Book Review: Tortured For Christ, by Richard Wurmbrand

By Beth Tang

We Christians in Singapore take our religious freedom for granted and try to ‘sugarcoat’ Christianity with egos of thanking God that we are safe from troubles and objections in our minds, not knowing what lies beyond the comfort we have received from Our Creator.

Richard Wrumbrand (1909-2001) was imprisoned in Romania grip of communism, just because he stood up for Christ during one of the communist relays with a Bible in his hand.

It began with his wife Sabrina telling him to ‘wipe the shame from the face of Christ’ which led his family to unspeakable torture like freezing in a box with little clothing (so much that he became fearful of opening his own fridge!), and being poked by sharp objects. Despite the brainwashing, assaults and having been denied from ever seeing God’s creation that is nature, he still trusted God and learnt more about Him each day. He never doubted God for what he was going through. He not only mentions his ordeal but also talks about other Christians who suffered in persecuted countries like Iran, China and North Korea. This book is the a glimpse of what it is like living as a Christian in a persecuted country.

It is also a great insight on missions, for example Richard made his son Mihai and the other children roam around streets distributing ‘illegal’ bibles and Gospels. In turn the soldiers treated them nicely and gave them sweets or chocolate (Richard mention Russians have a soft spot on children).

It’s a good wake up call for Christians in free countries and those who wanted to go to the mission field. It will make you read this again and again. It’s a good book to see what a persecuted church is like.


‘Will you hear our message? Remember us. Help us. Don’t abandon us.’
-- Richard Wrumbrand ‘s message to the Christians in free world


“You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.” -- Matthew 5:10 (The Message)

Desert Song (This is our God) by HIllsong

A touching account of a worship leader in her struggles...

What is our Purpose?

Here's a summary of what we learnt in youth cell 1st Aug 09 kindly done by gracia :)

Overview: What is our purpose of existence, and what is God's desire for us?
Passage: Ecclesiastes 1 - 5

Ecc 1:2
"Meaningless! Meaningless!"
says the Teacher.
"Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless."

Everything is meaningless, if we don't have God in our life.

So where does God fit in our life? Why did God create us? Ultimately, the most important question of the day: what is the purpose of our existence?

During our discussion, we shared what our plans for the future were (some mentioned getting married, having children, becoming successful, earning big bucks.)

So what happens after we've fulfilled our dreams?

We die and go to heaven. What do we do in heaven? Praise and worship God.

So what can we say our purpose here on earth is?

Would we spend our entire lifespan doing something that is not what we're gonna do for eternity? In other words, while here on earth, do we perform that which we're not made to do for eternity? (Duh no!)

We considered Revelation 5, and realized that we'll spend eternity worshipping God. This must mean that we're created to worship God! That is the sole purpose of our existence.

How then do we fulfill our purpose here on earth? How do we worship Him here on earth? We worship Him through the various things that He has tasked us to do!

We considered how in Genesis, God gave work to Man. We thus realized that worship can take place all the time...! In every single moment! And that is our purpose. Worship.

Everything by Tim Hughes

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming
God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Reversed Thunder: Prayer

The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer

1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

Revelation 8:1-5

Can you imagine, about half an hour in heaven? One day in the house of the Lord is like a thousand years (2 Pet 3:8). So there was half an hour of silence in heaven... Whatever for?

Isn't it simply amazing?? That silence was for the Lord to hear all the prayers of the saints -- the prayer you made in your bedroom last night, and the prayer I made in my time of sadness yesterday, and all the world's prayers, from the beginning of time to eternity... All those prayers were taken up to Him... and what's the more astounding thing...

Our prayers are burnt through the fire from the altar, and hurled back down on to the earth as like thunder & lightning. Our prayers are reversed thunder. Our prayers shake the earth.

Because the Lord has heard our prayers; because He has answered them.

Ushering Roster - July

Parents Appreciation Day
Saturday, 25th July 2009

Block out this date and please invite your parents.
More details soon!

