The Power of the Tongue: Choose Words Carefully

From the great transcriber. Yet another article to recommend for your reading. This time it is from the SMalley Relationship Center.

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The Power of the Tongue: Choose Words Carefully

How we communicate words, our tone of voice, the inflection and volume, is as important as the words we use. Words are powerful!
There is home in which positive words are not spoken. It is the home in which words are used to demean and destroy. Instead of hearing compliments that build them up, children in this home are belittled.
These are not always abusive homes. Even well meaning parents can be careless with words. Mom has had a hard day and looks forward to a relaxing dinner. Just as she sits down to the table, her four-year-old spills her milk. Angry and impatient, Mom shouts, "Can't you do anything right!" A child turns this anger inward: "I am stupid. Mommy hates me." "This fight is all my fault."
Sam hands his report card sheepishly to his father. His father, who was always driven by his own father to make good grades, explodes when he sees some low marks, even though there are high marks too. "You call this commitment" "You'll never amount to anything!" are words that bite deeply into the heart of a boy who yearns to please his father. All the boy hears is what he sees and the tone. Not the words. He sees his own father that he is driven to love and be loved by showing him disapproval and disgust.
There is a time for speaking words of affirmation—anytime, all the time. And there is a purpose—to provide a sense of belonging and appreciation for family members and to weave the fabric of a close family.
How important words are to nurture the soul and foster a healthy sense of self!
Lord, help me to choose my words carefully today. A harsh word stirs up anger. - Prov. 15:1b

From Mel's Desk - I'm gonna be Mrs Tan

See Adena's note below....i think she's very cute.

Amen, i claim her prophetic word...& haha, her anointing of marriage (she's getting married in April....) ....i'm gonna be Mrs Tan.....

And yes, it's gonna be a long shot cos i dunno any single guy with this surname.


To:
ongbeekim13@yahoo.com.sg
Subject: Mistake on your surname
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:23:54 +0800 (SGT)
From: "Adena Lim" Add to Address Book

Hi Kim,
Please forgive me, I have attached a wrong surname to your name on the worshipteam dedication list. Called you Tan Bee Kim instead of Ong Bee Kim...are you by any chance going to marry someone by the surname of Tan???? [it's a long shot].

So sorry about that. I think it's becuz I have a colleague called TAN Bee Him and thus got confused...

From Adena: Happy CNY, Roster & Dedication Sunday

To:
"Anne Goh" , "stephen yong" , "Tham Yong Xian" , "Nicholas" , "Ruth" , "joshua Lam" , "Wesley CM Worshipteam" , "Linda Ng" , "Shiyang Kwong" , "Delphene Teo" , "Diana Koh" , "Jason WKFC" , "Siping Chan" , "Sylvia (worshipteam)" , "Christine Png" , "Joevinzel Yap"
From:
"Adena Lim" Add to Address Book
Date:
Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:09:06 +0800 (SGT)
Subject:
[wmc-cm-worshipteam] Happy CNY & Worship roster

Dear Amigos!

Happy Chinese New Year! Hope you had a rollickin' good time with your families and loved ones. Go easy on those New Year cookies...In the midst of the celebrations, we want to remember Roger and family and send our condolences on the demise of his father over this Chinese New Year period. Let's pray for God's comfort to be with Roger's family. Pray also for the salvation of the rest of Roger's family.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

This Sunday is dedication Sunday for ALL OF YOU IMPT PEOPLE!Please attend the 9.30am or 11.30am service and be dedicated. Worship roster this week (NOTE: Some changes made)7.30amWL: AdenaPianist: AnnDrums: RogerWKFCWL: Stefanie & MelodyKeys: Samantha (9.30am)/ Adena (10.15am)Drums: WayneBass: RuthJunior/JC2WL: AlvinKeys: MelvinDrums: NicholasBlessings,Adena

Sometimes I just like to Listen

This is an article that would address the worship-leaders fears about the congregation not singing. Sometimes, as I lead worship or play for a session, I wonder what is going on when there are no voices besides the worship-leader's.

I guess there is no real need to despair. Could it be that people are listening, allowing the words of the songs minister to them, rather than singing? After all, we DO listen to worship CDs don't we? And we do not necessarily sing along....

Anyways, I found this intersting read on Heartlight website. read on.

