Extracts from newsletter by Rick Warren last year this time around.
A time to reflect and evaluate if we have achieve some and if we need to carry forward to 2011.
Five New Year’s resolutions for any Christian leader
One of the most misunderstood Beatitudes of Jesus may be one of the most important for you to master in 2010: “Happy are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Let’s be honest. It sounds ludicrous. You’d think to inherit the earth you’d have to climb over everyone else first. But we’ve lost the true meaning of meekness. Meek doesn’t mean weak. Jesus and Moses were described as meek, and they certainly were anything but weak. Meekness really means strength under control. The Greek word referred to a wild horse tamed or medicine that could tame a fever.
Strength under control is an important characteristic of any Christian leader. A leader who can’t control his or her strength can’t lead others to do likewise.
Here are five ways to keep your strength under control in 2010.
When someone serves you, be understanding not demanding.
Philippians 2:4-5 (GNB) says, “Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and in what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ’s.”
We’re interacting with people who serve us all the time. Waitresses, secretaries, clerks, bank tellers, and fast-food servers, for example. One of the best marks of a Christian leader is that he treats those people with dignity and respect. Are you understanding or demanding? Do you demand to see the manager every time your order is wrong? Or do you respond with grace?
Good leaders aren’t measured by how others serve them, but by how they serve others. It’s easy to respond to those who serve you with demands and a critical spirit. We’re called to do the opposite. Forgiveness should be quick. Respect should be the rule.
When somebody disappoints you, be gentle and not judgmental.
Paul tells us in Romans 14:1 (GNB), “Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions.” Happiness comes when you can accept people as they are. They shouldn’t have to reach a certain standard to be loved.
Pastor, how do you react when someone messes up in life? Are you the first to level judgment and criticism? Here’s the sad part. Many of us are secretly happy when others blow it because it makes us look like the super spiritual giant. But meekness means you are gentle and not judgmental when people disappoint you.
What angered Jesus more than anything else were self-righteous religious people who were always judging others.
When someone disagrees with you, be tender without surrender.
As a pastor, you’ve probably realized by now that you can't please everybody in life. Just about the time you get Crowd A satisfied, Crowd B gets upset. One minute you’re the hero; the next minute you’re the zero. We must be tender without surrender. One of the most important tests of spiritual maturity is how you handle people who disagree with you, contradict you, and irritate you. You have three alternatives:
You can retreat in fear.
You can attack in anger.
You can respond in love.
Meekness doesn’t mean compromising your convictions. Don’t be passive and always let other people have their way. That’s not meekness; it’s weakness. You also don’t need to react in anger. Don’t explode when someone disagrees with you.
The third option is always the best. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:24-25 (NLT) that meekness is a qualification for spiritual leadership: “The Lord’s servants must not quarrel...They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will believe the truth.” Pastor, how are you doing in this area? Are you quarrelsome? We are to gently instruct our people and hope that God will give them a change of heart.
When someone corrects you, be teachable rather than unreachable.
Meekness is a teachable spirit. Many of us who spend our lives teaching others struggle to be teachable ourselves. That’s sad. Christian leaders who are meek don’t pretend to know it all. They know they don’t have to.
James 1:19 (GNB) says, “Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Pastor, everyone means you too.
When someone from your congregation makes a constructive suggestion to you, how do you handle it? Do you get uptight and defensive? Meek people don’t have all the answers. In fact, you should be very wary of people who think they have all the answers.
Meek leaders are also open to new ideas. They’re willing to change when they learn something new.
When somebody hurts you, be an actor not a reactor.
You will be hurt in ministry. It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when. How you respond to being hurt will make a monumental difference in your ministry. Romans 12:21 (GNB) says, “Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good."We must respond to hurts with love, not retaliation.
To retaliate is to react. But to respond with forgiveness, even when the other person hasn’t asked for it, is to take the initiative.
When someone says, “You make me mad!” they are admitting that the other person has the power to control their emotions. That’s a position of weakness – not meekness. The moment that you start seeking revenge, you give up control of your life. Jesus said the meek person knows how to let it go.
What did Jesus mean when he promised, “Happy are the people who can control their reactions, for they will inherit the earth”? You’ll be in control of your situation because you’re not being controlled by it. If you are a meek person, you are no longer a victim. You control your choices.
Victor Frankl, the famous psychiatrist who went through Auchwitz said, “They took my clothes, my wife, my kids, my wedding ring. I stood naked before the SS and I realized they can take everything in my life but they cannot take my freedom to choose how I will respond to them.”
That’s real freedom. What more could you want in 2010?
Monday, December 27, 2010
The Next Year
…forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13, 14
Paul had reason to forget the past – he had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57.58). We have all done things for which we are ashamed and we live with a great sense of guilt. We have all experienced failure and live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Failure is never pleasant. It is heartbreaking to lose a job, see a relationship falter, or fail a test. But the immediate disappointment we feel when we face defeat can be turned into the joy of success if we take the right attitude. Take the case of John Mark. He had joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Cyprus and Perga but then he deserted them. At this point he was looked upon as a failure. But because he was willing to make another effort, he became a valuable asset to Barnabas on a later trip to Cyprus. Finally, when Paul was in jail, he wanted Mark with him, saying that he was ‘profitable’ to him for the ministry (2 Tim. 4:11)
If you have faced a personal defeat during 2010, don’t view it as final. Learn from it and use that temporary setback as one more step toward success for Christ. Because our hope is in Christ, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God can help us become. Don’t dwell on your past; instead grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now.
I hope that regardless of what 2010 or any previous year has been like for you, with God’s help ‘the next year’ will be a great and blessed one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Uncle Wong
Paul had reason to forget the past – he had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:57.58). We have all done things for which we are ashamed and we live with a great sense of guilt. We have all experienced failure and live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Failure is never pleasant. It is heartbreaking to lose a job, see a relationship falter, or fail a test. But the immediate disappointment we feel when we face defeat can be turned into the joy of success if we take the right attitude. Take the case of John Mark. He had joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey to Cyprus and Perga but then he deserted them. At this point he was looked upon as a failure. But because he was willing to make another effort, he became a valuable asset to Barnabas on a later trip to Cyprus. Finally, when Paul was in jail, he wanted Mark with him, saying that he was ‘profitable’ to him for the ministry (2 Tim. 4:11)
If you have faced a personal defeat during 2010, don’t view it as final. Learn from it and use that temporary setback as one more step toward success for Christ. Because our hope is in Christ, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God can help us become. Don’t dwell on your past; instead grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now.
I hope that regardless of what 2010 or any previous year has been like for you, with God’s help ‘the next year’ will be a great and blessed one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Uncle Wong
Sunday, November 28, 2010
NGC Christmas Celebration
Join us in this year celebration
Sat, 18th Dec
from 7.00 pm
and
Christmas Service
25th Dec
from 10.00am
“The True Sound of Music Story”
Making a Stand on Christian Principles
Long, long ago when I was a young man I came across a prime example of this. In 1951 I went with a church youth group on a 2-week trip to Austria. Going by rail, at Coloyneve saw what must have been a Miracle. The Cathedral, standing intact in the middle of a bomb flattened city.
We stayed at a high mountain village Mulbach an Hochonig or (Mulbach on High King) in English, and about 20 miles from Salgburg. There I met the real equivalent of the Navel Captain in the movie “Sound of Music” who was the proprietor of the “Ski unt Berghiem Hostel” we stayed at; Captain Stefan Senoner .
After the war Austria was divided into 3 military zones; American, British and Russian. We were in the American Zone controlled by 7th US Coventry regiment. Stefan Senoner had been a V Boat Captain in World War 2. In 1942 the British White Star liner Laconia (almost as big as the Titanic) was torpedoed off Freetown by a German submarine. She had 1,800 Italian POWs on board and nearly 300 British servicemen and families. She went down in just 15 minutes, taking most of the prisoners (who were locked up below decks with Polish guards in charge) with her. In all, many more lives were lost than in the Titanic disaster, but one never hears of that fact! My brother, Ernest was one of the survivors, he was in the shark infested water for over an hour before being finally picked up by a life boat.
The V Boat Captain Hartensteins never knew the presence of his Italian Allies on board otherwise he would never have attacked, he was however, a humane man and took the woman and children on board, where they were looked after very well by the crew, he also took life boats in tow. A large Red Cross flag being draped over the deck.
A general signal was sent to the Allied forces, to the effect that if they did not attack him, he would continue to help survivors. In spite of all this, American aircraft found the scene and bombed, missing the submarine but sinking one of the life boats with further loss life. Sadly, Captain Hartensteins U152 was sunk later in the War off the Canadian coast because he stayed too long on the surface helping survivors of Allied ships.
