Responding to Foul Play

Luke 6:27-36
27But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

So far in this great speech Jesus has been motivating his followers by outlining why following him matters so much. He is God’s King and as such following him by faith means that we’re on his team and so in the kingdom of God.

The difference being on Jesus’ team makes
Now Jesus turns to tell those on his team how to play. It’s really important that we notice that these instructions come after he’s told his followers that they are already blessed and in the kingdom of God (verse 20). It’s inherent to human nature that we want to be blessed or accepted on the basis of what we do, but those who follow Jesus are blessed not because of what they do but because of what Jesus has done in his life, death and resurrection. Jesus intends us to be radically transformed, and this can only happen when by his Spirit he takes control of our lives and starts to change us; we’re tempted to think that if we live rightly then we’ll get in his kingdom, but the reality is that it’s only if we’re in his kingdom that we’re able to live rightly.

Responding to foul play
How hard is it not to retaliate to foul play? How much harder is it to actively love that person? Everything in you that wants justice wants to get them back, to put a dig in off the ball or hold a grudge against them. But Jesus tells those on his team to love your enemy, and do good to those who curse you (verse 28). His instructions about turning the other cheek and giving to the one who steels from you, are not so much literal commands but powerful illustrations of this principle (though Jesus himself did turn the other cheek when he was struck). It’s a radically different way of playing to those that aren’t on his team, where foul play often just breeds foul play and one dig is returned by another. Instead it will look like shaking the hand of the guy who’s been kicking you all game – even if he doesn’t apologise, or not slagging off the girl who’s cheated – even when you know she didn’t deserve to win.

Power to change
This is a hard standard to keep up to, because as Jesus explains in verses 32 to 34 it goes against every inclination that we have to do good to those who do us good, and dismiss those that do us wrong. However, like any great coach he also shows the method of change; verse 35 explains that it’s keeping our perspective on God’s mercy in being kind to us – even when we were ungrateful and evil. If God hasn’t retaliated against us and our wrongdoing how can we seek retaliation against others? And if he is merciful to us even though we wronged Him then shouldn’t we also be merciful to those that wrong us?

So this week ask God to change you and as you think over what he’s done for you love your enemies – remembering that great is your reward in heaven.

Team TCC vs St Andrew's Cathedral Youths

The Hiding Place
05th May 2007
10am

Players
GK : JJ
DF : Brian, Lawrence, Edwin, Kaixin, Clement
MF: Gary, Michael, Ben, Darren, Roger, Mark, Zech, Melvin
ST : Victor, Charlie

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 5 - 2 St Andrew's Cathedral Youths
(Halftime : 2-1)

Scorers
Victor(2)
Ben
Gary
Darren

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs Toshiba Data Team

The Hiding Place
01st May 2007
10am

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, Eric, Edwin, Zhengde
MF: Gary, Michael, Keegan, Clement, Ben, Roger, Mark, Alex
ST : JJ, Galvin

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 2 - 1 Toshiba Data Team
(Halftime : 0-0)

Scorers
Galvin
Roger

Yellow Cards
Nil

[AC '07] Team TCC vs Asian Evangelical Fellowship Eagles

The Hiding Place
29th April 2007
5pm

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, David, Lawrence, Kaixin, Joshua
MF: Gary, Michael, Edwin, Darren, Ben, Clement, Zech, Alex
ST : JJ, Galvin

AWOL
Tim

Result
Team TCC 0 - 3 Asian Evangelical Fellowship Eagles
(Halftime : 0-1)

Scorers
Nil

Yellow Cards
Nil

Red Cards
Nil



Agape Cup 2007 Results

Position	Change	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	Scored	Conceded	Points
5	-4	2	1	0	1	2	3	3

Yellow Cards	Red Cards	Demerit Points
2	1	6

Next Opponents
Team TCC vs Cherith Baptist Church
The Hiding Place
13th May 2007
5pm



To see the fixture list for Agape Cup 2007, click here

To see the full league standings for Agape Cup 2007, click here

[AC '07] Team TCC vs Hing Hwa Methodist

The Hiding Place
22nd April 2007
5pm

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, Lawrence, Eric, Kaixin
MF: Gary, Michael, Ben, Darren, Zech, David, Alex, Roger
ST : JJ, Adrian, Victor

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 2 - 0 Hing Hwa Methodist
(Halftime : 2-0)

Scorers
Gary
Victor

Yellow Cards
Eric(2)

Red Cards
Eric

*77 Eric Gwee is suspended for the next match.



