Det er 30. november i dag, og dermed vil logikken tilsi at det er 1. desember i morgen. Den Høye Fotograf skal opprettholde det som nå er blitt en av de nyeste nasjonale juletradisjonene, nemlig julekalenderen der de beste kinofilmene fra året telles ned. 24 filmer på listen, og årets beste film avsløres på selveste julaften!

Men, som i tidligere år, før vi kan begynne på de gode filmene, tar vi et tilbakeblikk på det som etter min mening er de verste filmene 2009 har å komme med.

10. Død Snø

Heil Hitler und Eva Braaaaiins!

Her er det nok mange som er ganske uenige. Død Snø fikk mye skryt og ble til og med vist en del rundt i USA. Og grunnlaget til historien syntes jeg også hørtes bra ut. Nazi-Zombier i fjellheimen? Bjørn Sundquist? Kjempegode tegn på en artig splatterkomedie. Men så så jeg hvem som stod bak, nemlig de samme som lagde Kill Buljo. Og Kill Buljo er lett en av de dårligste komediene jeg har sett.

Du merker det helt fra begynnelsen at ting ikke er som det skal. Håpløst skuespill, dårlige vitser. Den første delen av filmen er skikkelig smertefull å sitte gjennom. Heldigvis redder den seg litt mot slutten, med en zombieslakting som er nettopp så over-the-top som den bør være.

Men vi har sett det før, og bedre også. Så bare fordi det er en norsk film, så betyr ikke det at det er nødvendig å hoppe i taket når det dukker opp zombier. Den lever ikke opp til Sam Raimi og Peter Jackson sine splatterkomedier verken når det gjelder splatt eller komedie, og derfor blir dette mer dårlig enn bra.

4/10

9. Bedtime Stories

Adam Sandler prøver å dekke til filmen, men for sent.

Nok en gang syntes jeg konseptet hørtes rimelig gøy ut. Barna til Adam Sandler finner på historier sammen med han, og neste dag blir det de fant på sant. Dessverre er det altfor åpenbart at det er lagd for unger. Jeg mener at det bør kunne gå an å lage en film som er like god både for barn og voksne (noe Pixar pleier å være gode på, f. eks.). Dette her blir altfor lettvint og dermed litt kjedelig å se på. Et lite høydepunkt med komikeren Russell Brand, som hjelper filmen det lille steget opp fra den verste sumpen.

4/10

8. The Taking of Pelham 123

“Ingen går før jeg er ferdig med fortellingen om Xenu!”

Her kunne det egentlig gå begge veier. Den er regissert av Tony Scott, broren til Ridley, som har hatt sin kvote av både hits and misses. Rollelisten er fylt av stjerner. Denzel Washington, John Travolta og James “Soprano” Gandolfini.

Dessverre fungerer det dårlig. Tony Scott får for frie tøyler med stilen. Det er fargekorrigering på høyt nivå, raske kjøringer som går 360 grader rundt folk når de snakker sammen. Litt for frenetisk. John Travolta har fått en heller dårlig skurkerolle å spille, og ingen gjør det egentlig bra nok til at du klarer å leve deg skikkelig inn i filmen. Når det er på sitt mest dramatiske, og ting går galt, så reagerer du mest med litt irritasjon over at slutten blir utsatt litt lenger. Inneholder også en fantastisk latterlig lydeffekt som dukker opp hver gang vi blir fortalt hvor lenge det er igjen til deadline.

Svak 4/10

7. Transporter 3

Hvem trenger våpen? Spark en hjelm!

Her hadde jeg vel lite håp om at det skulle bli noe særlig kvalitet, men gikk inn og håpet på de gode actionscenene. Det klarte den til en viss grad å levere, selv om det var et par steg ned i kvalitet fra de to første i serien. Nei, det som skaffer denne en plass på listen over årets 10 dårligste er passasjeren transportøren må ha med seg i bilen. Et forferdelig kvinnemenneske som jeg har sterke mistanker om at har ligget seg til denne rollen. For det er rett og slett en av de verste skuespillerprestasjonene jeg har sett. Og siden hun er med på hele turen, er det nok av forferdelige samtaler å måtte høre på.

Heldigvis reddes altså litt av opplevelsen av underholdningen vi får servert i form av slåssing og biljakt og diverse, men like stor som entusiasmen over action er lettelsen over å slippe verdens mest irriterende dame for et øyeblikk eller to.

Uhyyyre svak 4/10

6. Revanche

“What’s the hardest part about being you?” “The mustache.”

Revanche er vel den filmen på denne listen som regnes som den beste, sånn generelt sett. Veldig smal, østerrisk film som ble nominert til Oscar for beste utenlandske film i år, og den har 7.6/10 på IMDb. Jeg forstår hva de hadde lyst å lage når de lagde denne filmen, og jeg tror nok de er ganske fornøyde.

Det er bare det at jeg ikke liker den noe særlig. Den er veldig langdradd. Jeg satt gjennom hele filmen og ventet på at det skulle skje noe, at det skulle “ta av”. Men nei, den holder seg på bakkenivå, og altfor mye av tiden bruker vi på å se hovedpersonen hogge ved. I tillegg er slutten et stort antiklimaks, og dermed blir dette en øvelse i kjedsomhet som jeg aller helst vil slippe å gå gjennom en gang til.

3/10

5. Seven Pounds

“I’ll do my crying in the rain… And in a car, as well.”

Nok en film som “folk flest” liker. Øve 50 000 stemmer gir denne et gjennomsnitt på 7.6/10 på IMDb. Men, folk tar feil. Seven Pounds er kjedelig, forutsigbar og har en tåpelig slutt. Jeg føler ikke jeg ødelegger for deg når jeg avslører at Will Smith sin karakter donerer bort øynene sine. Og så møter mottakeren på en dame til slutt, og hun sier at hun kjenner igjen øynene til Will Smith(!?). Hele filmen er rett og slett litt teit. Eneste som hjelper litt er en del bra skuespill, men det er uansett en av de dårligste filmene i 2009.

