Announcements

1. Penang Open Day - Thank you
We want to thank all who have participated in the Penang Open Day. Thank you for your times, efforts in many areas to help us raise fund for TSA service and programmes. May God Bless you all.

2. Youth Fellowship
Date: 4 Sept 2011 - Cancelled

3. Youth Hostel Official Opening & Launching of Penang Ability Programme
Date: 4 Sept 2011 Venue: Corps
We want to thank YB Ng Wei Aik and Colonel Gillian Downer for officiating the Youth Hostel and launching of Penang Ability Programme. We also thank Colonel for dedicating the new Family Thrift shop truck.

4. Band Practice
Date: 7 Sept 2011 time: 8:15pm Venue: Corp Worship Hall
We encourage all to join us and come for practice.

5. Lantern Festival Pot Bless BBQ (change from 9 Sept to 10 Sept)
Date: 10 Sept 2011 Time: 08:00pm Venue: Corps Compound.
Programme: Relaxing and sharing time with BBQ. Please bring along some food to share. This is volunteer.

6. Post Mortem Meeting - Penang OpenDay
Date: 11 Sept 2011 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
All committee please take note and join us for a short post mortem meeting.

7. Christian Federation Malaysia Combined Service
Date: 16 Sept 2011 Time: 10am-12noon Venue: Church of Holy Spirit

Corps Cleaning 31 Aug 2011

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Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Youth Hostel Official Opening and launching of Penang Ability Programme on 4th Sept 2011.

3. Pray for brother and sister who are traveling for holidays.

4. Pray for Officers, Local Officers and brother and sister who serving in the corps ministry.

5. Pray for Penang Children's Home, Officers, Staff and boys.

Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date: 28 Aug 2011 - Cancelled

2. Cell Group
Date: 2 Sept 2011 - Cancelled (preparation for Open Day)

3. Penang Open Day
Date: 03 Sept 2011 Time: 8:30am Venue: Penang Children's Home
Opening ceremony at 8:30am, all stall start selling at 9:00am
- whoever can help on the open day, please see Bro Tan
- we also need people to help on coming Friday to set up for Open Day
- those who can help on poster and exhibition, etc are welcome
- help is also need for Corps compound cleaning

4. Colonel Gillian Downer Visit
Date: 02-04 Sept 2011 Venue: Penang Children's Home and Corps.
Programme: Penang Open Day, Senior Soldier Enrollment and Opening of Youth Hostel.

5. Lantern Festival Pot Bless BBQ
Date: 09 Sept 2011 Time: 08:00pm Venue: Corps Compound.
Programme: Relaxing and sharing time with BBQ. Please bring along some food to share. This is volunteer.

8. Christian Federation Malaysia Combined Service
Date: 16 Sept 2011 Time: 10am-12noon Venue: Church of Holy Spirit

A very special host

Major Iris Leech concludes her two-part study

‘CHRIST is the head of this house; the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.’ Many people will remember these words, which used to be emblazoned on our walls – a reminder of Christ’s omnipresence and omniscience.

How seriously, though, do we take this declaration? How would we feel if faced with the presence of the Almighty at our breakfast table?

This came to mind when I stumbled across a Bible account of God being present at a meal with his people on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 24:9–11).

The Mount Sinai experience is, for me, one of the most remarkable meal-sharing incidents recorded in the Bible. Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s two eldest sons – along with 70 elders of Israel – went up Mount Sinai, at God’s request, to share a meal in his presence; to confirm and ratify the covenant he had made with his people.

This is all the more remarkable because we also read that no one can see God and live (Exodus 33:20). To even trespass on the holy mountain was strictly forbidden for fear of God’s wrath, resulting in death (Exodus 19:12).

We are perhaps more familiar with the New Testament accounts – recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–13) – of Jesus hosting a picnic and miraculously feeding 5,000 people with just 5 barley loaves and 2 fish. At another picnic Jesus hosted, 4,000 people were fed from 7 loaves and a few fish (Matthew 15:29–38; Mark 8:1–9).

At a post-resurrection appearance, he hosts breakfast on the beach for the perplexed disciples (John 21:1–15).

We cannot think about Christ hosting a meal without recalling to mind the Last Supper, which Jesus shared with his disciples before the Crucifixion (John 13 to 17). He told them – and us – that when we have a meal, we are to remember his sacrifice and suffering on our behalf.

This incident is beautifully depicted in the painting by Leonardo da Vinci. As an avid listener to Radio 4, I was intrigued to hear a recent production by food writer Stefan Gates, who investigated da Vinci’s masterpiece, painted between 1496 and 1498 and restored in 1997. It covers the entire wall at one end of the refectory of the Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

Although the radio programme focused on ‘What did Jesus eat?’, investigations revealed that the leavened bread and wine glasses on the table in the painting would not be associated with the Jewish Passover meal. Nor was there any sign of lamb, which traditionally would have been eaten at the Passover. There was, however, the suggestion of grilled eels and sliced oranges – food that would have been eaten at the time the painting was commissioned.

There was further speculation about the position of the painting in the refectory. It is positioned as the head table; those partaking of their meal in the refectory would have been seated at tables along the sides of the room, with another long table at the opposite end of the room facing the painting.

The idea was mooted that the painting was thus positioned to show that Jesus was sharing in the same food that the residents would have been eating. It would have acted as a reminder that Christ was with them, that he was their guest at mealtimes. What an impact that would have had on those diners – and what a message for us today, that the risen Christ is the guest at our meal table!

When we say grace before our meal, we remember that Christ is the unseen guest, listening to our conversation, helping us see life in a different perspective through the presence of the Holy Spirit, guiding and directing our thinking.

It is a wonderful thought that we share our meals in Christ’s presence, and that one day we will be sharing with him in the Kingdom of God.

The party has already begun! In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus says: ‘I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent’ (Luke 15:7 New International Version).

When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
(SASB 892)

• Major Leech is corps officer at Worthing

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Corps activities:
Corps Band, Banana leaf Ministry, Senior Citizen's Programme, Youth, Ladies & Children's Ministries, Corps Sport & Outing, Senior Corps.

3. Pray for Madam Khoo Ah Siew (Community Service Client)

4. Pray for Kenny & Andy, Matthias, Soon Teong, Ah Hong, Moji, Gary, David, Dennis

Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date:21 Aug 2011 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps
Sharing by: Capt. Zane Haupt

2. Prayer Ministry
Date: 26 Aug 2011 - Cancel

3. Penang Open Day -Stall Holders Meeting
Date: 26 Aug 2011 Time: 8pm Venue: Penang Children's Home
All stall holder please take note and attend.

4. Penang Open Day
Date: 03 Sept 2011 Time: 8:30am Venue: Penang Children's Home
Opening ceremony at 8:30am, all stall start selling at 9:00am

5. Band Practice
Date: 24 Aug 2011 Time: 8pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall

6. Colonel Gillian Downer Visit
Date: 02-04 Sept 2011 Venue: Penang Children's Home and Corps.
Programme: Penang Open Day, Senior Soldier Enrollment and Opening of Youth Hostel.

7. Lantern Festival Pot Bless BBQ
Date: 09 Sept 2011 Time: 08:00pm Venue: Corps Compound.
Programme: Relaxing and sharing time with BBQ. Please bring along some food to share. This is volunteer.

8. Christian Federation Malaysia Combined Service
Date: 16 Sept 2011 Time: 10am-12noon Venue: Church of Holy Spirit

Sunday Service (Logos Hope) 21 Aug 2011

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Sunday School Outing - 20 Aug 2011

Band of brothers

BIBLE STUDY

Colonel David Guy begins a four-part study entitled Touched By God’s Hand

THE furore over Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow’s book, The Grand Design, which declares that we do not need God to explain the origin of the Universe, has led me to think again about the basic reason why we believe in God.

