What's been happening since the last post?

* tribal restructure (TnT)
* coach Sam changed tribes and is now interstate
* tribe is expanding
* new LG joins the tribe (Welcome to SMB n gang!)

We are finally having a SOCIAL!!

If you don't know about it, now's a good time to be asking your leader(s) about it.

When: Beginning at 7pm after church.
Where: Ben Koshy's - thanks Ben! (Please ask your leader for the address.)
Who: You and absolutely everyone you can invite!
What: Plenty of food, pizzas provided by the host - thanks again Ben! Also, Kevin Tan from Partners International will be giving us a speech on Missions.
Why: To mingle with others and be a blessing in our fantasic Network!

Let's make this an awesome night! See you there!

Day 1 so I thought I'd get us off to a start...

Some Observations:
Jewish custom in those days recognised a state called "bethrothal" that fell somewhere between our modern commitments of engagement and marriage. It was more binding than an engagement and could only be broken with an act of divorce even though they were not yet married. If a bethrothed woman became pregnant, she was regarded as an adulteress.

Application:
Joseph had 2 choices. Stay with Mary or divorce Mary. In both choices he would've been righteous in action and intention. Often we're faced with choices- many are good and we'd do right before God to walk in them, but how can we be confident that our choice is according to God's perfect plan?? Which job to take? What course to study? Who to love and behold? Whitebread or wholemeal?

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Prov 3:6

God's blessing will be there if every step we take we take it for Him no matter what our choice! And if we do get it totally wrong cos God knows stuff we don't know and sees stuff we don't see, (like a person watching a mouse find it's way through a maze- he knows which ends are totally dead ends and where the traps are) he'll redirect us and guide us! Even if it takes sending an angel in a dream to talk to us.

Be blessed,
Kat =)

Dear all,

The year is drawing to an end... but remember to stay strong, and keep it up!
We hope that this year you are at least one step closer in your walk with God.

Don't let the end of the year mean you stop meeting, so that next year you can hurriedly gather what you have left over after the summer break and start over again. No, keep spurring each other on, keep on meeting together, even though there are no official meetings. We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It's a full-time 24/7 ministry. Not a seasonal one!

This week is scheduled for the final week of Life Groups. If it's too soon, you can still have your "final LG meeting" after the ball. Remember to honour your leaders - as they have sacrificed much time and effort, preparing for the meetings, catching up and calling you guys and keeping you all in prayers.

I'll like to say that it is a tremendous privilege to coach the leaders - as each one of them are a blessing and encouragement to me. As for Micah Tribe - it still exists, despite the fact we do not meet up as a group anymore. Still, I'd like to organise more socials to do so! There's a mini weekend getaway trip for the 1st-3rd December: pester your leaders if you haven't heard about it!

Prerna, one of our coaches, has been leading for many years and as a LG leader as well. Please find the opportunity to thank her as she has been upholding all of you in her prayers. She will be stepping down next year to take a break from leadership and will seek out other ministry opportunities. Anna Choi will be stepping up as coach next year. Make sure you support her in every way you can!!

Finally, I'd like to address certain people. No names - you already know who you are. You've heard it many times in church, you've heard it from your LG leaders, and you already know it deep inside: it's time to RISE UP! Now is the time to step out of the comfort zone and start making a difference. Now is the time to stop thinking "that's not for me" or "that's too hard" and start having a "what can I do?" mentality. If you don't know what to do, then just step out in faith and start small. You may be thinking, "here's Sam with just another one of those spurring on messages". But if you're getting anything out of this, then hear me out:

"Take a look inside. Are you happy with where you are at now? Are you making a difference?"

More often than not, by stepping out in faith, you answer many of those "God help me change" prayers. No one's calling you to be a certain somebody. But you are called to be someone - to be the person that God is moulding you to be. Don't let your God-given life go to waste. Start doing something. Now is the time. It's not too late - don't think others have left you behind and you have a lot of "catching up" to do. Just rise up, and get caught up in God's flow again. That's all it takes.

