If You Don't Know What To Believe

JOHN 17:17 NKJ 17 ". . . Your word is truth.

According to Jesus, the Word of God is truth. Yet many people proclaim quite different messages -- all using the Bible as their text. How can you know who to believe?

Jesus also told us that continuing to abide in the Word of God would produce freedom -- not bondage.

JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

So, look at the fruit produced by the message proclaimed. Is it freedom? If not, then it must not be the ACCURATE message of Jesus Christ.

The true message of Jesus Christ will set people free -- not put them in bondage. It truly is good news, and makes people happy when they correctly understand it.

JOHN 10:10 NKJ 10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

If it produces death, stealing, or destruction, it is not God's plan for you. Jesus came so you could have life in all the fullness God intended.

What you need to do now is simple:

1) Stop listening to lies.

Anything that makes you think God does not love you, or that you are hopeless or helpless -- is a lie. God is not against you or mad at you. All your troubles have been caused by the devil, and your ignorance, not by God.

2) Listen to the truth.

God's truth is good news. It will build you up -- and give you an inheritance. It will give you good things, not take anything good away from you.

ACTS 20:32 NKJ 32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Primarily, you need to read the New Testament for yourself. Don't just depend on others to tell you what God said. And before you read, ask the Lord to teach you and reveal Himself to you.

Secondarily, listen to teachers and preachers who feed you the Word of God which builds your faith and makes you love and appreciate God more. Otherwise, quit listening to them.

Remember, the accurate message of Jesus makes you free. (Not free to sin without consequences, but free from the bondage and the effects of sin and its curse.)

SAY THIS: I will stop listening to and believing lies, and I will listen to and believe the truth. God loves me and will help me.

Prayer Strengthens You

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...

Too many people think of prayer only as asking God for what they want. But prayer is much more than that. Prayer is communication and communion with Almighty God. Somehow, in the act of prayer we receive a transfusion of God's strength.

LUKE 22:46 NKJ 46 ..."pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Being strong enables you to not enter into temptation. Time spent in prayer strengthens you spiritually. (Temptation strikes us all. But we decide whether to yield to the temptation, or not.)

JUDE 1:20 NKJ 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

According to Jude, praying builds you up, or edifies you. Prayer is a spiritual exercise; the more you do it the stronger you get spiritually.

Some may protest that they don't know how to pray. Just begin to talk to God. And listen for His response, not through a voice, but through His Word, or thoughts in line with His Word. God is not so particular about how His children visit with Him. Just do it!

SAY THIS: I choose to spend time with God each day in prayer and receive God's strength and help.

Fight The Good Fight Of Faith

1 TIMOTHY 6:12 NKJ 12 Fight the good fight of faith . . . .

Christians are supposed to fight -- just not with each other.

Our struggle is about our faith. The devil wants our faith in God to wither and die. God wants our faith to grow stronger.

The battlefield is your mind. The devil tries to keep his evidence foremost in your thoughts: negative circumstances and what your senses tell you. God's evidence is contained in His unchanging Word: the Bible.

We must choose to feed the truths of the Bible into our thinking to keep our faith strong.

The devil still tells mankind his old lie, "Has God said?" which we could modernize as, "Did God really mean that?"

Yes, God meant what He said and said what He meant.

"Then why doesn't it seem that way when I look around at my circumstances?"

Because you are supposed to fight the good fight of faith and actively receive the promised blessings. God will bring His Word to pass in your life when you actively believe it. God's program is set up to reward those who trust Him.

You should resist and even rebuke thoughts of doubt, knowing they originate with the evil one. You can say, "Doubt, I resist you. Leave me alone. God is faithful and His Word is true."

You have authority over what you think. The Bible tells you what to think about in Philippians 4:8. But you must exercise your authority through words spoken. Otherwise, authority doesn't benefit you.

HEBREWS 11:1 NKJ 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith involves things not seen, or not discerned by your physical senses. If you can see it or feel it you don't need to have faith for it. Faith is your evidence until it manifests to your physical senses.

God does not lie. His written Word is your faith evidence until the blessing is evident even to your physical senses. Resist the devil by continuing to believe God's Word.

A good fight is a fight you can win.

SAY THIS: With God's help, I will fight the good fight of faith and win.

Letters To Christians

2 TIMOTHY 2:15 NKJ 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

All of God's Word is truth, but we must rightly divide the Bible, or we will be confused and misled.

