SON OF MAN
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people
say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one
of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh
and blood, but by my Father in heaven.“
Matthew 16:13-17
SEEK HIS FACE AND HONOUR HIM:
As the promised Messiah, who became human so that He could taste death, redeem us
from the curse of the law, and pay the penalty for sin on our behalf.
Honor Him as the One who, through death, destroyed the devil and all his works and
delivered mankind from the fear of death.
PRAY:
• For the Church to realize and receive their freedom from death, sin, and Satan; and to
rise up and take their authority over all the works of the devil.
• For the Church to take up their responsibility of sharing the Good News with all
peoples, in every nation.
• For the world to be set free from the stronghold of lies and arguments that the god of
this world raised in their minds against the knowledge of God; for their hearts to be
softened and prepared to receive the word of God and be delivered from darkness.
Read and meditate on Revelation 5 and 6.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Friday, May 30, 2014
Postman Delivers The Goods
The sun is shining. The grass is green. The sky is blue. It’s another normal day in Greendale for Postman Pat and his black and white cat in 'Postman Pat - The Movie', released at cinemas yesterday (Friday 23 May).
Whether he is called upon to rescue sheep from trees or simply deliver the mail, Pat (voiced by Stephen Mangan) loves his job. He is ready with a smile and a wave for every passer-by. The villagers think the world of him. At home, family life is also good. Pat is a dutiful dad to Julian and a loving husband to Sara. The only problem is, he wants to treat Sara to a holiday in Rome and he can’t quite afford it on a postman’s salary.
When Pat hears about a TV talent competitioMaden offering the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy, he decides to enter. He hopes his song will impress judge Simon Cowbell so that he can secure a place in the final and go on to claim the prize. At the auditions, Pat opens his mouth and delivers a belter. His friends and colleagues can’t quite believe it. Pat can sing! After gaining a place in the final, Pat meets rival contestant Josh.
Rupert Grint, who plays Josh, told the 'War Cry' sister paper 'Kids Alive!' about the character’s naive nature. ‘Josh is a bit of a day dreamer and sees the good in everyone,’ he says. ‘He doesn’t really care about competitions, and so his manager tries to lead him astray.’ Josh’s manager is determined to do whatever it takes to bring Pat down. So when he discovers that a robot has been employed to cover the postal rounds while Pat has been focusing on his publicity campaign, he exposes the secret. Will the public turn on their beloved postman for lying to them?
Taking centre stage, Pat comes clean. He explains to the TV audience that he didn’t want to give up his postal duties but found himself caught up in the fame game. ‘It’s so easy to lose sight of what’s important,’ he confesses. ‘Being on telly is quite a thrill, but so is playing football with your son. I forgot to take time for those I really care about.’ The truth is out. So will Pat’s wife be kissing goodbye to her dream holiday?
Although it isn’t wrong to want good things for ourselves and our loved ones, chasing glory and striving for material possessions can be harmful - especially if it comes at the cost of our relationships. In working round the clock to make more money, we risk missing out on quality time with our family and friends. While daydreaming about what we want in the future, we perhaps neglect the preciousness that is the present.
When life doesn’t seem to be as exciting as we might have hoped, it can be difficult to feel content with our lot. But Jesus tells us we mustn’t worry about it. He says: ‘Only people who don’t know God are always worrying… Your Father in Heaven knows [what] you need… Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself’ (Matthew 6:32–34 Contemporary English Version).
Whatever stage of life we are in, Jesus promises us that God cares about it. When we hand our life over to him, we will receive what we truly need: more than enough love and forgiveness to last a lifetime. They come as part of the package.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
Whether he is called upon to rescue sheep from trees or simply deliver the mail, Pat (voiced by Stephen Mangan) loves his job. He is ready with a smile and a wave for every passer-by. The villagers think the world of him. At home, family life is also good. Pat is a dutiful dad to Julian and a loving husband to Sara. The only problem is, he wants to treat Sara to a holiday in Rome and he can’t quite afford it on a postman’s salary.
When Pat hears about a TV talent competitioMaden offering the winner an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy, he decides to enter. He hopes his song will impress judge Simon Cowbell so that he can secure a place in the final and go on to claim the prize. At the auditions, Pat opens his mouth and delivers a belter. His friends and colleagues can’t quite believe it. Pat can sing! After gaining a place in the final, Pat meets rival contestant Josh.