When the Supreme Commander V Boats, Admiral Carl Donitz, hears of this he sent an immediate order, “In no circumstances are any more survivors to be picked up or assisted.” This deadly order was to cost the lives of thousands of Allied seamen in the remaining 3 years of war.
As a Christian, Captain Senoner openly refused to comply with this order and was Court Marshalled and sent back to Austria. When the Gestapo came to arrest him he was hidden by his friends in the Mountains until after the war. After I saw him, he immigrated to Canada as he told me he wanted to do. He set up a “Ski unt Borghiem Hostel Mulbach” in Netherlands, which is still there today. When we left Mulbach, his elderly mother cried because she knew, she said. That she would never see us all again, it was very touching.
Both of these Captains showed their compassion for their fellow men, that they were willing to stand up and be counted, on Christian principles.
Barnes Dennis Walter
Long, long ago when I was a young man I came across a prime example of this. In 1951 I went with a church youth group on a 2-week trip to Austria. Going by rail, at Coloyneve saw what must have been a Miracle. The Cathedral, standing intact in the middle of a bomb flattened city.
We stayed at a high mountain village Mulbach an Hochonig or (Mulbach on High King) in English, and about 20 miles from Salgburg. There I met the real equivalent of the Navel Captain in the movie “Sound of Music” who was the proprietor of the “Ski unt Berghiem Hostel” we stayed at; Captain Stefan Senoner .
After the war Austria was divided into 3 military zones; American, British and Russian. We were in the American Zone controlled by 7th US Coventry regiment. Stefan Senoner had been a V Boat Captain in World War 2. In 1942 the British White Star liner Laconia (almost as big as the Titanic) was torpedoed off Freetown by a German submarine. She had 1,800 Italian POWs on board and nearly 300 British servicemen and families. She went down in just 15 minutes, taking most of the prisoners (who were locked up below decks with Polish guards in charge) with her. In all, many more lives were lost than in the Titanic disaster, but one never hears of that fact! My brother, Ernest was one of the survivors, he was in the shark infested water for over an hour before being finally picked up by a life boat.
The V Boat Captain Hartensteins never knew the presence of his Italian Allies on board otherwise he would never have attacked, he was however, a humane man and took the woman and children on board, where they were looked after very well by the crew, he also took life boats in tow. A large Red Cross flag being draped over the deck.
A general signal was sent to the Allied forces, to the effect that if they did not attack him, he would continue to help survivors. In spite of all this, American aircraft found the scene and bombed, missing the submarine but sinking one of the life boats with further loss life. Sadly, Captain Hartensteins U152 was sunk later in the War off the Canadian coast because he stayed too long on the surface helping survivors of Allied ships.
When the Supreme Commander V Boats, Admiral Carl Donitz, hears of this he sent an immediate order, “In no circumstances are any more survivors to be picked up or assisted.” This deadly order was to cost the lives of thousands of Allied seamen in the remaining 3 years of war.
As a Christian, Captain Senoner openly refused to comply with this order and was Court Marshalled and sent back to Austria. When the Gestapo came to arrest him he was hidden by his friends in the Mountains until after the war. After I saw him, he immigrated to Canada as he told me he wanted to do. He set up a “Ski unt Borghiem Hostel Mulbach” in Netherlands, which is still there today. When we left Mulbach, his elderly mother cried because she knew, she said. That she would never see us all again, it was very touching.
Both of these Captains showed their compassion for their fellow men, that they were willing to stand up and be counted, on Christian principles.
Barnes Dennis Walter
My Father’s House
Jesus said, "In My Father's house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 4: 2-3
Yes, there is a heavenly place prepared for all children of God - in the Father's House and this was made possible through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Therefore, for all who are sons and daughters of God, co-heirs with Christ, we need not worry about being in these heavenly mansions because Jesus has already prepared the place for us.
Our focus should not be placed on our Father's House of many mansions but rather on The Way. Notice Jesus said that He will come again and receive us to Himself, that where He is, there we may be also.
We learn from the Holy Scriptures that God the Father and Jesus His Son are One (John 14:10-11). And for those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons (children) of God (Romans 8:14); one Spirit with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). So where Jesus is, there we are with Him and God the Father.
Therefore as we await for the coming again of Christ, let us continue to be faithful servants of God in doing our work in our Father's Business - in line with our church theme for the year 2010. Not only this year but until He comes again.
Chandran.
Extract from NGC Newsletter
Yes, there is a heavenly place prepared for all children of God - in the Father's House and this was made possible through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Therefore, for all who are sons and daughters of God, co-heirs with Christ, we need not worry about being in these heavenly mansions because Jesus has already prepared the place for us.
Our focus should not be placed on our Father's House of many mansions but rather on The Way. Notice Jesus said that He will come again and receive us to Himself, that where He is, there we may be also.
We learn from the Holy Scriptures that God the Father and Jesus His Son are One (John 14:10-11). And for those who are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons (children) of God (Romans 8:14); one Spirit with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). So where Jesus is, there we are with Him and God the Father.
Therefore as we await for the coming again of Christ, let us continue to be faithful servants of God in doing our work in our Father's Business - in line with our church theme for the year 2010. Not only this year but until He comes again.
Chandran.
Extract from NGC Newsletter
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
You're going to make it over that wall
Hey you,
staring at that wall, wondering, "Is there a way over this thing?"
Oh, yes.
With God all things are possible. Matthew 9:26
He'll make a way.
And He'll help you climb, jump, knock-down, whatever it takes.
It may not happen in the timing you want. Or how you imagine.
But it will happen.
In the meantime, don't let that wall fool you.
It can't hold you back, keep you down, make you stuck.
Nope, walls don't have that much power.
And it's just a matter of time before your Jericho happens--
when the trumpet sounds and deliverance is yours.
There's no wall too tall.
No situation too difficult.
No challenge too great.
So press in, press on, and never give up
until that wall comes tumbling down.
When you want life to the full...
For years I lived full.
Full schedule.
Full plate.
Full speed ahead.
I found myself weary, wondering,
"Is this really how it's supposed to be?"
And then it seemed God asked me to learn to live differently.
To focus on love.
To make time to listen to His voice.
To embrace what He's called me to do and let all else drop away.
"Isn't that what I've already been doing?" I asked."Don't you want me to be busy, to push myself to the limit?"It seemed the heart of heaven smiled and these grace-words drifted into my day. "Daughter, I did not come to give you a full life. I came to give you life to the full."
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
--by Holley Gerth
When you feel overwhelmed...
Demands knock on my door.
Burdens beckon me to answer.
The to-do list stretches for miles.
I whisper, "I feel overwhelmed."
And in the stillness it seems I hear...
"Child, open your heart to Me
instead of the demands of the day.
Lay those burdens at My feet, not on your shoulders.
Let go of your list and dare to embrace My grace.
I do not require you to be overwhelmed.
I enable you to overcome.
And with Me, you always will."
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
--by Holley Gerth
Burdens beckon me to answer.
The to-do list stretches for miles.
I whisper, "I feel overwhelmed."
And in the stillness it seems I hear...
"Child, open your heart to Me
instead of the demands of the day.
Lay those burdens at My feet, not on your shoulders.
Let go of your list and dare to embrace My grace.
I do not require you to be overwhelmed.
I enable you to overcome.
And with Me, you always will."
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
--by Holley Gerth
Sunday, November 14, 2010
NGC MOVIE Nite - Next Change
The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry - http://www.sperrymovie.com/
Plot:-
Dustin (Jansen Panettiere), Albert (Frankie Ryan Manriquez) and Mark (Allen Isaacson) are 12-year-old friends looking forward to Summer fun in 1970. Dustin likes a girl named Tanya (Bailey Garno), and so he wants to ask her on a date, but he is nervous because he has never asked anyone out before. Dustin's main obstacle is the town bully, Nick (Taylor Boggan), who also likes Tanya. When Dustin mows the lawn of 75-year-old Jonathan Sperry (Gavin MacLeod), a man he has seen at church, the two become friends.
Mr. Sperry begins a Bible study with Dustin and his friends, and encourages them to be kind to Nick. Sperry also pays Dustin to mow the lawn of a stubborn, elderly neighbor, Mr. Barnes (Robert Guillaume), although Dustin is told not to let Mr. Barnes know the benefactor of this kindness. Throughout the summer, many other boys in the neighborhood get involved in the Bible study, including Nick, who is remorseful and turns from his bullying ways after a couple of encounters with Mr. Sperry. Meanwhile, Dustin finally gets the courage to tell Tanya how much he likes her, but instead of asking her to be his girlfriend, he suggests she start reading the Bible.