3/10

The Spirit

Logiske reiseruter har aldri vært the Spirits styrke.

Frank Miller er ganske kjent i tegneserie-verdenen, og tok for alvor turen over i filmverdenen med Sin City, som han regisserte sammen med Robert Rodriguez. Etter det hadde 300 stor suksess, basert på Millers grafiske roman. Og så skulle han altså få lov å regissere sin egen film, The Spirit. Selvfølgelig også basert på en tegneserie.

Det beste her er jo definitivt det visuelle. Selv om det føles ganske likt Sin City, så syns jeg det ser ganske bra ut med den nesten-svart-hvitt-stilen. Alt det andre i filmen, derimot, er ganske dårlig. Dårlig humor, dårlig skuespill og aller mest et dårlig manus.

3/10

3. Couples Retreat

Folk har merket seg at det svarte paret er fjernet fra den engelske (og norske) plakaten.

Et godt cast fikk meg ti å se denne, noe jeg angrer bittert på. Det var kanskje et par ganger jeg lo i løpet av to lange timer, og Kristen Bell og Jason Bateman er skuespillere jeg liker, men denne filmen feiler stort som komedie. Vitsene er dårlige, det virker som om de har brukt altfor lite tid på å skrive manuset. I tillegg så er klippingen gjort sånn at den ved noen tilfeller ødelegger mye av den komiske timingen.

Men det som er verst er hvordan de prøver å tvinge gjennom konflikter og løsninger med manuset. Det blir utrolig lite troverdig, og jeg blir sittende og irritere meg over hvor lite gjennomført det er. Couples Retreat fortjener godt plassen blant de tre dårligste filmene jeg så på kino i 09.

2/10

2. Absolute Evil

Hadde ringen hennes vært ekte, ville den nok kostet mer enn det gjorde å lage filmen.

Denne så jeg på filmfestivalen i Berlin, og den har nok ikke kommet ut på kino noe som helst annet sted ennå. Absolute Evil er en av de mest latterlig dårlige filmene jeg har sett. Det er rett nok en B-film og stolt av det, men det får være grenser. Alt er tåpelig. Historien er idiotisk, replikkene forferdelige og måten de blir levert på enda verre. Det eneste som holder denne filmen fra bunnkarakter er at det noen ganger blir så sinnsykt dårlig at det fungerer bra som en komedie, eller hvertfall bedre enn Couples Retreat…

Hvis du får tak på denne, så må jeg nesten bare anbefale at du ser den, for det er umulig å beskrive for fantastisk dårlig den er. Etter filmen fikk vi også se på verdens pinligste spørrerunde med de som var med i filmen. Det var ingen som hadde spørsmål.

2/10

1. Rage

Ja, dette er altså Jude Law i filmen. Jude Law er en mann.

Førsteplassen kapres også av en film jeg så i Berlin, og dessverre er den nok lite kjent for folk som ikke var der. Men denne filmen er virkelig spektakulært dårlig. Konseptet er at en ung filmskaper filmer intervjuer med mennesker som jobber i og rundt et moteshow som går fryktelig galt. Hele filmen er kun intervjubilder (som bildet av Jude Law over) med varierende grelle farger i bakgrunnen.

Det er et bra cast som er med, både Judi Dench, Steve Buscemi, John Leguizamo og Eddie Izzard er med, i tillegg til nevnte Law. Men for meg hjelper det ingenting når dette ikke fortjener å være en film i det hele tatt. Denne fortellerteknikken er uhyre kjedelig, og de dramatiske tingene som skjer får vi jo kun gjenfortalt av en person som snakker til oss, alltid i samme type bilde. Dette her er en bok, eller i beste fall et teaterstykke. Skal du lage film, syns jeg du skal bruke kameraet til noe annet enn bare å ta opp.

Filmen er bygd opp i deler, hver del begynner med “My first day”, “My second day”, osv. Som et tegn på hvor kjedelig filmen var, kan jeg fortelle at når teksten “My last day” kom opp på skjermen, var det spredt applaus i salen. Så glade ble folk av å vite at det snart ville være slutt.

Rage er den verste filmen jeg så på kino i år, med mindre den med tittelen sin faktisk prøvde å få meg rasende. I såfall har den nesten nådd målet sitt.

1/10

Følg med videre på bloggen for årets julekalender, der det altså skal handle om de beste filmene fra 2009. Begynner i morgen!

It’s nap time, and see how both boys sleeps and drool on mommy daddy’s bed..

Getting ready for bath time!!

Jude: Mommy! Did U forgot about me?????

Splash splash!

Out and About time..
Jude with Daddy @ Delicious

Manfred with Mommy @ OldTown

Jude wearing Xmas Hat

Manfred wearing Xmas hat

Get “dirty” time..

And last but not least….. how baby react when they r on top of the “world”?

Me again, sharing my 2nd childbirth experience.

EDD for BB2 was 23May2009. When I was at37weeks, it was torturing cause I was so heavily pregnant, tiring, lazy and at the same time taking care of a extremely demanding, active 18mths old toddler. My gynae appointment was scheduled on the 8May2009.

Before going for gynae appointment, I have “consulted” with hubby and told him I want to induce labor after week38 should bb still no sign of wanting to come out. I was desperate! So on 8May09, I spoke to doctor, and made appointment for induce labor on 13May (my birhtday) LOL I wanted to share my birthday with my 2nd baby.