It is not because of any theories about Creation, but because of a presence that sometimes – not all the time, perhaps not often – becomes part of our awareness, and to which we feel we must make a response.

People describe this experience in various ways: ‘God has spoken’ is one. ‘I felt his presence’ is another.

One of the earliest occurrences in the Bible when God is said to have touched people is found in the story of Saul, the first king of Israel.

The people had asked for a king to lead them into battle. After some initial resistance, the prophet Samuel was led to present Saul as the chosen man. Not everyone was impressed. He was young, unknown and belonged to an unimportant tribe. Some growled: ‘How can this fellow save us?’ (1 Samuel 10:27 all quotations from New International Version unless stated otherwise) and did not volunteer for service. To them this was an entirely secular development and they waited to see how the new king would turn out.

But others sensed that the emergence of this hitherto unknown champion was not the result of human choice. Something told them that God was involved, and before Saul had proved himself as a leader there went with him ‘valiant men whose hearts God had touched’ (1 Samuel 10:26).

The New Revised Standard Version calls them ‘warriors’. They were laymen responding to the unseen voice or the touch of God on their lives.

The King James Version says ‘a band of men’ – and it is worth stressing the plurality of the statement. Each young man had his own experience of God, but this moment of being in touch with the Divine did not separate him from the others. Rather, it drew each individual into fellowship with those who had met the same God. Genuine religious experience does not make for loneliness but for comradeship; each has his or her own different experience of God but the reality and effect are the same – for it is the one God who has acted in the lives of the many.

Once, while listening to cadets’ testimonies, I reflected that each one had a different story to tell – for human beings are individuals and each begins his or her response-journey from a different place. All, however, concluded with reconciliation, liberation and peace.

We all have the same saviour and so there is a family likeness in all our experiences.

What happened to Saul’s heroic band of brothers in the years that followed? They shared his early victories but were they disillusioned by his subsequent decline into despondency and suspicion? How did they view his turning against David when the young champion became so popular that Saul felt threatened? (See 1 Samuel 18:6–11.) Were they involved when Saul neglected the defence of his kingdom to hunt David in the wilderness? (See 1 Samuel 24.)

They could not have been unaware of Saul’s decline; how did this affect their faith?

If we serve the Lord, particularly if we preach the gospel or have a gift for evangelism, people may look at us and think: ‘Through that man/woman, God once touched me.’ If, like Saul, we allow personal jealousy and gloomy negativity to spoil our service, we may make it harder for others to continue in faith.

We follow a leader who appeared to fail, just like Saul. But unlike Saul – unlike every other human being – he was totally consistent in obedience to his Father. Consequently, he was shown by the Resurrection to be accepted by his Father and declared to be the powerful Son of God – the true victor. And his ultimate triumph meant life and liberty for others, not only for himself.

Through that same Lord Jesus, let us continually claim the grace of God by which we may follow in his steps – not to repeat his once-for-all achievement but to allow it to reshape our lives.

Next week we will look at the touch of God on the prophets and the mysterious and tragic figure of Job

• Colonel Guy lives in retirement in West Wickham

Youth Fellowship - 14 Aug 2011

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Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Shanti Nadaraja's mum health.

3. Pray for 13th General Election.

4. Pray for Robin Lee, Eng Heng, Jonathan Lim, Scott Ooi and Jihhan for their studies.

5. Pray for new senior soldiers enrollment on 04 Sept 2011.

Sunday School 14 Aug 2011

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Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date:14 Aug 2011 Time: 3:00pm Venue: Corps
Programme: Mini Olympic

2. Cell Group
Date: 19 Aug 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Worship Hall
All are welcome.

3. Penang Open Day
Date: 03 Sept 2011 Time: 8:30am Venue: Penang Children's Home
Opening ceremony at 8:30am, all stall start selling at 9:00am

4. Open Day Ticket
To whom still holding the Open Day Ticket, please try to sell it at the soonest and return the remaining ticket as soon as possible.

5. Colonel Gillian Downer Visit
Date: 02-04 Sept 2011 Venue: Penang Children's Home and Corps.
Programme: Penang Open Day, Senior Soldier Enrollment and Opening of Youth Hostel.

6. Lantern Festival Pot Bless BBQ
Date: 09 Sept 2011 Time: 08:00pm Venue: Corps Compound.
Programme: Relaxing and sharing time with BBQ. Please bring along some food to share. This is volunteer.

7. Christian Federation Malaysia Combined Service
Date: 16 Sept 2011 Time: 10am-12noon Venue: Church of Holy Spirit

8. Logos Hope Visit (World Largest Floating Bookstore)
Date: 19 Aug - 25 Sept 2011 Venue: Penang, Swettenham Pier
Time: Tue-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 1pm-10pm, Mon closed.
Sunday school children will be visit on 20 Aug, living Corps at 1:30pm. Those who want to join can do so.

9. Flower Offering 2012
Kindly see Bro Francis for your kind flower offering for the year 2012.

10. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Youth Hostel (Just Complete) - 13 Aug 2011

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Junior Soldiers Enrollment July 2011

Photo taken during Junior Soldiers Enrollment July 2011



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Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Bro Steven Chung's father who is in hospital.

3. Pray for Senior Citizen Fellowship on 13 Aug 2011.

4. Pray for Corps Sport and Outing.

5. Pray for Penang Children's Home

6. Pray for Somalia, many children are dying in hunger.

Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date:07 Aug 2011 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps
Worship Leader: Bro Jihhan Sharing: Bro Cheh Ho
Games: Lieut. Fiona & Bro Joseph Hue

2. Prayer Ministry
Date: 12 Aug 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Worship Hall
All are welcome.

3. Senior Citizen Fellowship
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00am Venue: Abu Siti Lane
All are welcome to join us for this fellowship.

4. Corps Sports & Outing
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 3:00pm Venue: Penang Bowl
Please inform Sister Jasinta for more information and your attendance.

5. Corps Council Meeting
Date: 9 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00pm Venue: Community Hall
Corps Council members please take note.

6. Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 14 Aug 2011 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Stall holders meeting will be announce later. All committee please take note.
Stall sponsors, please notify the committee as soon as possible to finalize all stall list.

7. Open Day Ticket
To whom still holding the Open Day Ticket, please try to sell it at the soonest and return the remaining ticket by 14 Aug 2011.

8. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Ladies Fellowship 6 Aug 2011

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Children's Holiday Camp 2011

Photo take during Children's Holiday Camp 2011



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SAFE Fellowship July 2011

Photo taken during SAFE Fellowship July 2011



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Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Bro Steven Chung's father who is in hospital.

3. Pray for CFM meeting with Chief Minister of Penang on 02/02/2011 at noon.

4. Pray for Senior Citizen Fellowship on 13 Aug 2011.

5. Pray for Corps Sport and Outing.

6. Pray for Penang Children's Home

Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date: 31 July Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps
Worship Leader: Bro Sam Sharing: Capt. Tan
Bible Reading: William Offering collection: Loo Soon Kean

2. Cell Group
Date: 5 Aug 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Worship Hall
All are welcome.

3. Senior Citizen Fellowship
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00am Venue: Abu Siti Lane
All are welcome to join us for this fellowship.

4. Corps Sports & Outing
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 3:00pm Venue: Penang Bowl
Please inform Sister Jasinta for more information and your attendance.