Then one day, Dustin rides his bicycle by Mr. Sperry’s house and discovers a crowd has gathered there and Mr. Sperry had passed away. After the funeral, Mr. Barnes visits Dustin to thank him for mowing his lawn, and to tell him he figured out Mr. Sperry was his motivation. Mr. Barnes tearfully calls Mr. Sperry a great example of a Christian man. After this visit, Dustin’s mother reveals the secret background between Mr. Sperry and Mr. Barnes. Mr. Sperry’s wife had died four years earlier in an auto accident caused by an inebriated Mr. Barnes. Inspired by Mr. Sperry’s kindness after such heartbreak, Dustin decides to continue the Bible study with the neighborhood boys, repeating one of Mr. Sperry’s first lessons with Dustin and his two friends.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secrets_of_Jonathan_Sperry
Monday, October 18, 2010
Who do you say I am?
Read this from Our Daily Bread. The writer wrote something which hasn't strike me before. Some of the disciples that followed Jesus are those who are 'toughies' back in those days - rugged fishermen, radicals. At the same time, Jesus also attracted the 'smarties'.
Jesus is relevant and connects across societies, age, culture and race. Something for me, us to ponder.
When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?”—He wasn’t having an identity crisis nor was He feeling insecure about His reputation. He passed out the quiz to see whether or not the disciples had come to grips with who He really was, or, if they too, like the rest of the crowds, had misperceived His true identity.
It’s a good quiz to take, because if you and I don’t perceive Jesus as He really is, we just may get our Christianity twisted and headed in the wrong direction. So ask yourself, “Who do I think Jesus is?”
There are lots of ways to look at the question: theologically, historically, culturally, redemptively, spiritually, or experientially. But for starters, let’s ask in terms of how you perceive Him as a person when He comes to mind. This is not a throwaway issue! How you envision Him has a lot to do with whether or not you’ll want to follow Him. And following Him is at the very heart of a fulfilling relationship with Him.
If you grew up in Sunday school world, you saw a lot of Sunday school papers with pictures of Jesus in a neatly pressed white robe, nice sandals, and a well-trimmed beard. It was easy to draw the conclusion that Jesus is a kind, softhearted, merciful, and deferring kind of guy. And, thankfully, He is all those things. But if that’s all He is to you, He won’t seem very compelling. You might think, “Nice guy, but I’m not sure I’d want to go on a fishing trip with Him!”
Yet a brief look at who found Him to be compelling will correct our often distorted view of Jesus. Rough fishermen like James, John, Peter, and Andrew dropped their nets to follow Him. These were guys who would have had fading tattoos on their bulging biceps, and rugged, sea-worn faces. Simon the Zealot, a member of the underground resistance force, was committed to give his life if necessary to overthrow the oppressive regime of Rome. He traded in his Uzis and fatigues to join the Jesus revolution. And Matthew, the ruthless tax collector, found Jesus a far more compelling option for life than continuing to get rich at other peoples’ expense. Women felt safe with Him and adoringly followed and supported Him.
So, take it from those who knew Him best. They gave up everything and followed Him to a whole new way of life. A life where the power of love is courageous enough to forgive; where the joy of generosity trumps the withering grip of greed; where others’ needs and interests capture the attention of our hearts; where cross-bearing is an honor; where the poor, marginalized, and oppressed find refuge and significance.
So, what do you think of Jesus?
Seeing Him as He really is will make you ready to drop “whatever” in order to follow Him. And, come to think of it, I’d love to go fishing with Him! I might just end up being quite different in a lot of good ways if I spent more time with Him!
YOUR JOURNEY…
What has been your impression of Jesus?
Have you seen Him as so compelling that you are willing to drop anything that gets in the way of following Him?
Would you forgive for Him? Give your money to the poor and needy for Him? Stop gossiping for Him? Live for eternity for Him? Work well at the office for Him even though your boss is weird and unreasonable?
—Joe Stowell
Jesus is relevant and connects across societies, age, culture and race. Something for me, us to ponder.
When Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?”—He wasn’t having an identity crisis nor was He feeling insecure about His reputation. He passed out the quiz to see whether or not the disciples had come to grips with who He really was, or, if they too, like the rest of the crowds, had misperceived His true identity.
It’s a good quiz to take, because if you and I don’t perceive Jesus as He really is, we just may get our Christianity twisted and headed in the wrong direction. So ask yourself, “Who do I think Jesus is?”
There are lots of ways to look at the question: theologically, historically, culturally, redemptively, spiritually, or experientially. But for starters, let’s ask in terms of how you perceive Him as a person when He comes to mind. This is not a throwaway issue! How you envision Him has a lot to do with whether or not you’ll want to follow Him. And following Him is at the very heart of a fulfilling relationship with Him.
If you grew up in Sunday school world, you saw a lot of Sunday school papers with pictures of Jesus in a neatly pressed white robe, nice sandals, and a well-trimmed beard. It was easy to draw the conclusion that Jesus is a kind, softhearted, merciful, and deferring kind of guy. And, thankfully, He is all those things. But if that’s all He is to you, He won’t seem very compelling. You might think, “Nice guy, but I’m not sure I’d want to go on a fishing trip with Him!”
Yet a brief look at who found Him to be compelling will correct our often distorted view of Jesus. Rough fishermen like James, John, Peter, and Andrew dropped their nets to follow Him. These were guys who would have had fading tattoos on their bulging biceps, and rugged, sea-worn faces. Simon the Zealot, a member of the underground resistance force, was committed to give his life if necessary to overthrow the oppressive regime of Rome. He traded in his Uzis and fatigues to join the Jesus revolution. And Matthew, the ruthless tax collector, found Jesus a far more compelling option for life than continuing to get rich at other peoples’ expense. Women felt safe with Him and adoringly followed and supported Him.
So, take it from those who knew Him best. They gave up everything and followed Him to a whole new way of life. A life where the power of love is courageous enough to forgive; where the joy of generosity trumps the withering grip of greed; where others’ needs and interests capture the attention of our hearts; where cross-bearing is an honor; where the poor, marginalized, and oppressed find refuge and significance.
So, what do you think of Jesus?
Seeing Him as He really is will make you ready to drop “whatever” in order to follow Him. And, come to think of it, I’d love to go fishing with Him! I might just end up being quite different in a lot of good ways if I spent more time with Him!
YOUR JOURNEY…
What has been your impression of Jesus?
Have you seen Him as so compelling that you are willing to drop anything that gets in the way of following Him?
Would you forgive for Him? Give your money to the poor and needy for Him? Stop gossiping for Him? Live for eternity for Him? Work well at the office for Him even though your boss is weird and unreasonable?
—Joe Stowell
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Love
"LOVE" IS TO FLOW THROUGH THE CHRISTIAN OUTWARD TO PERFORM GOD'S WORK IN PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another." (John 13:35).
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (John 15:9-12).
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1stJohn 4:7).
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1st John 4:11).
"Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you." (Ephesians 5:2).
"I say unto you, love your enemies." (Matthew 5:44).
"Let love be without hypocrisy." (Romans 12:9).
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10).
"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails." (1st Corinthians 13:4-8).
"But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1st Corinthians 13:13).
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God created beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10).
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another." (John 13:35).
"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." (John 15:9-12).
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1stJohn 4:7).
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1st John 4:11).
"Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you." (Ephesians 5:2).
"I say unto you, love your enemies." (Matthew 5:44).
"Let love be without hypocrisy." (Romans 12:9).
"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10).
"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never fails." (1st Corinthians 13:4-8).
"But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1st Corinthians 13:13).
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God created beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10).
Hope
"HOPE" IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT PROVIDING PRESENT ENJOYMENT OF THE FUTURE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISES OF GOD.
"Having a hope in God, ... that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15).
"And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body, for in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." (Romans 8:23-25).
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19).
"... He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and without reproach - if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, ..." (Colossians 1:27).
"Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27).
"Christ Jesus, who is our hope;" (1st Timothy 1:1).
"... the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, preached long ages ago, ..." (Titus 1:2).
"In the same way, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6:17-18).
"Having a hope in God, ... that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:15).
"And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body, for in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it." (Romans 8:23-25).
"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18-19).
"... He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and without reproach - if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, ..." (Colossians 1:27).
"Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27).
"Christ Jesus, who is our hope;" (1st Timothy 1:1).
"... the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, preached long ages ago, ..." (Titus 1:2).
"In the same way, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6:17-18).
Faith
"FAITH" IS THE BASIS FOR THE REVEALING OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN A CHRISTIAN'S LIFE.
"For in it (in the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17).
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ ... whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness ... that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26).
"For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16)
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."(Romans 5:1).
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17).
"The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God." (Galatians 2:20).
"For in it (in the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:17).
"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ ... whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness ... that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26).
"For this reason it is by faith, that it might be in accordance with grace, in order that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." (Romans 4:16)
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."(Romans 5:1).
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17).
"The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God." (Galatians 2:20).
