東方Good News 3 ~ Raphael and Irene

Hi everyone, just like to update you all on what's happening in our lives. Raphael's started his post law studies and a new job at about the same time and I(Irene) will be starting a new job in two week's time. So, it's quite a transition for us. And I may have another personal offer, pending the interview this sat.

It's been a week of calls and getting with people and doing our best to love.

God encouraged us by having some of the people we've been reaching out to call us and saying 'hi when it should have been us calling first. It started with this couple who walked into church four months ago. They're David and Maryann. But they stopped coming two months ago as she has given birth to a baby girl. They've a 17 month old and 2 month old girl. Well, a month ago, I got a sms asking us how we are and so on. Well, you can imagine our shame. I felt convicted because I wasn't reaching out to them, thinking that some other x'tians were and so, I didn't call her at all. Well, since then, we've(Maryann and I) gone out with our girls twice and her husband has initiated a picnic with us. You can't say 'no' when a non-x'tian sets time with you. We decided that a picnic is not very feasible, so, it's dinner at our place this sat. They're a very nice couple; she's hungarian and he's malaysian chinese. He's doing his Phd and going to be a gynae at KK. Do pray for them. They like the church and amen to that.

And we also got with a couple (Sujoy and Sefali) last sunday cos they have marriage problems. I met up with the wife the next day and we did Proverbs 31. I believe one day they'll make it.

And I had another 2 surprise calls today. Will keep you all updated.

Our goal is to have an appointment/study with a couple a week during the campaign month. And we're grateful for the people God has put in our lives.

東方Bible Insights 2 (Proverbs 31)

All of us want the Proverbs 31 wife in the bible, but how many of us are Proverbs 31 husband?

Ves 11: Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

• Do our daily conversations give our wives confidence? Or we put them down often? Do we give the usual "hm.hm.hm" to all their questions?
• Do you plan ahead of time with your wife what is happening the next week, month.... and the goals u have for the family and kids?
• Do our wives have a great sense of security from us?

Ves16-22 she considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard....

• Unless my wife buys toto and strike it, I think it is hard for her to consider a condo, buys it and sell it for a good profit.
• On the other hand, do I make sure my wife is financially ok?
• I realised women BUY a lot of things whereas men buy only a few things. Wives buy a lot of things for the need of the family and the kids, most of the time cheap. (That's why they shop a lot, it's call research!)
• Husband buys a few things. Mainly for himself (but he always says for investment and future) and most of the time expensive stuff!
• Husband do we care for them financially? Making sure they have more than making by.

Too much things to write (men get a job, not treating her as servant, emotional connection, kids respect her as husband does not put her down, Husband as a leader "elder") but I wont bored you all further. Last but not least,

Ves28: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

• He is positive about his wife, say positive things about her and to her, note, not just during anniversaries and birthdays. (Assuming you do that during those days.)
• Husbands, love you wives, say something positive everyday. I need to repent also: Today Mel is at home with Kayzia (fever), she asked what I want to eat for dinner as she is cooking. I said "everything u cook is special". She was greatly encouraged.

Brothers, let be Proverbs 31 husband.

~Frank

東方Prayer Requests (Sept)

EAST GOAL
2000 contacts and 180 appointments. Basically for people to be saved.

Pray for Stephen Yong who came for the service on Prodigal Son. He is open to find out more about the bible. Pray for him to find the truth in the bible. ~ Yiren and Janice.

UNITY
Pray that we'll be united in this September07 campaign. One in heart and spirit (Phil1:27) ~Janice.

東方Articles 3 (IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FAMILY MEAL)

IMPORTANCE OF HAVING FAMILY MEAL
Unfortunately, the family meal where much of the art of conversation is mastered is not even a part of many homes today. With most families not eating together, many other opportunities for nurturing are also lost. The family meal is where manners are learned, as well as gratefulness for the gifts of food and family, and appreciation for those who provided and prepared the meal. It is a wonderful setting for teaching respect for parents and learning the art of loving hospitality toward guests. Many practical (but vanishing) skills are learned by children of all ages, such as the proper setting of a table, cooking and baking skills, stewardship in using produce and leftovers in a timely fashion, nutrition, cleanliness in food preparation, careful dishwashing, etc. This is also a great time to be with Mom. Working together with our children in all aspects of life—cleaning the house, raking leaves, running errands, and fixing broken things are all part of mentoring and essential to the successful preparation of our children for adulthood.

