Old Haunt

A farm’s tragic past has a lasting effect in TV drama. Andrew Stone investigates

A BLAZE engulfs a barn on a Suffolk farm in 1944. While her horrified family look on, Lucy Felwood is lost to the flames. What no one at the scene could imagine is that the suspicious death of the 17-year-old would haunt the farm for decades.

That was the explosive start to the new ITV drama series 'Lightfields' on Wednesday (27 February). Viewers were taken forward from the fire to 1975, when the Lightfields farmhouse was rented by a mother and her daughter, and then to 2012, when Lucy’s younger brother Pip - now a pensioner - returned to the place of his sister’s untimely death. As Pip (Michael Byrne) went back to the farm, he was aware of an eerie presence, something which his great-grandson also noticed when he stayed there.

It had been a similar experience in the Seventies for mother and daughter Vivien and Clare. Vivien (Lucy Coho) had been evacuated as an eight-year-old to the area during the Second World War. As an adult, she could barely remember those times, but on a visit to the farm her memories started to stir - and so did some ghostly experiences.

As the drama’s action jumps between decades, viewers may begin to wonder whether the young Vivien and Pip knew something about the events of the fire. They may also want to know how Vivien and Pip will cope when they see the effects the events of the past have on their families.

There can be times in our own lives when our past comes back to haunt us. It may even be that something we have done wrong seems to follow us. A bad decision from years ago can have an impact on our lives today. An uncaring action can cause what seemed a strong friendship to go up in smoke. A moment of selfishness can ruin trust.

The Bible tells us that once our life on earth is over, we will have to give an account to God of our actions - good and bad.

If that sounds a daunting prospect, it does not have to be. Jesus took the consequences for all the wrong things we do when he was crucified on a cross. However chequered our past, if we believe and trust in Jesus, God will forgive us and forget our wrongdoing. Bible writer Paul put it like this: ‘We put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith’ (Galatians 2:16 Contemporary English Version).

In the past, Paul had been violent and aggressive. Yet by believing and trusting in Jesus, he was made right with God and provided with a new start.

It can be the same for us. By following Jesus, we can put our past behind us, have a new beginning here on earth and be ready to move into a heavenly future.

UK & Ireland War Cry March 2013
Pictures: ITV

Leant On

THE Christian season of Lent is a time for giving things up and reflecting on one’s relationship with God. Squeezed between the secular celebrations of Pancake Day and Chocolate Egg Day, the Lenten message of penitence, self-denial and preparation for the life to come is largely ignored. This year, however, may be different.

Last week, on a BBC Radio 4 Lenten talk on the theme of abandonment, Benjamin Cohen, founder of the online publication PinkNews, likened the treatment of gay people in Britain to the crucifixion of Jesus.

Speaking about his own fears of being rejected by his faith community for being gay, he said: ‘The feeling of abandonment by God in some ways has a resonance with the words of Christ in both the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, where he says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

‘Do people of faith really want to reject their children for something which I believe they can’t help? Just as the Jewish authorities rejected Christ for something he considered he couldn’t help - being the Son of God?’

Theologically, a person’s sexuality - and the consequences of that sexuality - is nowhere near being on a par with the sinless Jesus laying down his life so that a sinful world could be saved from sin’s consequences.

Emotionally, however, there is an issue. The BBC is being criticised for allowing the ‘true meaning of Lent and Easter’ to be hijacked. But if people of faith showed the kind of no-nonsense compassion of Jesus, would any members of society feel so desperate as to compare their suffering to that of the crucified Christ?

The gospel truth is that Jesus died and was raised so that the whole of humankind could repent, be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God that will last for eternity.

UK & Ireland War Cry March 2013

Prayer Request

1. Please intercede for Malaysia Youth Council.

2. Please intercede for Territorial Programme Secretary & Literary Secretary,  Majors Realton & Lynn Gibbs.

3. Please intercede for Soon Bee, Wei Lin and Eden Ong

4. Please intercede for Tian Seng, Ah Siong, Ah Peng and family.

Announcements

1. Appreciation
Thank you Lt. Colonel Tan & Patricia for their ministry and help to looked after PCH during Major Tan & Brenda absent.