5. Ladies Fellowship
Date: 6 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00pm Venue: Corps
Ladies please take note.

5. Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 14 Aug 2011 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Stall holders meeting will be announce later. All committee please take note.
Stall sponsors, please notify the committee as soon as possible to finalize all stall list.

6. Open Day Ticket
To whom still holding the Open Day Ticket, please try to sell it at the soonest and return the remaining ticket by 14 Aug 2011.

7. Flower Offering 2012
Kindly see Bro Francis for your kind flower offering for the year 2012.

8. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Stations of the cross

Lieut-Colonel Ivor Telfer reflects on passengers and prayer

I BELIEVE it was Bishop Tom Wright who used the phrase ‘colonising earth with the presence of Heaven’. The more I ponder the bishop’s words, the more I am challenged to wonder how any such colonisation might take place and what part I might have to play in that process.

Most days of my life my ministry as an officer, presently appointed to Territorial Headquarters, takes me by train from my village in Kent to the Elephant and Castle in South London. Slowly but surely ‘the 6.48’ is becoming my personal mission field.

It might be assumed that my journey provides little opportunity for witnessing, given the well-known reserve of English commuters and their traditional reluctance to chat on their way to work!

It’s true that conversations aren’t plentiful as noses are buried in books and newspapers, but I have sensed the Holy Spirit ‘nudging’ me to breach the boundaries of silence in order to put Bishop Wright’s words into practice. My reasoning is that if I am to spend an hour or so with pretty much the same group of people more or less every morning of my working week, then I have a ready-made opportunity staring me in the face. I feel it is incumbent upon me to be a ‘Kingdom commuter’.

Allow me to relate just a little information about some of those with whom I share my journeys. (I have changed their names.)

Nick is a security guard in a bank and is a great joker – the sort of person we might refer to as ‘the salt of the earth’. Each morning, Nick buys himself a cup of tea but only ever finishes half of it. The rest is used to water part of the station garden!

Ruby works in ‘a customer industry’ and lives with her daughter and her baby.

Peter is a solicitor whose three children attend a weekly boarding school. As a family, they take six weeks’ overseas holiday every summer.

Charles is employed by a company that tendered for building work at William Booth College.

A ‘city gent’ wearing a designer suit and nice glasses reads the Financial Times on his iPad.

A woman who brings her scooter with her onto the train reads from her BlackBerry.

The list goes on: a building worker, a personal assistant to the boss of a shipping company who has been married twice and owns a house in Florida, a man who folds his copy of the Financial Times into four vertical columns so that he can read it easily in a crowded train, a man who reads his Bible as he travels.

My concern is how to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to those I meet.

Even these brief encounters indicate a wide range of social needs, differing circumstances and personal issues. One man, for example, travelled with his wife for the first 18 months of our acquaintance. Now he travels with another woman with whom he seems very friendly. His relationship(s) are not for me to judge, but they are for me to pray about if I claim to serve a God who cares.

Who knows what concerns people carry as they go about their weekday routines! What matters might be at stake as they climb aboard? What heartaches might be hidden?

I am mindful of the latter part of John 10:10, in which Jesus says he came to give us life in all its fullness. How many of my travelling companions have any idea of what it is to enjoy life in Christ? Is the concept of church in any way relevant to them? How do they regard Christians? Do they ever wonder if there might be more to life?

If I am to join in with the notion of Big Society then it behoves me to continually regard each commuter as someone for whom Jesus died – an individual who is known and loved by God, not merely a face in the bustling crowd. If I approach my journeys with that in mind, then even the mundane becomes mission!

Their business is their business – builders, financiers, telecommunications experts and so on. My business is to pray for them and to explore ways of sharing the gospel.

• Lieut-Colonel Telfer is Secretary for Business Administration, THQ

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

2. Pray for Bro Kenny Khoo & family in losing of their father.

3. Pray for Shanti's, her mum and family.

4. Pray for Corps Family: Bro Kok Keong (Joshua) and Mrs. Chin

5. Pray for Corps Family: Chris and Sheila Lee

6. Pray for Corps Family: Francis, Maggie and Fernando Elias

Announcements

1.Small Group Gathering
There won't be any cell group or prayer group gathering on every 5th Friday of the month. For 29th July - gathering is cancel. Please take note.

2. Visit of Chief Secretary
We want to thank Lieut. Colonel Bob & Wendy Lee, Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary for Women's Ministries for their visit and ministry.

3. Senior Citizen Fellowship
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00am Venue: Abu Siti Lane
All are welcome to join us for this fellowship.

4. Corps Sports & Outing
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 3:00pm Venue: Penang Bowl
Please inform Sister Jasinta for more information and your attendance.

5. Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 14 Aug 2011 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Stall holders meeting will be announce later. All committee please take note.

6. Open Day Ticket
To whom still holding the Open Day Ticket, please try to sell it at the soonest and return the remaining ticket by 14 Aug 2011.

7. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

This is my story

The first of a two-part study by Major Cliff Allchin

STUDY PASSAGE: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1–15

THE other day I came across a list of 25 things that you should do before you die – an English version of the ‘bucket list’. What things might we regret at the end of our lives? Spending so much time at work that we miss out on our children’s early years, or missing an opportunity that might have made us rich? Would we rue a decision that definitely took us down the wrong path?

We have been called into fellowship with Christ in order to go out into the world and share the good news of all the wonderful things he has done for us.

Evangelist, broadcaster and author Rob Frost wrote: ‘God forgive us if we don’t tell others, for we miserably fail them and deny them the greatest opportunity of all – an opportunity to form a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.’

Read the study passage. Our story is his story. Sometimes we forget just how important it is that we share our story and the good news of Jesus, and how simple that really is. Perhaps we need to be reminded that we have not always been Christians.

I love the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32. A trawl through my sermon files reveals that I have preached more on this than any other Bible text. Yet we often forget that there were two prodigals – the one who left home and the one who stayed at home. At some point they both removed themselves from their father’s presence. The father went looking for them and sought them out. They caused him heartache and pain – yet each was dearly loved.

The Bible is unmistakably clear and painfully honest about the condition in which human beings find themselves apart from Christ; we are captives of sin and bound by its guilt and punishment. It is very difficult for those brought up in a household of faith to remember that we have been born as sinful people. Our actions and attitudes all swing towards this sinful tendency like a magnet holding sway over us, taking us away from our loving Father.

We forget who we were at our peril. The writers of the New Testament letters often had to remind their readers of this truth. For instance, Peter writes: ‘[He] called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God, once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy’ (1 Peter 2:9 and 10 all quotations from New International Version).

We are not born Christians – we can only be born-again Christians! And whether we have an incredible story to tell about our journey into faith or we have remained close to God since childhood, the truth remains that where we are today relies upon one thing only – the grace of God shown to us in Christ Jesus.

Most of us do not have a dramatic testimony, but who we are and what God has done for us can speak more clearly and powerfully than anything else. The way we live, the people we are and the priorities we make, will be powerful aspects of our Christian witness to others.

‘If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing’ (2 Corinthians 4:3). That could be your family, your friends, your work colleagues.

‘For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Corinthians 4:5). Francis of Assisi is credited with saying about preaching: ‘If necessary, use words.’

‘God… made his light shine in our hearts’ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Isn’t that something worth having on any bucket list – and so much more rewarding than surfing in Newquay or ghost-hunting in York!

FOR REFLECTION
• What would be on your bucket list? Does the list include sharing your story with others?
• Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11–32. Where do you picture yourself in that story?
• Make a comparison between the two brothers: how were they different? How were they similar?
• Look up Romans 11:30, 1 Corinthians 1:26 and Ephesians 2:3. What do these verses tell you about life without Christ?
• Take time to write down your story of how God has made his light shine in your heart.