Janice

東方Articles 2 (NURTURING OUR CHILDREN)

NURTURING OUR CHILDREN

Educating a child’s mind without nurturing his soul and spirit will only introduce facts and information; it will not teach him how to live a godly life. Since children learn from our attitudes as well as our actions, we must constantly be aware of what we are conveying to our children by our daily life.

1) Are we teaching them honesty and integrity in business dealings and relationships? They learn respect for others in how we treat others and speak about others.

2) What are we teaching them in the way we drive our cars, interact with salespeople, or tip waiters and waitresses?

3) Are we generous in giving to others, or are we teaching our children selfishness? Do we push our way in line, or do we invite others to go ahead of us? What they learn from us in dealing with others will most certainly be demonstrated in their relationships with their siblings and others.

4) What do we teach our children about contentment if we gripe and complain and are not content ourselves? Are our children learning to value work (Jesus Himself was a carpenter) or are they developing attitudes of laziness or complacency?

5) Are they learning the joy of serving others, or do they expect to be served themselves? All these things are learned through careful nurturing, moment by moment, year in and year out.

6) Do our children know they are loved unconditionally by God and by us? In other words, just as God’s love for us is not based upon our performance, beauty, or ability, but on who we are as persons, so our love for our children must be consistent, regardless of their failures. As they grow in security, knowing they are unconditionally loved by God and their parents, they will be able to understand they do not have to win every argument, or always need to be right. They will learn it is OK to make mistakes, or not to be “the best” in everything; in short, it’s all right not to be perfect. This is learned most effectively by example, when we as parents humble ourselves and confess and ask forgiveness of our children when we have offended them.

Janice

東方Good News 2 ~ Evangelism

East LaoBoo evangelism @ Simei on 1st August.
"Hi, excuse me, we would like to invite you for a special event....Podigal Son......."
We kept searching for people who are open to come. And God bless our hearts. With 9 of us, we have contacts of 7 new friends and one of them is open to study the bible the next evening. To God be the glory!

Janice.

東方Simi Happening ~ August

Church
Aug - "Homecoming: The Return of the Prodigal Son" Special Service 10am - 12pm
19th Aug - CCC swimming carnival at former SMU campus 8:30 am - 12:30pm
26th "Homecoming: The Return of the Prodigal Son" Special Service 10am - 12pm
31st Aug - starting of Friday Parenting class (0-6 yrs old)

Happy Birthday for all the August babies:
6th - Alyssa (4 years old)
10th - Serene
17th - Lily Ho
25th - Meng Fong
29th - Joyln (1 year old)

August spiritual babies:
7th - Victor (5 yrs)
15th - Eleen (9 yrs)
22th - Melanie (14 yrs)
28th - Kin Ching (19 yrs)

Sisters
Chilli crab eating & fellowship (cooked by our chef Lai Peng & sponsored by Soo Mui)
Date: TBA

東方Bible Insights 2 (Jesus loves me!)

Jesus loves me!
Every year Jesus celebrated Passover. However, throughout Jesus' adult life, celebrating the Passover must have been an intensly emotional experience for he was fully aware that the true Passover lamb had come into the world and had yet to be killed.Jesus' physical suffering may start when he was captured but his emotional pain started since he was old enough to understand.Revelation7:14 It was the Lamb's blood that washed the saints' robes & made them white, and the Church - the New Jerusalem (Rev21:2) - is described as the wife of the Lamb (Rev19:7).Jesus' blood pays the ransom of my freedom from sin and corruption. My sins demand retribution, and only the payment of Jesus' life - through his blood - can buy back my life.Matthew20:28, Mark10:45The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus loves me this I know,For the bible tells me so.Jesus loves me when I'm good,When I do the things I should.Jesus loves me when I'm bad,Only makes him very sad!Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, for the bible tells me so.

~Anonymous

東方I Got Something To Ask/Say 1 (Why in Jesus Name?)

Why do we end our prayer "in Jesus name"?
Choose one answer below:
(1) because Jesus says so
(2) because Jesus can ask God on our behalf
(3) because we go to God through Jesus

Here's what Jesus says in John 16:26-27. 'In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father'.Somthing for us to take into heart when praying.Amen.

