Monday, 9 May 2016

Mother's Day Celebration

Mother’s day came early for the moms in ICC Michigan. 
We celebrated it on Saturday, May 7thIt was a bright day. 
The weather was nice, the sun was shining and the flowers were blooming.

The families went to Brody Square dining hall, a cafeteria at MSU, 
where lunch were served buffet style.


For this event, the moms sat separately from the dads and kids. 
The moms were happy for they were surrounded by their family 
(although at different seating), 
good friends and good food, especially desserts.

Besides having their tummy full, their hearts were also filled with spiritual food, 
spoken by Ibu Hanna Sudirgo from Toronto. 

Meanwhile, Pastor Joe Sudirgo who sat with the dads and kids, 
also shared his experience about being a husband.
After lunch, the fellowship was continued at Suandi and Rini’s house. 
The moms were very grateful for this wonderful day.
Thanks to husbands who made this event possible. 
Thanks to Pastor Joe and Ibu Hanna for sharing and mentoring the families
Thanks to Rini and Suandi for helping to organize the event and opening their home

by: Sandra Nursilo
thanks Lydia Yosephine and Pungki Riadi, for the photos, and David Yuan, for taking pics.

Sunday, 8 May 2016

The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Is The Hand That Rules The World

 “Tangan Cici kok sekarang kasar yah,” bisik adik kepada mama ketika saya baru tiba di Jakarta dari Amerika dengan membawa anak saya yang baru berumur setahun.

“Yah begitulah tangan seorang ibu, beda dengan tangan anak gadis, “ komentar Mama
Mama saya benar. Tangan saya setelah menjadi ibu adalah tangan yang sibuk.Banyak pekerjaannya. Dari yang kotor sampai yang bersih, tangan ini pernah menyentuh semuanya. Dari membelai sampai yang mendisiplinkan, tangan ini pernah melakukannya. Tidak heran William Wallace membuat puisi yang berjudul “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Rules The World”.

Saya percaya bahwa itulah yang diimpikan oleh setiap ibu, bahwa anak yang dirawat dengan segenap hati oleh tangannya akan menjadi anak yang rule the world, anak yang hebat dan perkasa yang bisa berguna bagi dunia.

Di balik ide yang mulia ini, ada suatu campur tangan dari Sang Pencipta. Beliau, yang adalah sumber kreatifitas, merancang sebuah kehidupan sebelum kehidupan itu terjadi. Karena ada tertulis, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” Sang Pencipta berkolaborasi dengan seorang ayah dan seorang ibu untuk menghasilkan seorang individu yang unik. Sang Pencipta menyerahkan hak untuk membesarkan dan mendidik anak kepada ayah dan ibu, seperti ada tertulis,” My son keep your father’s commandment and do not forsake your mother’s teaching,”

Tangan seorang ibu, yang merawat dan mengajar anaknya, adalah tangan yang diberkati oleh Sang Pencipta. Tangan itu adalah tangan yang mulia walaupun kasar, berotot dan berurat. Lotion dan handcream mungkin akan membuatnya halus dan lembut, namun otot dan urat tetap ada di tangan seorang ibu.

Di hari ibu ini, biarlah tangan itu dikuatkan, supaya tetap perkasa. Biarlah tangan itu dihormati, supaya tetap berharga. Biarlah tangan itu dikasihi, supaya tetap bahagia.

Untuk ibu ibu, teman sejawatku, biarlah tangan kita tetap terawat supaya sehat. Buang perasaan sebagai martir yang bisa membuat tangan itu terluka. Biarlah tangan itu rela ditopang oleh tangan Sang Pencipta yang rindu untuk melangsungkan partnership dengan kita. Sang Pencipta, walaupun Beliau memperkenalkan diriNya dengan gender laki laki yang disebut Bapak dan Putra, namun Beliau sangat mengerti perasaan seorang ibu. Bukankah ada tertulis, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

Marilah kita gunakan tangan kita untuk membawa anak anak itu kepada Sang Pencipta. Dengan ketekunan ketika mereka kecil. Dengan teladan senantiasa. Dengan doa kepada Sang Pencipta yang berkuasa. Marilah kita berpartner dengan tangan Sang Pencipta yang berlubang paku itu, supaya anak anak kita menemukan jati dirinya dan tempatnya di dunia ini, so they can really rule the world.


Diberkatilah kiranya tangan para wanita. Amen. 

Thursday, 5 May 2016

From The Garden of Ibu Berlian Bijaksana

My garden is tiny, but it’s my favorite place at home. It is surrounded by a weeping willow, some bushes, and an ornamental pear tree. My husband built a small patio where he put garden chairs and table. I love to sit in the garden chair to enjoy the view. Today in the month of May, yellow daffodils and purple tulips display their amazing colors.The sound of birds chirping is a beautiful music to my ears. The willow is budding and the pear tree is blooming white


 Looking at those trees, I remember a verse in the Bible.