On this particular day, I send Manfred back to my mum’s place. Then I told hubby I want to go shopping, eating, and pak tor spree before no2 come. So drop off Manfred, 10am we head to IKEA for shopping. Nothing particular to buy, but just window shop in IKEA. AFter that we did went other places which i couldn’t recall. I recall we had dinner with my families and we got home around 10something. Manfred was very fussy that night cause he has very bad nappy rash plus diarrhea. The rash got worse despite we put him on clothes nappy, apply ointment and wash him right after poop. At 12am, I couldn’t bear seeing Manfred in such agony, hubby and I send him to clinic. Nothing much done by them also, just give us ointment to apply. By the time we were home, it was 1am already. I manage to put Manfred to sleep at last. I shower and going into bed, the clock was showing 1.45am.

Just when I was about to fall asleep, I fell some wetness on my pants. I wasn’t sure if I did pee..I some more ask my hubby did my waterbag broke?My hubby jokingly say “You wet ur pants lar”!! So i just change again and go to bed again.. THEN MORE H2O coming out………….. Then I told my hubby, I wasn’t peeing!!! My water bag did broke liao!!!! Think about it, hubby say i wet pants probably because he didn’t want to go hospital at 2am all the way from klang to cheras. LOL.

My mum was praying downstairs. She ask me to go hospital immediately. I left my hospital bag at my mil place. Luckily I had my admission letter with me in my purse. I showered, shampooed at left klang at 230am. I didn’t inform my in law as it was midnight and I know usually they wake up very early and I could call them first thing in the morning. We admit to pantai cheras again and by 330am, Midwife check me and I was already 6cm dilated.

The contraction was quite intense, but wasn’t regular. It was bearable until 4am, I was in much pain that at last I have to take the Entonox. With the gas, i was able to fall asleep. Hubby also went to my ward room to sleep.( he was able to do so cause I op for single bed room this round. this is to make it more convenient for breastfeeding). At 6somethings, I was wakened by VERY VERY INTENSE PAIN!!!!!!!! midwife check and finally i was 10cm.

I was pushing and I could feel my bb head coming out. The moment baby’s head crown, I keep having the urgency to push. YET midwife told me to “HOLD”!!!!! She told me doctor not here yet, you have to hold, if not after down there tear!! Despite in great pain, I able to hold a short conversation with her.

Lynn: I cannot not push, baby want to come out!!

MW: Dun push! After down there tear!

*Another contraction came*
Lynn: Miss, ARRRRRRRR cannot hold ar!! Baby want to come OUT!!!!!!!!

MW: Cannot!! doctor not yet come.

Lynn: AR? How long can doctor reach? Baby want to come out! I no push also he come out!!!! HOW TO HOLD??!!!!!

MW: If you want to push u push a little lar..

*Another contraction come and this time even more URGE TO PUSH!!*

Lynn: BABY COMING OUT!!!!!!! HOW??!

*Midwife stuck the ENTONOX gas at my face*

MW: U inhale gas lar!!

somehow the gas manage to “reduce” the contraction and I was dizzy…. half asleep… In my half dreamland, I heard the midwife say:” WOW, the gas good ar, so pain also now she fall asleep d”
I was thinking, I can still hear u le miss!!

same things *contraction came, inhale gas, hall asleep* happened for 4-5times.. 5minutes later, gynae finally arrived.

In 2-3 pushes, at 7.17am, Jude was borned 3.25KG. 54cm.
He was 1 day shy to 38weeks. Jude wants to celebrate Mother’s day with mommy….

Whatever the nature of our spiritual warfare, whether it is that “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”(Eph.6v12) or whether it is contending for the faith as we do battle with false teachings emanating from within the fellowship, it is important that we take time to understand the nature of the battle, our defensive system and our role in securing victory.

Too often, the only strategy that appeals to and is adopted by the body of Christ, particularly those that have connected to the power of the Holy Spirit within, is the offensive frontal confrontation with the enemy – banning and casting and demolishing the strongholds in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit and very often such strategies end up in disaster with the persons drifting into the enemy territory away from the environment that provides him support and protection. John in one of his letters drew attention to such people with this warning “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work”(2 Jn 9-11).

Jude reminds us of some tried and tested defensive systems that must be in place to guarantee us unassailable protection in our warfare. These are:

1. Maintaining spiritual health (v20). The instruction to “build ourselves up in our most holy faith” goes beyond learning the special phraseologies of the warfare and being faithful and regular at fellowship meetings. It is the combined effect of feeding well from the word, learning the skills of self discipline and exercising well spiritually to bring the body and mind under control as Paul alluded to in his letter to the Corinthians “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training…… I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor.9v25,27). No process of building is easy and convenient rather, it is the deliberate application of effort to achieve the desired goal through the process of self denial and self discipline to engage in and undertake those activities that will propel one to the desired goal.
2. Staying  connected to the power source (v20). The gulf war experience proved beyond doubt the importance of communication in warfare – between the command and control base and the individual units and also between the individual operators on the field. The power for the battles comes from the Holy Spirit within and without, who is the link and is also in charge of the command and control centre – leading us, guiding, directing, teaching us and co-ordinating the warfare. Woe betides the soldier who looses contact with the centre. How often many continue presumptuously in the battle like Samson who “did not know that the LORD had left him” (Jdg16v20).   Our greatest defence is to stay in touch with the Holy Spirit who is the life wire.
3. Recognising and staying within the fortress (v21). The most celebrated field marshal in the bible, David, summarised his defensive strategy in Ps. 91 – dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, staying under the shadow of the Almighty, making the Most High your dwelling, the Lord your refuge. Elsewhere, he affirmed “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life,  of whom shall I be afraid?……… One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek:  that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,  to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock” (Ps.27v1, 4-5). The greatest defence is only found in the presence of the Lord and nothing can befall anyone who functions and waits within the context of God’s love.
4. Being a responsible member of the team (v22-23). The preacher said “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Ecc.4v9-12). The Lord Jesus built and functioned within His team hence, empowered, they were able to turn the world upside down and His ministry outlasted his earthly sojourn. Same can be said of Paul and his own team. It is only within the team that we can care for one another build up one another, restore one another and encourage each other to persevere in the race. Oh! That we will come out with less of owner founder ministries and co-operate with one another in following the  Master and making Him known.
5. Unalloyed trust in and total surrender to the commander (v24). The Lord is able to keep and deserves our total trust in keeping and preserving what has been entrusted to Him. He had earlier affirmed “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (Jn.10v27-29). Nothing more to say!

