‘THIS is the best gift ever!’ These words will echo around the world at Christmas as love is expressed and relationships celebrated. Advent retains at its centre a gift. Indeed, it is the best gift ever because of what it makes possible.
• God breaks the silence and fulfils a prophetic promise.
• Darkness is dispelled; the Light of the World has come.
• Hope is offered; God ‘with us’ becomes a reality.
• Forgiveness bridges the gap – the great chasm between the Creator and the created is no more.
• God draws near; the Comforter has come.
God so loved that he gave, and the gift of Advent – the babe of Bethlehem – makes so much possible when the gift is received.
As I consider the gift-giving process, I focus on the receiving of the gift as being quite significant. I have been waiting since August to receive a birthday gift and – because of postal errors and a ‘return to sender’ episode – I am still waiting. Maybe it will become a Christmas gift! This personal experience has caused me to reflect on the crowds of people I encounter every day. Have they received the gift? As a matter of interest, is a gift really a gift if it remains unopened – not received?
This gift of God – the Advent of Christ, the sentiment that ‘God so loved the world’ – has universal implications. Churches around the world will light candles, read the Christmas story and celebrate Christ’s coming. Huge numbers will be present to hear the message again. The characters of the story come alive.
• Mary and Joseph are lifted as heroes of obedience.
• The Magi are commended for their perseverance, their choice of gifts and their desire to worship.
• Shepherds are named as the first to hear the good news.
In every way possible the stage is set; in every way possible Jesus comes again and God’s gift is celebrated. The question remains: have we received him?
Earlier in my officership I was given Corrie’s Christmas Memories – a book of brief readings and reflections by Corrie ten Boom. Her story comes from her experience as a wartime survivor. She watched her charming Amsterdam change with the occupation of the Nazis. She took pity on Jews and hid many of them until she was caught and became a prisoner at Ravensbrück concentration camp.
I opened the small book with anticipation and curiosity. The words that have had a lasting impact on my ministry are found at the conclusion. Corrie writes: ‘For you know: if our Lord were born a thousand times in Bethlehem and not in you, you would be lost anyhow.’
The Scriptures remind us that Jesus came. God ordained it, the prophets foretold it and John announced it. Jesus came, heralded as the Saviour of the world, good news to all people, a light to shine in the darkness, the most precious gift from Creator to created, with the hope that people would receive it – but did they?
Let me remind you of the beginning of John’s Gospel: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it’ (1:1–5 all quotations from the New International Version).
We could go back and argue over the point of when a gift is really a gift – when it is chosen, purchased and given, or when it is received and appreciated. In the context of Advent, the gift of the Saviour is not in question; the challenge remains for many to receive him into their lives.
My birthday gift may never show up, but God has. His offer of forgiveness, wholeness and hope is available and continually given to any who are willing to receive.
Matthew 1:23 says: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, “God with us”.’
May it be so this Christmas, as again we receive him into our hearts and lives. This is the best gift ever!
By Colonel Brian Peddle
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Announcements
1. Christmas Carolling
We want to thank you for those who helps on carolling.
2. Christmas Day & Children's Home Open Day
Thank you to all who brought their friends and families and also help preparing the luncheon and giving generous donation.
3. Visit of Territorial Commander
Colonel Gillian Downer will be visiting Penang on 31/12/2010, she will be preaching on Convenant Sunday on 2/1/2011.
4. Watch Night Service
Date: 31/12/10 Time: 7:30pm, Venue: Penang Corps
Banana Leaf Dinner will be served at RM10 per person. There will be testimony sharing, movie, games, and follow by watch night service.
We want to thank you for those who helps on carolling.
2. Christmas Day & Children's Home Open Day
Thank you to all who brought their friends and families and also help preparing the luncheon and giving generous donation.
3. Visit of Territorial Commander
Colonel Gillian Downer will be visiting Penang on 31/12/2010, she will be preaching on Convenant Sunday on 2/1/2011.
4. Watch Night Service
Date: 31/12/10 Time: 7:30pm, Venue: Penang Corps
Banana Leaf Dinner will be served at RM10 per person. There will be testimony sharing, movie, games, and follow by watch night service.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Bro Chew Pong Hoe (Ah Boy) who just have his operation.
2. Pray for those going for holiday.
3. Pray for our corps 2011 programme and ministry.
4. Pray for our new and old contacts from Christmas Luncheon.
2. Pray for those going for holiday.
3. Pray for our corps 2011 programme and ministry.
4. Pray for our new and old contacts from Christmas Luncheon.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
John the Baptist announced it
GALATIANS 4:4
PICTURE a rugged, dishevelled social misfit living alone on the edge of the desert. He wears simple clothes made of camel’s hair, bound by a leather belt, and eats whatever he can find. He is a man with a mission and conveys through every move, gesture and utterance that he is possessed with a determined objective. The piercing eye, the pointed finger, the passionate voice and persistent message remind all who encounter him of the prophetic figures of the past.
True to the patterns already set, God chose an unlikely agent to prepare people to hear the message of redemption.
Some may question my introduction of John the Baptist into the miracle of Advent. I agree that this strange character had nothing to do with announcing the birth of Jesus; but what John does do is to help us come to grips with the Advent miracle of Jesus coming as a child in Bethlehem – and also prompts us to connect with the deeper meaning of the message.
Luke’s Gospel records the angel’s announcement to the startled shepherds: ‘Do not be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’ (2:10 all quotations from New International Version).
The Advent message is more than a birth announcement. It captures the essence of God’s initiative on behalf of humankind. I point your attention to our study verse, ‘When the time had fully come, God sent his Son’ (Galatians 4:4).
Without any doubt, God ordained it and the prophets foretold it. While the angels shared in the heavenly news, it would be John who announced the significance and impact of the coming of Christ.
I have no desire to add John the Baptist to the nativity scene – he would look somewhat out of place. John prepared the way for Christ and his message; Scripture records that he proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven. He revealed the need for forgiveness and identified the Lamb of God. He marginalised his own significance and lifted Jesus, the Saviour who takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist announced his coming (Matthew chapter 3).
The application of John’s announcement presents a twofold challenge. First, it strikes at the very core of personal preparation. It is about receiving Jesus in such a manner that the hindrances, the hesitations and the hang-ups are all discarded. Secondly, it is about sharing with others the reality of his coming.
The weight of responsibility to renew our welcome to the Lamb of God, the Saviour, automatically gets linked to the urgency of the gospel – the good news, intended for the whole world.
Many times during the next few days someone will ask: ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’ The inquiry is asking you to account for presents, cards and decorations. But take a moment to answer the question in a spiritual context. This is the basis on which John invites himself
into the Advent story; he asks the question: ‘Are you ready for his coming?’
Reflect on the poem ‘The Cross In The Manger’ by Ann Weems to find again a sense of readiness and a deep desire to share the knowledge that God sent his Son.
If there is no cross in the manger, there is no Christmas.
If the Babe doesn’t become the Adult, there is no Bethlehem star.
If there is no commitment in us, there are no wise men searching.
If we offer no cup of cold water, there is no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh.
If there is no praising God’s name, there are no angels singing.
If there is no spirit of alleluia, there are no shepherds watching.
If there is no standing up, no speaking out, no risk, there is no Herod, no flight into Egypt.
If there is no room in our inn, then ‘Merry Christmas’ mocks the Christ Child, and the Holy Family is just a holiday card, and God will loathe our feasts and festivals.
For if there is no reconciliation, we cannot call Christ ‘Prince of Peace’.
If there is no goodwill towards others, it can all be packed away in boxes for another year.
If there is no forgiveness in us, there is no cause for celebration.
If we cannot go even now unto Golgotha, there is no Christmas in us.
If Christmas is not now,
If Christ is not born into the everyday present, then what is all the noise about?
By Colonel Peddle (Chief Secretary)
PICTURE a rugged, dishevelled social misfit living alone on the edge of the desert. He wears simple clothes made of camel’s hair, bound by a leather belt, and eats whatever he can find. He is a man with a mission and conveys through every move, gesture and utterance that he is possessed with a determined objective. The piercing eye, the pointed finger, the passionate voice and persistent message remind all who encounter him of the prophetic figures of the past.
True to the patterns already set, God chose an unlikely agent to prepare people to hear the message of redemption.
Some may question my introduction of John the Baptist into the miracle of Advent. I agree that this strange character had nothing to do with announcing the birth of Jesus; but what John does do is to help us come to grips with the Advent miracle of Jesus coming as a child in Bethlehem – and also prompts us to connect with the deeper meaning of the message.
Luke’s Gospel records the angel’s announcement to the startled shepherds: ‘Do not be afraid I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people’ (2:10 all quotations from New International Version).
The Advent message is more than a birth announcement. It captures the essence of God’s initiative on behalf of humankind. I point your attention to our study verse, ‘When the time had fully come, God sent his Son’ (Galatians 4:4).
Without any doubt, God ordained it and the prophets foretold it. While the angels shared in the heavenly news, it would be John who announced the significance and impact of the coming of Christ.
I have no desire to add John the Baptist to the nativity scene – he would look somewhat out of place. John prepared the way for Christ and his message; Scripture records that he proclaimed the Kingdom of Heaven. He revealed the need for forgiveness and identified the Lamb of God. He marginalised his own significance and lifted Jesus, the Saviour who takes away the sins of the world. John the Baptist announced his coming (Matthew chapter 3).
The application of John’s announcement presents a twofold challenge. First, it strikes at the very core of personal preparation. It is about receiving Jesus in such a manner that the hindrances, the hesitations and the hang-ups are all discarded. Secondly, it is about sharing with others the reality of his coming.
The weight of responsibility to renew our welcome to the Lamb of God, the Saviour, automatically gets linked to the urgency of the gospel – the good news, intended for the whole world.
Many times during the next few days someone will ask: ‘Are you ready for Christmas?’ The inquiry is asking you to account for presents, cards and decorations. But take a moment to answer the question in a spiritual context. This is the basis on which John invites himself
into the Advent story; he asks the question: ‘Are you ready for his coming?’
Reflect on the poem ‘The Cross In The Manger’ by Ann Weems to find again a sense of readiness and a deep desire to share the knowledge that God sent his Son.
If there is no cross in the manger, there is no Christmas.
If the Babe doesn’t become the Adult, there is no Bethlehem star.
If there is no commitment in us, there are no wise men searching.
If we offer no cup of cold water, there is no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh.
If there is no praising God’s name, there are no angels singing.
If there is no spirit of alleluia, there are no shepherds watching.
If there is no standing up, no speaking out, no risk, there is no Herod, no flight into Egypt.
If there is no room in our inn, then ‘Merry Christmas’ mocks the Christ Child, and the Holy Family is just a holiday card, and God will loathe our feasts and festivals.
For if there is no reconciliation, we cannot call Christ ‘Prince of Peace’.
If there is no goodwill towards others, it can all be packed away in boxes for another year.
If there is no forgiveness in us, there is no cause for celebration.
If we cannot go even now unto Golgotha, there is no Christmas in us.
If Christmas is not now,
If Christ is not born into the everyday present, then what is all the noise about?
By Colonel Peddle (Chief Secretary)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Ladies Fellowship 20 November 2010
Ladies Fellowship 20 November 2010
Beads making was the theme for the fellowship. Capt Brenda teaches the ladies on how assemble beads into a nice design of Angle. Everyone enjoy it include some young children who joined in.
Click here for more photos
Beads making was the theme for the fellowship. Capt Brenda teaches the ladies on how assemble beads into a nice design of Angle. Everyone enjoy it include some young children who joined in.
Click here for more photos
Lieut. Fiona Installation
Lieut Fiona Installation Service - 10 December 2010
We want to thank THQ for assigning another officer to Penang. It was a great privilege to have 4 officers in Penang.
We want to welcome Lieut Fiona into our family and pray for her ministry in Penang as she joined Major Kamala, Capt Tan, and Capt Brenda in The Salvation Army work here.
Click here for more photos (Album 1)
We want to thank THQ for assigning another officer to Penang. It was a great privilege to have 4 officers in Penang.
We want to welcome Lieut Fiona into our family and pray for her ministry in Penang as she joined Major Kamala, Capt Tan, and Capt Brenda in The Salvation Army work here.
Click here for more photos (Album 1)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Pastoral Letter - Hope
HOPE
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
I write in the Name of Jesus to greet and encourage you.
