There Is No Growth Without Loss

This article appeared in Christianpost.com.sg written by Bruce Johnson and it says things about changes that appeared to be timely for our Church.

"There is no growth without change. No change without loss. And no loss without grief."


Every now and then, if you're at all like me, you'll hear a quote where you just think, "I wish I had said that." In other words, you'll hear a statement that so clearly captures what you've thought or experienced that you just want to stand up and cheer it. "Yes!!!" "Yes!!!" "Exactly!!" Well, that happened to me yesterday.

I was on my way to BWI to catch a flight to Minneapolis for the quarterly Board of Directors meeting of the EFCA, when I heard an old Rick Warren line that so captured the essence of what we, as change agents, have to deal with all of the time that I just had to pass it along to you. So, here it is.

"There is no growth without change. No change without loss. And no loss without grief."

It doesn't matter what the change is that you want to make. Regardless of whether you want to change the structure of your church or the color of the bathroom walls. Whether you want to change up your staff team or a ministry. Whether you want to change the name of your church or the way you do church. Whether you want to change the order of service or the style of preaching. Whether you want to change the way you do pastoral care or the way you run your small groups. Whether you want to change the name of your "bulletin" or you want to change the database your church is using. Whether you want to change the way people get their announcements into your bulletin or the times when you actually have your meetings. Whether the change is big or small, if you are going to make a change, you had better be prepared—there will be some loss and there will be some grief. It is only natural (and it probably doesn't have anything to do with you). Every church (in fact, every organization) has the same thing happen to them. To create growth, you will need to make some changes and those changes Will lead to some loss and grief.

However, that does not mean that you and I should surrender to them. As leaders, our job is to lead our people somewhere. If we only do what we've already been doing, we can only get what we've already got. We are where we are because of what we've done in the past. If we could get to the next level by continuing to do what we've already done, we would be there. But we're not. Because the only way to grow is to change—and all growth involves change. However, with that change will come loss and grief. So don't be surprised by it. When it arises, just remember,

"There is no growth without change. No change without loss. And no loss without grief."

What you're experiencing as a change agent is only natural. So, don't give up. Hang in there. Because what you're fighting for is worth the fight! The advancement of God's kingdom is always worth a few scars!

Chuck Swindoll Wary of Corporatization of Church

Here is a comment by Pastor Kenny Chee (World Revival Prayer Fellowship Church), Singapore on this subject. He also quoted Chuck Swindoll. This message is timely as we striving to re build our Church.

"I have been pastoring since 1980 and there is a trend that I have observed: an increasing “corporatization” of the churches in Singapore. This is partly down to the fact that many lay leaders come from the corporate background and are successful in the MNCs or big local companies. When they are appointed leaders in the church they naturally think that what works to make the company a success must surely make the church a success too.

Some of the so called “best practices” of companies actually have spiritual parallel in biblical values. Forming high performance teamwork is a case in point. The church is the body of Christ and the members perform different functions according to the grace given by Christ. They work together, complementing and respecting one another, for “high performance” and growth of the community. Leadership in church should work well with a good gift mix and deep respect and mutual submission in the team.

However, there are some practices that do more harm than good when introduced from the corporation to the church. I shall not elaborate on these. For now, just read what Chuck Swindoll, respected evangelical pastor, best selling author, seminary president and mentor of pastors has to say on this:"

I have discovered three principles and three imperatives I believe all churches should examine and apply. The first principle is this: clear, biblical thinking must override secular planning and a corporate mentality. And the imperative? Think spiritually! However well-organized our churches become, we must give priority to biblical rather than to secular thinking. In the first-century church, there were no secular organizational structures or church politics. There was no guru of authority or “chairman” of anything. There were no power grabs from control freaks. There were no personal maneuverings, infightings, financial squabbles, or turf protection. Instead, it was a place where a spiritual emphasis took precedence over the world’s way of doing things.

What does this look like when applied today? For starters, our teaching needs to be biblically based and spiritually inclined. Our Sunday school classes, adult fellowships, and small-group instruction gatherings need to center on the teaching of the Bible and spiritual lessons. Our songs and our hymns should have spiritual content. Our counseling ministry needs to be derived from the Spirit’s revelation in the Scriptures. Our relationships with one another need to have spiritual priorities—intimate fellowship where people can trust one another. The church ought to be the one place where spiritual thinking overrides everything else—all those battles we fight within the marketplace. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Head of the church. The church is a spiritual entity.

