GCF iBridge

iBridge Camp 2011 !!!!

2011-09-08T12:02:00.004+08:00

Camp Theme: Uncertain Times, Unchanging Passion, Unwavering Conviction
Venue : Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, Seremban.
Date : 15-18 September 2011 (Thursday - Sunday)
Camp Fee : RM180.00

Registration Closing Date : 12th September 2011

Website : http://ibridgecamp2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Camp%20Details

To register : http://ibridgecamp2011.blogspot.com/search/label/Registration%20Form

Workshop 1 – Transition to work
by Tak Ming
- Meaning of Work
- How to make an impact and marketplace outreach
- Common struggles faced by fresh graduates and how to overcome it
- Sabbath

Workshop 2 – Social Relief work
by Steve
- What is CREST?

- Why social relief work is important?

- How graduates can get involve/response?

Workshop 3 – Biblical Financial Management

by Erik Lai
- Biblical perspective on financial management

- Professional advise on purchasing car, house, investment, saving, generous giving for mission, retirement, etc
- Trusting-God-to-Provide vs Financial security

Workshop 4 – National Issues

by Keat Peng

- Sharing on current and yet to come national issues

- How to make right judgement/discernment based on exploded media information that we read

- Awareness of basic constitution right

- How should Christian respond to Bersih and future rallies.

Workshop 5 – Discernment

by Dr Choon Khing

- What is discernment?

- How to practise discernment?

- Practical discernment (Choosing job, ministries, finding life partner, response to certain opinions etc)

Workshop 6 - Talent migration

by Seng Gee

- What is migration?

- What is the deciding point to migrate or not to migrate?

- How should I respond to my friends who want to migrate?

Workshop 7 – Relationship

by 2 Pre-Marital Counseling Couples

Workshop 8 – Science and Faith (God)

by Dr Living Lee

"Welcome to the world!"

*laughters*

Isn't that a familiar phrase that our seniors told us when we first started work?

Being a young adult in the working world comes with a new set of challenges.

When we were still students, it was easy to see the path that we would be going. After graduating from university or college, the transition to be in the workforce can be quite daunting. The uncertainties that loom in. The process of adapting to a new environment. The responsibilities that come with adulthood. Trust us, this process doesn't stop there.

After working for a few years, you might find yourself at the crossroads again. It's like going back to the days when you once faced the fresh graduates' dilemma. The only difference this time is you carry more skills and work experiences with you. You also have more things and commitments to care about: family, relationships, finance, church involvement etc.

We face transitions at different points of our lives. That is a fact we constantly remind ourselves to face it whether we like it or not. The process is indeed challenging and uncomfortable. It can be exhausting. Somehow we need to move on in order to move forward. Sigh... We understand you.

Let's take a break from all these worries! Come join us for camp and be refreshed again!

Just Graduated? Looking for a group of Christian friends to grow together in your walk with God??

2011-08-02T16:35:00.001+08:00

Just graduated?

So you have collected your hard earned certificate, thrown your mortar board in the air, taken countless photographs with your family and friends, returned your graduation robe, packed up your valuables and memories into boxes and finally returned home.

What next?

Apply for a job, your mother and your logical mind tells you.

Target the best companies - especially those who offer you the highest pay.

You start off with your very first “real” job in the “real” world. After some initial struggle, you finally settle into the routine battling through traffic jams, working hard, submitting to your boss, striving to be excellent and trying to be the “salt and light” that the bible talks about.

You are overwhelmed. You start having doubts about your faith and how you can make a difference. You feel insignificant. You wonder if you are the only one.

You need wisdom, help and support to transition through this new phase of life…

Do not fret. You need not go through this alone. We are here for you. GCF (Graduates Christian Fellowship) would like to invite you to a Graduates Commissioning Service. This is a reflective service so come and join us..

"GRADUATION COMMISSIONING SERVICE & DINNER"

Date : 13th August 2011 (Saturday)

Time : 4.00 pm – 5.30pm (Graduation Commissioning Service)

: 5.30 pm – 7.00pm (GCF 42nd AGM)

: 7.00 pm – 9.00pm (Dinner at Royal Selangor Club - RM40 per pax)

(*RM20 for fresh graduates below 3 working years)

Venue: St Mary’s Anglican Cathedral . Jalan Raja (Dataran Merdeka) KL

: Map as attached http://maps.google.com.my/maps q=st+mary+cathedral+kl&hl=en&ll=3.150404,101.692511&spn=0.006128,0.013733&z=17

Speaker: Mr Goh Keat Peng

Goh Keat Peng has been blessed with opportunities to minister to churches in and out of the country, school and university students, poor communities in East Timor, and Malaysian politicians across the parliamentary divide. Through the Christian Federation of Malaysia and the Malaysian Consultative council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, he has also been engaged in efforts to encourage Christian unity and also the resolution of religious conflicts through genuine dialogue and to safeguard the status of religious freedom in Malaysia. Believing that there must be a Christian voice in Malaysia, he has set up a personal blog at http://ongohing.wordpress.com/ as well as a web portal athttp://www.themicahmandate.org/ where his perspectives and reflections on issues of national importance are regularly published.

Come and join us at GCF, a growing community of Christians, comprising of young professionals graduates in Malaysia. We are here to help you in your transition from campus life to the working world.

(A) THANKSGIVING : To bring together just graduated Christians to give thanks to God collectively for their successful graduation and for God’s protection, provisions, guidance, encouragement and counsel during their time as students and to seek His guidance and counsel and to depend on God continuously in their lives ahead;

(B) FELLOWSHIP : To encourage Christian graduates to identify with each other as members of the Body with shared responsibilities as individuals who have been called by God to be members of His Church;

(C) EQUIPPING : To remind Christian graduates that they have the privilege to be chosen to be God’s adopted children for a divine purpose and to challenge the individual fresh graduate to seek for God’s divine purpose in their lives in our nation especially in the face of the various challenges facing our nation; and

(D) COMMISIONING : To assert in the spirit and soul of every Christian graduate that the source of true success and blessings in life comes from the knowledge of God and total obedience to his word and absolute dependence on Him throughout their lives.

Come and be encouraged!
Please RSVP before 5th August 2011 or contact Jimmy Lee at g cf.msia@gmail.com for more details.

HeadStart Introduction Dinner (June Intake)

2011-06-03T15:02:00.004+08:00

What is Headstart?

Ever wondered what is God's calling for your life? Do you struggle to give God your best in every area of your life? Come and join the HEADSTART program. HEADSTART is a one-year program that helps graduates to work through transitional issues from campus to the market place. It is a small group that meets together to discuss transition from a student life to the working world. It also enforces community living whose objective is to create lifelong disciples, to help transition from campus to the marketplace, to deal with work pressure, office politics, work culture, relating to parents, adapting back to church life, being salt and light in the marketplace. Perhaps the most important part of the HeadStart ministry lies in the friendship that is built amongst the group members which lasts way after the HeadStart is over. Prayer and accountability is an integral part of the group also. The book, Following Jesus in the "Real World" by Richard Lamb will be used as the syllabus & guide.

Please join us on.....

Date:

25^th June 2011 (Saturday)

Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Venue:

Mr & Mrs Tan Joon Chee’s home

No.5, Lorong Kemaris 1,Bukit Bandaraya,59100 Kuala Lumpur.

Note: Dinner will be provided for fellowship purposes and an opportunity encourage one another.

Please RSVP and contact Jimmy Lee for more details: (016-4532275) at ibridge.email@gmail.com

An Invitation to ICM Public Lectures 2011 - Taking Your Soul to Work

2011-02-15T00:01:00.004+08:00

For more information & details of the lectures, check out the ICM link at www.trac.org.my or this link http://www.trac.org.my/index.cfm?&menuid=93&parentid=22

If you would like to hear a recent radio-interview by Freda Liu with Alvin Ung on his book, Taking Your Soul to Work, check out BFM89.9 or http://www.bfm.my//raise-your-game-alvin-ung-taking-your-soul-to-work.html

Registration with CGMC office (05-546 2023) : RM20 per person (incl. of tea & lunch) by 6th of March 2011! Hurry!

