Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thank You
To ALL Ranch Hands,
Thank you so much for serving at VBS. Let us rejoice for our names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20.
Special thanks to ALL the Youth Ranch Hands as I cannot imagine VBS without them. The energy and exuberance of the youth is what keeps VBS fun and exciting. And they are also the model examples for the cowpokes .....when they are able, they too want to be the youth helper at VBS.
Thank you Worship Team for practising two months before VBS and then singing and doing the actions for the 6 VBS songs more than 10x a day in the VBS Week. [applause,applause] Thanks again Tommy for leading the team - feedback is that you are a great team leader, ever so patient and we are so pleased to know that you shared the love of Jesus with your ranch hands by example.
We thank God for Dylan Seow who was in-charge of the sound systems at Worship Rally Valley, Blazing Star Stables and Firefly Cavern. Dylan also helped with a lot of the VBS decoration. Thanks Dylan for being such a willing worker and if you ever want an example of someone who works "without complaining or arguing" .....this is the guy.
Thanks to Commies who carried out their assignments and contributed in putting VBS 2010 together. A big thank-you and hug for Lina Kee who has been working together with me for VBS 2010 since the beginning of 2010 for whom I could not have done without. Special mention must be given to our VBS Treasurer, Weng Yue who also took on the task of providing us with tea-breaks, coffee and tea. And VBS has been more alive and filled with so much more ooomph because of Gina and her family. Thanks Robin for all the handyman works and thanks Serinnah for being always there and as willing as Dylan to serve and do anything to assist.
Thanks to Bobby for being around to help us out whenever we were in need ...for a clock, a hailer and putting up our VBS school bell....and most of all for helping us with our storage problems.
Thanks to Diana in our Church Office for helping to arrange admin stuff for us especially on liaising with the Chinese Church Office.
So many people to thank and not possible to name them all. Just want to highlight here those in the background and not seen. Every ranch hand played a role so vital to VBS. We thank you Lord for calling us to You, to Your Ministry and to VBS.
Thank you for being our shield and our great reward.
Yeehaw ! Blessings, everyone !
In His Love,
Poh Gek
(Trail Boss)
Thank you so much for serving at VBS. Let us rejoice for our names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20.
Special thanks to ALL the Youth Ranch Hands as I cannot imagine VBS without them. The energy and exuberance of the youth is what keeps VBS fun and exciting. And they are also the model examples for the cowpokes .....when they are able, they too want to be the youth helper at VBS.
Thank you Worship Team for practising two months before VBS and then singing and doing the actions for the 6 VBS songs more than 10x a day in the VBS Week. [applause,applause] Thanks again Tommy for leading the team - feedback is that you are a great team leader, ever so patient and we are so pleased to know that you shared the love of Jesus with your ranch hands by example.
We thank God for Dylan Seow who was in-charge of the sound systems at Worship Rally Valley, Blazing Star Stables and Firefly Cavern. Dylan also helped with a lot of the VBS decoration. Thanks Dylan for being such a willing worker and if you ever want an example of someone who works "without complaining or arguing" .....this is the guy.
Thanks to Commies who carried out their assignments and contributed in putting VBS 2010 together. A big thank-you and hug for Lina Kee who has been working together with me for VBS 2010 since the beginning of 2010 for whom I could not have done without. Special mention must be given to our VBS Treasurer, Weng Yue who also took on the task of providing us with tea-breaks, coffee and tea. And VBS has been more alive and filled with so much more ooomph because of Gina and her family. Thanks Robin for all the handyman works and thanks Serinnah for being always there and as willing as Dylan to serve and do anything to assist.
Thanks to Bobby for being around to help us out whenever we were in need ...for a clock, a hailer and putting up our VBS school bell....and most of all for helping us with our storage problems.
Thanks to Diana in our Church Office for helping to arrange admin stuff for us especially on liaising with the Chinese Church Office.
So many people to thank and not possible to name them all. Just want to highlight here those in the background and not seen. Every ranch hand played a role so vital to VBS. We thank you Lord for calling us to You, to Your Ministry and to VBS.
