Redevoting ourselves

There was a powerful and touching testimony about how a pastor's kid came to really know of the Lord.

We would normally think that a pastor's kid would be saved definitely, having heard stories of Jesus from young. However, thus testimony will change your perceptions, that everyone needs to know of how Jesus died for you on the cross, for your sins, no matter who you are. Perhaps you are already a long time christian. But have we really experienced the love of Christ of the cross for us, till we are in tears?

There was a pastor's son who had average in primary and secondary school. He was the typical pastor's kid who was obedient, not to smart, yet not to stupid, but went regularly to church, served in fellowships. 

However, when he went to college, things took a turn. In college, kids typically went to colleges outside of their own state. And that meant that the student had to stay on his own in a hostel for the first time in his life, away from his parents. 

This kid moved out and went to college for his first year. He did ok for his first semester. However, for his second semester, his grades took a severe beating. He actually failed several of his subjects. 

When visiting back home to this parents and asked about his poor grades, he avoided the question and did not answer his parents no matter how hard they tried. He just kept it a secret as to what caused his poor grades. 

Semesters passed after semesters. He still suffered from poor grades. He still kept the matter from his parents. His parents were both angry and sad. Why was he suffering from such poor grades?

He finally graduated. However, it was a border line graduation of the worst degree. He scrapped through. His parents then asked him what he wanted to do in life. He answered that he had no idea. He even answered that he was content on just being a road sweeper. This infuriated and saddened his parents even more. His pastor dad asked him, don't you know that our purpose in life is to do something for Jesus? He remained silent. He didn't know what was his purpose in life. Neither was he interested in doing something for Jesus.

Two years had passed. This kid actually got a proper job and it was evident in his life that he was a renewed person. What had happened?

One day, with teary eyes, he went back to his parents house and told them all that had happened. The reason his grades dipped in college wss because he was addicted to japanese anime, online games and online chatting.

He indulged in them non stop. Even when he was sleeping, his computer wss still on downloading games and anime. He was addicted. He could not stop. All he could think of was about the computer. He devoted no time to his studies. That resulted in his failing grades.

However, just recently, he attended a church revival meeting. In that meeting, his heart truly was opened and he understood how jesus love for him was so great to the point of dying on the cross, he wept, he wept. He prayed for repentance and a renewed belief in Jesus.

That night, he threw away all his CDs containing downloaded material and any other things that caused his distraction. HE was a renewed person in Christ. He truly understood the love of Christ, and how he was to recipocrate this love by repenting.

Are we long term Christians whom have not truly grasped the love of Christ, the suffering of Christ? Let us redevote ourselves to him this very day. Grasp hold his love for us, on the cross. The lion of Judah. The slained lamb worthy of all our praise.

The importance of knowing a book in the bible's background

As we read books of the bible, it's useful to get the background of the book when it was written. Why did the author write the book? In what circumstances was the author in when it was written?

In doing so, we really can appreciate more strongly the author's point as well as get the intended meaning correct.

For example, when we read 2 Timothy, if we know that this was Paul's last letter before he was to be martyred, that it was written when he was imprisoned in a cold roman jail with chains, we would read it in a different light.

A man in his last moments would definitely say the most important points to his most intended recipient. So you can appreciate from thus that 2 Timothy was paul's most dire words to his young co laborer in Christ.

But though Paul was in such a hopeless situation as most would see it, we see that he had actually the ultimate hope in him. That he would be with God soon and be given the crown of righteousness, for he had fought the good fight, ran the good race and kept the good faith.

If you had been to Cambodia and visited the tuol sleng prison, where thousands of people were prisoned with the end in mind being execution, and seeing their tiny and dirty cells, you can never imagine that you will still have hope if you are imprisoned there.

Yet Paul had. When people of this world thinks that he gave his life for nothing, he actually gave it for everything, that while in chains, then Word might be preached even more fervently because of his example.

So with all this background, when we read 2 Timothy now, it would be in a different light and we can almost feel it coming to life.

The word of God is not just boring texts. Get a bible handbook or study bible that introduces a book's background, and the text will come alive, that we can understand it better, proclaim it better, defend it better, obey it better.

On a Lord's day

Went church in the morning for Sunday school with wife and Caleb. Though it's a nice Sunday morning for sleeping and indeed a chore to wash up Caleb, we still have to make it for sun sch as it's the least we can do for reverence towards God.

Too many people miss church because they think it's too early, or inconvenient, or just lazy. Often we are hypocrites when we say we want to serve God with our best when we do not even take the effort to at least be punctual for church. I am not saying this to pinpoint anyone but just a reminder to myself and all. That God is not to be mocked but revered in all specific aspects.

Glad that pris and Sion could join us today. It's a joy seeing them growing in love and truth towards God. Make God be with them continuing them to grow in faith, word and deeds.

Came back home and started preparing for school the following day. Excel vba. Also continued working on some flash cards iPhone app. Indeed I have to remind and avoid copyright issues for I should not indulge in dishonest gains.

Eat with mama in the evening and watched some shows with wife, mama and Caleb running around.

May God continue to comfort mama's heart and strengthen upon her the hope that she will meet gong gong again in heaven. Worshiping our great God together for eternity.

My Beloved Gong Gong

My beloved gong gong was called home to the Lord on the 26th of sept 2010. I loved him.

I still miss him very much now as I type this entry out ten days later. There is much emotions to talk about but I will not post it here as it is reserved for my innermost heart.

Though he has left, I know he has departed to a far better place, where there is no tears, sorrow, pain any longer. One day we will meet again just as David said that he will go to his son one day.

Gong gong is in paradise, together with the Lord. Thank you Lord.

The Saddest Verse in the Bible

I think one of the saddest passages of the bible is found below.

13 But see, there is joy and revelry,
slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep,
eating of meat and drinking of wine!
"Let us eat and drink," you say,
"for tomorrow we die!"

14 The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty.

The Lord was describing Jerusalem in this instance. That though they were in idolatry, sexual immorality, and paganism, they did not feel that they had offended God. They were not conscious of the presence of God and His commandments which if disobeyed, brings upon wrath.

They indulged in their sin, feasted, drank to their hearts content, committed immoral acts, just to 'enjoy life to the fullest' for tomorrow, we die. Life is short.

Sounds familiar? Isn't this what the world is doing right now? Enjoy now, for I have only one life. Isn't this what the world says?

What does the Lord say about this? He says. That till the day of your deathbed, your sins will not be cleansed. With sin, we depart into the hell, sheol, awaiting the judgement of the heat white throne, and then thrown into the eternal lake of fire.

Don't believe this article? it's not from me, it's from the Word of God, weigh your options. Continue to live in your life of sin and indulgence and risk eternal torment. Or, turn toward the savior Lord, and commit your lives to Him. Let me know if you choose to do the latter. With my fullest of energies, I will help you.

This verse doesn't have to be the saddest verse. It can be the happiest verse leading you to Christ.

God is the creator, redeemer and sanctifier.

We have been created by Him.
We want to be redeemed by Him.
But do we want to be sanctified?
Are we willing to be sanctified?

We want to spend time for ourselves.
We want to do things that our lusts wants.
We do not want to count the costs of following Christ.
We want to live in comfort more than bear His cross.
We want to walk in our wilful and sinful ways.