Psalm 92: 13-15.  The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”


The righteous are the people who made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. People like you and me who received Christ as our personal savior. After being saved and cleansed, we cannot stay the same. A spiritual growth will happen to us.


2 Peter 3:18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.


Growing in the knowledge is like the growing of palm trees. Palm tress grow quickly. They are tall but their roots are not that deep. Strong wind will easily uproot them.
Peter asked us to grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ. We should learn the habit and discipline of studying the Word of God. But we must be aware that growing in knowledge solely will not enough for us. It has to be balanced with growing in grace.
Cedars of Lebanon grow slowly. They take years and years to be mature and tall. Their roots are very strong, planted deeply inside the ground. Growing in grace is like the growing of Cedars.

I will share with you, three definitions of grace
1.    Unmerited divine help given for men for his regeneration of sanctification
2.    Divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life
3.    Active force within us giving us the desire and the power to do things God’s way

To practice what we have learned in the Bible, we need grace. If we rely on ourselves to do God’s will, we will be easily frustrated.

However… take heart! Our God knows what He’s doing. The verse below tells us how God builds ourselves. He functions as a master builder here. Jesus is the pattern of how our redeemed lives suppose to be. Then He calls us one by one, by our names to set a relationship with us, with Him as the base/foundation. After the relationship is set, God is staying with us until the end, to overseer the workmanship, to invest on the project, to interfere when troubles comes or when the work overwhelms us. He never leaves us alone. What we need to do is building the personal relationship with Him.

Rome 8:29-30.  God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

Let’s us grow in knowledge, let’s grow in grace. Let’s grow like a palm tree and a cedar. Hmmm that made me thinking … Should I plant a cedar tree in my garden?


Inspired by the book : Roots of Character by Wendell Smith

Friday, 29 April 2016

CULINARY DELIGHT FOR YOUR SPIRIT

It’s meal time. Your spirit is hungry for some real food. You’ve been reading some self help books. You’ve been practicing some noble ideas. You are loved by your family and friends, but nothing can substitute the relationship you have with your Creator. No love letters can satisfy enough the deepest longing inside yourself.

Your spirit crave for culinary delight of the Word of God

how sweet are your words to my taste,psalm 119:103

Jeremiah 15: 16 said: When your words came, I ate them. They were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord O God Almighty.

solid food is for the mature, hebrew 5:14

Let’s open the Bible and have a big meal, or an appetizer or a snack! You eat what you can, no preassure. Food is food. Big portion or small, T-bone steak or lentil soup, apple or orange, God’s Word is good for your soul.

If you are not the reading kind, that’s okay. Some people are picky eaters, they have small appetite. They eat anyway. It’s the same with the Word of God. Eat (read) anyway. Eat  slowly in small portion.One verse a day, keep the malaise away!
For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food, Job 34:3


Here are some tips to enjoyable Bible reading!
1.  Read the Bible out loud ( especially when you are sleepy )
2.  Gossip magazines readers might find unbelievable scandals in Genesis and Judges                                   
3.   If you like advice columns, read Proverbs
4.   Statistic freaks may like the book of Numbers
5.   Poetry galore in the book of Psalm, Job, and Lamentation
6.   If you like apocalypse themes, Revelation is the book for you
     7.   For those hopeless romatics, your Prince Charming is four books away at Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. He's Lord Jesus who saves you, dear damsel in distress
8.   If you are obsessed to make list, then Bible reading can be your thing. Pick a nice notebook. Rewrite your favorite Bible verses with your favourite pen. 
9.   Pray that Holy Spirit will make you understand what you read
10. Practice the beautiful principles you found in the bible
1
Bon Appetitte! God bless you

                                                                                             photos by : Leina Wang and Audy Tjong







Monday, 25 April 2016

BIBLICAL EMOJI


😊 A happy heart makes a face cheerful but heartache crushes the spirit ( Proverbs 15 :13 )

😰 When the righteous cry for help the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles ( Psalm 34:17 )

😤 In your anger do not sin, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26)

😶 About this we have much to say and it’s hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing ( Hebrew 5:11 )

💰 You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6: 24)

😵 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace ( 1 Cor 14:33 )

😥 Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)

😷 Even a fool when he keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent ( Proverbs 17:28 )

😚 Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips (Proverbs 24:26)

😴 💤 I lay down and slept, I woke again for the Lord sustained me (Psalm 3:5)

Monday, 11 April 2016

LIVING A GOD FILLED LIFE : A GOOD HEART

Dear Hopeless Christian, how are you ? I hope you are doing well.
I want to share a picture of the things which we have discussed.

