Uth Chronicle 2009-II

Issue II 2009
Apr - Jun
Uth Team
Advisor Bro. Henry Chua

Editor Phoebe Choo
Deputy Editor Brian Lim
Secretary Jonathan Tay
Layout Designer Yeda Ko
Deputy Editor’s
Deputy Designer Foo Yong Hwee
Special Ops Grace Auyong
Note
Heylo dear reader. =)
Welcome to the second issue of Uth Chronicle for 2009. As you may have noticed, this issue is arguably the
most jam-packed issue we’ve had yet! Hopefully, you will find much inside for your blessing and edification.
A quarter of the year is already gone and by the time this issue has run its course, it will be some time in June
(though hopefully it won’t take you that long to read everything!). Have the past three months found you closer
to God through the study of His Word? Will the next three months to come find us faithfully reading His Word
everday? It is often all too easy to push aside the Bible in the face of the cares and temptations that we face eve-
ryday – work, studies and play seem to take up all of our time. It ought to be our prayer, then, to be more like
Paul and to “count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8).
The theme of “Secrets” has carried over from the YF March Retreat, but we promise that we aren’t as secretive in
this issue. =P One of the lengthier reads inside is a very interesting look at Freemasonry – which is a secret soci-
ety for men only – contributed by Rev. Errol D. Stone, from Faith Presbyterian Church in Perth.
Also in line with the theme is an article on the Secrets of Sinning, not to educate us on how to sin (sadly, we al-
ready know that all too well) but on the nature of it, and things that we should take note of in order to triumph
over it.
On a lighter note, Isabella’s mummy and daddy have also penned down some secrets that they’re willing to share
with us! But make sure you don’t let Isabella know about it just yet…
Our Retrospect section has also received a wealth of wisdom with regards to dealing with temptation, and how
to mortify the flesh. Do take the time to read and digest it – there are practical tips for all of us, and it definitely
helps to learn from the experience of our elders in the faith.
On a parting note, remember that the battles we fight are not waged against flesh and blood. As such, our weap-
ons cannot be found in flesh and blood – our own strength cannot give us victory. The secret, then, to winning is
to lean on Christ and to commit everything to Him in prayer, for we know that the “effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b).
God bless your reading! =)
-Brian
P.S. When you finish reading, don’t waste this copy! Pass it on to someone else – your parents, YFers from other
churches, or even your friends in school or work. If you can share it, why not? :)
2
Cover page: http://www.icanhascheezburger.com.
An Insight Into Freemasonry
Above: Freemason Initiation, 18th century. Picture: Wikipedia.
by Rev. Errol D. Stone
2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unright-
eousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or
what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be
their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Freemasonry is considered most of the American Presidents and well known

as a Secret Society for men names in so-called Christian circles such as Nor-
only. Men join Freemasonry man Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller and Billy Gra-
for various reasons, some ham. The membership of some Lodges is noted as
because they are either being for Judges, Lawyers and the Legal fraternity,
world leaders, national, Law Enforcement, Military etc.
state, local leaders or busi-
nessmen with a good reputa- This article is not denying the good works of Free-
tion. Some also join Free- masonry, and it is certainly not aimed at individual
masonry because of the personalities with any malice, as there are many
status of joining an exclusive club, some because dignified men, who have joined for unselfish rea-
of the intrigue of being involved in a Secret Society sons. This paper addresses some of the issues of
to find out the secrets. Others may join purely for Freemasonry with the Word of God and discusses
personal gain and business advantage of such a from God’s Word the question, “Can a Christian be
privileged network. a Freemason?”
Freemasons are proud of the calibre of Famous
Masons and often have their lists posted on the Freemasonry is a system that has drawn much
Internet, which have included names of Royalty, controversy regarding blood oaths, which are said
An Insight Into Freemasonry 3

with the hand upon the Bible and exclaiming “So help me God.” Contention has always been whether
Freemasonry is a religion, or is religious in nature, whether it is a Secret Society or a Society with Secrets.
Conversely whether it is a Cult, or has cultish practices, whether it is Occult, or implements occult practices.
Dealing with such issues is not a battle against flesh and blood, “…but against principalities, against pow-
ers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” (Eph.
6:12). Speaking of the full armour of God against our adversary (Eph. 6:10-17), Willmington said, “These
include the confidence of our right standing before God (“righteousness,” “salvation”), as well as the truth of
God’s Word. Whatever specific roles the “evil rulers” or “powers of darkness” play in his army, Satan is
powerful and resourceful (6:11–12). The believer is never told to attack the Devil, but the believer is told to
withstand and resist him (6:11, 13–14; see 1 Pet. 5:8–9): When tempted to do wrong, we should flee as
Joseph did (see Gen. 39:7–23). But when attacked by Satan for doing right, we should stand firm as Dan-
iel’s friends did (see Dan. 3:1–25).”
Characteristics of Freemasonry
Freemasonry is described as a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory, and illustrated by symbols and
claims to be based on the principles of, “Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.”(Masonic Ritual-Perth, hereafter
referred to as the Masonic Ritual). The genesis of the “Freemasonry” which is also known as, “Masonry,”
the “Craft,” the “Brotherhood,” or the “Lodge,” has caused much disagreement in the past.
Freemasonry is characterized by good and charitable works, including to its widows and orphans, who are
pledged support. Establishing Aged homes, lists also amongst their activities, as well as community service
and citizenship awards for the youth etc.
Into its fold it claims to admit, “Just, upright and free men, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals,”
(Masonic Ritual). Freemasonry is often accused of being exclusive, racist, and avoids the handicapped,
both physically and intellectually, but in recent years some of these things have changed.
Freemasonry knowingly excludes the family, as women and children are not welcome. This article deals
with Lodges for men, but there are Lodges exclusively for women with a commonly known one being the
“Order of the Eastern Star.”
Although the “Blue Lodge,” has 3 degrees, there are many forms of Freemasonry that have no connection
or authority over this Lodge. Each State or each Country may have a varied form of constitution, although
each is considered as lawfully constituted. Freemasonry’s many varied forms are not necessarily related
including groups such as the York Rite, Scottish Rite, Illuminati, Knights of Malta, Bilderbergers, Klu Klux
Klan, Skull and Bones, Rosicrucian Order, Druid Order, Shriners, etc. etc.
A well known and respected Masonic writer said that Masonry deliberately deceives its members in the
lower degrees (Albert Pike). It must also be acknowledged that semantics and the issue of symbolism
makes Freemasonry illusive, and that not all Masons who speak on behalf of the Craft, have the authority or
knowledge of it to do so.
“The object of Freemasonry is a search for the truth. This truth is pursued from the first step of initiation, as
the Entered Apprentice begins seeking for the light which is symbolized by a WORD, itself only a symbol of
Truth. As a Fellow-Craft he continues the search, still asking for more light. And the Master Mason, thinking
that he has reached it, obtains only its substitute; for the True Word, Divine Truth, dwells not in the first tem-
ple of our earthly life, but can be found only in the second temple of eternal life,” (Albert Mackey).
In subsequent degrees, the missing Word that is being searched for is said to be found. It is said to be the
True name of God, expressed in different ways by different cultures.
The History of Freemasonry

As with all conspiracy theories, there are many theories propounded regarding the genesis of Freemasonry
from its self-proclaimed authorities. Further confusion is added from those who have sought to discredit the
Craft. The history of Freemasonry has more differences of opinion than any other issue and Mackey has

listed 12 views of the origin. All of the suggested have had their zealous contenders, but there are many
cases of fraudulent documents and deliberate deceit.
Freemasonry also records in its authoritative source to have originated through Moses “who was learned in
all wisdom of the Egyptians” including their ancient mysteries, deriving its origin directly from those “myster-
ies of ancient Egypt.” (Masonic Ritual). Freemasonry itself claims to be, “Ancient no doubt having subsisted
from time immemorial” (Masonic Ritual).
The Rejection of a Christian Origin: “Freemasonry, which is a society for men only, and is said by many
to have had its origin in 1717,” in London (Dale Byers). Freemasonry was operative during the times of the
building of Temples and Cathedrals, when they had their guilds and special classes of skilled labour. Build-
ings such as the Temple of King Solomon are noted as being significant in the history of Freemasonry.
As the decline of such buildings occurred, so the operative tradesman declined in number. To maintain an
exclusive society the operative became symbolic, of which Freemasonry is today. Masonry is divided into
two branches, an operative art and a speculative science. The operative art was practiced by the Stone-
Masons of the Middle Ages. The speculative science is that which is practiced by Freemasons of the pre-
sent day. It is sometimes defined as a speculative science founded on an operative art (Mackey).
Is Freemasonry A Religion?
Many say that Freemasonry is a religion, possibly because Masons sing Hymns or Odes. They use the King
James Bible, known as the Volume of the Sacred Law (VSL), which is open upon the altar whilst the Lodge
is in progress. “Lodges are called Temples and they stand on holy ground,” (Masonic Ritual). In the Temple,
a Chaplain offers prayers during the ceremonies and during the openings and closing of degrees. “Some
Lodges in certain parts of the world, have their own funeral services,” (Steven Tsoukalas).
The Masonic Ritual says, “Our Lodges stand on Holy ground because the first Lodge of Jerusalem was
held upon a plot of land which was rendered holy.” It continues, “Firstly: Abraham’s compliance to God to
sacrifice Isaac, when it pleased the Almighty to accept an inferior offering instead (cf. Gen. 21:1-14). Sec-
ondly: as pious prayers and sacrifices by King David which appeased the wrath of God...and numbered his
men, suffering a pestilence (cf. 2 Sam. 24:15). Thirdly: The many thanksgivings, oblations, burnt sacrifices,
and costly sacrifices by Solomon, King of Israel made at the completion of the Temple at Jerusalem for
God’s service (1 Kings 8:63)”
Belief in God: Mackey says the letters G.O.D. represent the Hebrew words of D-Wisdom O-Strength, and
G – Beauty…Thus the initials conceal the true meaning. They seem to present almost the only reason that
can reconcile a Mason to the use of the initial “G” (Tsoukalas). But to become a Freemason, a man must
believe in a Supreme being, in whatever form he has his belief. Pike said that, “although the remains of Isis
and Osiris might be entombed…their divinity was impeached.”
The Holy Bible: To the Freemason, the Bible is known and referred to as the Volume of the Sacred Law. It
is described in the Masonic Ritual as, “The greatest of the three great lights in Freemasonry; by its teaching
we are instructed to rule and guide our faith and actions. Without it the L. (Lodge) is not just and without an
openly avowed belief in its divine author, no Can. (Candidate) can be lawfully initiated into our Order” In
contrast Albert Pike, who is often described as the greatest Mason who ever lived, shows his contempt to-
wards Christianity, and the Bible and said, “There is no book of which so little is known as the Bible. To most
who read it, it is as incomprehensible as the Sohar.” It is said that during the dark periods in his life he medi-
tated on the Hindu Vedas, and changed the course of American Scottish Freemasonry (Morey).
The Bible is open upon the altar whilst the Lodge is open. To close the Bible, would be to intercept the rays
of Divine light which emanate from it, and hence it is spread open, to indicate that the Lodge is not in dark-
ness, but under the influence of its illuminating power.
In the 1st degree ceremony, the (VSL) is open to (Psalm 133) an eloquent description of brotherly love. In
the 2nd degree the (VSL) is open to (Amos 7:7-8) which is an allusion to the plumbline, an important em-
blem in that degree. In the 3rd degree the (VSL) is open to (Eccl. 12:1-7) the description of old age and
death, which is appropriately applied to the sacred object of this degree (Mackey).

