ABC's of Friendship

ABC's of Friendship

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

So.... now you know the ABCs, do it wit otherz!!! Like them below!!

JOYFULLY with A WIDE SMILE ON YOUR FACE!!!

Nuts...

One thing you should might want to know about the Blessed Ministry is that somehow, somewhere, we can find something fun out of nothin... It's remarkable...

This post is actually about NUTS!!!!

When you put Sarah, Carl and Joel together... you'll never know what might happen ^^

We were at ExPert in BDC and we were munching on some nuts AKA ~Kacang~. Then, Sarah, Carl and Joel kinda arranged the skin of the nuts in a formation. Suddenly, they formed something like this...

See anything?? K, let me turn that a bit.... ^^

Now??? Sarah did a little of adjustments...

There... looks like a dog right???

Then, Sarah did a few adjustments...

Transform to a CAT!!!

They can't control themselves!! Next is a....

BaBooN...

You might say, "Sakai" ahha... But, honestly, God gave us this world and they are so many stuff we can do... Be grateful for what you have, cause some people, just don't have any...


Take care!!
-Cyril

Cheers everyone! It's Sophia here. Cyril's away on a trip and he asked whether I could "take care" of the Ministry's blog in the meanwhile. Naturally, it was my pleasure. Tomorrow will be the last day of the liturgical calendar; Christ the King. The last Bible Sharing on Wednesday was taken from the Gospel of Luke 23: 35- 43 and that night's sharing has been coming back to me a lot since.

This is from the Good News Bible:

35 The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders made fun of him: "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!"
36 The soldiers also made fun of him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, 37 and said, "Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!"
38 Above him were written these words: "This is the King of the Jews."
39 One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
40 The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, "Don't you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. 41 Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong."
42 And he said to Jesus, "Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!"
43 Jesus said to him, "I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me."

I quote something from one of us sharing that night. Not precise, but something like this.

Jesus was silent throughout all the insults; four times. First by the Jewish leaders, the soldiers, the inscription and lastly the criminal. The only time he actually spoke was to assure the other criminal that he will be with him in Paradise.

Right now, for personal reasons, these words are exactly what I need. If Jesus, so powerful and almighty had bore pains without proclaiming to the whole world, who are we to do just that? God is awesome and knows everything so thoroughly. I had no idea actually, still haven't, with what to do with this post. I don't even have a title. But we have been told to make up our minds ahead of time not to worry, because God will give us such words and wisdom that none of the enemies can contradict. In Sirach 30: 23 God says, "Enjoy yourself and be happy; don't worry all the time. Worry never did anybody any good and it has destroyed many people."
And to prove that, God gave Jesus, so that we will be happy.

Tomorrow, we will be celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. I hope everyone, especially all those lost and still seeking, knows that although just like one of the criminals, sinful, we still belong somewhere. Together, let us reflect on the readings and Gospel. I hope it has meant as much to you as it had me.

WHY GOD ALLOWS PAIN

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.

As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.

They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:

"I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.

Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?

Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.

I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.

He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

"You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber.

"I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me."

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!

That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.

That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS !!!!!!!

Amazing Photo

This is a photo taken by NASA

Some say it's God's eye... What do you think??

-Shared by Alex Kucha

Radio Rhema

I have been listening Radio Rhema everyday for more than 5 years when I was away to get my daily fix of God's Word...recently, I logged back on again. This is a wonderful station that plays a lot of contemporary Christian songs (Hillsongs, Newsboys etc) 24/7. I like their Bible Discussion and Explanation sessions, 66/40 (66 books by 40 authors) etc.



This is the website:

http://www.rhema.co.nz

-shared by Isabel Fong

God's Love Letter

This video will change your life if you listen and let it.


Enjoy!

What happen to the 12 apostles???

DO YOU KNOW HOW THE APOSTLES DIED?

Matthew Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound.



Mark Died in Alexandria , Egypt , after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.



Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.



John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome . However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.



Peter was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.


James, Just The leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's
club.

* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

James the Great, son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his
trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.



Bartholomew also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.



Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece . After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: "I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it." He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he expired.



Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the sub-continent.



Jude was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. Matthias The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.



Barnabas, one of the group of seventy disciples, wrote the Epistle of Barnabas. He preached throughout Italy and Cyprus. Barnabas was stoned to death at Salonica.



Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire . These letters, which taught many of the foundational
doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.




Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles disciples during their times for the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:



"But he that endureth to the end shall be saved"

-Matthew 10:22.

So. next time when you think your life sucks...

-Shared by Stella Sayang

Verses that will help

Here's a beautiful message I received from our beloved sis, Adeline Liaw.