John Piper on Eldership of Church

A Sister shared about Piper's teaching on eldership and leadership of Church via yahoo group. Here are two videos on these teaching.

How Old Should Elder Be?

Role Reversal

Practice Presence of God

The practice of the presence of God is part of our prayer life. One giant of this practice was Brother Lawrence.

Brother Lawrence was famous for his practice of the presence of God. He was a 17 th Century monk, and to this day his works are studied in particular about the practice of presence of God. In fact, his work consisted of his conversations and several letters to his monastic friends like nuns,sisters and brothers.

He was born Nicholas Herman in 1610 in Lorraine, France. (died 1691). He started work as a soldier and left crippled because of wounds in the war. For a short while he lived in the wilderness like the dessert fathers before he entered a monastery in Paris in his mid life. Hired as a cook in the monastery and given the name Brother Lawrence. He struggled as a cook for the first ten years, but “perfected” the presence of God in the process.

We can learn from this humble monk. In fact his works consisted of only conversations and several letters to his Carmelite friends and yet he has profound impact on Christians ever since. His life is an inspiration for us and we can learn from him. This should be a lifestyle for us to emulate.

Here is his first letter to his friend. For those who want to read more about him please check out website:http://www.ccel.org/

Here is his first letter.

Habitual sense of God presence
First Letter: You so earnestly desire that I describe the method by which I arrived at that habitual sense of God's presence, which our merciful Lord has been pleased to grant me. I am complying with my request that you show my letter to no one. If I knew that you would let it be seen, all the desire I have for your spiritual progress would not be enough to make me comply.

The account I can give you is: Having found in many books different methods of going to God and diverse practices of the spiritual life, I thought this would serve rather to puzzle me than facilitate what I sought after, which was nothing but how to become wholly God's. This made me resolve to give the all for the All.

After having given myself wholly to God to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not God; and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world.

Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work. I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God.

I found no small pain in this exercise. Yet I continued it notwithstanding all the difficulties that occurred. I tried not to trouble or disquiet myself when my mind wandered. Such has been my common practice ever since I entered religious life. Though I have done it very imperfectly, I have found great advantages by it. These, I well know, are due to the mercy and goodness of God, because we can do nothing without Him; and I still less than any.

When we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy presence, and set Him always before us, this hinders our offending Him and doing anything that may displease Him. It also begets in us a holy freedom, and, if I may so speak, a familiarity with God, where, when we ask, He supplies the grace we need. Over time, by often repeating these acts, they become habitual, and the presence of God becomes quite natural to us.

Please give Him thanks with me for His great goodness towards me, which I can never sufficiently express, and for the many favors He has done for so miserable a sinner as I am. May all things praise Him. Amen.

Holy Fools

On Sunday when Dr.Tommy Chung shared, towards the end he said that despite being in ministry for so many years he was still learning to pray. Here is a devotion I read in Daily Bread written by Philip Yancey, an award winning author of book like Where is God when it hurts?

Read on.

'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 9:23

When God spoke to Abram, he obeyed at once,departing for an unkown land based only on a promise. Childless, he trusted God to make of him "a great nation"(Gen.12:2.

God often does His work through "holy fools" - dreamers who strike out in ridiculous faith. Yet I tend to approach my decisions with calculation and restraint.

My church in Chicago once scheduled an all-night vigil of prayer during a major crisis. At length we discussed the practicality of the event before finally putting it on the calender. The poorest members of the congregation, a group of senior citizens from a housing project, responded the most enthusiastically. I wondered how many of their prayers had gone unanswered over the years, yet they showed a childlike trust in the power of prayer. "how long do you want to stay-an hour or two?" we asked, thinking of van shuttles. Oh, we'll stay all night," they replied.

One woman in her 90s explained,"we can pray. We got time, and we got faith. Some of us don't sleep much anyway. We can pray all night if needs be". And so they did.

Meanwhile a bunch of yuppies in a downtown church learned an important lesson: Faith often appears where least expected and falters where it ought to thrive.