Faith, Hope and LOVE
Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. It comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Hebrews 11:1, Romans 10:17).
We have a living Hope, because our God is a living God, (Peter 1:3).
Love must be the motive and the driving force behind every thing we do (I Cor 13:3)
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Cor. 13:13
Monday, September 20, 2010
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic(universal)Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Friday, September 3, 2010
AN ABUNDANT AND JOYFUL LIFE
Generally, non – believers have the misconception that the life of a Christian is mundane and too restrictive to fulfill one's need to be joyful. Nothing can be further from the truth. In Phil. 4:4 Paul exhorts the Philippians to “ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
He further assures us in (vv 6-7), “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanks, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
He further encourages us to indulge in almost anything in (vv 8-9), “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
What non-believers have to grapple with is, they neither have the peace of God nor the love of Jesus.
As Christians it is easier to make “excellent and praiseworthy” choices in whatever we do – choices that emanate from a heart fully committed to Jesus. Paul states in Phil. 1:9-10, that when our love is filled with knowledge and wisdom, we are able to understand what is best, so that we may “approve the things that are excellent”.
Excellent choices are the proof of a life that is deeply committed to Jesus and His ways and they have the ripple effect of filling our lives “with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God” (Phil.1:10-11) and a rejoicing relationship with Him.
As Christians we are entitled to enjoy an abundant and joyful life.
Paul Nathan
The Will of God
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the Arms of God cannot support you,
Where the Riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the Army of God cannot protect you,
Where the Hands of God cannot mould you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you.
”Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now
but trust and believe in the Lord
that everything is for the best.”
Author Unknown
Where the Grace of God cannot keep you,
Where the Arms of God cannot support you,
Where the Riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the Power of God cannot endow you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,
Where the Wisdom of God cannot teach you,
Where the Army of God cannot protect you,
Where the Hands of God cannot mould you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Love of God cannot enfold you,
Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain you,
Where the Peace of God cannot calm your fears,
Where the Authority of God cannot overrule for you.
The will of God will never take you,
Where the Comfort of God cannot dry your tears,
Where the Word of God cannot feed you,
Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for you,
Where the Omnipresence of God cannot find you.
”Everything happens for a purpose.
We may not see the wisdom of it all now
but trust and believe in the Lord
that everything is for the best.”
Author Unknown
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Rukunegara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rukunegara or sometimes Rukun Negara (Malay for "National Principles") is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to a serious race riot known as the May 13 Incident which occurred in 1969. The incident proved at that time that Malaysian racial balance and stability was fragile at best. Immediately thereafter, the Malaysian government sought ways to foster unity among Malaysians. One of the methods used to encourage unity is the Rukunegara.
Malay text
BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :
mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya ;
memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik ;
mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama ;
menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak ; dan
membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.
MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :
KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN
Literal translation
WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY, MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:
achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;
preserving a democratic way of life;
creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
NOW, THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
THE RULE OF LAW
COURTESY AND MORALITY
Alternative English version
Our nation, Malaysia, is being dedicated :
to achieve a greater unity of all her peoples;
to maintain a democratic way of life;
to create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared;
to ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions;
and to build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology;
We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
RULE OF LAW
GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY
Happy 53rd Merdeka to our country, MALAYSIA.
As a church we have earmarked 1st September to 16th September as Prayer & Fasting period dedicated to remembering our country Malaysia, the rulers and local government.
The Rukunegara or sometimes Rukun Negara (Malay for "National Principles") is the Malaysian declaration of national philosophy instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, 1970, in reaction to a serious race riot known as the May 13 Incident which occurred in 1969. The incident proved at that time that Malaysian racial balance and stability was fragile at best. Immediately thereafter, the Malaysian government sought ways to foster unity among Malaysians. One of the methods used to encourage unity is the Rukunegara.
Malay text
BAHAWASANYA NEGARA KITA MALAYSIA mendukung cita-cita hendak :
mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya ;
memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik ;
mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama ;
menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak ; dan
membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.
MAKA KAMI, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :
KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN
Literal translation
WHEREAS OUR COUNTRY, MALAYSIA nurtures the ambitions of:
achieving a more perfect unity amongst the whole of her society;
preserving a democratic way of life;
creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner;
guaranteeing a liberal approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions; and
building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
NOW, THEREFORE WE, the people of Malaysia, pledge to concentrate the whole of our energy and efforts to achieve these ambitions based on the following principles:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
THE RULE OF LAW
COURTESY AND MORALITY
Alternative English version
Our nation, Malaysia, is being dedicated :
to achieve a greater unity of all her peoples;
to maintain a democratic way of life;
to create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared;
to ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions;
and to build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology;
We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
BELIEF IN GOD
LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY
UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION
RULE OF LAW
GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY
Happy 53rd Merdeka to our country, MALAYSIA.
As a church we have earmarked 1st September to 16th September as Prayer & Fasting period dedicated to remembering our country Malaysia, the rulers and local government.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
High Expectations
How To Raise The Bar So People Will Stay?
A recent research study included a survey of 406 young adults who stayed in church during the critical ages of 18 to 22 and who have remained in church since then.
What are some of the primary reasons these young adults stayed in the church? Here's what they had to say:
"Church is a vital part of my relationship with God." Two-thirds of the respondents could not see themselves as vibrant Christians without being an active part of a local congregation.
"I wanted the church to help guide my decisions in everyday life." A significant majority of these young adults indicated that the church was essential in the ongoing decisions of life. Church is not optional, auxiliary, or peripheral. Church is essential. It is a major part of the believer's life. And the Christian cannot imagine life without the support of a local congregation.
"I was committed to the purpose and work of the church." These churched young adults told us that they not only knew the purpose of the church, they embraced that purpose as well.
Keep in mind that most of these young adults are in churches that are making a difference in lives and in the community. These are not the churches that simply go through the motions, have meaningless meetings and expect little of their members. No, these are essential churches with high expectations.
What about us here at NGC? Something to think about. Are we just going through the motions?
Monday, August 9, 2010
NGC Movie Nite - Next Change
Flywheel is an American Christian drama film about a car salesman who intentionally overcharges his customers until reaching a turning point in his life where he decides to end his shady business practices and become a Christian. Alex Kendrick both directed the film and starred in the lead role, and with Stephen Kendrick co-wrote the film. Flywheel also stars Lisa Arnold and Tracy Goode.
First released on April 9, 2003, this movie is the first full-length feature film by Sherwood Pictures, which now includes the production of Facing the Giants and Fireproof.
Plot
Jay Austin (Alex Kendrick) is a car salesman who consistently cheats his customers, even to the point of overcharging his own pastor. Austin also teaches his employee, Bernie Meyers (Tracy Goode), to do likewise, while in the meantime his relationship with his wife and son deteriorates. Austin occasionally attends church (but only because his wife wants him to go). However eventually, Austin realizes that what he is doing is wrong and decides to change his business practices and become a born-again Christian.
Austin decides to return money to the customers he cheated, as well as to apologize to the local community, including to his wife and son. However, he is now thousands of dollars in debt after his life-altering decision and is facing the loss of his dealership if he doesn't catch up on his payments to the bank. Austin decides not to worry about his situation and to "let God handle it" instead. In the end, Austin pays his debt off.
NGC Movie Nite - 4th Sept 2010
SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT is a story about love, friendship and the struggle to change. Starring Irma P. Hall (Patch Adams), Darius McCrary (Family Matters), Tamera Mowry (Sister, Sister) Rashaan Nall and featuring Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin.
Tommy (McCrary) is a young man who has the voice of an angel, but he also has the record of an ex-con. His dreams of a steady job and a better life appear out of reach until Memaw (Hall), a spunky saint with a big heart, takes him under her wing. Soon, Memaw's faith starts to rub off.
Lilly (Mowry), Memaw's granddaughter, is no less amazed by this street boy. As she grows to appreciate his genuine humility and warmth, they form a special bond. Tommy's childhood buddy, G. Smooth (Nall), just wants a drug-dealing partner and can't believe the old TNT has "religion" now. Smooth laughs Tommy off until he's fighting for his life.
For the first time in his life, Tommy has something to hope for, something to live for, SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT. You'll smile, you'll sing and your spirit will soar!
