Just for laugh...

Image by 5348 Franco via FlickrAH BENG: People consider me a "GOD".

WIFE: How do you know??

AH BENG: When I went to the park today, everybody said, "Oh GOD! You have come again!"

A Deeper Look At New Creation Church Joseph Prince’s Destined to Reign

Book cover via AmazonI come across an interesting review about the book written by Joseph Prince - Destined to Reign.

You can read all about the review at HERE.

Why do I even bother to blog about this?

I am disturbed by that fact that I have come across quite a few people who seems to believe that they can understand the bible by reading them on their own. And from there, they have their own version of the gospel and start to question that other main stream Churches teachings.

Well it is good to question and search for the truth, it is disturbing to see how they have a twisted version simply by reading the books of similiar believers. Thus, a whole new set of wrong beliefs are believed as the "truth" by these people.

Mega church pastors are some of such people in my opinion. I always question where do they receive their training?

Can a self proclaimed vision give one the authority to preach? More importantly, are the preaching defensible by the bible?

I am sure many who have experience and contact with such church goers will know the answer.

Let's pray that these people continue to explore and not be taken in by sugar-coated grace ministry that is leading one away from God.

Is mega churches related to size?

Image via WikipediaI am just wondering why some non-denominations charismatic church called themselves mega churches? They usually bragged about their 15,000 - 25,000 attendance as a sign that God is with them and given them so much success....

Is that so?

Then how about the Catholic Church in Singapore? We have about 340,000 parishioners and what will that make us - Super Mega Church?

I am sure many if the other main stream Churches have more parishioners than any mega church.

Can someone explain to me?

Three Islamic militants were executed......

Image by publik18 via FlickrI read with mixed feelings at the news of the execution of the 3 Islamic militants for the 2002 Bali bombings. What they have done is really terrible but should they be executed? Does a life imprisonment suffice?

All these questions arises while we are in the mist of discussing euthanasia..... killing is wrong. But what about execution of prisoners?

There are threats of revenge for the 3 executed militants and let's hope that everybody can come to their senses and stop all killings.

Special Week-end Mass with the Archbishop

Image via WikipediaThis past week-end as been special for me personally as I visited the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Jurong. This is my first visit and I really liked the Church - too bad that I did not bring my camera along for pictures as it was unplanned.

This unplanned visit spring more surprises as the Church was having a confirmation for 39 youths and the Archbishop Nicholas Chia was to celebrate the mass!

During the Homily, the Archbishop remind us that we are stuck in a "consumerism" mindset where money, status and prestige is the top priority. Today's financial crisis is a clear sign to us that all the materials accumulations can be wiped out over-night.

Instead, we should take a "vocational" mindset. Having a vocational mindset means that we look at not just ourselves but also of service to others. As Jesus said, he is here to serve and not to be served. As his true disciples, should we also not take that approach?

As the 39 youths are being confirmed, the Archbishop lead us in singing "Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.....Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me......"

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Image via WikipediaThis week, is a dedication of the lateran Basilica in Rome and readings are as follows:
[Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12] [1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17] [John 2:13-22]

This week's reading saw Jesus telling the people to "stop using my Father's house as a market" and chasing them out of the temple....Indeed, the temple is for doing the business of the Father and not an avenue for making money.

Jesus stood up against the people who are trying to destroy the temple and we too must stand up when faced with the same.

Personally, it is sad to see how some pastors (who don't even have proper training) sugar coat their preaching and using the Church to make money. They are making use of people's trust in God and one day, they too will be chased out by Jesus.

Let us continue to preach the true Gospel and overcome any obstacles to help lead our brothers’ and sisters’ towards our beloved Jesus.

What is a diocesan priest?

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeCatholic priests in Singapore are either diocesan or religious (e.g. Redemptorists, Franciscans, Carmelites, Jesuits and Dominicians). However, they sahre a common identity as "Alter Christus" (Another Christ) and exercise common ministerial functions.

Diocesan priests:

- Commit their lives to serving the people of God in a diocese (a geographical area under the jurisdiction of a bishop).

- Make promise of celibacy and obedience (whereas priests from religious orders take an additional vow of poverty).

- Live life like their parishioners - they can buy their personal things and plan their own recreation.

- Render pastoral care to parishioners from cradle to grave, administer the sacraments, lead in prayer and worship, give faith and moral formations

Above source : Catholic News 9 Nov 2008.