Are we willing to be sanctified? If we are not sanctified, we are but hypocrities, lukewarm, false prophets, being spit out from Christ into the place of brimstone and burning lake.

Let us re-examine ourselves, our faith, our lives, our minds.

True Wisdom

"This is the whole duty of man, to fear God and keep His commandments."
Ecclesiates 12

We often sought wisdom. We try to find in the world, in books, through seminars or through networking with people.

But we forget about God's revealed source of wisdom for us. More specifically, the books of proverbs and Eccelesiates.

Read it. There can be no greater gain of wisdom through these. And know that, wisdom, comes from God, is for us to fear God, is for us to love God, is for us to obey God.

Zeal

Romans 9:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but serve God zealously.

Never be too piled up in excelling in academics that you lack zeal to serve.

Never be too tempted and chasing after profits, that you lose the true blessings of God.

Never be too envying of people, that you forget the graces of God on you.

Never let anything, diminish your zeal for God.

Overcoming evil with good

Romans 12:9-21
Repay evil with good.

Love those who shame you.
Love those who suspect you.
Love those who criticize you.
Love those who gossip about you.
Love those who who shame you.
Love those who hurt you.
Love those who take advantage of you.
Love those who kill you.

Paul did this. Stephen did this. Jesus did this. God commanded this.

Blessed is he who hears, and DOES the Word of God.

Turning away from a life of sin

Living as Children of Light

Sermon preached on 15 aug by rev Teo kiak hock. My sermon notes.

There was a recent news article on husband and wives. Wives attempted to wake their sleeping husbands up but on several attempts, the husbands continue to sleep. However, when the wives mentioned that they are checking their husbands SMS, immediately, they woke up with some even responding if they had seen the photos.

Some of the husbands were Christians. Now how can this be? Why is it that professing Christians can still be leading a life of such sin? Using paul's terms, we have not put off our old self and put on the new self. We keep going back to our old sinful ways. That is why Paul said in Ephesians 4:17-19

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Paul is giving us a warning here. A warning not to go back to our old ways of sin. For the consequences of that is separation from God. And with separation, our sinful selves will harden itself and we will continue to lust for more and more sins.

The downfall of a Christian is not sudden but slowly, progressively degrading. You start initially to console yourselves that skipping a service is ok, then skipping two, then more, and finally, the only service you go to is the funeral service. Sin slowly creeps in unnoticeably. Be warned against this great danger.

Paul proceeds to tell us practical examples on how we can avoid turning back to a life of sin.
First:

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

We should not tell lies. We lie for two reasons. First, we lie because we are afraid. Second, we lie because we are greedy. Ananias and sapphire lied for greed of money and face. They envied barnabas who offered everything he had and sought to earn the same respect. We should not lie because God is truth and we should live in truth which includes telling the truth.

The other practical lesson Paul teaches is about anger.

26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.

It is not wrong to get angry. What is wrong is to sin in your anger. Many great man in the bible got angry. Moses got angry when he saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. Jesus got angry when he saw his temple being exploited as a market place for people to make profits.

Also, we should rage for a prolonged period as it gives rise to rage and bitterness.

Hence, how do we turn away from a life of sin?

21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Be taught the truth. Know the truth. Meditate on it, flush it constantly into our minds. Like how flushing clean water into any polluted source clears it.

Also, be made new in our attitudes. In our emotion. To thirst, to love, our God. Understand how much he loves us. Finally, renew our will to serve Him.

1 John 1

True joy. Complete joy.

1 John 1
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete.

True joy. Not money, promotion, human relations. But knowledge and fellowship with God. To do His will. To share with others His grace. To put things of eternity before earthly.

All things work for the good of those who love Him.

I was fetching a preacher back home yesterday. He recently had an accident where a bus ran over his feet. His was utterly crushed and all the muscles and nerves were crushed to death. Till today, about two months after the accident, the dead skin and flesh has to be scrapped out from his feet. His mobility is of course affected and needs to take the cab more often.

In spite of all these, he shared with me that if he was not a Christian, he would be filled anger and impatience. Why did this happen to him?

But he carries on saying that because he is a Christian, he is instead filled with peace and joy. I immediately wondered if I would feel the same thing if it happened to me as well. I have read many times o experience joy and peace from God. But how exactly can I do that when it's a time of trial like what happened to the preacher?

I asked him. He answered. All things work for the good of those who love him. All things. Yes, even bad things. In each bad thing, there is God's wonderful will for us. That it would be good for us. Once you know this, you are at peace cause you know that God has in store goodness for you through the trouble and also joy because it's the best way for you given that it's God's way.

And it's that simple. Trouble, trials, tests? All work for the good of us.

Lessons from Jonah Chapter 1

Lessons from Jonah Chapter 1

Ever heard of the story of Jonah? Its the story where a great big fish swallowed a man and kept him in its stomach for three days and three nights for he had disobeyed God's command.

Perhaps you might have heard of the story before, in children sunday school, in stories, television programs, but let us take a closer look at the story of Jonah, as recorded in Jonah chapter 1, and learn valuable lessons.

Jonah 1 

1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

 4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship.
      But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."

 7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.

 8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?"

 9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."

 10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)

 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"

 12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you."

 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

 17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

We see that God commanded Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh to repent before God punishes them, for Nineveh was a city that committed great sins detestable to God. However, Jonah disobeyed God's command. This was because he was a Jew, and the Jews were sworn enemies with the people of Nineveh. Jonah was not happy that God wanted to spare Nineveh. He wanted God to inflict punishment on them.

However, God is a loving and merciful God, not willing that anyone should perish. He does not want sinners to perish, does not want evil do-ers to perish and will give ample chances for them to repent, and have faith in Him. However, when sinners choose to go their way to such an extend that God can no longer extend His merciful hand, God has to give them over to their sin. In this case, God still is merciful over Nineveh. It is however Jonah that does not sympathize with the people of Nineveh.

We see that due to one man's in-submission to God, an entire city can fall into God's wrath. (Of course God can choose to use other servants for His purpose.) Remember that there are several tens of thousands in Nineveh, including innocent young children. Yet Jonah was unwilling to preach the message of repentance to Nineveh.

Jonah fled away from God. Went to Joppa, bought a ticket to board a ship heading towards Tarshish. Tarshish was in the West, just in the opposite direction towards Nineveh which was in the East. The ship had to sail across the Mediterranean Sea.

While across the sea, God sent a huge storm, so huge to the extend that it threatened to tear up the ship in two. Even the sailors who were experienced in sailing were afraid. It was the most fearful storm they had even seen. So fearful till the extend that they cried to their own god. They also threw their cargo overboard in a bid to lighten the ship's load that it would not sink.

In the midst of the storm, everyone on board the ship would be busy doing all they could for each of them would drown to death if the ship were to sink. However, Jonah was sleeping soundly below deck! It is incredible that we see the ignorance of Jonah to such an extend, that admist all the chaos, he still could sleep.

It took a pagan, a non-believer, the ship's captain, to wake him up. Furthermore, the pagan had to remind Jonah, a prophet of God, to call upon his true God, that they might not perish. How ironic that the pagan captain will use all his means to pray upon false gods, yet the prophet of God will not even call upon the true God.