• Major Allchin is Divisional Director for Evangelism, Anglia

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Lt Fiona, Bro Tan & Family, Bro Sunny & Family who are on travel.

2. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011 (sponsor, selling of tickets, volunteer, funding, donation).

3. Pray for Bro Chew Pong How (Ah Boy). He is still not feeling better after his last surgery on Dec 2010.

4. Pray for Corps Family: Bro Sam & family, Sister Devi & Keisha & family,

5. Pray for Senior Citizen Fellowship & Corps Sport Outing

Announcements

1. Youth Fellowship
Youth outing at 7:15pm, lead by Bro Sam and Jihan. Youth please take note.

2. Prayer Ministry
Prayer ministry on 22 July 2011 will be cancel. Please take note.

3. SAFE Fellowship
We want to thank for all those present and appreciate Commissioners Lim, Brother John Lee and Steven Foo for their contribution.

4. Visit of Chief Secretary
Lieut-Colonels Bob and Wendy Lee will be visiting Penang on 22nd July 2011. Lieut-Colonel Bob will be sharing with us on Sunday Service.

5. Senior Citizen Fellowship
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 8:00am Venue: Abu Siti Lane
All are welcome to join us for this fellowship.

6. Corps Sports & Outing
Date: 13 Aug 2011 Time: 3:00pm Venue: Penang Bowl
Please inform Sister Jasinta for more information and your attendance.

7. Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 14 Aug 2011 Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Stall holders meeting will be announce later. All committee please take note.

8. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Holiness Meeting 17 July 2011

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Youth Fellowship - 10 Jul 2011

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Father's Day Celebration 2011

Photos taken during Father's Day Celebration 2011



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Banana Leaf Ministry June 2011

Photos for Banana Leaf Ministry June 2011



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Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Hands On Team from USA Eastern who will be continuing their mission trip to Kuching, East Malaysia. They will leave Penang on 6 July 2011.

2. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

3. Pray for Bro Chew Pong How (Ah Boy). He is still not feeling better after his last surgery on Dec 2010.

4. Pray for Corps Family: Bro Eng Wong and family

5. Pray for Corps Family: Sis Blessy and her family in India.

6. Pray for SAFE fellowship on 16 July 2011.

Announcements

1. Adult Cell Group
Date: 8 July 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall. All are welcome.

2. Youth Fellowship
Youth worship this evening at 7:30pm, lead by Hand On Team. Youth please take note.

4. SAFE Fellowship
Date: 16 July 2011 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall.
Special guest: Commissioners Lim Ah Ang & Pui Chan, Brother John Lee and Steven Foo will be speaker on that day. There will be food and fellowship! All are welcome.

5. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Youth Fellowship - 19 Jun 2011

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Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Hands On Team from USA Eastern.

2. Pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

3. Please pray for Corps Family: Bro Ooi Ah Seong & Ah Peng families

4. Please pray for Corps Family: Steven, Casey and Allison Foo

Announcements

1. Warm Welcome
Warmest welcome to the "Hands On Team" from USA Eastern Territory. They will be helping at Penang Children's Home and Penang Corps & Community works.

2. Prayer Ministry
Date: 24 June 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall. All are welcome.

3. Father's Day Celebration
We want to thank the ladies in organizing this event. We have a very good turn out for the services and also stay back for lunch.

4. SAFE Fellowship
Date: 16 July 2011 Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall.
Special guest: Commissioners Lim Ah Ang & Pui Chan, Brother John Lee and Steven Foo will be speaker on that day. There will be food and fellowship! All are welcome.

5. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Cell Group 17 June 2011

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Ascension Sunday

Ascension Sunday

The first of three studies by Lieut-Colonel Alan Burns

NOW you see me… now you don’t! Forgive this rather frivolous introduction to the Ascension story. However, it seems to sum up the disciples’ feelings of perplexity and bewilderment at the moment when, it is recorded, a cloud hid Jesus from their sight as he ascended into Heaven.

In that moment, as he vanished from their sight, it seems that their cognitive capacity could not shed a glimmer of light on what their eyes were witnessing. ‘Is he really gone? Should we release the gaze of our eyes on that cloud that is hiding him? He’ll be back in a minute... surely!’

We can understand their perplexity. The disciples had recently experienced an overwhelming sense of grief and bereavement after the death of Jesus on the cross. Then his appearances and disappearances during those post-resurrection days left them wondering whether he was in fact coming or going!

For example, on the road to Emmaus Jesus suddenly appeared to two of his followers. At the precise moment when they recognised him, he was suddenly gone: ‘He disappeared from their sight’ (Luke 24:31 all quotations from Good News Bible). Now, at the Ascension, their complete inability to understand what was happening led to a further angelic appearance and explanation. The angels spoke some rather strong words (with a hint of irony?) which were designed to fill in the gaps in their understanding: ‘They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said, “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to Heaven” (Acts 1:10 and 11).

The angels told the disciples that they were looking in the wrong place, and using their eyes instead of their faith. That the angels appeared at this moment suggests that the Ascension is a significant moment in the story of Jesus. Have we misunderstood or downplayed its significance, seeing it as a less important moment in the unfolding story? What should we be ‘looking up at’ as we consider this event?

The big question in the mind of the disciples may have been this: ‘Is Jesus moving back to Heaven now? Is he leaving us?’

In the light of what Jesus had repeatedly told them, this posed a real problem. Jesus made many promises concerning his presence with them. He promised never to leave them or abandon them (see John 14:18 and 19). He promised to be with them always, right until the end of the world. Was he now leaving them? How were they to understand what their eyes were witnessing?

The sight of Jesus ascending into Heaven should not be interpreted as Jesus leaving the earth, nor indeed leaving his people. His bodily ascension into Heaven is, of course,
a mystery – in the same way that Calvary and the Resurrection are mysteries, leaving us lost in wonder and praise.

What we do know is that the Ascension is part of God’s redemptive plan.

In his book Surprised By Hope, Tom Wright reminds us of the significance of the Ascension by pointing out that the sight of the body of Jesus ascending endorses his lordship over Heaven and earth. His ascension is a clear indication that he rules in Heaven and he rules on earth and that, one day, God’s Kingdom will come in all its fullness when the two shall meet. Jesus himself said: ‘I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth’ (Matthew 28:18).

The Ascension demonstrates that Jesus is Lord – in God’s eternal domain and on earth. It demonstrates the authority and reign of Jesus over all things in Heaven and on earth. It inspires the hope that we frequently express in our prayer: ‘May your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’ (Matthew 6:10).

TO CONSIDER
• In what ways does the Ascension of Jesus speak into our understanding of his reign and rule over everything?
• Can you identify other passages in the subsequent pages of the New Testament where this is reinforced?

• Lieut-Colonel Burns is Scotland Secretary and Divisional Commander, East Scotland

Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Hands On Team from USA Eastern

2. Pray for the Banana Leaf Ministry 18 June 2011 and Father's Day Celebration 19 June 2011

3. Please pray for Corps Family: Chin Keng, Ewe Kheng, Cindy, Eng Soon, Eng Heng

4. Please pray for Corps Family: Sunny, Rachel, Elizabeth, Susan and Jonathan

5. Please pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

Announcements

1. Adult Cell Group
Date: 17 June 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall. All are welcome.

2. Banana Leaf Ministry
Date: 18 June 2011 (Sat) Time: 11:00am Venue: Community Hall.
All are welcome to support and please pray for this ministry to win souls for the Lord.