Our response can only be worship and so may it be forever and so “to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen” (v25).

Sunday School | Jude 1:17-25 | Bro. Steve Dawson
“It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.  But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”  -Jude 1:19-21
The apostles were concerned about people coming in the church and giving all the fulfillments of the world, but not giving any spiritual substance, causing the hearers to gain the whole world, but lose their soul.

Morning Worship | 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  -Romans 12:2
In chapters 1-4, Paul addressed the first problem of the church at Corinth: division caused by pride.  Now, he addresses sexual immorality.  Their sin was so bad that even unbelievers were appalled at it.  The members of the church at Corinth had become apathetic about the sins.  God never takes sin lightly.  (Revelation 2)

Evening Worship | “The Word of God” | Pastor Steve Wainright
“But the word of God increased and multiplied.”  -Acts 12:24
The Word of God was preeminent in Jerusalem.  (Acts 6)
The Word of God was predominant right outside of Judea.  (Acts 12)
The Word of God prevailed in Ephesus and the regions beyond.  (Acts 19)
These all fulfill Acts 1:8.

The words in 2 Peter 2:1 – 3:3 and Jude 4-18 obviously betray the literary relationship between the two epistles. Below I will give the different views as to which author borrowed from the other, as well as a very brief summary of some of the reasoning either for or against each view.

There are four main views as to which epistle has literary priority (i.e. which epistle was written first).

1) They both borrow from an original unknown source.

2) They were both written by the same author.

3) 2Peter was written first and was used by the author of Jude.

4) Jude was written first and was used by the author of 2Peter.

The first theory, that both epistles borrowed from a common source, does not really have any supporters today, although Bo Reicke did suggest in The Epistles of James, Peter, and Jude (Doubleday, 1964) that they both borrowed from the same oral sermon. The main reason this theory has never really taken off the ground is that if the original source behind the two epistles was going to be reconstructed (a la the Q source for Matthew and Luke), then it would basically end up just being the epistle of Jude, except maybe minus the exordium and peroratio found in the opening and concluding verses.

The second theory, that they were both written by the same author, was propounded by J.A.T. Robinson in his Redating the New Testament (SCM, 1976). However, this theory also failed to gain any popularity. This is mainly due to the fact that the style of writing in the two epistles is strikingly different. For instance, the Greek style in Jude is typically described as Attic, whereas that of 2Peter is more Asian.

The third theory, that 2Peter has literary priority, was a popular view held by scholars in the 19th century. This theory has now largely fallen out of favor. One of many reasons is that while there is a strong argument for a late date of 2Peter, there is no argument for an even later date of Jude. In fact, there is a strong argument for an early dating of Jude. Therefore, the author of 2Peter could not have used Jude.

The fourth and final theory, that Jude has literary priority, is by far the most widely held view of scholarship today. One argument in favor of this view is that the author of 2Peter has cleared up some obscure phrasing of Jude. For instance,  in Jude 9, the phrase κρισιν βλασφημιας can be taken as an objective genitive or an adjectival genitive. The objective genitive reading would make the passage be referring to a condemnation of Satan against Moses, whereas the adjectival genitive would make the passage be referring to a condemnation which Michael refrains from saying to Satan. The author of 2 Peter renders this as βλασφημον κρισιν, in other words, the author of 2Peter supports the adjectival genitive reading.

So fast it’s sunday already! Since Friday is a PH and hubby doesn’t require to work. I am so so so happy and I just can’t wait to cross things off my list of TO-DO!

FRIDAY
Friday morning hubby and I sneak out to McD for breakfast with Jude. I left Manfred home with father in law cause he had porridge for breakfast and I wasn’t confident with leaving Jude behind with maid and father in law only.

After breakfast, we head to Pavilion for shopping. We were to have brunch with hubby sis and bro-in law. We were planning to get Xmas gift shopping done too. We reach there around 11.30am and mind you the car park already full of CARS!!!! So I guess many many people already started their Year end shopping spree. We visited the Naza roadshow, and realize CK Jeans was on sale. Hubby bought some undies and I manage to grab a belt at half price.

Brunch was at La Bodega. I didn’t eat much cause I was still stuff after my McD breakfast. Manfred was in extremely good appetite as he ate pasta, toast, mushroom, omelette’s and chocolate(he kept open up sister in law bag and search for chocolate)

The decoration at Pavilion was very nice. We actually pass by Pavilion the week before when we were heading home from Hubby company annual dinner. We saw the sleigh ride right inf front of the main entrance. It was breath taking… I wish I can bring Manfred over to Pavilion to view the Xmas deco again at night.

Manfred loves seeing all the Xmas trees, but he is not so much of a “reindeer fan”. He repeatedly say “NO” when SIL ask him to touch or get near to the reindeer to snap photo.

We did our Xmas gift shopping in Parkson. We head straight to toy department. I had to get present for niece and nephew. Angelina wanted a baby so she could play “mommy” and Vincent request for a gun. We found right away what we pick from the Toys R us newsletter. And I even “helped” SIL pick present for Manfred. LOL she ask me to pick present for Manfred. So I pick a puzzle set.