Blessings,

Ng Wai Ling

Director

Institute for Christian Ministry (ICM)

TRAC

Tel:03-7954 2836

www.trac.org.my

International Migrants Day 2010 (18th Dec 2010)

2010-12-03T20:28:00.002+08:00

GCF iBridge Inter-church Sport ministry

2010-11-13T22:53:00.004+08:00

Hello sportsmen and women of our generation,

We hereby propose to have an inter-church sports ministry. It's a good opportunity to start to reactivate your dormant sporting cells and bring it to the next level! Here are some reasons why you should join us:

1) Networking/Making friends with other church young adults- We are the next generation of church leaders, let's start breaking down the denomination barrier and be united!
...
2) Nation Building - A unified church in Malaysia will bring about possibilities of many nation building projects that can be collaborated between churches (and potentially your non-Christian friends as well!).

3) "Release tension, Love the games!" - Dr Living mentioned that the Sabbath will be more complete if we know how to chill and PLAY! I hope some of this year's iBridge campers still remember their lessons from this years camp, eh? :-)

Our target sport/games day is bi-monthly or every 3 months on a Saturday morning or evening (Public Holidays will also be considered). With the first sport day venue at Metro Tabernacle (Kepong) on 27th November, 8:30AM - 1:00PM.

So, in order to kick start the event, we would need your feedback - which sport would you join? Your feedback is much appreciated for this event to be a success. To fill in your sports and games preference *click here*.

GCF EXCO 2010

2010-09-28T16:04:00.004+08:00

(Back) Joon Chee, Hwok Lok, Seng Gee, Living Lee, Jimmy Lee (Staff Worker) , Chai Yee

(Front) Evangel Ong, Peter Yee, Esther Tan, Josephine Lim, Christopher Lim, Anna Tan

GCF Forum - 7 Mountains of Culture of a Nation and Transformation through New Media

2010-09-18T01:31:00.009+08:00

Date : 2nd October 2010 (Saturday)

Time : 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Venue: Peoples Park Baptist Church (No14, Grd Floor, Jalan SS 4D/14, 47301PJ) - see map below

Speaker: Sreedhar Subramaniam

Programme:

3.00pm-3.10pm: Registration

3.10pm-4.00pm: Forum

4.00pm-4.30pm: Q&A Session

In 1975, 3 men, Loren Cunningham (founder of Youth with a Mission), Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) and Francis Schaeffer (theologian) had a distinct word from the Lord about the need for the Christian message to influence 7 areas or spheres of a nation in order to bring transformation of the culture of the nation to that of the Lord. These 7 spheres, sometimes referred to as the 7 mountains of culture, are media, arts & entertainment, business, government, family, education and religion. If a nation's 7 mountains are discipled and influenced with kingdom values, this will be a start of a spiritual transformation towards the Lord. Sreedhar will speak about this concept in the context of our nation and how new media can help speak into these 7 areas and, in essence, disciple a whole nation to Christ

Sreedhar Subramaniam

Sreedhar Subramaniam has over 20 years of experience in management consulting and senior management. His senior management experience has been within the media, business process outsourcing and information services industries. He is a Consultant with the Character Training Institute, involved in implementing character development programmes for businesses, Governments, schools and communities in Malaysia and the South East Asia region. He founded The Malaysian Insider and is currently the CEO of Good Times, a website project under the auspices of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship.

He also has had many years of Christian leadership role within the church and outside. He is the ALERT Cadet (a Christian uniformed group for fathers and sons) Regional Coordinator for Austral Asia holding the rank of Major. He is also a Haggai Institute Alumni and Facilitator. Sreedhar has a Master of Business Administration from York University, Canada. He also holds a science degree, from the University of Toronto, specializing in Computer Science, a major in Commerce and a minor in Mathematics. Sreedhar and, his wife, Lee Yen have four wonderful children.

Come and be encouraged! Please RSVP before 30th Sept 2010. Kindly contact Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com for more details.

GCF INAUGURAL GRADUATION COMMISSIONING SERVICE & DINNER JULY 10th 2010

2010-06-21T18:23:00.004+08:00

If you graduated between 2005-2010, you are cordially and prayerfully invited!

Greetings in the name of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ! As part of its ongoing ministry to Christian graduates from local and foreign tertiary institutions, the GCF will be holding, for the very first time, a special Graduation Commissioning Service and Dinner for all Christian tertiary level students who have graduated from their respective institutions between 2005 and 2010.

The objectives of the events are as follows :

(1) To bring together Christian graduates to give thanks to God collectively for their successful graduation and for God’s protection, provisions, guidance, encouragement and counsel during their time as students and to seek His guidance and counsel and to depend on God continuously in their lives ahead;

(2) To encourage Christian graduates to identify with each other as members of the Body with shared responsibilities as individuals who have been called by God to be members of His Church;To remind Christian graduates that they have the privilege to be chosen to be God’s adopted children for a divine purpose and to challenge the individual fresh graduate to seek for God’s divine purpose in their lives in our nation especially in the face of the various challenges facing our nation;

(3) andTo assert in the spirit and soul of every Christian graduate that the source of true success and blessings in life comes from the knowledge of God and total obedience to his word and absolute dependence on Him throughout their lives.

Details of the event are as follows :

Date: 10th July 2010 (Saturday)
Dinner :
(RM20) Fresh Graduates 3 yrs below of working experience
(RM40) Graduates more than 3y ears of working experience
Venue & Time:
Commissioning Service at St. Mary’s Cathedral (7.00 pm)
Dinner at Royal Selangor Club-Chinese Restaurant (8.00 pm)

Mr Goh Keat Peng will deliver the message at the Commissioning Service.

* GCF members and graduates are encouraged to partner with us in this graduates ministry by inviting/forwarding this email (As attached is in .pdf format) to fresh graduates (2005-2010) from your church.

We would be grateful if you could kindly confirm your attendance or otherwise by June 25th 2010 via e-mail: gcf.msia@gmail.com

For further details, kindly contact Jimmy Lee (GCF Staff Worker) at 016-4532275.

Please indicate the title/subject field of your e-mail as “GCF Graduation Service & Dinner”

Modern warfare – Strategic Games

2010-04-29T15:07:00.003+08:00

CALLING all "SOLDIERS" at heart to battlefield!

http://www.corporatesoldiers.biz/
This is not a drill and we need you in the battlefield!!!
Can’t seem to get enough of the thrill and exhilaration of sniping down your opponents or just simply miss the sound of machine guns?
Here is your chance to get rough and dirty! Let me tell u how....

The Ibridge committee will be organising a game of modern warfare in PJ saturday 29 May 2010 (Sat morning).

This game is liken to paintball where fellow army "Capture the Flag" or fight to be "King of Hill", except that the “killing device” used is safer with laser tagging guns (pls find the attached brochures for more info) The laser tagging guns is safe to use at both indoors and outdoors and its technology is somewhat similar to your t.v. remote controllers and runs on batteries. So do consider joining us for this whole new game of fun! Whether u are a first-timer or experienced player, you're bound to have a FANTASTIC time of FUN AND LEARNING!!

Battle field:

The battle field will be equipped with sophisticated REALISTIC WAR BUNKERS, TANKS and etc..

Come prepared with :

• Long pants, shoes, and a comfortable top. Have a soldier themed attire to add a more realistic atmosphere to the simulation.

• Insect repellent, in case you have to need to hide to eye your prey.

• Hat, sunglasses etc.. to keep the sun from your face, eyes.

• Sufficient amount of water so you don’t get dehydrated during battle and PENGSAN!!

INTERESTED? Pls mail me to ibridge.email@gmail.com OR (josi3_lim@hotmail.com) contact (012-3650 618) for reservation by TODAY for better planning.

Details are as follows:

Event: Modern warfare – Strategic Games

Venue: Central Park (opposite 1U)

Date: Saturday, MAY 29TH

Time: 9am – 12pm

Group Fees : RM50 per player (we are trying to get Minimum 40ppl)

How NOT to date a LOSER!!!

2010-04-27T12:11:00.004+08:00

Dear friends,

This is an interesting seminar entitled - How not to date a loser!

Date :May 8 (Sat)

Time:6.30 pm-9.00 pm.

Address :

Full Gospel Tabernacle

Wisma Eagles

No 5 Jalan TP4. Taman Perindustrian UEP

Subang Jaya 47600

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Dinner is included.(RM8 per pax)

Please confirm participation by 4th May to facilitate catering.

Please email to ibridge.email@gmail.com

Issues facing Christians in Malaysia

2010-04-23T14:48:00.003+08:00

Event : GCF FORUM
What : Issues facing Christians in Malaysia
Speaker : Dr. Ng Kam Weng (Research Director and Resident Scholar of Kairos Research Centre)
Date : Saturday, April 24th
Time : 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Where : Canaan Church KL
*Close Door meeting - Speaker will speak on Allah issue and interact with other issues as they are raised in the discussion.