Agape Cup 2007 Results

Position	Change	Played	Win	Draw	Loss	Scored	Conceded	Points
1	-	1	1	0	0	2	0	3

Yellow Cards	Red Cards	Demerit Points
2	1	6

Next Opponents
Team TCC vs Asian Evangelical Fellowship Eagles
The Hiding Place
29th April 2007
5pm



To see the fixture list for Agape Cup 2007, click here

To see the full league standings for Agape Cup 2007, click here

Team TCC vs RiverLife Church

Siglap Secondary School Pitch
15th April 2007
5pm

Players
GK : Sharom
DF : Brian, David, Eric, Lawrence, Kaixin
MF: Ben, Darren, Zech, Michael, Alex, Mark
ST : Adrian, Victor

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 1 - 1 RiverLife Church
(Halftime : 0-0)

Scorers
Adrian

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs Wesley YM

The Hiding Place
08th April 2007
5pm

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, David, Lawrence, Joshua, Ben
MF: Gary, Michael, Chengwei, Clement, Roger, Zech, Roger
ST : JJ, Victor

AWOL
Keegan

Result
Team TCC 0 - 0 Wesley YM
(Halftime : 0-0)

Scorers
Nil

Yellow Cards
Nil














To see more photos, please go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/40839923@N00/sets/72157600061147498/

Team TCC vs Cherith Baptist Church

Tanglin Pitch 2
06th April 2007
9am

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, Edwin, Joshua, Eric, Lawrence
MF: Gary, Zech, Darren, Chengwei, Roger, Alex
ST : JJ, Adrian, Charlie

AWOL
Michael

Result
Team TCC 1 - 2 Cherith Baptist Church
(Halftime : 0-2)

Scorers
Zech

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs HP Engineers

Farrer Park
31st March 2007
9am

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : David, Lawrence, Yew Cheong, Xiong Kun, Kaf Fei
MF: Gary, Michael, Clement, Zech, Darren, Victor, Chengwei
ST : JJ, Adrian, Soon Chan

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 9 - 0 HP Engineers
(Halftime : 4-0)

Scorers
Adrian(3)
Chengwei(2)
Michael
Clement
Soon Chan
Darren

Yellow Cards
Nil


CONGRATULATIONS TO (18)ADRIAN GOH FOR SCORING TEAM TCC'S 100TH GOAL!
(since August 2006, when team statistics were first recorded)

Team TCC vs Rongpo's Team(Black)

Marsiling Apartments Field
24th March 2007
9am

Players
GK : Bro Sidney
DF : Brian, David, Bro Lawrence, Kaixin, Zheng De
MF: Gary, Michael, Clement, Zech, Alex
ST : JJ, Adrian, Darren

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 7 - 2 Rongpo's Team(Black)
(Halftime : 5-0)

Scorers
Darren(4)
JJ(2)
Michael

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs IGNYTE

Singapore Chinese Recreation Club
17th March 2007
9am

Players
GK : Bro Sidney
DF : Brian, Bro Lawrence, Kaixin, David
MF: Melvin, Clement, Galvin, Ben, Alex,
ST : JJ, Charlie, Eric

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 1 - 0 IGNYTE
(Halftime : 0-0)

Scorers
Galvin

Yellow Cards
Nil





By Brian Lim

It was in the blistering heat of a Saturday morning that the 6th and latest edition of the quarterly game between Team TCC and IGNYTE kicked off. Dubbed the "Trinity Derby", the previous 5 games had produced 4 wins and a draw for the senior team. Coming into this game, Team TCC had yet to lose in 2007 and the players did not expect the record to fall at the hands of IGNYTE.

However, even before the kick-off, team politics combined with unfortunate last minute withdrawals seemed to put the record under threat. Captain Gary was withdrawn to allow his knee to recover from an injury suffered in the last match, while Darren and Michael 'mysteriously' appeared on the lineup of the IGNYTE side. More drama followed in the minutes prior to kick off with revelation that a player had failed to turn up for Team TCC, while on the IGNYTE side, goalkeeper Wesley failed to turn up. Despite stand-in Captain Melvin's protests, a quickly thought scheme by the IGNYTE side to poach Team TCC's players succeeded partially, with Eric to turn up for the yellow team in the first half, and JJ to turn up in between the posts for the Ignytians in the second period. The drama ensured a fierce but friendly contest would be on the cards.

IGNYTE with their imported players

Kick off saw a frentic start to the game. While weakened by the lost of their No.1 custodian, IGNYTE paraded 2 new faces which posed an unfamiliar danger to Team TCC. In the opening minutes of the half, Team TCC had the lion's share of the possesion had many good, clear chances. Striker JJ bundled 2 glittering chances over the bar when it seemed easier to put it in the back of the net, which IGNYTE stand-in goalkeeper Nicholas made 2 fantastic saves. The long ball tactics of IGNYTE failed to trouble the Team TCC defence with the towering David Chng snuffing out every IGNYTE pass.