Hubby and I decided not to get any present for Manfred cause he still have tonnes of toys from his birthday. So I came home on Sat night and wrapped 2 present from his birthday and stack under Xmas tree for Manfred. Cheap huh?! I dun scare who ever say I cheap lar… LOL

I had difficulty getting Jude’s present thou as the one I chosen in the newsletter was not available at parkson. So we left without Jude’s present.

SATURDAY
Then on saturday we went shopping at MV. We again have to visit Toys R us to buy Jude’s present and this round I manage to get what I want. We were expecting to see Xmas deco up. But found an empty lonely centre court. So we thought it should be up following week.

Garden Mall deco was very nice thought.. lots of light, very bright and I like it cause it doesn’t have too many diff colours and the harmonize colours themes is exactly what I like..

We had dinner at delicious and I was very disappointed with the service, the food and did I mention the service? So conclusion is I won’t patronize delicious in MV anymore.

Nowdays when we dine out, I suddenly I realize I have to feed 3 persons. I have to feed Jude, Manfred and myself…. So end up I only eat very tiny bit of food. But it’s good cause then I can eat lesser and lose weight.. Jude didn’t want to be left out when we eat. So I have to keep feeding him with bread, and I found fresh avocado on my sandwich and I gave it to him in chunk.. Guess what, he is darn good eater!!!! He ate a lot of bread and lots of avocado….

SUNDAY
Today we schedule to have brunch to celebrate MIL birthday. SIL chosen to have it in Dragon-I. Although my MIL always complain the food there expensive and not worth eating but today she happily go and eat and went shopping with us.

We reach MV 30min earlier than my in law, so we order rice for EM to eat first so she can take care of Jude when we eat later. She didn’t finish the rice I ordered and it pissed me off a little.. Coz I feel it’s such a waste, and I DUN WAN TO SUFFER NAG FROM my MIL coz she waste FOOD!!! So i tapau and told her she will have to eat it for her dinner!

I am kinda surprise as I was at MV the day before, overnight some of the deco is up!! although half, but I was excited!! We did have some photo taken, but all in BIL camera. Will try post it up when I got it from him.

After MV we had an appointment with a property agent. There’s is a new property in damansara perdana and hubby wanted to invest. We met with the agent at 2pm along with 2 of my friends. All of us each take up 1 unit.. it’s kinda hard to such a property at such price such location.. After viewing the unit, we were to have tea session with my friends. Manfred refuse to follow us and insist he want to follow SIL. So I let him follow SIL back to her place and I went ahead go yum char with buddy.

After 5pm, we went back to SIL place in Kuchai and wait for dinner time. SIL bought a giant 2kg mango! YUMM!!! SWEET!!! And my “tam jia” Jude again wallup lots of mangoes!!!! He is such a big eater!!! and such a food lover!!! I wonder he pick that up from whom?

My parents have been bowling for years. It started as a “date night” when my sister Chloe and I were younger, and then continued after we (well, I) moved out of the house. Yes, they’re on a league. Yes, they have matching shirts. Yes, they own their own balls.

I’ve decided to start bowling, too, as a way to spend time with them. My mom kept inviting me to go shopping (normally a favorite pastime), but malls have too many mirrors and reflective surfaces. I figured bowling alleys are nice and dark, and bowling is usually a nighttime activity. So that’s why I’m at this giant bowlerama on Garfield, dressed in an ugly polyester shirt that would be sticking to me were I capable of perspiring.

Walt, an old friend of my father’s, sits down next to me. He waves the hotdog he’s holding.

“You look hungry, Jude. You should get a hotdog.” He takes a bite. The rank smell makes my stomach twist in a knot. I try to lean away inconspicuously.

“No thanks, Uncle Walt. I ate before I came. Besides, I don’t know that I trust food from a bowling alley.”

He smiles at me and dabs at a blob of mustard clinging to the corner of his mouth.

“You young people. Always so health conscious. Well, maybe that’s a good thing.” He looks down at his considerable belly, pats it, and smiles again. I try to smile back. I like Walt and all, but the smell of that meat is really making me ill.

“I have to use the restroom,” I say, and hurry off as fast as I can. In the tiny, sickly-green tiled bathroom, I splash cold water on my face. There’s no mirror over the sink. It startles me when I glance up and don’t see myself. Then I remember that I wouldn’t be able to, anyway.

Once the shaking in my knees has stopped, I step out of the bathroom and nearly plow into someone. I mumble an apology and turn to walk away when the guy lightly touches my arm and asks, “Jude Montgomery?”

I look at him. It takes me a few seconds, but then I realize who he is. John Edwards. We went to high school together. John was one of those popular kids who was actually nice. He played sports, was a straight A student, and still found time to tutor elementary kids after school. Oh, and he’s ridiculously attractive, if you go for that corn-fed, wholesome, Midwestern kind of look. (And who doesn’t?)

“Hey, John,” I say, and for one second I wonder what my hair looks like, and wish I wasn’t wearing this stupid bowling shirt. Then I remind myself: You’re a vampire.

John smiles a dazzling smile. “You remember me! Wow, it’s been such a long time. I heard you were living in Chicago, right? Are you still there?”

“No, I moved back a little while ago.”

“To join a bowling league?”

“Haha. No. I got a better job offer. I’m just playing tonight to humor my parents.”

“Nice. Listen, I’m kind of in a hurry. Could I get your number? Maybe we could grab a drink sometime and catch up.”

“Sure,” I say. He pulls out his phone and punches in my number.

“I’ll call you soon. Good seeing you again, Jude.”

“You, too,” I say, and he walks off.

What the hell just happened? Did John Edwards ask me on a date? He and I didn’t exactly run with the same crowd in high school. What could he want to “catch up” on?

I don’t know why, but I feel incredible happy as I rejoin my parents and their friends.