It took casting of lots, to find out that Jonah was the cause of the storm. This does not mean that we should cast lots in superstition to find out God's will for He has clearly commanded us not to indulge ourselves in black arts and magic. But God used this means this time to clearly depict that Jonah was the cause of the storm, and He wanted to give Jonah the opportunity to repent and revive his commission to preach to the people of Nineveh.

Jonah, the believer in the true God, the God of heaven who created the sea and the land didn't call upon Him. But instead had to rely on the reminding of pagans who worshipped false gods to call upon the true God. It is indeed humiliating. At this point in time, he volunteered to be thrown into the sea, for he knew that he was the cause of it all. Yet, we instead see the love from the pagans who did not want to throw Jonah till they had tried their best to overcome the situation. They tried their best till they could try no more and prayed to the true God for forgiveness that they not he held accountable for Jonah's life for it is God who caused the storm due to Jonah's rebellion.

The pagans then threw Jonah overboard and a big fish swallowed him and kept him in its stomach for three nights and days. It would be dark, lonely and with great filth in the fish's stomach. It will resemble hell. Perhaps this provided the opportunity for Jonah to understand the consequences of the people of Nineveh if he does not abide by God's command to preach to them. And because of this, in chapter two, it records then Jonah said a prayer of repentance. To ask for God's forgiveness, and re-committed himself to God's commission to preach to Nineveh.

What homework can take away from chapter one of Jonah? First, to know that by one's in-submission, you can actually bring great harm to others. If Jonah did not preach the message of repentance to Nineveh, they stand the possibility of being in God's wrath. This reminds that if we refuse to preach the gospel, the salvation from Jesus, we bring harm to others. We are in God's grace, yet we refuse to extend this grace to others. A true friend will bring his friend, to Christ. The greatest good, if we do not introduce it to our friends, how can we call ourselves a true friend?

Second, know that if we are not right with God, we are heading downhill. We need a right relationship with God. Jonah's relationship kept going downhill form the point when he rebelled against God. From disobeying to go to Nineveh, to heading for Tarshish in the ship, to going under the deck, to being thrown into the sea, to being swallowed into the big fish, we see that if we disobey God's will for us, we will be heading downwards.

Thirdly, that God will discipline us if we continually go against Him. Jonah was disciplined by God, through the storm, through the reprimanding of pagans, through the throwing over into the sea, through spending the time in the fish's stomach.

May we bring the good news of salvation to people, have a right relationship with God, and be sensitive to His disciplining in the areas of life where we go against Him. For God disciplines those whom He loves.

Notes for 11th July 2010 sermon

The church is not a building. It's the community of christians. On Sunday, we congregate in a building to worship God. On Sunday, we gather in a church and we worship as a church.

However, come Monday to Saturday, each of us is a church. We are a church to the people we associate with. Whether you are a student, businessman, teacher, housewife, doctor or engineer.

We are told to manifest Christ who lives in us. To live out the imitation of Christ to those around us. To love, to care, to give, to rebuke, to feed. All this, that every good work be a revelation God's love to them. That the gospel be lived out for them to see, that when the opportunity comes, we may witness Christ to them.

Faith. Love. Obey. Preach. Love. Save.

Live - ers of the Word

No one really wants to hear what we have to say about the love of Jesus until they’ve seen it in our lives (Matt. 5:16).

Pastor visited grand dad on Wednesday. He also bought with him some gifts. The baptism certificate and also a large poster of the Lord's prayer.

It so occured to me that it really is the most perfect gift my grand dad cld have. The lord Jesus teaching him how to pray.
That God be glorified, that he be delivered from evil and temptation, that he will have God's daily bread with him. That he will have a part of God's kingdom.

Thank God for such messengers.
Thank you.

Interested in iPhone Development?

Will being writing a series of tutorials for iPhone programming. Visit the site below.

http://easyiphonedevelopment.blogspot.com/

Don't lose it

Blog blog blog... Think most people nowadays are content with reading and writing on facebook. Short quotes, lesser content. No more long blog posts.

Make sure that you don't lose the skill of reading, and writing！

Sexual Immorality, Homosexuality – We are in it TOGETHER

Dear friends,

We sinners are in NO POSITION to condemn the homosexuals of their sin for we ourselves, are sinners, committing acts that greatly angers God. We are wicked to the core, desperately wicked, no one can fathom what evil we can do. When the adulterous woman was brought before Jesus and the crowd, he only said one sentence. That whoever has not sinned can take the first stone to kill her. One by one the crowd left till there was no one left. Only Jesus was left, to which he said, “neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your lift of sin.” (John 8)

Yet, with a sad heart, I plead with anyone who is contemplating that homosexuality is not a sin to re-evaluate it in accordance to the Word of God. I plead with you, to just consider what a sinner, has to say. For I am no better than the worst of sinners, yet by the grace of God, I am saved and this is my hope for you as well, to have God’s grace and not His wrath, upon you. For it is only responsible that I should warn of the consequences of sin.

There are common debates on homosexuality, that it is ok, that its genetic, inborn, a psychological illness. One side argues this. Another argues that. Whose stand are we to accept?

I plead you to understand that the discussions and debates between pro and anti homo-groups DO NOT make an absolute stand. It is but an exchange between man to man, his principles, his standards.

We can only rely upon the Word of God as the ABSOLUTE STANDARD of everything including homosexuality. Its just like groups debating that 1+1= 3 and other parties debating that 1+1=1.5. But there are mathematical TRUTHS just as there are physics truths at work in the universe. 1+1 is equal to 2. Period.

Yet, there is an even more important and greater truth that we must know and that is the TRUTH of God revealed through His Word. The ABSOLUTE TRUTH. The Word of God, the BIBLE. The bible is clear about homosexuality.

Genesis 19:24 “The Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah” because of the great sin of the people of those cities. They yearned to have unnatural relations with parties of the same sex and often in orgies (19:5). A similar group of people is recorded in Judges 19:22-30 in Gibeah.

Jude 7 “Sodom and Gomorrah gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”

Lev 18:22 “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable”

Lev 20:13 “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”

Romans 1:27 “Man abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

One day we will stand before God in judgment, giving an account of all our beliefs and actions whether you like it or not, believe it or not. Homosexuality is detestable to God.

As mentioned, we sinners are in NO POSITION to condemn the homosexual of their sin for we ourselves, are sinners, committing acts that greatly angers God. We are wicked to the core, desperately wicked, no one can fathom what evil we can do.

The apostle Paul says,

1 Cor 6:9-10 “The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexuals offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

We might not be homosexuals. We do not fall into such temptations. Yet, we fall into other sexual immoralities i.e. to be explicit; pornography, or the seemingly innocent lusting after someone walking down the street. Question: If our thoughts were to be burned into a DVD, would you want to show it to anyone?

We all commit other sins as Paul mentioned, greed, theft, slandering, swindling, and many more by which you know because your conscience rebukes you. Before God, homosexual or not, we are sinners, deserving the wrath of God. We have no right to condemn the homosexual because we are but sinners ourselves.