A Multiplicity of Bible Versions: Mackey said that the Bible is used among Masons as a symbol of the will
of God, however it may be expressed. Therefore, whatever to any person expresses that will may be used
as a substitute for the Bible in a Masonic Lodge (Mackey). The members of Lodge Singapore, No. 7178
(1964) had six Volumes of the Scared Law upon its altar, which included: The Bhagavad (Hindu), the Bible
(Christian), the Bible OT portions (Jewish), Dhammapada (Budhist), the Khordeh Avesta (Zoroastrian), the
Koran (Muslim), and the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh) (Lim Kuang Hui).
A Chaplain in the Lodge: At the Installation of Officers, which occurs at a predetermined time annually, the
newly initiated, or in some cases the reinvested Worshipful Master, installs his new team of Office Bearers.
On this occasion the investiture of the Chaplain of the Lodge occurs, but there are always anomalies with
regards to Masons in this position. Some may perform the duty for several years, and if a Lodge has a
Chaplain who is absent, for either a short or long period, the Worshipful Master will recite the prayers. The
Worshipful Master is the person who has attained the Chair of King Solomon and Mackey says in general in
the United States the position of Chaplain is conferred upon the Worshipful Master.
The conclusion of the Charge given to the Chaplain at the investiture of officers from the Masonic ritual is as
follows: “Your place in the L. (Lodge) is on the right of the W.M. (Worshipful Master) and your duty is to offer
up prayers to the G.A.O.T.U (Great Architect Of The Universe) and to invoke His aid on all our undertak-
ings.”
Worship in the Temple: Worship is conducted in the Lodge (Temple), as an ODE is sung, when the Lodge
is opened in the third degree as follows: “God bless our noble Craft, shield and protect us, Teach us fer-
vently to worship Thee. In Thine Omnipotence guide and direct us, God bless the Craft. So mote it be.”
Singing Odes or Hymns: Odes or Hymns, are played in the Lodge with the recessional Hymn sung as the
Lodge is closed, titled “ABIDE WITH ME.” The difference at the conclusion is the “Amen,” is not sung but is
replaced with “So mote it be,” which is also used by witches to close a spell or incantation.
Members say it is a Religion: Dr. Albert Mackey, who is often considered one of the highest and best
authorities said that, ‘Masonry is pure theism…” and that “The tendency of all true Masonry is toward relig-
ion.”
J.S.M. Ward a well known Freemason said, “I consider Freemasonry is a sufficiently organized school of
mysticism to be entitled to be called a religion.” He continued “Freemasonry…taught that each man can, by
himself, work out his own conception of God, and thereby achieve salvation.” The Word of God clearly re-
futes this point (Eph. 2:8, 9).
Freemasonry holds that there be many paths that lead to the throne of the all-loving Father which all start
from a common source. Ward believes “that though these paths appear to branch off in various directions,
yet they all reach the same ultimate goal, and that to some men, one path is better to others another.” Frank
Higgins wrote, “It is true that Freemasonry is the parent of all religion.” Mackey says that some of the more
“timid brethren” have been afraid to declare its religious character lest opponents of Masonry should use
this fact against the Lodge.
Is Freemasonry A Cult?
Freemasonry is often accused of being a cult, or some would say having cultish practices. The Chambers
Dictionary describes a cult as being, “a system of religious belief; a sect; an unorthodox or false religion; a
great often excessive, admiration for a person or idea; the person or idea giving rise to such admiration.”
Gordon Lewis describes the term cult as a religious group which claims authorization by Christ and the Bi-
ble but neglects or distorts the gospel, the central message of the Savior and the Scripture. It must be noted
that Freemasonry does not recognize Jesus Christ, or use the name of Jesus Christ, as it is offensive to
many. The second part of the statement is violated as Masonry neglects and distorts the gospel message.
Identifying a Cult: The following is a 7 point list of theological issues, which assist in identifying a cult:
1. Do you base your teachings on revelations or sacred writings other than the Bible?
2. Is your primary task preaching the gospel?

3. Do you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one of God who has
come in the flesh (I John 4:1-3)?
4. Do you believe that Christ’s shed blood is the only basis for the forgiveness of your sins?
5. Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead?
6. Are you personally trusting Jesus Christ as your own redeemer and Lord?
7. Do you depend upon some achievements of your own for your salvation, or is your trust exclusively in
Christ?
Examining Features of a Cult: Walter Martin said that most if not all cult systems vigorously oppose the
Christian Church, particularly in the realm of Christology (Doctrine of Christ) and Soteriology (Doctrine of
Salvation). He also adds that the great trend in religion is syncretistic, or a great type of homogenization of
religions. Although it will be earnestly denied, Freemasonry has its own doctrine of salvation, which is re-
vealed through its ceremonies and teachings.
A Counterfeit Religious Movement: Walter Martin commented that “The average non-Christian cult owes
its very existence to the fact that it has utilized the terminology of Christianity, has borrowed literally from the
Bible, almost always out of context, and sprinkled its format with evangelical clichés and terms wherever
possible or advantageous.”
Martin added, a cult then is any religious movement which claims the backing of Christ or the Bible, but dis-
torts the central message of Christianity by (1) an additional revelation, and (2) by displacing a fundamental
tenet of the faith with a secondary matter. It is one thing to define a “cult” but another to identify groups by
the term, as counterfeits always appear genuine, as does false money.
• Freemason Joseph Fort Newton says, “The Bible so rich in symbolism, is itself a symbol…thus, by
the very honor which Masonry pays to the Bible, it teaches us to revere every book of faith in which
men find help for today and hope for tomorrow…”
Jack Harris said a substitute Trinity is found in later degrees in the Craft.
Pike said, “Freemasonry does not affirm to the doctrine of the Trinity because to assert such a belief
would mark it as a religious organization.” He also said that “Toleration, holding that every other man
has the same right to his opinion and faith that we have to ours; and liberality, holding as no human
being can with certainty say …what is truth, or that he is surely in possession of it.” Pike added, that
it is recorded that “In the Royal Arch Degree,” 2 Thess. 3:6-16 is read. In verse 6 and 12 the refer-
ence to Christ is omitted, and on the following page, Mackey refers to this as a “slight, but necessary
modification.”
• Masonry teaches its members they may reach heaven, life and immortality by a way apart from Je-
sus Christ (EM Storms). Jesus Christ is not allowed to be mentioned in FM, but in the Rose Croix
Degree the pelican is the symbol, derived from the common belief that the pelican feeds her young
with her blood, as the Savior shed his blood for mankind (Mackey).
Harris a former Mason, who is a Christian describes Masonry as, “The Invisible Cult In Our Midst.”
Martin says that any article showing cults in a favourable light does nothing for Christianity, but to
encourage weaker Christians (2 Cor. 8:9) to dabble in a dangerous hobby. The Lutheran Church--
Missouri Synod concluded that “the Lodge is a religion--a Christless religion--and thus a cult, a cult
totally incompatible with Christianity and to be avoided by every Christian.” Finally, Ankerberg &
Weldon, noted that “Masonry amounts to the practice of idolatry.”
In the Blue Lodge, a belief in God is one of the requirements for membership, but no further religious
belief is required. This means that all believers in deity, whether Christians, Jews, or Mohamme-
dans, are equally eligible for membership (Mather).
In the Lodge, God is referred to as the (T.G.G.O.T.U.) The Grand Geometrician Of The Universe, or
(G.A.O.T.U.) the Great Architect Of The Universe. God is also referred to as The Supreme Master, the All-
Seeing Eye, and the Supreme Intelligence of the Universe.
Salvation In Freemasonry
Freemasonry has a doctrine of salvation by works, (which is a peculiar salvation only offered to those who
have attained a certain level of degrees within the Lodge).

The doctrine of sin is neglected by Freemasonry which believes that man is able to improve in his moral
character, and behaviour in various ways, which include being charitable to others, living morally, and per-
forming voluntary public duties. Mackey says that “The ladder is a symbol of progress…its three principal
rounds, representing Faith, Hope and Charity, presents us with a means of advancing from earth to heaven,
from death to life--from mortality to immortality. Hence its floor is placed on the ground floor of the Lodge,
which is typical of the world, and its top rests on the covering of the Lodge which is symbolic of heaven.”
It is believed that education is the means of which moral and spiritual education is discovered, and Freema-
sonry provides the means by which these results can be achieved. The inference is that all Freemasons
who are buried are saved and will spend eternity in heaven.
Salvation Is Achieved by Members of the Lodge: Salvation to the Mason is not the salvation of the Bible.
The way in which Mason’s hope to ascend to heaven is by the assistance of a ladder, in Scripture called
Jacob’s Ladder. Much of the ceremony follows a similar pattern to events recorded in the Bible, but with
some significant differences. In the ceremony of initiation a lambskin is placed upon the candidate. The
lambskin has been from time immemorial the universally acknowledged emblem of purity and innocence.
This is to remind him of the purity of life which should distinguish a Freemason, and which is essential to his
gaining entry into the Grand Lodge above, where the blessed ever rest in eternal peace (Masonic Ritual).
The Masonic ritual gives the reasons why in preparation the candidate is hood winked or blind folded. This
was symbolic of the candidate being in a state of utter darkness respecting the secrets of Freemasonry, and
to teach him to keep others in a similar state of darkness until brought to light. A cable tow was placed
around the neck, firstly as a means of restraint should such have been necessary, and symbolic of his being
in a state of bondage - the bondage of ignorance….The left breast was made bare to prove that he was not
an impostor as to sex, for the rules forbid the admission of women. Also a sharp instrument (dagger) pre-
sented to instruct on lessons of fidelity. The left knee was made bare in a token of humility, on it in the pres-
ence of the G.A.O.T.U. was the solemn obligation made, never to disclose it. The right heel was slip shod
as an allusion to (Ruth 4:7), concerning the redeeming and concerning the changing, to confirm all things.
Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, stated that all “profane” people (non-Masons) including godly genuine Chris-
tians, are wretched, blind and lost in complete spiritual darkness. Only initiation into the degrees and mys-
teries of Masonry will bring them out of darkness and “into the light,” cleansing them and imparting new life.
Incipient Gnosticism: Incipient Gnosticism, was a deviant form of Christianity, whereby their views varied,
and salvation was by means of their knowledge rather than by the Son of God who shed His blood on the
Cross. Such deceivers have their special secret knowledge. To the contrary, John writes that believers may
know that they have eternal life in Jesus, the Son of God (1 John 5:13). He also warned those who were
being caught up in Gnosticism, which is a threat to the believers faith. In 2 John 7-11 we see the deceivers
confess not Jesus Christ came in the flesh. John says “This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” The advice
given is not to invite these people into your house neither bid them Godspeed (2 John 10). In Colossians
Paul the Apostle of faith encouraged deeper Christian living and wrote against the Colossian heresy which
was an early form of Gnosticism.
Ungodly Oaths
Those eligible to join are “just,” upright and free men, of mature age, sound judgment and strict mor-
als…When a male joins the Lodge, he is admitted blindfolded as a poor candidate in a state of darkness,
who has been well and worthily recommended …to be admitted to the mysteries and privileges of Ancient
Freemasonry. He hopes to obtain those privileges by the help of God being free and of good report (Ma-
sonic Ritual).
After being assured of the fact in the vows there is nothing incompatible in the candidates civil, moral or re-
ligious duties, the candidate then takes a blood oath that involves mutilation of the body for divulging any of
the secrets. At the conclusion of repeating the oath the candidate whilst still blind-folded is commanded to
seal the pledge with the lips on the Volume of The Sacred Law (VSL) in other words by kissing the Bible.
Concealing Secrets: Albert Pike who is one of Freemasons most decorated figures said, “Masonry like all
the religions, all Mysteries, Hermeticism and Alchemy, conceals its secrets from all except the Adepts and