Here in London we are in the late weeks of the Autumn season, but the weather is unusually mild just now and we can venture out of doors, without the need for heavy clothing, to enjoy the falling leaves as the trees turn golden brown. The children walk and skip to school with a carpet of fallen leaves beneath their feet. As they kick happily at the gathered gold, a sudden gust of wind will propel the fallen foliage once again into the air. It is an enchanting season. In the southern hemisphere you are in Spring-time, with promise and hope bursting outward and upward from the earth to remind you of new life.
Like all Christian believers, Salvationists are a people of hope. In mentioning hope I do not mean that shallow, facile optimism that says, 'Things will probably turn out alright in the end.' Christian hope proclaims the certainty that in Christ Jesus all is well now, regardless of our outward circumstances, and that we have the gift of hope from God not only for this life but for all eternity too. In 1 Corinthians 15:19 we are reminded that we have hope in Christ not only for this earthly life. Were this untrue then we are to be pitied above all others.
Titus 3:7 describes true believers as 'heirs having the hope of eternal life'. In this promise, and in many more found in Scripture, we sense the certainty of God's provision and the sureness of His promises. He does not toy with us. He offers us the gift of hope. We are free to accept or to reject His offer. My heart is filled with praise to God for each one of you reading this who has gladly and wholeheartedly accepted the Heavenly Father's infinitely gracious offer of hope - hope for today and for all our tomorrows.
I am very aware that as I write to you there remain only a few months of my term as the General of The Salvation Army. I will hand over to another, technically at midnight at the close of Friday April 1, 2011. The theme of hope is therefore very close to my heart in these days. I am full of hope for the future of the Army. I am full of certainty that God will bless and use to His glory the person, as yet unknown, who will become the General after me.
I urge every one of you to be filled with that same hope at this time. The 109 members of the High Council will gather at Sunbury-on-Thames near London in January 2011. They will come together from every corner of the earth on January 16th for a few days under my leadership as the General's Consultative Council. Then on January 21st the formal High Council proceedings begin, with the Chief of the Staff presiding over the opening session before a President is elected. The President then guides the Council in the election of the next General.
The High Council members will travel to London filled with holy hope. They will believe that God will guide them in their task. They will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Army world will cover them with prayer. These will be sacred days, days brimming with holy hope.
I close this Pastoral Letter by thanking you again for your fidelity to Christ and for your sanctified obedience to the divine leadings of God in your life and in your Army service.
Thank you too for your prayers for Commissioner Helen and for me. I am fully fit and well again. Commissioner Helen awaits the results of further scans to find out the full effect of recent radiotherapy. With me, she commits you all to the matchless love of Christ.
Together we say to you, with the Psalmist: 'Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord' (Psalm 31:24).
God be with you and make you a blessing to others.
Yours in Christ,
Shaw Clifton
General
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
I write in the Name of Jesus to greet and encourage you.
Here in London we are in the late weeks of the Autumn season, but the weather is unusually mild just now and we can venture out of doors, without the need for heavy clothing, to enjoy the falling leaves as the trees turn golden brown. The children walk and skip to school with a carpet of fallen leaves beneath their feet. As they kick happily at the gathered gold, a sudden gust of wind will propel the fallen foliage once again into the air. It is an enchanting season. In the southern hemisphere you are in Spring-time, with promise and hope bursting outward and upward from the earth to remind you of new life.
Like all Christian believers, Salvationists are a people of hope. In mentioning hope I do not mean that shallow, facile optimism that says, 'Things will probably turn out alright in the end.' Christian hope proclaims the certainty that in Christ Jesus all is well now, regardless of our outward circumstances, and that we have the gift of hope from God not only for this life but for all eternity too. In 1 Corinthians 15:19 we are reminded that we have hope in Christ not only for this earthly life. Were this untrue then we are to be pitied above all others.
Titus 3:7 describes true believers as 'heirs having the hope of eternal life'. In this promise, and in many more found in Scripture, we sense the certainty of God's provision and the sureness of His promises. He does not toy with us. He offers us the gift of hope. We are free to accept or to reject His offer. My heart is filled with praise to God for each one of you reading this who has gladly and wholeheartedly accepted the Heavenly Father's infinitely gracious offer of hope - hope for today and for all our tomorrows.
I am very aware that as I write to you there remain only a few months of my term as the General of The Salvation Army. I will hand over to another, technically at midnight at the close of Friday April 1, 2011. The theme of hope is therefore very close to my heart in these days. I am full of hope for the future of the Army. I am full of certainty that God will bless and use to His glory the person, as yet unknown, who will become the General after me.
I urge every one of you to be filled with that same hope at this time. The 109 members of the High Council will gather at Sunbury-on-Thames near London in January 2011. They will come together from every corner of the earth on January 16th for a few days under my leadership as the General's Consultative Council. Then on January 21st the formal High Council proceedings begin, with the Chief of the Staff presiding over the opening session before a President is elected. The President then guides the Council in the election of the next General.
The High Council members will travel to London filled with holy hope. They will believe that God will guide them in their task. They will be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Army world will cover them with prayer. These will be sacred days, days brimming with holy hope.
I close this Pastoral Letter by thanking you again for your fidelity to Christ and for your sanctified obedience to the divine leadings of God in your life and in your Army service.
Thank you too for your prayers for Commissioner Helen and for me. I am fully fit and well again. Commissioner Helen awaits the results of further scans to find out the full effect of recent radiotherapy. With me, she commits you all to the matchless love of Christ.
Together we say to you, with the Psalmist: 'Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord' (Psalm 31:24).
God be with you and make you a blessing to others.
Yours in Christ,
Shaw Clifton
General
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Announcements
1. Christmas Day Luncheon
Date: 25/12/2010 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Penang Corps
Each family are encourage to cook a dish or give in a free will offering.
2. Penang Christmas Open House
Date: 19/12/10 Time: 6:30pm-10pm, Venue: Esplanade Fort Cornwallis
All are welcome.
3. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
4. Banana Leaf Ministry
Date: 18/12/10 Time: 11am, Venue: Penang Corps
Volunteer needed, please see Captain Tan.
4. Corps Council Meeting
Date: 14/12/10 Time: 8:15pm, Venue: Penang Corps
Date: 25/12/2010 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Penang Corps
Each family are encourage to cook a dish or give in a free will offering.
2. Penang Christmas Open House
Date: 19/12/10 Time: 6:30pm-10pm, Venue: Esplanade Fort Cornwallis
All are welcome.
3. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
4. Banana Leaf Ministry
Date: 18/12/10 Time: 11am, Venue: Penang Corps
Volunteer needed, please see Captain Tan.
4. Corps Council Meeting
Date: 14/12/10 Time: 8:15pm, Venue: Penang Corps
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Banana Leaf Ministry to be held on 18/12/2010.
2. Pray for Elizabeth Zech for her safety in Nepal.
3. Pray for Lieut. Fiona on her appointment and ministry.
4. Pray Christmas Caroling. Pray for safety, health, weather.
5. Pray for Mrs. Tan's brother who is sick.
2. Pray for Elizabeth Zech for her safety in Nepal.
3. Pray for Lieut. Fiona on her appointment and ministry.
4. Pray Christmas Caroling. Pray for safety, health, weather.
5. Pray for Mrs. Tan's brother who is sick.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Banana Leaf Ministry to be held on 18/12/2010.
2. Pray for Elizabeth Zech for her safety in Nepal.
3. Pray for Lieut. Fiona on her appointment and ministry.
4. Pray Christmas Caroling. Pray for safety, health, weather.
2. Pray for Elizabeth Zech for her safety in Nepal.
3. Pray for Lieut. Fiona on her appointment and ministry.
4. Pray Christmas Caroling. Pray for safety, health, weather.
Announcements
1. Welcome & Installation Meeting for Lieut. Fiona
Date: 10/12/2010 (Friday) Time: 7:30pm Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless dinner followed by short Installation Meeting.
For pot bless dishes and gift basket Lieut Fiona on her welcoming meeting, please contact Mrs Tan.
2. Penang Christmas Open House
Date: 19/12/10 Time: 6:30pm-10pm, Venue: Esplanade Fort Cornwallis
All are welcome.
5. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
Date: 10/12/2010 (Friday) Time: 7:30pm Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless dinner followed by short Installation Meeting.
For pot bless dishes and gift basket Lieut Fiona on her welcoming meeting, please contact Mrs Tan.
2. Penang Christmas Open House
Date: 19/12/10 Time: 6:30pm-10pm, Venue: Esplanade Fort Cornwallis
All are welcome.
5. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Pray in all circumstances
Major Rachel Tickner presents the second of two studies linked to the Annual Appeal
STUDY PASSAGE: JAMES CHAPTERS 3 TO 5
WE want more preachers and teachers, but James says we should not presume to be them (3:1 and 2). Put someone on a pedestal, and it is easy to knock them off. Let someone preach and we can sit and criticise. Let someone teach and we can pick holes in their manner, deportment or knowledge. We need to ask the Lord to guide and support our teachers and preachers and protect them from all evil in order that they may serve him.
Continuing with the theme of the tongue, we learn that it is the little things in life that make a big difference – the bit that turns the animal, the rudder that steers the ship, the tongue that reveals the whole person, that cheers or corrupts others. The tongue with which we can do evil is also the instrument with which we praise God and comfort, inspire and encourage others (3:3–12).
It is easy to envy another his good fortune, but our ambition for the Kingdom may turn to ambition and honour for self or family. James reminds us of two kinds of wisdom (3:13–18). Our wisdom should be the kind that comes from Heaven, which is ‘first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (v17 all quotations from New International Version).
James is so very practical; he reminds us that human nature hardly changes over the centuries. Could he have known how relevant his words were for those quarrels in our church? And he explains with delightful simplicity why ‘ask and receive’ does not always happen – we ask with the wrong motives (4:3).
That can explain so much, but to call us adulterers... (4:4). Well, we are either faithful towards God or – using an Old Testament idea – we are adulterous.
James seems to balance so many ideas: Listening and Doing, Faith and Works and Two Wisdoms. Even if 4:1–12 is entitled Submit Yourselves To God, he is saying it is a choice – the world or God – and that we should therefore submit ourselves to God.
In the UK, doting parents recognise their children as very bright and are proud of them (their teachers may not agree). However, while I was in East Africa, I found that humility is important.
Peace in our office was shattered one day by two little boys causing noisy havoc. Sponsorship forms were brought in describing one lad as a ‘very humble boy’. What joy to see the boy, the description and the love that clouds judgment!
We are not so familiar with humility as a virtue, but the teaching is clear: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (4:6) and ‘Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up’ (4:10; see also Proverbs 3:34).
It appears to be our role to be humble, and God’s gift to lift us up. So it follows that we should trust the future to the Lord: ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’ (v15).
Chapter 5 begins with a warning to rich oppressors. Is it a prophecy against our own generation? Verses 1 to 6 are surely applicable to our questionable finance trade and the sweatshops in countries distant from our own. I cannot resist a bargain, and at the time do not always think of children who are not in school or people who work in unhealthy conditions. We are so blessed by those who introduced Fairtrade, enabling us to buy ethically.
The idea of patience in suffering or perseverance is expanded in verses 7 to 12. This concludes with a biblical command not to swear by Heaven or earth but ‘Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No” be no, or you will be condemned’ (v12).
The Book of James concludes with The Prayer of Faith (5:13–20). This is an exhortation to pray in all circumstances – happy or sad, sick or sinful. Our joining in prayer is also encouraged; verse 16 reminds us to confess our sins to each other and pray for each other.
It is difficult to believe that Elijah was human like us (v17) because we know him to be an Old Testament hero, and his prayers were incredible. Maybe it is good to acknowledge before the Lord when he has heard and answered our own prayers.
So we conclude a brief sweep of the very practical letter of James. He says what we need to hear and act upon.
Often when we read Scripture one verse leaps off the page, as the Lord says: ‘This is for you.’ Think on this verse. Write it out. Use calligraphy, WordArt or cross stitch, and let it be an encouragement for you and others who may see it in the following days and months.
• Major Tickner is Child and Family Care Services Officer at THQ
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Announcements
1. Soldiership Class
Please see Captain and Brother Tan for more information.
2. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
Date: 12/11/10 Time: 8pm, Venue: Community Hall
Brothers and Sisters are welcome to send in your prayers request by email, sms, phone call and etc.
3. Ladies Fellowship
Date: 20 Nov 2010, Time: 8pm, Venue: Community Hall
4. Christmas Carol Practice & Band Practice
Date: 10 Nov 2010 (Wed), Time: 7:30pm and follow by Band practice at 8:30pm. Venue: Corps. We encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
5. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
Please see Captain and Brother Tan for more information.
2. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
Date: 12/11/10 Time: 8pm, Venue: Community Hall
Brothers and Sisters are welcome to send in your prayers request by email, sms, phone call and etc.
3. Ladies Fellowship
Date: 20 Nov 2010, Time: 8pm, Venue: Community Hall
4. Christmas Carol Practice & Band Practice
Date: 10 Nov 2010 (Wed), Time: 7:30pm and follow by Band practice at 8:30pm. Venue: Corps. We encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
5. Corps Administration - Soldiership Records
All soldiers of the Corps, please give a copy of your Article of War, and a copy of your IC (both side) for Corps confidential records.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
2. Pray for Major Kamala, on furlough back with family.
3. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
4. Pray for officer's retreat that will held on 22-25 Nov 2010, at Johor Baharu, followed by Cadet's commissioning.
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for Major Kamala, on furlough back with family.
3. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
4. Pray for officer's retreat that will held on 22-25 Nov 2010, at Johor Baharu, followed by Cadet's commissioning.
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Food, glorious food
A Bible study for Harvest by Captain Carol Frederiksen
STUDY PASSAGE: JOHN 6:1–40
A POSTER outside a church caught my eye. The caption read: ‘Hungry? Try Church this Harvest time.’ My thoughts then turned to the words of Jesus in John 6:35: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’ (all quotations from New International Version). What a wonderful invitation in that sentence! It conjures up images of abundance, contentment and satisfaction.
BREAD THAT CAN SATISFY
It is a shameful indictment on our world that vast numbers of the Earth’s population still go hungry every day. We are practically immune to the images of emaciated bodies and hollow, empty eyes that flash before us on television screens or call us to respond from newspaper pages.
And while the Christian might be moved to a compassionate response for the physically hungry, we ignore at our peril the spiritual hunger that also blights our society.
Into this deprivation of body, mind and spirit comes Jesus. He alone can satisfy the spiritual void in our lives. He alone can fill the emptiness. He makes no cheap promise when he claims to be the very ‘bread of life’. As he gives himself, the riches of Heaven are laid before us. Jesus offers joy beyond sorrow, hope beyond disappointment, intimate friendship beyond loneliness and life beyond death. The bread he provides fills not just for a moment, or a day, but satisfies for all eternity. The psalmist experienced this complete provision from God and declared in his testimony, ‘You brought us to a place of abundance’ (66:12).
To ponder
How does Jesus, as the Bread of Life, satisfy all my needs?
BREAD THAT IS SUFFICIENT
What is sufficient for you might not be sufficient for me, and vice versa. So, let us use this word in the sense that Jesus and his followers would have understood it. They knew how God had provided for his people in their wilderness experience. We read in Exodus 16:19 and 20 that the bread, or ‘manna’, that Moses was instructed by God to collect was sufficient only for that one day on which it was gathered. There was always enough manna for their daily needs, but each new day meant another gathering of God’s provision.
So how is the bread that Jesus offers sufficient for all our needs?
We start by recognizing that humanity has an enormous appetite for spiritual matters. Every culture has some form of religion, however loosely it might be defined. People in every age and every place have some object of worship and long for an explanation of their origins and their purpose. People in every culture have asked: ‘Who made all this?’ ‘Why am I here?’ ‘If there is a God, who is he and what is he like?’
Jesus provides answers to all these questions. His reasons for living – why to live, how to live, how to please God, how to live in harmony with God and with others – come in abundance. As we sit at his banqueting table and allow Jesus to nourish and sustain, he reveals his plan for us, gives goals for our lives and provides the power to achieve those goals. He then graciously ensures that we have life beyond this life. As the psalmist puts it, we will ‘dwell in the house of the Lord for ever’ (23:6).
We underline the fact that the offer that Jesus made of himself as the Bread of Life is not stingy or begrudging. He gives enough to everyone, and each person receives an equal portion. As we come to his feast, Jesus has more than enough to fully satisfy our hunger.
We may acknowledge – spiritually speaking – that some people are filled more quickly and more easily than others, but God graciously takes that into account. Read John 6:35 again: the invitation is given, the words of life are uttered. Jesus fulfils the eternal promise to ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8).
To ponder
How do I make sure that I have enough of the Bread of Life for each day?
A PRAYER FOR HARVEST
Every time we eat a meal, remind us of your presence. Every time we drink, remind us of your blessings. Every time we see a need, give us the sense of sharing. Every time we enjoy your creation, fill us with thanks and praise. Amen.
• Captain Frederiksen is the corps officer at Ipswich Bramford Road
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Reflections on Kingdom ambition
by Commissioner John Matear, Territorial Commander (UK)
IN our recent Highlands and Islands visits my wife and I found ourselves involved in many conversations with community leaders, as well as fellow travellers. Frequently the question asked was: ‘How is The Salvation Army doing these days?’ With time to talk, whether at a council reception, ecumenical event or airport departure lounge, the question needed more of an answer than: ‘Fine, thank you very much.’
I heard myself saying that The Salvation Army was not immune from the Western European picture of declining church membership but that globally the Army is bigger than it has ever been, and here in the UK we are, I believe, engaging with more people than we have done previously through increasing ‘open door’ community activities. Yet I confess to a degree of sadness at this response, for I believe God’s will for the Church is that we grow in order to increasingly reflect his glory and his purposes for creation. I affirm it is this that motivates and underpins our focus on Kingdom ambition.
I thank God for the opportunities and resources available to us. I rejoice when I hear of ‘hot spots’ of growth and mission effectiveness. I am truly grateful that we have people of vision and daring who are taking initiatives. I also salute faithful, enduring and resilient service given across the territory. In recognising that there is no ‘magic bullet’ to reverse decadal membership trends, the strategic importance of identifying new planting opportunities and resourcing them with wisdom is understood and encouraged.
Like many of you, I have also been around long enough to have witnessed trends within the Church that, with hindsight, proved to be short-lived. I rejoice that through the creativity and diversity of the Holy Spirit we have incredibly wide scope for mission engagement and evangelistic endeavour. One of the privileges of territorial leadership is that we witness corps and centres engaged in culturally and community relevant activities across the territory, motivated by a desire to faithfully reach out in God’s name.
It is as true now as it ever has been that we are not restricted in what we might do to reach people with the gospel. If it works, it’s Army – the pragmatic approach! Of course, as in every denomination, we work within the strength of structure, the wisdom of lessons learnt and the parameters of organisation and practice.
My conviction, born out of experience, is that we are united in our desire to see God’s Kingdom grow through the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army. Together with you, I rejoice that it is Christ who leads us and the Holy Spirit who continues to equip and inspire. Convinced that the gospel is the message the world needs, our mission objective is to ‘be disciples who make disciples’. I rejoice to read of increases when the Lord adds to our number those who are being saved, but I have to tell you I am hungry for more. Before the Lord in prayer I ask for wisdom to see where there may need to be a redirection of resources and, in particular, I pray for the envisioning and effective mobilisation of our greatest resource – our people.
We are a Salvation Army with a missionary calling. The world is needing us and Christ is leading us to make contact with people. By this I don’t just mean those who come through our doors, but those who, day by day, come into contact with Salvationists in work and social networks. Our mission is to our world, be it home, school, office or factory. We don’t need to be anywhere else to bring a word of hope and grace, to live a life of holiness and demonstrate God’s love. The truth is that the salt and light of discipleship is attractive and magnetic as well as countercultural.
I am convinced that God will honour such witness and mission focus when it is wholly embraced. Our mission relates primarily to life outside the Church while our equipping and resourcing for the mission is done within the fellowship as we meet and share the word of God that builds us up. Crucial to our understanding is that we will lose our sense of mission if we focus on secondary issues or become self-serving. The mission is undermined and soul-saving efforts are impoverished when time and effort are drained and deflected because of internal issues, moral lapses or the pursuit of personal agendas.
We have a mission to make disciples by connecting with people in their world, which is our world too.
Join me in praying: ‘Lord, enlarge our vision, forgive our complacency and fire us with Kingdom ambition to faithfully play our part in working for your Kingdom to come and your will to be done. Amen.’
IN our recent Highlands and Islands visits my wife and I found ourselves involved in many conversations with community leaders, as well as fellow travellers. Frequently the question asked was: ‘How is The Salvation Army doing these days?’ With time to talk, whether at a council reception, ecumenical event or airport departure lounge, the question needed more of an answer than: ‘Fine, thank you very much.’
I heard myself saying that The Salvation Army was not immune from the Western European picture of declining church membership but that globally the Army is bigger than it has ever been, and here in the UK we are, I believe, engaging with more people than we have done previously through increasing ‘open door’ community activities. Yet I confess to a degree of sadness at this response, for I believe God’s will for the Church is that we grow in order to increasingly reflect his glory and his purposes for creation. I affirm it is this that motivates and underpins our focus on Kingdom ambition.
I thank God for the opportunities and resources available to us. I rejoice when I hear of ‘hot spots’ of growth and mission effectiveness. I am truly grateful that we have people of vision and daring who are taking initiatives. I also salute faithful, enduring and resilient service given across the territory. In recognising that there is no ‘magic bullet’ to reverse decadal membership trends, the strategic importance of identifying new planting opportunities and resourcing them with wisdom is understood and encouraged.
Like many of you, I have also been around long enough to have witnessed trends within the Church that, with hindsight, proved to be short-lived. I rejoice that through the creativity and diversity of the Holy Spirit we have incredibly wide scope for mission engagement and evangelistic endeavour. One of the privileges of territorial leadership is that we witness corps and centres engaged in culturally and community relevant activities across the territory, motivated by a desire to faithfully reach out in God’s name.
It is as true now as it ever has been that we are not restricted in what we might do to reach people with the gospel. If it works, it’s Army – the pragmatic approach! Of course, as in every denomination, we work within the strength of structure, the wisdom of lessons learnt and the parameters of organisation and practice.
My conviction, born out of experience, is that we are united in our desire to see God’s Kingdom grow through the mission and ministry of The Salvation Army. Together with you, I rejoice that it is Christ who leads us and the Holy Spirit who continues to equip and inspire. Convinced that the gospel is the message the world needs, our mission objective is to ‘be disciples who make disciples’. I rejoice to read of increases when the Lord adds to our number those who are being saved, but I have to tell you I am hungry for more. Before the Lord in prayer I ask for wisdom to see where there may need to be a redirection of resources and, in particular, I pray for the envisioning and effective mobilisation of our greatest resource – our people.
We are a Salvation Army with a missionary calling. The world is needing us and Christ is leading us to make contact with people. By this I don’t just mean those who come through our doors, but those who, day by day, come into contact with Salvationists in work and social networks. Our mission is to our world, be it home, school, office or factory. We don’t need to be anywhere else to bring a word of hope and grace, to live a life of holiness and demonstrate God’s love. The truth is that the salt and light of discipleship is attractive and magnetic as well as countercultural.
I am convinced that God will honour such witness and mission focus when it is wholly embraced. Our mission relates primarily to life outside the Church while our equipping and resourcing for the mission is done within the fellowship as we meet and share the word of God that builds us up. Crucial to our understanding is that we will lose our sense of mission if we focus on secondary issues or become self-serving. The mission is undermined and soul-saving efforts are impoverished when time and effort are drained and deflected because of internal issues, moral lapses or the pursuit of personal agendas.
We have a mission to make disciples by connecting with people in their world, which is our world too.
Join me in praying: ‘Lord, enlarge our vision, forgive our complacency and fire us with Kingdom ambition to faithfully play our part in working for your Kingdom to come and your will to be done. Amen.’
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Prayer Request
1. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
2. Pray for Self Denial Appeal 2010 - partner in mission: Western India, Latvia, East & West Kenya. Prayer for our church member in this faith giving month.
3. Pray for the church sport outing on 6th November 2010.
4. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for Self Denial Appeal 2010 - partner in mission: Western India, Latvia, East & West Kenya. Prayer for our church member in this faith giving month.
3. Pray for the church sport outing on 6th November 2010.
4. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Announcements
1. Self Denial Appeal 2010
Coming 7 Nov 2010 is the altar service. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and give to mission to help the needy. 2 Conrinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under complusion for God loves a cheerful giver"
2. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
There won't be any cell group or prayer group on coming Friday 29 Oct 2010.
3. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please confirm your attendance with Sister Jasinta.
4. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
Coming 7 Nov 2010 is the altar service. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and give to mission to help the needy. 2 Conrinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under complusion for God loves a cheerful giver"
2. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
There won't be any cell group or prayer group on coming Friday 29 Oct 2010.
3. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please confirm your attendance with Sister Jasinta.
4. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
Friday, October 29, 2010
TESTING TIMES
A journey through cancer
Major Rosemary Dawson describes how she survived her battle with serious illness
GILL. Sandra. Ian. Pamela. Me. During the past twelve months all five of us, at the same corps, have undergone some kind of cancer surgery or treatment. It has certainly been one of the most testing times of my life, but the support we have received from each other through the highs and lows of this shared experience has brought encouragement, strength and positivity. My own faith has grown stronger because of it.
I take particular inspiration from one of our group and her continual battle against the disease. Despite enduring all kinds of debilitating treatments, her attitude remains: ‘Bring it on! Throw everything you’ve got at me! I’m going to get through this.’ It helped put my own illness into perspective.
Being told that you have cancer arouses different reactions. Some people are completely dazed. Some are emotional. Some are angry. Most are inwardly fearful. The reality is, life is never going to be the same again.
Cancer directly affects one in three people, but you never expect it to happen to you. When it does, it seems like a bad dream from which you hope you’re soon going to wake up.
Surgery usually happens fairly quickly after diagnosis, allowing little time to come to terms with it. Trying to soften the news for your family, assuring them that the prognosis is good and the treatment effective – and convince yourself at the same time – is difficult.
I managed (just) not to go down the ‘Why should this happen to me?’ road. Instead I tried hard to look at it from the ‘Why not me?’ angle.
Jesus never promised that his followers would escape testing times. He tells us plainly: ‘Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.’ But here are the words that make the difference: ‘Take courage, I have overcome the world’ (John 16:33 The Living Bible).
Another verse also came to mind: ‘No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message).
I simply do not know how people can get through cancer without faith in a loving God or the support of Christian friends. I certainly couldn’t have. In the beginning I felt too numb and dazed to utter many words of prayer, but can testify to feeling as if I were lifted on a cushion of supportive prayers said by many others on my behalf. I was continually humbled by the assurances of friends, colleagues and people I hardly knew at the corps, that they prayed for me every day. The flood of encouraging cards and emails, the unexpected kindnesses of neighbours, were at times overwhelming.
Being positive about diagnosis and treatment definitely helps. So does a sense of humour. But trying to be positive all the time is hard work! There are days when you just want to curl up in a corner on your own and have a good howl. That’s not being defeatist or selfish; it’s a natural release from tension, and nothing to be ashamed of. I think it’s also important to take time to deal with the ‘what ifs’ and consequences surrounding your situation. Being in denial about cancer will not benefit the healing process.
Then there were practical issues – a holiday to be cancelled and what to do about work and corps commitments. Apart from a few weeks in the beginning, I was able to continue my work for the Publishing Department at THQ and found that tapping away on a computer gave me much-needed focus and purpose. I owe my colleagues huge thanks for pretending not to notice when lack of concentration – commonly known as ‘chemo brain’ – affected my work from time to time!
The calendar quickly filled with hospital visits, blood tests, treatments and scans. I came to appreciate why my appointment was never on time: the consultant was giving someone else the same degree of attention he had given me. I have nothing but admiration for those whose job it is to impart bad news, and its consequences, every day.
The surgery was the easy bit. After that comes the treatment.
Chemotherapy is individually prescribed according to the kind of cancer and the degree of its aggressiveness. Six very toxic drugs were administered through a drip, designed – as my surgeon put it – ‘to zap out’ any cancer cells left behind. Unfortunately drugs cannot discriminate between cancer cells and healthy cells – hence the unpleasant side-effects of sickness, nausea, mouth ulcers, loss of taste, hair falling out and exhaustion.
Having to avoid infection meant not being able to see my young grandchildren on a regular basis for a few months, which was hard. However, their matter-of-fact acceptance of the ‘nasty medicine’ that made my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes fall out, their interest in my wig, and excitement when they saw my new hair finally growing, helped me deal with it too. I felt very self-conscious the first time I wore the wig to the Army, but am grateful for those who went out of their way to say how nice and natural it looked – even if I didn’t altogether believe them!
Repeatedly recounting your treatment to family and friends can in itself become a negative experience. It’s nice to talk about other normal, cheerful things too! As a television advert for cancer research so aptly puts it: ‘Today was a good day. Today wasn’t all about cancer.’
Although appreciating the thought behind it, I found visitors – even family – very tiring as the effect of treatments increased and my energy levels decreased. I hope they understood when I asked them not to come for a while.
Life steadily became more difficult after the third chemo session. I was scheduled for eight, but after number six I caught an infection that led to two short stays in hospital. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue – my body’s way of saying it had had enough – and the last two chemos were cancelled, which was a huge relief. I could hardly climb the stairs or lift the iron at that point, so radiotherapy was postponed a while to allow me to regain some strength. This also had an unexpected bonus: my husband had to learn how to iron!
It was a truly joyful moment after the last radiotherapy treatment on Easter Monday, when I ceremoniously tore up my hospital appointments list and emptied out the hated bottle of mouthwash. But the end of treatment does not immediately signify the return to full strength and health; it is just the beginning of recovery, which can take anything up to two years.
I feel that this needs to be better understood. People getting over cancer should not be expected or pressurised to resume commitments until they themselves feel able to do so. Doing too much too soon can have a detrimental effect.
Six months on, I still cannot manage too many prolonged periods of exertion and need frequent sit-downs during shopping trips. I am having to learn to live with the frustration of not always being able to do as much as I want to do when I want to do it.
The hospital appointments have finished, the cancer is gone, but there is no guarantee it will not return.
Cancer has changed many of my priorities. Things that once seemed so important now appear trivial, and I value each day as a gift from God. I leave others to judge whether or not it has made me a better person.
I share the testimony of John Newton:
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
(SASB 308)
• Major Dawson, who lives in retirement in Norwich, continues to work for the Editorial Unit at THQ
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Made to be healthy in body and soul
To mark Ministry of Healing Sunday (17 October) Major Dean Pallant reflects on the first nine chapters of the Bible
THIS is a Bible study, so please open your Bible! I suggest you read the first nine chapters of Genesis before going any further. While I appreciate that Bible studies and sermons usually focus on a few verses, let’s take time this week to study a bigger portion of Scripture.
Genesis chapters 1 to 9 provide an introduction to the big themes of the Bible. The purpose of Scripture is made clear in these opening chapters – God made us, loves us and calls us into a close, conversational relationship. Listening, learning and leaning on God are the ways people of every generation can live healthy lives.
In the first few pages of Scripture God reveals three key messages: first, God created a perfect world. Second, people sinned and messed it up. Third, God keeps trying to fix the mess. These three key themes remain central throughout Scripture. God’s work of healing the world – a work we can join – is captured in just three words: creation, fall, redemption.
CREATION
The first two chapters of the Bible paint a picture of the beautiful world created by God. They also include two accounts of the Creation.
It is a pity we often get trapped in arguments about creation and evolution when reading these verses. Put those debates aside for now and enjoy the beauty and loving character of God and his creation that shines through these verses. God intended for us to enjoy a beautiful, integrated and wholesome world.
Our Trinitarian God – Father, Son and Spirit – said: ‘Now we will make humans, and they will be like us’ (1:26 Contemporary English Version). God intended for us to enjoy deep relationships with each other, with God and with our body and soul. We were created for integrated relationships. We were not made to be autonomous individuals living self-sufficient lives. Our God is a relational God, and we were created to be relational people.
To consider
• God – the Father, Son and Spirit – made us in his image. He is a relational God. What does that mean for our relationships?
FALL
The beauty of creation is shattered in chapters 3 and 4. Adam and Eve are banished from the Garden of Eden and their first-born son Cain murders their second son Abel. It is interesting to note that God confronts Adam, Eve and Cain about their sinful actions. They all try to divert God’s attention – Adam blames Eve (3:12); Eve blames the serpent (3:13); Cain asks God: ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (4:9 New International Version).
The answer, Cain, is yes! We are our brothers’ and our sisters’ keepers. We need to admit and accept our failings, and not try to shift the blame. We cannot enjoy full health when we are selfish and self-serving. Being healthy means taking care of our relationships with God and other people. The impact of the Fall on God’s creation is essentially a breakdown of relationships between people and God, people and each other and people and the wider creation (see Genesis 6:6).
To consider
• What puts pressure on relationships?
• How do you react when they go wrong?
REDEMPTION
Genesis chapters 6 to 9 record the first instance of God’s work to redeem his fallen creation. Stories similar to these are recorded in other Near Eastern ancient texts. However, the writers and editors who gave us these sacred chapters were theologians – not scientists or historians. They leave us in no doubt of their strong belief that the God of Creation, the God of Israel, is the redeemer of the world.
These chapters are not scientific explanations of how the world was created or flooded. They are much more important than that. These are confessions of faith in God, who is both Creator and Redeemer.
Ministry of Healing Sunday is an important opportunity to remember the complete health that God intends for all people.
Catherine Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army, captured this message in a sermon she preached in Exeter in 1881: ‘It is not a scheme of salvation merely – it is a scheme of restoration. He proposes to restore me – brain, heart, soul, spirit, body, every fibre of my nature to restore me perfectly, to conform me wholly to the image of his Son.’
That is redemption! That is health! We need to be healthy in all aspects of our lives – body and soul. Modern medicine focuses on fixing our bodies. Being healthy is much more than body-health. On the other hand, some Christians focus only on soul-health and ignore our responsibilities to care for our bodies.
On Ministry of Healing Sunday we thank God for people who work to heal the body and, in particular, Christian health workers who help people discover the way to complete body-soul health.
To consider
• What damages your body-soul health? Discuss this with a friend, and be
accountable to each other as you seek to live a healthier life in Christ.
• Major Pallant is Under Secretary for Programme Resources and International Health Services Co-ordinator, IHQ
Monday, October 25, 2010
Prayer Request
1. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
2. Pray for Self Denial Appeal 2010 - partner in mission: Western India, Latvia, East & West Kenya. Prayer for our church member in this faith giving month.
3. Pray for the church sport outing on 6th November 2010.
4. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for Self Denial Appeal 2010 - partner in mission: Western India, Latvia, East & West Kenya. Prayer for our church member in this faith giving month.
3. Pray for the church sport outing on 6th November 2010.
4. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
5. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
6. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Announcements
1. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Bro Tan or Bro Steven, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
There won't be any cell group or prayer group on coming Friday 29 Oct 2010.
4. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please contact Sister Jasinta for more details.
5. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Bro Tan or Bro Steven, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Cell Group/Prayer Ministry
There won't be any cell group or prayer group on coming Friday 29 Oct 2010.
4. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please contact Sister Jasinta for more details.
5. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Walking in the Light of Holiness
Walking in the Light of Holinessby Diana Winters
According to the pattern of 1 John 1:1–5, I testify to what I have heard, what I have seen, and what I have touched of the eternal life God has given me. I’m not sure I can connect all the pieces clearly yet. But I do know that at the root of it all are these words: “God is light; in him is no darkness at all.” I do understand that it is God’s express purpose, by whatever means possible, to rid us of the darkness in every part of our lives, and to walk with us forever in the blinding light of His glory.
Four things I have noticed among people who walk in the light of holiness:
1. They live at ease with the paradoxes of the Christian life. From their simple lives come profound insights. They are painfully aware of their weaknesses but have no problem with self–esteem. They lean as invalids on the Word of God but stride out to lead in spiritual battle. They enter fully into the turbulent emotions of life but have calm trust for the future.
2. They are generally unaware of the qualities they have. Much like those who are fearless (which these folk typically are!), they don’t have to fight fear—they just don’t have any. It’s like when my son, Luke, at age 5, had his first skiing lesson. The instructor showed him how to position the skis in order to stop or slow down. Luke’s response was, “Why?” (stop or slow down, that is).
Much like those who are humble (which these folk typically are), they just do what needs to be done, without even thinking about it.
I watched a high–ranking Salvation Army officer at a public event recently. As he happened to walk past the corps kitchen, he saw an expanding puddle of water spreading out from under one of the sinks. He simply went to look for a mop and got to work cleaning up the water. He was just intent on doing what needed to be done.
Much like Moses. He spent time with God, and only begged for his people and to see God’s face. All God showed him was the light of His BACK, and Moses came down the mountain with no idea that his face was gleaming until the people told him so. But even then, he never said, “I’m going back up the mountain to work on my gleam.” There is no record of Moses begging God, “Oh please, oh please come and give me some more gleam for my face!” He just spent time with God. THEN he was filled with light.