ALL Scripture is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO us, nor is it all ABOUT us.

Every verse in the Bible is a message of truth we can learn from. But every verse is not specific directions for us. For example, instructions to offer daily animal sacrifices show us a truth of the need for a payment for sin, but those verses are not written directly to us. After Jesus' final sacrifice we are no longer instructed to offer daily animal sacrifices.

The whole Bible is the inspired Word of God, but only the letters in the New Testament are specifically and directly written to us.

While we can learn many things from reading a letter written to someone else, reading one written directly to us is much more meaningful.

The letters to Christians (epistle is another word for letter) are found in the New Testament starting with Romans. Therefore we should (and must if we are to be accurate), base the bulk of our teachings on what we find in the Bible specifically written to us, the New Testament Epistles.

The book of Acts is not a letter, but it is a history of the beginning of the church as they began to understand and walk in the New Covenant.

While the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are included in the section of our Bibles we call the New Testament, they actually record the life and ministry of Jesus which took place under the Old Covenant with Israel. (For the New Covenant could not start until the blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of our sins.)

Now we live under a new and better covenant. This New Covenant started at the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one could be included in the New Covenant until after Jesus finished His work and was raised from the dead.

The ministry of Jesus on earth, recorded in the Gospels, was to the people of Israel. So much of what is written in the Four Gospels was said to backslidden Jews under the Law who had essentially rejected God.

Surely you realize that God would talk differently to His family than to a group that has rejected Him.

We should rejoice in our New Covenant and all its blessings. And while we can learn many things from the whole of the Bible, our primary focus should be on the part written to us.

SAY THIS: Because I am in Christ, I am part of His body on earth, the church. So the letters in the Bible written to the church are written to me.

God's Protection

God doesn't want us to live our lives in fear. Over and over the Bible tells us to fear not.

Yet with all the terrible things happening in the world, how can we not be afraid? How can we overcome the temptation to fear?

We must know and remember that God loves us and has a good plan for us: including a home in Heaven and going to be with Jesus when we die. So we should not fear death as it is a promotion and a gain for a Christian believer (Philippians 1:21).

Also, we must know and remember the promises of God given in the Bible concerning protection from evil, accident, and harm in this life. For example:

PSALM 91:9-11 NKJ 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

This is not to say that victims of tragic events are sinners, or are not loved by God. Only that if we walk with God and heed His direction, God promises to protect us.

LUKE 10:19 NKJ 19 "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

We know many good people have died unexpectedly. Yet the promises of God stand true and should not be doubted. We don't know what they knew or what they were believing. But we know that God is faithful and keeps His promises.

There is a place of protection as you live close to God and walk in faith. So do not be afraid!

SAY THIS: God gives His angels charge over me, to keep me safe in all my ways.

2018 - October Family Camp @ Cameron Highlands (By Capt Fiona)

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2018 - October Family Camp @ Cameron Highlands DAY 3

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2018 - October Family Camp @ Cameron Highlands DAY 2

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2018 - October Family Camp @ Cameron Highlands DAY 1

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Getting a Better Perspective

Question: I know problems are part of life, but I can’t seem to get on top of mine long enough to catch my breath. How can I overcome my problems, before they overcome me?

Answer: Your lament sounds rather like what King David expressed: “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” This wish to be able to put aside all your problems and worries and to feel free is a longing everyone experiences at one time or another. Unfortunately, there is no easy, magical formula to make problems simply disappear. What we can do is learn to control the effect that our problems, both real and imaginary, have on us.
One sure-fire way to strengthen your spirit is to adopt an attitude of praise and thanks to God, even through the rough times. No matter how badly things are going or how seemingly hopeless the situation, it is always possible to find something to be thankful for if you look hard enough—not the least of which is that God stands ready to prove Himself a “very present help in time of trouble.”
That positive, praiseful attitude will lighten your burdens and help you bear them. It brings on inspiration and renewed strength. It gives you wings to rise above your problems and the doubt, fear, and worry that accompany them. It lifts your spirit above the earthly plane and into the heavenlies. Even though it doesn’t necessarily remove the problems you’re facing, it gives you a much better outlook and perspective on them—a heavenly perspective, infused with faith in the positive outcome God has promised to those who love Him.