Sages, or the Elect, and uses false explanations and misinterpretations of its symbols to mislead those who
deserve only to be misled; to conceal the Truth which calls Light, from them, and to draw them away from
it.” Pike adds, “Truth is not for those who are unworthy or unable to receive it, or would pervert it.” He con-
tinues to denigrate Christianity, and says, “So Masonry jealously conceals its secrets, and intentionally
leads conceited interpreters astray.” Pike said that the first Masonic Legislator whose memory is preserved
to us by history, was Buddha, who, about a thousand years before the Christian era reformed the religion of
Manous.
Freemasons are Deliberately Deceived: According to Albert Pike, Freemasons are deliberately deceived
in the lower degrees. Consequently it is understandable that this deception which former 33 degree Mason,
Jim Shaw calls the “Deadly Deception,” makes Masons irate.
This deception has its consequences, of which past, present and future are deadly. Such is the nature of
Masonry, as a member in taking his oath swears he will never seek the secrets of a higher degree. He is
advised by a distinguished member that there is nothing incompatible to his religion and that he can never
find out the secrets of a higher degree until he enters that degree. Sometimes because of searing of the
conscience, and peer pressure, a Christian may compromise his stance, and even believe that there is no
problem. The unchristian oaths or obligations as follows, show the true nature of Freemasonry in it various
forms as a false religion, with cultish and occultish practises.
The Traditional Penalties of Freemasonry

Remembering that wording may change slightly from one State or Country to another, but the message is
basically the same. The following penalties of obligation are the means by which Freemasonry protects its
secrets.
The First Degree: After swearing to conceal the secrets of the first degree of Freemasonry, a candidate
continues the obligation, saying “These several points I solemnly swear to observe without evasion, equivo-
cation, or mental reservation of any kind, ever bearing in mind the Traditional Penalty, on the violation of
any of them of having…(Masonic Ritual). my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by its roots, and my body
buried in the rough sands of the sea, at low-water mark, where the tide ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four
hours…(Duncans). After the oath is taken the candidate is instructed to kiss the Bible to seal the obligation
or oath taken.
The Second Degree: In the second degree or Fellow Craft degree, the candidate swears that he will not
reveal any of the secrets of this degree to an Entered Apprentice, or to the uninstructed world who are not
Freemasons. The traditional penalty in this degree is, “under no less penalty than of having my breast torn
open…my heart plucked out and…”
The Third Degree: In the third degree or Master Mason degree the obligation, in the presence of the Most
High…that my b…shall be the sacred repository of his secrets when entrusted to my care as such-murder,
treason, felony and all other offences contrary to the laws of God, and the ordinances of the realm, being at
all times most especially excepted…I will not injure him myself, or knowingly suffer it to be done by others, if
in my power to prevent it; but on the contrary will boldly repel the slanderer of his good name; and most
strictly respect the chastity of those nearest and dearest to him in the persons of his wife, his sister and his
child.…ever bearing in mind the traditional penalty on the violation of any of them of…(Masonic Ritual).
The penalty of the obligation is “… that of having my body severed in two, my bowels taken from thence
and burned to ashes, the ashes scattered before the four winds of heaven, that no more remembrance
might be had of so vile and wicked a wretch as I would be, should I ever, knowingly, violate this my Master
Mason’s obligation,” (Duncans). So help me the Most High, and keep me steadfast in this my s…. o…. (sol-
emn obligation) of a M.M. (Masonic Ritual).
The penalty of Mark Master Degree: Speaking of the penalty of the obligation of the “Mark Master De-
gree,” which occurs in Lodges that are above the Three Degrees, Harris declared, “Binding myself under no
less penalty than to have my right ear smitten off, that I may forever be unable to hear the words, and my
right hand chopped off…So help me God…”

The penalty of the Past Master Degree: “I promise and swear that the secrets of a brother of this degree,
delivered to me in charge as such, shall remain as secure and inviolable in my breast, as they were in his
own before he communicated to me, murder and treason excepted, and those left to my own election.
Binding me under no less penalty than (in addition to all my former penalties) to have my tongue split from
tip to root, that I might forever thereafter be unable to pronounce the word… So help me God …” (Harris).
The penalty of the Most Excellent Master Degree: “Binding myself under no less penalty than to have my
breast torn open, and my heart and vitals taken from thence, and exposed to rot on the dunghill…So help
me God.” (Harris).
The penalty of the Royal Arch Degree: In this degree, the Royal Arch Mason is to become perfect before
a holy God by humanistic efforts, apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ. Before each Chapter
meeting a charge (Admonition) is given to the members present. In the opening charge, 2 Thess. 3:6-16 is
read, but the name of Jesus Christ is deleted. “Binding myself under no less penalty than that of having my
skull smote off, and my brains exposed to the scorching rays of the noonday sun, should I violate this my
solemn obligation as a Royal Arch Mason.” (Harris). This oath is taken with the hands on the open Bible,
which is upon the altar.
The Knights Templar Degree: This degree is strictly a military degree, dealing with the Crusaders who
were supposed to defend Jerusalem from infidels, and to protect widows and orphans. According to Harris,
the average person believes it is a Christian degree. Except the candidate is never told that he must be
born again, or of the infallibility of the Bible, or of the deity of Jesus, or of salvation by grace. Nevertheless
the candidate swears an oath to defend the “Christian religion.” Harris said, to the Knights of the Templar,
defending the “Christian religion,” is following the virtues of Christianity and saying Jesus without accepting
the person and work of Jesus Christ.
At the end of this degree, the officer representing the Eminent Commander explains that the Knights Tem-
plar Degree originated in the Roman Catholic Church five hundred years ago. To the contrary, Ezra Cook
said that the degrees of the Red Cross, the Knights Templar, and the Knights of Malta are modern inven-
tions for various purposes, e.g., to gratify the vanity of men, to secure power, and to secure immunity from
crime.
Wine in a Human Skull: At the preparation of the 33degree Jim Shaw said, “We were too close to the “top
of the mountain” to turn back at this point. For the final obligation…one of the Conductors then handed the
“candidate” a human skull, upside down, with wine in it. With all of us candidates repeating after him, he
sealed the oath, “May this wine I now drink become a deadly poison to me, as the Hemlock juice drunk by
Socrates, should I ever knowingly or willfully violate the same.”
At the fifth libation, the candidate, drinks pure wine from the skull, and with swords to his throat, repeats
aloud the sins of the man whose skull is in front of him, in addition to his own, be heaped upon him if he re-
veals the secrets and rituals of the Knights Templar degree (Harris).
Protecting Secrets
Mackey stated that the oaths in Freemasonry are given to protect the Secrets of Freemasonry. The secrecy
of the Institution is another and most important landmark, but if divested of its secret character, it would lose
its identity.
When the author of this article (a Past Worshipful Master) was on a Group Study Exchange to Chile in
South America in 1985, he visited the Lodge of the then Military Dictator President Augustus Pinochet, who
overthrew the Communist Regime. To gain entry into the Lodge, he was required to identify certain words
from certain passages of Scripture as proof of having passed through the various degrees. This was
achieved by turning to Bible verses including (Judges 12:6; 1 Kings 7:21; cf. 2 Chron. 3:17).

Several days later with the Group, he visited President Pinochet in the Presidential Palace. Identification of
a Freemason in a group of people is by a Pass-grip, (secret handshake) which varies according to the de-
gree a person has attained. This allows identification, whether persons can speak the same language or
not, or whether in light or darkness, as it has to do with pressure and position.
One of the Greatest Secrets: Although not known by Mason’s in the first three degrees, because they are
forbidden to find out secrets of a higher degree, the Royal Arch degree claims to have restored the name of
the Triune God, which they said was once lost. Speaking of the Royal Arch degree, William Schnoebelen
said that the true name of God was JAH-BUL-ON. This is a disturbing situation for truly born again Bible
believing Christians. “JAH,” (the first syllable) represents Yahweh or Jehovah, the name of the God of Abra-
ham, Isaac and Jacob. “BUL,” represents the name of Baal or Bel. This is the name of the god of Jezebel
and Ahab, perhaps the most wicked couple ever to sit on the throne of Israel (I Kings 16:29-33). “ON,” rep-
resents the name of the Egyptian sun god…the god of the Pharaoh. This is an abomination to the Lord, who
has clearly said, in the Ten Commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me…Thou shalt not
bow thyself down to them, nor serve them,” (Ex. 20:3, 4).
A Christian Perspective
The Lodge unfortunately has deceived many sincere and respected people. When the candidate joins the
Lodge he is most often unaware of the character and nature of the oaths that he must take. At the time of
taking this oath, there are so many well respected people seated in the midst, and in some cases people
who profess to be Christians, even some so-called Ministers. By the grace of God, the truly born again Bible
believing Christian is given a way of escape through God’s Word, recorded in Lev. 5:4-6; cf. 1 John 1:5-20.
The oaths taken by Freemasons, are blasphemous, and especially for a person who professes to be a
Christian. For the truly regenerated Christian (John 3:3, 7; 1 Pet. 1:3, 23), his body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19) and oaths such as these are an abomination. When oaths are taken the candidate is
generally kneeling at the altar, on one knee. He will either have one or two hands upon the Open Bible
(VSL). His seeking of God’s help to remain steadfast in such a sinful activity can only be deemed as un-
godly, and un-Christian.
In the Blue Lodge the Worshipful Master, (who governs the Lodge) presides in the Chair of King Solomon,
but even King Solomon himself cautioned against hasty vows (Eccl. 5: 1-7). The Apostle Paul faced incon-
ceivable persecution from religious men and asked, “Are they ministers of Christ?” (2 Cor. 11:23). Such so-
called professing Christians through their liberty have become stumbling blocks to younger or new Chris-
tians (I Cor. 8:9), through a walk of disobedience. The prophet Samuel said “Behold, to obey is better than
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is
as iniquity and idolatry,” (1 Sam. 15:22, 23a).
John R. Rice says that many Christian people are in the Lodges. They would like to feel that the Lodges
themselves are Christian and that the Lodges make better Christians, or at least that there is nothing offen-
sive to Christianity in the Lodges. Unthinking or unscriptural Church members often insist that the Lodges
are just as good as the Churches and are doing the same kind of work. Rice said his father became con-
sumed with traveling night after night to lecture in Masonic Lodges, and his spiritual life became weak, and
he ceased preaching. His doctrine had changed, and he finally believed that sincere heathen people who
had a religion and earnestly tried to live up to their light were saved and did not need to be born again.
There are Church Constitutions that forbid Freemasons from becoming members because a Freemason
cannot be a truly born again Bible believing, God honouring Christian. Neither can a Freemason be served
the Lord’s Supper. This is very significant as there are many so-called Ministers of Churches who are
Freemasons and contrary to the Word of God they administer the Lord’s Supper. The Lords Supper is a
special time of commemoration of the Lord’s crucifixion death and blood atonement for sin (Matt. 26:26-28;
Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-21; John 13; 1 Cor. 11:25). It is only to be participated in by those who believe
in Jesus Christ by faith who are born again (1 Cor. 10:16, 17), have confessed their sin and repented of
them and have been baptized (Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 5:11; 11:20, 33, 34). Likewise, they must be walking in
fellowship with God (1 Cor. 11:27-31). It is a special spiritual experience and must not be participated in
with a careless attitude.