3. They are the most “feet–on–the–ground” people I have ever met. They are not dreamy–eyed, “have–to–spiritualize–everything” people. They know when a song on the radio is a sign from God, and when it’s just a song on the radio.
Much like my Grandma Veta Dearin. She had a continuous, intimate conversation with Jesus, and an uncanny capacity to meet practical needs. I think it is partly because she very matter–of–factly obeyed any of God’s leadings. Sometimes, she would suddenly announce she had an appointment on the corner of Main Street and 5th Avenue at 7 p.m. It didn’t bother her that she had no idea with whom or why. Sure enough … every time … someone would show up who needed help in some way. Somehow she knew which person was the one she was there for, and who were just the passersby. She used to laugh hard (I don’t think she ever laughed softly) and say, “I can’t even SPELL sanctification! I just know my Jesus.”
4. They have their “Ifs” and “Thens” straight. They don’t stress and strain to grow fruit of the Spirit, any more than an apple tree strains to produce apples. They know that IF they put their roots down deep into God’s Word, drink from the living water Jesus promised to give them, keep their faces turned towards the light of God—THEN God will do the growing of the fruit just fine. And the pruning. (See John 15.) But they are OK with that.
Five things I have found in 1 John, and Ephesians (my companions of late):
1. Since Jesus brings eternal life, and He is with me now, it is better called ETERNAL LIVING. I am not waiting for eternal life while I try to figure out what to do in the meantime. I am living eternally now; breathing eternal air.
2. To be holy is to BECOME MY WHOLE TRUE SELF—in the company of my Creator. It is to be EMPOWERED to complete my purpose on earth. My Granddad Lyell Rader told me, “The alternative to holiness is ‘halfliness.’ Why would anyone want to live that way?” God made us to be COMPLETE in Him.
3. There is such a thing as complete JOY, and it is the power that carried Jesus Himself through the crucifixion and the horror of its anticipation. Joy, and all that is in Jesus, He gives in perfection. Perfect peace. Perfect love. Perfect hope. Perfect confidence. Perfect trust.
4. There always seems to be LIGHT when God is around. Light was His first creation, and heaven will need no sun or moon because of God’s light there. Jesus called Himself “light of the world.” He lights my life path with His Word. So if anything in my life makes me prefer to stay undiscovered in the darkness, I know it is not from God. Ephesians 5:8–10 says that I myself used to be darkness. Now I want to live as a child of the light.
5. All of this is somehow crucial to my RELATIONSHIP with all of you (my church family) and leads to relationship with the triune God Himself!
So once again (as Ephesians tells us), we see that we are all in this together, aren’t we? I cannot grow in God without you, my friends. And we will not grow together to holy maturity without God. “If we walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sins.”
Diana Winters is a soldier (member) of the Salvation Army’s Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., Corps. She has been a missionary to Africa and is married to Dr. David Winters; they have four children, two adopted from Russia.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
A new exodus?
Major Nigel Gotobed considers the implications of embracing the ‘new thing’ God is doing
STUDY PASSAGE: ISAIAH 43:1–19
WE hear a great deal these days about the urgent call to discover the ‘new thing’ that God is doing in the Church and in the world. I echo that clarion call. God is at work. God still has a future for the Church. I do not believe God has finished with The Salvation Army, nor do I subscribe to the sentiment that our best days are behind us.
What is clearly emerging in the Church is a renewed desire to connect in new ways to a generation that has been lost to it and to God. Far too many people have little or no comprehension of what the Church is or who it exists for.
Many corps are exercising faith and becoming risk-takers for Jesus, reaching out with new initiatives such as café church, Messy Church, cinema church and prayer bunkers. These are just some of the new things being attempted.
Some centres are rediscovering the core principles that enabled their birth and growth, while remaining firmly rooted in today’s generation with all its cultures and subcultures.
This leads me to ponder this week’s study passage and the new thing mentioned there – which some commentators call the new Exodus.
As we consider these verses we need to ask ourselves if our multifaceted God asks how his children found their way home, or does he just open his outstretched arms and say: ‘Welcome’?
Put another way, is The Salvation Army in danger of losing its spiritual DNA by embracing Emerging Church principles, or might we possibly rediscover some of those core principles that enabled our glorious Movement to experience significant growth in its early days? Revival is (still) our present need! (See SASB 760.)
Embracing Emerging Church principles includes taking risks, and implementing changes wherever and whenever they are necessary. As erstwhile Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson once declared: ‘He who rejects change is the architect of decay.’
Israel was a nation facing constant upheaval and change, and yet God had redeemed its people and called them by name to be those who belong to him (43:1). It’s important that we also remember who we are, and who our God is. We too are important to God; he calls us to himself and gives us his name (v7). Therefore, when we pass through stormy waters and face fires of judgment, we will not be burnt nor will the flames set us ablaze (v2).
Isaiah reminds the Israelites that they need not be afraid: Yahweh was with them and would bring about a significant homecoming (vv5–7), such as had not been seen before or since – yet.
All God’s people will be gathered from all parts of the earth when Christ comes to rule in peace.
Not all God’s people are gifted evangelists, but all are called to be witnesses (v10; see also Isaiah 44:8; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). We share the responsibility of being God’s witnesses. Opportunities presented on Monday mornings when colleagues ask about our weekend are God-given moments when we can speak up for the Church and witness for Christ. Through our words and through our living, others may see, and be attracted to, God. Evangelism in the workplace depends on you and me telling our story, in words and in actions.
How’s your story? Is there a new chapter waiting to be written?
In 43:14–19 Isaiah addresses this issue to the Israelites. ‘I am the Lord, your Holy One,’ he reminds them (v15); the Lord who was and is and always will be.
Theologian John Drane says that the faith of the Old Testament is ‘a dynamic living faith that always expects God to do new things’. In choosing to embrace that reality we have a greater loyalty to the future than to the past. Yes, we need to respect it and learn from it, but we cannot afford to live in it (see v18).
General John Larsson (Retired) once urged cadets not to dwell on history, but to ‘go out and make history’. Where are today’s history-makers?
The Exodus was clearly included in the former things, and the ‘new thing’ (v19) was unfolding before the Israelites’ very eyes, but many did not perceive it. Their redemption – the new Exodus – would surpass the old, for all men would be redeemed.
Perhaps we too are witnesses to a missiological reformation as we seek to embrace the new thing that is emerging among us in these days. Do you perceive it?
• Major Gotobed is Divisional Director for Evangelism, Northern
(Salvationist UK Issue Date: October 2010)
STUDY PASSAGE: ISAIAH 43:1–19
WE hear a great deal these days about the urgent call to discover the ‘new thing’ that God is doing in the Church and in the world. I echo that clarion call. God is at work. God still has a future for the Church. I do not believe God has finished with The Salvation Army, nor do I subscribe to the sentiment that our best days are behind us.
What is clearly emerging in the Church is a renewed desire to connect in new ways to a generation that has been lost to it and to God. Far too many people have little or no comprehension of what the Church is or who it exists for.
Many corps are exercising faith and becoming risk-takers for Jesus, reaching out with new initiatives such as café church, Messy Church, cinema church and prayer bunkers. These are just some of the new things being attempted.
Some centres are rediscovering the core principles that enabled their birth and growth, while remaining firmly rooted in today’s generation with all its cultures and subcultures.
This leads me to ponder this week’s study passage and the new thing mentioned there – which some commentators call the new Exodus.
As we consider these verses we need to ask ourselves if our multifaceted God asks how his children found their way home, or does he just open his outstretched arms and say: ‘Welcome’?
Put another way, is The Salvation Army in danger of losing its spiritual DNA by embracing Emerging Church principles, or might we possibly rediscover some of those core principles that enabled our glorious Movement to experience significant growth in its early days? Revival is (still) our present need! (See SASB 760.)
Embracing Emerging Church principles includes taking risks, and implementing changes wherever and whenever they are necessary. As erstwhile Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson once declared: ‘He who rejects change is the architect of decay.’
Israel was a nation facing constant upheaval and change, and yet God had redeemed its people and called them by name to be those who belong to him (43:1). It’s important that we also remember who we are, and who our God is. We too are important to God; he calls us to himself and gives us his name (v7). Therefore, when we pass through stormy waters and face fires of judgment, we will not be burnt nor will the flames set us ablaze (v2).
Isaiah reminds the Israelites that they need not be afraid: Yahweh was with them and would bring about a significant homecoming (vv5–7), such as had not been seen before or since – yet.
All God’s people will be gathered from all parts of the earth when Christ comes to rule in peace.
Not all God’s people are gifted evangelists, but all are called to be witnesses (v10; see also Isaiah 44:8; Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). We share the responsibility of being God’s witnesses. Opportunities presented on Monday mornings when colleagues ask about our weekend are God-given moments when we can speak up for the Church and witness for Christ. Through our words and through our living, others may see, and be attracted to, God. Evangelism in the workplace depends on you and me telling our story, in words and in actions.
How’s your story? Is there a new chapter waiting to be written?
In 43:14–19 Isaiah addresses this issue to the Israelites. ‘I am the Lord, your Holy One,’ he reminds them (v15); the Lord who was and is and always will be.
Theologian John Drane says that the faith of the Old Testament is ‘a dynamic living faith that always expects God to do new things’. In choosing to embrace that reality we have a greater loyalty to the future than to the past. Yes, we need to respect it and learn from it, but we cannot afford to live in it (see v18).
General John Larsson (Retired) once urged cadets not to dwell on history, but to ‘go out and make history’. Where are today’s history-makers?
The Exodus was clearly included in the former things, and the ‘new thing’ (v19) was unfolding before the Israelites’ very eyes, but many did not perceive it. Their redemption – the new Exodus – would surpass the old, for all men would be redeemed.
Perhaps we too are witnesses to a missiological reformation as we seek to embrace the new thing that is emerging among us in these days. Do you perceive it?
• Major Gotobed is Divisional Director for Evangelism, Northern
(Salvationist UK Issue Date: October 2010)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Prayer Request
1. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
2. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
3. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
4. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
5. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
3. Pray for Christmas caroling practice, brass band, timbrel group and Christmas bells
4. Pray for Christmas Celebration with state government on 19 Dec 2010.
5. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Announcements
1. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Bro Tan or Bro Steven, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Prayer Ministry
Date: 22 Oct 2010, Time: 8pm Venue: Penang Children's Home.
Please share your prayer request with Major Kamala or any corps council.
4. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please contact Sister Jasinta for more details.
5. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Bro Tan or Bro Steven, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Prayer Ministry
Date: 22 Oct 2010, Time: 8pm Venue: Penang Children's Home.
Please share your prayer request with Major Kamala or any corps council.
4. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 6 Nov 2010, Time: 7:30am, Venue: Teluk Bahang National Park. Please contact Sister Jasinta for more details.
5. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan / Sis Carmen / Bro Steven for more information, we encourage all to join as away to the share good news through caroling during Christmas season.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Obey God: Love others
When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this! And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.”
—Luke 22:50–51
“Lord, should we strike with our swords?” was Peter’s question. But so caught up in the moment was he that Peter (most likely he was the one) couldn’t wait for his Master’s response—he took matters into his own sword–wielding hand. Peter probably thought, “The Lord allowed me to carry a sword, didn’t He? So why not use it?”
Had you been the man with the severed ear, which act would have likely convinced you that Jesus was Lord: the stings of Peter’s swift sword or Jesus’ compassionate and healing touch?
Since 9/11, sharp swords and tongues have exacerbated the tensions in today’s troubled times. “The world is in serious trouble, needing serious help,” said Commissioner R. Steven Hedgren, territorial commander, during his recent charge to the Friends of Christ session of cadets.
I believe that God is calling us to initiate His divine love—even toward people we perceive to be our enemies. For only by our love will the world know that we are Christians.
God is fully capable of defending Himself; He doesn’t need us to do that. He needs us to obey His commands.
Long before an international debate on religious tolerance captured headlines, I frequently joined forces with street evangelists and went “toe–to–toe” in spirited conversations with members of the Nation of Islam in Harlem. Many times we traded theological truths in the shadow of the 116th Street mosque.
Although our discussions were always “hot,” we never burned one another’s sacred texts in effigy. We respectfully “agreed to disagree.”
Interestingly, we always found common ground on the topic of meeting human need. We agreed that the community was hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And if we were “worth our salt,” we had to address those felt needs.
