SG ACTIVITY: SMILE

Here is another Small Group activity we did at the Couples Small Group.  Of course it can be customized for other Small Groups.

Procedure

Have the couples look at each other.  And then ask each one to tell an angry story while smiling.

Chances are, they tend to giggle while telling the story.

Take Away

Do you know why they giggle?  It's because the brain can't register the story as an angry one anymore.  With the smile on our face, we're expected to tell a fun, exciting, or happy story right?  That's why it is hard to do; thus, they giggle.

So, what is the moral of the story?

Our society is teaching us "you get what you deserve."  This has caused us to love and respect with a condition -- when we feel like it and/or the spouse has respected or love us back.

However, the Bible teaches us differently - that wives need unconditional love from their husband as much as the husbands need unconditional respect from their wife.  So the Bible teaches us to love and respect in spite of.  It's not about what our spouse deserves.  It's about what our spouse needs.

Now, the challenge is, we are not naturally wired to loving or respecting unconditionally (y'all agree with me or it's just me who has this issue?).  From this activity, we learn that even though we feel angry on the inside, we can choose to display the emotion differently.  The best way to desensitize ourself to a word is to use it.  And the best way to desensitize ourself to an action is to do it.  For example, if you're afraid of the height, climb the mountain.  If you're afraid of the sharks, swim in the ocean.  If you don't feel like exercising because you catch cold, exercise.  If you feel down and don't feel like meeting people, go to a Small Group!!!  Do you agree?

The same concept applies to marriages.  When we don't feel like loving or respecting our spouse, that is actually the best opportunity to do the otherwise -- which is to love and respect her/him.

Marcel and I are practicing this now in our marriage and daily activities.  If you struggle like us and would like Marcel and I to support you in prayer, please feel free to email or call us.

May this be a blessing to you!

    

ZAGAT RATED KFC

If you know Marcel, you know how much he loves KFC.  And if you know me, you know how much I try to reduce Marcel's KFC consumption because of his cholesterol.  Every now and then I would treat him for KFC.  Every now and then Marcel would sneak in KFC during his Men Bible Study hehehe.  Silly, Hubby!!!

The other day I came home from Small Group.  Marcel greeted me with a big smile and said, "You know, Baby?  KFC is Zagat rated!!!"

I couldn't believe it at first.  Then I saw the TV ads and the article about Zagat survey rated KFC as the best fried chicken.

Oh boy oh boy.  Not because it's Zagat rated it's always good (for your health).  Not because it's Zagat rated, it's going to be on our family menu regularly.

In the same way in life, not just because everybody else is doing it you need to be doing it.  Not because everybody else is doing it one way, that is the only way you need to be doing things.  Just because it works for other people, it will work for you too.  God created us differently and uniquely.  Not one size fits all.  That's why we need to use these unique identity and talents to complement each other (in family, in ministry, in society, etc).

What is your Zagat for your life?  What do you look up to when searching for direction or advice or endorsement?  Mine is the Bible.

May this be a blessing!

  

ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

Ohh ohhh, look what I found!  I'm so glad I found this video.


This video is very dear to me.  It's inspired by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron's The Way of the Master Conference.  I was very blessed for the opportunity to attend that conference in October 2007 at my church in Plano, TX.  Little did I know, soon after that Conference, God used me to channel the blessing to my mom.  Because of that Conference, my mom is now my sister in Christ.  :-)


If you haven't had a chance to attend The Way of the Master conference, please enjoy this video.  This sums it up!!!





May this be a blessing!

NEW CO-WORKER

I shared with you about two months ago that my office will be moved to New York by the end of the year right?  Well, since I learned the news and decided not to relocate with the company, I've been helping out with the transition by training the new people.


So here is my new coworker in training.  :-)  He's a quick learner!!!!  His name is Chen Hong Wei a.k.a. The Magnificent Chen.

I guess I can now enjoy my 3 days off because Hong Wei gets everything taken care of at the office.


May this turn your frown upside down!

SG ACTIVITY: PINK ELEPHANT

We did this activity last night at the Couples Small Group.  You can use this for other Small Groups too.

Procedure

Provide this one-sentence instruction, "Do not think of a pink elephant!"

HAHAHA, did you have a figure of a pink elephant flashing on your mind after reading the instruction above?

