Last Sat, as a mini-break from studying, I went to a Christian concert with some friends. This is the latest album by Sons of Korah. They are an Australian Christian band (like Revive) who put the Bible (mainly Psalms) to contemporary music. Their music is very cool and they've got a good range of styles (ballads, rock, celtic, etc). I especially liked the song they wrote to Psalm 147a, which was in a Latin American style. It won't be available commerically until their next album is released. I hope it's soon. :)

I'm preaching on Psalms next year, so I'll probably play some of the their songs in English Service. I think it's a great way to mediate on God's Word, and it helps in memorising it too!

Give thanks for the ministry of Sons of Korah and for renewing my enjoyment of the Bible. Pray that they may continue to serve God through music and songs.

Finished my last exam yesterday. Overall I think I did ok. Friday's exam on Wisdom Literature (Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs) was probably the worst, but hopefully I'll pass.

Thanks to all of you who prayed for me and spoke words of encouragement.

Over the holidays I'll be housesitting for Phil & Fiona. For those not at ND, Fiona is our Children's Worker. Phil is her husband, who is also studying at SMBC with me. They'll be going away for 2 months to visit friends and relatives in the UK.

I still don't have much planned yet for the holidays. I have work to do, like sermons, KYLC prep, and a little bit of Greek translation. I'll probably catch up with a bunch of friends. Oh, and I'm long overdue for another newsletter. So that should be coming in the next few weeks.

Give thanks for the chance to relax and enjoy the company of friends. Thank God also for the provision of a house to stay in. And pray that I'll be productive (even if it's only a little bit) in the holidays.

The Deb Fung Concert last night went well. Nice singing and testimony from Deb. A good turn out, with many of the non-Christians from last week coming back. I think some of them are coming to church this Sun and next Fri. Photos can be found here.

Pray that the newcomers will be interested in studying the Bible and asking questions that will help them to come to know the Lord Jesus. Pray also that we can be welcoming to them and help them to settle in.

As you can see from the "Coming Up" section on the right, I have an OT essay due - YESTERDAY! And I haven't STARTED yet! But I did manage to get an extension cuz I was sick. Though that does push my schedule back for all my other essays (which are all quite hard).

I have Research Week starting Monday, which means no lectures, and instead we're meant to do research for our assignments. Usually, I sleep in a lot and find various ways to procrastinate. But I can't afford to do that next week. Must catch up!

Pray for discipline and concentration as I study God's Word.

Tonight ND is having a pre-evangelistic sports night @ Thornleigh. Normally there's a group that goes there every Sunday night for basketball, badminton and table tennis (I've been going along recently). But tonight we have volleyball!! Yay! It's one of my favourite sports, mainly cuz it's one of the few that I actually know how to play.

Pray that non-Christians will see this as a non threatening event that they can come along to, and to meet Christians who are just as "normal".

I really should blog about these things earlier so people can pray about it. D'oh!

I'm feeling a bit better today. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for me. I finally got out of my room and started attending lectures. I'm not all better yet, but it's getting there. Still need help with my voice.

In other news, ND is having a Deb Fung Concert tonight. I should've posted about this earlier so people can be praying about it. It's the 2nd of our 180° evangelistic events. Deb will be presenting her testimony in between each song.

Please pray for the non-Christians who will be coming. We had a good turn out last week, and hope it'll be even better this week. Pray for Deb as she sings of God's grace in her life.

The leaders have all been working very hard the last few weeks. Still recovering from RICE, everyone's been putting in 110% getting these 2 events together.

Pray that God will sustain us with energy and joy as we serve him. Pray for the various parts we have to play tonight (videos, testimonies, lighting, etc) will help the spread of the gospel somehow. And pray that the leaders will be able to find balance and rest after this Friday.

It's great singing Christmas carols - well, the Christian ones anyways. The others are just kids songs at best and blasphemy at worst.

But I wonder why we don't sing Christmas carols throughout the year as well. The lyrics of most of them are applicable all year around. For example, imagine singing these on a "normal" Sunday:

Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing.

[...or]

Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcile.

[...or]

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray;

[...or]

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
Oh come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him, born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

[...or]

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, Love's pure light
radiant beams from Thy Holy face,
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Certainly none of these lyrics would seem astray from what we often sing, and perhaps even better. They are so full of the gospel!! If you are reading this, let me encourage you to ask the musos to sing them at church in a month's time.

Anyways, Christmas has gone for another year, and the New Year is just around the corner. But we shall continue to celebrate the birth of our King all year around.