Thank you for being our shield and our great reward.
Yeehaw ! Blessings, everyone !
In His Love,
Poh Gek
(Trail Boss)
Friday, November 26, 2010
Day 5 - Saddle Ridge Ranch Review
Yeehaw!!! Although it was the last day of VBS this year, it never stopped the Ranch Hands from giving the Cowpokes another thrilling and adventurous day here at the ranch. We are very sure that the Cowpokes and Ranch Hands had the time of their lives this whole week.
Today during opening worship rally, we celebrated the birthday of our Blazing Star Stables Hand Rancher, Aunty Weng Hun. Because we are wonderfully made by God, birthdays are great occasions for celebration and prayers. Aunty Weng Hun, we wish you rich blessings in your days.
Cowpokes sang all six (6) Saddle Ridge Ranch songs and later went for their Final Bible Study at their Bunkhouses that was taken from Philippians 1:1-2; 4:4-9. These verses are letters written by Paul to his friends at Philippi. The letters were written by Paul thanking his friends for the great encouragement they had provided him with while he was in prison.
Cowpokes were also told that if they needed wisdom in their decision making or in times of confusion, they could depend on their Father in Heaven and ask Him for answers.
The Cowpokes sure loved to play around with water! It was “Raining on the Ranch” during recreation time at Mustang Mountain. Most of them were wet but all in all they had fun with the rest of bunch.
Cowpokes were also told that if they needed wisdom in their decision making or in times of confusion, they could depend on their Father in Heaven and ask Him for answers.
The Cowpokes sure loved to play around with water! It was “Raining on the Ranch” during recreation time at Mustang Mountain. Most of them were wet but all in all they had fun with the rest of bunch.
Next stop, Big Sky Grill! It was yet another tasty moment as the menu today was Spaghetti Bolognaise! Cowpokes also had cookies and Milo.
Meanwhile at Worship Rally Valley, Cowpokes sang and moved to the upbeat song “What I’m Gonna Do”. They also practiced their performances for the concert video recording and Family Carnival.
At Blazing Star Stables, Cowpokes made a “Wisdom Wagon” to remind us that when we need answers, we can ask God for wisdom.
This time at Firefly Cavern, Cowpokes were introduced to our local orang asli settlement. Telling others about Jesus is not always easy but we can always ask God for help. James 1:5 – Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
It is okay to ask God, “What do I do now?”, because He cares and has plans for us and we are special in His eyes. In a nutshell, when we need answers, we should ask God!
Alright partners! Get a good rest as we saddle up to hit the trail for tomorrow’s Family Carnival. We hope to see y’all there! God bless!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Day 4 - Saddle Ridge Ranch Review
Howdy partners at the fourth day at Saddle Ridge Ranch! Praises to God for today we were greeted with a bright and sunny morning as the Cowpokes arrived as active as always to learn more new things about Him.
The march-in to Worship Rally Valley was rousing. The engaging and daily routine of singing as well as doing the actions to the VBS songs made the Cowpokes and their respective Ranch Hands extra pumped up in their Bunkhouses!
Bible Study this morning was taken from Mark 6:30-46 and John 6:1-13. These verses from the Bible tell the story when Jesus fed five thousand of his followers with only five loaves of bread and two little fishes. Simply extraordinary!
Cowpokes experienced something unusual at the ranch today. As they moved from one rotation site to another, many Prairie Piles (horse droppings) were scattered about everywhere! They had to watch where they were going lest they step into any of the Prairie Piles! Nevertheless, they had fun and did well avoiding the droppings as they moved about the ranch.
Cowpokes experienced something unusual at the ranch today. As they moved from one rotation site to another, many Prairie Piles (horse droppings) were scattered about everywhere! They had to watch where they were going lest they step into any of the Prairie Piles! Nevertheless, they had fun and did well avoiding the droppings as they moved about the ranch.
At Firefly Cavern, Cowpokes heard about how the missionaries at Mali spread the Gospel. The missionaries there shared Bible stories in their language. This is one of the ways to portray God’s love to our friends and family.
