ABLAZE Continues!

Dear all, do continue to check in the ABLAZE Singapore Blog!

Promise you this blog will continue to go on! We're simply taking a little break after ABLAZE to recompose ourselves. But the vision for God does not stop at this. ABLAZE will continue so check in to read more sharings and reflections! Guaranteed we'll post up one each month. Right oka?

And inviting any interested bloggers to be contributing writers. If you are interested, please email us at info@saccre-youth.org

This blog, by members forming SACCRE Youth aims to reach out to everyone and be a source of updates, sharings and reflections of members in the charismatic youth ministry scene. Here, we hope to share our experiences of God and of serving in ministry.

Let's keep the fire burning! God Bless..

ABLAZE Photos are up!

Check it out here! :)
http://community.webshots.com/user/SaccreYouth

Some shots!

The amazing crowd...


Worship Leaders Chris & Lydia


Deep in worship


Freddy Gomez - speaker for the night! He gave us really good insights on how to reframe our thoughts and use the Word of God - so if anything happens, it's Great! We can overcome it! Nothing can overcome us who are believers of God!


Emcees Maurice & Mark

More pictures here! :) http://community.webshots.com/user/SaccreYouth

From the Head of SACCRE on the last Ablaze

“The Holy Spirit is continually renewing lives. The SACCRE Youth rally is a way in which He offers hope to youths seeking direction in their lives. The overwhelming response in the most recent rally is a clear sign of this hope. I encourage the SACCRE youths to continue this effort. I myself am encouraged…The zeal, the anointing, the fellowship that took place, can only come from His Divine Grace.”

--Gerard Fransisco
Chairman of Singapore Archdiocese Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE)

Is Ablaze a success?

First of all,
I would like to thank the Ablaze committee for their untiring love for Jesus :)

I have been thinking about this question since last saturday Ablaze Rally: is Ablaze a success? have we done great?

But then God reminded me through the words of our beloved Mother Theresa

"We are not called to be successful, but rather, to be faithful".

This world wants success, but our Lord who has called to serve, wants faithfulness. And this is the reason to rejoice: all the sacrifices, which we have made in order to be faithful for what we have been called to.

Have we been faithful then? Well, I guess we have tried. There are mistakes here and there, but we have tried. We have tried to be faithful in little things, in coming to intercessory every week, in cleaning up the canteen after the event, in coming early for the preparation, in doing more than we are supposed to do, in forgiving when mistakes happened, in trying to be self-giving rather then self-seeking, in putting Jesus at the centre of our event, and in many other little things that we can do out of Love for Jesus.

I thank all the service team for their faithfulness to Jesus and to his Church.

Some people say that true love comes with sacrifices.

And I thank you for your sacrifices, May God bless you all.

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:11-13)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," (Gal 5:22)

"His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'" (Mat 5:21)

Take up John Paul's legacy and commit yourselves to serve Christ

18 August, 2005
GERMANY – WYD
Pope: Take up John Paul's legacy and commit yourselves to serve Christ Benedict XVI succeeds Pope John Paul II as young people’s guide. He reserves special greetings for the youth of Asia.

Cologne (AsiaNews) - In his first speech to the youth gathered for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI called on them to make a radical commitment to Christ and announce Him to the whole world, pledging that only in His face can true happiness be found.

Sitting on the bridge of a big boat at berth on the Poller Rheinwiesen dock, Benedict XVI met young people representing the four corners of the earth, dressed in their traditional national costumes.

Smiling, he greeted each one of them, exchanging a few words and shaking hands. Some of them patted him as if he were family.

Formal greetings by some of young people and Card Karl Lehmann, chairman of the Bishops' Conference of Germany, were followed by the staged reading of the Gospel of Matthew telling the story of the arrival of the Magi - "Where is the King of the Jews Who has been born" was read in several languages by several young people.

A priest then asked the hundreds of thousands of youths gathered on the left bank of the Rhine River cheering and waving multicolour flags for quiet so that the Pontiff could speak.

In his speech, Benedict XVI took up the legacy bequeathed by Pope John Paul II and called on youth to carry that same legacy but in a commitment that was less sentimental and more focused on faith and mission.

"That great Pope understood the challenges faced by young people today," Benedict XVI said, "and, as a sign of his trust in them, he did not hesitate to spur them on to be courageous heralds of the Gospel and intrepid builders of the civilization of truth, love and peace."

In his greetings, the Holy Father singled out the youth of Asia, both Christian and non Christian.

"My particular greeting goes to those who, like the Magi, have come from the East. You are the representatives of so many of our brothers and sisters who are waiting, without realizing it, for the star to rise in their skies and lead them to Christ, Light of the Nations, in whom they will find the fullest response to their hearts’ deepest desires. I also greet with affection those among you who have not been baptized, and those of you who do not yet know Christ or have not yet found a home in his Church."

