Experience in the NRETC

Day 1
Just arrived... Same room with 3 NINAS (malay ah lians). Although, I'm in the same dorm with Michelle, Zuriel, Jessica, Amadea and Christie. I'm alone coz I'm the youngest... Goodness -____- At least I have a room with air-conditioning. Maybe I'll just be a loner that doesn't talk. Teehee.

Pembukaan - Ibu Maria {Worship}

Exodus 3:12
Genesis 1:25-28
Exodus 5:1
When we come to worship. there is always something to worship. Or in some cases, an object. Now, an object is a non-living thing. So why would you want to worship something made by earth? If it's a God, then it's eternal and powerful. You'll have to praise God himself, not through some object. That's in some religions.
But in a church, we don't. We do not worship the pastor or anything like that. We worship God. There is no image of him, or Jesus, or of Mary, unlike a Catholic church.
For us to know him or communicate, He gave us the bible, the scripture. And He sent us His son, Jesus. (and it's proven that in history, THERE WAS a man named Jesus.)
John 4:22-24 --> "God is Spirit"
He is Spirit. So he cannot be touched, nor can he be mould into an image.
"those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." In some so-called churches, they worhip God, but not in truth. To worship God, you need to worship Him with respect and humbleness. You don't scream your lungs out when you sing and jump here and there in order to praise Him. Are you afraid that He cannot hear you? He's a God. He has ears everywhere.

Listening to a video of Pak Tong now. Jessica on my right, Michelle on my left. The girls in front of both of them are sleeping... Gosh... And they turned out all the lights... goodness...

Session 1 - Pak Stephen Tong

Psalm 139:1-2, 23-24

Day 2

Session 2 - Pak Aiter {What You See & Hear}

John 1:35-42
Matthew 17:1-5
Matthew 13:16-17
1 John 1:1-3
If you're blind, you can still use yours ears to hear. If you're deaf, you can still use your eyes to see. When man fell into sin, their ears were already deaf to the Word of God.
Most christians have seen and have heard, but they do not understand. What you hear and see everyday effect what you say.
In our century, our generation, we do not get to see miracles like those witnessed by the Israelites (A.K.A. Jews). Even though they saw all those miracles, they still do not believe in Jesus Christ. You need to use both your eyes and ears to evangelise and spread the Word.

Session 3 - Pak Yadi {God's Calling. To Think & To Discern}

Romans 6:12-23
People in the dark do not know that they are in the dark (metaphorically). We are blind due to sin and we cannot see what is holy and what is not.
Romans 12:1-2
We get tricked due to our "blindness".
YOU CANNOT AVOID THINKING. Be transformed by renewing your mind.

Session 4 - Pak Jimmy

Exodus 3:1-12
John 4:23-24
People are so unrational. They choose their God(s) and worship them. Only people whjo seek the one true God will find him. But people who only take what is given unto them, live in the dark.

Session 5 - Pak Stephen Tong

John 3:1-16
If a church has so many people, like so many worshipers, it doesn't mean that it's a good church. It depends on 5 things that the church should follow:
1. Back to the right teachings/doctrine
2. The right doctrine will produce the right teaching & understanding of God
3. The correct ethical world view
4. Service for God
5. Evangelism - Preaching the Gospel
The Book of John in the Bible:
The only book that tells of how God starts by creation and ends at judgement day. The only book that tells the debate of Jesus and the pharisees about christian doctrines.

Session 6 - Pak Stephen Tong
"Only by abandoning your pride, can you gain true knowledge." - Lao Tze
If you were given birth to twice, you'll die once. If you were given birth to once, you'll die twice.
Jesus was born of the flesh and spirit. God's spirit does not live in buildings or places, but it comes down to people who obey him and follow his word.
"Those from Heaven speak of Heavenly things. While the Worldly men speak of Worldly things."
1 Timothy 2:5
"The Son of Man." It's SINGULAR. So there's only ONE. Not "Sons", not "Daughters", but "Son". All the most important rules and commandss were stated in the Old testament.
The case where Moses put up a snake on his staff, so that people who were bitten by the many snakes would look up at it and be healed. The snake represent Christ. It was despised, just as Christ was depised by the Jews and was hung on the cross, like the snake being hung on the pole. And when the people looked up at them, they were saved, just as Christ saved us from our sins when he died on the cross.

Day 3

Ibadah Minggu - Pak Ivan
John 12:20-36
There are many kinds of "seeing". If you serve him, but your heart is not holy, then what you have done to serve him was of no use. Some people won't believe due to Satus Quo. They think that the religion is unfit for them.
1. They won't believe. People who believe what they want to believe, do not believe the truth. They only take in what they think is right.
2. It could also be because they see the people around are doing the same, so they don't want to be different, hence they choose what they want to believe by mere popularity.

Session 8 - Pak Jeffrey {Who Shall Dwell In Your Holy Place}
Psalm 15
People born by God would not keep sinning because they have a holy nature. When we sin, we have a guilty feeling because we are holy.
Romans 7:14
Our natures may be holy, but we can still sin. "Saints that still sin"
We have to "put off" sin, and "put on" holiness. Being born again is a change of status.
We need the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ to get rid of our sins.

Session 9 - Pak Edward
Matthews 5:13-16
What do we want to live for? Okay, you're born. You go to school. After you go to school, you get a job. Then you get married. Then you get a family. Then? You get old... and then? you die. If we're just waiting to die, then we're no different form the rest of the world, we're no different from animals and plants. We christians are here to evangelise, and spread the Word of God.

Session 10 - Pak Stephen Tong {Music Appreciation}
This Jonathan guy was playing a piano duet with another guy. Then we watched an autopsy video which I LOVED!! They took out the heart and stuff. and the BRAIN!! HAhahaha XD

Session 11 - Pak Stephen Tong
God not only sees, but he knows. He sent a representative in our hearts, a conscience. Jesus was also God's one and only begotten son.
Psalm 22

Day 4

Kebaktian Padang - Pak Stephen Tong
2 Corinthians 5:11-15
A lot of people live life to what they want. "What I want to do with my life, it's up to me to decide and take responsibility."
The presence of God is up to whether you believe or not, if you believe that he exists. Do what you like with your life, but remember, you would have to face God to be judged.
"Die to sin." I would no longer be tempted to sin, because I had died to sin. I had died away from sin. Saya harus hidup beserta Kristus, dan mati beserta Kristus.

Well, that's all I have from the NRETC :) I know, this post is SOOO christiany, and maybe atheists out there who read this might just feel like smacking me. I apologize if I have insulted any religions unknowingly.