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Psalm 55:6 (ESV) And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

Psalm 46:1 (ESV) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Changing Mindsets

We sometimes limit God’s power to work in our lives because we lack faith. We look at things too much from our own perspectives instead of trying to see them as He does. Our outlook is trapped on an earthly plane. When we find ourselves in that situation, it’s time to change our mindset about some things.
The definition of mindset is: a set of beliefs or a way of thinking that determines somebody’s behavior and outlook. What this means is that the way we look at things, our attitudes, the things we think and believe, determine our behavior.
A major factor in making progress is shedding any mindset that holds you back and taking on a new mindset that will have a positive effect on your behavior and outlook. We all have some wrong attitudes, so we need to find out what those are and fight to change them into positive ones.
Consider the story about two shoe salesmen who were sent by their company to Africa. The first salesman wrote the home office saying, “Nobody wears shoes here,” and turned in his resignation. The second salesman was thrilled with the potential and wrote, “Everybody here needs shoes!”
The first fellow’s mindset, his negative attitude‚ caused him to resign. He had the wrong mindset about the situation, and this mindset determined his behavior, which in this case was to give up in despair. Now contrast that to the other fellow who had a positive mindset. “Everyone needs shoes!” What a difference! The positive mindset brought faith. Where one man saw an impossible situation, the other saw endless possibilities. Clearly, our mindset affects our outlook and, most importantly, our behavior.
It’s important that we shed any negative mindset that holds us back, and instead embrace a new, positive mindset that will change our behavior and performance for the better. To get the most from life and give the most in return, we should focus on the unlimited power of God, which He has put at our disposal. When we do that, we see the potential instead of the problems. That positive mindset will help us to act in a positive, full-of-faith manner—and with faith, anything is possible.

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Romans 12:1-2 ESV / I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 1:5 ESV / If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

1 John 1:9 ESV / If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Things

I have this thing about things. You see, I think some people have way too many of them—like those people who can’t put another thing in their garage or their closets, so they rent a storage place for their extra things.
When I moved houses recently, I had to decide what to do with many of the things I’d accumulated since my last move. Boy, oh boy! That’s when I realized I had indeed become one of “those people”—a thing collector!
I think a lot of the problem is due to the culture of materialism that is so prevalent these days. Whenever we watch TV or listen to the radio or read magazines, we are bombarded with advertisements about all the latest and greatest things we need to buy, and those ads are effective. Take electronic equipment, for example. As soon as a thinner TV or laptop or cell phone comes out, everybody wants it, and a lot of perfectly good fatter ones end up in the garage or closet with everything else.
There are other downsides to this “thing” mentality too. For one, you can lose appreciation for the value of the things you have if you have too many of them.
Jesus put “things” in perspective when He said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Another thing about things is that just as some people have way too many, there are others who lack even the basic things of life. Sad!
If you happen to recognize the symptoms of this too-many-things malady in your life, as I did, don’t worry. There is a cure, at least on a personal level. You can take a serious look at all the things you have, decide which you use and really need, and give the rest to charity or a needy neighbor or friend. As Jesus told one rich young man, “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”
You’ll be happy with the results. Your home will suddenly seem bigger and more organized, and your life will seem less cluttered.
And remember what Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” As we give away our extra things in a spirit of generosity, we accumulate God’s blessings, both in this life and for eternity.

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Luke 12:15 (ESV) And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 18:22 (ESV) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Acts 20:35 (ESV) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Live Well On Less

The advantages of learning to live by the less-is-more tenet are many. Contemporary lifestyles and habits have a way of blinding us to those benefits, in part by keeping us so busy that we seldom stop long enough to carefully consider what we’re doing. We “move with the groove,” but that groove may be depleting us of precious funds, health, and happiness. A few ways to “move your groove” are:

Self-propel. A lot of people are so used to getting behind the wheel to go anywhere that they don’t realize how fun, eco-friendly, and healthy it is to walk the few blocks to the gym (that can double as your warm-up, saving time overall) or anywhere else within comfortable walking distance. Or do errands by bicycle. Besides getting exercise and fresh air, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint, “experience life” along the way, and save money. Exercise also produces a healthy natural high and increases energy levels. Public transport and carpooling are also relatively economical and eco-friendly options.

Go natural. Drinking plenty of water and eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, including nutrition-dense yet inexpensive seasonal ones, will boost your resistance and thus lower your medical expenses.