Faith looks across the storm - it does not doubt
or stop to look at clouds and things without.
Faith does not question why when all His ways
Are hard to understand, but trusts and prays.
Anonymous

Prayer Meeting and Sunday Service

The attendence of our prayer meeting this morning was very encouraging as more members were presence, including many of our Church leaders. One of our leaders shared on the importance of prayers, and he referred to the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Many of us memorised these verses by heart, and may not consciously understand the implications of each verse. He explained, "Hallowed be Your Name", this is to soften our hearts towards God. "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done", God reign over all of us, His will be done not ours. In our current situation it is like 2 brothers who choose to worship God in two different venues. His will is also to prosper the Church. "Give us today our daily bread", He provides and He is going to rebuild our Church. "Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors", its time of forgiveness. Only God knows the truth because we human cannot know everything, only God knows all things. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one", we are tempted to over react to things and also to sin. God is in control. He will meet all our needs. God reigns in us.

Sharing by Dr.Tommy Chung

Dr.Tommy Chung was the speaker this morning. The last time he came to preached was many years ago. He shared on Jude 17-24 and about revivals in Sarawak. According to him there were 3 revivals, one in 1935 amongst the Lun Bawan tribe, second 1973 in Bario, third 1984-86 in Bario where they witnessed fire in the sky.

Church should be built on God. Jesus said he builds the Church.

Early Churchs do not have pastors. Pastor then was a job description and not a position. Disciples were called apostle not because of their positions, but because of their work in evangilising and mission work. The early Churches were ruled by elders, this was to ensure there were checks and balance in the Churches. From his experiences usually churches get into problems due to a)money b)One person decide only c)cultic tendencies.

Jesus My Rock, My Fortress, My Saviour

How Surfing the Web Helps Your Brain

Surfing the web is often considered as a waste of time especially for Seniors. Now research shows that it is helpful to our brains. So those times I surfed the web were not wasted afterall. Read on......

A growing number of people look to the Internet for answers to many of life's important questions. And if you're one of them, here's some good news.

You're probably doing your brain a favor. Yep, research shows that decision-making and reasoning centers in the brain light up like a Roman candle when computer-savvy people do Web searches.

Bing It On
Web surfing may seem like just a pleasant way to kill time, but in a small study of older adults, it did much more. Brain scans of the computer-adept group showed more activity during Internet searches, compared with the brain scans of people who weren't so handy with a browser. Are you keeping your brain young? Find out how young (or old) it really is with this quick self-test.

Information Is Brainpower
Researchers say that searching the Web most likely stimulates the brain by forcing you to evaluate search results and make decisions about what links to click. Those less familiar with the Web may not show the same type of brain activity, simply because they are less sure of what to do. So it pays to tinker around online -- at least enough to know a search engine from a message board. Here are a few other simple ways you can stimulate and strengthen your mind:

* Upgrade your memory.
* Fine-tune your focus.
* Refresh as needed.

Source: Realage.com

Cell Activity Today-Financial talk to Students

One of the objective of "education" domain is to reach out to our Church members as well as our community. In our Cell our :eduaction" domain is further splited into a) family relationships and b) financial education.

This morning three of our fellow Cell members conducted a financial management talk to Kuching High School form 3 students at the school's AVA room for more than hundred students. Inview of the vast subject of finance, we covered two basic areas: 1) Financial goals setting 2) Budgetting. The students were instructed to complete a simple exercise on financial goal setting, but inview of the limited time we have the exercise for budgetting could not be carried out. However, those students who wanted the excel spreedsheet for calculating their budgets can be arranged. The school counsellor was given a list to get the names and email addresses of interested students so that we can send them the spreed sheet.

All in all the talk was well received by the students.

Only God Could Love You More

God's Love is a Haven in the Storms of Life

God's love is like an island
in life's ocean vast and wide-
A peaceful, quiet shelter
from the restless, risisng tide.
God's love is like a fortress,
and we seek protection there
When the waves of tribulation
seem to drown us in despair.
God's love's a sanctuary
where our souls can find sweet rest
From the struggle and the tension
of life's fast and futile quest.
God's love is like a tower
rising far above the crowd,
And God's smile is like the sunshine
breaking through a thretening cloud.
God's love is like a beacon
burning bright with faith and prayer,
And through the changing scenes of life
we can find a haven there.
For God's love is fashioned
after something enduring
And it is endless and unfailing
like His character above.

