London 2012 Could Have Waited For Us

Okay, so the Olympics in London had started one day before our youth service. Impatient people :(

Still, did you know that :- 

-This Olympic Stadium is the lightest Olympics Stadium ever built?

-The one thing most people seem to talk about in the Olympics' opening ceremony amid all the grandeur is Rowan Atkinson's appearance as... Mr. Bean :) 

Anyway, here's the details of what happened last saturday, all crammed up in one page.

The sands of time, 

The two and a half hours, 

Passed on with just the action of scrolling down,

A random poem that doesn't rhyme because it seems to fit.

As usual, we had prayer to begin with, where we were broken off into groups of three, praying as one. 

Aaaandddd, that short time interval for those who had to put a stop to that incessant ring of Mother Nature's phone call.

"Waste not the time that you have in your hands, and you'll see the wonders you can achieve with it". 

*Points below*

Oooh, oooh, we had a few new comers that day too :)

Eu Jin 

Ivy

Leroy,

who was in charge of icebreakerS

Yes, icebreakerS with a capital S.

So the time came where the titans all clashed against each other in a battle that had the blood mode turned off simply because there wasn't any violence involved. Icebreakers a la Olympics. FireBrands 2012.

First up, we had a warm up game,
Based on the Olympic game. A mini quiz based on you-get-it.

And for the second icebreaker, we put the athletes to shame. See that huge track? *above*
We DUCK WALKED on it and all of us made it in under 15 seconds.

Then, a game involving toothpicks, where you use your tooth/teeth to pick up a toothpick to pick a rubber band and then passing it to the person behind you. All with a toothpick.

And last but not least, a javelin event also done with the mouth and toothpicks. Photos not taken because after all, javelins are dangerous. :P

After all that sweat and gold medals, it was time for worship as the night went on.

No amount of Olympics' events are gonna tire us from jumping to praises for God!!

And while some random athlete is making his/her country proud in London, one servant in fireBrands is making his God proud. 

Butts on the floor, ears and eyes open, and hearts ready.

Leroy, who couldn't resist a Thor joke, spoke about . . . .

Parables (Pear-apple).

What is a pear-apple?

-Earthly stories with heavenly meanings.

-Stories Jesus told.

-Stories in the Bible.

-Stories with teachings. 

Basically, a parable is a story (S-Thor-y). 

Just before he went on with his message, this *Points below* shows on the screen. Now, here's the task. Remember them in order from one all the way to 12 in 30 seconds. 

Let's move on first.

Now why did Jesus use parables in His teachings?
-Because, who doesn't love stories?
-Because who remembers facts like that without the aid of stories?
Exactly my (actually, his) point. People loved stories and besides, its easier to remember things when told in the form of stories.

He used parables simply because it is a way of teaching, and it is also relatable to modern day settings.
Take for example, the parable of the prodigal son. From the problems the world faces today, its only true that these parables are easily related with times of today.
Matthew 13:10-16 explains why Jesus used parables. ( Click Here for the verse)

Remember the parable of the sower?
-Is the soil (our heart) prepared and ready to receive what God has given for us?
-Have you ever wondered why some people seem luckier than you are? Everyone is equal in God's eyes. Maybe its time to open up your heart to the things God has given you. Then, you'll see that you too receive just as much as what the others have.

Jesus used parables in teachings also because its stories like these that gives those who oppose Him no ground.
-They were waiting for Jesus to say the wrong thing so that they can use it against Him
-Parables are stories with meanings, and stories can't be corrected. Jesus probably laughed at them for trying  in vain.
-A good story blesses hearts, young or old.

So open up your hearts, and receive the things that God blesses us with :)

*Try remembering the list of 10 words and prepare to recite it next service