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New Excitement in Studying the Bible

Written by Ben Toh
13 Comments

I often say unashamedly that the best thing UBF ever did for me was to arouse within me the utmost desire to read and study the Bible every day of my life. This passion for reading and studying and devouring Scripture has not subsided in me since I came to UBF and became a Christian in 1980.

Of course, without a doubt, this is God Himself pursuing me (Jn 4:23b) through UBF and through the influence of UBF people, in particular Samuel Lee. I am sorry if it is painful for some to read this, since Lee has hurt others directly and indirectly. But Lee did inspire me to love the Bible as the very “word of God” (1 Thess 2:13). Why God choose to use Lee to inspire me to love Scripture (Ps 119:97, 103; 1:2), I can only conjecture and speculate.Read More

Article, Emotions, Scripture

Introducing Ubmarried.org

Written by Mj Peace
23 Comments

christian_coupleIn light of Samirbrazil’s article about Marriage by Faith (MBF) and the fact that marriage is such an important topic (the second most vital decision of your life). I would like to run a pitch before all of you respected ubfriends.net readers.

It’s not a new idea. There have been murmurings about it for quite a while.

It’s called: ubmarried.org

Rationale:

1.) MBF is time consuming. It takes a really long time to wait to get introduced to someone. Honestly, if you think about it, if, hypothetically, a given chapter has 5 eligible bachelors/bachelorettes, when that chapter director/Bible Teacher goes and asks a different chapter about potential spouses they usually ask only about one at a time and the other four are left hanging. This website will cut the waiting time. Very necessary as biological clocks are tick tick ticking…Read More

Article, Marriage

How to Build a Great Church … from a Basketball Coach

Written by Ben Toh
19 Comments

bThe great coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Gregg Popovich, gave lucid answers as to what makes a great team. He should know. He has won five NBA championships. He explains how to build a great franchise and what he looks for in players. His answers equally well explain how to build a great church and what he looks for in a Christian leader. By interchanging a basketball team and a church, here’s what he said:Read More

Advice, Article, Leadership

Bad Bible Study

Written by Ben Toh
4 Comments

Mt15.8-9This is a follow up article to Only Bible Study Can Help You. “Bad Bible Study” popped into my head when I heard about a movie I don’t intend to watch: “Bad Grandpa.”

The greatest gift God bestowed on me through UBF was to love Bible study (Ps 119:97; 1:2) as the way to truly knowing God (Jn 17:3), being filled with the Spirit (Jn 6:63; Gal 5:22-23), and experiencing his trinitarian presence, love and immeasurable grace (Ps 34:8; Jer 31:3; 1 Ti 1:15). So I am as pro-Bible study as one can possibly ever be ever since I had a mystical conversion and became a Christian in 1980 while studying the Bible with a UBF missionary. I am a firm believer that grasping Scripture aright is the way to transcendence and to solving and resolving any problem in all of life. I have personally found this to be true. I’m sure that countless others have as well.Read More

Article, Scripture

Only Bible Study Can Help You

Written by Ben Toh
24 Comments

I truly believe that Bible study is beneficial and helpful but…

Once while inviting students to Bible study on the UIC campus, a student expressed that he wanted to go to medical school. So I told him confidently, “Studying the Bible will help you get into medical school.” He was quite surprised and very interested and intrigued. He said, “Really?” I said, “Absolutely!” He was persuaded. He joined UBF, came faithfully to Sunday worship service, as we studied the Bible every week for a few years. Then he was accepted to medical school. That was the last time I saw him. Well, Bible study surely worked! I guess it just didn’t work the way I had expected.Read More

Article, Scripture

Four Ways to Identify Your Personality

Written by Ben Toh
16 Comments

4personality-types“You’re just anti-UBF” (or “pro-UBF”). Or “You’re just a conservative Republican.” Or “You’re just a liberal Democrat.” Or “You’re just stubborn, selfish, self-centered, self-obsessed and stupid!”

No one likes to be categorized or caricatured. Yet, people do have preferences, particular traits, personalities, biases and giftings. Also, almost everyone has some (highly annoying) idiosyncrasy! UBF likes people who are loyal, committed and who do not question or disagree with or challenge their leader(s). Because of this UBF also does not like people with opposite traits. Here are some traits UBF leaders do not like. People are indeed different. So it would be beneficial to understand our differences.Read More

Advice, Article, Emotions, Personality

Return of the Forests

Written by Forestsfailyou
8 Comments

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The last time I posted on a ubfriends related site had to have been over 4 months ago. Things have been totally crazy since then, as I have been working full time and going to graduate school full time while planning for my marriage. A lot has happened since then. I plan on today talking about my time in Chicago for Samuel Lee’s Memorial (read: worship) ceremony, and talking later about my marriage and weddings.
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