Join us in this year celebration
Sat, 18th Dec
from 7.00 pm
and
Christmas Service
25th Dec
from 10.00am
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
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