There are times when we feel like we are at the bottom of a bottomless pit, so to say. We just feel down and not confident. Suddenly, everything is like a burden on your shoulders, dragging you to an endless loneliness and misery. You feel left out and alone. You feel distorted and unclear. You feel wanted but left alone. You feel dead and uncared for.


Youth is the starting spring of life. It is a pity to hear and read about news of youth throwing away their youth by committing suicide and indulging themselves in an endless realm of drugs and self-pity. Smile and rejoice, for God Loves us so much.


You were always thought that our Father loves you so much. Every single day, God Loves you, God Loves you. Accept it as it is the truth....


By the way, here's some bible verses I received in an e-mail. Hope these verses will help you!



YOU SAY
GOD SAYS
BIBLE VERSES

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)


May you have a blessed weekend ahead you. For those going to the Blessed Ministry's Retreat in Santubong, may God be with you and don't you dare leave Santubong without feeling His Love for you.


Cyaz, Peace!

Kelvin's Sharing....

Here's a little quote from Kelvin's sharing,

'I also noticed that everytime there was something going on for the youths, I will be held up in one way of another... hmm... there should be something to this... but i know that as long as I have faith... nothing can stop me... and the same applies to all my readers =D'



To know the whole story, click here.

Communications

To hear what other people are really saying, you need to listen to what they are not saying. No matter how hard people may appear on the surface, mostly everyone is tender inside and has a desperate need to be understood. The following poem captures this need.

Please hear what I’m not saying

Don’t be fooled by me,

Don’t be fooled by the mask I wear,

For I wear a mask,

I wear a thousand masks,

Masks that I’m afraid to take off,

And none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that is second nature with me,

Don’t be fooled.

I give the impression that I’m secure,

That all is sunny and unruffled with me,

Within as well as without;

That confidence is my name,

Coolness is my game,

That the waters are calm and that I’m in command

And I need no one,

But don’t believe it, please don’t.

I idly chatter with you,

In suave tones of surface talk.

I tell you everything that’s really nothing,

Nothing of what’s crying within me.

So when I’m going through my routine,

Don’t be fooled by what I’m saying.

Please listen carefully

Try to hear what I’m not saying;

What I’d like to be able to say;

What?

For survival,

I need to say but I can’t say,

I dislike the hiding.

Honestly I do.

I dislike the superficial,

Phony games I’m playing.

I’d really like to be genuine,

Spontaneous

And me;

But you have to help me.

You have to help me,

By holding out your hand,

Even when that’s the last thing

I seem to want or need.

Each time you are kind,

Gentle,

And encouraging,

Each time you try to understand,

Because you really care,

My heart begins to grow wings.

Very small wings.

Very feeble wings,

But still wings.

With your sensitivity,

Sympathy,

And your power of understanding,

I can make it.

You can breathe life into me,

It will not be easy for you

A long conviction of worthlessness

Builds strong walls.

But love is stronger than strong walls,

And therein,

Lies my hope.

Please try to beat down those walls,

With firm hands,

But with gentle hands,

For a child is very sensitive,

And I am a child.

Who am I??

You may wonder,

For I am every man,

Every woman,

Every Child,

I am every human you meet

So, treat your friends, siblings, parents, and whoever you meet, well because they are God’s creation and no matter how old they are, they are still sensitive and feeble as a child in the inside. They need you to reach out to them with your gentle hands and love, for every man, woman, and child needs….

Believe in what is right

This is very interesting and just a bit scary ...

The Muslim religion is the fastest growing religion per capita in the United States , especially in the minority races!!!

Allah or The Lord Jesus Christ? ... By Rick Mathes

Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths, who explained each of their beliefs.

I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video.

After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers.

When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked: "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, (which is a command to all Muslims) they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"

There was no disagreement with my statements and, without hesitation, he replied, "Non-believers! "

I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven. Is that correct?"

The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of "a little boy who had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar."

He sheepishly replied, "Yes."

I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Dr. Stanley ordering all Protestants to do the same in order to guarantee them a place in heaven!"

The Imam was speechless!

I continued, "I also have problem with being your 'friend' when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me! Let me ask you a question. Would you rather have your Allah, who tells you to kill me in order for you to go to heaven, or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to heaven and He wants you to be there with me?"

You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. Needless to say, the organizers and/or promoters of the 'Diversification' training seminar were Not happy with Rick's way of dealing with the Islamic Imam and exposing the truth about the Muslims' beliefs.

Everyone should be required to read this, but with the Liberal justice system, liberal media and the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized.

This is a true story and the author, Rick Mathes, is a well-known leader in prison ministry.

The Man who walks with God always gets to his destination.

If you have a pulse you have a purpose.

- Shared by Adrian Ho