon coincidence. However, meeting someone in the same cell group with the same birthday is a very rare coincidence! As Christians, we believe a coincidence is never by chance but is a God planned thing.

God must be showing his humor by placing two people with the same birthday in our cell group. Our dear Amanda has a new Khaki because 21st November is not just her birthday, but also our brother Richard's birthday!

This is the first time Richard experience the unique N116 birthday celebration because he had just joined our cell group about 2 months ago. Welcome to our family Richard!

Richard and his daughter Rachel

The 2 Birthday speech givers Jennifer and Daniel were blessed by Richard's earlier testimony and complimented him for being an honest and courageous man who is not afraid to own up and take responsibility for a mistake that nobody knew, and how in the end God turned this bad outcome into good.

Richard sharing how he was led by God to City Harvest church after a period of backsliding.

So what's the first N116 Birthday gift to Richard?

2 nice T-shirts! So Richard, must remember to wear them on our sunday services ok?

Lastly, the highlight of the night - Coffee & Chocolate Mousse Cake! Creation of Patisser Daniel, as always.

The Brick

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighbourhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?' The young boy spoke apologetically 'Please, mister, please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do.' He pleaded 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop.' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, ' he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk towards their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring..

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way..

Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.