Join us for this movie on Sat, 4th Sept 2010 right here at NGC from 7pm onwards
East Malaysian Fellowship (EMF)
Berdoa agar pelayanan bahasa melayu yang akan dimulakan di Nilai
pada 14 Ogos mendapat sambutan dan diberkati oleh Tuhan
Satukan kami ya Tuhanku
Ajari kami ‘tuk saling mengasihi
Seperti Engkau mengasihi kami
Yesus satukanlah kami
Walaupun kami dipisahkan lautan luas
Walaupun kami berbeza suku bangsa
Namun Kau telah mempersatukan kami
Semuanya kerana kasihMu
Marilah kita saling berganding tangan
Sehati, sejiwa membangun gerejaNya
Meski tentangan harus kita hadapi
Kita maju untuk menang
Tempat: Nilai Gospel Chapel
Tarikh: 14 Ogos 2010
Masa: Jam 8.00 malam
pada 14 Ogos mendapat sambutan dan diberkati oleh Tuhan
Satukan kami ya Tuhanku
Ajari kami ‘tuk saling mengasihi
Seperti Engkau mengasihi kami
Yesus satukanlah kami
Walaupun kami dipisahkan lautan luas
Walaupun kami berbeza suku bangsa
Namun Kau telah mempersatukan kami
Semuanya kerana kasihMu
Marilah kita saling berganding tangan
Sehati, sejiwa membangun gerejaNya
Meski tentangan harus kita hadapi
Kita maju untuk menang
Tempat: Nilai Gospel Chapel
Tarikh: 14 Ogos 2010
Masa: Jam 8.00 malam
Sept Morning Ministry
Theme:- Beware of conflicts in
5th - Time management
12th - Practices against Principles
19th - Church life
26th - Dressing for the occasion
5th - Time management
12th - Practices against Principles
19th - Church life
26th - Dressing for the occasion
August Morning Ministry
Theme: Be armed:-
1st: To protect yourself
8th: To save others
15th: To build the church
22th: To attack the enemies
29th: Assembly Needs
1st: To protect yourself
8th: To save others
15th: To build the church
22th: To attack the enemies
29th: Assembly Needs
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The EE in Me
Lazy? No, I was NOT. In fact, I was busy...with work (not forgetting meetings which take up most of my time), church, friends etc etc. Busy busy busy. Isn't it great to be busy? I felt that I was the most 'important' person on earth with all this busy-ness. People needed me, or so I thought. Talk about ego. Or was I a busy sluggard?
You see, I never knew what it meant to be free. Free= lazy.I was so busy in life (getting higher pay+ promotion, frequent flying for events, meeting with the Cs [CEOs, CFOs]) that when I 'lost' my job I was devastated. I thought I performed well because I achieved my KPI and I was INDISPENSABLE. My identity was defined by my job. My job and I were inseparable. BOOM! My whole world came crashing down.
During my lowest period, I stumbled upon Evangelism Explosion (EE) by Uncle Leong Hock. It was a bumpy journey to begin with. And it was and still is a humbling journey by God who made me realised I'm his child. He defines me. Not my job. My life has turned upside down but in a good way. I realised I have only ONE life and when I die, I want to see God smiling. What's EE? It's all about doing God's great Commission in Matthew 28:18. EE is one of the tools to share the gospel in a conversational way. No more getting tongue tied when people question your faith, no more being shy about sharing the gospel, no more 'forcing' people to hear you 'preach'. It's all about sharing when you are having a cup of teh tarik in mamak, cheering your favourite football team, on a shopping spree. Anywhere, anytime when God permits.
Yeah Diana, since now you are not working, of course you have the time. You don't have kids. Is it? Time. IMHO, I'm much more 'busy-er' than ever before. Classes are packed till night, working in YMCA (to earn some cash), a trainer for XEE, Bible classes on Mondays and Saturdays, learning Mandarin, French (again!) and soon...Hebrew. Kids? I have 6 nephews and nieces + Sunday school kids to deal with.
So what is a busy sluggard? Clue: Proverbs 10:5. Need clarification? Ask the elders. Deep in your heart, ask yourself. Do you really believe in the existence of God? Are you at least curious to see what blessings He can shower unto you? How do you define faith? (Honestly!) Or are you satisfied sitting in your lil' box of life with pretty flowers around it??
Cheers,
Diana
You see, I never knew what it meant to be free. Free= lazy.I was so busy in life (getting higher pay+ promotion, frequent flying for events, meeting with the Cs [CEOs, CFOs]) that when I 'lost' my job I was devastated. I thought I performed well because I achieved my KPI and I was INDISPENSABLE. My identity was defined by my job. My job and I were inseparable. BOOM! My whole world came crashing down.
During my lowest period, I stumbled upon Evangelism Explosion (EE) by Uncle Leong Hock. It was a bumpy journey to begin with. And it was and still is a humbling journey by God who made me realised I'm his child. He defines me. Not my job. My life has turned upside down but in a good way. I realised I have only ONE life and when I die, I want to see God smiling. What's EE? It's all about doing God's great Commission in Matthew 28:18. EE is one of the tools to share the gospel in a conversational way. No more getting tongue tied when people question your faith, no more being shy about sharing the gospel, no more 'forcing' people to hear you 'preach'. It's all about sharing when you are having a cup of teh tarik in mamak, cheering your favourite football team, on a shopping spree. Anywhere, anytime when God permits.
Yeah Diana, since now you are not working, of course you have the time. You don't have kids. Is it? Time. IMHO, I'm much more 'busy-er' than ever before. Classes are packed till night, working in YMCA (to earn some cash), a trainer for XEE, Bible classes on Mondays and Saturdays, learning Mandarin, French (again!) and soon...Hebrew. Kids? I have 6 nephews and nieces + Sunday school kids to deal with.
So what is a busy sluggard? Clue: Proverbs 10:5. Need clarification? Ask the elders. Deep in your heart, ask yourself. Do you really believe in the existence of God? Are you at least curious to see what blessings He can shower unto you? How do you define faith? (Honestly!) Or are you satisfied sitting in your lil' box of life with pretty flowers around it??
Cheers,
Diana
Thursday, July 8, 2010
God made you to work with others
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
"As you walk through life, remember that you're not supposed to do everything on your own. You need other people to walk alongside you, but you also need other people to work alongside you."
God put us on earth to do a certain work that only we can do. Ephesians says that God made us to do good works and that he planned in advance what we would live our lives doing. However, he didn't plan for us to do that work alone. We need people to work with us.
You know the feeling you get when you do too much work on your own. You get exhausted and burned out. Why? Because you're trying to do your work alone, while God never meant for you to go through life working alone.
God tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:9 that "two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together" (NCV). When you work as a team, you get so much more done. Plus, having good teammates alongside you is a whole lot more fun and less tiring!
Picture this: Individually, each of us is like a snowflake; on our own, we can't make a big difference. However, when one fragile snowflake sticks together with a lot of other snowflakes, they can stop traffic. Like snowflakes, we can make a big difference if we work together, each one of us doing only our small part.
Did you know that when we work together here on earth, we're actually practicing for eternity? In heaven, we will all have to work, but each of us will have just a small piece of work, so we'll never get overloaded or tired. Still, though no one will carry a heavy burden as each one of us does our small part, all the work will get done.
As you walk through life, remember that you're not supposed to do everything on your own. You need other people to walk alongside you, but you also need other people to work alongside you. As you share the burden of your work with fellow Christians, you'll find that you actually accomplish more for the glory of God.
Posted by Rick Warren
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Servanthood - Our money or our lives?
[Jesus] sat down and called the twelve disciples over to him. Then he said, "Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."
Mark 9:35
It's hard to glamorize the disciples of Jesus when you pay attention to the Scriptures. Today's passage is a response to their ongoing argument about who was the greatest among them. When Jesus asked them about it, they kept quiet out of embarrassment. His response offers the antidote for pride and ambition and a model for true leadership.
A few years ago, when Mother Teresa visited Phoenix, Arizona, to speak at the opening of a home for the destitute, KTAR, the largest radio station in town, interviewed her. During a commercial break the announcer asked Mother Teresa whether there was anything he could do for her. He expected her to request a donation or ask for media help to raise money for the new facility.
Instead, she looked him in the eye and said, "Yes, there is. Find someone nobody else loves and love them."
I've never heard the rest of the story. I don't know if the challenge of that diminutive nun from Calcutta caused that disc jockey to seek our someone to love unconditionally or not. But itis a challenge that's hard to ignore.
Giving a gift of money is never as costly as giving of our lives. The gift of money is immediate. But giving our lives is ongoing.
The gift of money represents that past portion of our lives that we have already invested in our work. The gift of service represents a desire to invest more of our future in that which has eternal significance. Once money leaves our hands, so often the memory of it leaves us as well. But when we give our hearts, the memories are with us forever.
While money is a necessary (and always appreciated!) ingredient for any kingdom endeavor, the most acute need is always for leaders and servants. Where are those who will invest themselves in the lives of others, nurturing, encouraging, and developing people into mature disciples? Most of us, if offered a choice between giving some extra money to our church or working in the church's preschool department, would dig deep into our pockets!
But it is precisely that sacrificial quality of service that makes it so valuable. Whether it is teaching children in Sunday school or being part of the work crew that puts a new roof on the crisis pregnancy center, serving is the key to keeping our priority and focus.