2. Youth Worship
Date: 17/03/13 (Sun); Time: 7:30pm; Venue: Corps Worship Hall
All youth please take note.

3. Flag Day Street CollectionDate: 23/03/13 (Sat); Time: 7:00am; Venue: Meet at Super Tanker
Volunteers needed for the Flag Day street collection.

4. Malaysian Youth Council
Date: 24-25/03/13 Venue: Melaka
Youth are encouraged to join the Melaka Youth Council. Please see Major Tan for more information.

5. Good Friday Service
Date: 29/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Corps members are encouraged to fast and meditate the suffering of our Lord Jesus for our sins.

6. Sunrise Service
Date: 31/03/13 (Sun); Time: 6:30am; Venue: Corps Compound
Breakfast will be provided after the Sunrise service. There will be no regular Sunday Service on that day.

7.Helping Hand Project
Date: 01/05/13(Sat); Purpose: Music Ministries In The Philippines
Brother and sister are encourage to collect old newspaper from friends, colleague, neighbour for the fund raising.Our target is to raise RM2,000 for this helping hand project.

Temptations

CROSS-ROADS: In the lead-up to Easter, Rosemary Dawson looks at crucial moments in the life of Jesus

A BOY in a shop was staring longingly at the array of chocolate bars in front of him. He picked up a few and turned them over in his hands. Suspicious, the shop assistant called out: ‘Are you stealing that chocolate?’ The boy replied: ‘No, I’m just trying not to.’

Temptation gets to us all. But what could the sinless Jesus possibly know about it? How can he understand our daily struggles to do the right thing when it seems easier and more rewarding to do wrong? The answer is that Jesus understands our difficulties because he has already been there. He knows what it is to be tempted to take the easy way out - and to overcome the temptation.

Matthew 4:1-11 describes the ‘crossroads moment’ when Jesus was tempted, or ‘tested’ as many modern Bible translations describe it. It happened after God’s public confirmation of Jesus as his Son. Satan chose his moment well. After a 40-day fast, Jesus was hungry. The Devil’s first temptation was to suggest that Jesus could use his divine powers to turn the desert stones into bread.

The second test was subtler. If Jesus threw himself from the highest point of Jerusalem’s Temple and remained unscathed, crowds would flock to him. But sensationalism was not part of Jesus’ plan.
Lastly - in exchange for bowing down to Satan - Jesus was offered world domination. In each instance Jesus defeated temptation by quoting commands from the Scriptures.

Oscar Wilde said: ‘I can resist everything except temptation.’ It may seem harmless the first time we give in to it, but as the temptation goes on the harder it becomes to resist.

Perhaps the temptation for us is to raid the biscuit tin or secretly gorge on chocolate. More seriously, it could involve taking a dubious shortcut to business success or getting into a relationship that is detrimental to family life.

But here’s the good news. In Jesus ‘we don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help’ (Hebrews 4:15, 16 The Message).

Whatever our temptations, Jesus can help us at every crossroads.

UK & Ireland War Cry March 2013
Picture: War Cry library

Bro Stanley Vintage Car - Mar 2013

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Prayer Request

1. Please intercede for Malaysia General Election

2. Please intercede for Penang Flag Day Month.

3. Please intercede for Fong Yen Wong & Family, Brother Ah How.

4. Please intercede for Tong Sing, Iris, Yoke Peng, Lai Siew Kuan & Tong Meng.

5. Please intercede for 75th Anniversary Charity Fund raising dinner.

Junior Soldier Award - 10 Mar 2013

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Announcements

1. Youth Special
Date: 10/03/13 (Sun); Time: 7:30pm; Venue: Corps Worship Hall
All youth please take note.

2. Cell Group Ministry
Date: 15/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: To be announce
Please see your cell group leader for more information.

3. 75th Anniversary Committee Meeting (Postponed)
Date: 16/03/13 (Sat); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Community Hall
All the committee members please take note and attend.

4. Flag Day Street Collection
Date: 23/03/13 (Sat); Time: 7:00am; Venue: Meet at Super Tanker
Volunteers needed for the Flag Day street collection.

5. Malaysian Youth Council
Date: 24-25/03/13 Venue: Melaka
Youth are encouraged to join the Melaka Youth Council. Please see Major Tan for more information.

6. Good Friday Service
Date: 29/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Corps members are encouraged to fast and meditate the suffering of our Lord Jesus for our sins.