Helen Steiner Rice

Effective Prayers

We all know prayer is very important to a Christian. However, some of us may find praying a challenge at times. I read an article on effective prayer on a Christian website that I am sharing with all of you. Please read on..

Do you want to talk to God but can't figure out how? Or when you do talk to Him it doesn't seem effective? Learning some simple techniques can make your prayer time with the Father exciting, inviting, and rewarding.
Praying is focused attention on God. It is quality time with the Father - not the ramblings of your random thoughts and complaints.
For prayer that makes sense:
1. Resist bothering God when you are only bored with yourself.
Prayer is not an activity for times when you have nothing better to do. Prayer is the better thing to do. ( Praise God! Indeed it is the best thing to do!- alwin)

2. Beware of employing prayer for wish fulfillment.
Prayer is not magic. It is worth thanking God when your car starts in cold weather, but don't expect God to get it started for you when your battery is weak and you've neglected to get a tune-up.

3. Make friends with God through prayer. This is the whole point of prayer.

4. Listen to God as you pray.
Prayer is not an adventure in God-seeking since He is already there and it is Him who found you. The adventure is in hearing during the supposed "silence."

5. Do not hold God responsible for adversity.
Although you pray legitimately for God's protection, acknowledge that the evil that befalls you is not His fault. God's goodness does not depend upon His making everything right.

6. Conclude every prayer:
"Not as I will, but as you will." This is the way Jesus himself prayed. Ironically, you owe your redemption to the fact that God's contrary will was that Jesus persist to the end, which He did - on the cross!

7. Resist the temptation to remake God in your own image.
God does not have to be patronized to be accessible. Do not yield to the temptation to diminish God, shrinking Him to human size, as you make Him your buddy, copilot, or comrade. Instead, grow in Him and you will be a bigger person.

8. Use few words, but choose them carefully.
The world is full of noisy chatter. God has already anticipated everything you have to say to Him. The point of prayer is to focus on God, reaffirming your dependence on Him and your need for forgiveness, expressing your sorrow, your gratitude, and your aspiration to learn to love. The less you say, the more room you give to God to answer your prayers.

9. Don't expect inspiration.
Prayer is neither an investment in gratification nor an exercise in sentimentality. "Dry patches" in your prayer life are normal. It often seems to be a lonely exercise, but even in deafening silence God is listening.

10. Pray for others.
The two great commandments are that we love God and that we love our fellow men and women. The more you concentrate on other's needs in prayer, the more God strengthens you in love and service.

Beside praying for others, we are to pray for our church as we are going through difficulties also pray for all members of FBC regardless of their preferences of place of worship. Let us be One in Christ.

John Carter Sharing in Church

Brother John Carter shared with FBC congregation last night in the Church. He related his experience as an Elder in his church and how various work have been carried out so that we can learn from his experiences. Various members of our church asked him questions regarding the present status of our church. Some questions were asked so that we can understand Biblical intepretation regarding the issues and whether what we do are according to the scripture. Many relevant questions were answered, and I believe we can safely say that as long as we follow the teaching in the Bible we should be alright.

One of the important theme I got from his sharing is - forgiveness. I have also shared on this subject in my previous posts, and they are in line with John's sharing. Perhaps you can review those posts like the one by Professor Smedes. Indeed, we must forgive and seek forgiveness, because we may have wronged others, and we need their forgiveness. We are not perfect. If we are wrong we seek forgiveness. It is part of the healing process as well as showing love like Jesus who showed us love. Love others like Jesus loves us.

1 Cor13:4

"Love is patient,love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

I Cor 15:8

"Love never fails"

Let us love others unconditionally, and let us be Christ-like a little by little. Like Brother John said, grace needs time to work in us.

The Power of Prayer

"The first step in prayer is: you must believe in God, you must center your mind on God, you must feel the presence of God,you must receive the Spirit and power of God into your own mind and heart".