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As a young preacher, one of the most intimidating things was having a brotherhood legend as one of my elders. It took several years and someone telling me what was happening before I stopped getting nervous every time he took a note card out of his front pocket and wrote something down while I was preaching. (Rather than writing down something wrong I said or something he didn't agree with, I found out he was writing down what he liked and would use in his editorials!)
One of the things he did that often concerned our worship leaders was to simply bow his head and not sing while we were singing congregationally. This was most noticeable on newer, more "contemporary" — whatever that really means – songs. This sometimes threw our worship leaders and irritated congregation members. Finally, I just got up enough nerve to go share this information with him. His answer – which I can still hear in his scratchy voice, "Well, I sure don't want to be discouraging, but sometimes I just like to listen."
No big problem here. No big theological issue or quarrel with song content. With all he had on his plate, with all his years of ministry, with all his concerns about the future of God's people, sometimes he just wanted to sit there and be blessed.
We've lived through several weeks of icy weather in the western and central parts of Texas. Roads have been closed. Businesses, schools, and churches have been closed. On Wednesday evening, our services were cancelled on site, but our HIP service (HIP stands for High Impact Praise) was conducted at a chapel on a university campus in town. The acoustics were great. There were 4 of us over 30 there. As we began to sing with little or no amplification or microphones, the sound of 300 voices melding into one great sound of praise drove me to sit there in silence.
I sat there on the verge of major tear duct leakage.As I sat there on the verge of major tear duct leakage, I remembered my elder's old statement and made it my own. "Sometimes I just like to listen!" Like the right salve for an open wound, like a glass of cool water on a hot day, and like a breath of fresh air for someone coming out of a mine shaft, this singing filled a soul need. While I hope I'm never warped by an evil spirit as King Saul was, I sure understand how "the tormenting spirit would go away" when David sang and played for him (1 Samuel 16:23). Sitting there listening to these young adults praising God at the top of their voices in such beautiful harmony on a night when most folks in town didn't venture outside their door sent my tormenting spirits scurrying for cover!
I have known for years that praise music juices me in ways that I cannot define. So if you see me with a throng of worshipers and I'm not singing, please know this truth: I'm not angry, I don't dislike the song selection, and I'm not offended by something, it's just that sometimes I just like to listen!

By Phil Ware

Eng Wah Movie Tickets at $7 each

Happy Valentine's!

My company is giving this promotion to staff ( Wayne, i think you can try going into MINDEF intranet, DMG homepage, and look under employee services).....so good things must be shared right...

Here's the deal:
Eng Wah Movie Coupons, $7 each (usual price $9.50). Sold in sets of 10. Can be used on weekends/ public holiday eve/ public holiday. Expiry in Mar 08.
Drawback: must buy show tickets at box office, as vouchers cannot be used online.

Those of you who want me to buy on your behalf, pse let me know latest by this Sat 170207, you can sms me at 81572203.

Happy Valentine's Day!

From the Editor's Desk - CNY Greetings

Subject: [wmc-cm-worshipteam] Chinese New Year & NO CM this week.

Hellloooo worshipteamies,

It's the time of the year when you hear noisy Chinese New Year songs ring in the air, red gaudy decorations flanking every street, love-letters and shrimp spring rolls in red-capped containers, and the bak kwa advertisements aired more frequently than ever on TV.

Oh yes. Did I forget to mention the ang pows?Above the clatter and the clutter, do you realise you have a 4-day weekend? Use it wisely. Perhaps it is time to get in touch and spend quality time with your relatives and friends. Perhaps it is a time for you to share the gospel or show God's Love to someone in your family or extended family. Or perhaps for some, it is time to get away from the hustle and bustle to have rest in the Lord.

There are many possibilities. But it is a good time. Whichever you choose, here's wishing you a blessed Chinese New Year!There is no CM this sunday so all worshipteam members can take a well-deserved break.

Here's (yet) another article on personal retreat. Hope you'll enjoy it!http://www.christianitytoday.com/childrensministry/articles/personalretreat.html

Roster for NEXT Sunday 25 Feb:7.30amWL: AdenaPianist: AnnDrums: RogerWKFCWL: StefanieKeys: SamanthaDrums: NicholasGuitar: Melody Bass: RuthJunior/JC2WL: Mun YangKeys: MelvinGuitar: AlvinDrums: Wayne (9.30am)/ Jeremiah (11.30am)Worshipteam FellowshipIn view of the CNY hols and possible heavy family commitments, there will be no worshipteam fellowship this Friday.