Additional information:

- Priests live in Churches.

- Have no salary or CPF and current allowance is about $ 500 per month.

- A priest goes through 7-8 years of training in a seminary before they can be ordained as priest.

Hope this help to give a better understanding of a priests.

Candidates for the priesthood to undergo psychological tests

Image via WikipediaMen should be barred from entering the priesthood if psychological testing makes it "evident that the candidate has difficulty living chastity in celibacy: that is, if celibacy, for him is lived as a burden so heavy that it compromises his affective and relational equilibrium."

This was quoted from an article "New Vatican rules for priesthood candidates" which you can read in full HERE

I applaud the Church for taking steps to prevent past mistakes from recurring and this certainly is a step in the right direction.

Here is a interesting video about the truth of a Catholic priest:



Enjoy watching!

Euthanasia (or Mercy Killing) - thou shall not kill!

Image via WikipediaThe issue of euthanasia (or Mercy Killing) has surfaced and making news in our local media. The Archbishop Nicholas Chia and the National Council Of Churches has both issued statements condemning euthanasia.

Read the Archbishop's statement here

Killing by any means and for whatever reasons should be forbidden as God never teaches one to kill. In fact one of the 10 commandment clearly says thous shall not kill.

The complete story to this euthanasia issue is best presented HERE

All Souls Day

Image via WikipediaThis past week-end saw us celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This week's reading on All Souls Day is as follows :

[Isaiah 25:6-9] [Romans 5:5-11] [Matthew 11:25-30]

The following passage is taken from Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315b.htm

The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation.

The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. (See PURGATORY.)

In the early days of Christianity the names of the departed brethren were entered in the diptychs. Later, in the sixth century, it was customary in Benedictine monasteries to hold a commemoration of the deceased members at Whitsuntide. In Spain there was such a day on Saturday before Sexagesima or before Pentecost, at the time of St. Isidore (d. 636). In Germany there existed (according to the testimony of Widukind, Abbot of Corvey, c. 980) a time-honoured ceremony of praying to the dead on 1 October. This was accepted and sanctified by the Church. St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful departed to be held annually in the monasteries of his congregation. Thence it spread among the other congregations of the Benedictines and among the Carthusians.

Of the dioceses, Liège was the first to adopt it under Bishop Notger (d. 1008). It is then found in the martyrology of St. Protadius of Besançon (1053-66). Bishop Otricus (1120-25) introduced it into Milan for the 15 October. In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, priests on this day say three Masses. A similar concession for the entire world was asked of Pope Leo XIII. He would not grant the favour but ordered a special Requiem on Sunday, 30 September, 1888.

In the Greek Rite this commemoration is held on the eve of Sexagesima Sunday, or on the eve of Pentecost. The Armenians celebrate the passover of the dead on the day after Easter.

All Saints Day

Image by Szczur via FlickrThis past week-end saw us celebrating All Saints Day and All Souls Day. This post is about All Saints Day.

Following passage taken from Catholic Encyclopedia http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01315a.htm

Solemnity celebrated on the first of November. It is instituted to honour all the saints, known and unknown, and, according to Urban IV, to supply any deficiencies in the faithful's celebration of saints' feasts during the year.

In the early days the Christians were accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of a martyr's death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. In the fourth century, neighbouring dioceses began to interchange feasts, to transfer relics, to divide them, and to join in a common feast; as is shown by the invitation of St. Basil of Caesarea (397) to the bishops of the province of Pontus.

Frequently groups of martyrs suffered on the same day, which naturally led to a joint commemoration. In the persecution of Diocletian the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. But the Church, feeling that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all.

The first trace of this we find in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost. We also find mention of a common day in a sermon of St. Ephrem the Syrian (373), and in the 74th homily of St. John Chrysostom (407).

At first only martyrs and St. John the Baptist were honoured by a special day. Other saints were added gradually, and increased in number when a regular process of canonization was established; still, as early as 411 there is in the Chaldean Calendar a "Commemoratio Confessorum" for the Friday after Easter.

In the West Boniface IV, 13 May, 609, or 610, consecrated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs, ordering an anniversary. Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for 1 November.

A basilica of the Apostles already existed in Rome, and its dedication was annually remembered on 1 May. Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration on 1 November to the entire Church. The vigil seems to have been held as early as the feast itself. The octave was added by Sixtus IV (1471-84).