Local fruits and vegetables often have nutritional benefits that rival expensive, exotic supplements like spirulina or Tibetan leh berries. Depending on what is available and affordable in your area, some of the best cosmetics and health products may be among the cheapest, and you may already have them in your kitchen. A salt-soap-and-loofah scrub can give the same smooth, polished-body effect as an expensive body scrub made from exotic ingredients. Mashed papaya can give you a quick peel that is cheaper than a glycolic peel. (Don’t leave it on for more than 10 minutes, though!) Olive oil makes great lip gloss and is harmless if accidentally ingested or kissed off. Research the benefits and possible adverse effects of any homemade health or beauty aid before trying. Moderation is usually advisable.

You probably don’t have a lot of time to make your own potions and lotions. However, eating healthfully and living well is possible even on a tight budget, and it can be fairly simple. Form good habits, and you can splurge once in a while on a special treat like a foot spa or special meal.

Recycle. Shop for an exciting “new” outfit in your own wardrobe by finding things you haven’t worn for a while and giving them a fresh look by making alterations or pairing them with something new. Or have a discards-and-treasures party with friends, where you get together little-worn clothing and other items and offer them to each other before donating the rest to charity.

Repair rather than replace worn or broken but salvageable items, or pass them on to someone else who will.

Limit paper clutter and the associated waste by doing as much as you can electronically, like keeping records on computer and using email.

Do it yourself. Learn to do some of the things you’ve been paying others to do for you. You’ll save money, learn new skills, and perhaps even pick up a new hobby in the process.

Be values oriented. Trying to keep up with the Joneses costs in more ways than one. Jesus taught “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Jesus also pointed the way to God’s blessing and happiness and fulfillment in life when He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things”—everything you really need—“shall be added to you.”

Co-op. Living or doing things cooperatively with extended family or like-minded friends is more cost- and labor-efficient than private living, and it gives a sense of community. It’s also a step toward learning to “love your neighbor as yourself,” which is another key to God’s blessing and true happiness.
God is a great life coach. When we follow Him and His spiritual laws, we find that it can actually be easier and more fun to live on less.

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1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

Romans 5:8 ESV / But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Acts 4:12 ESV / And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Refuge of Meditation

I once visited a monastery that was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress, set high atop a rocky crag in a Syrian desert. So steep was a series of 300 steps near the summit that supplies had to be hoisted the rest of the way using a cable system. Three stone archways at the top announced to my fellow pilgrims and me that we were nearing a sanctuary.
Finally we had to squeeze through a small opening, no larger than two feet square, cut in the rock. It reminded me of something Jesus said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” One traditional interpretation of that passage is that Jesus was referring to a very small gate in the wall of Jerusalem called the Needle’s Eye. For a camel to pass through that gate, it had to be stripped of all baggage and then pushed, pulled, and cajoled. To squeeze through this one, I had to take off my backpack and still it wasn’t easy.
Just then a jet passed so high overhead that it was recognizable only by the vapor trail it left in the azure sky—a silent, fitting reminder of how far we were removed from the rush and noise of the world we had left behind.
This was not a monastery for recluses, however, but a retreat for those wanting to get away from the world for a time to refresh their spirit and renew their focus in order to have more to contribute when they return. One resident friar had just returned from a World Economic Forum, where he had been invited as a spiritual leader.
The monastery welcomes anyone seeking spiritual solace. My party of about 30 represented several faiths and perhaps a dozen nationalities. There is no charge for meals or lodging, only a request that visitors lend a hand with the chores and respect others’ times of meditation.
Inside we were welcomed with a glass of tea and invited to sit and chat and enjoy the view. As we got to know one another, a sense of brotherhood instantly developed, despite our diverse backgrounds.
Sitting at a table, I talked with one of the monastery’s volunteers who was French. He was in his early twenties, and I was curious to find out what motivated him to stay at this remote outpost so far from civilization.
“I have been here for two years now,” he said in his charming accent. “I was a successful chief accountant for a prominent firm in France, with all the perks of a high-salaried job.”
“So what was it that made you give all that up?” I asked.
“I felt unfulfilled. One day as I was sitting in a chapel, I had a vision that caused me to realize I had my priorities wrong. I needed to live in service for others. That’s why I’m here.”
A German traveler joined our conversation, and soon we were discussing the world’s woes as we had experienced them, as well as ideas about how they might be rectified. Hours went by.
That evening we were invited to celebrate Mass together underneath the painted fragments of a scene of heaven and hell, saints and sinners, followed by a simple meal and a time of solitary meditation.
The next day as I made my way back down to the valley, I gazed at the surrounding hills, stretching into the distance. The scenery spoke to me more than it had on the way up, when my mind was still full of going, doing, achieving.
I imagined water flowing through the dry riverbeds and cascading over precipices in thunderous glory. If rain came, it would truly be a wonder. It hadn’t rained in four years.
The terrain appeared devoid of life, but upon closer examination all kinds of life could be seen on those steep slopes—lichen, exquisite minute wildflowers, and the occasional desert dweller, all struggling to survive. Even when our lives seem as dry and barren as those hills, with not much happening on the surface, God is busy at work.
As I reached the bottom of the hill, I determined to take a few minutes each day to make a temple of my heart. The art of meditation, I had learned, is not dependent on any place. It is the peace of heart and mind that are found by connecting with our Creator, regardless of the surroundings.