To find direction to Canaan Church KL, http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=25%2C+Jalan+9%2F42%2C+Taman+Sejahtera%2C+Off+Jalan+Kuching%2C+Kuala+Lumpur%2C+Malaysia+51200

Forum about the top 2 - 3 issues facing Malaysian Christians / Churches today - specific to us living in this country.
For example - our involvement in politics and transformation of the country, migration of talents to other countries as they give up on Malaysia for the sake of their children, how are we dealing with the 2 mil + foreigners - are we doing enough to reach out to them?, etc.
GCF is into marketplace ministry, so the focus of relevance would be "how or what can a working Christian adult do in the response to those issues - whether we are church leaders or not?"

At the end of the talk, We hope that GCF members that attend the forum will speak up during the Q&A session. For everyone to take home something that they can act upon. Not just another talk that enlightens them. Enough of information/ talks going on. We want to see changes in the way our members go about our daily lives. The transformation naturally must happen in our own lives first before we expect national transformation etc.

Please reply to gcf.msia@gmail.com and RSVP with us of your coming to the talk

iBridge CNY Dinner @ Headstart Intake (20th Feb 2010)

2010-02-03T16:20:00.004+08:00

Date: 20th Feb 2010 (Sat)
Time: 6-10pm
Venue: Ara Damansara, Damansara (will email the map and address to those who can make it)
Food : Potbless (Please bring food enough for 5 pax)

We just have our New Year Reunion dinner last month.If you miss such close fellowships apart from the yummy foods =) Do come join us again for a time of joyous salmon 'Loh Sang' as we share with others testimonies and encourage one another to bring back the CNY mood and celebration that nowdays been missing. Oh ya, do invite your friends along too~!

To confirm your attendance, kindly email Jimmy at ibridge.email@gmail.com or SMS/call him at 016-453-2275 latest by Thursday, Feb 18th. Do let him know what food you'll be bringing for the event.

Hope to see all of you then!

iBridge New Year Reunion Dinner (2nd January 2010)

iBridge New Year Dinner @ 2 Jan 2010

2009-12-29T22:47:00.004+08:00

Date: 2nd January 2010 (Sat)

Time: 6-10pm

Venue: Valencia, Sungai Buloh (will email the map and address to those who can make it)

Food : Potbless (Please bring food enough for 5 pax)

Do come join us for a time of fellowship as we share with others testimonies and encourage one another for the coming new year. Invite your friends along too~! (Good time to catch up with campers too ;)

To confirm your attendance, kindly email Jimmy at ibridge.email[at]gmail.com or SMS/call him at 016-453-2275 by Thursday, Dec 31st. Do let him know what food you'll be bringing for the event.

Hope to see all of you then!

Day-hike up Gunung Nuang @ 19 Dec 2009

2009-12-16T18:40:00.003+08:00

Day hike up Gunung Nuang on

This Saturday, 19 December 2009.(Chen En will lead)

Meeting point: In front of A&W PJ (Amcorp Mall).
Meeting Time: 645am (pls be PUNCTUAL :)
Expected to be back in the evening, about 6pm++ (approx. 12 hours hike)

Preparations
- Food, we might have breakfast before we go. Lunch will be on top. [Bring yummy, easy-to-eat, high energy food. Fruits are good too. Banana. Juicy orange.]
- Water. (At least 3litres of Water. Bring 1 bottle of 100 (1.5L) plus if you can.) [Water is very very important. Bring more than you need. do bring packets of oral rehydration salt (ORS) if you want to mix it in your water to prevent cramps. We'll leave a bottle in the car for drinking after we return.]
- A change of clothes. [we can leave this in the car, to change when we return]
- Rain Clothes [Rain coat, in case it gets windy and wet and cold.] (If u can't stand hiking in the rain). We'll pray for good weather. [Amen]
- Leeches. [You mean, bring salt to get rid of leeches. But the salt is only to get the leech off after it has already bitten you. Consider it a blood donation lah. If the weather is dry, there will be fewer leeches.]
- Camera if you want to take pictures. [wrap it in plastic bag or Ziploc]

- Hiking Shoes (no slippers please)

- Bring your mobile phone, make sure it's fully charged.

- Bring a small torchlight, just in case.

- Bring a whistle if you have one.

- Pack everything in plastic. Ziploc your phone if you want to be extra safe.

- Wear light colours. It's easier to see you in the thick jungle.

- We need to be realistic. If we can't reach the top within 6 hours, we'll turn back coz we don't want to hike out in the dark.

To confirm attendance/more info, please email yeeweng@gmail.com or contact him at 012 2873906

After Ibridge Camp 2009..................

2009-10-07T13:11:00.008+08:00

For those who did not make it for this year's ibridge camp at Bukit Tinggi. Here is the camp group photo =) ....But don't worry, do come and join us for Ibridge camp reunion for fellowship and fun-filled activities this Saturday. Here is the details:-

Date: 10 Oct 2009

Time: 1.30pm - 8pm ++

Venue: Ikea Restaurant (Sweedish MeatBall!)

Programme of the day : Lunch,Catch up with each other, Copy camp photos from the camp photographer, Bowling,Pool,foosball, Movie, retail therapy!

Ibridge Weekly Captain Ball Games (Sunday)

2009-09-28T23:41:00.006+08:00

HELLO to all fellow IBRIDGERS!
We will be having our usual weeekly captain ball game this Sunday @ SS18 Subang Jaya at 5.30 sharp. The pic above is last week's captain ball games. For this week, we anticipate it's going to be FUN FUN FUN, as we welcome the 'newcomers' to join and spice up the games.

For those who are not sure what's captain ball, pls come by to experience this fun-filling game, which some of us hooked week after weeks, as we faithfully come for the games since the past 1 year..

And for those who fear of balls, fear not, as we also have frisbees games and fellowship sessions..

So, what are you waiting for... it s time to dust off ur jogging shoes and start making plans to join us this SUNDAY for the GAMES!

Details are as follows:
Time : 5.30 pm sharp
Venue: SS18 Subang Jaya field (pls refer to attached map)
Things to bring:

sport shoes,
sunny smiles,
waters flask
$$$ for dinner.. (just in case, for dinner or yum cha session post captain ball)

-For more info/weather/location-
Jimmy / Josie / Joyce
016.453.2275 / 012-3650 618 / 014-326 2990
ibridge.email@gmail.com

iBridge Camp 2009!

2009-08-21T13:32:00.003+08:00

Camp Theme : No Time, Half Time, Part Time, Full Time - Following Jesus in the REAL world

Speakers : Mark Lovatt, Hannah Yeoh, Lai Tak Ming

For more details and Registration: http://ibridgecamp2009.wordpress.com/

Recession and Retrenchment (Part 2)

2009-05-20T22:49:00.004+08:00

“Employee Rights and Labour Laws”

Tak Ming will provide insights on Employee’s Rights especially in the context of termination, dismissals and unfair labour practices. He will walk us through what the Labour Laws have to say. Also in the light of the current economic climate and the downsizing of business operations, the threat of retrenchments and lay-offs is real. How would employees in such circumstances ensure their rights and benefits are protected? This forum aims to address most of the common questions which are the burning concerns of employees.

Brief Programme:
2.30pm-2.45pm : Registration
2.45pm-3.00pm : Announcements and Introduction of Speaker
3.00pm-4.00pm : Forum
4.00pm-4.15pm : Break
4.10pm-5.00pm : Discussions and Q&As

Speaker:

LAI Tak Ming is the Managing Director, ASEAN, Australia NZ for Human Dynamic Asia Pacific Ltd, responsible for the overall business and operations of the Group in the region. His experience as a HR practitioner span the educational, financial, construction and property development sectors. He has an MBA-HRD (1st in order of merit) from the University of Hull, England while his first degree BSc Ed (Hons) is from the University of Malaya.

Tak Ming was Vice President of GCF for many years and was President of GCF in 2007. He is a much sought after speaker & trainer & has also taught HRM in MBA courses at Business Schools in Malaysia. He is certified to provide Coaching. His desire is to bring Christian Faith to the Marketplace.

Date: 23rd May 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2.30pm-5.00pm
Venue:People's Park Baptist Church14, 1st Floor , Jalan SS 4D/1447301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Do join us for the GCF Forum on “Employee Rights and Labour Laws”.