A rabbi who actually taught religion at a Christian university explained to me, “Mutual respect [between believers of different faiths] is the foundation of constructive dialogue.”
During these troubled times, let us not be ashamed to stand and speak the name of Jesus—even in the face of no agreement. But may we also remember that He wants Christians to obey Him, not defend Him. “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21–22)
by Warren L. Maye (TSA USA Eastern Territory)
—Luke 22:50–51
“Lord, should we strike with our swords?” was Peter’s question. But so caught up in the moment was he that Peter (most likely he was the one) couldn’t wait for his Master’s response—he took matters into his own sword–wielding hand. Peter probably thought, “The Lord allowed me to carry a sword, didn’t He? So why not use it?”
Had you been the man with the severed ear, which act would have likely convinced you that Jesus was Lord: the stings of Peter’s swift sword or Jesus’ compassionate and healing touch?
Since 9/11, sharp swords and tongues have exacerbated the tensions in today’s troubled times. “The world is in serious trouble, needing serious help,” said Commissioner R. Steven Hedgren, territorial commander, during his recent charge to the Friends of Christ session of cadets.
I believe that God is calling us to initiate His divine love—even toward people we perceive to be our enemies. For only by our love will the world know that we are Christians.
God is fully capable of defending Himself; He doesn’t need us to do that. He needs us to obey His commands.
Long before an international debate on religious tolerance captured headlines, I frequently joined forces with street evangelists and went “toe–to–toe” in spirited conversations with members of the Nation of Islam in Harlem. Many times we traded theological truths in the shadow of the 116th Street mosque.
Although our discussions were always “hot,” we never burned one another’s sacred texts in effigy. We respectfully “agreed to disagree.”
Interestingly, we always found common ground on the topic of meeting human need. We agreed that the community was hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And if we were “worth our salt,” we had to address those felt needs.
A rabbi who actually taught religion at a Christian university explained to me, “Mutual respect [between believers of different faiths] is the foundation of constructive dialogue.”
During these troubled times, let us not be ashamed to stand and speak the name of Jesus—even in the face of no agreement. But may we also remember that He wants Christians to obey Him, not defend Him. “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Proverbs 25:21–22)
by Warren L. Maye (TSA USA Eastern Territory)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Why you should be more weedy
Major Tim Johnson considers the lilies
IT’S one of my jobs at home to do most of the gardening. It has to be said that – despite fine examples from my dad and grandad – I’m not a great gardener. The plants that typically do best in my garden are weeds.
Time and again, I expend energy getting rid of them, yet these horticultural adversaries pop up the moment I turn my back. I’ve spent long hours grubbing up these gardening foes, and they have earned a grudging respect from me. Why are they so resilient and so successful in their field?
I also recently learnt more about the words behind the translation of Matthew 6:28: ‘Consider the lilies of the field’ (King James Version). The Greek verb has the sense of ‘to examine closely’ – in other words, take a microscope to it, analyse what’s going on. What are these weeds doing right? And what can we do to imitate them, so that we can be as steadfast as they are?
Here are some thoughts that occurred as I was weeding.
DEEPLY AND WIDELY ROOTED
One pet hate I have inherited from my father, gardening-wise, is about bindweed. It’s a pest, both above and below ground, and a horror to get rid of. The roots are an easy-to-see white when you dig them up, but to be rid of it requires you to remove every trace of root from the soil. Bindweed also loves to lurk near tree roots and under fences – the ‘difficult-to-dig’ areas. The smallest overlooked fragment will grow and spread. It has roots that sustain it through the most difficult and destructive of times.
This summer’s project was to clear the border at the front of the house, which involved removing lots of ornamental holly, a plant with an extensive root system. After several marathon sessions of digging and pursuing roots, I finally gave up on one root that was as deep as the house foundations and was still heading downwards. Deeply rooted indeed!
It’s no surprise that Paul uses the metaphor of being deeply rooted in love (Ephesians 3:17) when he prays for the growth of his fellow Christians. With deep roots – the ability to draw strength from God through prayer and the Bible – even the ‘weediest’ of us can face the most testing of times.
STAY CLOSE TO THE EARTH
This is another survival technique that allows weeds to thrive. Hugging the earth and spreading sideways, rather than upwards, allows harmful things to go past without causing injury.
I get into a lot of trouble with my family for mowing the lawn and taking out the daisies and buttercups. The reality is, I don’t do a lot of damage; I just nick off the open flowers. The reason there isn’t much damage is that most of the plant is flat on the ground. A plant that stays close to the earth could quite easily be called humble. (The root word means ‘earthed’).
So here’s weed lesson number two: don’t be in a hurry to grow up and be vulnerable. Go low, grow wide and stay close to God. Read Peter’s advice to the Church: ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time’ (1 Peter 5:6 New International Version).
DYING TO BECOME FRUITFUL
I mentioned this Bible study in a corps home group and someone immediately said: ‘There’s the dandelion, you know; it has a beautiful flower, yet unless it dies, the seed will not grow.’ This thought echoes the words of Jesus in John 12:24.
There are times when the sweet things of life have to be put aside so that better things can happen, when we need to make a sacrifice of personal desires to allow the gospel to thrive. For example, time usually spent on hobbies invested for the Kingdom to help an event take place; when what might be family time is used to build a relationship with someone seeking Christ – the flower put aside for the seed.
A WEED AGLOW WITH GOD
A visiting preacher once made a comment on Exodus chapter 3 and the burning bush. His words were akin to: ‘The Hebrew is “Ceneh” but “bush” is really too much. “Ceneh” means weed.’
So God used a weed to accomplish his purpose and save a nation – a weed aglow with the very presence of God became a pathway to service for Moses, a holy place of commitment and decision.
The strength, the glory, were all God’s; the weed was just the vessel for his work.
It really doesn’t matter how weedy we think we are. If we are rooted in God’s love, stay humble and close to him, if we are willing to obey and be open to his will, God’s purpose will be accomplished.
• Major Johnson is the corps officer at Hemel Hempstead
(Salvationist UK Issue Date: October 2010)
IT’S one of my jobs at home to do most of the gardening. It has to be said that – despite fine examples from my dad and grandad – I’m not a great gardener. The plants that typically do best in my garden are weeds.
Time and again, I expend energy getting rid of them, yet these horticultural adversaries pop up the moment I turn my back. I’ve spent long hours grubbing up these gardening foes, and they have earned a grudging respect from me. Why are they so resilient and so successful in their field?
I also recently learnt more about the words behind the translation of Matthew 6:28: ‘Consider the lilies of the field’ (King James Version). The Greek verb has the sense of ‘to examine closely’ – in other words, take a microscope to it, analyse what’s going on. What are these weeds doing right? And what can we do to imitate them, so that we can be as steadfast as they are?
Here are some thoughts that occurred as I was weeding.
DEEPLY AND WIDELY ROOTED
One pet hate I have inherited from my father, gardening-wise, is about bindweed. It’s a pest, both above and below ground, and a horror to get rid of. The roots are an easy-to-see white when you dig them up, but to be rid of it requires you to remove every trace of root from the soil. Bindweed also loves to lurk near tree roots and under fences – the ‘difficult-to-dig’ areas. The smallest overlooked fragment will grow and spread. It has roots that sustain it through the most difficult and destructive of times.
This summer’s project was to clear the border at the front of the house, which involved removing lots of ornamental holly, a plant with an extensive root system. After several marathon sessions of digging and pursuing roots, I finally gave up on one root that was as deep as the house foundations and was still heading downwards. Deeply rooted indeed!
It’s no surprise that Paul uses the metaphor of being deeply rooted in love (Ephesians 3:17) when he prays for the growth of his fellow Christians. With deep roots – the ability to draw strength from God through prayer and the Bible – even the ‘weediest’ of us can face the most testing of times.
STAY CLOSE TO THE EARTH
This is another survival technique that allows weeds to thrive. Hugging the earth and spreading sideways, rather than upwards, allows harmful things to go past without causing injury.
I get into a lot of trouble with my family for mowing the lawn and taking out the daisies and buttercups. The reality is, I don’t do a lot of damage; I just nick off the open flowers. The reason there isn’t much damage is that most of the plant is flat on the ground. A plant that stays close to the earth could quite easily be called humble. (The root word means ‘earthed’).
So here’s weed lesson number two: don’t be in a hurry to grow up and be vulnerable. Go low, grow wide and stay close to God. Read Peter’s advice to the Church: ‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time’ (1 Peter 5:6 New International Version).
DYING TO BECOME FRUITFUL
I mentioned this Bible study in a corps home group and someone immediately said: ‘There’s the dandelion, you know; it has a beautiful flower, yet unless it dies, the seed will not grow.’ This thought echoes the words of Jesus in John 12:24.
There are times when the sweet things of life have to be put aside so that better things can happen, when we need to make a sacrifice of personal desires to allow the gospel to thrive. For example, time usually spent on hobbies invested for the Kingdom to help an event take place; when what might be family time is used to build a relationship with someone seeking Christ – the flower put aside for the seed.
A WEED AGLOW WITH GOD
A visiting preacher once made a comment on Exodus chapter 3 and the burning bush. His words were akin to: ‘The Hebrew is “Ceneh” but “bush” is really too much. “Ceneh” means weed.’
So God used a weed to accomplish his purpose and save a nation – a weed aglow with the very presence of God became a pathway to service for Moses, a holy place of commitment and decision.
The strength, the glory, were all God’s; the weed was just the vessel for his work.
It really doesn’t matter how weedy we think we are. If we are rooted in God’s love, stay humble and close to him, if we are willing to obey and be open to his will, God’s purpose will be accomplished.
• Major Johnson is the corps officer at Hemel Hempstead
(Salvationist UK Issue Date: October 2010)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Announcements
1. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Captain Brenda, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Adult Cell Group
Date: 15 October 2010, Time: 8:00pm. Venue. Bro Tan house
4. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
5. Attending Seminar and Furlough
Please be informed that Capt. Tan and Brenda will be going to Hong Kong for seminar, followed by their furlough for 3 weeks.
6. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan for more information, we encourage those who like to go caroling to attend the practice.
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
2. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Captain Brenda, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
3. Adult Cell Group
Date: 15 October 2010, Time: 8:00pm. Venue. Bro Tan house
4. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
5. Attending Seminar and Furlough
Please be informed that Capt. Tan and Brenda will be going to Hong Kong for seminar, followed by their furlough for 3 weeks.
6. Christmas Carol Practice
Please see Bro Tan for more information, we encourage those who like to go caroling to attend the practice.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
2. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
3. Pray for Major Kamala on her cataract surgery on 12 October 2010.
4. Continued to pray for Brother Sam in Kuching.
5. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
3. Pray for Major Kamala on her cataract surgery on 12 October 2010.
4. Continued to pray for Brother Sam in Kuching.
5. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Self Denial 2010
Our 2010 Self Denial partner in mission are Kenya East/West, India West and Latvia region. Please pray for these country and ourselves as we remember our brother and sister who are in need.
Please get yourself a prayer booklet at the church or contact us to send you a copy.
We pray that God will multiple your sacrificial giving to help those needy in those part of the world.
On 7 November, we will be having a self denial service for the collection. For those who cannot made it and wish to contribute, please send us your contribution. Contact Capt Tan or Brenda for more information.
Please get yourself a prayer booklet at the church or contact us to send you a copy.We pray that God will multiple your sacrificial giving to help those needy in those part of the world.
On 7 November, we will be having a self denial service for the collection. For those who cannot made it and wish to contribute, please send us your contribution. Contact Capt Tan or Brenda for more information.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Adult Fellowship 25 Sept 2010
Praise be to God, that we have a warm and successful Adult Fellowship and get together with adult, children, friends and family. It was a wonderful evening sharing fellowship in food, catching up with friends, look at the picture to reflect of the Salvation Army work in Penang.
We thank Bro Gerard Khaw for being our speaker for the night. His testimony was a touch to many attended and focus on "The Father" of God. In his closing, he reminded all to focus their live on Jesus in any good or stormy days. He will be our God and carry us through and walk beside us as His has promise us.
We have also Lt. Colonel Tan to share with us that we all have a choice to make in life as Bro Gerard did. He share his story of making the right choice to follow Jesus and give his life in the Salvation Army ministry together with his wife Lt. Colonel Patrica. Putting trust and faith in Jesus along the way bear fruit and joy along the life journey.
God is there to forgive those to come to Him. He will also be their God, The Father,love and care for them. God is good all the time.