Agapella's youtube video of its rendition of Pachelbel's Canon in D has been viewed more than 20,000 times and has attracted rave reviews from around the world for its smooth blend of harmonies. Yet they've never performed the song in public... until now. Be among the first to hear them perform this song and many other contemporary numbers spanning a plethora of genres, all this in a two-night only musical fiesta on 10th & 11th July 2009!

In celebration of their 7th anniversary, Agapella presents their biggest concert yet, Seven @ 8. They'll serve up fan favourites like "I Will Follow Him" (popularised by the movie, Sister Act) and "Testify To Love", on top of brand new arrangements. Among the new numbers, don't miss the re-written lyrics to the tune of the classic "Good 'Ol A Cappella". The concert will be a delight for the entire family with Agapella's unique brand of music and tight harmonies, together with a zany dash of theatre for a toe-tappin' good time!

Agapella's debut album, Follow That Star was released in 2007 to much acclaim. The album will be made available for sale at the concert. Don't forget to stick around for the post-concert refreshments (included in the ticket price) and hang out with Singapore's coolest vocal band!

Tickets @ $7 on sale now at all SISTIC outlets, or book online at www.sistic.com or text Ronald if you're interested..

Seven @ 8: the birthday concert
10th & 11th July 2009 (Fri & Sat), 8pm
NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre
NAFA Campus 3
151, Bencoolen Street

a bunch of verses.. to tell us about Evangelism..

Why Evangelize? We are called to evangelize.

^{Ezekiel 3:18 - 21}
When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

"Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself."

^{Mark 16:15-16}
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

^Matthew5:13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

-Salvation depends on evangelism too..


How do we evangelize?

^{Matthew 5:14-16}
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

- all this is to glorify God.

God will stand by us, every step of the way..

^{Acts 23:11}
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

^{2 Timothy 4:17}
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.

Ezekiel 3:8-9
But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house."


For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 6:23

Ushering Roster - June

Cell this week- 25th April

Hello!

cell this week will be at Gracia and Edna Pang's! 25th April, sat, from 4-6pm.

Their address is 9A Sommerville Walk - 3 bus stops down from Serangoon MRT (in the direction of Potong Pasir), it's along Upper Serangoon Road. You can also take 147 from church. :)

As Lam said, please check out how to get there by Street Directory.com! :) haha.

For any enquiries, please don't hesitate to contact me, Ethel, at 97924065! :)

God bless and see you guys there. :)

Love,
Ethel

additional abt cell

An additional note about cell from this week onwards:

We'll be starting a new book called "Prayer - too busy NOT to pray!" :)

it's very clear, easy-to-understand but insightful at the same time! i think it'll really be refreshing and fascinating to see what there is to learn about prayer! There's more than meets the eye when it comes to prayer... mmmm... so i'll see you all this sat at David Wong's! :)

if anything, feel free to contact me (ethel) at 97924065.

much love!
Ethel

Ushering Roster - May - UPDATED!

Ushering Roster - April

cell this week - 11 April

Hullo!

Cell this saturday from 4-6pm, will be at DAVID WONG'S house. :)

15 Jalan Binchang, opposite Bishan MRT and J8. Look for the wide road opposite the MRT leading into the estate!

Buses: 13, 52, 54, 55, 58, 88, 128, 156. :)

see y'all there!

much love in Christ,
Ethel

cell this week - 4 April

Hello!

Since Ern's away, a few of us will be updating the cell venues here on the blog.
Cell this week is on the 4th April, Sat 4-6pm.

At: Ethel's house. 33 Kovan Road #02-39, Kovan Melody MRT. Nearest MRT station is KOVAN Mrt. pls take the escalator up at exit A and the condo gate will be right in front!
Buses that go there: 80,81,82, 101, 107, 112, 113, 115, 119, 136, 153.

snacks will be provided. Bring your own too! :)

Hope to see you there! :)

Smiles
Ethel

MAR 09 Ushering Schedule

FEB 09 USHERING ROSTER

JAN 09 USHERING ROSTER