But yet we are entrusted with the Word of God to warn others, that God’s wrath is true and will come upon those who harden their hearts and do not repent. We are made right in the blood of Christ. So can anyone, by faith in Christ, that you believe that He borne your sins unto the cross, shed His blood for you, nailed for you, died for you, and realizing His great grace, repent of your wrongs.

A homosexual, just like a sex addict or pornography addict will definitely find the clutches of sin having a strangling hold over him. It will be very difficult to break or repent from the old ways. Yes, there will be temptations dragging him back. Yet, with man, things might be impossible. But with God, all things are possible. (Matt 19:26)

And by the grace of God, once freed from the clutches of sin, he will experience indescribable joy in God. The hope, the knowledge that God’s wrath is not upon Him. The Christian’s journey is not an easy highway. It is an arduous journey with temptations pulling us back into the pits and dangers entrapping us into new ones. Yet, our God will be with us, not giving unto us any temptation too much for us to bear. And step by step, He leads us daily through prayer, through reading the Word, through serving Him and His people, through bearing salt and light for Him in the world, to finally reach the wonderful place He has prepared for us.

The Christian church EMBRACES ANY homosexual that is willing to seek God. He might not have yet known how to or convicted himself to weaning off his act. There are many Christian ministries that especially cater to such individuals, eg.

· Exodus International

· Cross Power Ministries

· International Healing Foundation

· Homosexuals Anonymous

Ultimately, the Christian should love that which God loves AND hates what He hates. God loves the homosexual. God detests the sin but loves the individual. Let us not harden our hearts towards Him, but come unto Him, experiencing His love, grace, truth, hope, peace, joy and salvation.

This is very sad

Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

John 4:23-24

23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

1 Peter 1:16
"Be Holy for I am Holy"

Gospel Sunday Message

Many things around us will change. Physical environments, Economical environments, Social environments, they all change. Only one thing doesn’t. God’s love towards us has never changed. His truth has never changed. Since the beginning of time till now, and from now till eternally, this will not changed.

God’s love for us was shown most wonderfully yet tragically, two thousand years ago, when His son had to die by the most tragic and cruel means of execution then, Crucifixion on the cross during the times of the Roman Empire.

Yet now, the cross is worn proudly on necklaces, shown on ambulances, the least to mention a few. Why? Would you hang an electric chair, or hanging gallow around your neck or adore it on a vehicle or building? Then why this adoration and recognition of the cross all over the world throughout history?

This was because the cross manifested the love of God. On the cross, our sins were nailed to the cross, cleansed, forgiven, by the blood of Christ.

From the cross, Christ spoke words of grace. One of His last words referring to the multitudes whom has just earlier called for his execution were, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And by the blood He shed, indeed our Father has forgiven us of our wrong-doings, our sins.

When it comes to belief in God, people often take a cynical eye towards Christ. Yet so many embrace money as their belief. As their God. Believing in money. Or perhaps, just believing in one’s self. Yet when it comes to the last moments of one’s life, does believing in money or believing in your yourself, your achievements, your legacy help? Does the best luxuries help in easing the fear and loneliness of death?

Only words of grace as spoken by Christ can truly comfort. He told the robber was today and thereafter, the robber will be with Him in paradise. Now the robber was in the eyes of the roman law, an evil person, a thief, a murderer. Yet he believed in Christ, hanging beside him. And because of his faith, he was given the assurance of heaven by our Lord. He was comforted by Jesus’s words of grace and hope. This is the only thing that can truly comfort, the assurance of heaven.

If we are truly honest with ourselves, we know that deep in our hearts we search for a god. Animals do not do that. But man does. We do. We search for God in our hearts. And in our hearts, we know that we are unworthy people too. Sinners. Would you be willing to show a DVD containing all your thoughts, the things you said, the things you did, the things you saw, to anyone else?

In the limited eyes of the government, our family, we may be seen as good citizens, or good children. But what after before the unlimiting eyes of God?

All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Only Jesus can save us. He invites us to the true and living way to God. If only we would accept His invitation.

God searches for man to save him and love him. He has been doing that since the creation of the first man. He searched for Adam the moment he fall into sin in eating the forbidden fruit. Yet, He searches for man not to judge him, but to save him. Only when man refuses this salvation, does God in His righteousness judge man when the wrath of God is terribly and regretfully unleashed unto the sinner whose sins have not been cleansed.

God searches for God saves, for God loves. He has prepared the path of salvation since the creation of the world. The path of salvation through Christ. For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son to the world, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Christ died for us on the cross. Before His last breath, He said, “It is finished.” The saving path to God is opened.

Do not carry your own burden of sin. Leave it upon Christ. Follow Him.

Financial affairs

Citibank sg just made record profits this year. Is it going to transfer money to it's US counterpart to repay the Fed? Or they are keeping quiet and treating it as a low cost loan from them...or rather low cost loan from taxpayers...the same goes for the rest of the gang.

I guess they are too busy opening secret accounts for wealthy individuals to avoid taxes..btw that's supposed to be legal.

Or perhaps providing loans to sanctioned countries eg. Iran...

Biblical worship – God will be honored

Biblical worship – God will be honored

Worship has to be favored by God. Worship has to honor God. Nadab and Abihu offered the wrong fire contrary to God’s command and were struck dead by God.

Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent.

God-revealed means of worship and holiness of worship has to be observed, lest we end up doing irreverent actions like Uzzah who tried to support the ark from falling but was struck dead by God where just moments ago, David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

Offering with a truthful heart has to be observed lest we end up like Sapphiras and Ananias, who offered with deceit.

Acts 5:3-5

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

We see from these events that worship to God has to be favored by Him. Not by man. Worship to God has to be according to His ways, not our liking. With the joy of having God favor our worship, we are also reminded of the severe wrath of judgment upon worship that is not according to His will.

So what is the worship that God favors?

It is not the worship of the Old Testament as revealed on the pattern of the mount. It is not the dancing and clanging of cymbals done when certain victorious events have occurred. It is not the worship that happened in the temple, holiest place, or holiest of holiest. The book of Hebrews records that when the new covenant of Christ comes, it has replaced the obsolete worship ways of the Old Testament.

Worship is not the pattern shown during the apostolic period captured mainly through the book of Acts where much of the worship did not have an orderly structure. But God in His divine will flourished the early church. And in AD 95, God revealed to the last surviving apostle John, the pattern of worship in heaven.

In Revelations 4 and 5, the circle of elders worship the slained lamb through the singing of hymns, and all glory was given unto the lamb. With harps and hymns serving praise and conviction to the Lord who was slained for us.

The worship was carried out in a holy manner. For our God is holy, and as the angels proclaimed, holy, holy, holy is the God Almighty.

Some questions to think about worship.

Is our worship holy? Or is it influenced by the attractions of this world?

Is our worship for the sole glory of God? Or it is to bring name and knowing to individuals?

Are we worshiping in truth or are we worshiping to our liking?

Are we worshipping in spirit or are we worshipping in unrepentance, continual living in sin and coming to worship with a hypocritical heart?

Are we sincerely pursing a worship that God favours and not a worship that man favours?

Is our worship for the edification of man that they are led to worship God and understands His Word of Life? Or are men being stumbled by distractions in our worship?