3. Father's Day Celebration
Date: 19 June 2011 (Sun) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Community Hall.
We want to thank the ladies in organizing this event.

4. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

5. Hands On Team visit From USA Eastern
Hands On Team will be visiting Penang on 14 June 2011 - 5 July 2011, while in Penang, they will be involving in Corps and Community works.

6. Children Holiday Day Camp
Thank you to all the volunteers and teachers. The children have a good time and the parents appreciated the Children holiday camp.

Family Night

Date: 11 June 2011 (Sat)

Time: 8pm - 9:30pm

Place: Penang Corps (53 Perak Road, 10150 Penang)

Prog: Mini Concert & Parenting Talk

Speaker: Assoc. Prof Dr. Angeline Cheah Soo Bee
(Lecturer on Social Work, USM)

Contact: Mrs. Tan - 012 4293010 Capt. Brenda - 012 8059112

Please invite your friends to this special event.

Let’s hear it for the boys!

by Major Karen Sandford

MATTHEW 20:20–28

I THINK boys are amazing – especially my three! Strong, funny and cute as a button. What’s not to like! Which is why I can identify with the mother of James and John in Matthew 20:20–28, as she approaches Jesus and asks him for a favour: ‘Promise me that these two sons of mine will sit at your right and your left when you are King’ (v21 all quotations from Good News Bible unless stated otherwise).

At first glance, we could be forgiven for viewing her as just another pushy mother. You know the type: the sun radiates from every inch of her beloved, perfect offspring.

What on earth was she thinking? Wasn’t she the worst kind of mother, trying to live her life through her children? But who can honestly say they wouldn’t do the same given the circumstances? A little bit of motherly intervention can go a long way!

‘You don’t know what you are asking for,’ Jesus answered the sons. ‘Can you drink the cup of suffering that I am about to drink?’

‘We can,’ they answered. ‘You will indeed drink from my cup… but I do not have the right to choose who will sit at my right and my left. These places belong to those for whom my Father has prepared them’ (vv22 and 23).

The other disciples are furious when they find out (v24). But Jesus, in his infinite patience and wisdom, reminds them that although the world they know – as subjects of Rome – is one of power, position, ambition and dominance, his Kingdom is just the opposite.

‘If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others, like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people’ (vv26–28).

American evangelist John MacArthur writes: ‘Every one of us, just like the apostles, needs to understand that true greatness lies not in dominance but in service; we all need the repeated lesson that to be great in the Kingdom is to be humble in service; we need the repeated reminder that our central ambition should be to minister to others, not to be admired by others!’

As a church of disciples, we must serve the world in which we live and we must serve each other. We are called to communities. We are to be the living word of God to the people who need to see the love of God in action. But we need to be aware that our ministry may often be beset by the temptation to look for and hold on to power and prestige.

This woman in Matthew’s Gospel is nameless – known only as the wife of Zebedee or the mother of James and John. She is thought to have been Salome.

Her story shows a life filled with passion and purpose. Imagine being known first as a devoted follower of Jesus, and also as the mother of the ‘sons of thunder’ (Mark 3:17 Authorised Version). Her devotion to Christ and his ministry is evident, as she stands at the foot of the cross (see Mark 15:40 and 41). At a time when others were running scared, she continued – with several other women – to finish what needed to be done.

‘The cost of true greatness is humble, selfless, sacrificial service,’ writes MacArthur. ‘The Christian who desires to be great and first in the Kingdom is the one who is willing to serve in the hard place, the uncomfortable place, the lonely place, the demanding place, the place where he is not appreciated and may even be persecuted. He is willing to work for excellence without becoming proud, to withstand criticism without becoming bitter, to be misjudged without becoming defensive, and to withstand suffering without succumbing to self-pity.’

Salome’s life shows that she was aware of this. Pushy mother? I don’t think so. Just a mother whose fierce love for her children meant that she made the occasional mistake.
Jesus knew and understood that. Thankfully, he still does.

• Major Sandford is the corps officer at Caterham

Penang Open Day 2011

The Salvation Army Penang is organizing an Open Day on 3rd September 2011.

This year, our target is to raise RM100K to help fund our work in Penang in the residential care, daycare service, community services , youth hostel, emergency relief work.







We pledged the public, friends, donors and sponsor to help us meet our target objective. You are welcome to offer your help selling our coupon, setting up stores, fund raising programme, store helper, store sponsor, etc.










"Because you care, we can be there"

Announcements

1. Adult Cell Group
There will be no cell group meet on 3rd June 2011.

2. Youth Fellowship
There won't be any Youth gathering due to school holiday. Youth please take note.

3. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: RM80.00
Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

4. CCM Combined Churches Ascension Day
Date: 2nd June 2011 (Thur) Time: 8pm Venue: Victory Lutheran Church, Island Glades.
All are welcome to support.

5. Banana Leaf Ministry
Date: 18 June 2011 (Sat) Time: 11:00am Venue: Community Hall.
All are welcome to support and please pray for this ministry to win souls for the Lord.

6. Father's Day Celebration
Date: 19 June 2011 (Sun) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Community Hall.
We want to thank the ladies in organizing this event.

7. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

8. Hands On Team visit From USA Eastern
Hands On Team will be visiting Penang on 14 June 2011 - 5 July 2011, while in Penang, they will be involving in Corps and Community works.

Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Devi's husband, Ravindren for his Salvation

2. Please pray for Robin Lee, who will be going for further study at UTAR, Perak.

3. Please pray for Corps Family: Francis, Maggie and Fernando Elias

4. Please pray for Corps Family: Brother Ang Chai Thiam & Family

5. Please pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

6. Pray for the Youth and Women Camp happen come week.

7. Pray for Children Holiday Camp starting soon.

8. Pray for the Banana Leaf Ministry and Father's Day Celebration

Worship Team Gathering

Picture taken during Worship Team gathering May 2011



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Senior Citizen Breakfast May 2011

Photo taken at Senior Citizen Breakfast May 2011



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Corps Outing - Sungai Sedim

Photos taken at the Sungai Sedim, Kulim sports outing.



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Announcements

1. Prayer Ministry
Date: 27th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
All are welcome.

2. Youth Fellowship
Date: 22nd May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 7:30pm Venue: Corps Compound
Programme: Floorball. All youth are welcome.

3. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: RM80.00
Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

4. YMCA Christian Fellowship
Date: 26 May 2011 (Thur) Time: 8pm Venue: YMCA, Macalister Road
Speaker: Capt Tan Guat Hai. All are welcome.

5. Youth & Women's Camp
Those who going to the camp, please take note of things to bring for the camp.

6. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

7. Hands On Team visit From USA Eastern
Hands On Team will be visiting Penang on 14 June 2011 - 5 July 2011, while in Penang, they will be involving in Corps and Community works.

Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Devi's husband, Ravindren for his Salvation

2. Please pray for Robin Lee, who will be going for further study at UTAR, Perak.

3. Please pray for Corps Family: Sunny, Rachel, Elizabeth, Susan & John Zachariah

4. Please pray for Corps Family: Choong Eng, Jenny, Sheila, Chris Lee, Scott and Chui Peeng.

5. Please pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

Announcements

1. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 17 May 2011 (Tuesday - Vesak Day) Time: 7:30am Venue: Sungai Sedim, Kulim
Please let Jacinta know your attendance. Ladies please help with food and drinks. Thank you.

