From the monthly archives:

January 2010

A 2010 Mosaic Baptist Covenant?

by sockacoach on January 12, 2010

According to what we have come up during Sunday’s message time, if we ever have to document a Mosaic Baptist covenant for 2010, it will look as follows:

“We promise to read, reflect, pray and act upon God’s Word. We promise to pray and care for someone within our faith community and/or outside of our faith community. We promise to practice simple living.”

I thought this is wonderful. This is exciting for it offers a fresh start for 2010. Something that is directional and accomplishable for our faith journey.

Then I thought if we would really follow the tradition of Nehemiah 10, or even that of the Mosaic tradition; i.e. put in a clause to state the consequences of not being able to stick with this covenant; as a community and as an individual? Or on a lesser note, how do we hold ourselves and one another accountable for it?

Let me perhaps suggest three action points based on Deuteronomy 6:6-9:

^“6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

1. SAY IT.

Talk about these promises at home and with one another at the Mosaic Baptist gatherings.

“This week, I have read John 6 and I feel that God is saying …” “I have not been looking at flyers for bargains or making a purchase for two weeks …though I was tempted many times …” “It is amazing how things have worked out for this person whom I have been praying for …”

2. MEZUZAH IT.

Find a way to remind ourselves of these promises. Like the Jewish mezuzah, we may need to place these promises on our refrigerator door or carry them in our wallets to remind ourselves daily.

3. WRITE IT or should I say BLOG IT.

Put your experiences into words will help you slow down your life and reflect upon it in these regards. Do not afraid to write about your failure as well. It will really put the faith community to test when an individual fails in his or her journey. It demonstrates whether a community is truly a community of Christ (forgiveness, love and encouragement) or a community of legalism (cast away the remorseful sinner).

Well, it does not seem to be that difficult, does it?

Shall we then, follow the Nehemiah 10 tradition and put a curse on ourselves for not being able to fulfill this covenant? A thought still lingers in my mind …

Be the first to comment

Christians and their agendas

by Lon on January 12, 2010

2 comments

Communal response to Nehemiah 10 – Covenant

by Lon on January 11, 2010

A communal response to last week’s message on NEHEMIAH 10: COVENANT.

Apology: I could not read some of your handwritings; therefore, not all comments are printed here.

LOVE GOD … your choices

His Word – read, reflect, pray and act.
His world – read, reflect, pray and act.
Practice the presence of God.
March on God’s drum beat.
Learn and practice the telling of God’s story in the world / in your life.

YOUR VOICES:

CHOICE COMMENTS:

1. 10 persons Group ppl (3 pl who are interested regardless of faith journey) to study the scripture, pray, act together. (hopefully the ppl are living in the same neighbourhood /

Be consistent & more disciplined in reading God’s word, praying & acting out. The core is to have a constant longing for God & His presence / Love God by loving His people – Christ followers and non Christ followers – people different from us – neighbours – set example – glorify Him / I haven’t been having much of time on reading God’s word. Right now it’s important to spend time on God’s Word in order to know more God. When knowing God more, we will love God more. Then we can practice love others too / Probably 1, 2 or 5? 5 sounds a lot better, so that one then? / 6 Help the helpless – reachout to un-reach — Chinese Christian Missions & Mon Sheung

2. 4 persons

3. 6 persons Tell the story of God through sharing lives with one another

4. 2 persons Remind each other of what God wants through sharing and reflection, to strengthen one another in the community to be closer to God.

5. 6 persons More communal blogging / sharing / practice this by meeting people with or without the same faith. Sharing faith with them how God has been there for myself through pain and suffering as an encouragement to them / Sharing your experiences and bring accountable to your brothers & sisters regarding your responses / it would be important the first understand the true meaning of God’s word

6. Be attentive to God’s need / helping people without thinking of rewards / open your eyes and see what God has created for us. Appreciate God’s creations.

LOVE OTHERS … your choices

Pray and care for someone inside / outside the community of faith
Practice the “one another” sayings from the Bible
Meet up consistently with a group of Christ followers
Tend to your health (emotional / physical / spiritual …)

YOUR VOICES:

CHOICE COMMENTS:

1. 11 persons

2 2 persons

3 4 persons same as “Love God” #1.

4 5 persons We need to care ourselves first & love ourselves before care for others. When people see us emotional / physical / spiritual healthy, they’ll want know why. That’s will give you the opportunity to show them * share the with God

5 Learn to take care for the needy ones in community / pray and care for those who are inside / outside of your community / individuals of old age family / help the needy ones and yourselves / always listen to others / pray & care for one another & others outside the community, emotionally, spiritually & physically , etc.

SERVE HUMANITY … your choices

Adopt: Water Ambassador / Ratanak / Wycliffe / missionary / …
Volunteering in your community / context
Practice “simple living”
Read and research

YOUR VOICES:

CHOICE COMMENTS:

1 4 persons Adopt an organization that actively serves humanity i.e. water ambassador / help when need

2 10 persons

3 13 persons So that we can save time & money to serve others & serve humanity / practice simple living and share & encourage friends to practice the same – from where we buy food & goods, from where we eat. How we don’t buy …

4 0 person

5 Pray , care and be accountable to someone inside / outside the community / be a helping hand to those you see. As simple as giving some loose changes to the poor / homeless, volunteer and really just help anyone / volunteering in your community & context as well as collaboration with others in the community also twittering & sharing about it in the community

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INPUT

Be the first to comment

John 2:1-12

by Lon on January 11, 2010

Continuing our journey through the Gospel of John

1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied, “My time has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so,9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside

10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding – the very fact they were invited said something about who they were and what they were known for. How will we ever impact culture if we’re unwanted? How will we ever connect with people if we never accept those invitations?

Jesus’ hour had not yet come – so why did he respond anyways? It’s beautiful how Mary was so intimately connected to her son that the both new his intentions and how he would in turn respond without him verbally mentioning a thing.

What might the significance of pouring wine into jars traditionally used for purification?

How might this story connect with God’s overarching plans in human history? – Saving good wine until the end?

Be the first to comment

Thank You Card From Aurora Resthaven

by dimshie on January 9, 2010

On behalf of the residents at Aurora Resthaven I would like to thank the volunteer from the Mosaic Baptist Church for their on-going gift of time spent at our home. The monthly Beauty Parlour certainly boosts spirits and well-being. A special thanks for the wonderful lunch is also to be included. The residents had a great time and were made to feel very special by the extra attention paid to them at Christmas time. We all look forward to a continued relationship with the volunteers and wish you all a very happy new year.

Sincerely,
Sylvia Fletcher (Recreation Director)

Be the first to comment

Alfred Lam and Friends in Concert

by Lon on January 8, 2010

Alfred from our community is holding a concert with proceeds going towards charity on the evening of January 30th. You can visit his site and register for tickets for yourself or friends.

Be the first to comment