Rupert Grint, who plays Josh, told the 'War Cry' sister paper 'Kids Alive!' about the character’s naive nature. ‘Josh is a bit of a day dreamer and sees the good in everyone,’ he says. ‘He doesn’t really care about competitions, and so his manager tries to lead him astray.’ Josh’s manager is determined to do whatever it takes to bring Pat down. So when he discovers that a robot has been employed to cover the postal rounds while Pat has been focusing on his publicity campaign, he exposes the secret. Will the public turn on their beloved postman for lying to them?
Taking centre stage, Pat comes clean. He explains to the TV audience that he didn’t want to give up his postal duties but found himself caught up in the fame game. ‘It’s so easy to lose sight of what’s important,’ he confesses. ‘Being on telly is quite a thrill, but so is playing football with your son. I forgot to take time for those I really care about.’ The truth is out. So will Pat’s wife be kissing goodbye to her dream holiday?
Although it isn’t wrong to want good things for ourselves and our loved ones, chasing glory and striving for material possessions can be harmful - especially if it comes at the cost of our relationships. In working round the clock to make more money, we risk missing out on quality time with our family and friends. While daydreaming about what we want in the future, we perhaps neglect the preciousness that is the present.
When life doesn’t seem to be as exciting as we might have hoped, it can be difficult to feel content with our lot. But Jesus tells us we mustn’t worry about it. He says: ‘Only people who don’t know God are always worrying… Your Father in Heaven knows [what] you need… Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself’ (Matthew 6:32–34 Contemporary English Version).
Whatever stage of life we are in, Jesus promises us that God cares about it. When we hand our life over to him, we will receive what we truly need: more than enough love and forgiveness to last a lifetime. They come as part of the package.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
May 30, 2014 --- Genesis 20 – Abraham pretends Sarah is his sister – again!
Read Genesis 20
- We know that Sarah was now at least 90 years old (see Ch 17:17) and yet Abraham evidently still feels he needs to deceive the King Abimelech about her…putting her in danger and in the King’s hands. Do you think Abraham should have learnt to trust God for protection by now, given the repeated promise of descendants which would come through him ?
- V12 reveals that, in Abraham’s perspective at least, he had not been lying about Sarah being his sister!
- We know that Sarah was now at least 90 years old (see Ch 17:17) and yet Abraham evidently still feels he needs to deceive the King Abimelech about her…putting her in danger and in the King’s hands. Do you think Abraham should have learnt to trust God for protection by now, given the repeated promise of descendants which would come through him ?
- V12 reveals that, in Abraham’s perspective at least, he had not been lying about Sarah being his sister!
Global Prayer DAY 2 : 30 MAY 2014
THE SON OF GOD
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the
name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
SEEK HIS FACE AND HONOUR HIM:
As the Son, sent by God the Father, Jesus clearly demonstrated the love of God by His
willingness to humble Himself and be clothed with sinful flesh, so that whoever believes
He is the Son of God would receive eternal life.
PRAY:
• For the Church to understand the necessity of repentance and forgiveness, the
privilege of partaking of the divine nature of God.
• For the Church to become as true sons of God by the Spirit of adoption, and
demonstrate their deliverance from sin through their holy lifestyles, good works, and
willingness to be placed on the altar as living sacrifices.
• For the world to understand that Jesus truly is the Son of the living God; for the
removal of all the misrepresentations of Christ, and lies concerning Him, God the
Father, and the Holy Spirit.
Read and meditate on Revelation 3 and 4
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the
name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
SEEK HIS FACE AND HONOUR HIM:
As the Son, sent by God the Father, Jesus clearly demonstrated the love of God by His
willingness to humble Himself and be clothed with sinful flesh, so that whoever believes
He is the Son of God would receive eternal life.
PRAY:
• For the Church to understand the necessity of repentance and forgiveness, the
privilege of partaking of the divine nature of God.
• For the Church to become as true sons of God by the Spirit of adoption, and
demonstrate their deliverance from sin through their holy lifestyles, good works, and
willingness to be placed on the altar as living sacrifices.