He told the crowd that "these days I encourage you to commit yourselves without reserve to serving Christ, whatever the cost."

The Pope's boat was escorted by five ships to represent the five continents and the universal mission of the "barque of St Peter".

The Cross of World Youth Day was on the Pope's boat. It was repaired after a gust of wind broke it.

Here is the Pope's speech at the welcoming ceremony. His speech was delivered in different languages as the text indicates: http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=3934

Way to St. Ignatius and Pick up point for Ablaze

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ ,

Ablaze is getting near!!! It's this saturday....

Come...come with your whole group!!!

ABLAZE SACCRE Youth Rally
Date: 9th Sept 2006
Time: 7.30 pm
Venue: St. Ignatius Church

Find difficulty to reach St. Ignatius Church by bus/MRT?
a. There will be people (contact: Marcel 98781601) waiting at Commonwealth MRT station at 7pm to go together to St. Ignatius Church. (we will take bus 93, 153 and 186 from Queensway - Queensway Secondary School, (Bus Stop Number: 11061))

b. Other way to St. Ignatius church is from Queenstown MRT station, take 186 bus from exit A.(which is from Commonwealth Avenue - queenstown Stn, (Stop Number: 11141))

c. Other choices of bus to St Ignatius church: 43, 165, 174, 855, and 961

Always alight Farrer Road - farrer Rd Mkt, (Stop Number: 11101)
See the walkthrough map below from the bus stop of Farrer Road Mkt to St. Ignatius Church


Thank you. Keep in prayer...

God bless,

Marcellus Tanjaya
98781601

SJS Rally a success despite rain!!

The Shine JEsus Shine youth rally at Novena. Despite rain, pple still persevered. And you should see the no. of youths. Think there were about a thousand people there. It was really encouraging. See? the fire is still in us! And the rain can't wash it away!

The whole carpark was filled - with youths still in their school uniforms.. to adults and grannies!


Youths partying up on the stage at the end of the rally - after Fr. Simon's message about reaching out to the poor and a video on the recent Redemptorist Mission Trip to Pattaya (5 - 13 June) with OLPS Youths.



So as Fr. Simon says, reach out - Give. And you will be changed!

The Missionary Game

Hey check this out :p

Wanna play as a missionary? to reach out as many as you can...for Jesus ...

Why don't we do the real one, let's reach out to as many young people as you can for Jesus.

If you play this game, you can press "p" and "space-bar" to pray.

Well, I guess it reminds us to pray even as we reach out to people. Because at the end it is God's works and not ours.

Happy evangelizing :)

http://www.themissionarygame.com/#

Blaze Spirit blaze! set our hearts on fire...

Hey all,
I was attending this praise and worship at St. Bernadette church, during the 5th anniversary of Effata prayer meeting, and we sang this old song of "Shine Jesus Shine". Remember this song?

But one part strike me, in the verse, we sang...

Blaze...Spirit...blaze...set our hearts on fire...
Flow...river Flow...Flood the nations with grace and Mercy...
send Forth your Word and let there be light.

What a wonderful Song!

Blaze..Spirit blaze it says, just as our Rally's name is, Ablaze!
Blaze..Spirit blaze,...set our hearts on fire...

yes, set our hearts on fire. But what kind of fire is this? Is it only emotional and youth enthusiasm? Or is it only feeling good or feeling high? Or maybe, is it only about jumping and clapping?

Is this the Fire that we are talking about? Well, I don't think so...

Some how God reminded me of another song...

title: Refiner's Fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will


---

I guess this is the fire that we are praying for. It is not a fire of emotionally high, it is not a fire of jumping and clapping, it is not a fire that dims after one or two weeks. No it is not...

It is the Refiner's Fire that we are praying for. A fire that purify the hearts of young people, it is the fire that set their hearts ablazed with God's Love, and God alone. It is the fire that Moses saw, the fire that burns but does not consume, the fire that makes the place a Holy ground. It is the fire that burns the hearts young people and makes it Holy and acceptable to God.

Yes, it is the fire that set the hearts of young peple apart for their God. And just as the song says

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will

This is what we need, Saints! not just gifted or dynamic young people, but young Saints! The Church needs saints! our late Pope said

Dear young people, the Church needs genuine witnesses for the new evangelisation: men and women whose lives have been transformed by meeting with Jesus, men and women who are capable of communicating this experience to others. The Church needs saints. All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew humanity.
--Pope John Paul II, TO THE YOUTH OF THE WORLD ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20th WORLD YOUTH DAY (COLOGNE, AUGUST 2005)


Come, O Holy Spirit,
Fills the hearts of your faithful
and enkindle in them...
the FIRE...
of your LOVE

Is there any Hope in the Young?? from Pope John Paul II

Dearest all,
nice quotes from our late Pope,

quoted from "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" chapter "Is There any Hope in the Young?"