Click here for more photos
We thank Bro Gerard Khaw for being our speaker for the night. His testimony was a touch to many attended and focus on "The Father" of God. In his closing, he reminded all to focus their live on Jesus in any good or stormy days. He will be our God and carry us through and walk beside us as His has promise us.
We have also Lt. Colonel Tan to share with us that we all have a choice to make in life as Bro Gerard did. He share his story of making the right choice to follow Jesus and give his life in the Salvation Army ministry together with his wife Lt. Colonel Patrica. Putting trust and faith in Jesus along the way bear fruit and joy along the life journey.
God is there to forgive those to come to Him. He will also be their God, The Father,love and care for them. God is good all the time.
Click here for more photos
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Combine Cell Group 19 Sept 2010
A combine cell group was recently on 19 Sept 2010. From the oldest and youngest came to have the fellowship and share with each other in fellowship.
Also in that evening, Bro Chin Khen wife celebrated her birthday.
The event bring all closer as one family joining in fellowship with Jesus.
Click here for more photos
Also in that evening, Bro Chin Khen wife celebrated her birthday.
The event bring all closer as one family joining in fellowship with Jesus.
Click here for more photos
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Announcements
1. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
2. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
3. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
5. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Captain Brenda, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
6. Special Thanks
Special thanks to Major Darrell & Katrina Thomas for their spiritual ministry this morning.
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
2. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
3. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
5. Corps T-Shirt
Please see Captain Brenda, those who interested to purchase. Dry Fit T-Shirt of RM30 each.
6. Special Thanks
Special thanks to Major Darrell & Katrina Thomas for their spiritual ministry this morning.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Senior Citizen (Over Sixties Club) Breakfast, 9 October 2010, Time 8:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
2. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
3. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
4. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
5. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
3. Pray for PMR, SPM, A'level students who will be sitting for their exam soon.
4. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us. SAFE, Community Service, Youth & Children Program, Banana Leaf, Cell Group, etc
5. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Friday, October 1, 2010
GRATITUTE
PASTORAL LETTER TWENTY-ONE
GRATITUDE (2)
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
Once more it is my great honour and privilege to be in touch with you through a Pastoral Letter.
Commissioner Helen Clifton joins me in sending greetings to you just where you are, thanking God for your fidelity to the gospel and for your service in his great Army of Salvation.
I am writing this Letter from my office in our home because recently I have undergone further surgery, this time for a heart bypass procedure. This took place unexpectedly six weeks ago and I thank God that I am making good progress and am able to keep up with all official matters through the kindness of the Chief of the Staff who meets me in our home regularly to discuss key matters of business and policy and also through the great help of my personal staff at International Headquarters.
Commissioner Helen Clifton is taking wonderful care of me but is also facing her own health challenges at this time. So your prayers are very, very precious to us both and to our family.
The theme of this Letter, as with Pastoral Letter 20, is gratitude. It is a theme that can never be exhausted. It is a natural theme for us at this time for we feel indebted to so many for loving support. Many of you have sent messages of prayer and encouragement. These have blessed and helped us so much.
I want to record heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for his unfailing love to us all. You will know of those times when you have experienced the loving closeness of our Heavenly Father. Sometimes he is so near to us that we can almost reach out and touch him. May you each be drawn closer and closer to God in this wonderful way.
We praise and thank God because he is able to save us from our sin and from the overarching rule of self and selfish ambition. Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other name by which we can be saved. God the Father has given us Jesus, God the Son, to be our only Saviour. Our hearts fill up again with gratitude.
We have still further cause to be glad and grateful to God. He alone can make us holy. He alone can purify us and sanctify us through and through. In the words of the old chorus, not only is he 'able to save', but he is 'able to keep' - to keep us pure and victorious day by day from falling to temptation. Our part is to consecrate ourselves to God without reserve. He then does his part in cleansing us through and through, again and again.
In closing this Letter, I salute you and thank God for you. I commend each of you - just where you live and serve - to the infinite care of the Father, to the safe and loving hands of Jesus, and to the cleansing and enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
Yours in Sacred Service,
Shaw Clifton
General
GRATITUDE (2)
Dear Fellow Salvationists,
Once more it is my great honour and privilege to be in touch with you through a Pastoral Letter.
Commissioner Helen Clifton joins me in sending greetings to you just where you are, thanking God for your fidelity to the gospel and for your service in his great Army of Salvation.
I am writing this Letter from my office in our home because recently I have undergone further surgery, this time for a heart bypass procedure. This took place unexpectedly six weeks ago and I thank God that I am making good progress and am able to keep up with all official matters through the kindness of the Chief of the Staff who meets me in our home regularly to discuss key matters of business and policy and also through the great help of my personal staff at International Headquarters.
Commissioner Helen Clifton is taking wonderful care of me but is also facing her own health challenges at this time. So your prayers are very, very precious to us both and to our family.
The theme of this Letter, as with Pastoral Letter 20, is gratitude. It is a theme that can never be exhausted. It is a natural theme for us at this time for we feel indebted to so many for loving support. Many of you have sent messages of prayer and encouragement. These have blessed and helped us so much.
I want to record heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for his unfailing love to us all. You will know of those times when you have experienced the loving closeness of our Heavenly Father. Sometimes he is so near to us that we can almost reach out and touch him. May you each be drawn closer and closer to God in this wonderful way.
We praise and thank God because he is able to save us from our sin and from the overarching rule of self and selfish ambition. Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other name by which we can be saved. God the Father has given us Jesus, God the Son, to be our only Saviour. Our hearts fill up again with gratitude.
We have still further cause to be glad and grateful to God. He alone can make us holy. He alone can purify us and sanctify us through and through. In the words of the old chorus, not only is he 'able to save', but he is 'able to keep' - to keep us pure and victorious day by day from falling to temptation. Our part is to consecrate ourselves to God without reserve. He then does his part in cleansing us through and through, again and again.
In closing this Letter, I salute you and thank God for you. I commend each of you - just where you live and serve - to the infinite care of the Father, to the safe and loving hands of Jesus, and to the cleansing and enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
Yours in Sacred Service,
Shaw Clifton
General
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Birthday Girl
Recently Allison Foo celebrated her 6 yrs old at the Corps on the 18th Sept 2010.
All present on that day sang the Happy Birthday song to her. Capt Tan say a word of prayer for her.
Everyone then enjoyed the big piece of cake.
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All present on that day sang the Happy Birthday song to her. Capt Tan say a word of prayer for her.
Everyone then enjoyed the big piece of cake.
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jericho
INTRODUCTION
After the glorious victory fall of Jericho, Israelites must be over proud, and with great rejoicing celebration. They must be felt, a grasshopper can take down the giant wall, there is nothing they can’t be taking down, surely they faith has raised.
Joshua sent 2 spies, they came back saying: “Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.” Hence Joshua sent three thousand people, but they lost the war, and 36 people have killed. This failure mission, make Joshua terribly sad! With the elders of Israel, they bow down before God and asking: “why”?
The answer to Joshua was very straight forward, there is sin in the camp! Achan took the devoted things! What it mean by “devoted things”, according to the Bible, some of the booty must be destroy and the remaining will be sanctify and safe keep in God’s treasure house. Devoted things mean: that thing belongs to God. Joshua 6:18-19 “But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."
The act of Achan taken the Devoted things, which involving, “Stolen”, “lied” and this sum up the consequences of “violate (break) God’s covenant”. God’s covenant with Israelites is, He will be their Holy God and the people will be His holy nation.
In our today Individualism society, all of us might think that, self sinning is individual action, does not relate with the Church! But Biblically, Paul has taught us in Romans 12:4-5 “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
Achan’s unfaithful act remind us:
DEVOTED THINGS
We need to examine ourselves, did we take things that is belong to God?
Malachi 3:8-11 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
Mark 12:17 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
FINANCIAL TEMPTATION
Because of personal financial, some people cheating company, gambling, embezzlement, using future money (credit card), end up debt to bank or load shark, and without help, they end their life. In today world people are looking forward to materialism, personal computer, television, mobile phone, car, luxury house, some youth end up stealing, some girl end up prostitution.
1 Timothy 6: 9-11 remind us: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
CONCLUSION
Romans 5:19 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
After the glorious victory fall of Jericho, Israelites must be over proud, and with great rejoicing celebration. They must be felt, a grasshopper can take down the giant wall, there is nothing they can’t be taking down, surely they faith has raised.
Joshua sent 2 spies, they came back saying: “Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.” Hence Joshua sent three thousand people, but they lost the war, and 36 people have killed. This failure mission, make Joshua terribly sad! With the elders of Israel, they bow down before God and asking: “why”?
The answer to Joshua was very straight forward, there is sin in the camp! Achan took the devoted things! What it mean by “devoted things”, according to the Bible, some of the booty must be destroy and the remaining will be sanctify and safe keep in God’s treasure house. Devoted things mean: that thing belongs to God. Joshua 6:18-19 “But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."
The act of Achan taken the Devoted things, which involving, “Stolen”, “lied” and this sum up the consequences of “violate (break) God’s covenant”. God’s covenant with Israelites is, He will be their Holy God and the people will be His holy nation.
In our today Individualism society, all of us might think that, self sinning is individual action, does not relate with the Church! But Biblically, Paul has taught us in Romans 12:4-5 “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
Achan’s unfaithful act remind us:
DEVOTED THINGS
We need to examine ourselves, did we take things that is belong to God?
Malachi 3:8-11 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.
Mark 12:17 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
FINANCIAL TEMPTATION
Because of personal financial, some people cheating company, gambling, embezzlement, using future money (credit card), end up debt to bank or load shark, and without help, they end their life. In today world people are looking forward to materialism, personal computer, television, mobile phone, car, luxury house, some youth end up stealing, some girl end up prostitution.
1 Timothy 6: 9-11 remind us: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”
CONCLUSION
Romans 5:19 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Announcements
1. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
2. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
3. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
4. Secret Angles
Today is the last day of our secret Angel mission. Thank you all who participated in this programme.
5. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
6. Special Thanks
We wish to extend our special thanks to Bro Gerard Khaw and Lieut-Colonels Tan and Patricia to be our special guest speaker for Adult Fellowship held 25 Sept 2010.
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
2. Youth School Holiday Programme
Date: 29 Nov 2010 - 31 Dec 2010. Please register with Capt Tan those who are interested. This is also open to the public.
3. Self Denial Appeal 2010
We are now entering the Self Denial month of October. The Altar Service is on 7 Nov 2010. Bro and Sister are encourage to pray and also giving to mission.
4. Secret Angles
Today is the last day of our secret Angel mission. Thank you all who participated in this programme.
5. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
6. Special Thanks
We wish to extend our special thanks to Bro Gerard Khaw and Lieut-Colonels Tan and Patricia to be our special guest speaker for Adult Fellowship held 25 Sept 2010.
Prayer Request
1. Over Sixties Club, breakfast with senior citizen on 9 October 2010, Time 8:00am, Venue: Macalister Road. Please give your names to Mrs Tan or contact Capt Tan for more information.
2. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
3. Pray for Susan Zechariah, who is going to sit for examination next week.
4. Remember PMR, SPM, A'level students who is sitting for their exam soon.
5. State Christmas Open House on 19 December 2010
6. General's call to pray: Pray for Victims of Sex Trade Trafficking
7. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us.
8. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Pray for the Youth School Holiday Programme from 29 November 2010 until 31 December 2010. Pray for the youth, volunteers, sponsor and resources.
3. Pray for Susan Zechariah, who is going to sit for examination next week.
4. Remember PMR, SPM, A'level students who is sitting for their exam soon.
5. State Christmas Open House on 19 December 2010
6. General's call to pray: Pray for Victims of Sex Trade Trafficking
7. Pray for all other ministry that we are planning. Pray for God guidance and leadership to lead us.
8. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
It's a family affair
IT has been ten years since we were introduced to the Harper family in BBC One’s sitcom My Family. Each episode offers an insight into a family life that never runs as smoothly or harmoniously as parents Ben and Susan would like.
Over the years the make-up of the family has changed. Originally it was mum and dad and the three children. But grandparents, cousins, the children’s partners and even work colleagues and lodgers have become part of the popular sitcom.
Perhaps the changing dynamics of this fictional family reflect the changing understanding of what makes a family in the West today.
‘Family’ can have many different connotations and include adopted and fostered children, single-parent families, separated families and same-sex parents.
Families can be small and very large. (A Romanian family living in Canada is reported to have 18 children. The couple said they never intended to have so many children, but were thrilled nonetheless.)