One of the greatest tragedies of our day is the acceptance by christians of the enemy’s lie regarding the nature of spiritual warfare. In line with Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are so pre-occupied with the struggle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph.6v12), banning them and casting them to the abyss that we lose sight of the equally dangerous enemies around us  – those that we can see, touch, who appear to be our friends, who are in our fellowships and even serve as our shepherds (v12). Even though it is more exciting to talk about the joy that is ours through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Jude decided to focus attention on this battle front at our door steps which often is our most exposed flank.

Peter warned of these false teachers who will infiltrate the rank and file of the fellowship and “will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” (2 Pet.2v1-3).

John in his letters warned of these deceivers whom he called the antichrists who “went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us”(1 Jn. 2v19).

Extensively ex-raying these enemies in our mist, Jude points out some of their characteristics:

• they change the grace of God as a licence for living a life of  immorality (v4)
• they deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (v4)
• they are the proponent of ‘once saved always saved’ gospel forgetting that our salvation needs to be maintained and kept current. They forget that the same God who saved the Israelites from Egypt also destroyed them in the desert for disobedience(v5-7)
• they pollute their own bodies(v8)
• they reject authority (v8)
• under the pretext  of exercising the authority that is theirs through the in-filling of the Holy Spirit, they slander celestial beings speaking abusively against whatever they do not understand (v8-10)
• they are murderers like Cain (v11)
• they rebel against constituted authority like Korah did against Moses and was destroyed in the process(v11)
• they are motivated to profit from the gospel like Balaam of Poer(v11)
• They are the centre of their own world – insensitive, without principles, functioning on the basis of the end justifying the means and totally unproductive and unfruitful(v12-13)
• they are grumblers and faultfinders(v16)
• they follow their own evil desires(v16)
• they are self conceited and boast about themselves(v16)
• they flatter others for their own advantage(v16)

Unfortunately, most of us confront these enemies by mounting the judgement throne rather than contending for the faith. We fall into the temptation of either ignoring them, condoning them or reacting negatively to them rather than taking our stand against the teaching by putting on the full amour of God as we would do if adjudged spiritual warfare. Even when we identify the enemy, we lack the courage to contend with it and in the process we share in their rebellion as John warned “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work”(2Jn 10-11).

The clarion call today is for us to give thought to the responsibility that has been entrusted to us, to stand for it, to contend for it and this is only possible as we take time to understand our mandate, as we look into His face as revealed in the pages of His word daily. As Paul observed, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”(1 Cor.4v2). We must be motivated by the fact that we “are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ”(v1) and with that assurance contend for the faith that has been entrusted to us.

Father, I pray that I will be sensitive to the presence of the enemy close by and in the power of the Holy Spirit take my stand against it. This I pray in the name of Him who keeps me, Jesus Christ my Sovereign and Lord. Amen

Today’s church has problems. Groups fight with heated disagreement over many seemingly minute differences. Why? If the different groups truly are redeemed, bought by Jesus’ blood, and bound for the New Jerusalem, then why must there be so many points of contention?

I think the New Testament book of Jude gives an answer for at least part of the problem.

Jude writes to several churches in his area about their “common salvation” (vs. 3) encouraging them to “content for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (vs. 3). Why? Jude tells us in verse 4: certain people had (have) crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation (not believers, not of the church but had crept in amongst God’s children unnoticed nonetheless). In Jude’s day, early in the life of the church, people had crept who were not believers, but were there creating division and dissention creating the need for encouragement to contend for the faith because of their common salvation.

How can we spot such saboteurs? Jude gives distinctions:

What can/should the church do? Jude further gives instruction:

May the church be on the lookout for these who cause division, and may we all seek to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

Atticus Bart, Atticus Bede, Atticus Jago, Atticus Roan, Atticus Cillian.

Atticus Emeric Wolf

Atticus Guy Steven

Atticus Ira Thomas

Atticus Jasper West

Atticus Barnaby Jude

Atticus Jay Thomas

Atticus Leo Walter

Atticus Lysander Penn

Atticus Lev Henry

Atticus Reuben Francis

Atticus Benjamin Rex

Atticus Sebastian James

Atticus Nathaniel August

Atticus Henry Raphael

Atticus Jacob Paul

Atticus James Baxter

Atticus Baxter Rowan

Bartholomew Augustin, Bartholomew Avery James, Bartholomew Dexter,

Bartholomew Elliot Steven, Bartholomew Elias, Bartholomew Eli,

Bartholomew Ezra,Bartholomew Fergus, Bartholomew Frank,

Bartholomew Felix, Bartholomew George,Bartholomew Harvey,

Bartholomew Idris, Bartholomew Isidore, Bartholomew Julian,

Bartholomew Jasper, Bartholomew Jude, Bartholomew Jago,

Bartholomew Marley,Bartholomew Miles, Bartholomew Moses,

Bartholomew Osric, Bartholomew Ofir,Bartholomew Pierce

, Bartholomew Rafael, Bartholomew Russell, Bartholomew Toby,

Bartholomew Thomas.

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. …..24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 20-21, 24-25)

John Piper in a sermon, “Learning to Pray in the Spirit and the Word, Part 1:”

Now keeping Christians safe for eternal life is what this book is really about. That is, this little letter from Jude is about perseverance – it’s about how to fight the good fight and take hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12), and how to finish the race and keep the faith (1 Timothy 4:8), and how to endure to the end and so be saved (Mark 13:13). And verses 20-21 say: This perseverance is something you do. You build yourself and others up on the foundation of faith. You pray. You keep yourselves in the love of God.

But that is only part of the context. At the beginning and the end of this little book, there is another truth, a deeper truth about perseverance – or about “keeping.” Look at verse 1: “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.” Notice the word, “kept.” Here is the idea of perseverance again, only here at the beginning it is not the Christian who is keeping himself. He is being kept.