Charles L. Allen, Grace Methodist Church, Atlanta

Let us continue to pray for our Church, Church leaders and all our members. In this time of need, it is crucial we all stand in one accord, in prayers, in community and in upholding each other in our quest to rebuild this body of FBC to a greater heights. In particular, the coming business meeting on 25th Oct is important, let us pray about this too.

May our Lord be with all of us, Amen.

Sunday Worship - 18.10.09

Prior to the start of our service on Sunday,the prayer meeting was conveyed in the outer room of our Church. We prayed fervently for our leaders as well as our Church. Haggai 2:4-9 was shared, how God urged the Israelites to be strong, because the Lord was with them. Do not fear, be strong in the Lord. Similarly we are to be strong and trust God. Our Lord declares "The glory fo this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. And in this place I will grant peace." Lets claim this prophesy and be strong in the Lord.

John Carter

Brother John Carter from UK shared on Book of Galatian on Friday and Saturday at the Christian Centre. The Book of Galatian depicted the troubles the Church was going through then, and now many Churches worldwide are also facing various problems. Brother John shared on Paul's messages in dealing with these troubles. In the Friday session he spoke on "justification by faith alone". Below is a video on this subject by Pastor John Piper:



This morning Brother John Carter shared on Book of Colossians. Due to time constraints he shared on chapter One. He said we are all "cracked pots" imperfect. Unless God comes into our lives we are nobody. We are limited not God. By grace we are called by God, it is a miracle. It has to be a miracle because we are sinners. We believe in God, and it happens - a miracle. Grace has to do with gifting, in fact, a free gift from God, no work is needed. Only God can give grace. Truth and grace go together. Jesus is truth. God give peace, not the peace the world associate with, but the peace of God. The wrath of God is part of love of God. He discipline us because He loves us, just like we discipline our children because we love them.

Footprints in the Sand

By award winning English artist Leona Lewis

The House of Prayer

A poem by Helen Steiner Rice


Just close your eyes and open your heart
And feel your cares and worries depart.
Just yield yourself to the Father above
And let Him hold you secure in His love...
For life on earth grows more involved,
But God only asks us to do our best-
Then He will take over and finish the rest..
So when you are tired, discouraged, and blue,
There's always one door to the house of prayer,
And you'll find God waiting to meet you there...
And the house of prayer is no farther away
Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray,
For the heart is a temple when God is there
As we place ourselves in His loving care...
And He hears every prayer and answers each one
When we pray in His name. "Thy will be done".
And the burden that seemed too heavy to bear
Are lifted away on the wings of prayer.

How Thankful Are You?

In our daily grind of work,play,and many other distractions we sometimes forget how blessed we are, so we are not thankful. Well, this video reminded us to be thankful.

Inspiring Story of How a Child Prays

Children are blessing to adults. Here is an inspiring story of how a child prays, adult can learn from her.

A gradfather was walking through his yard whe he heard his grand daughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice that sounded like a prayer. He asked her waht she was doing. The little girl explained: "I'm praying, but I can't think exactly the right words, so I'm just saying all the letters, and God will put them together for me, because he knows what I'm thinking".
Charle B. Vaughan

Wow! a fantastic story about prayers. It also reminded me of speaking in tongues. We may not know exactly the words, but God knows through the Holy Spirit.

Act 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Prayers of the Righteous

Some quotes on prayers:

"The greatest tragedy in the world is a divided church. We must come together. So don't start talking about doctrine, because if you do, we shall be divided. But there is one thing we can do. We may not be able to agree about doctrine, but we can always pray together."
Lloyd Jones

"Prayer is the best test of an individual, and it is also the best test of a church. A church can be flourishing: She can be successful in terms of organizations, she can be tremendously active and appear to be prosperous, but if you want to know whether she is a real church or not, examine the amount of prayer that takes place."
Lloyd Jones

"Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; he's always doing something. Prayer is to enter into that activity. ... Convert your thoughts into prayer. As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer. The difference is not that prayer is thinking about other things, but that prayer is thinking in dialogue, ... a conversation with God."
Henry Nouwen

Sharing By Brother Malcolm on Sunday 11.10.09

Last Sunday as we started to worship, I noticed that the lyrics of the worship song appeared brighter and bigger on the over head screen. I do not know whether anyone of you notice it. In any case, to me it is an analogy of the new beginning as we prayed in our prayer meeting. It is bright and clear (bigger writing on the over head).