The Word of God warns of the person participating in an unworthy manner, as to do so brings God’s judg-
ment on oneself, to be divinely judged with physical sickness and physical death. “Wherefore whosoever
shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord, But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that
eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation (judgement) to himself, not discerning the
Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep,” (1 Cor. 11:27-30). Cal-
vin says to eat unworthily, then, is to pervert the pure and right use of it by our abuse of it.
Conclusion
In today’s society there are many cults,
false religions, and false teachers. Jesus
Christ warned us that this would occur,
and they will deceive many (Matt. 24).
These false teachers offer a false gospel
to their own destruction, for which both the
false gospel and the person teaching the
false gospel will be accursed (Gal. 1:8:9).
They are believing and propounding a
false gospel that is leading themselves
and others to their own total destruction. If
they be Ministers, they are leading people
to Hell in the Church pew.
There is no doubting that Freemasonry is

a religion, but a false or counterfeit relig-
ion. Although many authors of Cult Ency-
clopedia’s believe that Freemasonry is a
cult, there is no doubting that some of the varied forms of degrees have cult practices, likewise occultish
practices.
It is absurd to think of the joining of righteousness with unrighteousness, or the mixing of light with darkness
(2 Cor. 6:14). A Christian must separate from apostasy and false teaching and reflect a life in accordance
with the God who saved him. Christians are commanded not to fellowship or create bonds of worship with
those who worship other gods, or worship God in another way. They are not to be unequally yoked in busi-
ness, marriage or Ecclesiastically (2 Cor. 6:14-7:1), but come out from among them (2 Cor. 6:17). The
Apostle Paul said, “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it
is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Eph. 5:11, 12).
Harris said that “Masons will lie in the face of angels about the rituals, rather than break their oath to expose
them.” He continued, “A practicing Mason, therefore, can never be trusted to tell the truth regarding the se-
crets of Masonry.”
The profound significance is that true believers were bought with the price of the blood of Jesus Christ on
the hill of Golgotha (Acts 20:28). It must be understood that goodliness without godliness is not acceptable
to God. An organization has absolutely no authority from God to inflict penalties upon anyone.
The positions of leaders should be of divine appointment and not of human scheming, or the elevation of
leaders before they should. A Christian Minister must be born again (John 3:3, 7; 1 Pet. 1:3, 23), as Lead-
ers require diligence and must apply the teachings of God’s Word to their lives. When the author of this arti-
cle was a Freemason, for 10 years before becoming a Christian, he understood that Billy Graham was a
Freemason as it was popularly claimed, but in writing to him in more recent years, his organization re-
sponded with a standard letter disclaiming that he ever had or ever would be.

It is unfortunate to note that of the Lodges of English origin, a member of the English Royal family is always
the Patron and likewise the Royal family heads the Anglican Church. Consequently it would not be surpris-
ing for the Anglican Church to have many Ministers and members who are Freemasons.
Salvation is for believers in the Living and True God, it is not automatically conferred upon a member of any
Church or organisation. Neither is it obtained from sacraments/ordinances given by any Church, para-
church organisation or religious institution.
Salvation involves understanding sin and recognizing that all men have sinned and come short of the glory
of God (Rom. 10:23), and that there is a penalty for sin as the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Also that
Jesus Christ paid the debt as His blood was shed for the remission of our sins on the Cruel Cross of Cal-
vary (Rom. 5:8). Through His grace and mercy God gave the gift of life through His Son Jesus Christ, to
those who believe. It is a gift from God to those who confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and who be-
lieve in their heart, that God hath raised Him from the dead, they shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-10).
Jesus Christ said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” (John 14:15). The Word of God says, “And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and
keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him,” (1 John 2:3, 4).
The Word of God says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 17Wherefore come out
from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive
you,” (2 Cor. 6:14, 17). The Word of God is very clear that any person claiming to be a Christian and stay-
ing in such an organization, will not be received by God.
BMC!!!
Dear YFers,
Throughout the pages of this issue, you’ll find the BMC verses for the first term, with key words and phrases
taken out to serve as a little test or to refresh your memory, as well as verses from last year’s final term, with
only the references removed. Keep a look out for these gems and test yourself to know God’s Word better!
_______ 10:38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
_____ 4:14-15
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth
for a little time, and then vanisheth away.For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this,
or that.
______ 7:16
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

The Secrets of Sinning
What secrets does SIN hide; so short yet sharp,
This word that preys on souls and hearts?
Behold how Sin will soon devour,
Victims with its covert power!
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are law-
ful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
(1st Corinthians 6:12)
One of the many secrets of SIN lies in its power. For it is right there; you can
sin anytime, anywhere! Think a thought, take a glance- there, you’ve done it,
SIN is yours. Did you walk down that road yesterday? Did you speak that
word today? Maybe you don’t even remember now…
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy
rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
! (Isaiah 64:6)
You will know your SINs, one day. If not on earth, than soon enough, when we
meet our maker… You will remember- and you will regret. And that is the ulti-
mate secret. Regret, for having grieved your loving Heavenly Father. Regret, as
you suffer His wrath… Remember that soft temptation, remember that spar-
kling SIN? Then strive to remember too, that with SIN comes the black sludge
of bitter medicine, the heart-wrenching lamentation that drains your eyes of
their colour, and sinks it all to the bags beneath.
The Secrets of Sinning 14

! Beware Sin’s Power- It is the beginning of Regret.
Perhaps you can’t quite relate to the regret yet- You have yet to encounter
disastrous temptation, and you have been spared the wrecking guilt. Fight to
keep it that way then, because SIN has more than one secret… It has too many
to name, though you should know a few: SIN is seductively beautiful, unimag-
inably clever, and unbelievably sumptuous. It’ll provide all the excuses you
need.
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

! (2nd Corinthians 11:14)
Though there exists not an exhaustive catalog of the twists and turns of the
Devil’s devices, be ever more on your guard, for you may be certain that be-
hind every gilded door, beneath every chocolate-coating, lies REGRET.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour:
! (1st Peter 5:8)
Regret is often defined as sorrow, aroused by circumstances beyond one's

control or power to repair. Fortunately, it’s not beyond God. God can fix eve-
rything! Have a problem with SIN? Go to Him now, and hurry. Get a life- free
from SIN.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1st John 1:9)
Joshua 1:___
This ____ of the ___ shall not ______ ___ of ___ _____; but thou shalt ________
_______ ___ and _____, that thou ______ _______ to __ _________ to all that is
_______ _______: for then ____ _____ make ___ ___ __________, and then ____
_____ have ____ _______.
Have not I _________ thee? Be ______ and __ _ ____ _______; be not ______, nei-
ther be thou ________: for ___ ____ ___ ___ is with thee _____________ thou goest.
Psalms 139:___
_ ____, thou ____ ________ __, and _____ __.
Thou ________ my ___________ and mine ________, thou _____________ my
_______ ____ ___.
Thou __________ my ____ and my _____ ____, and ___ __________ with ___ __
____.
The Secrets of Sinning 15

12 Secrets of Isabelle’s Mummy...
...and Daddy
Secrets. We all have secrets; different ones at different phases of our lives. In late Sep-
tember last year, Adrian and I entered into the phase of parenthood. There was no turning
back, and there will be no respite from this phase until we are ready for retirement and
the kids are married out or have gained their wings of independence.
The experience of being first-time parents filled our hearts with many joys and of course,
just as many (if not more) fears. I guess for most of Isabelle’s childhood, these thoughts we
had are likely to be kept from her. After all, you can’t expect a little child to understand and
appreciate the thoughts that parents have for them. We never did too, until we became
parents ourselves. Isn’t that what our parents always say when they nag at us? “You wait
till you have your own children, then you’ll understand…!” And so they were right after all,
unfortunately. And so, here’s a unique privilege to take a peek at the “secrets” that Isa-
belle’s mummy (and daddy) harbour in their hearts...
Let’s start at the very beginning. Daddy wished you were a boy. He even asked the gynaecologist
to scan my tummy twice just to make sure that you’re really a girl… He used to lament that having
to play masak-masak with you when you’re older will be so boring. Instead, he wanted to play cars,
video games and other stuff that boys like to do.
12 Secrets of Isabelle’s Mummy (and Daddy) 16

...and Daddy
It was only until he saw how difficult boys could be then he changed his mind and decided that you
being a girl as the first child was a good thing indeed.
Thank God for His tender mercies that you are healthy and well. Because of the nature of Daddy’s
work/study, he’s made aware of the innumerous ailments that the body can be inflicted with and
that the fact that you are well is a huge blessing indeed.
Whenever I have to discipline you, I’m always praying in my heart that God will quickly make you
realize your sin and errors. This will reduce your pain and my agony. That includes teaching you to
be quiet and to sit still during morning worship service and SGBF.
I will be most happy if you express a desire to go into full-time ministry or study at FEBC… how be-
fitting of your name (“consecrated to God”)! Just be sure that it’s God’s will/calling for you. BUT,
I’m not sure whether or not that’ll happen… because just the other night, you started laughing
when I said that it was time to pray!
Daddy loves to poke fun at you and post photos and videos of it on Facebook. You can look at them
when you’re older. I guess that’s his way of showing affection. I confess that I laughed along and
found them funny too.
Do you know that Daddy coined the nickname “pang sai queen” for you? That’s because you soiled
my clothes several times with your “explosive pang sai”.
I hope you’ll love music as much as Daddy. Don’t be lazy when it comes to practising your scales;
then your playing will outclass your daddy.