Different cultures have varied ideas of what makes a family. In some, generations will live their whole lives side by side, whereas in others parents live miles away from their grown-up children and have very little contact.
In his Gospel, Mark recounts an incident involving Jesus and his family.
Because people were keen to hear what he had to say, Jesus was often surrounded by crowds. Sometimes he and his disciples wouldn’t even get the chance to break for something to eat. His family heard about this and went to see him.
They arrived outside the house where Jesus was speaking, and he was told they were waiting. Instead of going out to meet them Jesus posed the question: ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ (Mark 3:33 New International Version).
That may sound harsh, but what did Jesus mean? As he looked around him at those who were listening he added: ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’ (3:34, 35).
Jesus didn’t narrow his definition of family to his own flesh and blood. He extended it to include everyone who believed in him. Even today, if we are prepared to follow him and live the way he shows us, we can all be part of God’s family.
UK War Cry - August 2010
Over the years the make-up of the family has changed. Originally it was mum and dad and the three children. But grandparents, cousins, the children’s partners and even work colleagues and lodgers have become part of the popular sitcom.Perhaps the changing dynamics of this fictional family reflect the changing understanding of what makes a family in the West today.
‘Family’ can have many different connotations and include adopted and fostered children, single-parent families, separated families and same-sex parents.
Families can be small and very large. (A Romanian family living in Canada is reported to have 18 children. The couple said they never intended to have so many children, but were thrilled nonetheless.)
Different cultures have varied ideas of what makes a family. In some, generations will live their whole lives side by side, whereas in others parents live miles away from their grown-up children and have very little contact.
In his Gospel, Mark recounts an incident involving Jesus and his family.
Because people were keen to hear what he had to say, Jesus was often surrounded by crowds. Sometimes he and his disciples wouldn’t even get the chance to break for something to eat. His family heard about this and went to see him.
They arrived outside the house where Jesus was speaking, and he was told they were waiting. Instead of going out to meet them Jesus posed the question: ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ (Mark 3:33 New International Version).
That may sound harsh, but what did Jesus mean? As he looked around him at those who were listening he added: ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’ (3:34, 35).
Jesus didn’t narrow his definition of family to his own flesh and blood. He extended it to include everyone who believed in him. Even today, if we are prepared to follow him and live the way he shows us, we can all be part of God’s family.
UK War Cry - August 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Banana Leaf Ministry 11 Sept 2010
Picture taken from the Banana Leaf Ministry 11 Sept 2010
We pray for good health and financial of the needy that the Army is helping.
Click Here for more photos.
We pray for good health and financial of the needy that the Army is helping.
Click Here for more photos.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Commissioning of Local Officer 29 Aug 2010
Recently on 29 August 2010, Penang Corps commissioned a new team of local officer for a term of 2 years under the leadership of Capt Tan and Brenda. This new team will help Capt Tan and Brenda as the local church representatives to carried God's work. They will meet regular on monthly and adhoc basis to discuss matter about the church issues, programmes, etc.
Click here for more photos.
We are pleased to have Capt Harry to carry out the commissioning on that day.
Corps Officer - Captain Tan Guat Hai (Chair person)
Corps Sergeant Major - Bro Tan
Corps Secretary - Bro Steven Foo
Corps Treasurer - Bro Kim Aun
Quarters Master - Bro Francis Elias
Corps Youth Secretary - Sis Carmen
Penang Children Home representative - Major Kamala
Women Ministry - Capt Brenda
Click here for more photos.
We are pleased to have Capt Harry to carry out the commissioning on that day.
Corps Officer - Captain Tan Guat Hai (Chair person)
Corps Sergeant Major - Bro Tan
Corps Secretary - Bro Steven Foo
Corps Treasurer - Bro Kim Aun
Quarters Master - Bro Francis Elias
Corps Youth Secretary - Sis Carmen
Penang Children Home representative - Major Kamala
Women Ministry - Capt Brenda
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Announcements
1. Adult Fellowship
Date: 25th September 2010, Venue: Corps Community Hall, Time: 07:00pm
Pot Bless Dinner, please come and bless the others. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw. Please inform Mrs Tan for food co-ordinating
2. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
3. Combined Cell Group
Date: 19 September 2010, Sunday, Time: 7pm: Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless BBQ, and each family bring one favourite moon cake to share with others.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
5. Cadets Commissioning Brochure
Cadets Andres and Fiona will be commissioning on 26 November 2010, hence a brochure will be produce, brothers and sister are welcome to contribute.
Date: 25th September 2010, Venue: Corps Community Hall, Time: 07:00pm
Pot Bless Dinner, please come and bless the others. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw. Please inform Mrs Tan for food co-ordinating
2. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
3. Combined Cell Group
Date: 19 September 2010, Sunday, Time: 7pm: Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless BBQ, and each family bring one favourite moon cake to share with others.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
5. Cadets Commissioning Brochure
Cadets Andres and Fiona will be commissioning on 26 November 2010, hence a brochure will be produce, brothers and sister are welcome to contribute.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Adult Gathering fellowship on 25th September 2010. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw.
2. Over Sixties Club, breakfast with senior citizen on 9 October 2010. Another who are above Fifties are also welcome to join in. Pray some donor for this breakfast.
3. Pray for Capt Brenda's social visit pass and PR status.
4. State Christmas Open House on 19 December 2010
5. General's call to pray: Pray for Peace
5. Pray for all other ministry that corp is planning. May God will be done and led us as our leader in all we do.
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Over Sixties Club, breakfast with senior citizen on 9 October 2010. Another who are above Fifties are also welcome to join in. Pray some donor for this breakfast.
3. Pray for Capt Brenda's social visit pass and PR status.
4. State Christmas Open House on 19 December 2010
5. General's call to pray: Pray for Peace
5. Pray for all other ministry that corp is planning. May God will be done and led us as our leader in all we do.
6. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Friends will be friends
THE military conflict in Afghanistan has produced many examples of selfless bravery from soldiers and civilians in the line of fire – sometimes at the cost of the individual’s life.
Last month Private Thomas Sephton of the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, died after being wounded in an explosion. His patrol was providing protection for a force clearing explosives.
‘Sefo was my closest friend,’ said Private Charlie Emina. ‘He loved his friends and family more than anything. He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.’
Private Sephton’s commanding officer, Lieut-Colonel Andrew Hadfield, paid this tribute to him: ‘He was courageous and selfless to the last, placing himself in harm’s way to save others.’
The bond of true friendship can be deep and lasting. Most of us will never have to decide whether to lay down our life for our friends. But there will be times when we have to decide if we will put ourselves out for them.
Chapter two of Mark’s Gospel has an example of friends who did just that when they decided to take a paralysed friend to Jesus for healing.
The house that Jesus was in was crowded as many people wanted to meet him. There was no easy way into the house. The men had to lower their friend through the ceiling on a stretcher to give him access to Jesus. What an entrance! There were obvious barriers in reaching Jesus, but the friends committed themselves to helping their pal. Their efforts were rewarded – Jesus healed the paralysed man.
Jesus himself knew the importance of friendship. A verse often quoted at military memorial occasions are the words of Jesus: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13 New International Version).
Jesus put his words into action by taking the punishment for the wrong things we do when he died on a cross. His death and resurrection opened a way for us to have a friendship with God.
Jesus’ selfless act gives us the opportunity to experience a new life as God’s friend. If we accept that opportunity, we receive more help and support than we could ever imagine. Now that’s a friendship worth having.
UK War Cry - August 2010
Last month Private Thomas Sephton of the 1st Battalion, The Mercian Regiment, died after being wounded in an explosion. His patrol was providing protection for a force clearing explosives.
‘Sefo was my closest friend,’ said Private Charlie Emina. ‘He loved his friends and family more than anything. He saved the lives of his section on two occasions and on that tragic day he saved my life and gave his own.’
Private Sephton’s commanding officer, Lieut-Colonel Andrew Hadfield, paid this tribute to him: ‘He was courageous and selfless to the last, placing himself in harm’s way to save others.’
The bond of true friendship can be deep and lasting. Most of us will never have to decide whether to lay down our life for our friends. But there will be times when we have to decide if we will put ourselves out for them.
Chapter two of Mark’s Gospel has an example of friends who did just that when they decided to take a paralysed friend to Jesus for healing.
The house that Jesus was in was crowded as many people wanted to meet him. There was no easy way into the house. The men had to lower their friend through the ceiling on a stretcher to give him access to Jesus. What an entrance! There were obvious barriers in reaching Jesus, but the friends committed themselves to helping their pal. Their efforts were rewarded – Jesus healed the paralysed man.
Jesus himself knew the importance of friendship. A verse often quoted at military memorial occasions are the words of Jesus: ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13 New International Version).
Jesus put his words into action by taking the punishment for the wrong things we do when he died on a cross. His death and resurrection opened a way for us to have a friendship with God.
Jesus’ selfless act gives us the opportunity to experience a new life as God’s friend. If we accept that opportunity, we receive more help and support than we could ever imagine. Now that’s a friendship worth having.
UK War Cry - August 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Announcements
1. Adult Fellowship
Date: 25th September 2010, Venue: Corps Community Hall, Time: 07:00pm
Pot Bless Dinner, please come and bless the others. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw. Please inform Mrs Tan for food co-ordinating
2. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
3. Combined Cell Group
Date: 19 September 2010, Sunday, Time: 7pm: Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless BBQ, and each family bring one favourite moon cake to share with others.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
Date: 25th September 2010, Venue: Corps Community Hall, Time: 07:00pm
Pot Bless Dinner, please come and bless the others. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw. Please inform Mrs Tan for food co-ordinating
2. Senior Citizen (Over 60th Club) Breakfast
Date: 9 October 2010, Time: 08:00am, Venue: Macalister Road.
3. Combined Cell Group
Date: 19 September 2010, Sunday, Time: 7pm: Venue: Penang Corps
Pot Bless BBQ, and each family bring one favourite moon cake to share with others.
4. Super Ten Sunday.
Date: 10/10/10(Sun), 10 minutes of 10 persons giving thanks and testimony to God.
Prayer Request
1. Pray for Adult Gathering fellowship on 25th September 2010. Speaker: Lt-Colonel Tan and Bro. Gerard Khaw.
2. Over Sixties Club, breakfast with senior citizen on 9 October 2010. Another who are above Fifties are also welcome to join in. Pray some donor for this breakfast.
3. Combine Cell Group on 19 September 2010
4. Pray for Bro Sam for his mission trip at Kuching.
5. Pray for all other ministry that corp is planning. May God will be done and led us as our leader in all we do.
6. Pray for those student facing coming exam.
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
2. Over Sixties Club, breakfast with senior citizen on 9 October 2010. Another who are above Fifties are also welcome to join in. Pray some donor for this breakfast.
3. Combine Cell Group on 19 September 2010
4. Pray for Bro Sam for his mission trip at Kuching.
5. Pray for all other ministry that corp is planning. May God will be done and led us as our leader in all we do.
6. Pray for those student facing coming exam.
7. Pray for those who are sick, need financial blessing, etc issues.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Wanted: Followers
ONLINE social networking is part of modern living. Millions of people around the world use it for work and pleasure. In a very short time it has become a global phenomenon and many people wonder how they ever managed without it.Girls with laptop computerI was interested to discover that on Twitter the people who receive ‘tweets’ are called ‘followers’. The Twitter rules state no one may follow more than 2,000 people at a time – that’s a lot of following.
This is not the same as becoming a friend, as happens on other social networking sites, because following on Twitter is not by invitation. In other words, if someone thinks you’re interesting they just start following. They don’t have to ask first, nor do you have to invite them.
In contrast, in his Gospel, Mark writes about Jesus calling people to follow him and become his disciples. ‘As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”’ (Mark 1:16, 17 New International Version).
Jesus started his teaching by recruiting people to share their lives with him. He didn’t just sit back and hope people would decide to become his disciples. Instead Jesus took the initiative.
He didn’t call educated men or students of religion but ordinary working men, busy in their everyday activities supporting their families and communities. He wanted them to use their life skills as fishermen to serve God and to change the world.
They accepted Jesus’ invitation and followed him. ‘At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him’ (1:18–20).
Today Jesus still calls people – people such as you and me – to follow him. But, like those fishermen, we don’t know where following Jesus will take us. There may be challenges to face, but the life of opportunity and purpose Jesus offers his followers makes facing those challenges worthwhile.
UK War Cry - August 2010
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