Note : Offering bag will pe pass around and the collection will be use to support GCF ministry
Please RSVP before Friday 22nd May 2009 or contact any of us for more details:

Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com
Eng Bee at sgcheong@streamyx.com

Coping With Crisis

2009-04-10T17:42:00.006+08:00

FORUM on “ Recession and Retrenchment”

Speaker:
LAI Tak Ming is the Managing Director, ASEAN, Australia NZ for Human Dynamic Asia Pacific Ltd, responsible for the overall business and operations of the Group in the region. His experience as a HR practitioner span the educational, financial, construction and property development sectors. He has an MBA-HRD (1st in order of merit) from the University of Hull, England while his first degree BSc Ed (Hons) is from the University of Malaya.

Brief Programme:
2.15pm-2.30pm : Registration
2.30pm-2.45pm : Announcement and Introduction of speaker
2.45pm-4.00pm : Forum
4.00pm-4.15pm : Break
4.10pm-5.00pm : Discussions and Q&As

Tak Ming will provide insights on the human response to change especially in the current economic downturn and potential job loss situation. He will also walk with us on mental and emotional preparations resulting from lifestyle changes especially in the three areas of:

Psycho-social preparation
Vocational preparation
Practical financial preparation

Through discussions and practical consulting advice from the speaker utilising Godly principles, we hope to encourage one another to embark on this spiritual journey encompassing our personal lives, work and marketplace. Hence we can thrive and find meaning in the midst of uncertain times.

Do join us for the GCF Halftime Workshop on “Recession and Retrenchment”.
Date: 18 April 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2.30pm-5.00pm
Venue: People's Park Baptist Church14, 1st Floor , Jalan SS 4D/1447301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Note : Offering bag will pe pass around and the collection will be use to support GCF ministry

Please RSVP before Saturday 11th April 2009 or contact any of us for more details:
Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com (0164532275)

UV Fundraising Food and Fun Fair 2009

2009-03-16T17:44:00.003+08:00

iBridge Project Ministry want to thanks all iBridger that have make an effort to help out as volunteers last saturday. Not forgotting those that supported the fundraising by buying the coupons.

(Some of the ibridge volunteers on that day)

2009-03-05T16:02:00.002+08:00

IMPACT MINISTRY presents
Beyond Headstart 2009

Theme: Going to Work with God
Date: 21 March 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 4 – 6 pm
Venue: No.3, Jalan Hujan Emas 12, Taman OUG, Kuala Lumpur

BH 2009 is a series of 8 monthly study sessions. We will be using a Bible@Work Study Series workbook entitled “Going to work with God” written by Robert & Linda Banks.
This study group is an OPEN study group i.e. you do not have to worry about compulsory attendance in every meeting. We realise that in today’s challenging working environment, it is difficult for most of us to commit to anything. Thus we work on a “best effort” basis.

Please join us. Members who have participated in past BH study groups are welcome as well since we are using a new workbook/programme.

Please contact Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com
or call 016-4532275 before Saturday 14 March 2009.

Please indicate in the title or subject field of your e-mail “BH 2009”.

p/s:This workbook is sold in Canaanland bookshops for RM16.

Relationship Skills that will stay with you the rest of your life.

2009-03-05T15:41:00.003+08:00

HALFTIME MINISTRY

presents WORKSHOP on

“ DISCover your Uniqueness”

Relationship Skills that will stay with you the rest of your life.
Speaker: Eric Tan
Date: 28 March 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 10.00am-4.00pm
Venue:People's Park Baptist Church14, 1st Floor , Jalan SS 4D/1447301 Petaling Jaya, SelangorDirections: [Please refer to the map on the next page.]

We have asked Eric Tan to provide insights and the 3 crucial steps of understanding yourself, understanding others and improving relationships in which we can understand why people act and react the way they do, and how to anticipate their actions. You then realize the freedom in being yourself – and in allowing others to be who they are. Hence all of us can begin to apply these life-changing principles at home and at work – with all the people in your life.
Do join us for the GCF Halftime Workshop on “DISCover your uniqueness”.

Brief Programme:
10.00am-10.15pm : Registration
10.15am-10.30am : Introduction of speaker
10.30am-1.00pm : Workshop
11.00pm-1.40pm : Lunch
1.40pm-4.00pm : Workshop 2

Note : RM50 per pax includes lunch and profiling material for the workshop.
Please RSVP before Saturday 21st March 2009 or contact any of us for more details:
Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com
Eng Bee at sgcheong@streamyx.com

Registration form will be send to you then...

Moving to Google Groups

2009-02-20T23:44:00.002+08:00

We will soon deactivate iBridge's Yahoo! Group and discontinue using the email thread for announcements. Kindly use this group to communicate with other iBridgers. Feel free to post and fully utilize this tool. Follow this link to join us!

http://groups.google.com/group/gcf-ibridge

To decide how you would like to receive updates from this group, go to 'Edit my membership' to edit your preference.

iBridge will still maintain this blog, here at http://ibridge-gcf.blogspot.com/, so do check-it for the latest updates / announcements on iBridge and its activities.

Other sites you might be interested:-

GCF Website: http://www.gcf.org.my
GCF Blog:http://gcfmy.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18658303936

If you have questions, do write back to us.

iBridge welcomes you to our activities. Do join us, and bring your friends along!

-iBridge Exco-

--------------------

Here is the group's description:

iBridge, a ministry of the Graduates Christian Fellowship (GCF), comprising of young professionals and graduates in Malaysia. iBridge is a growing community of Christians who are fresh graduates & young professionals with 3 years or less working experience in the marketplace and below the age of 30.

Rest in Peace, Markus Ng Chung Yau (1985-2009)

2009-02-04T12:17:00.039+08:00

Our dear brother, Markus has gone back to be with the Lord on 4th February 2009.

http://markusng.last-memories.com/

http://markusng.memory-of.com/

Message from Markus' family [February 5th, 2009]

To all of Markus' friends and extended family:

Thank you all so much for the support shown to the family and all the heart-warming tributes to Markus. The family is truly touched by all the messages from everyone who have come together to share stories about Markus and how he has touched your lives.

You must all be wondering what actually happened to Markus. The truth is until now, the cause of his death is still not certain. Postmortem findings were negative so far, but there are more tests to be done.

Markus started working with UNICEF in November 2008. He had been working almost non-stop in the past week, sleeping only 3-4 hours a day. He came back from the office at 3am the night before his death and was found dead on his bed the next morning. His computer was still switched on. Obviously he had continued working even after coming home.

After much discussion with doctors, our theory is that his acute stress could have caused some biochemical (electrolyte) imbalance which triggered a cardiac arrythmia (sudden disarray of heart rhythm) and cardiac arrest. The whole thing is at the biochemical level and therefore, there are no organ changes to be detected at post-mortem.

The family is still trying very hard to cope with this sudden loss. Markus was not an ordinary son, friend and person. He was a future leader who genuinely cared for the society and the country. In fact, he had been in contact with former student leaders from the UK to nurture the next generation of political leaders for the country. Markus had truly been an exceptional young man and his passing is a great loss to the family, his friends and the country. May he rest in peace and the memory of him live on forever.

Markus at iBridge Camp 2008

Alvin Ung, was the one of the Headstart leaders in Markus' group. Read here for his sharing, The Last Supper.

David, Markus' brother's sharing which throughout, is full of the grace of God. Read here.

2009-01-23T13:39:00.008+08:00

Graduates Christian Fellowship (GCF)
IMPACT MINISTRY presents
Forum on Relationship
GCF Impact is a ministry for Christians with 3 or more years of marketplace experience, below the age of 40. We seek to actively engage our world and make an impact for Christ in the marketplace, where the daily business and economics of life take place.

Theme:
Dealing with various stages of Relationship and ministering to our colleagues with relational needs

Premarital Counseling Counselor Speakers:
Prof Living Lee and Grace Lee
Dr Lee is Professor in the Department of Geology, University of Malaya, specializing in palaeontology or the study of fossils. Dr Lee holds a B.Sc.(Hons) and M.Sc. in Geology from University of Malaya and a Ph.D. from University of Liverpool. He is a past president of the Graduates' Christian Fellowship and Vice Chairman of the Fellowship of Evangelical Students of Malaysia and of the Research Commision of the National Evangelical Fellowship. He is Chairman Elder of the Peoples Park Baptist Church, Petaling Jaya.

Cheong Seng Gee and Cheong Eng Bee
Seng Gee is the Executive Director and founding partner of Professional & Organisation Development Sdn Bhd (a Human Resource Consultancy Firm), as well as the director of P.O.D. Education. He holds an MBA in Finance & Investment from the Australian Graduate School of Management. He is an adviser to the Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF) of Malaysia and is also the Chairman of the Local Church Executive Committee of Sungai Way-Subang Methodist Church where he worships.)