During snack time, the team at Big Sky Grill served freshly made burgers accompanied with ice cream and Milo.
Soon after at Mustang Mountain, Cowpokes enjoyed themselves playing “Ropers and Wranglers”. It’s a challenging game of catching eggs.
A great session at Worship Rally Valley; as it was highlighted to the Cowpokes to choose to live like Jesus’, following his examples through the song, “Like Jesus”.
While making an “Attitude Dangler”, Cowpokes at the Blazing Star Stables were told that it was to remind them to set their attitudes right everyday by following examples of Jesus Christ.
Though we might not be able to do great things like Jesus, it is the little things that matter and can do wonders! We can help others by praying and showing love to them as it is written in John 13:34 – Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you. By showing our love and compassion to others, we become more like Jesus.
Also, Family Carnival and Sunday School Open Day this coming weekend!
Till tomorrow as we roundup for day 5, see you and God bless!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Howdy Folks !
It's Day 4 of VBS today and I am just wondering what God has in store for us this morning.
When I was informed at 6:30am yesterday that the Church had no electricity, I sent sms to the VBS Comm members so that all would be aware and thinking of how we were to improvise the morning till the electricity was restored. No one panicked and everyone pulled in with ideas on improving an impromptu outdoor Opening Worship Rally.
I am so grateful for the support and back-up of all our VBS Comm members. I thank God for each and every one of them. The trust in our Lord could be so clearly seen in all.
As we taught our VBS cowpokes that God cares, it was real to all of us that God does care and we began the VBS day as scheduled with morning prayer at 7:30am followed by march-in and Opening Worship Rally at 8:00am - 8:30am. Everything went as scheduled except that we prayed outdoors standing and we worshipped at the Basketball Court.
No one was anxious - not even the classroom ranch hands. Rotation sites affected were Missions and Craft as they had rooms with no windows. Craft was thinking of moving out to the Cafe Deck. And Sue informed me that Missions could be skipped for the day. She would make up the following day for the lesson. Everyone was pleased that skipping Missions would give them extra time for Bible Study activities.
As the children lined up to move to their Bible Study Bunkhouses - someone just turned on the light switch and to their amazement, the lights came on. Then they all began to shout - "we have electricity" whilst many, many children were still on the stairs and in the corridors still walking and yet in their classrooms.
Hallelujah ! Praise God for His timing and provision. And of course - now we would have the Missions rotation since we have electricity.
We learnt that although we have become so dependant on technology and electricity, we are able to do without. But we cannot do with being without God who cares for us and is always with us, to protect and to bless us. All things must be God-centered.
When we seek Him, we trust and we know with certainty that He is looking out for us. Things will be as He has planned it for He is our creator and it is He that will make a way for us.
Then came all the photographs taken from the Worship Rally at the basketball court ....the streams of red as everyone was in their VBS T-shirt. And the worship was truly awesome out there with nature and all of God's creations - the blue sky, the cool breeze, the trees....was this God's plan ? Did He want us to worship outdoors yesterday morning and experience His goodness ?
One of the parents commented that it was good that we even programmed worship outdoors ......she didn't realise that we didn't have electricity.
Yeehaw ! and just as the sun got warmer, He gave us electricity and air-conditioning.
He is an awesome God.
Blessings
It's Day 4 of VBS today and I am just wondering what God has in store for us this morning.
When I was informed at 6:30am yesterday that the Church had no electricity, I sent sms to the VBS Comm members so that all would be aware and thinking of how we were to improvise the morning till the electricity was restored. No one panicked and everyone pulled in with ideas on improving an impromptu outdoor Opening Worship Rally.
I am so grateful for the support and back-up of all our VBS Comm members. I thank God for each and every one of them. The trust in our Lord could be so clearly seen in all.
As we taught our VBS cowpokes that God cares, it was real to all of us that God does care and we began the VBS day as scheduled with morning prayer at 7:30am followed by march-in and Opening Worship Rally at 8:00am - 8:30am. Everything went as scheduled except that we prayed outdoors standing and we worshipped at the Basketball Court.