Worship is for the glory, holiness and favor of God, and the edification of man that they can in spirit and truth, worship God.

May God favor our worship.

Thanks and Praise

I thank and praise God. Tens of years of prayer have been answered. Prayer turns to praise. My grand dad and grand Ma were baptized last Saturday.

It has really been a miracle, seeing the seemingly impossible task turning into reality by the work of God. Grandpa's health has not been very good in the past years. In fact, many situations were near death if not for the grace of God. But God heard my cries. He delivered him unto safety many times, from the icu, back to the comforts of home. And the most wonderful thing happened. He delivered him unto salvation.

I praise and thank God. I thank God for the messengers of him showering care and concern over him throughout his period that has led him to open his heart. May God forever remember them who leads people to righteousness and shine like the stars forever an ever.

May God continue to strengthen their faith. That they will enjoy His peace, hope and joy for the ime ahead. Thank you O Lord.

Filled with the Spirit

As I read the last portions of Galatians, I am reminded again what it truly means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Please find scripture below.

Galatians 5. 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Summary:
Being filled with the Spirit is:

1. Not gratifying our sinful desires. We will oppose what we sinfully yearn to do. V16-17

2. You will not engage in acts of sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies,

3. Instead, you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

4. Not becoming conceited, provoking and envying each other.


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When you feel alone

In the depths of your loneliness, where you feel that that no one else can help you, no one understands you, no one cares about you, that you are left to fend all by yourselves in this world, that you carry the weight of your sins on you, you have no one else but to turn to Him.

He is our helper, our comforter, our protector, our redeemer.

Reflections on fukuoka

I had the privilege of bringing 25 students to Fukuoka japan for a study trip recently. What was more fortunate was that Peixuan could join me half way and soaked in the nice innovation of japan.

The students enjoyed themselves as evident from their facebook statuses. I forged a closer tie with some of them and also made many friends in them during the trip.

The people of japan are diligent, pays attention to details, very intelligent, innovative, courteous, likes asthetics, and simply just makes top quality products.

I managed to meet up with missionary couple friend there. We met a couple of nights and they brought us around and also to their house and church.

Thank God for their ministry there. Though the numbers are few, Pr xiao Jian reminded us that it is God who works and brings salvation grace to people. Hence, he is not discouraged but continues to serve in the hard gospel soil of japan.

Indeed the gospel soil of japan is hard just as described in the parable of Jesus. Hard to take root and soon eaten by birds.

The people of japan need the gospel. They are in the best in many things, in culture, in technology, in science, in people. But yet, the many attacks of Satan manifest in their country. Publicly available are pornographic tv channels in the most private of places, in hotel rooms and homes. Lusts so easily take root in particularly a man's mind because of these.
The weapons of lust continue to manifest in pornographic magazines and newspapers sold all over.

Dear brethens, is this the reason that there are high rate of broken marriages or marriage that continue but both spouses have extra marital affairs?

I have certainly no say in judging them for I am a sinner myself. But it is the Word of God which condemns man of sin. And it is a real world out there. Real people who seemingly have good careers and lives but yet in the most depths of their hearts they are trapped by sin.

The Wors of God warns of adultery. She attracts us like a bed or roses with fragance do. But it leads one unto the path of death. Not only to himself, but his wife, family and to everyone dear to him. It happened to Jack neo. It happened to tiger woods.

Not only the people of japan, but all man, need the gospel to set us free from sin which leads to eternal death after a life on earth filled with sorrow, regret and pain.

Embrace the gospel. Repent. Believe in the saviour who died. Who redeemed your sin by the blood that he bled. Who gave us eternal life through his death.

What other hope do you have to reject Him? What other hope?

It is with this hope that we find hope in our lives, that we are assured of a better place, that God cares for us now and everything works for the good of us.

I love japan. I love the people of japan more. I pray for Pr xiao Jian and wife that God through them brings about salvation grace to the people of japan.

The 5 Ws of Good Friday

Who: Jesus

When: About 2000 years ago

What: Crucified to the cross. The most gruesome form of capital execution of the roman government then.

Where: Israel, Jerusalem, Golgotha

Why: To die in place for us. To redeem the sins of those who believe in Him

Sufficient grace

Caleb boy has finally learned to walk. It's such a joy seeing him walk on his own and having that smile on his face while walking.

This past one year has been stormy at times, doubtful at times, despair at times, dark at times. It seems like the ship has run aground. But God's grace is sufficient. The stormy, the dark, the despair, have worked for the good for us.

When I reflect back, the storms have cleared, the light of Christ have emerged victorious over the dark, hope has transcended over doubt.

My learning points. Count our blessings. Know others are suffering the same as you, if not, even worse. Unceasing prayer. Serving without reserves. Faith. Love. Obey.

Love is not proud

Why are proud in the first place? There is no reason to be. When we stand before God as mentioned before, how can we ever be sure that deep down in our hearts where God searches all things, that we are better than the person next to us?

We have no reason to be proud. But rather, when we might have more God given grace than others in some areas, seek to edify, impart, teach the other if possible.

Love does not boast

How often we only want to engage those weaker than us, that we feel we are better, have accomplished more, will be accomplishing more than them. In the pursue of being puffed up, we like to engage in conversations, activities with them and get the constant reminder that we are better than them. But are we?

Let’s not think too highly of ourselves lest it opens a door for the devil. The bible reminds us to think of others better than ourselves, reminds us not to think too highly of ourselves but think of ourselves in accordance to the faith that God has given. Even in matters of faith, we can be so convicted, so loving, so serving to God is because He has given us such a faith.

So let us not think of anyone worse than us. Because if the two of us were to stand before God now, who do you think God will favour more? God sees the heart. What is the state of our heart as compared to the person you think you are better than? Are we truly better than the other person before God?

Let’s not boast because, it we have truly nothing intrinsic to boast about. If we boast about things of vanity, in itself its vanity. Idle words, idle time. Let our speech be not of boast, but of edification. Edify your brother. Edify him every day, every way. God help us to do so. Remind us to do so.

The plunder from besor

In 1 Samuel 30, there is a magnificent story reminding us the riches that we have of this world are from God. Nothing we have is due to our works but solely through God's grace.

The ziklags plundered david's possesions as well as captured their children an wifes. But through God's providence, David mentioned to capture it back with 400 other men. Not only so, they retreived the ziklag's plunder as well. Before the battle, 200 men were so exhausted that they could not join in the battle.

Hence when the 400 returned with David, they said that the plunder was not to be shared with the 200 that stayed behind. But david's response was other wise. That all the plunder was given and not due to any works from any man. Hence, all 600 received an equal share. Many lessons to learn from this.

Firstly, to know that all riches are given from God and all brothers and sisters have a share for it. Because you know it's from God, you want to share it with others because you know it's not from your own. We offer because we know all good things are from God and the offerings are used for the edification of all.

Secondly, David stood firm on his godly principles and did not listen to the evil ones amongst his men. He was unlike Aaron, who gave in an made a golden calf, but remained true to godly principles.

Thirdly, there might be evil ones in your midst but that is for God to discern. We continue to render what they should receive, treat them, love them as we should to a non evil one.

