Allah in the Malay Bible

 http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/priest-reveals-proof-christians-used-allah-before-merdeka

As the "Allah" controvesy in Malaysia rages on the Catholic priest presented more evidence of the word "Allah" being used more than 100 years ago in Malaya.  This word was already in the prayer book printed in 1905.  Read more at the link above.

Scholars all over the world also know the facts of this matter except for a certain quarters of Muslim in Malaysia.

Watch this video :

Bible Society of Malaysia Raid

 http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/selangor-religious-authorities-raid-bible-society-of-malaysia-chairman-held

It was a dark day for Malaysian Christians on 2nd Jan, 2014 the start of a new year when the Selangor Islamic Religious socirty (JAIS) raid the Bible Society of Malaysia(BSM) and took away more than 300 copies of Malay language and Iban language Bible which contained the word "Allah" refering to God.  The Muslims in Malaysia insisted that the word "Allah" is exclusive to Muslims in Malaysia.  Other Muslims communities around the world have never claimed exclusivity of the word.

The "Allah" issue has been draging on in court for a numbers of years and it has not been settled yet.  Basically it was the government who started this issue when they banned the Catholic Herald from using "Allah" in their Malay news publication.  Yet, the government is silent on this issue and in the process has created degradation of relation between these two communities in Malaysia.  It appeared that the government is dragging its feet in an attempt to gain political mileage.

Despite the persecutions of Christians in this country, we continue to persevere.  We have been taught in the Bible that when we follow Jesus we are bound to be persecuted.  Let us respond like how Jesus taught us.  But we pray that in whatever the others want to do to us Christians all these will turn to good.

Glory to God!

watch the video here :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDRHzlKeh0s&feature=share&list=PL4HkeIKM2z5IZGRUhzHgfpbV9AnviL2aJ

Radical Grace - Joseph Prince

 http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/40943-is-joseph-prince-s-radical-grace-teaching-biblical

Joseph Prince is the Senior Pastor of New Creation Church, Singapore.  He recently preached in Joel Osteen's church in the US.

Since my last post was about hyper-grace it is beneficial for interested readers to read about Jospeh Prince written by Joseph Mattera at Charisma Magazine.  He is a leader in radical grace or hyper grace.

The article is well written and it is beneficial for readers to read in the above link.

The writer recommended Prince's books to new Christians, but I tend to disagree with his recommendation.  A new believer needs a balance view and understanding of all the theological facts contain in the Bible, and not lope sided facts.  It is better to learn the whole truth from the beginning rather than discover them too late.

Danger of Hyper-Grace

 http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/40060-eight-signs-of-hyper-grace-churches
What is hyper-grace?

"The term hyper-grace has been used to describe a new wave of teaching that emphasizes the grace of God to the exclusion of other vital teachings such as repentance and confession of sin."

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/hyper-grace.html#ixzz2odeTMhlu

There is a rising trend of such teaching in the US and elsewhere recently.  This is dangerous because many Christians have been misled by such preachers.  The over emphasis of grace to the extent of the other Biblical teachings like sin, hell and judgement by God.  These preachers mixed the truths of the Bible with principles that the audience wanted to hear.  Many are misled, they committed sins and live in sins thinking that the grace of God covers all sins past, present and the future.  This is wrong teaching and is not Biblical.  

In Asia we are not spared, there are churches teaching such grace, and there is a large church in Singapore which is considered a pioneer in such teaching.

8 Signs of Hyper-grace church by Jospeh Mattera:

1. Preacher never speak of sin.

2. Preacher takes stand of cultural righteousness.

3. Ignor Old Testament.

4. People who live immoral lives are allowed to preach.

5. Pastor speaks against institutional church.

6. Pastor preached agaisnt tithing.

7. Pastor preach motivational messages.

8. Leading members of church live sinful lives.

Usually these churches teach properity gospel and the preachers are more like motivation speakers than preachers.

Christmas 2013

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/12/23/9-things-you-should-know-about-christmas/

Time flies, it seems just a while ago we celebrated Christmas, and now Christmas 2013 is just around the corner! 

"Merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone!".

I found the article "9 Things you should know about Christmas" interesting.  You can read it at the above link.

God bless.

Christmas Parade 2013 - The Gift of love

On Saturday 14th Dec 2013 Kuching city witnessed the annual Christmas Parade organized by the Methodist Church.  It was an interdenominations event as various denominations like Catholics, Anglican, Baptists, Seven Day Adverntist, SIB and others joined in to celebrate the birth of Jesus with the city folks of Kuching.  Despite the rain a few thousands Christians from all walks of life joined in the celebration.

As the theme of this celebration was "The Gift of love", members of churches prepared small gifts which were given to the public along the way.  Our church gave away ballons bearing Scripture messages.

Praise God that as we moved along the way, the rain was just drizzling although we had to use our umbrellas.

Note: Pictures credit to Benjamin Ho.

John Piper's Peom: The Calvinist

Be blessed by this peom cum short film