Ed Rowell
Reflection
What are some of the unique experiences God has used to bring growth in my life? How can serving others redeem even difficult experiences?
Prayer
God, please bring to mind people who would benefit from spending time with me. How could I offer them encouragement, hope, and opportunities to grow? Grant me the courage to contact them—today.
"The man who keeps busy helping the man below him won't have time to envy the man above him."
—Henrietta Mears, twentieth-century Christian educator
Monday, June 28, 2010
July Morning Ministry
BEWARE OF:-
4 The leaven of the Pharisees
11 Attitude of the Sadducees
18 Outward religious observances
25 Demonical signs and wonders
4 The leaven of the Pharisees
11 Attitude of the Sadducees
18 Outward religious observances
25 Demonical signs and wonders
THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND
Once every four years we are treated to a month long football fiesta known globally as the World Cup. This year’s edition is held for the very first time in the African continent, in South Africa. If there is one thing that would always remind us of the 2010 World Cup it must be the vuvuzela. It is a plastic trumpet, a meter long, brightly coloured and sounds like an elephant! Imagine the noise a thousand of these trumpets can make in a stadium. The atmosphere would be exhilarating.
In Corinthians 15:52 the Apostle Paul says that a trumpet will sound. I am sure this trumpet would make an equally grand entrance as the vuvuzela but not because of the sound but due to the effect it would have on Christians. Verse 52 says, ‘For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised and we shall all be changed.‘ We will be changed from mortal beings to immortality. Death will no longer have a hold on us because it had been defeated by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The sound of the trumpet will signal the victory the Lord Jesus Christ has over death. There will be no more Christians dying. Wow! What a wonderful day that would be.
Therefore, it is important that Christians be steadfast, strong in their faith and unwavering. We need to hold fast to what we have – salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. This should encourage us to be abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that whatever we do for the Lord is not in vain.
We would not know how loud the trumpet would be but we know that if we go about our Father’s business and help in the growth of the assembly here in Nilai Gospel Chapel, the sound of that trumpet would be more powerful than a thousand vuvuzelas because we know what we will receive and whom we will see – the Lord Jesus Christ.
by Arnold Nathan
NGC Newsletter for July/Aug 2010
In Corinthians 15:52 the Apostle Paul says that a trumpet will sound. I am sure this trumpet would make an equally grand entrance as the vuvuzela but not because of the sound but due to the effect it would have on Christians. Verse 52 says, ‘For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised and we shall all be changed.‘ We will be changed from mortal beings to immortality. Death will no longer have a hold on us because it had been defeated by the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The sound of the trumpet will signal the victory the Lord Jesus Christ has over death. There will be no more Christians dying. Wow! What a wonderful day that would be.
Therefore, it is important that Christians be steadfast, strong in their faith and unwavering. We need to hold fast to what we have – salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. This should encourage us to be abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that whatever we do for the Lord is not in vain.
We would not know how loud the trumpet would be but we know that if we go about our Father’s business and help in the growth of the assembly here in Nilai Gospel Chapel, the sound of that trumpet would be more powerful than a thousand vuvuzelas because we know what we will receive and whom we will see – the Lord Jesus Christ.
by Arnold Nathan
NGC Newsletter for July/Aug 2010
KNOWING HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS
Christians march to the tune of Christ. Where He sends, we will go. This was a lesson learned and executed by the paralytic whom Christ healed in Matthew 9.6,7: …he then said to the Paralytic--"rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home.
In our periodic missionary fervour, we often think of the great tasks Christ is sending us to in the far loftier contexts of overseas mission and big vocational assignments. On this Father's Day, we may do far better to heed Christ's commission to just "go home". Yes "home" in the domestic sense of grandparents, parents, children, siblings, nephews and nieces, aunties and uncles, and close friends. Yes, "go home" to our neglected families which increasingly have been playing second fiddle to our work, our hobbies, our churches, our computers, our television, our games, our books, our dreams and ambitions. When was the last time we have been really home giving full attention and being good company to our families?
In Luke 11.11-13, Jesus used the context of home life to teach a most important message: "What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" He concludes: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!“
I thought this Father's Day we will do well to learn from our heavenly Father to know how to give good gifts within our family life. Good gifts which money cannot buy.
We parents, fathers have the duty to give good gifts to our children. Good gifts such as bringing our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord but not provoking our children to anger (Ephesians 6. 4) "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." (Colossians 3.21).
The line between a good and bad gift is thin. We fathers are required to give instruction and discipline to our children but if we go overboard on this, we end up provoking them and leave them discouraged and disheartened.
As children we need to learn how to give good gifts to our parents too: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6.1-3)
For the greatest lesson for Father's Day, we need not look further than Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son. Things can happen in the family. Mistakes can be made at home which in turn can lead to many other things. Good things can go bad. But bad things can become good too in the grace of the Lord. We know the story of the prodigal son. How he left home and got himself into real trouble. But also, and far more importantly, how he returned home to his father in these immortal words in Luke 15.17-22: "But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.“” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.”
What is the best decision you can make this Father's Day? What is the best Father's Day gift you can give to your parents? The answer is GO HOME. Stay home. Let God help you make peace and heal the wounds.
Extract from a Father's Day message by Goh Keat Peng
In our periodic missionary fervour, we often think of the great tasks Christ is sending us to in the far loftier contexts of overseas mission and big vocational assignments. On this Father's Day, we may do far better to heed Christ's commission to just "go home". Yes "home" in the domestic sense of grandparents, parents, children, siblings, nephews and nieces, aunties and uncles, and close friends. Yes, "go home" to our neglected families which increasingly have been playing second fiddle to our work, our hobbies, our churches, our computers, our television, our games, our books, our dreams and ambitions. When was the last time we have been really home giving full attention and being good company to our families?
In Luke 11.11-13, Jesus used the context of home life to teach a most important message: "What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" He concludes: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!“
I thought this Father's Day we will do well to learn from our heavenly Father to know how to give good gifts within our family life. Good gifts which money cannot buy.
We parents, fathers have the duty to give good gifts to our children. Good gifts such as bringing our children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord but not provoking our children to anger (Ephesians 6. 4) "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." (Colossians 3.21).
The line between a good and bad gift is thin. We fathers are required to give instruction and discipline to our children but if we go overboard on this, we end up provoking them and leave them discouraged and disheartened.
As children we need to learn how to give good gifts to our parents too: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6.1-3)
For the greatest lesson for Father's Day, we need not look further than Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son. Things can happen in the family. Mistakes can be made at home which in turn can lead to many other things. Good things can go bad. But bad things can become good too in the grace of the Lord. We know the story of the prodigal son. How he left home and got himself into real trouble. But also, and far more importantly, how he returned home to his father in these immortal words in Luke 15.17-22: "But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.“” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to make merry.”
What is the best decision you can make this Father's Day? What is the best Father's Day gift you can give to your parents? The answer is GO HOME. Stay home. Let God help you make peace and heal the wounds.
Extract from a Father's Day message by Goh Keat Peng
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Gambling and Christianity
The new President of the NSW Council of Churches in Australia, the Revd Richard Quadrio, has welcomed the release of the long-awaited Productivity Commission Report into Gambling, and called on federal and state governments to implement all recommendations.
The Report indicated that Australia had about 600,000 regular gamblers, of whom approximately 95,000 were “problem gamblers.” The social cost of problem gambling in Australia was estimated at $4.7 billion per year, and problem gambling directly affected up to 350,000 people each year.
“Every Report recommendation that is implemented will help to reduce the intolerable burden of problem gambling in our communities. We want to see action to limit the size and speed of poker machine bets in the short term, and phasing in of additional reforms as soon as possible in consultation with industry and community groups,” NSW Council of Churches President Revd Quadrio said.
“The fact that clubs and pubs are pleased with the government’s initial response to the Report is not necessarily a good sign. The government needs to give a clear indication that it is not captive to the gambling industry by setting out a comprehensive reform process well before the next election,” Revd Quadrio said.
In March 2008 the NSW Council of Churches called on state and federal governments to develop sustainable alternative sources of state revenue, reduce the prevalence of gambling in our communities, and support those for whom gambling is a problem.
The Council of Churches also recommended the implementation of reasonable measures to discourage advertising and sponsorship of gambling.
Back here in Malaysia, Prime Minister Najib Razak said his government had dropped a proposal to legalise sports betting amid protests by groups who fear it will create more social ills.
The uproar over sports betting erupted after Ascot Sports, a company controlled by influential tycoon Vincent Tan, said in May it had been granted a licence to offer odds for the hugely popular English Premier League season.
The government denied such a licence had been issued and said that it was still reviewing its decision as Muslim groups, opposition leaders and even members of the ruling government coalition opposed the new licence.