...and Daddy
He has this hope that one day in his old age, he can sit down on the sofa, relax and listen to you
play his favourite tunes on the piano. I hope you won’t disappoint him in this.
Speaking of music, Daddy loves to sing songs about you. He came up with a song on the “pang sai
queen”: –
“Isabelle, you are a pang sai queen.
Isabelle, your butt is never clean;
Rarely it isn’t smelly;
Your dirty nappy
Is evidence to that…”
If I go home to be with the Lord earlier than Daddy, please take good care of him cos he’ll be very
lonely and probably wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Thank God that you resemble me so
you’ll remind him of me.
I dread the day that I will have to breathe down your neck and “nag” at you to do your homework.
Your grandma (my mother) hopes that you’ll have your father’s brains. In some sense that’s good,
because he’s the sort that loves to study, unlike me. But I certainly hope you don’t inherit his for-
getfulness!
Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing you smile at us when we smile at you. But even
though both daddy and mummy might always have a smile on their face, we have our worries too.
Daddy worries about bringing back the dough whereas Mummy worries about whether you’ve had
enough to eat or whether you’re gonna fall sick.
And finally, when you were young, Aunty Grace AY wanted to be like Abraham’s servant and tried
match-making you to Paul Leong…But, as we will tell you when you’re 16, there’s a whole lot more
fishes in the sea, so take your time to find the man who is both God’s choice and yours.

ret!ro!spect
retrospect /!r"tr#$sp"kt/ [re-truh-spekt]

–noun
1. contemplation of the past; a
survey of past time, events, etc.
–verb (used without object)
2. to look back in thought; refer
back (often fol. by to): to retro-
spect to a period in one's youth.
–verb (used with object)
3. to look back upon; contemplate
retrospectively.
—Idiom
4. in retrospect, in looking back on
past events; upon reflection.
By Uncle Arthur
“It is with a heavy heart that I pen this letter to you, urging you to take heed to what I am about to say.
Nothing in this world is worth having if one were to lose his own soul, and it is a sad thing to see one’s
loved ones slipping into the perilous road of ungodliness without giving a thought to the consequences
of perfidious living. So be attentive to the ramblings of an old man, for it has been said that history never
repeats itself but only fools repeat history.
What do we have in this world that we can bring with us when we see our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ?
Nothing. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling.” You came into this world naked- and
naked you will go back from it. Yet, how joyous it would be if we see our loved ones saved in the arms of
Jesus when our pilgrimage on this world is over, and together sing the song of the Redeemed. “Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by
thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings
and priests: and we shall reign on the earth….Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Rev 5)
I will share my greatest regret in my erstwhile pilgrimage in this world. In one word – worldliness, the
cause of which was not taking heed to the Word, by not systematically studying His precious Word given
to us – truly studying it like a workman rightly dissecting the word and not just browsing over the words
to appease one’s conscience that he has done his “daily” reading of Scripture. I do not make any excuse
for my laziness or indifference. After all, I had access to the Bible and I even did a two-year study in Bible
knowledge in the mission school I was in. I did well in the examination but on hindsight I must admit that
it was head knowledge and superficial – it was not mixed thoroughly with faith and I did not have the
zeal to follow through with God. The world caught up with me and I lost my grip on the Word. So what
defense did I have in this world, constantly bombarded by all the evil impulses to our unredeemed flesh?
Nothing! I was totally naked.
Worldliness is a scary thing. First, you become more entrenched in it, more set in your terrible lustful hab-
its. It builds a defense against all godly influences that may change your ways. “Return to me” says our
Retrospect 19
merciful God, but you may turn a deaf ear. Then as you start your adult life, you will raise your family
completely void of God. His presence will be nowhere to be seen and the concomitant power of God that
would steer the family to the vital path of godliness will be absent. You may have just enough religion in
you to avoid the stares and frowns of other godly church members, but you know that you are a hypo-
crite. There is no reality in your profession. You are like Ephraim, a cake half turned.
So what should you do now? In biblical language – “Wherewithal (in what) shall a young man cleanse his
way?” “By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.” (Ps 119:9). In other words, be serious in your study of
the Bible. Take time to look into His Word, read it, digest it, chew on it and apply it! This is not as hack-
neyed as it sounds; be an over-comer of these evils and you will find not only tremendous peace for your
soul but a life of great joy and happiness; truly the godliness that you will exhibit will lead you to a road
of contentment which in Paul’s words (1 Tim 6) is great gain. You would delight in your Lord your God, a
delight that literally puts you in heavenliness, where you are in the very presence of God who delights to
see His child walking with Him.
And as you pour your heart and soul into His words and lead a sanctified life powered by the Holy
Ghost, you would lead your family in the path of truth and righteousness. Here then is the secret of a
happy family – the enshrining of the family altar that takes centre stage in your family’s life. You would
teach your children the Scriptures at a young age and impress upon their tender hearts the TRUTHS and
REALITIES of the Gospel, that they are neither esoteric philosophies nor speculations of men but the reve-
lations of God. Once convicted and convinced of these great truths they would learn to apply it as you
have shown them through your own upright life! They would real-
ize that they have everything pertaining to life and godliness
through the knowledge of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who
has called them by His virtue and glory.
But how can you lead your family into the path of truth and right-
eousness if you do not know God or His word? Can you leave
them to others, put them in Christian kindergartens or go to
church and be fed only once a week? That is carnal thinking, for it
is your responsibility to raise your family in the way of the Lord –
and this includes teaching them the Word of God diligently and
consistently. Do not rely on the fumes of your infantile Christian
knowledge. Get to truly know God!
So study the word and prepare yourself for a life with God. Be diligent in setting up the family altar as
God blesses you with a family – I cannot stress enough the importance of it. Remember that the church is
made up of a conglomeration of families. The Christ-exalting church may not be there because of many
reasons such as persecution or apostasy, but if the families of God remain godly and faithful there will
always be the true church dedicated to the glory of our God. Destroy the family and the church will go –
it is just a matter of time. This is why the Bible has emphasized so heavily on the family, and the responsi-
bility of the father in it. Where will be the deacons and elders be nominated from if not from godly
homes? Smite the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter, so destroy the godly family and it will be hunting
season for the unprotected and helpless sheep! As a case in point, imagine the filth of the sodomites
whereby they claim equal right to marital status and an adopted family. Some nations even allow its edu-
cational process to show a picture of a family which includes two men or two women with children. Now
you know why our Lord says one of the end time phenomena will be like the days of Noah and Lot!
Let me now touch upon fleshly sexual makeup and the need to earn a living, in short – sex and money.
Everyone has a sexual makeup, a sexual or biological impulse; indeed, sex is invented by God Himself!
And everyone needs to earn a living, for God says if you do not work you do not eat. I am not saying you
should completely obliterate your sexual desires, nor am I saying you should be lazy and do only the
minimum amount of work to get by. What I am saying is that you should mortify (or kill) your inordinate
sexual desires and covetousness.
Retrospect 20
Sex and the Love of Money
SEX
What does the Bible say? The command is clearly given – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon
the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idola-
try: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.”
I want to fish out the phrase “inordinate affection.” (This is not to say the other things needing mortifica-
tion like that of your speech (Col 3:8, 9) is of less importance.) Here the Apostle Paul is a realist. He is not
saying that we should kill all sexual impulses. He is not asking us to be a eunuch or a monk. There is no
commandment to “kill” our ORDINATE affection. We are instructed in other parts of Scripture to regulate
and govern our natural sexual desires, and the primary way to do so is to flee youthful lust. Flee, flee, flee!
Control your bodily instinct, buffet your body as Paul says in 1 Cor 9 lest you be a castaway and of no use
to God.
So do not tempt yourself with unsavory websites. Flee, do not even want to know the address of websites
or mix with ungodly crowds – “when sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” (Prov 1:10) Do not put your-
self in tempting, compromising situations. Do not go on holidays alone with your boyfriend or girlfriend
even if you feel capable of remaining chaste – you are setting yourself up to the wiles and snares of the
devil, or what our Lord calls the depths of the devil (Rev 2). After all, we are all told to abstain from all ap-
pearance of evil (1st Thess 5). Inordinate affections that find its fulfillment outside of marriage – mortify it,
kill it. That includes those in the mind. Kill the first thought, the first impulse of it.
The million dollar question is “How?” Am I to “let go and let God do it”, somewhat akin to the RC’s dogma
of quietism? Scripture says differently – we are to EXERCISE ourselves unto godliness, 1 Tim 4:7. It does
not only mean we are justified by faith and sanctified by
works, but that you are to put in effort on your road to godli-
ness. The Holy Spirit will energize your efforts to mortify the
evil deeds of your body. (Rom 8:13)
Here I want to fish out the other word in Col 3:5 – “therefore”.
So we go back to the preceding verses, Col 3:1-4. (“If ye then
be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on
things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and
your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life,
shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.) In
short, you only can mortify the evil deeds of your body
through the Gospel!
Such pie-in-the-sky thinking, so unrealistic! O really? It may sound impractical or unrealistic, but remem-
ber that the Gospel is reality, not some esoteric philosophy. The redeeming work of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ is not a myth or invention of some desperate disciples – the empty tomb and the 500-odd
witnesses attested to the Resurrection; the now reigning Christ is real, seated on the right hand of God as
our glorious Advocate making intercession for us day and night, and the soon Returning Christ is real –
He will come again, hallelujah and Amen!
But how, you may ask, does believing in the Redeeming, Risen, Reigning and soon Returning Christ help
me in my mortification of my inordinate affections?
It is my experience and testimony that when confronted with any temptation or trial, you will find
strength to overcome the temptation if you quickly flee from the unsavory situation and pray. Overcom-
ing temptation is not using a check list of do’s and don’ts, for if you are saved by faith you will be sancti-
fied by faith and not by law keeping. You can only mortify the evils deeds of your body through the Spirit
of God (Rom 8:13). The Holy Spirit not only convicts you of sin but always points you to Christ and His
Gospel. For example, Col 3:1-2: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”. I would
pray accordingly: “Our Father in heaven, thou who sees and knows the thoughts and intents of my heart,
Retrospect 21
help me O Lord to overcome this evil that now besets me. Help me to realize that as I am in Christ, buried
with Him into His death and hence as He died to pay the penalty of my sin to a broken law and so too I
died unto sin, and as He rose I rose with Him too to newness of life, sin should have no more dominion
over me. I am risen with Thee, O Lord, help me by Thy resurrection power seek pure thoughts rather than
this sinful impulse that now troubles me. Set my affection, set my thinking on things in heaven where
Thou art on the right hand of God the Father, exalted because of Thy finished work at Calvary, Thy pre-
cious blood shed for me, exalted as Prince and Saviour with power over all hell and over all earth. Inter-
cede for me that my faith fails not, O my Saviour, let me hide in Thee, O Lord of Ages, give me strength to
overcome this temptation so that the Father’s Name will be glorified. I pray in Jesus’ blessed Name,
Amen.”
Mortifying your inordinate sexual desires is not through drinking a bucket of cold water, taking a cold
shower, sweating it out in the gym or in legalistic ticking off of do’s and don’ts without understanding of
the worthiness of your name as a Christian. It is not in some monastic hideaway or in some other forms of
earthy asceticism, or in replacing one sin with another like getting drunk. But “if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live,” not only eternal life but a life with vigour, power and peace.
There is no other way to mortify the flesh except through the Gospel. One look at our Saviour’s face will
not only empower you to be conformed to His image but will give you deep joy as you commune with
Him. It is a vital fellowship with our Lord that can truly satisfy and sanctify. We do not understand how a
miracle works but miracles do happen in Scripture. Likewise we do not understand the process of sancti-
fication whereby we gaze at the face of Jesus as seen through His Word in the Bible and in prayer. Believe
it, act on it in faith and you will be an over-comer. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2nd
Cor 3:18)
“Money Makes the World Go Round”
The caption exemplifies what the world only thinks and lusts after – money and more money.
I am afraid the oft quoted warning in 1 Tim 6 – the love of
money is the root of all evils – is becoming so familiar to
us that it breeds contempt. It is like water rolling over a
duck’s back. Look at the current mess the world is in,
where banks are falling like nine-pins and governments
are scrambling to put humpty dumpty together again,
but to no avail. Scary losses are reported daily, amounting
to trillions and trillions of dollars that send shivers down
the spines of most people – and the scariest part is that
nobody sees it as a consequence of years of insatiable
greed and the misguided and wicked love affair with un-
righteous mammon.
CEOs, in a bid to attain higher quarterly earnings and
higher share prices to fuel their ever fattening bonuses,
are the ultimate examples of what unbridled greed can do to a man. Be careful of greed. It is the uncon-
trolled desire of things innocuous at first sight. Greed will make you a very unethical person. What you
are doing may not be against the law of the land but because you put aside any ethical thoughts you will
think of ways and means to circumvent the law just to make a quick buck regardless of the dire conse-
quence to others. I remember, early in my career as an investment banker, that we did not put a company
for public listing when we felt it against public interest – you did not list a hospital because the profit ob-
jective will conflict against public good. Alas, the situation is different now. You can sell anything even if it
is dubious so long as you declare it to be dubious. Thus even brothels listed in stock exchanges in the
Netherlands now!
Retrospect 22
Greed often starts off imperceptibly with a noble purpose; you may desire a better living standard for
yourself and your family, a bigger flat but not ostentatious, a more comfortable car, an occasional holiday.
These are legitimate desires especially if you work hard for it. But desire, when uncontrolled, easily de-
generates to greed. You become discontent with your lot and start comparing yourself with your more
successful peers. You want something and you want it in a hurry. And if you do not get what you want,
you become bitter and discontent and worse of all you may even murmur against God!
This is exactly what the Psalmist Asaph felt as he penned in Ps 73. I love the Bible for it shows us that
whatever human frailties we suffer from are not peculiar to me or to you, for the saints of old have gone
through it and written it down for our learning. Asaph fretted over his situation and envied the apparent
carefree life of the wicked rich until he went into the sanctuary where the Lord revealed to him that the
riches of the wicked is a judgment against them to set them onto the path of destruction (as they feel
they do not need God; but note this does not mean all rich men are unsaved). In contrast Asaph realized
that he was continually upheld and guided by God even unto the day of his home going (Ps 73:23-24)
and this led him to burst out in grateful praise – “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none
upon earth that I desire beside Thee.” Let God be your strength, let Him be your portion, find your entire
satisfaction in Him.
Learn the meaning of contentment which emanates from true godliness (which means being conformed
to the image of Christ). This is indeed great gain. Contentment will guard you against being discontent
with the lot God has given to you, guard you against bitterness and worse of all against murmuring
against God. Eccl 7:14 – “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath
set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him”. Your contentment
should not be in things you possess or in the circumstances you find yourself in whether in days of pros-
perity or adversity. We cannot explain the vicissitudes of life – they are in God’s hands. The only thing we
can do is to acknowledge, believe and praise the Lord that He is our all in all, our all sufficiency, our satis-
faction and our saving portion!
Of course being contented does not mean you are indolent, where there is no applying of yourself to the
calling that God has put you in be it even that of a humble but high calling of a housewife. It does not
mean that you do not exercise yourself to make full use of the talent God has given to you. After all, the
Scripture has taught us to abound always in the things of God. We are exhorted to abound in love, to
abound always in the work of the Lord – how do you show forth diligence in spiritual things if you do not
have the mental attitude to do so in more earthly things? So work hard, work honestly and diligently,
and to show forth your good conduct as a Christian so that the Name of God will be glorified.
You may become wealthy if it be the will of God. But remember not to be high-handed in your dealings
with your brethren and be ready to share. Be ready to see a need in less fortunate brethren - stretch out
with an open hand a deep generosity as that which you have received from the Lord. Be always mindful
of the work of the Kingdom of God and be ready and willing to meet the needs. Indeed, you have to be
more conscious of the stewardship that God has placed in your hands and not consume it to your own
lusts by selfish hoarding, or worse, in profligate living.
Conversely if there comes a time when you are in need – men born of a woman is full of troubles and of a
few days says the Preacher – remember you have a Lord who is the absolute Sovereign over all, even your
financial affairs. You may be very distraught, anxious and even agitated with your family over trivialities,
as you are frightened. The cares of this life seem overwhelming, but take heed of our Lord warning in
Luke 21:34 lest at any time your heart be overcharged with it. It is the time when you should be most
watchful and prayerful. Go on your knees, truly seek Him and abide in Him. Completely rely on His saving
action that has brought you into union with Christ. Like a branch in a vine simply rest in Him, trust that
He knows what is best for His glory and for your good and let Him give you the sustaining and comfort-
ing grace that you so desperately need. Remember precious verses like Isa 41:10 – “Fear thou not; for I am
with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee
with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Remember that when the chips are down you are not to resort to short cuts. Do not let the great evil of
covetousness set in. Instead, you are to mortify covetousness too. Covetousness is truly very heinous - it
Retrospect 23
is likened to idolatry! Remember Heb 13:5 – “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
This God is your God, your Lord in whom you owe grateful obedience to. He is our Father in heaven and
we His children by faith in His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Seek God, behold His beauty in all
His holiness and glory, enquire of Him in your secret place of prayer, pour out your wants, frustrations and
anxieties to Him. Praise Him for His goodness and lovingkindness, that the Judge of all the earth will
surely do all things well.
! !
Conclusion
I hope this will galvanize you to seek the Lord in His word and prayer. Truly He has given us everything
pertaining to life and godliness. It is up to you to seize it. Do not be stubborn or slipshod. Literally tear
yourself away from any compromising situation, flee and pray through the Gospel. Meditate upon Col 3
and Rom 6, pray when you are confronted with temptation, seek the vital fellowship with a living God.
Guard your mind and do not have the mindset of the world or the flesh. “For if ye live after the flesh ye
shall die,” wrote Paul in Rom 8:13, i.e. IF YOU LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YOU ARE ABOUT TO DIE, SOMETHING
IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU. This is a solemn warning for those minding the flesh. It is not talking of
someone who repents, somebody struggling with sins. It is talking about the second death, a heartbeat
away from hell – so it is talking about a person accepted by fellow Christians but having not the Spirit of
Christ.
Always examine yourself - are you in the flesh or in the Spirit?
The answer is always found in your attitude towards the flesh. If your flesh is the governing principle in
your life, i.e. sin is no longer looked upon as an intruder, no longer some alien force trying to get into your
soul but instead the captain of your soul, you are about to die. This is not talking about people who are
struggling with sin; it is talking of people not struggling with sin but embracing it.
This is an axiom, a truism, so take heed. Be filled with Spirit and you will sing in psalms and spiritual
songs making melody to the Lord in your heart.
! !
1 Corinthians ____
Which ______ also __ _____, not __ ___ _____ which ____ ______ ________, but which ___ ____ _____
_______; comparing ________ ______ with ________.
2 Corinthians 3:_
Ye are ___ _______ _______ in our ______, _____ and ____ of ___ ___:
2 Corinthians 4:__
_______ _______ about in the ____ the _____ of ___ ____ _____, that the ____ also of _____ might be
____ ________ in ___ ____.
Ephesians ____
And ______ not the ____ ______ of ___, whereby ye are ______ unto the ___ of __________.
1 Thessalonians ____
In _____ _____ give ______: for this is the ____ __ ___ in ______ _____ concerning you.
Retrospect 24
! JAN 10, 2009
YF 28th Anniversary
To be honest, when Danny first asked me if I could chair the YF Anniversary 2009 Committee, I was
screaming in my head, “Nooooooooo!” However, my reply to Danny then was, “I will think about it.”
“How am I going to cater for the 80-100 people that might be turning up while maintaining the
budget?” “What door gift am I going to make that would not be deemed ‘boring’?” “What if my com-
mittee can’t agree on a theme?” “How do I find people to participate in the special item?” These
thoughts raced through my mind. In fact, the more I thought about it, the more excuses I had not to
chair this committee. The Anniversary was going to be held on the 10th of January and I foresaw prob-
lems coping with this commitment as I would be very busy with my internship and with my school
multimedia project.
After praying about it, I realised that my whole focus was way off and that all the anxiety I had
stemmed from reliance on myself. Why didn’t I consider the spiritual aspect of this whole matter? Why
am I rejecting an opportunity to serve the Lord? Fear began to ebb away as I recalled all the previous
commitments that I worried about and how the Lord had helped me.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will
help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
- Isa 41:10
The Lord has once again proved His faithfulness by providing much help through Lingting, who was in
charge of the special item and the food, Brian who was in charge of publicity, and my
sister who was the ‘postman’ when I was sick. I would like to thank those that agreed
without hesitation to help in one way or another too.
In the future, most of us might be approached to serve in areas such as the YF camp/
retreat, YF outing or YF Anniversary. Instead of being too quick to say no, I hope you
will remember this short sharing of mine and to keep in mind the spiritual aspect of
the event that you are asked to plan. Without the spiritual aspect, we are merely just
another social club. Be careful not to fall into the sin of self-sufficiency (i.e. relying on
your own strength) or worry because…
Our sufficiency is in God alone.