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Galatians 6:6-7 ESV / One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

1. Corinthians 10:13 ESV / No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 8:28 ESV / And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Announcement

Penang Corps Family Camp
Date: 19-21 Oct 2018 (Fri-Sun)
Venue: Methodist Centennial Chefoo Centre - Cameron Highlands
Theme: "Approved By God"  - 2 Timothy 2:15
Guest Speaker: Major Hary Haran
Details:
1) Please contact Capt Fiona for items to bring.
2) Those who are going by Corps van, please be at PCH the latest by 12:45pn for departure.

Holiness Meeting
Date: 21 Oct 2018 (Sun)
Details: In conjunction with the Corps Family Camp at Cameron Highlands, there will be no Holiness Meeting.

Malaysia Children Camp 2018
Date: 5-8 2018 (Wed-Sat)
Venue: Cameron Highlands Gospel Hall 39000 Tanah Rata
Closing Date: 1st November 2018
Age: 7-12 years old.

The Beautiful Game

June 11, 2010: Kickoff of the 19th football (soccer) World Cup in South Africa. Generally considered one of the world’s premier sporting events, along with the Olympics, this is the first World Cup final ever held on the African continent. Hundreds of thousands of lucky fans will be able to watch the games live in the stadiums that were built or revamped for the event, and billions more around the world are expected to follow their team’s progress through the month-long competition via TV, radio, and the Internet. It is the global celebration of what Brazilian three-time Cup winner Pelé called “the beautiful game.”
Many of us enjoy kicking a ball around with friends, but there’s a world of difference between that and playing professional football. What did it take for those men to reach the World Cup in South Africa? Extraordinary athletic ability, certainly, but that alone did not guarantee their spot on the roster. No player is chosen to represent his country in the World Cup final stage without having first put in a lot of hard work. Each player has endured years of rigorous, seemingly endless practice, suffered injury and pain, and had to rise above other obstacles in order to have a shot at the ultimate prize—being on the winning team at the World Cup. Those who make it to the final stage have risen to the top of a wildly popular and fiercely contested sport. Win or lose, coming this far is a tremendous achievement.
Most of the rest of us aren’t world-class athletes, but we can apply these players’ secret to success, as many of today’s self-help gurus and guidebooks advocate. And they aren’t the first. Even the apostle Paul referred to it. Comparing the Christian life to athletic achievement, he wrote, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.”1 Paul practiced what he preached, so as his life drew to a close he was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”2
Perhaps no one exemplifies the blend of talent and tenacity that mark world-class athletes better than Pelé himself. Growing up in poverty in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, he earned extra money for his family by shining shoes and honed his gift using a ball made from a sock stuffed with newspaper. Considered the best footballer of all time, he dominated the game for two decades and was named the top athlete of the 20th century by the International Olympic Committee, even though he never took part in the Olympics.
And one final thought before I go and check the latest scores: It’s natural to support our home team, but we should recognize the efforts of all the players, no matter where they’re from. With this type of competition, of course there are many more losers than winners. After the first stage of the World Cup, half of the 32 teams are sent home, as are half of the remaining teams at the end of each subsequent round until a winner is eventually crowned. Obviously the players who don’t make it to the end are disappointed, but they can take pride in how far they went and what they accomplished.
And we each have a chance to do the same in the game of life. Jesus doesn’t say the faithful will be rewarded in heaven with the words, “That’s great—you beat the competition!” but with, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”3He commends us for doing our part; for playing with character and commitment, for doing our best with whatever gifts and tasks He has given us, and for loving those who He has put in our path. That, I think, is the most beautiful game of all.

