Time spent alone with God each day, coupled with daily meditation on God’s word, will bring me to a closer and intimate experience and rela-tionship with God. I want to live each day walking towards holiness and "…laying aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1 ).

The message is very clear; take time to be holy is to seek God and to know Him personally. It is focusing on God and not I but Christ. This paradigm shift makes the life and death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, a personal reality and will definitely strengthen my faith.

It’s also my prayer to make the love of God real in my life by manifesting God’s love in and through me. Praying that I can live a life of surrender and obedience to Him and in loving relationships with others.

This will be truly a lifetime goal for me! Amen. —Crystal Sim

THANK THE GOOD LORD for enabling me to attend the church camp this year. The messages on "Take Time to be Holy" have helped me and encouraged me to continue to work hard to live a holy life for Him who died for me. Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him as we live...

Not I but Christ, be honoured, loved, exalted,

Not I but Christ, be seen, be known, be heard,

Not I, but Christ, in every look and action,

Not I, but Christ, in every thought and word.

Though it is not easy but I know I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.

—Christina Toh

Life BP Church Camp 2007 is one activity my family especially my wife and I would remember for a long time. Although we had transferred our membership some 8-9 years ago, Iris and I are first timers to Life BP Church Camp. Through this camp we were also given the opportunity to serve our Lord Jesus.

In the past whenever I am approached by any brother or sister in Christ to serve in an area I would find an excuse or some reason(s) to delay or reject the offer. However, this time I have been reminded by the actions of Peter and Matthew who were called by Jesus to follow him. Without hesitation they immediately put down what they were doing and followed him. In an almost similar situation when I was approached to chair for one of the messages during the camp, I took up the ‘challenge’; being a first timer camper and also the first experience to stand in front of over 300 other campers. I have been truly blessed and I am sure my family members feel the same too.

In my personal opinion the whole camp program was well planned and well paced. Within the camp-site I could feel a sense of belonging especially when we were among brethren throughout the 4 days of camp. It is literally a heavenly feeling.

It was indeed God’s hand in action that at the eleventh hour when Pastor David Yan (the original camp speaker) could not make it due to urgent family matters, He brought the Rev Christopher Sidwell as our camp speaker.

This year’s theme for the church camp was "Take time to be Holy". Through the various messages I am reminded about Paul’s writings in 1 Cor 1:2 ‘called to be saints’. He was writing to the living saints (which is us - we are all saints).

Christ alone is our holiness…holiness comes from Christ! 1 Cor 1:30-31

- God’s blessings to us as believers

- Christ is our wisdom, the Eternal Word

- Christ is our Righteousness, Sanctification, Holiness

The other aspect of holiness:

• a judicial act outside the believer
• imputed
• legal position
• rights as children are restored
• removes the guilt of sin
• cancels the penalty of sin
• a single completed act
• no change in character
• equal standing for all believers

Sanctification

• a moral act inside the believer
• imparted
• daily experience (growing)
• renewed in God’s image
• removes the pollution of sin (we are growing)
• defeats the power of sin
• a continuing process
• a gradually changed life
• different stages of progression

Rev Sidwell’s sharing on Family and Personal Worship and 9 points concerning prayer are areas I think will guide me to stay focused and grow spiritually with my family.

In essence I find attending the church camp most beneficial for my family and if it is God’s will I would want to attend all future church camps.

May this church camp be the start of all future church camps for us as a family. —Sonny Loe

For the Love of Christ constraineth us...2 Corinthians 5:14

The recent Church camp has greatly benefited me spiritually. Thank God for bringing my whole family to this edifying camp. As I recalled, this camp is my first over the past few years of procrastination, and I was finally burdened to go, not by chance but by His will. Rom 8:28

The camp theme "Take time to be holy" illuminated the fact that we truly need to make time for God, allocate time to do our Quiet Time, and make time to put God first in our lives through prayer and the reading of God’s Word.

The three things that touched me the most:

a. Brother Rasmalem who is actively doing God’s work in Libo, to win souls for the Lord in remote and isolated corner in Indonesia, and his great burden for lost souls.

b. Rev Charles Seet who gave up his medical profession to yield to the Higher calling.

c. Rev Sidwell who brought God’s Word & Christian love to us from United States. His enthusiasm and love for Christ has truly constrained me and all the messages and practical tools have reminded me that we need to pray unceasingly and indeed take time to be holy.

Thank God for all the hands that have contributed to making this camp a spiritually nourishing and refreshing one. —Kelvin Kew

At the Harris Resort Church camp, I learned many things from Aunty June Lim. I learned how to live for Jesus, love God with our time and how to use our gifts for God. I also learned about William Carey, the father of modern missions. I learned the importance of perseverance and caring for those who are lost.

Our children’s camp theme was "Not I But Christ." The memory verse is from Galatians 2:20.