! Joyce Auyong
________ 6: 9-11
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and
thy want as an armed man.
______ 10: 14-15

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him
of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel
of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
CPYF 28TH ANNIVERSARY 25

Retreat IC speaks...
SECRETS 2009
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! by Brian Lim
DON’T BE ALARMED...
... This article won’t be written in code like the retreat timetable. =P
The March Retreat was a blessed time indeed, and I On a somewhat related
thank God for the opportunity to have served in it, note: Guys, remember to
together with the rest of the Uth team. As with all learn how to cook.
things, it was truly by His grace alone that everything
went smoothly. The messages were de-
livered by Brother Henry,
There was plenty of food (my goodness, the food who covered the secrets
was really plentiful) and laughter (what with the of Joy, Wisdom and Hu-
Whacko-variant we played), but most importantly, mility – Christian virtues
there was plenty of spiritual feeding that came in the that are often overlooked
form of three messages and an unforgettable ses- or poorly understood by a
sion on Christian character and etiquette. world that wants only to
seize everything it can
The session on Christian character and etiquette and enjoy the “now”.
was conducted by Brother Michael and Sister Ee Na,
drawing attention to why manners are important and Here is a quick over-
how we, as Christians, must be pleasant to be with, view of the messages,
and not a pain. I think no one will soon forget the to refresh your memory
hilarious roleplay sessions we had, and the pointers if you were there, and
on good manners that came after each scene. An- to share the blessing
other part of the session was rather instructional for with you if you were
both guys and girls, as we found out what qualities not. =)
are attractive to both genders.
Personal Points 26
Secrets of Joy Instead of being wise, we often fall into ignorance,
not of the academic kind, but of the spiritual kind
Passage: 1 Peter 1:3 to 8 where we deny God and go our own way. This igno-
rance is often both a cause and consequence of sin,
Out of the three, perhaps the one thing that is most which fuels a vicious cycle where ignorance brings in
sought after by the world is joy, but what they do more ignorance.
manage to find is a fleeting, hollow version of it.
Brother Henry shared with us the secret to finding The solution is, of course, wisdom. Wisdom, Solo-
true, lasting joy, and it lies in having our focus set mon writes, is the “principal thing” that we should
firmly on Christ alone. True joy does not come from crave for above all else, and for Christians, wisdom
what is around us and does not depend on our pre- is a reverential fear of the Lord. Thus, wisdom gives
sent state – it is not circumstantial. Instead, it is posi- us a right relationship with God, and this in turn
tional, where our relation with Christ is the source of rights our relationship with others. Wisdom teaches
our joy. The knowledge that we are saved by God us prudence – how to handle things in a manner
and bought by Christ!s precious blood, and promised pleasing to God.
an eternal inheritance by a Guarantor who is perfect
and never-changing, should be our cause for joy. We are also told to “exalt her (wisdom)”. Bro Henry
With that focus, we can still find drew attention to the word “exalt”,
joy no matter what our situation, noting that is means to give value
because while everything else is and honour to something that is
subject to change, our position not usually deemed as something
has been secured by Christ, and of high estate. The wisdom we are
our inheritance has been insured to seek after as Christians has lit-
by God, the same yesterday, to- tle value with the world, so for us
day and forever. to exalt true wisdom, we require
an independence of mind from the
Yet we sometimes misunderstand world!s thinking, to be able to seek
what it means to be joyful and be- after spiritual instead of material
lieve that if we have true joy, we things.
should be able to laugh in the face
of great calamity. This, however, is It is clear, then, that the honour
not the case. The joy that comes mentioned in verse 8 refers to
from God is not a wild (or “wow”) spiritual honour. With true wisdom,
joy, but a “quiet” joy that is sub- we will have the ability to rise
dued and not usually expressed in above the problems that bog down
words. other less “wise” people.
As an example of the value of the “crown of glory”