Some translations say “by Jesus Christ.” Some say, “for Jesus Christ.” The original Greek can mean the one as easily as the other. Both are probably true in Jude’s mind. But let me show you why the NASB chose to say “for Jesus Christ.” Evidently the translators thought that the “keeper” behind the verb, “kept,” in verse 1 is not the Christian himself and not Jesus Christ, the Son of God, but someone else. Who?

Who Is the Keeper?

Sometimes you need the end of the story to know the full meaning of the beginning. So look at the famous doxology in verses 24-25. “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy. . .” Now we have our perseverance attributed not to ourselves, but to someone else. Who is this? The next verse makes it crystal clear. Verse 15: “. . . to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

So the one who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make sure you arrive in the presence of God blameless and with great joy is “God our Savior through Jesus Christ.” So God the Father is the ultimate keeper and he acts “through Jesus Christ” because the death of Jesus is the purchase price and foundation of all grace, including the grace of keeping us – that is, the grace of perseverance.

So back to verse 1. “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.” The main thing to see here is that it is not we who are keeping in verse 1 or verse 24. It is God the Father through Jesus Christ. God called us, God sets his saving love upon us, and God keeps us. So now we have two truths about our being kept safe for eternal life as Christians – just as we saw last week from Romans 6:22-23. There we saw that sanctification was something we do. Here we see that our perseverance to eternal life is God’s doing (we are “kept,” verse 1; God is able to keep us, verse 24; and it is our doing – verse 21, keep yourselves in the love of God).

Over and over in the Bible we see this: God’s action is decisive; our action is dependent. And both actions are essential. So I urge you again to resist the mindset that cynically says, “If God is the decisive keeper of my soul for eternal life (verses 1, 24), then I don’t need to ‘keep myself in the love of God’” (verse 20). That would be like saying, since God is the decisive giver of life, then I don’t need to breathe.

No. No. Breathing is the means that God uses to sustain life. So the command to breathe is the command to fall in with the purposes and patterns of God to give and sustain life. This is what I mean by the term, “means of grace.” “Grace” is the free keeping-work of God to sustain our spiritual life that leads to everlasting joy. The “means of grace” is our “keeping ourselves in the love of God.” God’s “keeping” inspires and sustains our “keeping.” His keeping is decisive and our keeping is dependent on his.

November 25 

Jude 17-25 (ESV)

A Call to Persevere

17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They [1] said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment [2] stained by the flesh.

Doxology

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 11

John MacArthur explains:

Korah rebelled against the Word of God. Whereas Cain ignored the God’s command, and Balaam sought to circumvent it, Korah blatantly rebelled against it. Korah, a cousin of Moses, resented his exclusion from being a priest and envied Moses as God’s mediator. In effect, Korah said, “Forget it. We don’t need priests, and we don’t need Moses.” Abiram, Dathan, and two hundred and fifty others agreed with Korah and joined in his rebellion. According to Numbers 16:3, they believed that the entire congregation was holy and could there enter into God’s presence without having a mediating priesthood. As a result of that rebellion, God opened the ground so that the three leaders with all that belonged to them were swallowed up. He consumed their two hundred and fifty followers with fire.

b. The Application

You say, “That’s pretty serious.” Yes, it is. Korah was a classic example of somebody who doesn’t think that sinful man needs a Savior to serve as a Mediator between himself and a holy God. Such a person propagates the “fatherhood of God”: He claims that all men are the sons of God and have access to Him apart from Christ. That false view asserts that Jesus didn’t have to open the way of access, because God accepts everybody. They think that He is too “loving” to send anyone to hell. If there is such a thing as sin, they are sure that God is only too glad to overlook it.

But God clearly showed that He is greatly displeased with those ideas. Paul said, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man, Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus said, “…no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6). Although God had established the priesthood and Moses as His mediator, Korah claimed that he didn’t need a priest or any other mediator. He thought everybody in the congregation was holy enough to approach God. In effect, he was blaspheming the holy character of God by assuming that a mortal man could enter the presence of God without a mediator. But that is ridiculous. Apostates who claim that they need no Savior may not be judged as immediately as Korah was, but God’s judgment will certainly catch up with them. Their verdict is stated by Jude in verse 11: “Woe unto them!…”

November 24 

Jude 8-16 (ESV)

8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs [1] at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

When I was a very young boy I had a dog named Trigger. Trigger was the best dog in the world. He was affectionate, friendly, brave, playful, easygoing, and, above all, loyal. He was an “outside dog,” and his tendency was to lie in wait near the door of my home. If I came bursting through the door, on my way to play in the woods, Trigger was right there, leaping to join me, as if he had been poised, anxiously expecting me at any moment. In a way, his desire was to please me, and I ruled over him.

Cain and Abel were brothers. Each brought an offering to the Lord. Abel’s offering was a slaughtered animal. Cain’s offering was some type of fruit grown from the ground. Abel’s offering pleased God. Cain’s did not. We do not know for sure if Abel’s offering pleased God because it was a blood offering, given as a sacrifice for sin. If so, then Cain’s offering, which was bloodless, could have been rectified. He could have made a second, proper, sacrifice. We do know that Cain had a bigger problem with his offering than the thing that was being offered. The bigger problem was the condition of Cain’s heart, evidenced by his attitude toward God.

Genesis 4:5 tells us that Cain was “wroth:” burning with a fierce anger. God addressed the condition of Cain’s heart with him in Verse 7: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted..?”

God did not ask Cain the question in the first part of the Verse because He didn’t know the answer. God is (and always has been and always will be) omniscient. He may have asked Cain this question in order to give him a chance to repent, or to make a point. Then, in the rest of the Verse, God sets forth a warning: “…if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”

Some Bible scholars believe that God was referring to Abel, Cain’s younger brother, when He said, “unto thee shall be his desire,” meaning that Abel would continue to look up to, respect, and try to please his older brother if Cain did what was right.

