Easter Story

General Introduction Easter is the celebration of Jesus' victory over death
and mankind's hope for eternal life.

The highlights of the Easter story include Jesus' execution (or crucifixion on the cross),
His burial and, most importantly, His rising from death (or resurrection).
The accounts of Jesus' trial and execution are described in detail in the historical records
of Jesus (Gospels).
Essentially, he was condemned by religious leaders objecting to Jesus' claim to be their "Messiah", and then sentenced to death by authorities of the Roman government.
Jesus was brutally tortured to death by nailing his hands and feet to an upright post
in the shape of a cross.
The account of Jesus' rising from death was also recorded in the historical records of Jesus (Gospels):
Three days after His death, a few women first found His tomb empty.
Then Jesus appeared in front of these women and His disciples,
talking and eating with them.
Out of doubts still, one disciple did not believe Jesus was alive again until
he actually touched Jesus' fatal wounds.
In the following forty days, hundreds of people witnessed this Jesus who had returned
from death until He ascended to Heaven.
Before His death, Jesus had promised eternal life to those who followed Him.
If the story ended at His death, Jesus would have been no more than a religious figure
with a finite life span.
But the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated
He has the power over death, and only through Him
can people have hope for eternal life.
Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Easter is at the end of the Lenten season, which covers a forty-six-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter.

The Lenten season itself comprises forty days, as the six Sundays in Lent

are not actually a part of Lent.

Sundays are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday

and have always been excluded from the Lenten fast.

The Lenten season is a period of penitence

in preparation for the highest festival of the church year, Easter.
Holy Week, the last week of Lent,

begins with the observance of Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday takes its name from Jesus' triumphal entry

into Jerusalem where the crowds laid palms at his feet.

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper,

which was held the evening before the Crucifixion.

Friday in Holy Week is the anniversary of the Crufixion,

the day that Christ was crucified and died on the cross.
Holy week and the Lenten season end with Easter Sunday,

the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI (left) waves as he boards an Alitalia aircraft at Rome's Fiumicino Airport.

Pope Benedict XVI left Rome for Cameroon, the first leg of a week-long trip to Africa that will also take the octogenarian pontiff to Angola.

HE ARRIVED THIS MORNING,

WE HAD PRAYER;

SPENT SOME TIME JUST TALKING,

AND HE HELD ME FOR AWHILE

BECAUSE I WAS HAVING A BAD MORNING..

HE MADE MY DAY BEAUTIFUL WITH HIS BLESSING!

THEN, HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO YOUR PLACE.

When He gets to your PC,

escort Him to the next stop.

Please don't allow Him to sleep on your PC..

The message He is carrying is very important

and needs to go round.

May God bless you as you do this- AMEN.

Walking for Jesus!

Say a prayer, and then pass Him on to bless others.

Our assignment is to love

and spread the gospel throughout the world.

Have a blessed day and touch somebody's life today!

I just did. He's walking around the world - via my blog!!

Pass it on! So He can get there.

Words from someone wise

When God leads you to the edge of the cliff,

trust Him fully and let go,

only 1 of 2 things will happen,

either He'll catch you when you fall,

or He'll teach you how to fly!

*****

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God closes doors no man can open

& God opens doors no man can close

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'To get something you never had,

you have to do something you never did'

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When God takes something from your grasp,

He's not punishing you,

but merely opening your hands to receive something better..

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The will of God will never take you

where the Grace of God will not protect you.

Deposit in your Bank Account

Click on the picture below to enlarge.

Ash Wednesday - Lenten Journey

Biblical Reflection for Ash WednesdayBy Father Thomas Rosica, CSBTORONTO,
FEB. 22, 2009 (Zenit.org).-

On AshWednesday, Feb. 25,
the Church begins her great Lenten journey
with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem.

For centuries, Lent has been a very intense spiritual journey
and experience for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Why are there 40 days in Lent?

It took 40 days for sinfulness to drown in the flood
before a new creation could inherit the earth.

It took 40years for the generation of slaves
to die before the freeborn could enter thePromised Land.

For 40 days Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted
and prayed toprepare themselves for a life's work.

Lent invites us to turn from our own selves,
from our sin, to cometogetherin community.

Self-denial is the way we express our repentance.
Self-denialis threefold, advises Matthew's Gospel.

We pray: "Go to your room, close your door,
and pray to your Father in private.

"We fast: "No one must see you are fasting but your Father.

"We give alms: "Keep your deeds of mercy secret,
and your Father who seesinsecret will repay you.

"Through the Lenten exercise of prayer, fasting
and almsgiving, wespring-clean our lives,
sharpen our senses, put tomorrow in its place
and treasure the day at hand.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
I never noticed this... .
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin,
which was placed over the face of Jesus,
was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded,
and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found
that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple,
the one whom Jesus loved.
She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb,
and I don't know where they have put him!'
Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see..
The other disciple outran Peter and got there first.
He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there,
but he didn't go in.
Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside.
He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there,
while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head
was folded up and lying to the side.
Was that important? Absolutely!
Is it really significant? Yes!
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin,
you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.
The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant,
and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.
When the servant set the dinner table for the master,
he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.
The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait,
just out of sight, until the master had finished eating,
and the servant would not dare touch that table,
until the master was finished.
Now if the master were done eating,
he would rise from the table,
wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard,
and would wad up that napkin
and toss it onto the table.
The servant would then know to clear the table.
For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.
But if the master got up from the table,
and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate,
the servant would not dare touch the table, because..... .....
The folded napkin meant,
'I'm coming back!'He is Coming Back!! Be Blessed!

Canteen and fellowship day - 15th Feb 09

SCC 600 LoHei n Karaoke Nite

SCC 600 Monthly Meeting

All are welcome for the above meeting.

Date: 13 Feb 2009
Time: 8.15pm
Place: William & Betty - 49 Yio Chu Kang Garden

Pls bring along your bible.
Thank you and God Bless.

Jesus is Better than Santa
Santa lives at the North Pole.
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited
JESUS stands at your door and knocks..

and then enters your heart.
You have to stand in line to see Santa
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.
Santa doesn't know your name,

All he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did.

Not only does He know our name,

He knows our address too.

He knows our history and future and

He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly
JESUS has a heart full of love.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO
JESUS offers health, help and hope.
Santa says "You better not cry"
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.
Santa's little helpers make toys
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts,

repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
May the Lord Bless and Watch over you

and your loved ones this Christmas 2008
And may He prosper and

bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

Lots of love…

These are nice Christian Cartoons, enjoy and be blessed today!

Concentrate on this Sentence

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did..' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this Sentence

'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

A little something to put things in perspective. ..

After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park , forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage.
One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.
Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he gently struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings.
The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise.
She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. Then the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, the mother had remained steadfast ...because she had been willing to die, so those under the cover of her wings would live.
'He will cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you will find refuge.' (Psalm 91:4) Being loved this much should make a difference in your life. Remember the One who loves you, and then be different because of it.
Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have. You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend...lose one.