CG 31/07/08

Cell group games are always fun. But sometimes watching a forfeit is even more fun. Last week, When Chee Foo's team lost the game, he announced: "No forfeit" But this week he cannot escape again.

A little surprise tonight was that Chee Foo announced the winner of "Best Connect Group Leader" of the month. 2 was nominated... Cindy Mommy and YuBing.

And the winner goes to.....

YuBing!!!!

Chee Foo mentioned that her group has done a lot together, they would try as much as they can, pray together on every Wednesday, they even fasted together... What a team spirit ya?

YuBing denying it to be her own effort, has given the credit to all her wonderful members for doing their part. She also thinks that Cindy Mommy deserves the award too.

Her future plan is to get to know all her members and have stronger bond with them. They had plans to exercise together too.

Her view is "When you get to know someone better, things can be done easier..."

All the best Yubing.

Its our beloved Joyce's birthday!!!

The beautiful Joyce has always been quiet but strong type. Unknowingly, she has been a pillar in our cell group, a big sister to many of us.

We wish her a wonderful year ahead.

Madeline, one of her very good friend saying words of encouragements to our Birthday Girl.

Amanda with her "First time I saw you" speech.

Belinda playfully snatching the gift from her

Looking at her expression, I'd say our "Shopping Specialist" has once again bought the right gift.

Taru is leaving...

Well.. she's just going back to her homeland in Finland for a month. To show our appreciation, we have prepared a small gift as a token to show that we love her and would be missing her.

"We Love you Taru!!!"

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Find us on Facebook

We have gone beyond the blogosphere and onto the facebook wagon!

If you have a facebook account, find us at chc-n116

Things that you can do, if you are wondering..

- upload photos & videos
- create discussion boards
- send messages (sorry can't poke or throw things at each other ;p)
- and many more!!

How to cook like a Chef?

How to cook like our dear chef Daniel?

Here's a meat lagsania recipe to help you.

** Please note that the result will varies with different people and cooking utensils**

Meat Lasagna--------------------
INGREDIENTS
9 lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 (16 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
4 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce salt and pepper to taste
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Add the lasagna noodles and olive oil;
cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.
Cook the ground beef and sausage in a large pot over medium heat; drain.
Stir in the mushrooms, garlic salt, oregano, thyme, basil, and tomato sauce.
Season with salt and pepper; simmer 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the ricotta cheese, eggs, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl.
Ladle enough of the meat sauce into a 9x13 inch baking dish to cover the bottom in a thin layer.
Form a layer atop the sauce with 3 of the lasagna noodles.
Spread about 1/4 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
Sprinkle about 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese over the ricotta cheese mixture and then ladle about 1/3 of the meat sauce over the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering twice more, topping with the remaining 1/4 pound of mozzarella cheese. Bake in preheated oven 90 minutes.
Allow to sit 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Happy cooking.

Time for Praise

The Festival of Praise will be on this weekend from 1st to 3rd August, 7.30pm, in Indoor Stadium. Hence, there will be no service at Expo.

The FOP is now moving with time... Last year, they had Delirious, this year we are having Reuben Morgan. *Whoa hoo!*

I remember many years ago when I first attended, they had a bunch of Tambourine Dancers in colourful costume running around on the floor area dancing to their own beat, but now, we'll dance to the beat of the Christian Rockers!!!

But important thing is not the music and the dancers... what's important is to come with an open heart, and praise God with the right attitude. Also to receive God's word with the right attitude.

So let's all come and expect a life changing experience.


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Durian Season

I wonder on which day God made the durian...



















God has a very good sense of humor and creativity...

He made durian one of the ugliest and smelliest fruit in the world but yet its the best tasting one ever... commonly known by the Caucasians that its "Smells like hell but tastes like heaven"

Its either you like it or you don't.

Durian has been made into many products...

















Durian puffs stuffed with exquisite durian flesh retaining the original taste of durian.

























Durian can be made into dried chips sold to far away countries.




















Or blend into smooth puddings chilled for the hot weather.

Southeast Asian folk beliefs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, consider the durian fruit to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. The traditional method to counteract this is to pour water into the empty shell of the fruit after the pulp has been consumed and drink it. An alternative method is to eat the durian in accompaniment with mangesteen, which is considered to have cooling properties. People with high blood pressure or pregnant women are traditionally advised not to consume durian.

But how do you choose a right durian? Seriously... I rather choose the right durian seller.

I've seen forums telling people to keep away from certain durian stall opp Geylang Lor 11. Their hard sell tactics give you no time to react and you'll be forced to spend $200 on just a few durians, just like our recent F1 race, one of the race's requirement is to bring back a durian. One of the member brought back a $75 durian.

Angeline's 22nd Birthday

The Picture on the right shows Angeline celebrating her 21st birthday with us last year. The one on the left is her celebrating her 22nd birthday last Thursday.

See any difference of her after a year? Much slimmer of course. More mature looking... Healthier skin color, prettier.



Her jovial personality makes her well loved by everyone in the Cell Group. She leads game before every meeting, even the most boring game can be so fun with her around. (not that there is any boring game at all)



A nice gift bought by our "Shopping Ministry" shopping specialists.
















Amanda is either very happy for Angeline or ...

Father's Day Special

A tribute to all fathers...




This is a short video to pay tribute to the fathers of N116.