...
What is Youth? It is not only a period of life that corresponds to a certain number of years, it is also a time given by Providence to every person and given to him as a responsibility. During that time he searches, like the young man in the Gospel, for answers to basic questions; he searches no only for the meaning of life but also for a concrete way to go about living his life. This is the fundamental characteristic of youth...

...
Clearly then, the fundamental problem of youth is profoundly personal. In life, youth is when we come to know ourselves. It is also a time of communion. Young people, whether boys or girls, know they must live for and with others, they know that their life has meaning to the extent that it becomes a free gift for others. Here is the origin of all vocations...

...
We need the enthusiasm of the young. We need their joie de vivre. In it is reflected something of the original joy God had in creating man. The young experience this same joy within themselves. This joy is teh same everywhere, but it is also ever new and original. The young know how to express this joy in their own special way...

...
The very day of the inauguration of my papal ministry, on October 22, 1978, at the conclusion of the liturgy, I said to the young people gathered in St. Peter's Square: "You are the hope of the Church and of the world. You are my hope." I have often repeated these words.

I would like to sum up by stressing that the young are searching for God, they are searching for the meaning of life, they are searching for definitive answeres: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luk10:25). In this search, they cannot help but to encounter the Church. And the Church also cannot help but encounter the young. The only necessity is that the Church have a profound understanding of what it means to be young, of the importance that youth has for every person. It is also necessary that the young know the Church, that they perceive Christ in the Church, Christ who walks through the centuries alongside each person. He walks alongside each person as a friend. An important day in a young person's life is the day on which he becomes convinced that this is the only Friend who will not disappoint him, on whom he can always count.

---By Pope John Paul II

Deeper – Hillsongs United (Look to you)

Light to men
Love of God
Healing for the wounded heart
Like a child quiet my soul
Hear Your voice surround me Lord

Jesus, hold me into Your heart
Into Your heart
Lord my soul delights
And I know You hear my prayer
Take me deeper Lord

Glorious Son to You I shall bow
Bow my knee, bow my will
Cherished by the strong and the weak
Humble hearts shall hear You speak
And by Your love Lord You opened my heart
Now Your light will shine always
By Your Word Lord Your promise secure
And my soul will live always
Take me deeper Lord

Is this our song & prayer to God too? Take us deeper Lord!

Longing for Jesus?

How many of us yearn for something? whatever it could be - money, status, love, an identity, friends, success...etc.. Well even though somewhere at the back of our (thick) heads, we know Jesus is the answer, sometimes Jesus is just no more than a sticker on our bags, cars or walls that say "Jesus is the answer".

But to be a real believer of that, it takes guts. It takes humbling. It takes everything from us.

We are called to die to ourselves (whatever we knew, held on to, believed..) and to take up the cross. Although it seems unpleasant - but the Cross is really God's way of teaching us and grooming us, so that ultimately, we attain that salvation that He has assured us with. If not, there is no 'journey' in life... no 'mission', no 'path', and we are all walking about our own ways - to where? who knows? not me.. but people don't care.

No one is righteous (Romans 8:10). If we read that before somehow and did not fully understand it, sometimes we just give up the fight saying - since we're sinful, we rather just live our own lives and not be a holy-moly-churchy-goodie-two-shoes person...

But if we REALLY understood that, we'll realise that it is precisely because no one is righteous except Jesus, that we will ultimately NEED JESUS to save us! When we die and go before GOD on the judgement day, what would we say? We need JESUS to save us from our sins.

So we sometimes live our lives under a veil of ignorance. Our eyes are blinded by an invisible cloak. We go to church every Sunday. But there's no real power. There's no real God in our lives. We live a facade. And inside our hearts are in turmoil. We are longing. For more. For God. For truth. That's a sign of the double-standards that we are. It's inevitable... every man has the spirit -- and the flesh.

But so we want to seek ReVival - it's this utopian state where man is liberated from his cloak of ignorance and comes face to face with the true God - in all these, one comes to know the real truth - of God's ultimate love - of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice - of our ultimate purpose IN CHRIST and once you know that, there can be no turning back.

You will KNOW JESUS. Your spirit will come alive. You will know what it means to truly live. We live for God - as his creation, children, friends, beloved, chosen ones. We will know His GRACE and the full meaning of 'grace'.

I write this with utmost sincerity.. for anyone who will be reading this - let's pray for greater revival in the Catholic church.. in our families, our friends, our society.

God Bless,
Sam