Fellowship will resume next Sat afternoon (24 Feb).

Blessings,Adena*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-* -*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-* -*-*-Romans 8:39...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."*-*-*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-* -*-*-*-*- *-*-*-*-* -*-*-CM Worshipteam blog: http://wmc-cm-worshipteam.blogspot.com/

Oops i did it!

Hello, peeps! :)

They say that newbies always make the silliest mistakes. So i have a confession to make as Asst Editor....

I was trying to update our blog with Adena's latest emails, when i upgraded our blog to the new blogger (basically, they provided no other option for the old account holders but to upgrade, in order to proceed further). Nothing wrong with that right....err...well......

.... as i was keying in a whole lot of verification data, i had no idea how...but this blog became subsumed under my personal email addy... heh.

Well....so u'll have to log in with my addy until i find how to rectify this.

Adena, do u happen to have the password for wmc-cm-worshipteam@yahoogroups.com? I hope that provides the solution....

Till then, pse note that our blog has officially been 'upgraded' ( according to Blogger.com)....here's how to create new posts:

1) Go to www.blogger.com
2) Choose 'new account'
3)ID : wmc_cm_worshipteam
PW: heartofworship
4) Email address: ongbeekim13@yahoo.com.sg
PW: how123
5) Select 'Posting' -> 'Create'. And start yakking!!!

Next, i got to know about this live band performing their own original compositions about friendship and love tommorow at a pub as follow:

Date/ Day: 13 Feb 07/ Tue
Time : 8pm
Address: 21 Tanjong Pagar Road (near Maxwell Mkt)
Tickets : $15 inclusive of 1 housepour. Tickets at the door.
Official poster: see http://www.into-the-wild.livejournal.com

I know it's really last minute, but those of you who enjoy live band, can consider going.


And to share with you below, the joy of receiving home-delivered flowers from:

1) A girl friend .....

2) Who is married.....

Turbulence

Short notes from Asst Editor, Melissa Ong B-Kim

Hi all,

As you can see from Adena's note below, i'm now roped in to assist in updating the blog. I promised to help out till her wedding preps, and she says it's pretty easy, just need to regurgitate whatever she emails.

Hope that you peeps can help out here with your voices..... Even if just dropping by to say Hi now & then. So that we know you're alive not only on Sundays, yah? Heh.

Adena asked a question, which for me, is timely, what you find your security in? Last week, I was thrown into emotional turmoil when i was faced with avalanche of emails from heaven-knows which dept with deadlines from yesterday, then i realised that was because my boss wasn't clearing her emails, hence the loansharks have come knocking on the next door.

This week, i have stopped receiving such emails, in fact, i was so free that i was feeling stressed from not doing anything, that was the opposite spectrum. Some people are good at this, they say, it's just work, do not put your emotions in it, but to me, it's like 70% of my waking day, and without emotions in it, i would be 70% walking corpse? I'm not sure if what i said make sense.

Ok, so with these emotions among other things, i was riding in a turbulent sea, and still am. But when i ask this question that Adena asked, what do i find my security in? My mind is centred on what really matters at the end of the day. Truth, and not emotions. Love that was freely given, not sought for. Victory that is already mine, no matter how lousy i may feel that day. Praise God!

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From the Editor Adena

Hellow worshipteamies,

This morning I asked the Lord what He would like me to share with everyone, where I should look for that inspiration. ..

When I stepped into the office and turned on my computer, all my files on the desktop were gone! My email settings had also disappeared and needed to be re-configured! !! I was in despair for a moment. At least for a while I panicked and felt anxiety, then this verse came to me:
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." -Psalm 20:7

I wondered, why was I so upset over those few files I have put on my desktop? I must admit that for a moment, the incident did threaten my security... But what was in it that was so important? What was in those files that cannot be replaced or re-done? So what if they were lost?

Today, I'd like to encourage everyone to consider what you find your security in. Is it your job? is it financial independence? Is it in your close group of friends? in your warm and loving family? is it in doing what you are good at in the workplace, in school or in ministry? is it in staying in a protected place like Singapore?

More importantly, ask yourself if this security is taken away by God...say if the job, the friends, the ministry, the cushy environment. ..is taken away, what would your response be? Are you still able to give praise to God and give thanks for His blessings to you?