2 Samuel 23:4

He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.'

Proverbs 4:18

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

Brother Malcolm was sharing on Ephesians 6:1-9 on Sunday and he made a comment about the current theme of our country, 1 Malaysia. He said in fact, One – the Unity has been taught in the Bible thousand of years ago. He referred to Ephesians 4:3-6

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit – just as you were called – to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Prayer Meeting

Praise God for the prayer meeting organised by Sister Sarah this morning! Thank you Sister Sarah for your effort.

The turn out was very good I would say. About 30 members both adults, youth and children attended. This was very encouraging because it showed that members have the heart for FBC, and they want to rebuild the Church to achieve greater heights. Praise God for all presence as well for our Church!

Sister Sarah prayed and share on Book of Nehemiah Ch 1:5-6 asking God to hear our prayers. She also shared on Ch4:17 where the workers building the wall carried materials on one nand and on the other weapons. Similar we must work for our Church, and be ready with "weapons" on the other hand to be ready to defeat our enemies. Dr.Howe Tung continued to share about the "enemy" that we are facing. He said the enemies are within ourselves, and when we defeat the enemies within we can be victorious. He refered to Malachi 4:1-5. The One who is within us is greater than the one in the world.

We all prayed for healing for all members of our Church including those who chose not to come to Church. We also prayed for pastor. All in all we had a wonderful time glorifying God,and we also sang unto His Name. Surprisingly the one hour of prayer just slipped by. Praise God!

Dear Brothers and Sisters, you are encouraged to come to the next prayer meeting this coming Sunday, at the outer room of our Church.

Daily Rules of God 2009

I received these encouraging rules from my friend in Australia. I pray that these will encourage you too.

1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day.. 'Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it..' Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.' I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. 'He who guards his lips guards his soul.' Proverbs 13:3


4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. 'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up!!... To the Lord.
'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.' Phillippians 4:13

6. Reach Up!!... For something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path.'
Proverbs 3:5-6

7.. Lift Up!!... Your Prayers..
'Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.'
Philippians 4:6


God answers Knee-Mail.

Are We Good at Forgiving?

Many of us would certainly think that we are good at forgiving others who wronged us. This is natural as we think positively of ourselves. Forgiveness is also a measure of our spiritual maturity. It is not how generously we are in giving, or how long we have been a Christian. Some people give to erase their guilty conscience.

Perhaps one sure way to measure our spirituality is the ability to forgive. Jesus is a good example for us. The more we become like Jesus, the more it is easier to forgive others. When we think of how much He has forgiven us, the easier it will be to forgive others.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgive you”. Ephesians 4:32

Here is a story about forgiving.

British pastor and evangelist John Wesley was travelling with General James Oglethrope, who was angry with one of his soldiers. The man asked for forgiveness, but he was told by the general “I never forgive!”. Wesley looked at him and said “Then I hope, sir, that you never sin”.

You get the point.

"Tea Cup" Pigs

Most people go into business to earn a living. Jane Croft did it to bring home the bacon.

The 42-year-old breeder has become something of a sensation in her native England, thanks to her unique product line: cute-as-a-button miniature pigs that never grow up.

Croft sat cross-legged Wednesday in a stall filled with straw, cradling a squirming litter of tiny little piggies that will all be going to market. They’re called “teacup pigs,” she told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira and Ann Curry — and they’re the hottest pet sensation to hit Great Britain in years.

God's Message To Us

Five Things Everyone Should Know About Forgiving

From a worldly perspective, people usually associate people who forgive as losers or "dormats" that people trampled on. But Professor Smedes said infact these people are winners because when they forgive, they disantangled themselves from the guilty parties. They carry on with their lives. Those who do not forgive are prisoners of their own mind. Let's learn to forgive and be free.


This article is an adaptation of Professor Lewis B. Smedes's teaching.

Forgiving is the only way to be fair to yourself

If you do not forgive you give the person hurting you opportunities to hurt over and over again in your mind. This is unfair to you because you can forgive to stop him from walloping you in your mind.

Forgivers are not doormats

The perpetrator is told not to repeat the mistake again. He is forgiven, but this does not mean you agreed to his action.