There are four steps which we have to climb one by one. This is a process. You cannot go the the third step without passing the first and the second ones. Remember this is not instant.
The first step is where we value God in our life. We magnify Him, we remember Him and His work in our lives. After we do that, let’s move on.

The second step is where we give thanks to God. Why we give thanks to Him? Because we remember Him and His goodness and His work. Let’s jump higher now.

The third step is where our imagination are positive. Is it possible to have a positive imagination in such negative world ? Yes it is, if we are thankful to God and value Him.

The fourth step is our aim, a good heart, a brightened heart.

What is a good heart? A heart which is sensitive to God. A heart which is in tune with God is like a cellphone that can get a WIFI signal.  You will live gloriously if your WIFI connection is strong.
A good heart won’t happen by itself or by coincidence like a good healthy body won’t happen by itself. The owner of a body must eat nutricious food and exercise. A good heart will happen when we value God, we are thankful to God, and we have a good imagination.  

What is the benefit of having a good heart or a heart which is sensitive to God or a heart which is in tune of God? So many benefits.

For me personally, because I am in tune of God, I have peace in my heart. A peace which proceeds all understanding just like the Bible said in Phillipians 4:7. The peace is one of the indicators whether I follow God’s direction or not. If I don’t feel peaceful about something, I will not do it.

Second benefit is I have perfect wisdom. Not just a wisdom which I got by studying or learning but a wisdom which given spiritually by my Creator. I have the mind of Christ as it is said in 1 Corinthias 2:16.  

Third benefit is the practical guidances of everyday life. A personal friend of mine said he tried everything to build his business. The result was 20 % loss. His wife said he should bring Jesus daily in his business. So in the second year he prayed to Jesus before making decisions. He also prayed to God and discuss business matter with Him in his daily prayer. After doing that, he got 47 % gain in his business.

I also found my first and second house by the guidance of God, by being sensitive and in tune with God. He guides me in daily life. My dear Hopeless Christian, I hope what I wrote will make you pursue God more seriously. Life is hopeful when you walk with Him everyday. And remember the 4 steps. When you climb the steps one by one, you will achieve what you desire. You will have a God-filled life (which is the reason why you wrote the letter to me ).

In Christ,
Ibu Berlian Bijaksana
(inspired by Andrew Wommack's book : Discover the Keys to Staying Full of God)


Monday, 28 March 2016

Kubur yang Kosong dan Kain yang Digulung Rapi

Sejak penyaliban Guru, Tante Maria menginap di rumahku. Keletihan batin dan fisik yang beliau alami membuat beliau tidak siap untuk diantarkan pulang ke Galielea. Sebetulnya bukan hanya Tante Maria yang seperti itu, aku dan murid murid Guru yang lain pun sama keadaannya.

“Silahkan dimakan rotinya,” kata ibuku dengan lembut kepada Tante Maria.

Tante Maria mengambil roti yang disodorkan ibuku. Digigitnya dan dikunyahnya. Namun dari ekspresi wajahnya, beliau seperti memakan obat yang pahit dan bukan roti yang empuk.
Ibuku merangkul Tante Maria. Aku bersyukur bahwa di tengah kedukaan ini, ibuku bekerja keras untuk membawa rutinitas dan kenormalan kepada kami.

Tok tok tok

Tiba tiba terdengar ketukan di pintu rumahku. Kami bertiga saling perpandangan dengan tatapan panic. Siapakah itu ? Prajurit Romawi ? Preman sewaan kaum Farisi ?

“Yohanes! Buka pintu. Ini Petrus !” terdengar suara yang tidak asing di telingaku

Begitu aku membuka pintu, Petrus langsung menyerbu masuk diikuti dengan Magdalena . Melihat Tante Maria, Magdalena  langsung menghampiri dan memeluk beliau. Petrus pun memelukku sambil berbicara dengan kecepatan tinggi. Pertama tama aku tidak memahami apa yang ia katakan karena ia sangat emosional. Namun kemudian aku mengerti apa yang ia ucapkan.

“Mayat Guru dicuri?” tanyaku

“Magdalena saksinya,” jawab Petrus

Magdalena pun menyambung perkataan Petrus,”Kami datang pagi buta ke kuburan untuk mengurapinya jasad Guru. Tapi begitu sampai di sana, kami lihat batu penutup kubur sudah terguling. Dalamnya kosong, hanya ada kain kafan yang sudah terbuka,”

Mendengar perkataan itu, maka aku pun mengambil mantelku, memakai sandalku dan bersiap-siap pergi.Aku minta ijin kepada ibuku dan Tante Maria. Maka Petrus dan aku bergegas ke kubur Guru, sedangkan Maria Magdalena memilih diam di rumahku untuk berbincang bincang dengan ibuku dan Tante Maria.