• For the world to understand that Jesus truly is the Son of the living God; for the
removal of all the misrepresentations of Christ, and lies concerning Him, God the
Father, and the Holy Spirit.
Read and meditate on Revelation 3 and 4
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Made In Heaven
As arranged marriages go, the idea that the first time you meet your spouse is on the wedding day is pretty extreme. This, though, is the concept behind a new reality show from Channel 4. In what it calls a ‘ground-breaking social experiment’, the broadcaster has acquired the rights to develop the Danish 'Married at First Sight' for a UK audience. The experiment is to see what love’s got to do with it.
If all goes to plan, viewers will watch three couples declare ‘I do’ to a complete stranger. The marriages will be legally binding and cameras will follow the couples for the first six weeks of the relationship. What happens next - quickie divorce or wedded bliss - depends on the couples. Each of the 200-plus applicants will be ‘carefully matched by a panel of experts in the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, social and evolutionary anthropology and theology in the hope that their combined professional experience can create a “perfect” match.’
It is interesting that ‘theology’ is represented - especially as Jesus rated love and relationships so highly. In the reality broadcast known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed many everyday issues, including anger, lust, adultery, promises, revenge, generosity, judgmentalism, worry, ambition and purpose. He also attacked his society’s easy-come-easy-go attitude to marriage and divorce.
It is easy to flick off this latest ‘reality’ show as tasteless. It is easy to write off the applicants as desperate - either to find Mr/Miss Right or for the chance to become a ‘celebrity’. But there is a deeper issue. A society that held marriage sacred, that cared about relationships and that honoured lifelong vows would not entertain the idea of such a programme being shown as entertainment.
That a broadcaster thinks there is a potential audience indicates just how far the UK has drifted from the lifelong, faithful, loving monogamy espoused by Jesus.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
If all goes to plan, viewers will watch three couples declare ‘I do’ to a complete stranger. The marriages will be legally binding and cameras will follow the couples for the first six weeks of the relationship. What happens next - quickie divorce or wedded bliss - depends on the couples. Each of the 200-plus applicants will be ‘carefully matched by a panel of experts in the fields of psychology, psychotherapy, social and evolutionary anthropology and theology in the hope that their combined professional experience can create a “perfect” match.’
It is interesting that ‘theology’ is represented - especially as Jesus rated love and relationships so highly. In the reality broadcast known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed many everyday issues, including anger, lust, adultery, promises, revenge, generosity, judgmentalism, worry, ambition and purpose. He also attacked his society’s easy-come-easy-go attitude to marriage and divorce.
It is easy to flick off this latest ‘reality’ show as tasteless. It is easy to write off the applicants as desperate - either to find Mr/Miss Right or for the chance to become a ‘celebrity’. But there is a deeper issue. A society that held marriage sacred, that cared about relationships and that honoured lifelong vows would not entertain the idea of such a programme being shown as entertainment.
That a broadcaster thinks there is a potential audience indicates just how far the UK has drifted from the lifelong, faithful, loving monogamy espoused by Jesus.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
May 29, 2014 --- Genesis 19 – The sin of Sodom and its subsequent Judgement
Read Genesis 19
- V1-3, why do you think Lot was so insistant on the visitors staying at his house?
- V5, does this verse reveal the problem which the angels came to judge?...or do you think it was a symptom of a bigger problem?
- Was the wickedness shown toward the two visitors with regard to homosexuality, rape, or inhospitality?
- V8, isn’t Lot’s offer of two daughters a crazy thing to do?...do you think the Bible includes this as a good thing, or as an example of human stupidity ?...is it affirming to know that the Bible does not attempt to hide such mistakes made by characters such as Lot ?
- V9, having been denied the male visitors, and having rejected the virgin daughters, the men of the city now want Lot!
- V14, even within the family unit not everyone heeded the urgent warning – does this happen today with regard to our eternal Judgement ?
- V1-3, why do you think Lot was so insistant on the visitors staying at his house?
- V5, does this verse reveal the problem which the angels came to judge?...or do you think it was a symptom of a bigger problem?
- Was the wickedness shown toward the two visitors with regard to homosexuality, rape, or inhospitality?