2. Adult Cell Group
Date: 20th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
All are welcome.

3. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: Early Bird (Closes 30Apr) RM60.00....Late (closes15May) RM80.00...
Open for register now. Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

4. YMCA Monthly Service
Date: 26 May 2011 (Tuesday) Time: 8pm Venue: YMCA, Macalister Road
Speaker: Capt Tan Guat Hai. All are welcome.

5. Penang Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 22 May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps
Committee members please be reminded.

6. One Ringgit Per Month
Encourage brothers and sister to give one ringgit a month for Corps Social Ministry.
You can even extend the invitation to your family and friends.

Prayer Request

1. Please pray for Corps Sport and Outing, going to Sungai Sedim.

2. Please pray for Issue of Malicious Reports in Utusan Malaysia.

3. Please pray for Corps Family: John, Shirley, Cheryl, Robin & Michelle Lee.

4. Please pray for Corps Family: Dave, Lily & Daniel Clarke.

5. Please pray for Penang Open Day on 3rd Sept 2011.

Mother's Day Sunday Worship 2011

Recent photo taken during Sunday Worship - Mother's Day 2011



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Mother's Day Dinner 2011

Recent picture on Mother's Day Dinner 2011.



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Cell Group 6 May 2011

Recent Cell Group photo taken at Brother Tan home

What is ‘why’?

Major Mark Herbert begins a three-part series entitled A Study Of Haggai

STUDY PASSAGE HAGGAI 1:1–11

TIME doesn’t always fly; in some circumstances, it can feel like time has stood still. Less than two years ago men with white hats, yellow coats and hobnail boots arrived at William Booth College to commence the largest, single building project in the United Kingdom Territory since the first college was completed in 1929. As the project draws to its climax, we anticipate with growing excitement the stronger impact and influence the college’s ministry will have around the Army world.

William Booth College is in good company with others who have been through a building project. Six hundred years before Christ, a growing number of Jews returned from exile to a Jerusalem that lay in ruins.

The prophet Haggai recalls the story in our study passage. His Old Testament prophecy has an intensity about it that easily gets under the skin; but this is the role of the prophet. The prophet sees what others can’t, hears what others don’t and says what others won’t. Therefore, we should give Haggai a measured reading and take note when he says ‘give careful thought’ (1:5; 1:7; 2:15; 2:18) and ‘be strong’ (2:4 all quotations from New International Version).

The Temple had not been rebuilt, even though the foundation had been laid 15 years earlier. It still lay in ruins. The Jews were eager that the altar should be built but, as opposition grew, their determination waned and the project came to a halt.

Haggai speaks the word of God to his people. Little is known about Haggai, but through his leadership he encouraged the rebuilding of the Temple.

The piercing question in 1:9 is at the core of these early verses. God asks: ‘Why?’ So, what is ‘why’?

Simply stated, humankind’s priorities were not the same as God’s. The people were saying it was not the right time to rebuild the Lord’s house. Perhaps they were right. They lived with the political pressure of re-establishing their community with the aftershocks of a changed political landscape. The economy wasn’t in great shape; questions were undoubtedly asked about better ways of spending money. Some things never change!

God disagreed. There is never a good time to go against God. God says what, where and how to build. Haggai records, for future reference, the link between behaviour and circumstances (1:6 and 9–11).

Frustration, tiredness and emptiness are common emotions when the choices we make go against God’s plans. What is the ‘why?’ of verse 9? The text speaks of poor decision-making, blurred focus and mixed priorities. The comfort of a nice home (1:4) can be a distraction. As a consequence, the harvest failed – itself a sign of the judgment of God. No rain, no crops, no Temple. God extends grace, but also he disciplines and judges.

There is a more significant point from this text – so obvious, it is almost missed. Things began to change when God raised up a leader to lead his people: ‘The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai’ (1:1). When God’s time has come, our time has come. Haggai was a leader who did the right things at the right time for the right reasons. Everything rises and falls on leadership.

Haggai saw the need to dream and could imagine what had not yet happened. We should never underestimate the power of a leadership moment that is the catalyst to changing a culture.

Building projects that bring honour and glory to God are biblical. The legacy of the William Booth College building project will not be the new or refurbished structures nor the quality of the food. The legacy will be the high calibre of leaders shaped by all that is offered from the college.

The necessity to build a temple may not be relevant for today, but the priority of leadership remains. There is a leadership vacuum – a shortage of people with the capacity for leadership.

William Booth College is now a training facility that will help to identify, train, send and provide continuing development opportunities for the next generation of spiritual leaders. Some might think that the money invested in refurbishing the college could have been better spent.

But God’s priorities must become our priorities. Haggai’s story tells us that when the leadership is clear, people gather around a common cause, temples are built and God is given his rightful place.

Announcements

1. Prayer Ministry
Date: 13th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall.
All are welcome.

2. Corps Council Meeting
Date: 10th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Corps Council Members, please take note.

3. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: Early Bird (Closes 30Apr) RM60.00....Late (closes15May) RM80.00...
Open for register now. Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

4. Senior Citizen's Fellowship
Date: 14 May 2011 (Saturday) Time: 8:00am Venue: To be inform
All senior are welcome to join us in this fellowship.

5. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 17 May 2011 (Tuesday - Vesak Day) Time: 7:30am Venue: Sungai Sedim, Kulim
Please let Jacinta know your attendance. Ladies please help with food and drinks. Thank you.

6. Penang Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 22 May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps
Committee members please be reminded.

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Captain Harry, Brother Chew Pong Hoe (Ah Boy) and Sis Rachel for speedy recovery.

2. Please pray for all Mother's

3. Pray for our Territorial Commander, Col Gillian Downer.

4. Pray for Penang Open Day to be held on 3rd September 2011

5. Pray for Senior Citizen's programme 14/05/2011 and Corps Outing 17/05/2011.

Recognising Jesus

by General John Larsson (Retired)

STUDY PASSAGE: LUKE 24:13–35

WOULD we recognise the risen Jesus if we met him? Two of his disciples didn’t – and that was on the first Easter Sunday after they had been told that he was alive again!

Luke tells the story in chapter 24:13–35. Cleopas and another disciple were walking to Emmaus, ‘talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him’ (vv14–16 all quotations unless stated otherwise, from New International Version).

Or, as Mark puts it: ‘Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country’ (16:12).

The two disciples told the stranger why they were downcast. They had hoped Jesus was the one who was going to redeem Israel, but he had been crucified. That morning some women disciples had found the tomb empty and an angel had said he was alive. Some of their companions had later been to the tomb but had not seen him.

‘[Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

‘As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

‘When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

‘They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke the bread’ (vv25–35).

We don’t know exactly how they were kept from recognising him, or in what way Jesus appeared in a different form. The two disciples would have known Jesus well – an ancient tradition even has it that Cleopas was Joseph’s brother, and therefore an uncle of Jesus. But the Lord was clearly sufficiently different in his risen form for them not to know immediately who he was.

If they did not recognise Jesus on the first Easter Sunday, how much more are we in danger of not recognising him today when he draws near to us? We have the added challenge that Jesus ascended into Heaven 40 days after that Easter Sunday, and his physical appearances on earth ceased. From that time on, encounters with Jesus have been in the nature of a spiritual experience. Sometimes such experiences have been dramatic, as was Saul’s on the Damascus road, and he could hardly have failed to recognise Jesus in that encounter. But for most of us, the approach of Jesus has been gentler – and more easily missed.

The signs of his approach can vary, but are often the same as those the two Emmaus disciples experienced. When words of Scripture suddenly light up for us, and when – in that beautiful phrase – our hearts burn within us, they are sure signs that Jesus has drawn near and wants to share with us. And when we recognise his presence and quietly say to him ‘Stay with me’ and then listen to his voice within, we soon know that we are meeting with the risen Lord.

