The Weekend

We had an eventful Sunday as usual. Jo managed to attend Sunday School after a loooong absence while I was as usual having a handful with my YM (Youth Ministry) "kids". Even before church, Jo had already decided that lunch will be at Tiong Bahru food centre fulfilling her char-siew mee craving. Alas it was not to be. Arriving there at 1:50pm, the stall was apparently "out of stock" of their char siew and other food ingredients..."come back in 2 hours", the stall holder told us ... and Jo looked at me thinking "seow ah" :)

Anyway we were having lunch with the Foos and our god-daughter Rebecca who was just a livewire talking about everything she's been doing over the past week ... I think? She's always so engaging, animated and expressive - her big eyes and her wild hand gestures just really captivate you. She's such a joy to be with and of course not forgetting the parents too, David and Jennifer... hee hee.

Shalom Bible Study (BS)
We had our Shalom Small Group (SG) Bible Study this evening continuing on the book of James.
We had a nice Italian dinner consisting of: Spizza pizzas (Pizza Hut is taboo food to us), Ketti's hearty minestrone and homemade garlic toast, Mei's fantastic beefy spaghetti and Jenny's honeydew balls with nata de coco + aloe vera dessert.

Today we covered James 1:19-27 on Listening & Doing. Our study focused on the relationship between hearing God's Word, and putting it into practice in our lives. Key lessons:

a. "Quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" v.19 - the Bible commends the value of listening and the danger of hasty speech. One needs to consider carefully what is to be said, rather then impulsively launching into words that are not wise.

b. "..ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess" v.21 - to be in tune with God's purpose requires us to reject and lay aside moral uncleanness.

c. "But be doers of the word and not hearers only" v.22 - the crux of James point within this passage. The Christian must not only hear the word BUT importantly ACT upon it...a response is needed.

d. v.26-27 James goes on to highlight the marks of a true Christian are:
1. Through his Speech - the ability to control the tongue
2. The willingness to engage in charity
3. The continuous pursuit of Holiness