I know, comercially we fathers are not as much appreciated as our counter parts. Our marketing value may not be as high. But here in N116, we see everyone the same, because God sees everyone the same.

May all the fathers continue to carry the image of Christ within them and be the living example to their children.



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This is an amazing video from Godtube

Incredible video about the relationship between a father and son.... and God's relationship with us.


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Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

God can use anyone...

A remarkable phone call from a 12-yr old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3.

It touched thousands lives, hope it will touch yours too.

Trip to Kota Tinggi

Last Saturday, a group of 19 adults and 3 kids went on a day trip to Kota Tinggi, Malaysia. This trip was initiated by Gil, but the idea came from "mommy Cindy".

Here is our itinerary of the day....

06.50am:- Assembled at Simei MRT Station.

Teacher Gil, our stand-in tour guide, briefing us about the trip.

"I'm cool..."

It may be very early, but everyone is very excited about the trip.

But wait!.... What's that at the back row????

A pair of legs elevated in the mid air...??!!?

It remained there all the way to the Singapore custom.

09.30am:-Malaysia custom

Even after we crossed the Malaysia custom and changed bus, the legs are still sighted at the back row...

*Daniel admiring his Bride-to-be, ShaoQing.

This is our Malaysian tour guide, Ms Ong. She has been very friendly and always trying her best to accommodate our request throughout the trip.

After getting past the Malaysian custom, the cards are out and the players gathered.

Angeline led them in a series of card games, everyone (except the pair of legs) had fun...

11.30am:- Fruit Farm

We first listened to how they harvest and made the honey.

Next, we visited the fruit farm shop. We didn't go for the guided tour around the farm but stayed in the shop to buy fruits.

Taru: "Durian is my favorite... "

I've never met a Caucasian who likes durian, but Taru loves durian.

Soon she was holding a big tub of durian slurping away.

Cindy: "Shall we buy one more basket of durian?"

Cindy and gang lost the game earlier, so their forfeit was to treat everyone with durian. Which she is very happy to do so.





Everyone enjoyed the fruit feast, the durian is exceptionally sweet, and the 2 big tub only cost RM$70. All thanks to Cindy and gang.

After the fruit feast, Amanda is finally awake and looking for people to play with. But by this time, everyone is getting sleepy and tired, some are trying to nap.

She took over the mic from the tour guide and started to play games and tell "Cold jokes".

12.30pm:- Lobster Town

Its a small town with many lobster restaurants in it.

"We want this Lobster!!!"

Although the lobster is smaller than those they pointed to, but it tasted very good. The other dishes are just as well cooked. No wonder it has so many pictures of celebrities dinning there.

After lunch, its free and easy time to walk around town and buy some local products.

2.00pm:- Ostrich Farm

Come visit the website: Ostrich Showfarm

It takes about a year before the Ostrich are "harvested" for meat.

"Hello tourist!!!"

Nick was the first to try ridding on the Ostrich...

Followed by Isabel

Ally was reluctant but she didn't want to lose out.

We bought dry corns for RM$1 to feed the Ostrich.

They were telling me that the birds chases people in red T-shirt, I think they were making fun of me but I'll still keep my distance.

This "Elvis" Chicken can do tricks. The keeper told him to stay still, and he did. Stayed in that position until it got a tap from him again.

Can you hear the chick?

After seeing how they grow them, we went to see how they grill them. They made into satay meat. Its very tender, very juicy.

4.00pm:- Kota Kinggi

Next we were driven to the biggest shopping complex there. It may not be fantastic like those in big cities, but it still has a lot to offer.

Angeline was the one who started the hair washing trend. The rest of us saw her with fresh smelling hair, our scalps started to feel itchy too... soon most of them are in the saloon getting a wash & cut for RM$17

Even the kids got a hair cut too.

07.00pm:- Seafood Restaurant
Next, we were brought to an air-conditioned seafood restaurant. but we were warned that it could be a long wait because of the over crowding.

Amanda calling for the waiter to find out why our food take so long to be served.

Here is Judy, who has just joined our cell group.

Group Photo
The tour guide kept telling us to smile, we were rather tired, so this is the best we can managed.

The food finally came after about half an hour wait, we all attacked it without much hesitation. In less than 10 minute, we finished everything on the table!

8.15pm:- Jetty (Fire Flies)

It was a short walk to the jetty where we waited for our turn to get on the boat. We were told that the dark river is called Straits of Johor, it is also where the fire flies are.

Safety first!
It is an requirement for all of us to put on the life jacket. You can see from here that we were all geared up for the boat ride.

The boat can take about 40 person per trip.

Everyone enjoying the breeze in the boat, which is surprisingly stable. Here we also get to enjoy the moon and the stars....

Soooooo Romantic....



This is the Firefly, its smaller than I expected. But when they glittered together, it looks like early Christmas.

This video you may not be able to see much, just occasional blinks of fire flies lights, but more importantly is what you'll hear. The excitement of everyone on board ( especially Yubing) when we were all trying to catch the firefly.

When our boat went under a bridge, the boatman shone his powerful torch towards the top and we were shocked to see hundreds of sparrows nesting there. I was sort of relieve that it's not bats, but the sight still makes my skin crawl.

Joyce got the special prize from the boat trip, bird droppings.

11.45pm:- Tuas Check Point

Everyone is tired, but all will agreed that its a day well enjoyed.
And many of us are already urging Cindy to plan for our next cell group trip. This time will be a overnight Kelong stay.