Living a joyful, positive life in God

Joshua 15 teaches us a valuable lesson in the character of Caleb. Caleb though at 85 years old, proclaimed that he had the strength equivalent when he was 40 years old. He still had land to claim, enemies to defeat, not of his own accord but because God had promised him that it was the land that God had given him.

He was full of joy, and positive though he was 85 years old. How would we behave, think, feel at 85 years old? Would be depressed in our old age, thinking that we are useless, weak in health? Caleb at 85 was still full of vigour and joy because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly all the way since when he was the spy of a different spirit, reporting back that the land that God had promised could be conquered. Remember that wasn't an easy task to do. He faced opposition from his own people who even went to the extend of wanting to stone him. And these were the people who spied with him!

Let's be like Caleb, who even at old age, remembered God's promises. He followed wholeheartedly God and his promises. He had joy in serving him and giving thanks for the many graces.

Love does not Envy

Ah, one for the most powerful tools used by the devil to break a Christian. To break him down from within, the surest way to tempt him into evil, to forget the graces of God. To mock the graces of God.

Envy. In the 10 commandments, it says, do not covet. Envy springs forth coveting. Envy, looking at what you don’t have or the seeming lack of it, that you think is not comparable to others, and a sense of bitterness starts to spring off from inside.

A friend just got a new condo, or design to build flat, nicely renovated with great views. Or had just purchased a nice car, speedy, comfy. Or a great high paying job. Or a chance to be promoted. Or great results. Or a seeming great family life. Or great people skills. Or just received praises.

And we start to envy. It grows slowly into jealously. We start to self doubt ourselves, our graces, our abilities, our current situation. We become unsatisfied. We think, wouldn’t life be better if I hadn’t done this and this, and had done this and this? This is opening the door for the devil to step in.

Cain opened this door when he was jealous of Abel’s offering being favoured. Saul opened this door when he heard of praise given unto others other than him. Joseph’s brothers opened this door when they saw the nice color coat given to him. The Pharisees opened this door when they saw the number of disciples that Jesus attracted. The disciples opened this door when they argued who was the greatest. They opened the door and allowed bitterness to set in, and later on, some of the world’s most hideous crimes were conducted because of these.

Who did not open this door? Jonathan did not. Because he loved David as himself. Esau in my opinion opened but finally closed the door back when he received his brother in love. Barnabas closed this door when he received Paul with love and recognised that someone with a superior ability to minister was called. Abraham closed this door when he let his nephew chose the better looking land. And in the end, they were greatly blessed and remembered as heroes of faith.

We do not have to envy. We only have to give thanks. He is better, has better, is because God has planned it in such a way that His name, His will, His plans will be glorified and accomplished. He has given these good things to them. He was the source. If we disagree by envying, by being jealous, we are treating God in contempt. We should rejoice for our brother! Because we love him. Purging envy, we start to grow humility. Seeing nothing of ourselves. Making nothing of ourselves. But all together, tools for the service of God.

Love is kind.

Love is kind. It is always thinking how to better edifying the person, to do an action that will best help the person to grow to be a better person in Christ.

It is not just convenient kindness, where we avoid confrontation of sin, but willing to discipline where areas of sin is concerned that he may be freed from the bondage of the evil one.

Always thinking, how to better edify the person. In truth, in deeds.

Love is patient

1 Cor 13:4 - 8 is just so important for all of us. We often memorize it, sing it, read it, but yet fail to act it. Through this series of post, I hope that 1 Cor 13:4 - 8 is really imprinted unto my heart, affecting my everyday thoughts, actions and speech.

Love it patient. Love is patient when you expect something and it falls short of your expectations. You expect a nice gesture towards you, you expect something ought to be done for you. You expect that such a reply ought to have been given by this person. But the gesture, the reply, the action, falls short of your expectation.

Your spouse did not react the way he/she should, your child did not respond the way he/she should, your colleague did not give you the thanks he should, or the gave you something else that totally turned your expectation around, your parents did not understand you.

in all this, you remain patient. Patient is when you are fine, ok with the counterparty not meeting your expectation. And God has told us to be patient, as our expectations are always indulged in subjective selfishness. Often, people have been patient with us but we are not patient with them.

May we be patient to\day, and love.

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1 Samuel 17

When David bought supplies from Jesse to pass to his brothers at the front lines of the battle against Goliath, his brothers wronged him that he was just wanting to watch and gloat over people being killed.

Oh how discouraged and wronged David would have felt. For he had no such intentions. Yet he knew that his conscience was clear an focused not on being wronged, not being bitter, but focused on the enemy, focused on God. His focus was so strong that he actually went all the way to meet the king, had the conviction that he could defeat the enemy. All this, because he focused on the strength, the glory of God. Not on the wronging brought by man, or the scare of the enemies.

Focus on God, not on man, especially in times of difficulties.

Lessons from 1 samuel 15

Saul was commanded by God through Samuel to destroy everything in the amalekites city for this is God's wrath against them for attacking the israelites in the past.

Saul was to destroy everything. Absolutely everything. But he didn't cause he valued worldly treasures more than obedience to God.

Sin leads to sin. Sin grows. His sin of greed soon led to the sin of lying to God.

Let us value obedience to God more than the fleeting treasures of this world. Let us not let sin have a foot hold lest it grows like yeast does to bread in our lives, leading us in a downward spiral.

Luke 3

Luke 3. chin lien night class. date: 24 feb

The background of the temple ruled by the high priest in john the baptist's time is very corrupt. There were many means of making profits in the temple then, for eg. Selling sacrifices or priestly taxes.

Hence John was raised in the desert to avoid being corrupted by the depraved situation in Jerusalem. A principle is that whenever God's word is, there will be people. Today there are many trying to attract people into the church using worldly attractiveness. Healing, prosperity, attractions. But the true church attracts with truth.

When a church preaches God's word, even a church in far lands will attract people. Like John preaching God's word in the desert. Today when we evangelize, or preach in pulpit, we should be using only God's word and no other.

John preached a baptism of repentAnce. People hated Jesus not only because he was the son of God, but becUse often Jesus spoiled the means of them making money through the temple meAns.

A church without God's word for a year will have sin growing in members, superstition and empty fillings of the heart. It resulted in john's time when people have a religion without faith. A religion without faith is that one only follows the ritualistic methods, but not observe God's word in the dAily specifics of life. One still enters the casino, gambles, cheats in business.

The second is those who offer sacrifice but not repentance. Their repentAnce is shallow, is false. In our midst, we may have the holy communion, confess sins but still go on sinning.

Third is observing sacraments but the self is not sanctified. Hence, the people needed the messAge of repentance most which is what John preached. They knew only the rituAlistic means but have never heard of the messaGe of repentance.

Man's greatest need is repentance. John rebuked them using brood of vipers. Today many use psychology to gain the favour of man, but not John. John not only preached but also baptized. The Jews knew bAptism as only needed by Gentiles. John's baptism of the Jews signified that the Jews were so depraved like the pagans. John's baptism is different from our baptism. John's baptism is one of repentance. Ours is a baptism into christ's blood. Do we truly know true repentance? It's not just regret. But the knowledge from God that you are a sinner, being sorrowful, needing salvation. 2 cor 7.

