Basic Blesings

An author on an online Christian Magazine named 10 basic blessings that Americans enjoyed and said they should not complain as many around the world do not have what they have. Reading through the 10 basic blessings, I found that Malaysians are enjoying quite similar blessings.

For example medical care provided by our government hospitals. Malaysian citizens who use their out patient services pay about Ringgit 2 to 5 per visit ( USD0.6 to USD1.67!). If I am not mistaken that is the cheapest health care services anywhere in this world! Of course you may have to wait a little longer for your turn. Well, there should not be any complaint considering the cost.

Another of God's grace here is that we can worship our Most High God although our country is Muslim majority. Granted there are some restrictions especially to our citizens in Peninsular Malaysia, but here in Sarawak we can worship mostly freely. It is really the grace of God that enables us to worship Him in the many churches in this state of Sarawak.( 40% of this state people are Christians).

In Malaysia we do not have earthquake because our country is not on any fault lines. Floods are only experienced in certain parts of our country usually during monsoon season at the end of each year, but they are under control. Nothing like the great floods that Thailand experienced recently.

You can say Malaysians are a blessed lot. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for His mercy!

"The blessing of the Lord brings wealth and he adds no trouble to it". Proverb 10:22

To read the full article click on the title of this post.

S.E.M.O.A

SEMOA stands for Strategic Education Methods & On going Advancement. This is a non governmental organization serving the less fortunate especially the Organg Asli (indigenous people) of Selangor, Pahang and Negro Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia. It was founded by Cheh Kim Hock and Rajen Velu about 15 years ago.

This Sunday, Pastor Rajen, Pastor Timothy and their team of another three members were at our church to share with our congregation the work they have been doing with the Orang Asli since the founding of this organization. They were here also to raise funds for the operation of this NGO. Pastor Rajen said their expenses was around RM50,000 per month. The funds came from volunteer organizations and individuals still funds were inadequate.

Since their founding, they have reached out to the Orang Asli who are the natives in Peninsular Malaysia. They are poor and reside in the jungles where there were no schools. They help the children to go to schools. Since than some of these indigenous people have graduated from universities even. Praise the Lord for their good work!

In order to raise some funds, they have produced an album of gospel songs sung in Bahasa Malaysia (Malay language). Two of their singers were in our church to present two songs from this album. I personally do not understand all the lyrics but they were worshipful songs sung by two talented singers. Many of our members bought this album. Some bought more than one copies to give to our Bahasa Malaysia congregations as well as their friends.

This NGO is also working with Grace Community Services of K.L. Click the titel of this post to go to their website.

Hallelujah! Praise God for SEMOA's work with the indigenous people not only bringing them education but the Good News of the Gospel.

Prayer Is A Relationship

Martin Voegelin of Mission Net said prayer is a relationship and not an activity. Last evening in our Life Group (Cell group) we were studying the subject of relation to God, and one part of the study was on prayer, and our discipleship material also said the same thing. According to Martin due to this misunderstanding many are hindered from living a prayerful life. He was talking about European experiences, but I believe it is applicable everywhere.

Personally, prayer is like blood flowing in my body. If one do not pray it is like not having blood in our bodies which means we do not have life.

In relation to answered prayer Martin said "And as prayer ceases, so too do the answers to prayer - our relationship to God becomes ineffective and boring.”

How true, Jesus said if you do not ask you do not get.

Prayer should be every Christian's FIRST resort and not Last.

To read the full article click on the title of this post.

Strangers

Christians are commanded by Jesus to carry out the Great Commission - sharing the Good News till the end of the earth.

One of us can have an impact on strangers that we may never know. Even one soul comes to the Kingdom, Heaven rejoices!

Blogging is another way of impacting others for Christ. Someone out there may be influenced by what we shared. Nevertheless, share the Good News with others, you may change their lives for Jesus.

Here is an inspirational video. Watch it! God bless.

Kuching Ministers Fellowship Monthly Prayer

Last Sunday, the monthly prayer was conducted at Lundu, a small town about 2 hours drive from Kuching. It has been the Kuching Minister Fellowship's (KMF) objective to pray and bless the churches outside of Kuching city. Last month it was held at SIB in Bau.

It was encouraging to see a few hundred Christians from various denominations attending this prayer meeting. Of late we have been witnessing the coming together of various denomination for a common cause, that is to pray as One body. Despite our traditional differences we know the central focus should be Jesus our Lord.

Church members from Kuching were also there to pray with our brothers and sisters in Lundu. Churches from Lundu were e.g SIB, Anglican, Catholic, and independent churches.

We prayed for our nation, political leaders from the government and opposition parties to uphold justice and to carry out policies in righteous manners. The pastors from Lundu were asked what were their important needs amongst the Christians. A pastor said that we need to pray for the young people who are very much involved in worldly matters and not interested in church, she also requested to pray for them to be kept away from vices. One pastor also requested for prayers for the pre-school pupils who are alleged to be taught Islamic ways in school. Recently there are news on this subject in the local newspapers as well as on-line news. To read this article click on the title of this post.

Praise God that all churches are coming together to pray and uphold each other. We are also praying for revival to come to Sarawak.

Thankfulness

Be thankful that is God's command. Thankfulness is also a blessing from God. Be thankful always.

God bless you.