Secrets of Wisdom that wisdom can deliver to us, Brother Henry drew
attention to the fact that wisdom was to Solomon a
Passage: Proverbs 4: 7 to 9 better crown than his physical, earthly throne. If
Solomon, who possessed an astonishing amount of
Wisdom is something that people of the world seek, wealth, esteemed wisdom better than it all, then we
but their search is aimed at a different kind of wis- should learn from his testimony and seek after wis-
dom, and for a different purpose. The wisdom often dom above riches.
sought for pertains to earthly things, and aims to
benefit the flesh. True wisdom comes from God, and
so the Bible is the only place we can go if we want to
obtain wisdom. Yet, we have to do more that under-
stand that wisdom comes from God – we must truly
believe that we can find wisdom within the pages of
the Bible.
CPYF March Retreat 2009 - ‘Secrets’ 27

Secrets of Humility
Passage: 1 Peter 5:5-7 PERSONAL POINTS

This issue we have our newest Uth Chronicle
As a note, humility features in our YF theme for
this year (Myself Aside, Jesus Inside) and was Member, Samuel, and someone who thinks wiping
covered by Brother Henry earlier in the year, dur- table is an excellent form of exercise, Hui Min!
ing the first cottage meeting of 2009.
Full Name
Three stages of Christian humility were high- Samuel Chia Soon Yee
lighted in the message. Stage 1 is where the Is Currently
Christian has not yet been convinced of the ne- on a very loooong holiday
cessity of humility. Stage 2 is where humility be- As a
gins to grow, but the Christian prays more that he awe-inspiring relief teacher
will be delivered from troubles that may develop
At the Age
humility. Finally, Stage 3 is where a Christian is
16 11/12 (Collator's note:
fully matured in humility, as Paul demonstrated
when he had a thorn in his flesh. as of 15/03/09)
He Likes
As a Christian virtue, it must be noted that humility Sport, Computer games,
is not weakness, neither is it timidity. Humility is, in food
fact, that highest grace a Christian can have. It is And Hopes to be
on humility that other Christian graces are built, a good Christain, a pro-
because thanks to it we know we cannot do any- mechanical engineer
thing by ourselves, and we depend on God in- When the Rapture comes, he would most likely
stead of ourselves. be gorging myself with food.
To keep our pride in check, we must remember

that spiritually, we are bankrupt – lower than beg-
gars and even more helpless and disabled than
Full Name
they are, and we cannot save ourselves. It is only
Thong Hui Min
through God!s grace and mercy that we are
saved, and that we are blessed with all that we Is Currently
now possess. Thus, the more we love God, the Year One Bio
more we will understand our baseness and the Sci student at
less we will love self. NTU :)
As a
But we must also understand that humility is not at student
odds with greatness. Proverbs 22:4 tell us that “By At the age
humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and 19
honour, and life.” She likes
food, hiking, backpacking, beach, swimming,
Finally, Brother Henry spoke on the wonder of to be of some help to others, jogging, being
humility, which is total reliance on God, and it
alone at times, shopping for stuff I need, gal-
leads us to live our life responsibly, being prudent
frens, exploring places with rich heritage or
and wise, all the while still being humble and giv-
ing credit to God. To achieve this, we must also culture, flowers, guitar, learning something
learn not to deal with things with our own strength new, chill out at coffee club, stayovers, being
and ability, and instead cast all our care on Christ. independent, dogs.
And hopes to be
May we remember what we have learnt from the a really good teacher and a great friend to
March Retreat, and apply it into our lives. her peers
When the Rapture comes, she would most likely
be at some chill out places.
Personal Points 28
YF - YAF
COMBINED meeting
BY SAMUEL CHIA
Hello readers! Agent SC here reporting on the most recent

YF and YAF combined meeting held not so long ago.
The meeting started at 5 instead of the usual 5.30 and

there were quite a lot of people who turned up. Upon en-
try into the sanctuary, we were each given a card with a
letter and a number on each side of the card. At first, I
was puzzled when I received the card. It was later ex-
plained to us that we would need it for ice-breakers.
We were then told to split into groups according to the numbers on our cards. Those with
the number “1” would have to sit in the front row, those with the number “2” would have
to sit in the second row and so on. This was so that we would get to know brethren from
other fellowship groups better. It was then time for service and the preacher for that day
was Rev Jeffrey Khoo. In a nutshell, the message was about how blessed it is to be re-
buked by brethren when you fall into sin and how poisonous and deceitful are the kisses of
an enemy.
After service, it was time for part two of the ice-breakers. This time we had to make use
of the colour and the letters on our cards. We had to form new groups with others having
the same coloured cards as us and then form a food related word with the letters we have.
My group's word was "sirloin" (hmmm...yum,yum). There were also words like "escargo"
from the other groups. Sadly, none of those were on the dinner menu as some of us ex-
pected.
It was later time for the last and final part of the ice-breakers. We were divided into YFs
and YAFs and what awaited us was a game of Pictionary. We were also given themes for
our questions instead of the usual random ones, so it was like charades, hangman and art
all in one. After an intense usage of ink, paper and imagination, the YAF finally emerged
victorious. We finally closed in a word of prayer before heading down for dinner.
Dinner time! And on the table was a huge spread of dishes including two tubs of rice and
the local delicacy, laksa. The food was really nice, little wonder
why it was finished within an hour. Anyways, it was a really
blessed and wonderful meeting and I hope that more people
would attend more of such meetings in the future. =D
God bless!
YF - YAF Combined Meeting 29

My Brethren Lies
Over The Ocean
Hark! It’s Johan, from Perth, Australia!
Greetings to you all in the blessed name of our Lord and Sav-
iour Jesus Christ!
It’s been about a year and half since I came down under to
continue with my tertiary education. God has really been
good to me throughout my time here. Once again, I thank God
for this opportunity to be here to study Physiotherapy. It has
been something that I wanted to do since I was 14. Despite my
A level grades being only average, (or below average, I would
say), God has been so kind to open doors to alternate pathways
for me to walk down the path to become a health professional.
Being in a foreign land alone is truly tough, especially when the place is filled with
the vices of the world. However, the Lord has raised and sustained Faith Presbyterian
Church, which Reverend Errol Stone is a pastor of. I thank and praise God for the
church and Rev Stone’s family. They stand firm on God’s word and are a great bless-
ing to every student that comes to study in Perth. I thank God also for the opportunity
to be able to serve in the church in the audio-visual ministry, recording the message
Sunday after Sunday. I also have the privilege of helping with the designing of the
church website, which I’m still working on.
My BLOO 30
When I first started Year One of the courses last year, we were introduced to the many
different aspects of this profession. During some of our lectures, we were shown videos
of certain types of patients going through different types of treatment. Sometimes,
these videos got me thinking: is this really what I wanted to do? The course is really
hard and the stress that I was going through didn’t make things better. However, for
one of my interview assignments, I was assigned to one of the community facilities
where elderly cardiac patients undergo rehabilitation. My group and I were there
throughout the whole of the session and I found the joy in interacting with these folks.
Seeing the smiles that they have on their faces and seeing them getting better in terms
of cardiac fitness warms me. This is just one of the things being a physiotherapist can
do. And this is when I know that I have not chosen this path wrongly.
This year we start our proper clinical placements. Although for the first semester, we’re
only there for visits, we are still expected to interact with the patients and reports are to
be written. It is kind of overwhelming for me because we are only starting year two
and my first clinical visit is in week three of my semester! However, I’m excited and
look forward to the following three years of the course. Philippians 4:13 is a verse that
will push me on, because with Christ’s strength and wisdom, I’d be able to persevere
tough three years to come.
No matter how tough the course is, all work but no play will make
me a dull man. Besides the busy schedule, I thank God that I’ve
still been able to take time out to continue with training and also,
recently, pick up fishing. Fishing has allowed me to learn patience,
and also see more of the beautiful creatures that swim in the waters
that the Lord has made. It also takes my mind off the stressful life
in university and gets me closer to nature. Not in the sense where
people go bush walking or visit the nature reserve, but sitting by the
river or the sea, be it under the bridge or on a jetty, listening to the
waves, smelling the aroma of the salt water and waiting for a fish
to bite on your bait. It helps me to clear my mind when I am too
burdened with the information learnt in school over the week and
start afresh.
That’s would be all for my update for you guys back home. Hope to see you all soon.
In Christ,
Johan Wong
My BLOO 31
COTTAGEMEETING
January 31, 2009
“Myself Aside, Jesus Inside”

2 Corinthians 4:1-10
By Wella Ong
The first YF cottage meeting of this year was held on 31st January and it was a fruit-
ful and blessed time of fellowship where there was no lack of warmth (food too!),
bonding as well as time to catch up for those who have returned from their studies
overseas.
Most importantly and definitely apt, was the message itself when Brother Henry
shared with us what’s behind 2009’s YF theme: Myself Aside, Jesus Inside.
We saw how the apostle Paul had victory in his ministry from 2 Corinthians 4:1-10 by
having a ‘motto’ just like this year’s theme. Also, we are reminded that even when
we are experiencing lesser problems in life, we are to remain reliant on HIM.
Brother Henry summarised the message with the acronym HIM:
H – Humility, as mentioned in verse 7, where we are reminded to put away our pride
and self-sufficiency, and called to put on humility because we are but dust and
earthen vessels.
I – Immunity, as described in verses 8 and 9. We can be “troubled on every side, yet
not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed.” Yet, while this does not mean that we will not feel
the pain of our troubles as we press on in fighting sin, we
will be spared the despondency that leads to despair and
drives those of the world to suicide.
M – Majesty, as we can draw from verse 10, where we are
to be ready to die to ourselves, just as the apostle Paul did
by “bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus”.
When we die to ourselves, we can manifest more of Christ’s
majesty.
Self-sufficiency, or pride, is often the silent, insidious sin
that roots itself deeply within our characters early on and
becomes difficult to weed out as time progresses. This
stumbling block to our spiritual growth can also manifest
itself as a bitter root in either ministry or fellowship.
I’ve read that same passage from the Bible a few times in
my personal quiet time, yet at that point in time, I felt that
the message was directed at me because I was guilty of al-
lowing pride to take hold of me in my thoughts and my rela-
tion with people at work and in school. So it comes as a
wake up call and timely reminder, early on in the new year,
Cottage Meeting @ Jonan’s - ‘Myself Aside, Jesus Inside’ 32