Brief Programme:
2.15pm-2.30pm: Registration
2.30pm-2.45pm: Praise & Worship
2.45pm-3.30pm: Talk ( Man & Woman with their counselor meet at separate session )
3.30pm-4.15pm: Talk ( Change Counselors )
4.15pm-5.00pm: Combine session with Q&A

We have asked the speaker with their spouse to provide the biblical perspective and practical counseling regarding 4 phases of relationship : Singleness, Courtship, Breakup, Marriage. The session will be conducted separately as the Men counselors will talk to the guys in the 1st session, then they will talk to the ladies in the 2nd session. Likewise for the Women counselors. The focus of this Forum is to encourage the participants to be more aware of the myth,self reflection in facing the reality,sensitivity towards the opposite gender thinking/needs and conceptualize correct decision making in order to impact themselves and have the opportunity to help their colleagues who face such issues.

Please join us for the GCF Impact Forum on Relationship.
Date: 28 February 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 2.15-5.00pm
Venue: People's Park Baptist Church
(14, 1st Floor , Jalan SS 4D/1447301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor)

Note :No fees will be charge,but love offering bag will be pass around to support GCF ministry

Please RSVP before Saturday 21st February 2009 or contact any of us for more details:
Shirley Lim at shirley_limss@yahoo.com (for ladies)
Jimmy Lee at jimmylee_79@yahoo.com (for guys)

Please indicate in the title or subject field of your e-mail “GCF Impact Forum”.

iBridge CNY Reunion Dinner!

2009-01-14T20:32:00.007+08:00

iBridge "Loh Sang" Reunion dinner
Date : 17th January (Saturday)
Time : 630pm-1030pm
Food : Potbless
Venue : 41 Jalan ss14/1, 47500 Subang Jaya
(Those interested to join us and need map, do let us know as we will email it to you)

Come and join us then, for RSVP and enquiries please email to ibridge.email@gmail.com
or Call Jimmy Lee (016-4532275)

IBRIDGE MINISTRY presents : Malacca GCF and HeadStart Introduction Dinner

2009-01-03T17:08:00.014+08:00

Graduates Christian Fellowship (GCF)
iBridge is a growing community of Christians who are fresh graduates and young professionals with 3 years or less working experience in the marketplace and below the age of 30. We seek to actively engage our world and make an impact for Christ in the marketplace, where the daily business and economics of life take place in Malaysia.

Theme: Building Young Adults Community in Malacca,
The Important of Community and Unity

Invited Speakers:
James Daniel (GCF President)
Wong Fook Meng (Lawyer)

Brief Programme:
5.30pm-5.45pm: Registration
5.45pm-6.00pm: Praise & Worship
6.00pm-6.20pm: Talk
6.20pm-7.00pm: GCF & HeadStart Introduction
7.00pm-7.15pm: Q&A
7.15pm-8.30pm: Dinner

Ever wondered what is God's calling for your life? Do you struggle to give God your best in every area of your life? Come and join our mentoring community which aims to create lifelong disciples and discussing on topics like transitional issues from campus to the marketplace, dealing with work pressure, office politics, work culture and lifestyle changes, relating to parents, adapting back to church life, being salt and light in the marketplace and finding true friends. Besides this, probably the most important part of the HeadStart ministry lies in the friendship that is built amongst the group members. Prayer and accountability is an integral part of the group also. The book, Following Jesus in the "Real World" by Richard Lamb will be used as the syllabus & guide.

Please join us for the GCF and Headstart Introduction Dinner.

Date: 10 January 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 5.30-8.30pm
Venue: City Community Church (CCC, Malacca)

Note: Dinner will be provided for fellowship purposes and an opportunity to encourage one another.

Please RSVP before Wednesday 7th January 2009 or contact any of us for more details:
Jimmy Lee at ibridge.email@gmail.com
Melisa Chong at mel_csf@yahoo.com
Daniel Ee at danielee@mail2worship.com

Please indicate in the title or subject field of your e-mail “GCF Headstart Introduction”.

Bukit Gasing Hiking

2009-01-03T14:12:00.000+08:00

Ushering 2009 with the community of iBridger

Date : 3rd January 2009 (Saturday)

TIme : (930pm-130pm)

Venue : Bukit Gasing, PJ

*Lunch at the famous Jln Gasing Satelitte Chicken Rice Shop

Christmas Outreach Events

2008-12-17T19:11:00.008+08:00

Christmas is a special time and the best opportunity to reach out. Due to that, there's a special project in mind to run parallel with AFC's outreach presentations.

" Please note that this will run independently from AFC and there will be involvement of outside people."

You may find out more about the group All For Christ at this URL:
http://afcpj.blogspot.com/2008/05/introduction-to-all-for-christ-about-us.html

Summary: A team of people who will follow AFC around to shopping malls, mingle with the crowd and talk to audience about the presentations with the goal of building relationships and sharing the good news.

Objective: Make friends (building relationships that will last) and disciple people where they are (end goal of sharing the gospel - which may not necessarily be at the shopping mall).

Primary Role: Pray for AFC, the presentations, the message and the work being done at the malls but AFC and this team itself.To build relationships with people, disciple them in the faith & followup with them in their walk.They will be required to talk to people about the presentation, ask questions related to the message/faith etc.. Or just make a friend whom they will be committed to follow up with.

Propose we go for

(20th) Saturday = 12.45pm-3.00pm . Sunway Pyramid

(21st) Sunday = 1.00pm-2.00pm. Tropicana City Mall

= 2.30pm-4.00pm. Ikano

= 4.00pm-6.00pm. Ikea

Team Members: Group of max 10-12, comprising of whoever is not afraid to talk to 'strangers', have compassion for the lost and is interested to make friends, build relationships and disciple people in the faith.Preferably mature Christians who have shared their faith before and are in leadership roles in their respective churches but I actually will welcome a team of people who have a heart for this - irrespective of age. Youth, young adults, aunties, grandpas etc with a heart and love for people are all welcome.Important criteria: Followup is essential. Team members must commit to pray for and follow up with these people.

Special Considerations:This team will NOT be wearing AFC uniform nor are they affiliated with AFC in any way.Team members require discretion and need carefully assess the people they share with that they are open.Discretion and discernment is necessary. Some people will be much more ready and open to the gospel than othersWe do not want to annoy people nor cram the gospel down their throats nor confuse them with 'christianese' talk.We also do not want people complaining to shopping mall management and getting AFC into trouble and Christians in general a bad nameFollow up must be done. It does not matter which church (within reason) these people end up going to.

Also, as we've mentioned, it is important to emphasis to those who are giving this opportunity a go - they need to be responsible in discipling the person they bring into the church (if that happens). If they can't they at least owe the person a follow up and follow through by directing the person to someone who can disciple them. After all, we acknowledge that the Body of Christ is made of parts.It would be great if we can have an informal post mortem to learn and improve on future initiatives.

CONTACT PERSON
Derek (017 6722777)
Davin (012 3708974)
Jimmy (016-4532275)
Or email to ibridge.email@gmail.com of your coming.

DUMC's Christmas concert/musical

2008-12-06T13:28:00.001+08:00

DUMC's Christmas concert/musical

5^th to 7^th December 2008

http://www.dumc.com.my/cms/events/heartbeat-christmas-production

Coupons at RM5 each will be available for purchase on all 3 days of the musical. There are loads of food from Japan, Ghana, Italy and a few other countries for your consumption after the musical.

Come and bring your friends to join us!

iBridge Christmas Reunion

2008-11-28T13:01:00.006+08:00

Come and join us for a time of celebration as we give thanks to God for His goodness that has been shown to us throughout 2008! Lined up are Games, Good Food, Fellowship with old friends/campers during this time of Joyous, Carolling season.

Above all, our main REASON and FOCUS for coming together as young adults is definitely to give Glory to JESUS through sharing/reflection, testimones, video clips and more!

Do invite your friends/colleagues or church mates along!

If you are planning to join us, please let us know the food you are bringing as it will be a PotBless dinner.

Do RSVP before 8th DECEMBER (Monday)

Contact:
Jimmy Lee
016-453 2275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Headstart Introduction Session

2008-11-28T12:43:00.004+08:00

Ever wondered what is God's calling for your life? Do you struggle to give God your best in every area of your life? Come and join our mentoring community which aims to create lifelong disciples and discussing on topics like transitional issues from campus to the marketplace, dealing with work pressure, office politics, work culture and lifestyle changes, relating to parents, adapting back to church life, being salt and light in the marketplace and finding true friends.

