Thursday, November 24, 2005
i woke up this morning...yearning to read the news on BBC. somehow. don't ask me why. i guess im probably reverting back to the debate season where BBC will be my favourtie website. as much as i detest reading on and on about global affairs, at times, i do enjoy reading what they publish.
and so...i searched for RWANDA this morning and thousands of articles was found. randomly, i clicked on a few and i came across this article which touched my heart. it reminded me about the lady from SOT who prayed for south africa during the overnight prayer meeting. The image of her praying with intense faithfullness and to a certain extent, imense deaperation to seek help from God to recuperate the situation in Africa that was been ongoing for decades, somehow seem to fit into my mind clearly. i could still see her doing all that clearly in my mind.
to a large extent, i do feel for her and her country. don't inquisite about my sentiments towards that barren nation, its probably what my debating carreer has caused me to behave, think and feel accordingly.
anyway...back to the point i was driving at.and so as i was randomly clicking on the headlines that somewhat strike my attention, i came across this particular one which reminded me about the normal cell grop meetings we have, and the usual testimonies we share.
here it goes (somewhat a testimony shared by a refugee in Rwanda):
Last Updated: Friday, 2 April, 2004, 11:48 GMT 12:48 UK
'Living among the dead'
Flora MukamporeIn 1994 in the village of Nyarubuye, Rwanda, the Hutu majority went on a killing spree in the local church, slaughtering neighbours and friends.
Flora Mukampore lost 17 members of her family and saw her neighbour doing the killing. This is her story.
We used to go to church with them and they taught us together that committing murder is a sin and God punishes those who kill.
We thought that no one would dare come to attack us at the church because the church is a holy place.
[When the killers arrived] our men were ready to fight, even though they didn't have any weapons, so they died standing. You would not think that they were all going to get killed because they were very many. We did not think they would get killed.
Drenched in blood
My neighbour Gitera was there. Imagine someone leaving their home, knowing the possible victim's name and their children's names.
'Taken over by Satan'
They all killed their neighbours' wives and children.
All the people they were cutting fell on me because I was near the door. I had too much hair but it all was washed with blood.
My body had been drenched in blood and it was getting dry on me so killers thought I had been cut all over. They thought I was dead.
I lay down on one side with only one eye open. I could hear a man come toward me and I guess he saw me breathe. He hit me on my head saying: "Isn't this thing still alive?"
At some point God helped me and made me unconscious because if I wasn't, there is a possibility that I would have committed suicide
Flora Mukampore Immediately I heard my entire body say "whaa". Something in my head changed forever. Everything stopped.
Afterwards, when the cold wind blew. I woke up. But I did not realise that there were bodies around me. I did not remember what had happened.
I just thought they were normal people and so I slept among them like we had slept before the killers came.
Suicide
Later I heard the girl say: "She is rotten. It's all over for her. Does she look human to you? "
Then I realised that all the people around me had decayed.
When they sat me up I realised there were maggots and I started removing them off myself.
Can you imagine living with the dead? At some point God helped me and made me unconscious because if I wasn't, there is a possibility that I would have committed suicide.
But, I wasn't conscious and anyway killing oneself needs energy. Can you imagine. People died on the 15 April and I lived among them until the 15 May?
Panorama: The Killers was broadcast on BBC One on Sunday, 4 April 2004 at 2215 BST
im sure all thoses killings that took place in church has definitely grieved God's heart. but nontheless, from this article, we cannot deny that God's grace is never ending and He is Merciful to those who keep up the faith in Him. Maybe the situation in Africa seem to be hopeless and perhaps only decades of recovering and aid will help them out from poverty and the other thousands of adversities they are burdened with, but one thing for sure, God has not forsaken them.
He has instilled a desire in millions of other potential missionaries around the world to play their part to help out. one may think that one cannot do much with just his bare hands and feet, but as cliche as it may sound, with God, All things are Possible.
meifeng
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
wow...looks like i haven blog for several days....but been real busy ba
had overnite prayer meetin on fri after service...though i know its gonna test me physically, mentally and spiritually..i really enjoyed the time which i can pray about everything that i have been wanting to bring forward to God...all the needs, my cries, hurts, joy...i feel God's presence very strongly many times...
understand the importance of seeking aft his presence...and that in his presence, the world would grow strangely dim...all i see is his love, power and glory
heard God tellin me to step out more for him...encouraged me with my cell group members....and remind me not to give up in this faith run with Him
realized that i have at many times wanted to throw in the towel, wanted to tell myself "i won't be able to handle all these"
how can i cope with so much commitments...like ushering, cg helper....i would be tempted to just return to the world...
but now God has showed me that his grace is sufficient for me....he is calling me to hang on his promises....trials and tribulations will surely come..but the one that comes out through these valleys are the true children of God
God has renewed my faith...i'll now look to him whenever i feel weak
thank you Jesus =)
alot of things gonna happen for the next few weeks...first the outreach, next class cip from mon to wed..then immediately i'll start work.....both looking forward and also a little fearful...
but perfect love casts out fear...that i'll rmb
been feeling very ill for the past two days...fever going on and off...felt horrible...wanted to vomit...had some ulcers in my throat...coz too heaty le..got to practise abstainence from all forms of fried, oily food..means no more chocolate cookies, no more fastfood...arrrh..but got no choice...