Another shot goes wide

In the latter minutes of the first half, however, the younger and fitter legs of IGNYTE started to show their worth. Passes started to go astray, and the tiring Team TCC players found it hard to chase every single pass. Bouyed by the temporary but important presence of Eric in their team, IGNYTE slowly began to find their footing and started to attack more. Several bad calls by the referee did not help help Team TCC, and IGNYTE's first chance came when a free kick was given on the edge of the TCC box. Nonetheless, Team TCC goalkeeper Bro Sidney was rarely troubled in the first half and it ended nil all.

Second half saw JJ switched over to become IGNYTE goalkeeper, and Eric making a return to the green of Team TCC. After months of waiting, Eric was finally given his chance as striker, and the move seemed to reap immediate dividends. A through ball from Brian gave Eric his first touch as striker, and his physical presence seemed to intimidate the smaller sized IGNYTE players who did not dare to tackle him. It was Team TCC all the way in the first 15mins of the seecond half as Ben's through passes seemed to find Eric almost magnetically.

Ben looking for Eric again

On one such foray down the right flank, Galvin took on the IGNYTE defence and won. Stuck on the flank, he conjured a dipping shot that was disguised as a cross, and JJ could only look on as the ball floated into the upper left corner of the net. GOAL! There were questions asked of his true intentions, but it was still a goal Ronaldinho would be proud of.

In the middle of the second half, a goal scored by Eric was disallowed for a supposed foul on JJ. Eric then had to go off due to a back injury, and Alex came on as striker. It was a move that almost paid off as Alex controlled a lobbed pass with a sublime first touch and nearly scored with his side footed shot. On that occasion, JJ was well and truly beaten but not the upright.

However, JJ saved the IGNYTE team on countless occasions. A quickly taken free kick by Brian saw Ben send a rasping shot that seemed bound for the bottom right corner of the goal, only to see JJ palming the ball to safety. The shock of almost going two down provided the catalyst for IGNYTE's revival, as the Ignytians finally woke up and started to attack more. A free kick taken by Mark caused major confusion in the Team TCC penalty box, and the ball was poked into the back of the Team TCC in the ensuing chaos. Alas, the offside whistle denied IGNYTE their goal. Two good passes saw Darren thru on goal twice with only the keeper to beat, and had not Bro Sidney conjure up 2 outstanding saves , Darren would have cemented his position as the Judas of Team TCC. The second half ended with IGNYTE dominating the game but with no goal to show for their efforts.

Mark finds out what Bro Sidney is made of

In the end, the experience of Team TCC proved to be the difference, inspite of IGNYTE's much superior fitness. The scoreline indicates a vastly improved performance from the Ignytians, although they would be disappointed that they have been consigned to a 5th defeat. For Team TCC, it was a largely disappointing performance, given their usual high standards. Already, they would be thinking of setting things right, especially the scoreline, in the 7th edition of the "Trinity Derby".

To see more photos from the 6th "Trinity Derby", please go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/40839923@N00/sets/

The Trinitarian - Issue 9

To view the full article, click here

To view The Trinitarian, click here

Team TCC vs Aldersgate Methodist Church

Fairfield Methodist Secondary School
25th February 2007
3pm

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, Bro Lawrence, Eric, Kaixin
MF: Gary, Michael, Roger, Ben, Clement, Zech, Cheng Wei
ST : JJ, Adrian, Victor

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 0 - 0 Aldersgate Methodist Church
(Halftime : 0-0)

Scorers
Nil

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs FCBC Team

Tanglin Pitch 4
17th February 2007
9am

Players
GK : Wesley
DF : Brian, David, Eric, Zhang De
MF: Gary, Edwin, Clement, Roger, Ah Ho, Darren, Alex
ST : JJ, Adrian, Victor

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 3 - 1 FCBC Team
(Halftime : 1-0)

Scorers
Victor
Roger
Eric

Yellow Cards
Nil

Team TCC vs Church of Praise

Bendemeer Secondary School Field
11th February 2007
3pm

Players
GK : Kelvin
DF : Brian, David, Bro Lawrence, Jiahao, Joshua
MF: Gary, Michael, Keegan, Cheng Wei, Clement, Zech, William
ST : JJ, Victor

AWOL
Nil

Result
Team TCC 5 - 2 Church of Praise
(Halftime : 2-1)

Scorers
JJ(3)
Victor
William

Yellow Cards
Nil