Kami berlari menuju ke kubur guru, di Taman Yusuf dari Arimatea, tidak jauh dari bukit Golgota. . Petrus lari di depanku, namun secara perlahan tapi pasti aku menyusulnya. Sambil berlari, aku bertanya di dalam hati mengapa jasad Guru hilang. Apakah dicuri oleh prajurit Romawi atau antek antek orang Farisi? Apakah mereka tidak bisa membiarkan Guru beristirahat dengan tenang? Ataukah Guru menghilang karena Dia hidup lagi? Aku ingat kebangkitan Lazarus serta anak perempuan Yairus. Entahlah yang mana yang sebetulnya terjadi. Aku sungguh tidak tahu.


Akhirnya sampailah aku di kubur Guru. Mendadak gemetarlah aku melihat gua kuburan yang terbuka itu . Aku berhenti di depan kubur kosong. Dari luar aku mengintip ke dalam. Terlihat kain kafan pembungkus jasad Guru tergeletak di tanah. Hidungku berusaha mendeteksi apakah ada bau busuk di dalam gue itu. Tidak, tidak kucium setitikpun bau tidak sedap. Aku hanya mencium wangi residu rempah-rempah yang berasal dari kain kafan Guru.

Kembali benakku sibuk memikirkan kemungkinan kemungkinan yang  terjadi. Mengapa pencuri jasad Guru perlu membuka kain kafanNya? Mengapa mau repot repot ? Bagaimanakah mereka membawa jasad Guru jika kafaNnya sudah dibuka. Bukankah itu sangat mengerikan?  Mungkinkah mereka membawa peti  untuk memindahkan jasaNya ? Atau …Apakah Guru bangkit seperti anak Yairus atau Lazarus?

Di tengah kegalauan pikiranku, sampailah Petrus. Ia menyerbu masuk ke dalam gua kuburan Guru.
“Hanya ada kain kafan!” gumam Petrus

 Dengan hati berdebar aku pun masuk. Kuburan itu gelap, namun tidak gulita. Aku mendekati kain kafan yang tergeletak di tanah , yang dinodai oleh bercak bercak darah serta rempah rempah penguburan. Aku terhenyak di tanah dan memegangi kain kafan itu. Beberapa tetes air membasahi kain kafan itu. Air mataku.

“Yohannes, apa yang sebetulnya terjadi ? “ tanya Petrus sambil menghentakkan kakinya. “Kamu kan murid yang dikasihi Guru, apakah pernah Dia memberikan petunjuk mengenai hal ini? “

Petrus terlihat sangat frustasi dengan raut wajah kebingungan.

“Jika Guru bernasib seperti ini, apa jadinya dengan kita nanti ? “gumamnya lagi

Aku letakkan kain kafan itu ke tanah. Namun kemudian mataku tertuju kepada sebuah gulungan kain yang terletak di pojok dinding gua. Kain tersebut juga ternodai dengan darah, namun digulung dengan rapi seperti tabung. Hatiku yang tadinya remuk berkeping keeping , kini tiba tiba seperti menyatu kembali, lalu meloncat loncat karena melihat gulungan kain itu.

“Petrus, Guru sudah bangkit,”

Petrus terbelalak dan mulutnya menganga. Aku tersenyum. Sebagai murid yang dikasihi oleh Guru, aku sungguh dekat dengan Beliau. Terkadang aku menginap di rumah Guru di Galilea. Guru adalah seorang yang rapi dan teratur. Setelah menggunakan kain untuk mengeringkan wajahNya sehabis mencuci muka atau setelah menggunakan serbet untuk mengelap wajahNya dari remah remah makanan, Guru selalu menggulung kain atau serbet itu dengan rapi. Bahkan setelah mencuci kakiku pada saat makan malam terakhir, Beliau tetap menggulung handuk pengeringnya dengan rapi. Aku masih ingat itu… Dan kain ini..pasti digulung oleh Guru. Berarti Ia sudah bangkit. Tidak ada yang mencuri jasadNya. Ia bangkit. Seperti Lazarus saudara Maria dan Martha. Seperti anak perempuan Yairus. Guru bangkit dari kematian.

Petrus masih tercengang dan terbelalak.

“Ayo pulang. Aku ingin sampaikan kabar gembira ini kepada Tante Maria,” kataku.


Maka pulanglah kami meninggalkan kubur yang kosong dan kain yang digulung dengan rapi itu. Aku tersenyum di sepanjang jalan. Bagaimana dengan Petrus ? Ia tetap tercengang. 

Maret 28,2016 oleh Tirsa Tan
gambar diambil dari website http://worshiphousemedia.s3.amazonaws.com/ dan mudpreacher.org