Vatican Says "Yahweh" Not to Be Pronounced

On August 8, 2008, Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli of Paterson, N.J., chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Divine Worship, announced a new Vatican directive regarding the use of the name of God in the sacred liturgy.

Specifically, the word 'Yahweh" may no longer be "used or pronounced" in songs and prayers during liturgical celebrations. This directive affects a few songs such as "Yahweh I know you are near". So the song will need to be modified.

The June 29 Vatican message, from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, clarified that the name of God revealed in YHWH was not pronounced by the first Christians, following the tradition already in use.

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Article from Zenit.org

Article from CatholicCulture.org

You Have an Anointing

You Have an Anointing
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
09-28-2008

"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him" (1 John 2:27).

Do you know your anointing? An anointing is a gift that functions easily when it is operating in you to benefit others and the Kingdom of God. If one has to "work it up" one has probably gone outside one's anointing.

One area that I have a God-given anointing is in networking. I have never sought to develop such an anointing. But I know a LOT of people. Despite being an introvert by nature, God has connected me with people all around the world. Many times people call me about something and my natural response is, "Oh, you need to contact so and so. He can help you with that." A mentor once said to me, "Your inheritance is in relationships." What he was saying is that my anointing is in relationships and networking.

My wife has an anointing in the area of disarming people. She can be someone's best friend in five minutes. She disarms people faster than anyone I know. There is no way you can be a shy person around my wife. I have seen people open up to Angie where they would not open up to anyone else. It is her anointing.

Where do you move naturally in your life? What do you do that you don't have to work at it? Chances are that is your anointing. God wants you to walk in the anointing he has given to you.

WEBSITE Updated

Hi all, we have a new look for the website. Check it out now!

http://www.youthariseministry.com

The Prayer Garden

Have you seen this flash? It's fun. Click and get to the 7 stones and you'll find that it relates to our session last week on Daring to Dream And Love. You'll see why.

Enjoy:
http://www.prayerforthenations.com/prayergarden/flash.htm

Malacca Reflections

Malacca Reflections -- 13 - 14 September 2008

This was one cool weekend at Malacca. All too short, the weekend started early on Saturday. Roy, David, Shane, Vanessa and myself were the 5 members of the OLPS Youth attending this annual pilgrimage that I once attended long ago when I was still in Primary school.

It was a sleepy morning for some of us, having slept for only 1-2 hours the night before. We are busy people. Yes. So this was our much needed break.

Anyway, first new discovery which may not be so new to some -- I found out that Roy’s dad was the one organising the trip, as he is in the tour business. So now I know.

What proceeded was a long bus-ride but a good time to sleep. We alighted for our first stop – Lunch. That was not too great, since I had a stomachache. We then proceeded to Malim Hill to see the Church of Santa Cruz. Since it would be crowded the next day, we came earlier on a Saturday to view the relic of the Holy Cross, for it is because of this relic that there were visions and prayers dedicated on this hill.


Finally, it was shopping – Singaporeans’ favourite activity – at the Mahkota Parade. However, walking around Mahkota Parade was simple, and we weren’t too excited. Roy disappeared with his Mum (more likely, we went off on our own!). In the end, not surprisingly, we got bored after finishing just one round.

So as we were sitting down for a rest and wondering what to do with the rest of the time we had spare, the big idea struck. Vanessa suggested going out to see the buildings around and before we knew it, we had discovered ourselves walking up some steep red steps to the St. Paul’s hill, where the old St. Paul’s Church stood.


And boy, it was a beautiful sight. We were ecstatic, as if we chanced upon some wonderful treasure.

We also discovered one thing in common – our love for photography. Clicking away, it was photos galore. Vanessa was trying to capture the sunset using lens flare, while Sam and Shane clicked away furiously too, trying to get that best angle and that most arty shot.

David of course, whipped out his sketch book and began sketching away, lamenting that he did not bring his graphic pencils and sketch book.

But not only David, “if only we came here earlier!” we thought.