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Hebrews 12:2 ESV / Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV / I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Hebrews 12:3 ESV / Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Life’s Winners

Few events capture the world’s attention like the World Cup does every four years. The 2006 final attracted an estimated television audience of 715 million, and the entire process, including qualifying and elimination rounds, a total of over 26 billion—the equivalent of nearly four views for every person in the world. Even those who normally pay little or no attention to sports are drawn in when Cup results are front-page news.
For us spectators, depending on how closely we follow football (soccer) and how well our team does, the buildup may last a year, the final match a couple of hours, and the celebration a few days. Then we return to our normal lives. But for players, coaches, and others involved at the highest level, the World Cup is a defining moment, the culmination of years of dreaming, planning, sacrificing, and hard work.
It’s a defining moment, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of their lives, as it must have seemed when they were entirely focused on making it to the World Cup and doing well there. It’s really just a milestone, a new beginning. The real tests start now. How will the losers take defeat? Will they give up, or press on and possibly win next time? What opportunities will open for the winners, and how will they handle success? Will they use it to further their football fortunes, or to secure other careers after football, or to promote causes that are important to them? In the months and years to come we’ll find out who those big names really are.
And it’s much the same for us. We may not be athletes in the world spotlight, but every day is another chance to examine who we really are and decide what we want to be known and remembered for. Every day can be a defining moment, if we make it so. How about you?

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1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV / Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV / Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Treasures in Heaven

Based on Luke 19:1–10

Zac gazed out of his window toward the west.

The waves of the sea danced gently, reflecting amber from the glowing orb that was slowly descending toward the blue water. It was sunset, his life was drawing to a close, and it was time to take stock. It had been a full, rich life, and Zac smiled as he reminisced. Seeing joy on a child’s face; watching hope replace despair, faith replace doubt; celebrating the love of God for His people—these were the memories that Zac cherished. But it had not always been so. …

“Collaborator!”
“Greedy thief!”
“Crook!”

Zac was used to people calling him names behind his back and sometimes to his face. Even the beggars were reluctant to take his money. It was incongruous, considering that he was a wealthy man, but the religious leaders forbade the poor from accepting alms from him. The low status that his livelihood earned him amongst his own people hadn’t stopped him from working for the Roman conquerors or working his way up until he had become a chief tax collector—a man of power and plenty but not popularity.

Whatever had driven him to put so much effort into amassing wealth, it had worked. Yet his was an empty, loveless life. “Vanity, vanity! What’s it all for?” he often asked himself, echoing the words of Solomon, who seemed to have been describing Zac’s life when he wrote, “All his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest.”1

Curiosity had gotten the better of him that day. Like other Jericho residents, he had heard stories about the visiting rabbi—even tales of miraculous healings. Most of the people trudging the same path were probably hoping to see a miracle, Zac surmised. As new arrivals continued to pour into the crowd, the chances of him being able to see anything at all got slimmer and slimmer. As short as he was, there was no way he would be able to see above this throng unless he could find a vantage point.

It was then he noticed the wide sycamore fig tree growing by the side of the road. It wasn’t hard to climb, and soon Zac was situated where he could see a crowd proceeding slowly along the road. The center of everyone’s attention was a man of medium build with an air of kindly authority.

When the crowd reached the tree, the man called up to Zac, “Zacchaeus! Come down. I want to meet you. Take me to your house.”

So many years had passed since that day when the unexpected guest arrived for dinner. At the time, Zac hadn’t known how significant those few hours would be, but looking back now he realized that they had changed not only him, but his relationship with everyone he had encountered from that moment on.

The words of the Teacher had penetrated Zac’s heart. He had already known how vain his life was, but now he realized for the first time that he could do something about it. Before the night was over he had pledged to give away half of his possessions. This was no small sum, nor was it an empty promise. True to his word, Zac also paid back the people whom he had taxed unfairly. In fact, he compensated for his previous dishonesty by paying them back four times the amount he had cheated them out of.

“Don’t put aside treasures on earth,” the Teacher had told him. “Lay up treasures in heaven, for where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be too.2 Don’t work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you.”3 With advice like that, collecting taxes in order to amass wealth soon lost its appeal.