- V8, isn’t Lot’s offer of two daughters a crazy thing to do?...do you think the Bible includes this as a good thing, or as an example of human stupidity ?...is it affirming to know that the Bible does not attempt to hide such mistakes made by characters such as Lot ?
- V9, having been denied the male visitors, and having rejected the virgin daughters, the men of the city now want Lot!
- V14, even within the family unit not everyone heeded the urgent warning – does this happen today with regard to our eternal Judgement ?
Global Prayer DAY 1 : 29 MAY 2014
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers
or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:15-16
SEEK HIS FACE AND HONOUR HIM:
As our Creator; the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End, the First and the
Last; the One in whom you were chosen since the foundation of the world.
PRAY:
• For the Church to faithfully acknowledge the Creator in a world that is filled with lies.
• For the Church to become Christ-like in all their conduct, and so make the invisible God visible.
• For the world to see and experience Jesus Christ, and the image of the invisible God revealed through the love, actions, words and compassion evident in the lives of ordinary Christians, and so be convinced of God’s existence.
Read and meditate on Revelation 1 and 2
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things
were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers
or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”
Colossians 1:15-16
SEEK HIS FACE AND HONOUR HIM:
As our Creator; the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End, the First and the
Last; the One in whom you were chosen since the foundation of the world.
PRAY:
• For the Church to faithfully acknowledge the Creator in a world that is filled with lies.
• For the Church to become Christ-like in all their conduct, and so make the invisible God visible.
• For the world to see and experience Jesus Christ, and the image of the invisible God revealed through the love, actions, words and compassion evident in the lives of ordinary Christians, and so be convinced of God’s existence.
Read and meditate on Revelation 1 and 2
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Set-Backs Can Become Springboards
If you like television travel programmes, you’ve probably watched some of Michael Palin’s epic adventures. Whether in the Sahara or the Himalayas, even he - with all the mighty resources of the BBC to smooth his way - has occasionally encountered setbacks in reaching the more remote parts of the globe.
Imagine, then, the sheer magnitude of difficulties faced by Paul - the ‘Michael Palin’ traveller of the New Testament - as he took the message of Jesus to mainland Europe, in what is known today as Syria, Turkey, Greece, Malta and Italy. His goal was to establish Christian communities wherever he went. Grand tours and luxury holidays did not feature in Paul’s travels. With no buses to hop on, and no trains or planes to take the strain, ‘Shanks’s pony’ was his most reliable mode of transport. Along the way, Paul also coped with shipwrecks, imprisonment, floggings - and something he described as a ‘thorn in the flesh’.
Writing to believers in Corinth, he said: ‘I was given a thorn in my flesh… to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me’ (2 Corinthians 12:7, 8 New International Version). Nowadays, we tend to use this phrase to describe someone who annoys or irritates us. A ‘pain in the neck’ is another way of putting it.
There are many theories about Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’. Some scholars think it was probably a physical affliction or recurring illness, such as malaria. Whatever it was, it didn’t stop him from achieving great things - helped by his strong belief in the saving power of Jesus.
Although Paul asked God to take away his affliction three times, God didn’t answer that prayer. But he did promise to give Paul the strength to deal with it. Paul writes that God said to him: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul believed in God’s promise. And God offers the same strength to us today. When our going gets tough, there’s no better promise for us to hold on to.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
Imagine, then, the sheer magnitude of difficulties faced by Paul - the ‘Michael Palin’ traveller of the New Testament - as he took the message of Jesus to mainland Europe, in what is known today as Syria, Turkey, Greece, Malta and Italy. His goal was to establish Christian communities wherever he went. Grand tours and luxury holidays did not feature in Paul’s travels. With no buses to hop on, and no trains or planes to take the strain, ‘Shanks’s pony’ was his most reliable mode of transport. Along the way, Paul also coped with shipwrecks, imprisonment, floggings - and something he described as a ‘thorn in the flesh’.
Writing to believers in Corinth, he said: ‘I was given a thorn in my flesh… to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me’ (2 Corinthians 12:7, 8 New International Version). Nowadays, we tend to use this phrase to describe someone who annoys or irritates us. A ‘pain in the neck’ is another way of putting it.
There are many theories about Paul’s ‘thorn in the flesh’. Some scholars think it was probably a physical affliction or recurring illness, such as malaria. Whatever it was, it didn’t stop him from achieving great things - helped by his strong belief in the saving power of Jesus.