Your participants might have a pink elephant flashing on their mind too.

Take Away

Our actions are done based on consciousness or subconsciousness.  When a pink elephant flashes on your mind, that is because the subconsciousness takes control of our mind.  Subconsciousness can be a good or a bad thing depending on how we go about it.

Let me give you an example.  Marcel likes to take his time in driving.  As a result, he tends to drive on the right lane all the way.  I, on the other hand, prefer to drive on the middle lane.  It's not the fastest lane; but we don't have to keep braking or yielding to the cars entering the highway.  It's such a waste of gas, I thought!

When Marcel is behind the wheel, he finds that me telling him which lane to take is very disrespectful.  So I've been learning to keep my mouth shut and trying to focus on the extra quality time I have with him in the car.  Unfortunately, not everyday is my good day.

One day, Marcel's driving us to Church.  As always, he picked the right lane and drove 5 mph below the speed limit.  The Service was starting in 5 minutes.  But we're nowhere close to Church.  My mind started to go crazy.  I grew impatient.  But I still tried to hold my mouth shut.

Then, Marcel asked, "Baby, where do you want to go to lunch today?"

I couldn't hold it anymore and said, "Babe, how can I be thinking about lunch when we're not even at the Church yet!"

Wow, what was that all about?  Imagine being Marcel.  He didn't know what went through my mind.  With all his good intention, he's taking us to Church and planning for our lunch date.  But all that he got was my disrespectful comment.

That's exactly the message I'm trying to convey to you, Friends.  In that situation, my subconsciousness took control of my action.  As soon as Marcel hopped behind the wheel, my subconsciousness told me, "Oh noooo, it's going to be another long ride to Church."  It then resulted in me subconsciously being disrespectful towards Marcel.  Little things that he did would really annoy me.

Now, looking back at that situation, I'm sure you agree with me that Marcel didn't deserve the things I said.  He deserved my respect.  And my action was a little way too much.  Now, I'm learning to choose to be joyful for the extra time when Marcel's behind the wheel.

I hope my embarrassing story blesses you one way or the other.  And you become more aware of your subconsciousness.  I pray that each one of us grow healthier and more positive subconsciousness.  Believe me, negative subconsciousness CAN be replaced with the positive one.  It takes effort.  But it is possible.  God makes it possible!

May this be a blessing to you!

    

OHHH PRAISES

I have so many things to be thankful for today:


1) While our pastors are out of the country for the Israel trip, our English Service had faced quite a struggle in finding a speaker (especially for this Sunday).  Praise the Lord, our prayer was finally answered this morning.  This is not the only and/or the first time our English Service lacks the resources.  However, each time God has been providing for our needs.  For that I'm grateful for another answered prayer.


2) Marcel's family in Padang survive the earthquake again.  But my heart goes to the people who are impacted by the earthquake and the recent Tsunami.


3) My family in Sukabumi are kept safe from the earthquake that happened at around 4:30AM Pacific time today.  They are also able to carry on the day-to-day activities despite the ash cloud that has been covering the city as a result of the Mount Merapi's eruptions.  Click here for some photos taken in Central Java which is impacted the most by the eruptions.  And please join me in prayer for Indonesia.


4) I praise God for stockings and the sun that have kept me warm today as I talked to my co-worker for one hour outside.


5) I praise God for the slow cooker that I could use this morning so that we have something warm to eat before our Couples Small Group tonight.


6) Our Church rents a building from another Church to provide Sunday Services and Sunday School.  After 2 months of waiting, I praise God for the extra 15 hours granted for us to access the Church.  That way we can prepare and practice for Christmas Celebration (Dec. 19) ahead of time.


7) I praise God for the last minute bassist and drummer replacements God provided for English Service.


8) My company is relocating to New York in 1.5 months.  Many are looking for a new job locally.  I praise God for my team leader who has found a new job so that he can provide for his wife and 2 kids.


9) I praise God for the dry weather that allowed Marcel's newly-washed jacket to dry out overnight.  So today he can wear it to work and become a happy and warm hubby.


Wow, the list can go on and on.  Are you grateful for at least one thing today?

STORY BOOK: LUKE 6:29

Here goes my next story book.  The story was inspired by one of my real life lessons about being merciful.  I shared with you that God has been teaching me this characteristic.  So ... enjoy!!!

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May this be a blessing!