It had taken awhile, but in time Zac was able to follow in his Teacher’s footsteps. The greatest commandments, he learned, were to love God and to love others.4 It was this path of unselfishness that he followed for the rest of his days.

The sunset was drawing to a finish. Zac closed his eyes one last time. Ever so quietly he passed from this world to the next, greeted by a golden sunrise in the presence of the Savior he had loved since they first met on that dusty road long ago.

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Luke 19:9–10 ESV / Today salvation has come to this house, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

1 Timothy 6:17 ESV / As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Luke 12:33 ESV / Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

Sense of Values

I was relaxing in a little coffee shop overlooking the ocean, watching the boats far out to sea, when I became conscious of a conversation at the next table, loud enough for nearly everyone in the restaurant to hear.

“Why did you dismiss Henry from your office?” one man asked.

“He had no sense of values,” the other man replied. “Whenever I wanted him, he was taking a coffee break. It seemed to me he valued a cup of coffee more than his job. I warned him a number of times, but in the end he had to go.”

The conversation moved on to other topics, but that thought kept running through my mind. The fired man had valued a cup of coffee more than his job.

A light wind had the sailboats skimming over the water—like how some people just skim the surface of life, I thought, never developing any true sense of values. Like the man in that conversation, they place their focus on the inconsequential things in life and let them crowd out the things that are truly worthwhile.

I had an acquaintance who spent years working very hard and scraping to build and decorate a little cottage where she could be comfortable when she retired, but just a few months after it was finished, she became very ill and was told she did not have long to live. I was visiting her one day, and as I sat at her bedside she said, “Time is closing in on me. I spent the little I had on things that won’t have a bit of value where I’m going.” She had gained a sense of values, but too late.

I sometimes wish we could see all the events of life framed in the ultimate results they lead to. What a change that would bring to our lives! We wouldn’t look for excuses for the time we waste on things of little value and consequence, and we wouldn’t give ourselves to trivialities when eternal things are calling.

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Acts 20:35 ESV / In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Mark 11:25 ESV / And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Hebrews 13:18 ESV / Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Dad’s Advice

There is one day I will never forget. It happened seven years ago, a week or so before I turned 12, on what started out to be just another day.

The prospect of turning 12 seemed challenging, even scary. For the past several weeks, lurking large in my mind were questions and apprehensions that I was facing for the first time. Would being 12 mean that I could no longer do certain things I had enjoyed as a child? Was I supposed to act differently—suddenly “grown up” and “mature”? I wasn’t even sure I knew what those terms meant. I was confused and clueless.

That afternoon Dad and I took a walk, and I finally plucked up the courage to ask those big questions. Dad’s answers, simple but wise, did more than wipe away my birthday fears; they also helped shape my life since.

Dad assured me that turning 12 didn’t mean that I would be expected to grow up overnight or that I could no longer enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. Rather, he explained, enjoying and appreciating the little things in life is a quality of childhood that we should never outgrow, no matter how old we live to be. And to my surprise, I found out from him that maturity has nothing at all to do with trying to act older or impress others. True maturity, he said, is learning to think more about others than myself; it is looking at the world through unselfish eyes, trying to see how I can build up others and make a positive difference for them, putting myself in their place and showing understanding and compassion. In short, it’s being loving, being “you first” instead of “me first.”

True joy
This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.—George Bernard Shaw

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Ephesians 6:2 ESV / “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

Proverbs 27:9 ESV / Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

What Makes a Dad Great

Remember how the father [in the parable Jesus told of the prodigal son] acted when the boy returned home?1 Did he run up and sniff his breath to see if he had been drinking? Did he comment on how poorly he had cared for his clothes? Did he criticize his straggly hair and dirty fingernails? Did he inquire about the balance left in his checking account? Of course not. He hugged the boy—the hug of loving acceptance.

This story of a father’s love is immortalized in the Bible primarily, I believe, to tell something of how God accepts us. Should we not consciously use His example in dealing with our children? Can we afford to neglect giving them hugs of loving acceptance each day?