COTTAGEMEETING January 31, 2009 that my sufficiency is in God because it is pointless to continue on the track of com-
paring myself to others, or feeling compelled to be better than others because truly,
I know that at the end of the day, I am nothing without God.
How precious it is! To be reminded of the Lord’s Sovereignty and promise to take care
of everything and any trouble that I may continue to face or struggle with, because
He has promised not to forsake me nor let me fall into despondency. I need only to
look to Him always (even when life seems smooth-sailing) and allow Him to take the
driver’s seat in my life!
Here are my take-home lessons for every-day
application:
1) Humility is the antidote to humiliation.
2) Let Jesus in when we have troubles.
3) Don’t compare yourself with people, but
compare yourself to God and we will remem-
ber that we are but earthen vessels.
To God be the glory, and may we continue to
strive to grow more and more into His like-
ness as we hurtle into the year ahead!
Cottage Meeting @ Jonan’s - ‘Myself Aside, Jesus Inside’ 33

t
TEENZ h a t t a l k
BY ANONYMOUS
Personally, I haven't been attending YF for quite some time due to many reasons haha..
What I like about YF: It’s very warming to be in the midst of the YFers (: They are very encour-
aging, just to mention a few names like Lingting, Jon Ng, Elvin, Phoebe, Jon Tay, Suling, Hui Min
etc.. yeah (: The messages are very applicable and meaningful to me too!! <3
How different is YF from Teenz: YF is pretty much different from Teenz to me. In Teenz we are all
consistently guided by Bro Milton, it is like a nurturing ground. As for YF, its like we've all grown
up, capable of handling our own problems and the people around us are just there to share one
another's burdens more than correcting and instructing the person (: Lastly, I thank God for all
the YFers and pray that they will continue to be an instrument of God <33 Heh, I hope that
many more Teenz will be encouraged to attend YF too.. I'll do my best to attend but as it ends
quite late, its a little inconvenient :P!
______ 13: 1-2

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are
ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that re-
sist shall receive to themselves damnation.
____________ 6:16-17
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of
the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from
among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you,
Teenz that talk 34

short and broad
january
teens |
april
that talk :O
2009
1st jan
Happy New Year!
1st Leaders' Retreat held at Elvin Siew's place. Ko Lingkang shared
from Judges 7, and the story of Gideon.
3rd jan
CPYF held its Annual General Meeting. The new Exco for 2009 includes
Elvin Siew, Jonathan Ng, Danny Quah, Joy Ng, Ko Lingting, Grace
Auyong, and Joyce Au Yong.
6th jan
Bro Henry Chua begins tutoring at NUS Business School. He takes 2 tutorial groups in
Corporate Finance Fundamentals.
10th jan
CPYF's 28th Anniversary!
Rev Quek Suan Yew delivered the message entitled "Great is Thy Faithfulness".
17th Jan
YF Night!
Members are introduced to their groups for the year:
Stepping Stones, KiNG, 2ndhome and Orange.
18th jan
Fellowship Committee (FC) dinner at Jonathan Ng's house was held.
31st jan
Leaders Lunch at Dn Chia's home was held.
YF Cottage Meeting was held!at the home of Jonan Tan. Mervyn is

tasked with escorting pilgrims to the home of the "Earl of Lorong
Sari". Brother Henry Chua!expounded on!CPYF's theme!for the year:
"Myself aside, Jesus inside".
Short and Broad 35

short and broad
2nd feb
Ong Suling begins her job for Canon call center. She handles calls regarding Canon
Printers, and more recently, Canon camera lens.
6th feb
DotK meeting was held!at Grace and!Joy!Tan's home. Aunty Constance
spoke on the topic of Confidence.
11th feb
Lisa Ang flies to Sydney for a year to pursue a Degree in Nursing.
13th feb
Guys Bible Study Fellowship met at the home of Joel Quah. Uncle Thomas con-
cluded the study on the book of Philippians.
21st feb
YF Leaders' Retreat was held at the home of Jonathan Ng.
28th feb
Combined YF-YAF meeting was held in church. Dr Jeffrey Khoo spoke on "Faithful
Wounds".
9th mar
Jonathan Tay begins an exciting 4 week foray into the world of Psychiatry.
13th mar
Guys Bible Study Fellowship met!in church for a discussion on gaming.
DotK also met in church for a discussion on gossiping lead by Sis Ee Na.
15th mar
Jonathan Ng Wei Xiong finishes his National Service and received his pink IC.
14th - 18th mar

Vacation Bible School cum Family Camp was conducted in Bethel
Development Centre, Chiangrai, Thailand. Abigail, Alanna, Zachariah
Quek and family, plus Choong Kai Shuin, were involved.
20th - 21st mar

YF March Retreat on the theme of "Secrets" was organised and conducted by!the
Uth Chronicle team.!Brother Henry Chua!gave insights into the secrets of joy, wis-
dom and humility. Brother Michael and Sister Ee Na led an entertaining workshop on
relationships and etiquette.
Short and Broad 36

short and broad
23rd mar
Joel Quah starts his coaching job at Ngee Ann poly for their American football team. He
goes down to their field every Monday and Wednesday for a thoroughly rewarding time
nurturing (some say insulting) them on the field.
27th mar
FCM NUS at Bukit Timah had their inaugural meeting. Bro Paul Ferguson spoke on the theme
of Separation.
28th mar
2ndhome and Orange had their first combined group outing. There was
much laughter during the games, where the YFers showed that they could rejoin TinyTots if
they wanted.
KiNG also had a group outing. They ate sushi and bonded over board games.
4th apr
Brian Lim’s first article appeared in a few newspapers including today and Straits Times. The
article was about Singaporeans perception of Death, and was completed during his intern-
ship. He is looking forward to end his internship this month, after starting it in September..
10th - 11th apr

YAF Day Retreat was held in church. Paul Ferguson spoke
on the theme of Sacrifice and Victory.
The Uth Chronicle invites you to list past events (and future ones) with us. Please drop us a
mail at uth.chronicle@gmail.com, and we’ll do the necessary writeups. :)
!
!
Calendar of Events
April 2009: Romans 12 May 2009: June 2009:
2 The Dysfunctional Family ~Bro 6 YF Outing

4 A Consecrated Life ~Dn Han Henry
13 Group Outing
11 Unity in Diversity ~Dn Han 9 The Ambitious Parent ~Rev Errol
Stone
20 No YF in view of Church Fam-
18 ~Bro Lingkang ily Camp
16 The Striving Siblings ~Dn Mil-
ton
25 ~Bro Lingkang 27 No YF in view of Combined
Youth Conference
23 The Wayward Child ~Rev Koshy
15th-20th: Church Family Camp
30 The Filial Child (Parents Ap-
preciation Day) ~Eld Seah
25th-27th: Combined Youth Confer-
ence
Short and Broad 37

YF-Speak!
on secrets
I am Sec 5 - Marcus i used to blame my sister for the sorrows & hurt she put me through.
now I accept that it was all in God's will, even though i may not know why. =)
“I have always been arrogant and self-
centered and look down on a lot of people”
I sometimes hear & read about the super-rich & am envious.
I've been playing computer since a kid
I really don't like living in Beijing - Rachael
I love laughing out loud about the things I think in my
head. Even though people around me think I'm crazy. I often compare myself to others & I think that's
why I'm having a problem with humility.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A FAKE/ACTOR (SELF RELIANCY)

I am the blue power ranger at night - Derick =)
Whenever I go somewhere I think
everyone is out to get me. Subject to a desire after vain glory, the sin of
pride and struggling to keep a pure desire for God.
!"#$%&'(!(&)*(+%,-)..-/
I talk to myself.
I used to surf porn and I definitely am not proud of it All the time, in my head.
I'm irritated by many CPYFers. I sometimes eat my lunch in a toilet

skipped QT many times. - Raph cubicle when at school. - Mervyn
Used to be in S.S. (secret society) - Gabriel Teo I wish I were popular
But it's not a secret anymore if I told I have a low self esteem of myself
you!!!
I'm afraid of bugs!! =S Rely on oneself I was a gang leader in primary school!
I yawn a lot when I lie. -eLt

I can't stand my classmates.
(or at least a few of them).
A lot of the time, my bears provide better I scared of insects - jonan
conversation than my real friends. -jQ I like to sing & dance in the shower
I'm always afraid I'm afraid of growing old and being I get jealous of my closest
that I'll be bored completely reliant on people. =( friends a lot
+ miss earth, and
all it's glamour when My secret is: I have a secret which I will tell I wish I could see what
others are thinking
I'm in heaven. no one, but share with only one. - UAVI
without them knowing
Secret...
I am terrified of the concept of heaven I want to try drugs.
Unhealthily high tolerance of pain... - Elvin
YF-Speak! 38
A Publication Of
Calvary Pandan Youth Fellowship
Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church

201 Pandan Gardens
Singapore 609337
Email: uth.chronicle@gmail.com
“Edify, Educate, Engage”

Uth Chronicle 2009-II

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Issue II 2009

Advisor Bro. Henry Chua

Heylo dear reader. =)

God bless your reading! =)

Above: Freemason Initiation, 18th century. Picture: Wikipedia.

by Rev. Errol D. Stone

2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1

Freemasonry is considered most of the American Presidents and well known

An Insight Into Freemasonry 3

The History of Freemasonry

An Insight Into Freemasonry 4

An Insight Into Freemasonry 5

An Insight Into Freemasonry 6

An Insight Into Freemasonry 7

An Insight Into Freemasonry 8

The Traditional Penalties of Freemasonry

An Insight Into Freemasonry 9

An Insight Into Freemasonry 10

An Insight Into Freemasonry 11

There is no doubting that Freemasonry is

An Insight Into Freemasonry 12

An Insight Into Freemasonry 13

The Secrets of Sinning 14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Regret is often defined as sorrow, aroused by circumstances beyond one's

The Secrets of Sinning 15

12 Secrets of Isabelle’s Mummy (and Daddy) 16

12 Secrets of Isabelle’s Mummy (and Daddy) 17

12 Secrets of Isabelle’s Mummy (and Daddy) 18

retrospect /!r"tr#$sp"kt/ [re-truh-spekt]

“Money Makes the World Go Round”

Our sufficiency is in God alone.

______ 10: 14-15

CPYF 28TH ANNIVERSARY 25

As an example of the value of the “crown of glory”

CPYF March Retreat 2009 - ‘Secrets’ 27

Passage: 1 Peter 5:5-7 PERSONAL POINTS

To keep our pride in check, we must remember

Hello readers! Agent SC here reporting on the most recent

The meeting started at 5 instead of the usual 5.30 and

YF - YAF Combined Meeting 29

“Myself Aside, Jesus Inside”

Cottage Meeting @ Jonan’s - ‘Myself Aside, Jesus Inside’ 32

Cottage Meeting @ Jonan’s - ‘Myself Aside, Jesus Inside’ 33

______ 13: 1-2

Teenz that talk 34

YF Cottage Meeting was held!at the home of Jonan Tan. Mervyn is

Short and Broad 35

14th - 18th mar

20th - 21st mar

Short and Broad 36

10th - 11th apr

2 The Dysfunctional Family ~Bro 6 YF Outing

Short and Broad 37

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE A FAKE/ACTOR (SELF RELIANCY)

I'm irritated by many CPYFers. I sometimes eat my lunch in a toilet

Used to be in S.S. (secret society) - Gabriel Teo I wish I were popular

I yawn a lot when I lie. -eLt

Calvary Pandan Youth Fellowship

Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church