Besides this, probably the most important part of the Headstart ministry lies in the friendship that is built amongst the group members. Prayer and accountability is an integral part of the group also.

The book, Following Jesus in the "Real World" by Richard Lamb will be used as the syllabus and as a guide.

Do join us for our coming Headstart intake!
Dinner will be provided. If you are interested, please contact:

Jimmy Lee
016-453 2275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Face2Face, Trip to Sunway Lagoon

2008-11-24T21:24:00.008+08:00

Come and join us for year-end relaxing, distressing, screaming time with fast adrenaline rush, height and water splashing fun!!!

You can also join us halfway if you are working in the morning.

If you interested to join us, please let me know latest by this Wednesday night as I need to do the necessary arrangements to get the discounted tickets.

Thanks!

Please contact:-
Jimmy Lee
016-4532275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Face2Face, Paintball

2008-11-24T17:21:00.000+08:00

Announcing:

iBridge PAINTBALL 2008

Location: Tanamera, Sungai Buloh

Cost: RM 85 (for 500 pellets, basic gear and full day)

Start/End time: 10 -3 pm

More information you can see a review by a lawyer who was there this year: (http://shih.blogspot.com/2008/04/tanamera-paintball.html)

Notes:
1. Yes, its a working day. Extra annual leave, anyone? ;)
2. We hope to start early and end early, as there will be some of us who will be involved in Watch Night services in various ways.
3. If you are interested in coming, just reply this email and I will keep you posted on updates in a separate mailing list. (If you are not sure but still want to be updated on details of the event, you can also reply and state it in the email)
4. Bring lots of water and an extra change.

The countdown begins!

Contact :-
Yoshua
yourshoeah@hotmail.com

Photos from iBridge Meetup

2008-11-23T23:12:00.002+08:00

Photos from iBridge Meetup
"Crossing The Jordan River (Cross First, Fear Later)"

2nd iBridge Meetup - updated!

2008-11-21T17:31:00.004+08:00

2nd iBridge Meetup

"Crossing The Jordan River (Cross First, Fear Later)"

What next after the iBridge camp?

Have you made a decision to cross your Jordan?

Come join us and hear our iBridge camp 2008 speaker, Roshan Thiran share and challenge us to cross the Jordan river!

This event is open to all. Do invite your friends! :)

22 November (Saturday)
7.00pm-9.30pm
Pusat Injil Kelana Jaya
40 Jalan SS6/8 Kelana Jaya 47301 PJ

On Facebook

More info on Meetup:
Jimmy
016.453.2275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Dinner
5.30pm
Kedai Kopi (behind FAM, Kelana Jaya)

POC:
Daniel
017.246.9988

The Church As Peace Makers In A Racially Polarised Society (Dave Chong – Nov 2008)

2008-11-15T10:23:00.003+08:00

Psalm 93

1 The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty
and is armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.
3 The seas have lifted up, O LORD,
the seas have lifted up their voice;
the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is mighty.
5 Your statutes stand firm;
holiness adorns your house
for endless days, O LORD.

We Malaysians are living in very, very interesting times. Our newspaper headlines these days are so full of suspense and intriguethat they make even Obama look so boring in comparison. Almost every other week, we have shocking revelations of sex, lies and videotapes. Statutory declarations flying here and there with allegations of political conspiracies, cover-ups, spies, murder, sodomy and C4 explosives! I think someone should make a movie out of all these drama and win an Oscar for best script!

But seriously, I think our nation is at a crucial crossroads of sorts…Winds of change are blowing and powerful opposing forces are shaping where Malaysia will be for the next 50 years.

The last general election on March 8th (the so-called political tsunami) raised some interesting questions: Could we be seeing the start of a two-party democracy in Malaysia? Are we beginning to find that finally Malaysians have matured enough to go beyond racial politics?

But there are also fears that in this desperate moment of transition that communal violence may flare up once again. We have different ethnic and religious communities living side by side with each other but with precious little contact and understanding in between. On the night of March 8, many of us received SMS to stay at home and stock up Maggi Mee for fear of riots.

While all these things are happening, petrol and food prices are going up. A globalizing economy is getting more competitive.

The Malays have this saying: "Gajah sama gajah berjuang, pelanduk mati di tengah". As Malaysian Christians, we watch much of the drama and sandiwara like the mousedeer caught between two fighting elephants. We have no political power. Just a small minority. I wonder what are your feelings at this time of uncertainty?

Some of us may feel...
Fed-up: "Look at how dirty and corrupt politic is. Christians should never get involved in it."
Cynical: "Aiya… What difference can small fries like us make la? We have been like this for 50 years, we will remain like that for another hundred years. Migrate better."
Hopeful: "I think things are changing for the better. If Anwar becomes Prime Minister, then our country's problems will be solved."
Confused: "Where is God in all this? What does God want the church to do?"

The passage of Scripture from Psalm 93 points us to the throne of our sovereign God: "The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty; and is armed with strength."

Although we are weak and needy people, God is mighty and strong. Where is God in the midst of all these events? He is on His throne. His rule was established from eternity and will last forever. He created the entire universe, the galaxies, solar systems and everything in it. He sustains the whole creation and set up physical laws that keep them from falling apart. That's how awesome and great is our God.

Psalm 93 is an enthronement psalm that worshipfully celebrates the fact that God is the ultimate ruler in the nation of Israel. In the other surrounding nations, the pagan king is also considered divine and their power is absolute. But for Israel, though they have a human king, but the king is ultimately answerable to the divine King and the 'constitution' of the nation, that is, the covenant the Lord made with Israel. No one is above the rule of law, not even the king
(Deuteronomy 17:18-20)

Our human rulers like Yang Dipertuan Agong and Prime Minister and Cabinet members, state governments are ultimately God's servants/ministers to bring justice and order in society (whether they know it or not). So our default position is to obey their authority and laws of the land and pray for them. But their authority is not absolute, there is a higher law/King that even our rulers must answer to. If the state acts and speaks as if it is god, demanding our ultimate loyalty and obedience, then it has become an idol and we have the freedom and responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

If our vision of God is too small, we'd be too impressed by men or too depressed by what's happening in this world. But if we see how awesome God really is and how majestic His rule is over our national affairs, we can still be aware of what's happening in the world but we'd bemore impressed with God. The invisible hand of God (His providence) is quietly working behind the scenes, putting the right people at the right place to do the right things at the right time. Even the sinful actions of men, God can use it and turn it around for his own purpose.

Psalm 93 also gives us a picture of chaotic, tsunami-like waves that represent all the threats and upheavals against the rule of God. But the Lord on high is mightier than all of them. So our trust and confidence are ultimately anchored on the solid Rock, not on any politician or party. We can take comfort that God is big enough to protect and carry us through.

The sovereignty of God is not an excuse for laziness though: "Since God in control, I dun need to bother doing anything la". No, the truth that God is sovereign sets us free from cynicism. For a long time, many young people are disillusioned and feel disempowered: "We are only nobodies, what can we do? We can't change anything" So they felt helpless ("tidak apathy"). They will complain and rant at the government at the mamak stalls but they are not interested to be part of the solution.

But if our God is awesome and sovereign, and he is ultimately in control of our affairs, then no matter how difficult the problem in our country is, it's not a problem for Him… And that should be a powerful motivation for us to action: To do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. While we do these things, we await the day when Jesus will usher in his kingdom of peace and healing justice. So while life won't be perfect on this side of heaven, we can work to improve it so that our church and society starts to look something like the future Kingdom of God today. It can be like a movie preview or foretaste of things to come.

In light of God's sovereignty, how then shall we live? What can we do in this time of change and contribute to nation building?

1) This may sound very basic but the obvious things are usually the most important. If God is all powerful and rules over all and we are weak and powerless, the most obvious thing we can do is to humble ourselves and pray. We need to pray for God's Kingdom, God's rule to come and His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. If we do a stock take on our prayer life, what do we pray for most of the time? If our prayers are only limited to our own personal needs, it may show that we are too inward looking. We need to expand our horizon.

2) If Jesus is the King and Lord over all of our life, then we cannot divide our lives into neat little boxes like 'sacred' and 'secular'. I don't mean that we should form a political party called "Christian Rights Action Force" (Chrisaf) and try to make this country a Christian state. The church is called to bear the cross, not to pick up the sword. While Christian individuals could actively participate in political party, the church as the body of Christ should maintain a prophetic distance from partisanship and not be used as a tool by politicians.