Besides learning about God’s Word, I enjoyed playing with my friends and getting to know them much better. I look forward to attend the church camp next year. —Lois Quek, 9 yrs old

This year’s church camp was more fruitful compared to last year’s because I made a point to mingle with teens of my age, majority of them were LTFers. I would either be fellowshipping with them with lots of laughter or playing a game of captains ball or frisbee. From the teachings of God’s word through Reverend Sidwell, I learnt that we are accountable to God in whatever we do. think or say. Therefore, we must come to God with clean hands and pure hearts by practising personal holiness, realising that He is a holy, unchangeable and all-knowing God, deserving total reverence from us. All Glory be to God! —Rachel, 14 yrs old

During these four days of church camp, I have learned many things. I learned I must manage my time better, I must do my work first before playing. I also learned about the life of William Carey, a missionary who always finished what he started to do. I also learned to yield not to temptation and the devil. At the camp, I made many new friends, and played new games like pool and billiards. I would like to thank God for our teachers who taught us more of God’s Word. I also want to thank God for keeping most of us safe. I enjoyed the camp very much and look forward to next year’s camp. —Theodore Lee, 9 yrs old

God has really blessed me throughout this year’s church camp.The theme for the P3-6 section was "Not i But CHRIST". All the messages have taught me how to let God sit on the throne of our hearts and to always put Him first in our lives. To me this task is difficult, but William Carey proves that it is not impossible with God’s strength. I also learnt how important it is to love God with our time and how to manage our time in three easy steps. From this camp, I have come closer to God both spiritually and mentally. I hope to use all the things I have learnt to encourage others. —Esther Toh, 12 yrs old

It was with great expectation that I attended the Church Camp with my family (my wife Wendy, and 2 boys, John & Marc). I thank God for granting me leave from work. My heart was filled with joy when I finally stepped on to the ferry that would transport all 300+ of us to four days of spiritual journey, fellowship and feasting.

The efficient camp committee headed by Dn Benny Goh and the 3 campmasters, Mark Chen, Calvin Loh & Keng Khwang, ensured that the entire camp programme went very smoothly without a hitch. We all had our fill of food, friends, sharing, and good rest. Dn Benny Chng and Auntie Doris especially made sure we had sufficient good food. Camp doctors Dr Lai and Patrick Kok were kept rather busy making housecalls to campers who fell ill. Thank God for their labour of love in dispensing healing balm to God’s children. Most importantly, the teaching from God’s word by Rev Christopher Sidwell was most refreshing. I must confess that the theme "Take time to be Holy" was not something I was looking forward to, because I knew deep down in my heart that if God were to judge me now, I would be found wanting in this area. But God knows I need to spend time with Him.

Rev Sidwell’s simple direct style, repeating key points, punctuated with many interesting anecdotes, enraptured us and caught our attention. Even for my boys who have short attention spans, they were able to gain much from the messages. I saw Marc furiously scribbling notes trying hard not to miss any nugget of biblical principle presented in the clear articulated tones of Rev Sidwell. He spoke with much passion and enthusiasm. In his own words, he was "hyper" - his adrenalin flowed when he preached, his passion was contagious. And this was despite the fact that he caught a flu bug and was not in his best physical health.

Though the messages may appear simple, it is often in the applications that we trip up. It is well and good to desire to know the deep things of God, but it is more important to obey God. Deut 29:29 reminds me that secret things belong to God but what God has already clearly revealed are for our obedience, that "we may do all" that He has commanded. I have head knowledge, but I am always found wanting in applying the knowledge to my daily lives. I faced daily struggles in the words of the Apostle Paul "For the good that I would, I do not; but the evil which I would not, that I do" Rom 7:19. Hence, my objective in attending the camp was not to gain knowledge, but to reflect on how and where I can apply what I already knew, and to resolve to follow Christ and His commandments.

Rev Sidwell said of the poor Christians he ministered to in Haiti and Jamaica :‘They were the poorest; yet they were the happiest Christians in the world. Christ is all that they have; and Christ is all that they need.’ We do not need a lot of material things in this world; they do not satisfy. Indeed, as I meditated on this, I realized that Christ is all I need; I cannot bring with me my apartment, my car or my bank account to heaven, But having Christ alone will grant me admittance into the heavenly portals. Who is Christ to me? He is my Good Shepherd who will guide me beside still waters and green pastures, He is Jehovah Jireh who will provide for my needs, He is the way, the truth, and the life. Hence, Christians are of all men most blessed, "Happy is He whose God is the Lord." Ps 144:15. He is my Saviour who satisfies all my soul completely. St. Augustine said we are made for God, and our souls are restless until they find rest in Him. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mk 8:36. How sad indeed that many in this world are searching for happiness in all the wrong places, trying to find peace for their souls in false Gods. We are of all people most blessed, having a constant companion and Friend in our Saviour who comforts and assures us that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 4:15). He is my sufficiency, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." 2 Cor 3:5. With the wonderful promise that "all things work together for good to them who love God", what else do I need in my life as our Heavenly Father who holds tomorrow holds our hands as well. Shall sickness, terminal cancer, accident, tragedies, exam failures, career retrenchments, disappointments affright me? No, I must learn to trust in Him with all my heart, and in all my ways acknowledge Him (that He is in control), and He will surely direct my path (and my thinking and my will to conform to His will.)