"I hereby wish to announce that the government has decided that the licence will not be issued," Najib told state media late Friday.
"Although there were groups who supported as well those who did not support or opposed the decision, it was clear to the government that a majority of the people did not agree that the licence be issued to Ascot Sports," he added.
Opposition political parties said Thursday they were planning a mass street protest next month against the proposal.
"We have too many social problems -- drug addiction, free sex and baby dumping," Kamarulzaman Mohamad, youth secretary of the conservative Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) told AFP.
"Sports betting will add to our problems as most youths watch football. They will be influenced to borrow money," he added.
Party officials told AFP Saturday they have yet to decide whether the demonstration will be cancelled following Najib's announcement.
Malaysia bans its majority Muslims from gambling but allows betting at a casino operated by the Genting Group, on the national lottery and on horse-racing.
Surprisingly, the Bible contains no specific command to avoid gambling. However, the Bible does contain timeless principles for living a life pleasing to God and is filled with wisdom to deal with every situation, including gambling.
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NIV)
"No servant can serve two masters. [Jesus said.] Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Luke 16:13, NIV)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10, NIV)
Gambling is a way to bypass work, but the Bible counsels us to persevere and work hard:
Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4, NIV)
One of the key principles in the Bible is that people should be wise stewards of everything God gives them, including their time, talent and treasure. Gamblers may believe they earn their money with their own labor and may spend it as they please, yet God gives people the talent and health to carry out their jobs, and their very life is a gift from him as well. Wise stewardship of extra money calls believers to invest it in the Lord’s work or to save it for an emergency, rather than lose it in games in which the odds are stacked against the player.
Gamblers covet more money, but they may also covet the things money can buy, such as cars, boats, houses, expensive jewelry and clothing. The Bible forbids a covetous attitude in the Tenth Commandment:
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17, NIV)
Gambling also has the potential to turn into an addiction, like drugs or alcohol. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 2 million U.S. adults are pathological gamblers and another 4 to 6 million are problem gamblers. This addiction can destroy the stability of the family, lead to job loss, and cause a person to lose control of their life:
…for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. (2 Peter 2:19)
Some argue that gambling is nothing more than entertainment, no more immoral than going to a movie or concert. People who attend movies or concerts expect only entertainment in return, however, not money. They are not tempted to keep spending until they "break even."
Finally, gambling provides a sense of false hope. Participants place their hope in winning, often against astronomical odds, instead of placing their hope in God. Throughout the Bible, we are constantly reminded that our hope is in God alone, not money, power, or position:
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. (Psalm 62:5, NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NIV)
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1 Timothy 6:17, NIV)
Christianity and the Media
The media has provoked diverse reactions amongst Christians. On one hand, the media provides opportunities to spread the message of Christianity into places where Christian missionaries cannot go. For example, foreign Christian missionaries have been banned from teaching Christianity within Iran . However, satellite Christian broadcasts in Persian (the language spoken in Iran) have been transmitted into Iran and many Iranians have become Christians through this. In this country many thought provoking television programmes make people think more about Christianity. However, the media also can portray Christians in a negative light. Some Christians hold the media responsible for the decline in moral standards. These Christians believe that as what they consider 'immoral behaviour' is portrayed on screen so much that eventually people copy it.
A Father's Love
A father is respected because
he gives his children leadership...
appreciated because
he gives his children care...
valued because
he gives his children time...
loved because
he gives his children the one thing
they treasure most - himself.
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7 NKJV
A Blessing for Fathers
A good man obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 12:2 NIV
May the blessing of being a father remind you of how valued and honored you are in the eyes of the Lord.
he gives his children leadership...
appreciated because
he gives his children care...
valued because
he gives his children time...
loved because
he gives his children the one thing
they treasure most - himself.
The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7 NKJV
A Blessing for Fathers
A good man obtains favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 12:2 NIV
May the blessing of being a father remind you of how valued and honored you are in the eyes of the Lord.
Friday, May 21, 2010
June Morning Ministry
Theme: Doing Biz/Things Christ Way
6th - NGC Family Camp @ Harvest Haven
13th - Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler @ Matt 19:16-22
20th - Lessons from Zacchaeus @ Lk 19:1-10
27th - The meaning of "Give Unto Caesar" @ Mark 12:17
6th - NGC Family Camp @ Harvest Haven
13th - Lessons from the Rich Young Ruler @ Matt 19:16-22
20th - Lessons from Zacchaeus @ Lk 19:1-10
27th - The meaning of "Give Unto Caesar" @ Mark 12:17
Scriptures For Parents
John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Courage: Stepping into something frightening
They will reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?" And he will answer, "I assure you , when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me." And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.
Matthew 25:44-46
All sorts of things get in the way of doing what we're called to do. Sometimes it's sloth; sometimes we simply get distracted. But often it's fear that stands in the way. And sometimes the only way to conquer fear is, as the commercial says, to "just do it."
In the early 1800s English prisons were pits of indecency and brutality. In the the women's division at Newgate Prison in London, for example, women awaiting trial for stealing apples were crammed into the same cell as women who had been convicted of murder or forgery (which was also a capital crime).
Eating, sleeping, and defecating all took place in the same confined area. Women begged or stole to get clothes, alcohol, and food. Many became despondent in such conditions and sat around in a drunken stupor, stark naked. Some even starved to death.
In short, it was no place for a lady, especially a seemingly delicate woman such as Elizabeth Fry.
Fry, the daughter of an English banker, married at age twenty into another wealthy family. Children came quickly, one on top of another, and eventually numbered eleven in all. Fry spent her days caring for her children and entertaining people of high society. Yet years earlier she had sensed a call to work on behalf of the downtrodden. While still a young bride and mother, she gave medicine and clothes to the homeless and helped establish a school for nurses. And at age thirty-three she found the courage to step inside London's Newgate Prison and begin visiting female prisoners. Friends and prison officials warned her about the risk of both the disease and the violence to which she was exposing herself, but she waved aside the warnings and kept visiting.
Soon visiting wasn't enough. She taught female prisoners basic hygiene, as well as sewing and quilting. She read the Bible to inmates and intervened for women on death row.
To nineteenth-century observers, Fry's efforts produced a miracle: Many of the reportedly wild and shifty inmates became, under her care, orderly, disciplined, and devout. Mayors and sheriffs from the surrounding regions (and later from other European countries) visited Newgate and began initiating reforms in their own jails and prisons.
Today Elizabeth Fry is remembered as a pioneer in prison reform. And yet the only thing that separated her from many others of her day was her willingness to step into a frightening environment to see what she could do.
—Mark Galli
Reflection
Am I not doing something that God is calling me to do mainly because I'm afraid?
Prayer
Lord, fill me with a sense of your presence and power so that I might do what you've called me to do, even when I'm afraid.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
—Mark Twain, American author
Matthew 25:44-46
All sorts of things get in the way of doing what we're called to do. Sometimes it's sloth; sometimes we simply get distracted. But often it's fear that stands in the way. And sometimes the only way to conquer fear is, as the commercial says, to "just do it."
In the early 1800s English prisons were pits of indecency and brutality. In the the women's division at Newgate Prison in London, for example, women awaiting trial for stealing apples were crammed into the same cell as women who had been convicted of murder or forgery (which was also a capital crime).
Eating, sleeping, and defecating all took place in the same confined area. Women begged or stole to get clothes, alcohol, and food. Many became despondent in such conditions and sat around in a drunken stupor, stark naked. Some even starved to death.
In short, it was no place for a lady, especially a seemingly delicate woman such as Elizabeth Fry.
Fry, the daughter of an English banker, married at age twenty into another wealthy family. Children came quickly, one on top of another, and eventually numbered eleven in all. Fry spent her days caring for her children and entertaining people of high society. Yet years earlier she had sensed a call to work on behalf of the downtrodden. While still a young bride and mother, she gave medicine and clothes to the homeless and helped establish a school for nurses. And at age thirty-three she found the courage to step inside London's Newgate Prison and begin visiting female prisoners. Friends and prison officials warned her about the risk of both the disease and the violence to which she was exposing herself, but she waved aside the warnings and kept visiting.
Soon visiting wasn't enough. She taught female prisoners basic hygiene, as well as sewing and quilting. She read the Bible to inmates and intervened for women on death row.
To nineteenth-century observers, Fry's efforts produced a miracle: Many of the reportedly wild and shifty inmates became, under her care, orderly, disciplined, and devout. Mayors and sheriffs from the surrounding regions (and later from other European countries) visited Newgate and began initiating reforms in their own jails and prisons.
Today Elizabeth Fry is remembered as a pioneer in prison reform. And yet the only thing that separated her from many others of her day was her willingness to step into a frightening environment to see what she could do.