Others believe that God was telling Cain that, if he did what was right, he should (shalt) be able to rule over sin by not giving in to it, even though his wrong-doing had brought sin to his door.

Or is it possible that God was telling Cain that the attitude of his heart had brought sin to lie at his door like a faithful hound? Sin would be lying there, waiting obediently, and its (sin’s) desire would be to do the bidding of Cain, and those who followed the “way of Cain” (Jude Verse 11). Just as Trigger was anxious to please me, and have me “rule” over him, so sin would be the servant of Cain and all those who opposed the righteousness of God, and who encouraged others to rebel against Him. (Proverbs 10:16) It is true that unregenerate people are the servants of sin (Romans Chapter 6). But it is also true that sin serves them as they attempt to corrupt and influence Christians (Romans 16:17-18).

I’m supposed to be studying but that is obviously not happening. What I have been doing however is wasting time on the internet and other such things. I have also been running around the house.

Now when I say “running around the house” I mean running. I keep running about, jumping over chairs, bounding up the stairs and generally being a hazard. However I have not been injured.

This evening however…

I was standing in the kitchen talking to my parents. I took a step forward in a calm, measured, sedate manner… and then there’s a moment when I think the world’s suddenly tilted around and then I’m on the floor.

It seems I had slipped on some water, and while trying to regain my balance I caught my foot in this contraption the maidservant uses to cart vessels around and hence I ended up on the floor.

I discovered that I had managed to acquire a barcodesque abrasion on my right wrist and a cut on my foot. I have no idea how I got those. I suppose I got those while obeying gravity. Along the way I also managed to injure my father.

It was an interesting experience, especially since it was completely unexpected. It’s been some time since fell. The last time I fell was when I fell out of that tree at The Indian Botanic Gardens. This was more entertaining. I felt like I was flying when I fell out of that tree. This time I felt confused, as if someone had suddenly decided to change the orientation of the world and forgot to tell me.

I also burst out laughing when I realised I was on the floor in a tangled heap- the constituents of the heap being myself, The Contraption and a karai. My mother, not to be outdone, asks me “Did you fall?”. I’m on the floor in a tangled heap when she says this.

In other news- I feel old. It’s almost the end of 5th Semester. It seems like only yesterday that it was 1st Semester. It’ll soon be 2010. I left school in 2007. That’s a long time ago. 1999 was ten years ago. 1999 seems like a couple of days ago. I find it hard to think of the time period 1996-2007 as a long time ago. I can’t remember a single thing about those years. They’re all a confused mish-mash in my head. I have no distinct, individual memories of those years but those years just seem very recent.

Soon It’ll be 6th Semester and I’ll have graduated. Then it’ll be time to face life. Peter Pan has all the luck.

More In other news I have a strange desire to watch Ninja Assassin. It just looks like a cool, mindless movie. Plus it has Ninjas. How can anything be bad if it has Ninjas? (Enter The Ninja was not bad. It was hilarious!)

I have decided not to watch 2012. I shall watch Ninja Assassin instead.

Even more In other news I’m getting a blister on my thumb. I will get the posters of our Macbeth project printed. They cost only Rs.40 each. There are six of them so that’s Rs.240. I can manage that. They’re damn cool. I’ll put up some once I get the soft copies. They have come out nicely, even if I do say so myself.

Some more In other News I’ve… no that’s about it. I’ve said all I’ve had to say. Oh wait no.

Shoutout All you Lurkers… Delurk!

Yeah, that’s about it.

I shall now waste time on the internet.

This is just some clips I would like to share. It’s the tiny bits moments a mom would like to remember when she grows old. And hopefully by then the clip still available to show to the grown up babies,
This day I decided to dress Jude up as baby tiger! It’s fun for me to watch him crawling around in the costumes. Not only I had fun! Manfred had Fun too! Manfred keep biting Jude’s tail! LOL

See how Manfred kor kor accompany Jude in the baby cot? Manfred initiated to go into the baby cot and play with Jude. I guess i prefer Manfred out of it. Cause reason Jude in it is to ensure his safety. With Manfred in it, it’s like placing a lion next to him. But it’s enjoyable for me cause I just need to be the “supervisor”. At the end see how Manfred “Laugh”. HAHAHA

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: (Jude 1)

John MacArthur says:

Spurgeon, a famous English preacher of the 19th century, said, “The general call of the gospel is like the sheet lightning we sometimes see on a summer’s evening–beautiful, grand–but whoever heard of anybody being struck by it? But the special call is the forked flash from heaven; it strikes somewhere. It is the arrow shot between the joints of the harness.” When a person hears a general presentation of the gospel, he can accept it or reject it. But when the Spirit of God moves in and transforms a life, the person responds to that efficacious call and becomes one of “the called.” Galatians 5:13 says, “…ye have been called unto liberty….” The shackles of sin are broken; a person is set free when he receives the effectual call of God. It is an eternal call, and God promises that everybody who is called is justified and also glorified– nothing can break down that process.

November 23 

Jude 1-7 (ESV)

Greeting

1:1 Jude, a servant [1] of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for [2] Jesus Christ:

2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Judgment on False Teachers

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved [3] a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, [4] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Sunday School | Jude 1:1-16 | Bro. Roger Harden
“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called…”  -Jude 1:1

Jude defined himself spiritually before he defined himself in the flesh.  He was a half brother of Jesus, but called himself a servant of Christ.

Morning Worship | 1 Corinthians 4:14-21 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  I urge you, then, be imitators of me.”  -1 Corinthians 4:15-16
*We need more spiritual parents, which means leading more people to Christ.
*What example are you setting in the lives of others?  Are you practicing what you preach?

Evening Worship | Leviticus 8:10-36 | Pastor Steve Wainright
“…To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  -Revelation 1:5-6
God has called each of us to be priests to minister and serve in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Are you being a faithful priest?