7. Sunrise Service
Date: 31/03/13 (Sun); Time: 6:30am; Venue: Corps Compound
Breakfast will be provided after the Sunrise service. There will be no regular Sunday Service on that day.

8. 75th Anniversary Charity Dinner Ticket
Date: 07/09/13(Sat); Time: 7:30pm; Venue: Catherdal of the Holy Spirit
Address: 1 Jalan Tingkat Besi Satu, Taman Besi, Greenland.
Please contact Major Brenda for charity dinner tickets. Our target is to raise RM75,000 for Penang Charity works. Kindly help us in selling the tickets.

Officer Promotion Lunch - Mar 2013

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Is Life Mapped Out?

Fantasy sci-fi movie asks whether our actions have a direct impact on others. Renée Davis sees the bigger picture.

Ever felt as if you’ve been here before? That’s how some of the characters in 'Cloud Atlas' - now on general release - are feeling. From the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future, the sci-fi film focuses on people who have six interlocking lives, each of which shows a different part of their personality. Through the years, the characters are reborn - some have surviving traits, others develop through the situations they face.

In 1849, Dr Goose (Tom Hanks) is working on a slave ship. Also on board is a young attorney, Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess). Goose sets out to kill him for the gold he’s carrying.

In 1973, ‘Goose’ is Isaac Sachs, a kind-hearted engineer at a nuclear plant. He discovers that his bosses are covering up a design fault in the reactor. He wants to do what’s right and leaks information to investigative journalist Luisa Rey (Halle Berry). He also finds himself falling in love with her.

They’ve been here before. Their paths crossed in 1849 when ‘Luisa’ was a downtrodden Maori slave working a plantation in the South Pacific.

Shortly after he falls for Luisa, the power company catches up with Sachs and has him killed.

By 2012, ‘Goose’ has re-emerged as the thuggish author ‘Dermot’ Hoggins. This is no Mr Nice Guy. After receiving a bad review of his latest book, in front of guests at a literary junket, Hoggins kills the critic who had the audacity to pan him. He briefly locks eyes with ‘Luisa’, who is one of the guests.

In their final instalment - now in 2346 - the pair are reunited. ‘Hoggins’ is now Zachry, a goatherd of a primitive tribe on post-apocalyptic Hawaii. ‘Luisa’ is Meronym. She comes from the Prescients, a more advanced community. She needs Zachry’s help to get to a safe location. She tells him that unless she can reach that place, the human race will die. Zachry has a decision to make.

It is easy to think that our actions don’t have a direct impact on those around us, but they do. A nasty comment can ruin someone’s day. A kind act can brighten it. Losing your temper can make a situation worse and not speaking up can do the same. But what about those decisions that can affect humanity?

Jesus had a crucial decision to make. He could choose to run from death or he could choose to carry out his God-given mission to die for a sinful world. Both would have a dramatic impact.

On the evening before he was crucified, Jesus agonised over the certain death that was to come. He spoke with God about it. He then made his decision: ‘Not as I will,’ he prayed, ‘but as you will’ (Matthew 26:39 New International Version). By following God’s plan for his life, the sinless Jesus was crucified, buried and raised so that our sin could be forgiven and we could experience a life that never ends - eternal life.

This leaves us with a decision to make. Do we believe Jesus died so that we can be forgiven and put right with God? And, if so, will we allow his life to change ours?

UK & Ireland War Cry February 2013
Photo credit: ©Warner Bros Entertainment Inc

Prayer Request

1. Please intercede for Bro Ang Chye Thiam & Ling Sin Kai (new boy)

2. Please intercede for Bro Jerry and Sis Magret

3. Please intercede for Chew Pong Hoe, It Hoe and their family.

4. Please intercede for Mrs.Chin and Bro Kok Keong

Announcements

1. Youth Outing
Date: 03/03/13 (Sun); Time: 6:00pm; Venue: To be Confirmed.
All youth please take note.

2. 75th Anniversary Committee Meeting
Date: 09/03/13 (Sat); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Community Hall
All the committee members please take note and attend.

3. Prayer Meeting
Date: 08/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Penang Corps
Please send us your prayer request.

4. Flag Day Street Collection
Date: 09 & 23/03/13 (Sat); Time: 7:00am; Venue: Meet at PCH
Volunteers needed for the Flag Day street collection.