So after the wonderful “hilltop” experience, it was time for dinner and we were treated to a really great Peranakan meal, as Shane says, one of the best dinner he’s had in weeks!


Dinner was then followed by relaxing and chill out at our 5-star Renaissance Hotel. But at the end, we did not want to let the night end just like that. So we took off to walk around the streets, maybe we could visit the Euro Fun Park that we saw along the way. So we walked and caught some more wonderful sights of a mini ferris wheel and blue lights all around. Yes! Another photo galore.


But this wasn’t the actual fun park that we thought we were heading to. It was actually further than walking distance… so not giving up, we managed to get there with cabs. Well the Euro Fun Park was really interesting. Cool rides. We did bumper cars, and then the Ferris wheel that never ended. We figured that it was coz each of us paid 6 ringgit for the ride, and times 5 people, you kinda get a lot out of it. Maybe they wanted to make us really happy by giving us so many rounds. But after more than 6 rounds, we were wondering when are we going to get off! Haha.. it was really funny...


Next, Roy and I wanted some more adrenaline rush and decided on the next ride. But the rest bailed out. It was really good. You feel like flying… and I got really dizzy after that but it was good! It’s the same like getting “high” you get it?

Finally, at around 1am, everything was closing… so we headed back to the hotel for more emo talk and mooncake & a bit of beer (hey we're all old now...haha). It was fun. Sharing, talking about your life kinda thing. And all this happened on just 1 Saturday.

Before I end the story, I must not forget to talk about the ACTUAL day itself right? The mass at the Santa Cruz Church, which was on Sunday. Yup, it was a good sunny day, rather humid as we stood in the outdoors for the mass. We saw Fr. Francis Leong as a co-celebrant and I can’t remember the others there.


But I really liked the message from the Homily. It went something like how Christ chose to die on the cross, so that we can live. It was not a new message but somehow, the truth of the message hit me this time.

This is the Prayer before the Cross:

O Glorious Cross!

We come, as pilgrims, to this holy place

knowing how fragile we can be

in front of the many crosses of our life

Enable us to accept the Cross of LIFE

so that we can move beyond our differences

to discover the joy of bonding and belonging in our family

May the CROSS bind us closer to the One crucified

so that venerating IT & drawing inspiration
from the ONE who hangs on IT,
we may be set free to love and behold

to seek to understand and accept

His Word, His sufferings and His Resurrection

Thus, we shall rise to greater closeness to our loved ones
and to proclaim the power of this victorious Cross that we touch

May you, dear crucified Jesus remain with us
in our daily walk towards the Cross

AMEN

I realised that it’s not whether I want to choose Christ or not… it’s basically that I have that freedom of choice BECAUSE of His death. Without Christ, without the cross, I will not have that choice, to even be able to choose. But that death on the cross was like a grace for me, for mankind – to be able to choose God, choose life in heaven.

So.. I went away feeling like a bomb hit me. It was nice. Ironically. The kind of feeling you must get in order to choose to turn away from sin and the Old Self and choose God’s ways above all.


The rest of the day was travelling back and mostly sleeping. But I was filled with joy and peace and a simple faith that God is in control.

I thank God for the opportunity to visit Malacca once again… and I think I haven’t got enough of it yet!

Next year again yes?!

Is God really doin something for me?

Yet another quote from Os Hillman:

"If you find yourself in a lowly state, realize your lowly state is considered a high position by God that is preparation soil for revealing deep things from the dark places that God desires you to learn."

This is comforting. Sometimes I wonder whether i'm on the right track, making the right decisions or not, or whether I'm taking life too easy, being too unambitious... being too unfocused. When people are getting promotions, I am here once again, ground zero. (or so it seems).

But the quote comforts me. I can rest in God's hands. God is not simply a notion for the weak people on this earth. God is a fact. He exists, and He is there for us.

In my strength I praise Him, in my weaknesses, I can also lean on Him. HE is there for us at ALL seasons of our lives.

Despite everything that tells me not to believe in him, that is simply lies of the devil. I cannot shirk off the fact, deep down in my heart, that God is real and He will bless my path, if I let Go and Let Him!