God heal me
anyway...jeanie must know that the whole cell group is behind you...we do not exactly understand wat u're going through...but we'll continually keep you in prayers...jiayou..
dun give up ya...know God's doing a mighty work through you...if anyone of us make u feel upset do let us know ya?....take care
love, irwin
something interesting to note.
Interesting Facts of City Harvest Church Buildingat No. 1 Jurong West Street 91
1.
Largest Column-Free SanctuaryThe main auditorium, with an area of 1,700 square metres, is the largest column-free church sanctuary in the Southeast Asian Peninsula.
2.
Largest "Transfer Beam" in the World6 floors of the building are resting on the "ceiling" of the column-free auditorium. The ceiling, technically known as a "transfer beam," is the largest ceiling structure in the world with an area of 3,500 square metres and a depth of 3 metres. Sato Kogyo and Bachy Soletanche jointly built it.
3.
First Titanium-Clad Building in AsiaThe front facade of the building is clad with the same titanium that wraps the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. The renowned museum is reputed to be the most beautiful contemporary architecture in the world today. According to the Swiss museum specialists, this building in Singapore is the first architecture with such titanium cladding in Asia.
4.
Largest Church BuildingFrom the lowest basement to the top of the steeple cross, the building is 54 metres in height, or equivalent to 18-20 floors of a HDB flat. This is the biggest church structure in the Southeast Asian Peninsula.
5.
To prevent the two HDB flats (within 9 metres from the perimeter of the building) from collapsing, or even having a hairline crack, a 1-metre thick diaphragm wall was constructed all around the boundary of the property before excavation works were carried out. The complexity of the construction was further intensified by the fact that the 4 basements had to be built "top-down" (constructing downward in the order of ground floor, basement 1, basement 2, basement 3 and then basement 4) rather than the conventional "bottom-up" approach.
6.
Tallest Partition Panels in the WorldThe sanctuary can be compartmentalised or partitioned into 7 smaller halls. While working on this project, Goldbeck GmbH designed the tallest partitions or "operable walls" in the world with each panel in the sanctuary measuring at 11.5 metres in height. (The previous tallest panel measured at only 9.5 metres.)
7.
First Broquard Fountain in Southeast AsiaMr. Jerome Broquard from Los Angeles, USA, is widely recognised as the number one fountain maker in the world. Mr. Broquard is the designer of the fountain wall at the front of the building and this assignment is his first fountain project in Southeast Asia. (Japan has the only other Broquard fountain in Asia.)
8.
Largest Stainless Steel Church Cross in the WorldAt 12 metres high and 800 kg in weight, the stainless steel cross is the largest in the world.
9.
Largest Sound Console in the WorldMr. Steven Le Roux, the sound and lighting consultant of the Sydney Opera House, provided consultancy services to City Harvest Church with relation to acoustics of the main sanctuary. The auditorium is fitted with a 60-channel sound console, which is the largest and only one of its size in the world.
10.
Mr. Dan Hess, a former top stage designer from Christie's Auction House in New York, is the designer of the auditorium's stage.
11.
The front lawn of the building has a reflecting pool and a putting green for golf enthusiasts.
12.
Most Advanced Fire Evacuation System in the WorldThe fire evacuation public announcement system, designed by Klotz Digital, is widely touted to be the most advanced and efficient in the market today. They designed this specially for the new Munich Airport which is due to be opened in 2003. The church was approached by Klotz Digital to be the first architecture in the world to be fitted with such a system.
13.
Largest Church Donation Campaign in Southeast AsiaThe land purchase and building construction costs a total of $47.6 million. This amount is raised locally and entirely from City Harvest Church's own congregation in Singapore over a period of 7 years. Only 45% of the congregation are working adults, the rest are mainly schooling youths, housewives and retirees.
14.
Largest Busing Programme in Southeast AsiaEvery weekend, 406 bus trips are made to ferry our members.
cheers!
meifeng
Monday, November 21, 2005
im bored. these are all the pictures i have in my phone. im too lazy to tag the pictures with names or quotes. so just figure it out yourself. basically..the pictures are just the ones i took randomly on my birthday, during the maestro monopoly game, overnight, and erm..yesterday's outing to town with irwin,issac,merrien,and ms. yea..enjoy.
(=
meifeng
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