Taking time to be holy is a painful exercise, and I am prone to lethargy and inertia. It is not of the natural man who loves comfort to do such things; it can only be the work of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

As a family, we met on one of the nights to share what we’ve learnt. It was heartwarming for both Wendy and myself to see John & Marc growing spiritually, fed by the messages and edifying dorm devotions for teens, and seeing them make a commitment to the Lord to help them to be holy, as He is holy.

In the Christian video screened on the second day of the Camp, Ken Ham emphasized the critical role and responsibilities of Christian parents to pour "salt" (the Word of God) into their children daily to keep them from the corruptions of worldly values bombarding them through internet, TV, movies, newspapers, magazines, their peers, etc. If we do not give them the Word and train them up in the way they should go, they will follow the broad way of the world and their peers. Hence, Rev Sidwell spoke of the need for family worship/devotions as a regular time to consider God’s Word. However, it takes time, planning and effort. Anything really worth doing takes planning and work (just like the organization of the Church Camp; it took up to a year of meticulous planning and a lot of hard work from members of the Camp committee). We spend time organizing barbeques and social events for our friends and family. It dawned on me that if we can spend so much time for temporal things that will soon pass away, why not spend some time to feed our souls for eternity?

I quote the words of R.C. Sproul found in the camp booklet: ‘Here, then, is the real problem of our negligence. We fail in our duty to study God’s Word not so much because it is difficult to understand, not so much because it is dull and boring, but because it is work. Our problem is not a lack of intelligence or a lack of passion. Our problem is that we are lazy."

I was especially convicted of the vital role of fathers. Rev Sidwell said, ‘Father, if there is no love in your home, it’s your fault.’ Because the Bible clearly instructs husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for the Church, and fathers (to love their children) not to provoke them to wrath lest they be discouraged. Husbands often forget to show love to their wives and children. Love is the Key; love never fails. We show love not by buying expensive gifts; we show love towards our wives and children through our prayers for them and sharing with them God’s Word and His love towards us. We show our love by setting a godly example at home, by doing our daily Bible reading, by lovingly helping out at home, by spending time with our wives and children, by lovingly correcting our children when they have erred. By pointing them to their Saviour Jesus Christ, and a sovereign God, we train them to trust and depend on the Saviour as they face the storms of life.

However, after a hard day’s work, many of us plonk ourselves down in front of the TV or PC thus wasting our precious time away in worldly entertainment. Why not set aside Sunday afternoon, or at least once a week, switch off the TV, and have a time of hymn singing, Bible reading, and prayer. I have used Proverbs for family Bible reading, which contains several instructions especially suitable for the family context. Other possible books are gospels and psalms. You can choose to read just a small portion each time, taking turns for responsive reading, and share one lesson from there. Allow your children to share what they have learnt and how they can apply that truth in their daily lives. For young children, we can also use the shorter catechism, colourful illustrated Bible stories, and Bible memory verses. Rev Sidwell testified that most of the scriptures he memorized in childhood have stayed with him, while those he memorized later were usually forgotten.

No camp is complete without testimonies. Darren’s sharing of the accident sustained by his mother, sister Foo Aileen, got us immediately praying for her safety and speedy recovery. We were like a family caring for one another’s health (physical and spiritual). When one member of the family suffers, all of us suffer as well. Many shared of how they had been blessed by the fellowship and messages. I was reminded by Rev Sidwell to thank God for our pastors and full-time workers who labour tirelessly for our profit week after week, year after year. He shared that many American Churches are without full-time pastors because few are willing to give up comfortable jobs to serve God full-time. I thanked God for Pastors Charles and Colin, as well as brothers Mark Chen, Calvin Loh, Keng Khwang, sisters Bee Choo and Hannah.

As I flipped through my notes, I found several unforgettable one-liners from Rev Sidwell:

On prayer, he encouraged us to make a list of members in Life Church whom we know, and systematically praying for them and their needs. And praying for the lost among our friends and family members. Not forgetting missionaries serving in foreign fields who need our prayer support. Another blessing from our Batam Camp is having sister Roska, brother Rasmalem and their Indonesian co-workers share with us their mission work in Indonesia. Roska and her daughter also sang a beautiful moving hymn ‘O come back to the Lord.’ May a backslider in our midst heed this call from our Saviour: no matter how heavy and how great your sins may be, He anxiously awaits your return with His arms opened wide.

Church Camp is a time of spiritual communion with the Lord, a time of refreshing fellowship with fellow saints, and a time to re-consecrate ourselves for the Lord’s service. It was the same in Batam, and God-willing I look forward to the cool hills in Awana next year. Until then, I pray that all of us may grow in holiness conformed to the image of Christ, and apply what we’ve learnt in our daily lives.

—hock chin

Wednesday Night Bible Class

If these questions stumped you, sign up for the Bible Geography class and take an exciting journey back in time through the various places and events of the Bible! Through colorful Bible maps which show the development of the Holy Land you will learn what was happening in ancient Palestine, Egypt, and Mesopotamia and why. These are the lands of the Bible. It is here that earth’s most important events have taken place and WILL TAKE PLACE! Study Bible Geography. You will read the Bible narratives with clearer understanding.