Sunday Church Service

This Sunday our Church had the honor of hosting Bro John Carter, Elder Holborn Church, Leeds, United Kingdom. He is no stranger to us as he has been here to preach and share for about three years now. Prior to this Sunday message he had two other sessions on Saturday afternoon and evening. These sessions were most enjoyable. His teaching is practical and he shared his personal experiences of more than 50 years as a Christian.

This morning sharing was entitled "People who walk in God's way" based on the Book of Genesis. He said Abraham is a model of us today. He was obedient to God and trusted God entirely. It was no joke hearing from God for the first time and being led to leave his home for an unknown place. Yet Abraham obeyed. Today we live in a dark world which is modeled along Sodom and Gomorrah. Sins are everywhere. Bro John expressed his shock that the British government is about to legalize gay marriage. Utter nonsense he said, such union cannot produce any children. Abraham obeyed God and through him all nations were blessed. Similarly, we the people of God will bless others. Abraham carried out God's mission to spread his people to all nations, similarly we are to spread the Gospel to all nations.

The warning to us is to turn back to God. We are in this world and not of this world.

Free Lunch

Yes, our congregation had a free lunch at noon! Thanks to some brothers and Sisters who took the initiative to prepare lunch for our members. Malaysians like their foods. All in all about 300 members were served. Thank you Lord for your provision!

Sunday Service Free Lunch - photo slideshow

Chuck Colson Dies at 80

Chuck Colson founder of Prison Fellowship ministry and a former US senator involved in the Watergate scandal dies at 80. He was one of the prominent evangelicals and a defender of Christianity.

Christian Post writes:

"Evangelical Christianity lost one of its most eloquent and influential voices today with the death of Charles W. 'Chuck' Colson. The Prison Fellowship and Colson Center for Christian Worldview founder,,,,,,,

To read further clock on the title of this post.

Holy Robe of Jesus

Quote

Pilgrims try to touch the ‘Holy Robe,’ reportedly worn by Jesus Christ, during the 20th pilgrimage in the German Cathedral of Trier on Sunday. The ancient town of Trier marks the 500th anniversary of the first public appearance of the Seamless Robe of Jesus. Some 500,000 pilgrims are expected to visit to see the relic til May 13, 2012, since its last appearance dates back to 1996.

Unquote

Source: Charisma news

Living Like A Prodigal Son

Pastor Dan Delzel of Wellspring Lutheran Church, Nebraska wrote saying America is living like the prodigal son as written in Luke chapter 15. He said that there is strong correlation between sexual immorality and over spending. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, he spent his fortune on wine and women and in the end he had nothing. Pastor Dan Delzel said, "America is bleeding badly today. Sexual immorality is rampant, as is overspending. This lack of self-control eventually catches up with the body, the soul, and the economic survival of the nation. The only way to fix both problems is to recognize where you went astray from God's plan. Without that recognition and a sincere turning to God in repentance, there is no way to avoid complete destruction."

Last Sunday a speaker in Church just reminded us to guard our hearts against darkness in this world. Our country is modeling America and it is also "living like a prodigal son". Sexual immorality seems to be on the rise. Everyday we watch T.V news of raids on nightclubs where women from countries like China, Vietnam, Thailand and Philippines worked as guests relation officers who usually provide sexual services too. Even in our small city there are so many reflexology centers supposedly providing massage services. However, they provide more than massage services. Men are attracted to these centers because of these "extra services".

The lesson is that God wants His people to return to Him. He is a loving God who forgives those who asked Him.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

To read further click on the title of this post.

Pastors Involved in Ponzi Schemes

Ponzi schemes promised high returns with very low or no risk to investors. The truth is that the returns given are from new investors.

Recently there are a number of cases in US. The most famous non church ponzi was Madoff Ponzi that involved USD$20 billion of investors' money. As for church related cases, the most prominent one is the one Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Church of Atlanta was involved that amounted to USD$11 million.

Usually in such cases, the pastors themselves are directly involved or they convinced their church members to participate in the investments. In the US as warned by an IRS agent if the investment has returns of 8 to 12% p.a the investor must be cautious. What he said is revealing,
"Good people go bad and it's always the greed factor or self-preservation. It clouds their judgment." Usually it is the greed of the individual that resulted in losing money.

Our country is not spared such scams. Scams in church may be isolated in Malaysia, but there are cases of Pastors involving themselves in multi level marketing (MLM) who solicited business from their congregations. Really these are clear conflict of interest. If these businesses are for personal gains, pastors should not be involved at all. They should be in God's business, looking after their sheeps and not doing a business for personal gains.

In my home town Kuching, I know of a pastor who is involved in a social enterprise that rear exotic fishes for export. Here he started this business to help the poor rural folks to earn a living. All profits are used to help the needy in rural areas. He is doing it for the love of God's children not for personal gains.

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

Church Gives Away Cars

Would your Church give away cars, TVs, Ipads etc to attract members?

It has been reported that Fellowship Church in Texas gave away several cars during Easter. It seems like this is not the only church in the US doing this.

Just wondering what happened to Jesus' teaching of laying our treasures in heaven. Don't seem that these churches are teaching the right message by giving away "earthly treasures".

This can only happen in the US.

Watch this video

Christian Fellowship

Last night in our Life Group(cell) we studied 1 John Ch. 1 especially on the theme of "fellowship". Many of us think of fellowship as a gathering of Christians for some conversations and to part take some foods. But is this type of gathering a fellowship? If we study the meaning of fellowship more deeply we will find it is more than gathering to talk and eat.

1 John 1:3
"what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ."

Christians fellowship is given to us by the grace of God. Those who believe in the Gospel are united in the Spirit through Christ to the Father and that unity is the basis of our fellowship. We are united to one another by common beliefs, purposes and goals. God unites us.

Christians fellowship is also building each other up in love. We are not to judge others, but as fellow Christians we are to encourage each other in our faith and also in our walk with God. We are bound to stumble at times, and in the fellowship we can support each other in order to come back to God. It is like "iron sharping iron" ( Proverb 27:17) here we "sharpen" each others.

Basically we are doing life together as Christians.