What I mean is we cannot isolate the gospel from making an influence in the wider society. We cannot say "OK religion is for Sundays and quiet time, but when it comes to my business decisions from Monday to Saturday, that's secular stuffs so I play by different rules"…

If I'm a Christian lawyer, I can't say: "Ok Christianity is what I believe when in church, but when it comes to the 1988 judicial crisis , I don't really bother". A lawyer friend once joked, "In Malaysia we have the best justice that money can buy".

We can't say that because God is not just interested in so called religious activities but how we conduct our lives in the marketplace. He is Lord of Sunday and the other six days also.

For example, He is interested in integrity and transparency in business practice and justice in the government: Proverbs 11:1 "The Lord hates dishonest scales but accurate weights are his delight".Proverbs 29:4 "By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down."

The biggest impact you can make for the kingdom is by being faithful to your calling and gifts that God has given you in the marketplace to be salt and light.

3) If God is the King of all people groups in our nation, then we should work towards racial reconciliation.

The issue of race is sensitive and potentially explosive topic in Malaysia. Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said this at a Student Leaders Summit 2007:

"To ensure sustained success at nation-building, Malaysians of all races, religions, and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun. Only when each citizen believes that he or she has a common home, is presented common opportunities, given due recognition and is working towards a common destiny, will he or she make the sacrifices needed for the long haul."

So how can we be a community of peace makers in a racially polarised society?

Here is a short and by no means exhaustive list of simple things we can do

1) Intentionally cultivate friendship with people who are different from us: The people we work and play with, the friendships we make, must never be limited by race. Prejudice and misunderstanding can be removed if we interact personally with others of a different ethnic
group or religion.

2) Free ourselves from racism in our language. We may not say it in polite company but do we enjoy that racist joke that our friends tell or we read in forwarded mails? People are made in the image of God so they are precious and have dignity. People are people, they are not 'babi'.

3) Help the weak and poor from other races.

4) Be informed and speak up: Read from both sides of the fence, both mainstream and not so mainstream media. Recently, the Kairos magazine carried very good articles on Merdeka and post general election analysis.

We thank God for people like Tricia Yeoh (Center Public Policy Studies), Kian Ming who writes for Malaysiakini or KJ John (OHMSI) working for integrity and transparency in public governance who speak sensibly in the public square. But what about 'ordinary' people like
us? What can we do?

The media has become more open in the past few years. With the internet, blogs, TV debates and radio talk shows becoming more independent, we have opportunities to write or call in to voice our views also on many issues that affect Christians and fellow Malaysians today (Proverbs 31).

A lecturer at Malaysia Bible Seminary Peter Rowan wrote a good article called The Malaysian Dilemma that I believe every Christian in Malaysia should read:

"Since reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel, and since the gospel transcends the barriers of race, ethnicity and culture, and since the church is the most inclusive community on earth, the local church is a community of hope in a fragmented world. In Malaysia, the church has the task of not only proclaiming the message of reconciliation to all Malaysians, but of embodying the concrete implications of that message in its community life, so that Malaysians of all races can look at a local church community and see the gospel fleshed out in a racially reconciled group of people who can work, worship and witness together."

Won't you like to be part of a community like that? Wouldn't you like to celebrate diversity of races and cultures in a local church when we gather to worship, work and witness together?

In conclusion, we live in a very interesting time in our country's history. There's a small window of opportunity for us to get involved in transforming our nation. We need to be confident in the fact that God is on the throne, and live out His lordship in prayer, in the marketplace and in being a covenant community of diverse culture and race.

David Chong (otherwise known as "Hedonese") is an IT consultant in Wipro Technologies, specializing in JD Edwards solutions. He holds a B.Sc.(Hons) in Economics (University of London, UK) and pursuing a

Masters in Christian Studies degree at Malaysia Bible Seminary. David is also an avid blogger at http://theagora.blogspot.com (a ministry that hopes to encourage "believers to think and thinkers to believe").

Face2Face, Sat & Sun, 8 & 9 Nov 2008

2008-11-07T09:35:00.011+08:00

SATURDAY, 8 NOV

Movie
James Bond movie
GSC 1 Utama
6:40pm

-Limited seats. RSVP by Saturday noon-
Daniel
017.246.9988

SUNDAY, 9 NOV

Captain Ball
SS18 Field, Subang Jaya
5.30 - 7.00pm

Dinner
TBA
7.00pm

-For more info/weather/location-
Jimmy
016.453.2275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Face2Face, Saturday, 1 Nov 2008

2008-10-30T14:06:00.006+08:00

Saturday, 1 Nov 2008

Captain Ball
Field, Damansara Kim
(Near Damansara Specialist Centre, opposite Damansara Uptown)
5.30 - 7.00pm

Legend:
red line is via LDP from Sunway
blue line is via Jalan Damansara from KL

-For more info/weather/location-

Aaron
012.238.2904

or

Yee Weng
012.287.3906

Face2Face, Saturday, 25 October 2008 - updated!!

2008-10-25T15:38:00.001+08:00

Captain Ball
Field, Damansara Kim
(Near Damansara Specialist Centre)
5.30pm

Dinner & YA Discussion on Current Issues
McDonald's Centrepoint, Bandar Utama

7.30pm

Bowling - new!
Cineleisure, Mutiara Damansara
9.30pm

See you there!

-For more info/weather/location-
Jimmy
016.453.2275
ibridge.email@gmail.com

Face2Face, 19 Oct 08

2008-10-18T21:41:00.002+08:00

Captain Ball

Date : Sunday, 19th October
Time : 5:30pm (*note change)
Place : Subang SS18 field (pls ask me for a map if you need one)

Note: Notice it has been raining so you may call me for latest weather info

Yee Weng
012-2873906

Church/Future Reloaded (Pt. 3): From Word-Based to Image-Driven by Alwyn Lau

2008-10-18T18:59:00.001+08:00

("He is the image (ikon) of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Colossians 1:15)

Today's culture is image-driven. Yesterday's world was word-based. While words may be the vehicles of truth, images forcefully drive home reality.

The human mind is made up of metaphors and images. The earliest recorded languages were pictographs. Do you dream in words or images? Why will you forget a name quicker than a face? Why will you remember where a quote was on a page but forget the quote itself? Because your visual memory is stronger than your textual/verbal memory. Check out these names: Michael Jordan, Saddam Hussein, Bill Clinton, Mike Tyson, Britney Spears, Dr. Mahathir – did an image of each of them pop into your brain? Think of the color of the pillows on your bed. How did you do that? Isn't it by replaying the picture of your bedroom, bed and so on, until you 'found' your pillow and '(re)-viewed' the color of its sheets? We 'do' a memory by re-presenting and recalling images.

Images come as close as human beings will get to a universal language. Propositions are often lost on today's learners, but metaphor they will hear; images they will see and understand. Image dictionaries[1] are replacing word dictionaries and image banks are becoming as valuable as money banks. Cyber-space itself is becoming less word-based and more image-based through the spread of avatars (one's self-created image online, your personal graphic identity in the cyber-world).

The greatest image in the world, the image to which we draw people into a relationship, is the image of God in Jesus the Christ.

If you want people to think differently, don't tell them how to think - give them a mental tool i.e. a metaphor or image. Metaphors lodge truth in the imagination. To sculpt a metaphor is to create and transform the world. The greatest communicators in history have used the wizardry of metaphor magic.

("The mind never thinks without a picture" Aristotle)

Jesus use parables, an image-based form of narrative. Dante created physical pictures of hell, purgatory and heaven that churches still hold on to today. Mosaic Church's[2] Erwin McManus' success in building a multicultural, multi-generational mission congregation is in part to his masterful employment of vivid images, not merely words, to embody his church's mission and values, e.g. seeing churches as "spiritual bomb shelters", "you can't wash the feet of a dirty world if you refuse to touch it." Albert Einstein liked to talk about the gift of 'fantasy' as being essential to his work. His insights came from visual images he conjured up intuitively, then translated into the language of mathematics e.g. the theory of special relativity was triggered by his musings on what it would be like to ride through space on a beam of light[3]. After watching The Passion of the Christ (the 2004 Mel Gibson-directed blockbuster on the final hours of Jesus), a Texan man confessed to the police of killing his girlfriend[4].

Visual language is no longer an option. We are a print-saturated, word-based church in the midst of visual technologies that are creating a whole new visual culture. Metaphors are the medium through which biblical spirituality will be fashioned for this new world.