No one was anxious - not even the classroom ranch hands. Rotation sites affected were Missions and Craft as they had rooms with no windows. Craft was thinking of moving out to the Cafe Deck. And Sue informed me that Missions could be skipped for the day. She would make up the following day for the lesson. Everyone was pleased that skipping Missions would give them extra time for Bible Study activities.
As the children lined up to move to their Bible Study Bunkhouses - someone just turned on the light switch and to their amazement, the lights came on. Then they all began to shout - "we have electricity" whilst many, many children were still on the stairs and in the corridors still walking and yet in their classrooms.
Hallelujah ! Praise God for His timing and provision. And of course - now we would have the Missions rotation since we have electricity.
We learnt that although we have become so dependant on technology and electricity, we are able to do without. But we cannot do with being without God who cares for us and is always with us, to protect and to bless us. All things must be God-centered.
When we seek Him, we trust and we know with certainty that He is looking out for us. Things will be as He has planned it for He is our creator and it is He that will make a way for us.
Then came all the photographs taken from the Worship Rally at the basketball court ....the streams of red as everyone was in their VBS T-shirt. And the worship was truly awesome out there with nature and all of God's creations - the blue sky, the cool breeze, the trees....was this God's plan ? Did He want us to worship outdoors yesterday morning and experience His goodness ?
One of the parents commented that it was good that we even programmed worship outdoors ......she didn't realise that we didn't have electricity.
Yeehaw ! and just as the sun got warmer, He gave us electricity and air-conditioning.
He is an awesome God.
Blessings
Day 3 - Saddle Ridge Ranch Review
Everywhere we turned at Saddle Ridge Ranch today were streams of the colour red. That’s right, partners! Today was photo session day! All Cowpokes and Ranch Hands proudly wore their red Saddle Ridge Ranch t-shirts. As the photographers went from Bunkhouse to Bunkhouse, it was yet another amazing day.
What an awesome worship rally this morning at the outdoors! When we arrived this morning, we were surprised that there was NO ELECTRICITY in church! Thank God for the wonderful weather and the cool morning breeze out on the basketball court! It was exciting to worship God outdoors and to sing the new song for the day “Tumbleweed”.
What an awesome worship rally this morning at the outdoors! When we arrived this morning, we were surprised that there was NO ELECTRICITY in church! Thank God for the wonderful weather and the cool morning breeze out on the basketball court! It was exciting to worship God outdoors and to sing the new song for the day “Tumbleweed”.
Additionally, another special guest visited us today. He was a short tax collector called Zacchaeus. Praise the Lord that as the Cowpokes entered their Bunkhouses, the electricity was restored! During Bible Study, Cowpokes found out that Zacchaeus was surprised when God knew that he needed Jesus as he was sitting in a tree, just like God knew that we would be here at Saddle Ridge Ranch! Luke 19:1-10 was the Bible Story focus of the day.
The Cowpokes had a white and powdery fun-time at Mustang Mountain. Here, they played a game of “Branded Relay” where they used flour for branding.
The catchy and likable tune of “Tumbleweed” got the Cowpokes and their Ranch Hands moving to the beat of the song at the Worship Rally Valley. This song reminds us to plant ourselves deep into God’s word.
Missions at Firefly Cavern was just as informative! Cowpokes learnt of God’s plan for the missionaries in the Amazon jungle. Similarly, God has a plan for each and every one of us.
Cowpokes were indeed energised and refueled after their snack at Big Sky Grill. Today’s menu was alphabet veggie soup with garlic bread and Ribena drinks. Cowpokes were encouraged to search for the letters A-B-C in their soup as today was ‘ABC’ (Admit, Believe, Confess) day.
Craft time was lots of fun at Blazing Star Stables too as the Cowpokes made their very own Bolo Tie. Each colour at every tip of the Bolo Tie star has a story behind it.
Day 3 was all about the ABCs: Admit that we are sinners and repent from our sins, Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Confess our faith in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.
Cowpokes also learnt that God has a special plan for their lives as stated in the Bible in Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
See you tomorrow for another day at Saddle Ridge Ranch! God bless!
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