Author andrewong2024

Go in Search of A Church By Way of The Web

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Your congregation may be just a click away, but some say the devil is in the details
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald
USA TODAY 

Across the country, fall is high season for “church shopping,” as people in search of a new faith community to call home set about the task of finding one. But that doesn’t mean they’re showing up, singing hymns, shaking hands and sampling doughnuts at a different church each week.

Instead, observers say, they’re visiting church websites and evaluating congregations — often without having actually met anyone at the church. And that has some church people worried that the practice of faith is getting ever more impersonal — and consequently less powerful — in an age driven by efficiency and impatience.

Church shoppers “used to have to go to the service, sit in the back row and watch,” says Tom Bandy, president of EasumBandy & Associates, a church consultancy. “The website has just replaced that. The color schemes, the formatting, the language, the music — those things powerfully reveal who they (in the church) want to come there and who’s going to be accepted there.”

As tools for reaching potential worshipers, church websites are growing in number and getting more sophisticated…. (continued)

Read the full article here>>>

Good De-Motivators

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You heard of motivational posters, but have you heard of de-motivational ones??

I came across this site- www.despair.com and found some cold but hilarious de-motivators for those who prefer a different/rhetoric approach.

Here are some of my picks….

Problems

Talk about being encouraging. This one really inspires HOPE when you’re down and need to see the bigger picture =P

Destiny

Good card to give to your partner on an anniversary or when you want to break up. Ha ha….

Mistakes

Best given to yourself to serve as a reminder to live with prudence.

And my personal favourite….

Persistence 

HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Baby Ezekiel

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Baby EzekielIntroducing the latest addition to the Ong family: Baby Ezekiel!!!

First-born to my youngest brother (in picture), first grandson for my father and my first nephew! 

Isn’t he adorable???

Like the biblical character, Ezekiel, I pray that this nephew of mine will be a “prophet” by being a gift that points those around him, especially his parents to God.

Dependent child

Looking at him all cuddled up in his mum’s arms, I realised how he fully dependent a child is.

For example if he gets sick, neither would he know what to do nor would you expect him to walk to a doctor.

He is vulnerably dependent on his dad/mum to stay alive and grow up.

Being a child in God

But of cos, we know what happens when he does grow up. He gets more educated and learns to get around in life and walk independently.

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4

Likewise between us and God, too often we reverse the roles and take on the role of a parent with God by assuming our self-sufficiency, instead of being His child; relying and submitting our lives under His Lordship.

My prayer

I pray that I will not only be like a little child but be His child, placing my life fully into His strong Hands and trusting His guidance and leadership.

Without you Lord, I will die. I need you.

Amen.

 

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My Doodling:

Yet another wedding is coming! This time is my colleague, Darren.

Personally I think he has really set the standard among all the wedding preparation and stuff I have seen so far. He actually set up a website for his wedding and for his guest to RSVP thru it. Talk about being relevant! =P

And you won’t believe this… this couple actually flew to Korea just to take their wedding photos!!? This guy really spoil market sia… and even built a shoe rack for his wife in their new home!?? I am sure the ladies will be inspired. Ha ha ha…

3 Weddings and a Football Match

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Let’s begin with the football match first…

Over the last weekend, a highly-anticipated epic match between Man Utd and ARSEnal ended up with the two team sharing the spoils with a 2-2 draw. (@#%*&@) 

Man U guttedArrghh….. I was gutted! And I am sure I wasn’t alone feeling the same way.

Man Utd literally threw away a win which would have toppled those Gooners Gunners from the top of the table and topping the league.

Sianz…

Okay! I am done with venting my frustrations. I dun want my friend cum Man Utd antagonist, Lindy (who’s probably going to read this) to enjoy her moment for too long =P 

Now about the 3 weddings…

This is the first time that I have had to attend weddings back to back to back(!?) I guess my peers are growing up liao… Ha ha…

Steven and his wife

Wedding number 1 belonged to my ex-colleague, Steven when we were working in a nightclub- PASEO (now defuncted) some 10 years ago. He was my 24/7 drinking buddy back then before I quitted the bottle.

I recalled how we used to joke that we could never get married because of our ways. And now he has walked down the aisle before me.