Remember Job who after self-examining and found that what God had brought upon him was due to no fault of his own. Instead of cursing God for being unfair and harsh, he lifted his heart to Him again in praise and worship. He thoroughly understood God's sovereignty and showed true humility even through his sufferings.

I pray that you'll list down the things in your life that make you feel secure and surrender these to God, and ask Him to re-assure you that your one and only real security lies in God Himself for (as I have put in my signature below) "...neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation,will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord." -Romans 8:39

This week's roster:

7.30am
WL: Li Choo
Pianist: Ann
Drums: Roger

WKFC
WL: Arthur (The Dinosaur Man)
Keys: Germaine
Guitar: Jack
Drums: Nicholas
Bass: Yeunling

Junior/JC2
WL: Debbie & Siping
Keys: Chloe (9.30am)/ Adena (11.30am)
Drums: Roger (9.30am & 11.30am)
Guitar: Wayne

FELLOWSHIP this week

This week we will have a combined fellowship with the CM prayer group. The focus will be on prayer for the children's ministry. I pray that you will come and support in providing music ministry. Pls let me know if you can make it so that I can organise the musicians.

Date: 2nd Feb (Friday)
Time: 7.30pm
venue: BR 1&2

WORSHIPTEAM web-blog

I'd like to apologise for the lack of updates of the worshipteam web-blog due to time-constraints. Kim has come on board to help me with the updates. Pls feel free to be co-editors of the web-blog too.

<>

PRAYER CORNER

1. Continue to pray for healing for Jeremiah's finger & Samantha's knees.
2. Pray for children to be able to worship God freely in their own way during CM service.

Blessings,
Adena

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Romans 8:39
...neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in
all creation,will be able to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ
Jesus
our Lord."
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CM Worshipteam blog:
http://wmc-cm- worshipteam. blogspot. com

The other day, at a bible study, a friend posed an interesting question. "If we are called to love, how do we know how much is too much? Because of our finite amount of resources, how do we know if we should be doing action A or B?" It was interesting to me because I had never thought of it that way before. How does one know if there should be something else that one needs to be doing, instead of whatever they are doing there?

I think that it is dangerous to dwell on these things. It is dangerous because we try to rationalize why God would want us to do something. Like, "why would God want me to go to a city full of evil people? I might get killed there. Hmmm... Let me go in the opposite direction... Oh no! I'm swallowed by a whale! Dang it! Okay, okay, let's just do this God's way.... Oh look! The evil people are turning back to God! Who knew!"

Pascal (remember him? They named the units of pressure after him, I think) wrote it best for me:

"Let each one examine his thoughts, and he will find them all occupied with the past and the future. We scarcely ever think of the present; and if we ever think of it, it is only to take light from it to arrange the future . . . So we never live, but we hope we live; and, as we are always preparing to be happy, it is inevitable we should never be so."
- Blaise Pascal, Pensees

We use crazy words in our lives like "ministry" and "calling" and "annointment", when I think that really, being in constant worship of God cuts through all of that, and brings us to the place where we have nothing else to do but let God do his thing. Our constant iterative struggle with him draws us closer to him, and gives us more assurance that it is not mad to be actually worshipping God through peeling potatoes. Romans 12 tells us that offering our lives as a living sacrifice is "our spiritual act of worship."

But you know, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it always wants to crawl off the altar.

Instead, we are called to be. Human "beings", not human "doings" (somehow that just makes me think of droppings. I don't know why. Anyone else feel that way?), not human "knowings", just human beings. That in itself is one of the most truly liberating things in our worship to God. Being who He called us to be. I am not advocating that we use it as a shield to allow ourselves to continue doing things that are wrong, because I think that our spirit could never agree with it. And the last I checked, truth and spirit were still part of worship.

Rather, we should not be stifling ourselves with the "model Christian" as a sceptre that binds us. It is foolish and we suddenly find ourselves unwittingly making an idol of of that image. There's probably a reason why God used weird people like a shepard (David), foreign talent (Joseph) and a slew of other folks like fishermen and tax collectors to dispel our fixed notions on a model believer.

How then shall we worship? What are the steps to worship God? Is it with the guitar? The piano? The voice? The clapping? Who know. But with confidence, we can approach life and know that at the end of the day, we are just called to be.

And that, I think, is the essence of worship.