Forgivers are not fools

You do not have to go back to the same relationship after you have forgiven that person. Forgivers do not have to be fools.

You don’t have to wait until he says sorry

You may have to wait forever. Meanwhile you are giving him permission to continually hurt you. Forgive and continue with your life.

Forgiving is a journey

We are not God who can forgive with a wink of the eye. Forgiving is a process, it takes time for the healing to take place. Give yourself time for full healing to take place.

Some quotes on forgiveness:

Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.
Billy Graham

Forgiveness is the final form of love.
Reinhold Niebuhr

Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.
George MacDonald

Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.
Saint Augustine

An Expositor Teaching Seminar on Paul's letter to the Galatians

This seminar was annunced in Church on Sunday by Dr.Tiong. Please read details below about John Carter,as well as a brief on the seminar. This is extracted from Emmanuel Baptist Church blog:

We live in a world where there are many false gospels which include secular humanism, legalism and "the just natural" that are believed and lived out in life and which are contrary to the gospel of Christ.
Paul's letter to the Galatian Church provides a first century answer which is still very relevant today to Christians living in the modern world. This expository teaching seminar will explore the apostles teaching on major gospel issues which include, faith and justification, law and works, the flesh, son ship and righteous living and how they challenge much of today's life and practice.

Join us at this year's conference where John Carter will unpack this vital and relevant letter of Paul which has so much to say about our life today in Christ.

About the Speaker: John Carter, Elder, Holborn Church, Leeds, United Kingdom
- John Carter is a leading elder in the Holborn Church, Leeds, UK with a teaching ministry in an independent evangelical church. John has had a church founding ministry within his 45 years of serving God. He is also a retired engineer and worked as a "tentmaker" financial consultant for 14 years.

Since 1977, he has ministered in many churches within Malaysia and also taught pastors at Ameva Bible School in Zimbabwe. He helped with the founding of churches in Germany. He is married to Ruth and they have two sons and a daughter.


Date & Time:
Friday, 16th October, 2009 (7.30pm to 10.30pm)
Saturday, 17th October, 2009 (9.00am to 4.30pm)

Venue:
Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre (ACS), Samling Hall,
1st Floor, Lot 2500, Block 10, Jalan Stampin, 93350 Kuching

Admission:
Free Admission with tickets available at Alpha Omega International College (AOIC) Extension office at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 180 Hui Sing Garden, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Email: ebckch@streamyx.com Fax: 082-462146
Tel: 082-450089 (o), Mervyn Kueh (016-8664243), Nelson Kee (019-8266623)

Also you can contact Dr.Tiong or Goh Chii Bing of FBC.

Calming The Storm

This morning worship was encouraging. When Sister Yunita prayed about the storm our Church is going through, and how God can calm this storm.

Matthew 8:23-26 (TNIV)

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

By the same token, Jesus will calm the storm of our Church when we are with Him in the boat. Meaning that we follow His commands, and He will calm the storm. Have faith in Him.

There is no doubt that our Church will be able to weather this storm because God is on our side. We need to stay close to Him and follow His Words.

There is no storm that we cannot overcome, when we have Jesus on our side. Brothers and Sisters let us continue in our efforts to rebuild our Church.

I Love You - God

"I love you" - God. Yes,no matter what God love us. Sometimes we take it for granted especially when we are immersed in the things of this world, like work,play,worries and other distractions. Let us take stock of what is going on in our lives to realise the love that God give us unconditionally. His love is the greatest. Let us love Him with all our might, mind,and soul.

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul,and with all thy might." Moses(Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV)

Woman Raise From the death

A woman has been raised from the dead, according to her brother.

The Singaporean, who works in Hong Kong with her husband, collapsed suddenly after a regular morning jog, Alan Chin was told by her husband, according to a video recording of a testimony presented during a church service posted on the website of Church of Our Saviour.

Though she usually ran for between a half hour to an hour, that day she returned to her flat after some five minutes saying she was very tired and weak. She took a shower and went to bed. Her husband asked her how she was and she told him she was fine and just wanted to sleep. Noticing she was getting more and more tired, he decided to call in an ambulance.

To read more here : http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase/church/2337/section/1.htm

You can also watch the video on Church of our Savior website here:
http://www.coos.org.sg/testimonies.html