("Parable is the root of the human mind – of thinking, knowing, acting, creating, and even of speaking." Mark Turner, Neural and Cognitive Scientist)

In defining realities, metaphors create realities and the most fundamental tools of thought. That's why the power of liturgy is so intense: Liturgy realigns our metaphors to conform to Christ, which transforms our lives. Julius Caesar and Joseph Stalin filled the landscape of their nations with images of themselves – images captured and subdued the imagination of the conquered. As the single-swoosh Nike will testify: The ultimate in power is not to have the first position or the last word but to have the ability to order and ordain metaphors. Images are a language of power.

Jesus exerted leadership not only through words but also via 'performances' or 'performance-metaphors'. He rode on a donkey, cleansed the temple, fed the thousands, raised the dead, turned water into wine, carried a cross, etc. The Old Testament prophets spoke God's message using a wide range of dazzling and intense imagery (from almond rods to boiling cauldrons to bricks to furnaces and much more[5]) in addition to performing symbolic actions (e.g. Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Isaiah's public nakedness, etc.) If the Church is to present Christ to today's world, we must learn to communicate like Jesus: through metaphor, parable, icon, image.

("A religious symbol does not rest on any opinion." Ludwig Wittgenstein)

Interactives:

1. Take a moment and count the number of images and metaphors ascribed to God in the Bible (e.g. rock, shield, etc.). How many can you remember? Which is your favorite? Why? Finally, how about thinking of some new ones? (e.g. He is my Anti-Virus Protection?)

2. See, reflect and discuss with a close friend LIFE Magazine's 100 Photos That Changed the World at http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/lm_index.html

3. Reformer Ulrich Zwingli argued that money spent on images decorating Catholic churches should be spent on poor relief. For what were the poor if not the true images of God? So the Protestants stripped churches of artwork and divested books of 'illuminations' or pictures. Did Zwingli do the right thing?

4. Neurologist Antonio Damasio said that consciousness begins, "…when brains acquire the simple power of telling a story without words…" Consider staging a drama or a mime telling the story of Easter or Christmas, without narration, using only music and pictures[6].

5. A senior Coca-Cola exec once declared that the company could survive the loss of all its assets, provided it kept possession of the Coca-Cola logo. With the logo, it would be possible to walk into a bank and receive funding to replace the entire global infrastructure of the company. Do you believe him? Is a logo that important?

6. Look at the first historical Christian icon: . Look at Nike's swoosh:
If someone suggested that our Christian icons have been 'robbed' by icon-driven marketing like Nike's, would (s)he be right?[7]

7. Theologian Robert Banks called films the "parables of the 21st-Century" – assuming he's right, how can the church take advantage of the movie phenomena? How can the Body of Christ turn Hollywood to its advantage?[8]

________________________________

[1] See http://www.pdictionary.com, http://www.infovisual.info, etc.

[2] Visit Mosaic's website at http://www.mosaic.org

[3] See TIME Magazine's article Was Einstein's Brain Built For Brilliance? at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101990628-27180,00.html

[4] Read the BBC news story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3570555.stm

[5] For a good listing of the imagery used, visit http://www.learnthebible.org/Prophets.htm

[6] One of the most moving videos of the Christian story circulating on the Web last year was the wordless but very powerful Lifehouse Everything skit. View it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

[7] Read Swoosh! The Perfect Icon for an Imperfect PostLiterate World at http://www.utne.com/1998-09-01/swoosh.aspx?page=1, which includes this insightful comment:

"(To) Christians the textless symbol (signified) silent rebellion against the ruling authorities. Within three centuries, the faith signified by the fish had transformed Rome into a Christian empire. Today, in an electronically accelerated culture, a symbol can change the face of society in about one-sixteenth that time."

[8] One attempt can be seen at http://www.reeldialogue.com. This site is based on the founders' belief that, as "church" is becoming increasingly irrelevant in society, it is of paramount importance to use popular culture to speak to the lives of younger people and to teach older people how to begin that dialogue.

===================================================================

Alwyn Lau is a Researcher and Teacher at KDU College. Being an astute theological thinker, he is interested in theological methods, emerging theologies, as well as the relevance of the Christian faith to the emerging generation. Alwyn is also concerned about issues pertaining to education. He is presently studying for a Master of Business Administration degree after having his first degree in BScHons Economics (University of London, UK);. He blogs on www.alwynlau.blogdrive.com.

Face2Face, 11 Oct 08

2008-10-09T13:40:00.016+08:00

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Captain Ball
SS18 Field, Subang Jaya
5-7pm

(IF RAINING ITS CANCELLED)

Dinner
Asia Cafe, SS15 Subang Jaya

KFC, Sunway Piramid

Depends on how many going for the movie
7pm

Movie - Mama Mia!
TGV, Sunway Pyramid
9.30pm
RM11
(RSVP by SATURDAY Before 5PM- Jimmy)

Do join us! :)

For more info: Jimmy, 016 453 2275

Camp deadline extended!

2008-09-21T00:54:00.001+08:00

Due to overwhelming response of participants, we've managed to get extra capacity from the campsite for more campers. Space is still limited therefore it will be on a "first come first serve basis". Do sign up FAST!!

The deadline is now then extended till

11.59pm on the 26th of September.

What are you waiting for? :)

http://ibridge.net84.net/campform.php

iBridge Camp 2008 - Deadline EXTENDED --> 26th Sept!

2008-09-19T01:08:00.004+08:00

http://ibridge.net84.net/campform.php

Registration form for iBridge Camp 2008

2008-08-27T20:52:00.001+08:00

The registration form for iBridge Camp 2008 is now out!

Please register yourself at
http://ibridge.net84.net

After sending in your form, you will receive a confirmation letter. Please follow the steps on how to make payment.

Closing date is 20 September 2008

For more info or any enquires, contact us at ibridgecamp2008@gmail.com

Hope to see you there! :)

iBridge Camp 2008 Promo Video 2

2008-08-27T20:20:00.000+08:00

iBridge Camp 2008 Promo Video 1

2008-08-27T20:15:00.003+08:00

Project Ministry at Shelter 1

2008-08-20T01:50:00.003+08:00

Project Ministry will be at painting Shelter1 this Saturday, 23^rd August. We will be painting their hall and exterior walls. There are about 15 of us at the moment, but we could use with a bit more hands!

Time : 9:00am

Place : Shelter 1, No 4, Jalan Tinggi 6/12, Petaling Jaya

The Shelter is located behind Lotus Restaurant / Funeral Parlour/ Magnum 4D, Jalan Gasing.

Interested? Please email projects.ibridge@gmail.com

iBridge Meetup

2008-08-03T14:33:00.003+08:00

Ever wondered what it would be like to have young adults all at one place, praising the Lord together, sharing testimonies from their work place, encouraging and praying for one another...?

iBridge Meetup is the place to do so!

Come and let us share our journey and listen to one another as we make our way through the marketplace and learn to impact the people around us.

Date

6 September 2008 (Saturday)

Time

2.30 - 5.00pm

Venue

People's Park Baptist Church (PPBC)

No.14, Jalan SS 4D/14

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Topic
"God, work and me"

For more details, please email: iBridge.exco@gmail.com

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/event.php?eid=25628834044

39th Annual General Meeting of Graduates’ Christian Fellowship

2008-08-03T08:30:00.009+08:00

Date

16 August 2008 (Saturday)

Time

5.00 – 7.00pm

Venue

People's Park Baptist Church (PPBC)

No.14, 1^st Floor, Jalan SS 4D/14

47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Agenda:

Opening Prayer
President's address
Passing of the minutes of the 38th AGM
Annual report by the Secretary
Hon. Treasurer's Report & Acceptance of Accounts for 2007/2008
Election of Executive Committee for 2008/2009
Appointment of Honorary Auditors
Vote of Thanks
Any other business
Closing Prayer

Other Matters:

Non members who wish to attend the AGM are welcome to attend.
Non members who wish to join GCF as member are able to do so during the AGM.
Please make it for the AGM as attendance for the previous AGMs have not been encouraging.

Kindly contact GCF staff worker – Jimmy to confirm your attendance or give your suggestions before Aug 13, 2008

Jimmy

Mobile: 016-4532275

Email: gcf.msia@gmail.com

Graduates’ Christian Fellowship (GCF) Half-Time Forum

2008-08-03T08:26:00.005+08:00

Date
16 August 2008 (Saturday)

Time
2.30pm

Venue :
People's Park Baptist Church (PPBC)
No.14, 1st Floor, Jalan SS 4D/14 47301
Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Topic
Emotional Intelligence (Eric Tan)