The passage from Isaiah tells of someone paving a way for the messiah. Every valley being filled, mountain made low. This refers to the heart man. Needing to be straightened from our evils, malices, deceit. The secret hidden evil things of man.

True repentance is from God. True repentance knows the wrath of God. The seriousness. We have to know that the punishment is serous, eternal suffering. Hence we know that in evangelism, we are not afraid to preach the judgement of hell.

People were coming to John for baptism. But John rebuked them as brood of vipers. John wanted to remind them it's from a true repentant heart that they want to be baptized. Not the same ritualistic heart that just wants baptism.

A hundred baptisms us useless if you did not repent. A serpent escapes the fastest when there us a fire. This is used to described to the false believers then. Let us not treat that baptism is just a means of salvation. But bear the fruits of repentance.

Let us be baptized because of us knowing that we are sinners needing salvation. Many disappear after baptised. Let us not go after ritualistic means of salvation like other religions.

Growing up in a family of Christians does not mean that you are a Christian. We need repentance ourselves. Eg. Eli's family.

Genesis 16

Prayer meeting sermon. pastor tang. 26 feb 2010

Offer the best to God.

May God bless the ministry in yck. Pray For the Workers and the work and the souls.

Pray for a group of youths who were involved in a car accident. These youths attended last year's arise camp.

This reminds us that time and chances are not in our hands. Offer, serve, read the bible, when we have the chance.

Reminds us also to obey our parents.

Pray for the youth who has brain cancer. Serve and love God while we have the chance.

Journey of faith.
Not an easy road. Full of up and downs.

Genesis 16. God credited abram with rigtheousness due to his faith.
Justified by faith.

Between genesis chap 15 and 16, time gap of 10 years. Abram waited for the promise of having an offspring for 10 years.
When will the Lord answer?

Man started to take things into their own hands.

God works in his time. In his time, he raises a person, family, Nation. Jesus mentioned that his time is not up yet while in the wedding at Cana. Jesus walked in God's timing.

When the Lord's time come, are we standing out to answer? The hymn tells us to offer our all.

Hagar bore Ishmael. But this son bought much trouble later on, till today. Things that might seem as grace actually bring trouble.

Hagar means escape. Shameful acts were revealed in gen 16. Shameful acts even happened in the family of the promise. This reminds us not to worship heroes of faith but learn from their rights and wrongs.

I love pear!

Eating pear!


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Hello, Caleb here again

Hello all. My name is Caleb and my papa did this photoshopped picture for me. It was his first attempt but I think that it's quite good already. So kudos to him.


I love my papa! But for now I love my mummy more. So I roll around her more when I wake up and beat and squeeZe my papa more.

I forgot to mention, I know how to walk a bit now and identify some sounds. So I am more fun to play with.

Till next time!

为什么我们要爱

想分享今天在主日学查考约翰一书第四章里的功课, 为什么我们要爱. 一边提醒自己爱人的功课，爱人正确的动机，另一方面勉励朋友们，当我们不想爱的时候，心里充满苦毒的时候，忍要爱。

为什么我们要爱 - 五个理由

1. 因为神是爱。约翰一书4：7-8. 神的本质就是爱。祂一切所做的，审判，怜悯，都是出于爱。因为神是爱，所以我们要爱。

2. 效法神对我们的爱。约翰一书4：9-11。就是祂差祂儿子，为我们死的爱。

3. 彰显神的爱。约翰一书4：12。没有人见过神，但我们爱的时候，人就从我们的身上看见神的爱的彰显。

4. 神会与我们同在。约翰一书4：13-16。我们爱的时候，神会与我们同在。

5。叫我们在审判的日子坦然无惧。约翰一书4：17-20。

约翰一书4：19。 “我们爱，因为神先爱我们。”

Blogpost from iPhone.

Trying out this blogging tool in iPhone. Perhaps I will blog more on the go now given this. Haha.

Oh Caleb took his tiny few steps yesterday. And it was quite a few steps. So happy. Everyone was cheering for him as he took each step. I will remember 20022010, the day Caleb took his first steps.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

新年蒙恩

华人过新年。所以这次又用华文来写部落格。

又过新年了。原大家新年蒙恩。、！

为什么新年会蒙恩？当然是蒙上帝的恩典。

祂最大的恩典也就是我们接着耶稣，得救赎。新的一年，又被提醒，我们蒙了救恩。耶稣的羊认得祂的声音。耶稣也不会撇弃祂的羊。一百只羊当中少了一只，祂仍然会去寻找。让我们忠心到底，认，听，尊行，大牧者的声音。

我们今日能够生存，每分每秒，都是上帝的恩典。我们能跨过新的一年，是因为蒙了祂的恩。回想，您有朋友或亲人，去年就离开了世界吗？我们竟然能存活，是蒙了恩典。

世界美好恩赐都是来自天上。我们的吃，住，睡，健康，乐，都值得感恩。若你觉得这些是算不了什么，你问问躺在医院的病人们，他最大的需要是什么？是能够赚许多钱吗？股票大涨吗？不是。是能够吃的下，睡得着，恢复健康的身体能够回家与家人见面，享受家庭简单但舒服的住处。我们能为着每日所享用的饮食，的健康，的睡眠，感恩。

还有许多我们蒙了恩典的事项，你自己数算。

新年蒙恩不单单是今年愿你更蒙恩典，也是知道我们一定蒙恩，昨日蒙恩，今日蒙恩，明日蒙恩。用着感恩，知足的心，知道蒙了上帝许多的恩。

所以新年蒙恩，新年感恩。

The Blessings of Christ

No, this is definitely not the post to be looking for if you are looking out for ‘blessings’ like prosperity, abundance in wealth, climbing the corporate ladder or getting a warm family. These are the blessings as promised by, and there shouldn’t be anything else, proper interpretation of THE BIBLE.

The forgiveness of our sins.
Eph 1:7
⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

Salvation
Eph 1:13
¹³And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

SUFFICIENT material blessings
Rom 15:27
²⁷They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.

Peace
Romans 5:1
"We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Joy
1 Thess 1:6
^6”You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”

These are the true blessings of believing in Christ. Why do you not believe?

Luke 2:21-40 Simeon & Anna. The Witnesses of Christ

Luke Chapter 2
V23 every first born is to be consecrated to God. Mary knew Jesus belonged to God. The messiah, the savior.
V24 offering sacrifice, a pair of doves or pigeon. Some like Mary and Joseph were not wealthy, thus could only afford pigeons instead of bulls or sheeps.

The Witnessing of Simeon.
V25-35 Simeon, bearing witness for Jesus. He was righteous and devout. Waiting for the consolation of Israel. He knew Jesus was the savior, even though Jesus was just a child. Simeon believed in faith.

V29-32 Simeon’s Song of deliverance.
V29" you have now dismiss your servant in peace."
Simeon knew Jesus was the savior of all people.

Qn: are we worthy of dying on the cross if we are willing?
No. A lamb sacrificed needs to be without blemish. What more the ultimate sacrifice?

V34 many will fall, referring to those who opposed Jesus.
V35 a sword will pierce Mary's own soul referring to the day Jesus is crucified.

We have many similarities with Simeon.