James & Shireen

Wedding number 2 was James and Shireen from my present Unit group in church.

When their courtship was in the initial stages, I witnessed their numerous spits and spats. And frankly, I almost thought they wouldn’t make it far because of their differences.

But God has proved Himself true and faithful to His word, and they are now embarking on a shared life journey together!

Indeed, both of them had worked hard in loving each other *clap clap clap*

Boon & Hazel

Lastly, Wedding number 3 belonged to Boon Liong and Hazel!

Personally, I am amazed and thankful at the same time how God had brought them together after one big cycle after their “seperation” from the tertiary group. And now, they are together as husband and wife =)

Phew… now it is time for me to rest from more weddings. But it will only last till next week when I will be attending another wedding-  Theo and Kim’s *sweat*

In the meantime, I guess I will be contented watching my next football match between Manchester United and Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League =P

God Matters Most

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It was really ‘cool’ to read that Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently launched his own music album- Rinduku Pada Mu (My Longing for You).

Furthermore, the album which contains 10 songs are mainly ballads based on peace, love and friendship.

Rinduku Pada Mu (My Longing for You)He was quoted saying that “all the songs in this album were written in between breaks in my hectic schedule as I pondered about life and about the problems that this country is facing.”

Though I have not listened to his album, I am very encouraged how he has used his marketplace’s position and influence as a politician  to impart something of God to minister to his nation.

My Longing for You 

An interesting fact was the title track, Rinduku Pada Mu, which he wrote in April last year, was written just two years after he became president. At that time, he had to deal with a string of natural disasters in the country.

Another song which he wrote in Sydney after attending the Apec meeting last month is Mengarungi Keberkahan Tuhan (Seeking God’s Blessings), which was his prayer to the Almighty for divine guidance.

What matters most…

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Phillipians 1:15-18 (NIV)

Though I read that critics have scoffed his album as PR tactics towards his presidential election campaign for 2009, but I still think it doesn’t matter what’s his real agenda is. Cos what’s more importantly is that God’s Name is communicated.

Knowledge is a Double-edged Sword

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“NOW ABOUT food offered to idols: of course we know that all of us possess knowledge [concerning these matters. Yet mere] knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud), but love (affection and goodwill and benevolence) edifies and builds up and encourages one to grow [to his full stature].”

1 Corinthians 8:1 (Amplified)

God Called Me Back

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Some time or weeks back, I had unawaringly allowed the spirit of the world to seep into my soul. Through my work, I was filled with discontentment, hunger for recognition and a disdain-for-the-weak kind of attitude.

Thankfully this was brought to light during the recent team rally when Pastor Ben reinstated the leaders by reminding us of our calling in charging us towards our Q4 direction.

“If you are tired and have been thinking of taking a step back or to step down, don’t forget who called you,” he exclaimed.

Distracted by the world

Jesus called me backThat was a divine reminder and wake-up call. Cos during that period I was actually toying with the idea of taking a back seat or taking a step back from serving as His CL. I was tired.

However, I realised I was tired because my priorities had subtly shifted to chasing things of the world such as climbing the corporate ladder, craving for a bigger paycheck, etc….

This somehow was intertwined with my intention to be a better marketplace minister. And I was rationalising that I should be freeing myself from ministry responsibilities and investing more time and energy on my career development first.

Seeking His Kingdom first

“It is God who called you”

God really spoke through Pastor Ben to jostle me up and re-aligned me to His purpose, priorites and calling for me. I repented.

On hindsight, I am ashamed that I could even contemplate on letting go the spiritual authority and leadership that He had so graciously given me. Cos serving the Lord and His people is indeed a great and God-given privilege that I would have never taken for granted.

In all things, it will always be God and Your Church first as my main priority- functioning as my anchor, refuge and compass–  and with the other aspects of my life stemming from it.

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My Doodling:

Just yesterday I kena nominated as the organising committee’s chairperson for SMa’s Staff Christmas Party by “default”. KNS… =p

But this is so strange cos this quarter I am also leading in organising my old gang’s BBQ nite and also my ECU batch’s graduation celebration. Wah… 3 in 1 outreach package! *sweat*