Although Paul asked God to take away his affliction three times, God didn’t answer that prayer. But he did promise to give Paul the strength to deal with it. Paul writes that God said to him: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul believed in God’s promise. And God offers the same strength to us today. When our going gets tough, there’s no better promise for us to hold on to.
UK & Ireland War Cry 24 May 2014
May 28, 2014 --- Genesis 18 – Abraham receives heavenly visitors, who repeat the promise to Sarah and travel on to judge Sodom
Read Genesis 18
- Reading through this chapter and the first verse of chapter 19, it seems that the God and two angels presented themselves in human form. Do you think God and His angels can, and still does, do this today?
- v14, a question for you, maybe with regard to your own prayers….’Is anything too hard for the LORD ?’
- v15, is there any promise or prophecy in Scripture which you doubt will occur?
- V16-33, (especially v25) ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’…how useful is this to remember when considering those who die without hearing the Gospel?
- Reading through this chapter and the first verse of chapter 19, it seems that the God and two angels presented themselves in human form. Do you think God and His angels can, and still does, do this today?
- v14, a question for you, maybe with regard to your own prayers….’Is anything too hard for the LORD ?’
- v15, is there any promise or prophecy in Scripture which you doubt will occur?
- V16-33, (especially v25) ‘Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?’…how useful is this to remember when considering those who die without hearing the Gospel?
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
May 27, 2014 --- Genesis 17 – Circumcision is the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham
Read Genesis 17
- Was God’s covenant with Abraham the Hebrew a temporary one or an everlasting one?
- V10-11, was circumcision part of the covenant itself, or was it the sign of the covenant?
- V12, why do you think day eight of a boy’s life was chosen for circumcision?
- V19-21, was God’s covenant to be established through Isaac or Ishmael?
- Was God’s covenant with Abraham the Hebrew a temporary one or an everlasting one?
- V10-11, was circumcision part of the covenant itself, or was it the sign of the covenant?
- V12, why do you think day eight of a boy’s life was chosen for circumcision?
- V19-21, was God’s covenant to be established through Isaac or Ishmael?
CCM Penang Regional Combined Churches Ascension Day Service
CCM Penang Regional Combined Churches Ascension Day Service
Date: Thursday, 29 May 2014.
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Penang Wesley Methodist Church, Jalan Burma, Penang (host church)
Date: Thursday, 29 May 2014.
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Penang Wesley Methodist Church, Jalan Burma, Penang (host church)
10 Days of Global Prayer - 29 May - 7 June 2014
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them”
Matthew 18:19 – 20
The 10 Days preceding the Global Day of Prayer create an excellent opportunity to unite in prayer with millions around the globe based on Acts 1 & 2.
“The bond that unites a man with his fellow men is no less real and close than that which
unites him to God: He one with them. Grace renews not only our relationship with God, but our
relationships with our fellow human beings, too. We not only learn to say "My Father." It
would be unnatural for the children of family to always meet their father separately, never
expressing their desires or their love jointly.
Believers are not only members of one family, but of one Body.”
- Andrew Murray
INTRODUCTION
Prayer Focus on the Person and work of Jesus Christ
The deepest desire of Paul’s heart was to know Jesus Christ as Lord. He had met the risen Christ en route to Damascus. Paul spoke of having the experience of being allowed to enter the third heaven. He also revealed that a messenger of Satan had been sent by God to humble him and to prevent him from becoming proud of the many revelations he had received from God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He wrote of his insight into the mystery of God, kept hidden from previous generations, concerning “Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Yet, even in his last letter that he wrote his desire was still “to know Him”. (Philippians 3:10)
Knowledge of Christ should not be confused with knowledge about Christ. Knowing Christ is experiencing an intimate revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ; receiving insight into His manifold grace, and whilst beholding His glory being transformed into His image.
This very intimate and personal experience of knowing Christ is what is meant by the phrase “to seek Christ’s face”. (2 Chronicles 4:14). Seeking His face is a precondition to Him answering our prayers and healing our country.