5. Cell Group Ministry
Date: 15/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: To be announce
Please see your cell group leader for more information.

6. Malaysian Youth Council
Date: 24-25/03/13 Venue: Melaka
Youth are encouraged to join the Melaka Youth Council. Please see Major Tan for more information.

7. Good Friday Service
Date: 29/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Corps Worship Hall
Corps members are encouraged to fast and meditate the suffering of our Lord Jesus for our sins.

8. Sunrise Service
Date: 31/03/13 (Sun); Time: 6:30am; Venue: Corps Compound
Breakfast will be provided after the Sunrise service. There will be no regular Sunday Service on that day.

9. 75th Anniversary Charity Dinner Ticket
Please contact Major Brenda for charity dinner tickets. Our target is to raise RM75,000 for Penang Charity works.

Senior Citizen Breakfasft Fellowship

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World Day of Prayer - 1 Mar 2013

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Love Is ... Transforming

Journalist Frank Morison once set out to write a book disproving the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, as he studied the Bible accounts and other historical religious writings, he became more and more convinced of its truth.

In his book 'Who Moved the Stone?', he concludes that there is no evidence or explanation for the disappearance of Jesus from the tomb other than that he had been raised from death, as the Bible says. God’s love, expressed in the death of his Son on the cross, had completely changed Frank’s beliefs.

This week we’re taking a look at another sceptic, a fanatical opponent of Christianity who became one of its most influential leaders, writers and missionaries: the apostle Paul.

We first read about Paul, or Saul as he was also known, as a bystander during the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (see Acts 7:58). This event sparked an horrific persecution of Christian believers in Jerusalem, causing many to flee. Paul was one of the ringleaders. Armed with arrest warrants, Paul set off for Damascus to hunt out more Christians in hiding. But something happened during that journey: he had a life-transforming encounter with Jesus. The phrase ‘a Damascus road experience’ comes from this Bible story (see Acts 9:1-9).

How did Paul explain this sudden change of heart? He later wrote: ‘Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes’ (2 Corinthians 5:14 The Message).

‘Love changes everything,’ says the song from the musical 'Aspects of Love'. ‘Love will turn your world around … Nothing in the world will ever be the same.’ That was true for Frank Morison, for Paul and for countless people down the ages who have allowed God to change their lives for the better. Many who were regarded by society as no-hopers are now living transformed and fulfilled lives because they know their past sins are forgiven.

No wonder Paul wrote in his First Letter to the Corinthians that love ‘hopes all things’ (13:7 New Revised Standard Version). It brings hope. It was God’s love that turned Paul’s world around - from a life of hate and destruction to one of spreading the gospel of Jesus and establishing communities of Christians wherever he went.

Whoever we are, God’s love can make a world of difference.

UK & Ireland War Cry February 2013
Photo credit: War Cry pictures

Junior Soldier Award Feb 2013

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Prayer Request

1. Please intercede for Colonel Gillian Downer.

2. Please intercede for Lt. Colonel Lyndon & Bronwyn Buckingham

3. Please intercede for Hock Sun, Phee Keat, Tuan Ewe, Tuan Eng

4. Please intercede for Seow Hwee, Loo Thoe & Khye Lin Tan

5. Please intercede for 75th Anniversary working committee

Annoucements

1. Youth Fellowship
Date: 24/02/13 (Sun); Time: 7:30pm; Venue: Community Hall
All youth please take note.

2. World Day of Prayer
Date: 01/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: St. George's Church
All are welcome to join and pray for our nation and worldwide.

3.Senior Citizen Breakfast Fellowship
Date: 02/03/13 (Sat); Time: 8:00am; Venue: Paya Terubong
All seniors are welcome to join us.

4. Prayer Meeting
Date: 08/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: Penang Corps
Please send us your prayer request.

5. Flag Day Street Collection
Date: 09 & 23/03/13 (Sat); Time: 7:00am; Venue: Meet at PCH
Volunteers needed for the Flag Day street collection.

6. Cell Group Ministry
Date: 15/03/13 (Fri); Time: 8:00pm; Venue: To be announce
Please see your cell group leader for more information.

7. 75th Anniversary Charity Dinner Ticket
Please contact Captain Brenda for charity dinner tickets. our target is to raise RM75,000 for Penang Charity works.

Corps CNY Reunion Dinner Feb 2013

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