—Mark Galli
Reflection
Am I not doing something that God is calling me to do mainly because I'm afraid?
Prayer
Lord, fill me with a sense of your presence and power so that I might do what you've called me to do, even when I'm afraid.
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."
—Mark Twain, American author
My Father's Business
Recently I received an email that proclaim the new arrival of what they call it "ALLURE of the Seas". See pix of the vessel named Oasis of the Seas and visit their website at http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/ if you want to find out more at their image gallery.
Allurement or attractiveness is also pertinent in our life. After all Jesus did promised an abundant life in John 10:10. However he did warn against greed, citing that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions in Luke 12:15.
Do not get me wrong. I am not against the Oasis but rather wish to highlight that the abundant life Jesus says is one filled with meaning or purpose and fulfilment. If He choose to financially bless you that is an added bonus. But like someone did say we cannot insist or treat Him like the genie of Aladdin's lamp for He is not our servant but our Sovereign Almighty God. Context of Habakkuk 3:17-18
Our purpose and aim in life should be
1. INTIMACY with God
2. INTERCESSION and connection especially with believers at NGC
3. INFLUENCE with people far from God
Let us continue to build upon the foundation of this year theme DOING MY FATHER'S BUSINESS - Luke 2:49
The journey is just important as the destination.
And...its a lifelong commitment
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Kellie's Castle
Kellie's Castle (sometimes also called Kellie's Folly) is located near Batu Gajah, and is about 20 minutes' drive from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. The unfinished, ruined mansion, was built by a Scottish planter named William Kellie Smith. According to differing accounts, it was either a gift for his wife or a home for his son.
Kellie's Castle is now a popular local tourist attraction and was used as a setting in the 1999 film Anna and the King
God willing, we shall visit this spot on our way to Harvest Haven, Gopeng for this year NGC Family Camp
Saturday, May 1, 2010
BEING FILLED – FOR THE FATHER’S BUSINESS
Napoleon once said, “The army marches on its stomach.” As Christians, we can fill ourselves with many needs but the Lord Jesus has this to say – “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34) For us, Paul encourages us – “to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)
Very often, we have different and varied needs. Are those really needs? Doesn’t it say that is God cares for the sparrows and knows our needs and the very number of hairs on our heads which amounts to Him caring for us? Of prime importance to Jesus is to fulfill His Father’s will and that He did on the cross where He said, “It is finished!”
We can build ourselves up in the most holy faith if other distractions do not cloud our lives. It is no wonder why many children of God have lost their sense of being filled. Physically, we know what hunger is and we know where to find the most satisfying food for our tummies. It is hoped that as you read this, if you ever read, you are challenged to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God and to loyally do so whatever the cost.
May God’s blessings be on you as you finish reading this bit of healthy spiritual food!
Fred Tan
Very often, we have different and varied needs. Are those really needs? Doesn’t it say that is God cares for the sparrows and knows our needs and the very number of hairs on our heads which amounts to Him caring for us? Of prime importance to Jesus is to fulfill His Father’s will and that He did on the cross where He said, “It is finished!”
We can build ourselves up in the most holy faith if other distractions do not cloud our lives. It is no wonder why many children of God have lost their sense of being filled. Physically, we know what hunger is and we know where to find the most satisfying food for our tummies. It is hoped that as you read this, if you ever read, you are challenged to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God and to loyally do so whatever the cost.
May God’s blessings be on you as you finish reading this bit of healthy spiritual food!
Fred Tan
A MOTHER’S LOVE
A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
by Helen Steiner Rice
Fathers Are Wonderful People
Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should...
For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills...
And Father struggles daily
To live up to "his image"
As protector and provider
And "hero of the scrimmage"...
And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,
But if you look inside Dad's heart,
Where no one else can see
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be...
But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife...
But Fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolades of praise,
For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness...
And like Our Heavenly Father,
He's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be always on our side.
by Helen Steiner Rice
Keep Believing God!
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
Are you praying yet nothing seems to be happening? Real faith knows God's promises and stands on them regardless.
Have you looked in the Scriptures? Have you found the promises that deal with your particular situation? Are you standing on them? When you pray do you conclude that if you don't feel something your prayers didn't work? If the circumstances don't change immediately, do you say, "I guess God isn't going to answer me?" Never speak words that contradict God. Satan can't read your mind, but he can hear your words!
For 20 years Abraham kept repeating God's promise. Now when you're childless and a hundred years old, telling people you're going to become the "father of nations" can raise a few eyebrows! Circumstances mocked him.
Reason defied him. Even his wife laughed. But he believed the God, "who calls those things which are not as though they are" (See Ro 4:17).
This is not mind-over-matter, or flaky theology, it's just doubting your doubts and believing the God who cannot lie!
When Jesus touched the blind man and asked him what he could see, he replied, "I see men as trees, walking" (Mk 8:23-25). Did the man give up? Did Jesus quit in discouragement? No. He laid hands on him again, and this time he was completely healed.
Keep going back to the source. Some answers come quickly and some slowly.
Your fixed position must be - keep believing God
Author Unknown
Friday, April 30, 2010
NGC Family Camp 2010
Theme: My Father's Business
Date: 5th - 8th June 2010
Venue: Harvest Haven
Address: PT 4035, Ipoh Country Park, Jalan Kota Bahru, Mukim Teja, 31600 Gopeng, Perak, Malaysia.
Tel.& Fax: 605-3593255, H/P 6012-4884708 (John Lee)
Harvest Haven is a fairly new Christian conference center located on approximately 7 acres of land in Gopeng, Perak state of Malaysia. It is in the Ipoh Country Park situated next to the Perak Matriculation College on the way to Kota Bahru. The building was completed in April 2007 and dedicated on May 27, 2007 by the founder of Torchbearers International, the late Major W. Ian Thomas.
Available facilities are swimming pool, broadband with wireless, basketball, volleyball and futsal.
Others includes field for outdoor games, jogging track, table tennis, library, dining hall, meeting hall and lounges.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Light & Shelter
Matthew 5: 14-16 reads “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus says to us, "You are the light of the world." Jesus has given us His light, Jesus has made us light, for only one purpose – to shine for Jesus. Like the lighthouse keeper we have no excuse if we do not keep the light burning.
Let us be encouraged and remember His promises that He who dwells in the Shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust'...If you make the Most High your dwelling, even the LORD, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-12
Monday, April 19, 2010
Atonement and meaning of life
Atonement is a doctrine that describes how sin can be forgiven by God. In Christian theology the atonement refers to the forgiving or pardoning of sin through the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, which made possible the reconciliation between God and creation.
Useful link
http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.aspx
Useful link
http://www.rzim.org/radio/archives.aspx
May Morning Ministry
Pulpit Ministry in month of May 2010
Theme : Motivation for Our Father's Business
02 - The Word of God (His promises)
09 - Attitude (His expectations)
16 - Values
23 - Rewards & recognition
30 - Assembly Needs
Theme : Motivation for Our Father's Business
02 - The Word of God (His promises)
09 - Attitude (His expectations)
16 - Values
23 - Rewards & recognition
30 - Assembly Needs
April Morning Ministry
Pulpit Ministry in month of April 2010
Theme : Ambassadors for Christ
04 - Easter Sunday
11 - Qualifications
18 - Discipline Life
25 - Right Relationship
Theme : Ambassadors for Christ
04 - Easter Sunday
11 - Qualifications
18 - Discipline Life
25 - Right Relationship
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Ambassador
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors says 2 Cor 5:20.
I was wondering what are some of the duties of an ambassador and what I discovered is
1. Be faithful to the one who sent you
2. Not to be entangeled with the local custom where you have been sent
3. Return to your homeland at the appointed time.
Until then do as what you have been told
Friday, April 9, 2010
FIREPROOF
Our next movie screen is FIREPROOF, a 2008 Christian drama film directed by Alex Kendrick (also acted in Facing the Giants), who co-wrote and co-produced it with Stephen Kendrick.Reviews for the film were mixed. They were quite positive from Christian film critics; however, the film received more success at the box office, with Fireproof becoming a surprise hit debuting at #4 and becoming the highest-grossing independent film of 2008.
It received awards from evangelical Christian organizations, including the Best Feature Film award at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. It was released on DVD on January 27, 2009.
So if you have not seen it do join us on May 8 at NGC. Screening starts at 7pm. Light refreshment (finger food) will only be served. So do have tea or early dinner or if you prefer a late supper at 10pm.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Facing the Giants
The movie that was screen last month at NGC is special to me because it speaks about God doing the impossible. This is really an amazing film that has given the viewer the inspiration to trust God more.
Hebrews 11:1"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Jeremiah 29:11"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Hebrews 11:1"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Jeremiah 29:11"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
John 16:33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
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