Secret of Contentment

Today is the last day of 2011 and 2012 starts tomorrow. Looking back to 2011 and before that you will note that the world faced economic turmoil, most countries were affected. Because of economic uncertainties many ordinary people all over the world also faced prices increase of foods we eat. Under such circumstances many people are looking for contentment. Contentment is not happiness but more so, joy in the Lord.

I was reading an on-line magazine and I came across this article about contentment written by John MacArthur. I needed to remind myself of these Biblical principles and I believe many readers will benefit from these principles. This is perhaps a good start for the new year knowing the gloom in the world economies.

1. Give thanks in all things.

2. Learn to rest in God's providence.

3. Learn to be satisfied with little.

4. Learn to live above life's circumstance.

5. Learn to rely on God's power and provision.

6. Pre-occupied with the well being of others.

A quote "Contentment is not the fulfilment of what you want, it is the realization of how much you already have".

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

Power of Positive Prayer

You must have read and heard about positive thinking. Even in the secular world motivators have emphasized the power of positive thinking. But for us Christians positive thinking is not necessary a bad things but it appears that God is left out. Here it is merely about our own thinking, but we know our God created everything and He has plans for us. Power of positive prayer is above positive thinking and it is about focusing our minds on God promises for us and not on the worldly problems. Granted we Christians are also subjected to problems, but these problems are small things compared to God's promises to us His children. As we focus on God's promises we can turn our lives into positive prayers. When we walk with God daily, following His commands we can live our lives as a daily prayer to God. The Bible commands us to pray without ceasing, other than uttering prayers aloud or in the mind, living according to God's command is also prayer without ceasing.

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

Shroud of Turin

Sometime ago researchers said the Shroud of Turin was a forgery. Now scientists claimed that it is the real burial cloth of Jesus.

The scientist said

"There are no chemical or physical methods known which can account for the totality of the image, nor can any combination of physical, chemical, biological or medical circumstances explain the image adequately," they said, according to the Telegraph.

A professor of chemistry at Pavia University, Luigi Garlaschelli, shared with The Independent: "The implications are... that the image was formed by a burst of UV energy so intense it could only have been supernatural. But I don't think they've done anything of the sort."

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

Journey to Christmas

It will be an experience to be in the Holy Land, just to be in places where Jesus Himself had walked thousands of year ago.

Watch this video about modern explorers going there.

Global Christianity

The Pew Forum Survey found recently that Christianity is the largest religion in the world. There are about 2.18 billion Christians today out of a total population of about 7 billion. The question is what is the main reason for this growth ? It appears that the Christians as a percentage of the world's population has been steady for many years, and the recent growth was because of population growth in countries where Christians are residing. The areas that are growing most are Sub-Sahara and Asia Pacific regions.

In terms of the growth in Asia-Pacific region, China will be leading the growth. Sources said there are Christians in China ranging from 70 to 170 million. No one really knows because the Chinese government out-law the "house churches" (underground churches). Reports from missionaries that there are multiple thousands of these churches in China, and people are coming to Christ by the thousand each day. There is a great harvest in China. There are reports that very soon China will have more Christians than the US. One very encouraging information is that the Christians in China are of "one mind" as far as Christianity is concerned. They do not have problems of denominations issues, because to them Christianity is just believing in Jesus our Almighty God. They are not concerned about the differences. China is the country to watch. There is a movement started several years back called "Back to Jerusalem" movement, that is bringing back the Gospel from China across all nations from there back to Jerusalem. Pastor Peter Tsukahira has prophesied in his book :God's Tsunami", about the movement back to Jerusalem.

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

Joy In Worship When Depressed

Most people including me found that it does not make sense that while we are in depression we can worship God joyfully. This I learnt from Pastor John Piper and worship leader Bob Kauflin. Usually we associate our emotional state with our outward activities like worship for example. People usually do not worship when they are emotionally depressed. But John Piper said our emotional state and state of contentment in Christ are two separate things. We can still worship with joy even in depression. John Piper said "A depressed but born again person, Piper added, has a “seed of contentment in Christ.” “And the form it might take is, right now I feel nothing; I am totally numb emotionally. But I have a memory that there was once a sweetness of affection, a sweetness of trust… and I by faith believe it’s still down there because theologically, the Bible says it... I now, in this room while everybody is singing and I don’t have any feelings… I am saying to Him, please restore to me the joy of my salvation.”

Worship is affirming our satisfaction with God according to Piper, he said "you can be “satisfied with God and weeping your eyes out at the death of your mother.”

The key to worship for the hurting is found in 2 Corinthians 6:10: “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

This message about worship is really an eye opener for me.

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

Kuching Christmas Parade

Last evening a Christmas parade was held in Kuching. It was organized by the Methodist Church and the Kuching Minister Fellowship was also invited. In total including branches of churches, there were 27 churches participating in the parade. This got to be the largest Christmas parade so far in Kuching. The organizer expected about 4,000 Christians to attend, but from the turn out at least 5,000 Christians participated in the event.

This year's theme was "Peace in Christ", and it was a fitting team because we all wanted peace for our nation. For the past two years many events have taken place that affected the rights of Christians in this nation. It appears that many of these rights are slowly taken away. It was indeed a show of unity among the Christians in this city and beyond by the number of Christians coming to celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. He came to die for our sins, and to redeem us and give us eternal life. Regardless of denominations, many churches participated in this parade because it is important to be in one body of Christ. We must all join hands to fight the enemies outside, let's stand as One in Christ Jesus.

Praise God that although it is the rainy season now there was no rain last evening. During the afternoon it rained, and the weather was cleared for the parade! Hallelujah! Praise God!

Click on the title of this post to read a news report prior to the event.

Christmas Parade - slideshow with music