Breakthrough in faith, breakthrough by faith. Cos faith works! Adios!

Searching the world
The lost will be found
In freedom we live
As one we cry out
You carry the cross
You died and rose again
My God I'll only ever give my all

You sent Your Son
From Heaven to earth
Delivered us all
It's eternally heard
I searched for truth
And all I found was You
My God I'll only ever give my all

Jesus we're living Your Name
We'll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh

In our praise
In all we are today
Take, take, take it all
Take, take, take, it all

Running to the One who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands the power to save the world
My life

We have launched oxygen, the new name for Young Adults 18-25. oxygen: it’s about feeding the fire, it’s about getting recharged and refreshed. Dan Lian pointed out something quite thoughtful:

“Potential means ‘could be good, but not quite there yet’. Never will I want to see the word POTENTIAL being associated with OXYGEN YOUNG ADULTS. I don’t want us to be people with potential: ‘we have what it takes, but are yet to see something happen.’ NO! I want Oxygen Young Adults to be people who are DOING IT.”

Whilst potential speaks of what could be, it’s time to change our perspective and living live as we ought to, RIGHT NOW.

“You know that you have been called to do something great. You just know what God’s calling upon your life is. But for some reason you think that you can put it off when you ‘settle down’: after your studies, when you have a job, when you have more money… Let me tell you, it is not going to get any easier! If you are waiting for a time to settle down, you are going to wait a very long time.”

18-25s is an age group that has amazing opportunity. We are not to let it go to waste.

“This is the season, more so than any other in your life, that you have plenty of disposable income and plenty of time. Do any of you get up in the morning aching? I’m 30 and I already feel it! (Unless of course you were doing chest-presses at the gym the night before.) Do any of you have a $20,000 mortgage? Do any of you have a child that NEVER goes to sleep?”

We are going to explode! But it takes all of us to make a difference, by being the difference:

“Oxygen means life. It is where we become recharged and refreshed. Oxygen feeds the fire. When you mix fire and oxygen… you have MORE FIRE! Don’t bury what God has called you. Don’t bury what He has given you. Make the most of every opportunity and squeeze out every last bit of effort. I want OXYGEN to be a place where you end up feeling refreshed yet challenged to make a difference. You wait until it’s too late. I want you to live your life – not wasting one bit – like how my father eats prawns. You have to start NOW! Tick…tick…tick…BOOM!”

We need to get a hold of God’s calling, His blessing and His promises NOW! In every season, we have a calling.. and God appoints us for every opportunity that comes out way. With every opportunity we can choose to seize it or let it slip. But if we keep hesitating and making the excuse to wait for another time – perhaps when we’re ‘more free’ and have ‘more resources’. Why wait till you’re 50 to handle a challenge you could have met when you were 25? God’s calling and challenges is for now. Accomplish it, and He will bless you and give you more challenges. By the time you’re 50, you would have accomplished much and you would have already been trained to take on harder challenges. This is maturity. Growth takes time. 25 years of growth happens over 25 years. There are no shortcuts. Don’t wait any longer. Breathe in the breath of life from God and prepare yourself, everyday: feed the fire and start doing it: CARPE DIEM!

Adonai - Hillsong, Mighty to Save

I lift my voice
I lift my praise to You
I lift my hands
I lift my worship to You
And I love You more than I can say
Oh I love You more than I can say

Ever I will sing only You will I adore
Glorify my Lord only You will I serve
For the world will fade away
Still my song to You remains
Only You will I adore

Oh I love You always
Oh I love You always

Whatever you've heard, you've probably heard right. We are in the process of giving "Young Adults 18-25" a new name. And a new logo too. So rock up at Encounter this Wednesday 27th of September at 7:30pm for an exciting launch of the new Young Adults name.

Be prepared for whatever name it is. I understand that with whatever decision that happens, we can't make everyone happy. So whatever it is, learn to appreciate it, because that's what's gonna be. So jump on board, and with this new identity, let's press on and finish 2006 well!

Sam.

P.S. If you already know what the new name is, try to keep it to yourself until the launch!