But how easy it is for us to miss him. We hurry along the road – there is so much that has to be done – and when Jesus draws near we don’t recognise him. And instead of an Easter morning in our soul there is emptiness.

When, some weeks before his death, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, he exclaimed, ‘You did not recognise God’s moment when it came’ (Luke 19:44 New English Bible). Had Cleopas and his companion not recognised God’s moment when it came to them on the Emmaus road, there would have been tears in Heaven.

May there never be tears in Heaven because we have failed to recognise such a moment!

Announcements

1. Adult Cell Group
Date: 6th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Bro Tan home.
All are welcome.

2. Mother's Day Celebration
Date: 7th May 2011 (Saturday) Time: 7:00pm Venue: Corps
Lots of food, fellowship, games, prize and fun awaits you.
Men are welcome to cook for competition, please give your name to Capt Tan and Lieut Fiona

3. Youth & Women's Camp
Date: 1-4 June 2011 Venue: Eagle Ranch, Port Dickson
Registration date has closed.

4. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: RM60.00
Open for register now. Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

5. Senior Citizen's Fellowship
Date: 14 May 2011 (Saturday) Time: 8:00am Venue: Abu Siti Lane
All senior are welcome to join us in this fellowship. Please contact Captain Tan for more info.

6. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 17 May 2011 (Tuesday - Vesak Day) Time: 7:30am Venue: Sungai Sedim, Kulim
Please let Jacinta know your attendance. Ladies please help with food and drinks. Thank you.

7. Penang Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 22 May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps
Committee members please be reminded.

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Captain Harry, Brother Chew Pong Hoe (Ah Boy) and Sis Rachel for speedy recovery.

2. Pray for Mother's Day Celebration on 7th May 2011

3. Pray for Corps Children's Day Camp,

4. Pray for Penang Open Day to be held on 3rd September 2011

5. Pray for other Corps Ministries: Cell & Prayer Group, Children's Ministry, Women Ministry, Youth Ministry, Banana Leaf, Senior Citizen, Youth Hostel and etc.

Costly praise

Costly praise

by General John Larsson (Retired)

STUDY PASSAGE: MATTHEW 21:6–11

SOMETIMES when we look at a Bible narrative it is a small detail that can catch the eye. In the story of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday there is a notable example of this.

We know the scene. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey he was met by a large crowd that praised God, shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ (v9 all quotations from New International Version).

Here is the small detail. We read that some in the crowd ‘spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road’ (v8). We are so familiar with the story that it is easy to miss the small detail that praise was offered in two different ways.

Those who cut branches from the palm trees and spread them on the road did their praising on the cheap. The trees were not theirs, and cutting off a few branches was no problem to them. Praising the Lord cost them nothing.

But for those who spread their own cloaks on the road it was a different story. Their robes would be trodden on not only by the donkey and the colt, but also would be trampled on by the crowd that followed. At the very least the cloaks would be dirtied and might even be torn. This was praise at a price – it was costly praise.

I think that Jesus would have noticed the difference. He had an eye for costly praise, for costly devotion.

Just the previous evening, when he was dining in Bethany, a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town brought an alabaster jar of perfume and poured the perfume over him. ‘Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me… Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:4–9).

Jesus honoured her costly devotion. The critics thought it a waste of money. But not Jesus. He knew the power of deep devotion, and called what she had done a beautiful thing. He honoured her costly thanksgiving and praise. And the next day, as he entered into Jerusalem, he would have known the difference between those who cut off palm branches from the trees and those who were prepared to lay their robes on the road.

It has always been so. Jesus honours devotion and praise that are costly. The world may say, ‘Why this waste?’ – as they did to the early Christian martyrs when they prepared to die rather than give up their faith.

The critics may say, ‘Why this waste?’ – as they did to Father Damien, when that brilliant young Belgian priest announced that he would be devoting his life to serving the needs of people with leprosy on a remote Pacific island.

And some may ask, ‘Why this waste?’ – as they asked young Samuel Brengle, when he abandoned the prospect of a glittering ecclesiastical career to join with the early-day Salvation Army. But not Jesus. He understood the meaning of costly devotion and knew that what each was doing was a beautiful thing.

It is still so today. I once preached about costly praise on a Palm Sunday, using as my text this difference between praising the Lord with a branch or a robe. Many years later a woman Salvationist said to me: ‘I was a visitor in your meeting that Sunday. My own corps officer had just asked me to take over the youth group. I didn’t want to do it. I enjoyed simply coming to the meetings on Sunday and worshiping and praising the Lord. But when I heard that message I knew that my praise was costing me nothing, and that the Lord wanted more from me. So I said yes to the request – I placed my cloak in the road, and took over the running of the youth group.’

I have no doubt that, as her praise became costly, it became a beautiful thing in the eyes of the Lord.

What kind of praise will we be offering to the Lord this Palm Sunday?

Good Friday Service 22 Apr 2011 - Photos

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Youth Fellowship - 24 Apr 2011

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Easter Sunday 24 April 2011

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Announcements

1. Helping Hand Project
Latest update, RM 1,935 was raised for PNG, thanks to all.

2. Adult Cell Group
Date: 6th May 2011 (Friday) Time: 8:15pm Venue: Bro Tan home.
All are welcome.

3. SAFE Committee Meeting
Date: 1st May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps

4. Mother's Day Celebration
Date: 7th May 2011 (Saturday) Time: 7:00pm Venue: Corps
Lots of food, fellowship, games, prize and fun awaits you.
Men are welcome to cook for competition, please give your name to Capt Tan and Lieut Fiona

5. Youth & Women's Camp
Date: 1-4 June 2011 Venue: Eagle Ranch, Port Dickson
Registration date has closed.

6. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6-10 June 2011 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Venue: Penang Corps Fees: RM60.00
Open for register now. Please contact Capt Brenda for more details.

7. Senior Citizen's Fellowship
Date: 14 May 2011 (Saturday) Time: 8:00am Venue: To be inform
All senior are welcome to join us in this fellowship.

8. Corps Sport and Outing
Date: 17 May 2011 (Tuesday - Vesak Day) Time: 7:30am Venue: Sungai Sedim, Kulim
Please let Jacinta know your attendance. Ladies please help with food and drinks. Thank you.

9. Penang Open Day Committee Meeting
Date: 22 May 2011 (Sunday) Time: 12:30pm Venue: Corps
Committee members please be reminded.

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Captain Harry, Brother Chew Pong Hoe (Ah Boy) and Sis Rachel for speedy recovery.

2. Please pray for officers who has their additional appointment or appointment changed.

3. Pray for Corps Children's Day Camp, Territorial Youth & Women Camp.

4. Penang Open Day to be held on 3rd September 2011

5. Youth Hostel, to be run by Penang Corps.

Youth Fellowship 17 Apr 2011

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Palm Sunday 17 April 2011

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Open Day Meeting 17 April 2011

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Announcements

1. Prayer Ministry
Date: 22 April 2011 Time: 8pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Combine with Good Friday Service.

2. Helping Hand
Thanks to those who participated in this walkathon fund raising to help settlement villages in Papa New Guinea with Clean Water, Food and Education. RM1,800 was raised

3. Youth & Women's Camp Date: 1 ~ 4 June 2011 Venue: Eagle Ranch, Port Dickson
Youth please contact Capt. Tan and ladies please contact Capt Brenda for more information. Please take note of the closing date as limited seats are available.