Holy Ambition - Jim Elliot

Just completed reading a book about the work of missionary Jim Elliot written by his wife Elisabeth Elliot. He was a missionary to the Aucas Indians of Ecuado in the 50's. As a result of his ambition to spread the Gospel to the Aucas he paid with his life at the age of about 28 years old.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

He was wise to know he cannot keep the Good News from the lost, and that he had won because he is in the Kingdom of God.

This famous statement was made by him when he was studying in America.

He was known as a Godly person who related to God in all he did. Even at that young age he was already walking closely with God. What an inspiration for many to carry out the Great Commission and be missionaries. Jim Elliot was like a modern day Paul who gave his life to many and knew he had gain and is in the Kingdom of God.

Many had thought he wasted his life by dying in the hands of the Indians, but when we examined the impact of his life in inspiring so many missionaries to go to share the Good News with the losts,he indeed died for a Holy cause.

To read more click on the title of this post.

Hospital Window

Watch this touching story of two friends who met in the hospital and how one of them tried to cheer up another who could not see because his eyes were covered by bandages.

Whom we meet is not an coincident but an appointment by God.

I recalled my own experience recently when God arranged for me to meet a fellow brother from another denomination during an Alpha course. Right away I was able to connect with him although I just met him a short while ago. Only in Christ we can do that, I believe.

How about you?

Effective Marriage Relationship

Like any relationship all parties involved muust work at it. The marriage relationship is under threat all over the world. Even in country like Malaysia about 40% of marriages fell. If I am not mistaken this issue is also a big problem in Western countries.

Well, is there any hpe for the marriage institute? I believe so if we are willing to obey God's commands on marriage. Oh our part if we are wiling to work at it, that is husband and wife.

I read an interesting article on marriage in The Star, a Malaysian national newspaper on how we can work at our marriage. Click on the title to read more.

For those singles you still can learn a thing or two.

God bless,

Logos Hope in Kuching

The ship Logos Hope is now in Kuching Port. They are here from 28th Oct to 13th Nov 2011. Children are especially excited about going on board this ship not only to enjoy at lease 5,000 titles of books but various activities organized by members of the ship to teach and reach out to people here in Kuching.

I still remember more than 20 years ago the Doulos a smaller ship came to Kuching and it was moored up river near to the town because it was smaller. That was a great time for me a non believer than.

Last week our youth members had the chance to stay over night on board ship. They must have a great time on board.

On Sunday four members of Logos Hope came to share in our church. The more senior member, Pam from Perth Australia shared about how she came to join the ship as a teacher on board and her testimony of how God had called her to use her talent to help others on board. The other three were from U.K, Mexico and Jamaica.

The three younger members entertained the children at the Sunday school.

Logos Hope - FBC - slide show

Christian Relic Found

A news quote from Boston.com

Quote"
A tiny, exquisitely made box found on an excavated street in Jerusalem is a token of Christian faith from 1,400 years ago, Israeli archaeologists said Sunday.

The box, carved from the bone of a cow, horse or camel, decorated with a cross on the lid and measuring only 0.8 inches by 0.6 inches (2 centimeter by 1.5 centimeter), was likely carried by a Christian believer around the end of the 6th century A.D, according to Yana Tchekhanovets of the Israel Antiquities Authority, one of the directors of the dig where the box was found.

When the lid is removed, the remains of two portraits are still visible in paint and gold leaf. The figures, a man and a woman, are probably Christian saints and possibly Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Unquote.

Funny Church Signs

Only in US of A can you find these!

Be tickled!

God bless you all!

Six Things That Unite Christians

The author may be an American, but what unite Christians everywhere are applicable. Certainly there are many issues that have divided Christians over the centuries, but there are many things that unite Christians too. Here are six things :

1. Secularism

Christians all over see this as a common threat to Christianity. Some ways can be subtle but in many ways they are direct "attack" on Christianity. Like banning prayers in American schools, wearing Crosses to work in certain hospitals not allowed in U.K, making abortion lawful in many countries, banning Christian worships in many countries, and the list goes on. Here Christians find common grounds against the enemies.

2. Service

As Christians we are called to serve others and not be served. Threat our neighbors as ourselves. We can see the tremendous out pouring of Christian aids to the tsunami and earthquake in Japan recently, and other humanity aids Christians are doing all over the world.

3. Creation Care

We are stewards of this earth, and we are to take care of the environments. We need to care for this earth which is the only place to can live ( at this moment until you can live in space!). Global warming,disaster that cause environmental damages, pollution and others, they are our "babies".

4. Technology


Technologies like the internet is power. It helps the Churches to evangelize to people groups that were not possible in the past. Now, with the internet the Churches can bring their messages to the masses as long as you have internet connection. In places where Bibles are not allowed, you can read Bibles in so many languages on the net. Praise God for technologies!

5. People like Tim Keller

Keller a Pastor, intellectual, and a person who has tremendous influence in the Christian community around the world. He is "a model for the sort of Christian leader who will build consensus and spark enthusiasm among a diversity of Christians in the years to come".

6. Resurrection Hope

Christians agreed "1) Christ will return and reign, 2) Evil will be defeated once and for all, 3) Justice and peace will abide, 4) The dead in Christ will rise, and 5) a new creation will ensue."

To read the full article click on the title of this post.