Simeon hope for the  coming of the savior. We hope for the second coming of Jesus. We live a testimony for Jesus. Simeon lived righteously and devoutly. Both have the holy spirit upon. By the moving of the holy spirit, we preach, we bear testimony, we offer. both are servants who serve. Do not be an idle person in church. Serve. Both have spiritual hindsight. Seeing value in spiritual things. The more we rely on the grace of God to live, the more we see the spiritual value of things. Simeon whole life was focused on praising God. He was satisfied just seeing God.

Qn: are we satisfied just by seeing God?
A Christian's joy resides sufficiently just by desiring God.

V29 dismiss in peace. When it's time for us to live, let us be dismissed in peace. To leave this world in peace. But while we on the earth, let us work for God.

The witness of Anna. V36-38

Qn: why do we want to live a long life?
To be of good use like Anna.

V38 she spoke about the child to ALL.

How do we measure the value of someone's life? Working hours? Achievements? Joy? Exciting?
If by these measurements, Anna seems to lead a boring life. Day and night in the temple.
She meet with suffering 7 years after her marriage. She could have bitterness in her heart. But let us know that there could have sufferings, but not bitterness. Bitterness is pessimistic, extreme, repeated thinking about a bad thing that happened. Let us pray that we would not have bitterness.

Anna's hope was in heaven.
She was lacking but she did not have any regret.

To summarize her life with one word, service. She lived Alice of value. When you are convicted to serve God, you will live a life of value. No matter what age you are, we can testify about this child.
Jesus had the witness of Anna and Simeon. But what did he witness about himself? The way, the truth, the life.

V40 described the growth of Jesus to 12 years old. He grew. He was a normal child with no supernatural gifts. There is no mention of his growing years because he was a normal child. Do not take into account recordings outside the bible.

Luke 2 – The Birth of Christ

Recorded on 3rd Feb 2010 from Chin Lien Bible Seminary night class spoken by Rev Teo Kiak Hock.

Question: Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?
Because it was the town of David.
Because it was the town of bread and Jesus is the bread of life.

Question: why was Jesus born in a manger?
He came Unto earth, and made nothing of himself.

Question: why did the angels appeared to the shepherds instead of anyone else?
They could have appeared to the Sadducees, Romans or other important people. But they appeared to the shepherds because God often works in a way contrary to the world. He doesn't use the wises, most intelligent, or the richest. This is evident in the salvation of the Greeks due to the Jews rejecting Him.

Another reason is because all the sheeps under the shepherds are used for offering as a sacrifice. Each sacrifice requires millions of sheeps. The greatest sacrificial lamb is Christ. Hence the shepherds have to know of this lamb.

Third reason why angels appeared to the shepherds is because Christ came to be our shepherd.

In verse 9, the glory of God shone with the angels. It's important that he glory of God shines with the church. The glory of God shone with Moses and dwelt with the temple. The church is just a empty shell if the glory of God is not present.
The glory of God left the temple 2400 years ago when it departed from the temple as mentioned in Ezekiel 11. But on this night, the glory of God shone with the angels. We ought to greatly give thanks for this. What child is this that such a phenomenon? Remember the hymn. This child is a saviour.

Today we have forgotten the meaning of saviour. It is actually a great word. Today, we don't preach Christ as the saviour but him as the giver of peace, prosperity, as a fulfillment, as healing or just something good. What a pity. How would those who remain sick, poor feel? That God does not love them?

Without Jesus, you sill can gain wealth, health, fulfillment, family togetherness. But Jesus came to give something no other can. The redeemer of our sins. The saviour of our sins. To pay the price of our sins. Have you believed in the wrong Jesus? We ought to stand before the great white throne of judgment. But thanks be to God for Jesus has SAVED us. This child is our saviour.

Qn: should we celebrate Christmas since it's a pagan day of celebration?
There is no absolutes for this. We do not have to be argumentative about the date itself. What's important is that we remember the birth of our saviour. Many people today also do not know that 25th of dec is a pagan date of celebration.

Verse 12. You will find a baby wrapped in cloth, lying in a manger. V13. Suddenly, there appeared a legion of angels. This  is a separate appearing of the first angel that appeared to the shepherds first. How many angels were there? From Micah, from revelation 4, 5, we can infer that there were millions of angels in that appearing. Why did the Angela appear? The angels have seen the second person of God before in the heavens. The angels seeks the secret of salvation too. This great saviour, from the glory of heaven, now willing to come into earth. Hence just like the angels glorifying God, we have to glorify Him.

V14. And peace be unto man. This peace refers to the peace between God and man. Not the world peace that we often think or the peace during Chinese new year.
Seeing the angels worship God, the more we man the recipients of grace, ought to worship!

Can you imagine the fellowship between Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Zechariah, Elizabeth when they met at the manger? They would witness, share with one another the great experiences they had. This is like us sharing the gospel because we are excited with the great news!

V20. The shepherd left and gave glory and praises to God. They went back to shepherd. Went back to the same work. But the attitude is different. Now they had seen the Lord. Christ was with them. Praising God is linked to having the correct theology. He shepherds received the correct theology and thus were Able to praise the Lord.

The progression of the shepherd were they heard, they believed, they obeyed, they praised. They gave thanks.

Now Mary would have thought how to raise the saviour of man? So many difficulties for her. Hence she had to deeply ponder over it. V19.

In the next portion of verses, Luke had some witnesses to testify to his writings. Mary, Simeon, Ana, Joseph the righteous one. It was extremely difficult to find a righteous person during that time of the Pharisees, saducceess. Yet Joseph was one. Recall that there were only 120 believers who gathered as mentioned in acts 2 after the resurrection of Christ. Few are the righteous during that time. What about now? Are we one of them?

I need prayer

I think i really need a lot of prayer in my life now. In my teaching, in my service to God, in my bearing salt and light at home, in my marriage, in my caring for my family.

Am i drained? I am encouraged by the word of God, that those that wait upon the Lord, their strength will be renewed like eagles.

Praise and thank God.

Leadership – Disfavor of men, but getting the favor of God

¹⁰ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. ¹¹ They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

¹³ Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Today was a busy day. I had to juggle four hour lessons, a one hour video conference which I was uncertain at how to handle the technical difficulties, and of course, to coordinate the Open House which was a logistical nightmare.

Although some expressed complaints that some things were bad or could be done better, I think i really have put in my best today. With my limited time and energy, I squeezed out every inch and tried to make everything run, abet not to the mark of some other’s expectation. It was kind of of three leadership roles today.

Hence pondering when doubts of discouragement starts to set in, what does it mean to be a leader? I have to draw strength from God’s word and the complaints of the Israelites to Moses soon surfaced to my mind.

The Israelites complained that they were going to be dying in the desert. What discouragement to Moses! He must have doubted too. He must have doubted himself as to whether he was doing the right thing. He must have thought of himself a failure. But I guess this is the mark of leadership, that those you are leading will complain at times of criticality even though you have put in your best in leading them.

But what is the response? Be discouraged, give up? Say this is not worth the time or effort? Moses called upon the Lord. Moses had faith in the Lord. As long as he knew what he was planning and doing was according to God’s will, his mind went back into balance. The leader stands his ground due to him knowing that in God’s eyes, he is favored, though he is unflavored by men at that time. Amen.