4. Good Friday Service Date: 22 April 2011 Time: 8:00pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Jesus said: "Do this in remembrance of me!"

5. Sunrise Service Date: 24 April 2011 Time: 7:00am Venue: YMCA, Penang
All are welcomed. Normal Sunday service will be as usual at 10:30am at Corps Worship Hall. Easter lunch will be serve at RM6.00 for adult and RM3.00 for student, children below 12 is free.

6. Children Holiday Day Camp Date: 6~11 June 2011 Time: 8:00am~5:00pm Fees: RM60.00
Open for register now! Please see Captain Brenda for more details.

Prayer Request

1. Pray for Captain Harry and Brother Chew Pong Hoe (Ah Boy) for speedy recovery.

2. Pray for Rachel who admitted to hospital and now at home recovery from fall injuries.

3. Good Friday Service on 22 April 2011, 8pm

4. Pray for Corps Children's Day Camp, Territorial Youth & Women Camp.

5. Penang Open Day to be held on 3rd September 2011 (change from August 2011)

6. Youth Hostel, to be run by Penang Corps.

Helping Hand Project 16 April 2011

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A story

The Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Rev Stephen Cottrell, continues his York Course series for Lent entitled Rich Inheritance… Jesus’ Legacy Of Love

I FIRST encountered the real impact of the Christian story when I saw the television film Jesus Of Nazareth as a teenager. I can still remember the power of the story – especially the Crucifixion. For the first time its meaning and relevance burnt its way into my heart and I found myself weeping uncontrollably. Embarrassed by this show of emotion, I ran from the room and threw myself onto my bed. After a while my mother came to see what the matter was. She comforted me, but told me – nicely – to pull myself together. But I couldn’t. Not then, or now.

The power of this story changes lives. The Christian faith is first and foremost the Christian story.

When Jesus sent out the first Christians to conquer the world with his message of love, they did marvellous things in the power of God’s Spirit – but most of all, they told a story. They told people what God had done in Jesus, and explained the difference this had made in their own lives. They declared that it could make a difference for the whole world.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter preaches his very first sermon. He simply tells the crowds about the things he has seen and experienced. He tells them that they have crucified the One sent by God, but who God has vindicated by raising him to new life. He tells them of the impact of Jesus on his own life. Later, when expressly forbidden from teaching in the name of Jesus, Peter responds: ‘We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20 New Revised Standard Version).

A CITY OF TWO TALES
Peter is telling two stories – about Jesus and about his own personal experience. Essentially, we are called to do the same thing.

People need to know about Jesus. It is a tragedy that many young people are growing up without knowing even the basic facts about his life and ministry.

Paradoxically, it is often the telling of our own story that is the best way into telling the story of Jesus. We live in challenging times. Many are cynical about anyone who offers optimism and hope. Many still cling to a so-called rational and scientific world view that they fancifully imagine has somehow ‘disproved God’. Consequently, the whimsical speculations of Dan Brown and intemperate put-downs of Richard Dawkins seem to get a better airing than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

What people will listen to is the testimony of others. This is something that cannot be gainsaid or disproved. You may think that science has disproved God, or that the New Testament is unreliable, but you cannot dismiss the heartfelt experience and living testimony of a friend who simply tells you what faith means for them. This is how the gospel spread in the first place – and we can read about it in that actually very reliable book called the Bible!

And this is how faith spreads today – once we begin to get the story out. First of all, our story of who God is for us, then the central story – that of Jesus himself.

A STORY, NOT A STATEMENT
The Christian faith was a set of stories before it was a set of statements. What God offers and desires is relationship. That is why in Jesus he sends us a man, not a manifesto.

A BEAUTIFUL TRUTH
The truth about God is multifaceted, like a beautiful jewel. Most of us will only ever see or appreciate a small part of it. Like every relationship, there will always be more to learn. But this also means that our story – our small glimpse of the multifaceted truth – is precious and important. We will see and experience something of the beauty and majesty of God that others are not seeing, and not experiencing. Therefore, it is all the more important that we learn how to share it.

JESUS THE STORYTELLER
Jesus often taught through a story. He knew this was the best way to communicate the sorts of truths you had to learn, inhabit and embody for yourself. The Bible is in actual fact a library – a collection of books, which are themselves collections of stories. Inspired by the Spirit of God, they don’t provide easy answers but are a gateway into our relationship with God.

Youth Fellowship - 3 April 2011

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Announcements

1. Prayer Ministry
Date: 8 April 2011 Time: 8:15pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Come and join us to intercede for others and one another.

2. Helping Hand
Date: 16 April 2011 Time: 8:00am Venue: Air Itam Dam.
Walkathon fund raising to help settlement villages in Papa New Guinea
with Clean Water, Food and Education.

3. Youth & Women's Camp
Date: 1 ~ 4 June 2011 Venue: Eagle Ranch, Port Dickson
Youth please contact Capt. Tan and ladies please contact Capt Brenda for more information. Please take note of the closing date as limited seats are available.

4. Good Friday Service
Date: 22 April 2011 Time: 8:00pm Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Jesus said: "Do this in remembrance of me!"

5. Sunrise Service
Date: 24 April 2011 Time: 7:00am Venue: YMCA, Penangl
All are welcomed.

6. Children Holiday Day Camp
Date: 6~11 June 2011 Time: 8:00am~5:00pm Fees: RM60.00
Open for register now! Please see Captain Brenda for more details.

Prayer Request

1. Please intercede for new world leader, General Linda Bond

2. Pray Sunny's family that will be traveling to India.

3. Remember the disaster victims in Myanmar, Japan and Christ Church.

4. Pray for Corps Children's Day Camp, Territorial Youth & Women Camp.

Glowing in Discipleship - Evangelize or Fossilize!

by Commissioner Lim Ah Ang

William Booth the Founder of The Salvation Army was asked to send a message to his officers around the world. Someone had offered to pay for the cost of sending this telegram. At that time, radio telegraph was this in its infancy and the charges were relatively expensive. William Booth, wanting to save costs, condensed his whole message into one word - 'OTHERS'. And that is still our mission today. The Salvation Army translated the mission of The Salvation Army into Chinese reads literally 'Save World Army'.

General John Gowans summaries the mission of The Salvation Army with a very succinct statement. We are "to save souls, grow saints and care for suffering humanity."

Jesus came into the world with a great and unique mission. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. He Himself claimed. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10) No one else could accomplish this mission and cannot in any way compare our mission to His.

Christ Jesus,, Who being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Phillippians 2: 5-8.

We who claim to be His followers are entrusted with The Great Commission. Go and make disciples of all nations., baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matt 28: 19-20. Mark has it: Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:15).

Just prior to His ascension to Heaven, Jesus said to His disciples: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8.

John's gospel clearly states His mission. In His high priestly prayer to the Father Jesus sais As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:16. He made His mission the model for ours when in His prayer statement in the form of commission He declared, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. The authority and mandates comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at the life of Jesus. He not only preached and taught the values of the Kingdom, He also served suffering humanity. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, comforted the sorrowing and even restored the dead to life again.

Evangelism must partner our social and healing ministry. Bishop John V Taylor calls it, the "three stranded presentation of the Gospel". We, His followers are to be engaged in the threefold ministry as enunciated by General John Gowans mentioned earlier in this article. We cannot disconnect evangelism and social action in our ministry.

The apostle John writing to the church had this to say, If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but he has no pity him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts and rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3: 17-20.

We have been emphasizing the Great Commission. This has been the theme of our territory for a while. "Go make disciples NOW". May we be intentional in our mission for Him to "save souls, grow saints and care for suffering humanity".