~Anonymous

東方Prayer Requests

Lilly Young will be starting her chemotherapy treatment on Aug 8th.
Please pray for her to have strength/ minimal pain & for Yeo family to be strong.
~Joyce

東方Good News 1 ~ Bible Talk

Dear all,
Frank and Yiren's bible talk has organized a birthday party cum health talk on 28th July 2007. It was fun and the group get to know 12 new friends.In all we have 23 adults and 17 kids came for the party. The highlight was the health talk,children games & lucky draw & the all time favorite chocolate fondue. It was great fellowship.Please click here to view the photos of the event :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10717840@N02/sets/72157601101011442/

By Yiren and Janice

東方Articles 1 ( say the right thing at the right time... Priceless)

Jack wakes up at home with a huge hangover after the night of his office Christmas party. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins next to a glass of water on the side table. And, next to them, a single red rose! Jack sits up and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He takes the aspirins, cringes when he sees a huge black eye staring back at him in the bathroom mirror, and notices a note on the table,

"Breakfast is on the stove, I left early to go shopping -- Love you, Jill"

He stumbles to the kitchen, and sure enough, there is breakfast and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating.

Jack asks, "What happened last night?"

Jack's son answers, "Well, you came home after 3 a.m., drunk out of your mind. You broke some furniture, puked in the hallway, and got that black eye when you ran into the door."

Jack says, "So, why a red rose, and breakfast on the table waiting for me?"

His son replies, "Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your pants off,
you screamed, "'Leave me alone, lady, I'm married!'"

Broken furniture - $ 885.26
Hot breakfast - $4.20
Red rose bud - $3.00
Two aspirins - $0.38
"Saying the right thing, at the right time . . . . . Priceless"

Frank Foo.

東方Bible Insights 1 (Psalm 107)

Psalm 107
This Psalm has 4 parts, 1-9, 10-22, 23-33, 34-43, actually it depends on which commentary you read. I will only highlight a few verses that strike me the most and share some thoughts on it.

(v7)He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
V4-6 They wandered in the desert, lost, hungry, thirsty and dying. As usual, they cried out and The Lord led them by a STRAIGHT way. Hm, if it was me, I would have led them through a small “Newton Circle” round first, a few times, see if they are sincere and then maybe will lead them to the place. Our love is conditional, God is not.

(v18)They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death.
At first they were hungry until can die. Now they are so full till they can die! Last time we felt so poor like dying like that. Poor campus and singles days. Now most of us are actually ok (most have 2~6 months salary in the bank, just in case…). Still some of us work like crazy or think of it so much that I think it is killing us. Funny.

(v20)He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Ok, what did God send to heal us, HIS WORD. Er, I thought should be blessing right? Especially materials blessings! Nope. The Lord sent his word. Commandments. Principles. Examples in the bible. If we read and follow it, we are more likely to change our ways; our character as a person, our attitude in our workplace, our roles in the family, our duty as a disciple etc. Like what Bro Siew always tell me, “when you cant change the situ, at least you can control the way you feel. You can choose to be joyful no matter what happen.” With his (God not Siew) word, I wont have to depend on my boss (btw, I have a good boss, hope he is reading this) to change, my children to behave, my friends to love me (but please do love me anyway), my salary to increase (thou I must say that helps greatly, boss u reading this?) and etc. Cause I am contented. I am at peace. I have tried my best. I am loved by God.

Ok before I bored all of us to death, I shall end with this verse.
(v30)They were glad when it (sea) grew calm and he guided them to their desired haven.
This is where we got our idea from, HAVEN 4 families. Haven, a place for me to rest my soul, a place to anchor my spiritual ship from the storm out there, a place I listen to the gentle whisper God is trying to sing to me. We hope this blog will be a place for us to encourage, inspire and love each other. As of now, Haven is my bed to rest my tired body, it is 130 in the morning. Good night everyone.

Frank Foo

東方Pictures

This one u can post pictures of the kids, bible talks or anything related to 東方父母. Pls reduce the size to small small.....




Title: Ksiao!
sample photo submitted by thefoosfamily

東方Suggestion

anything I missed out?

1st article