This love is the warm blanket each parent can weave for his or her children—a blanket of love that accepts each child for what he is. Such love is never content to stop assisting the youngster to climb higher and higher toward the plan God has for every life.—Dr. Bob Pedrick

One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.—George Herbert

When I was a kid, my father told me every day, “You’re the most wonderful boy in the world, and you can do anything you want to.”—Jan Hutchins

Every dad, if he takes time out of his busy life to reflect upon his fatherhood, can learn ways to become an even better dad.—Jack Baker

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me.—Jim Valvano

[My father] didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.—Clarence Budington Kelland

A man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season.—Author unknown

Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys.—Author unknown

There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.—John Gregory Brown

A dad is respected because he gives his children leadership.
A dad is appreciated because he gives his children care.
A dad is valued because he gives his children time.
A dad is loved because he gives his children the one thing they treasure most—himself.
—Author unknown

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1 Peter 5:7 ESV / Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 14:16 ESV / And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

2018 - Open Day Penang Children's Home (by Jason Loh)

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10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy

In the last few years, psychologists and researchers have been digging up hard data on a question previously left to philosophers: What makes us happy? Researchers like the father-son team Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener, Stanford psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, and ethicist Stephen Post have studied people all over the world to find out how things like money, attitude, culture, memory, health, altruism, and our day-to-day habits affect our well-being. The emerging field of positive psychology is bursting with new findings that suggest your actions can have a significant effect on your happiness and satisfaction with life. Here are 10 scientifically proven strategies for getting happy.

1. Savor everyday moments. Pause now and then to smell a rose or watch children at play. Study participants who took time to “savor” ordinary events that they normally hurried through, or to think back on pleasant moments from their day, “showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression,” says psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky.

2. Avoid comparisons. While keeping up with the Joneses is part of American culture, comparing ourselves with others can be damaging to happiness and self-esteem. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, focusing on our own personal achievement leads to greater satisfaction, according to Lyubomirsky.

3. Put money low on the list. People who put money high on their priority list are more at risk for depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, according to researchers Tim Kasser and Richard Ryan. Their findings hold true across nations and cultures. “The more we seek satisfactions in material goods, the less we find them there,” Ryan says. “The satisfaction has a short half-life—it’s very fleeting.” Money-seekers also score lower on tests of vitality and self-actualization.

“A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.”—Proverbs 14:30

4. Have meaningful goals. “People who strive for something significant, whether it’s learning a new craft or raising moral children, are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations,” say Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener. “As humans, we actually require a sense of meaning to thrive.” Harvard’s resident happiness professor, Tal Ben-Shahar, agrees, “Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable.”

5. Take initiative at work. How happy you are at work depends in part on how much initiative you take. Researcher Amy Wrzesniewski says that when we express creativity, help others, suggest improvements, or do additional tasks on the job, we make our work more rewarding and feel more in control.

6. Make friends; treasure family. Happier people tend to have good families, friends, and supportive relationships, say Diener and Biswas-Diener. But it’s not enough to be the life of the party if you’re surrounded by shallow acquaintances. “We don’t just need relationships, we need close ones” that involve understanding and caring.

7. Smile even when you don’t feel like it. It sounds simple, but it works. “Happy people … see possibilities, opportunities, and success. When they think of the future, they are optimistic, and when they review the past, they tend to savor the high points,” say Diener and Biswas-Diener. Even if you weren’t born looking at the glass as half-full, with practice, a positive outlook can become a habit.

8. Say thank you like you mean it. People who keep gratitude journals on a weekly basis are healthier, more optimistic, and more likely to make progress toward achieving personal goals, according to author Robert Emmons. Research by Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, revealed that people who write “gratitude letters” to someone who made a difference in their lives score higher on happiness, and lower on depression—and the effect lasts for weeks.

9. Get out and exercise. A Duke University study shows that exercise may be just as effective as drugs in treating depression, without all the side effects and expense. Other research shows that in addition to health benefits, regular exercise offers a sense of accomplishment and opportunity for social interaction, releases feel-good endorphins, and boosts self-esteem.

10. Give it away—give it away now! Make altruism and giving part of your life, and be purposeful about it. Researcher Stephen Post says helping a neighbor, volunteering, or donating goods and services results in a “helper’s high,” and you get more health benefits than you would from exercise or quitting smoking. Listening to a friend, passing on your skills, celebrating others’ successes, and forgiveness also contribute to happiness, he says. Researcher Elizabeth Dunn found that those who spend money on others reported much greater happiness than those who spend it on themselves.

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Philippians 4:8 ESV / Whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Matthew 5:8 ESV / Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV / Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.