In Hosea 4:1, God gives a reason why the spirit of lawlessness had been able to invade the land: there was no truth, or mercy, or knowledge of God in the land. In John 17:3, Jesus said that eternal life is to know the true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. As it was in the days of Israel, so it is in our days. We need to know Christ Jesus, and through Him, the One who sits on the throne of heaven.
As we set ourselves to seek His face, let the prayer of our hearts be for Him to make Himself known to us, and to a broken and lost world. Let us draw near to Him, with hearts filled with faith that, if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him. May the knowledge of Christ Jesus also become for us “a surpassing worth”!
Monday, May 26, 2014
May 26, 2014 --- Genesis 16 – Abram has a son, but not with his wife Sarai
Read Genesis 16
- V1-2, do you think Abram was too quick to listen to Sarai’s logic, or was this a sensible decision under the circumstances?
- V5, do you feel sorry for Abram, or Sarai, or both…or neither?
- V1-2, do you think Abram was too quick to listen to Sarai’s logic, or was this a sensible decision under the circumstances?
- V5, do you feel sorry for Abram, or Sarai, or both…or neither?
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Prayer Points
1. Please pray for Flag Day collection
2. Please pray for Freddy Cheong, Alice Ong, Ailyn and Family
3. Please pray for one another in your prayer, especially those that are not feeling well.
4. Please pray upcoming Helping Hand Project (Walkathon), Malaysian Youth Camp, Father's Day
5. Please pray for one another, school semester break and families on holiday
• Pray for God's anointing and wisdom for Colonels Lyndon and Bronwyn as they lead out Territory in these challenging days
• Pray for all Salvation Army Churches in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Pray God for faithful Local Officers and pray for God to raise up more Salvationist who will commit to ministry.
WORLDWILE PRAYER MEETING
http://smm.salvationarmyspirituallife.org
Facebook: Spiritual LifeDevelopment.SMM
2. Please pray for Freddy Cheong, Alice Ong, Ailyn and Family
3. Please pray for one another in your prayer, especially those that are not feeling well.
4. Please pray upcoming Helping Hand Project (Walkathon), Malaysian Youth Camp, Father's Day
5. Please pray for one another, school semester break and families on holiday
• Pray for God's anointing and wisdom for Colonels Lyndon and Bronwyn as they lead out Territory in these challenging days
• Pray for all Salvation Army Churches in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Pray God for faithful Local Officers and pray for God to raise up more Salvationist who will commit to ministry.
WORLDWILE PRAYER MEETING
http://smm.salvationarmyspirituallife.org
Facebook: Spiritual LifeDevelopment.SMM
Announcement
12th - 31st May 2014:Flag Day Fund raising for the Salvation Army Penang charity work
7th June 2014:Helping Project for Children in Myanmar;Venue: Air Itam Dam; Time: 8:30am
3rd - 6th June 2014:Malaysia Youth Camp;Venue: Cameron Highlands; Note: Contact Pastor Andrew for more information
The Salvation Army International Congress: 150th Anniversary; Date: 1-5 July 2015; Venue: London (UK); Theme: Boundless the Whole World Redeeming. For more information please contact Pastor Andrew.
Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge within 7 months, reading just 5 chapters per week: Look out for it at the Church website.
Explore Weekend : 15-17 August 2014 (Fri-Sun) @ Johor Bahru: For more information please contact Pastor Andrew.
7th June 2014:Helping Project for Children in Myanmar;Venue: Air Itam Dam; Time: 8:30am
3rd - 6th June 2014:Malaysia Youth Camp;Venue: Cameron Highlands; Note: Contact Pastor Andrew for more information
The Salvation Army International Congress: 150th Anniversary; Date: 1-5 July 2015; Venue: London (UK); Theme: Boundless the Whole World Redeeming. For more information please contact Pastor Andrew.
Old Testament 150 Reading Challenge within 7 months, reading just 5 chapters per week: Look out for it at the Church website.
Explore Weekend : 15-17 August 2014 (Fri-Sun) @ Johor Bahru: For more information please contact Pastor Andrew.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Genesis 15 – God’s covenant with Abram
Read Genesis 15
- V1-6, God made Abram a promise which by worldly standards and human experience looked unlikely to be fulfilled…but Abram believed God, and his faith was accounted for righteousness. You and I are given a promise by God, that all who seek forgiveness from God through faith alone in the salvation of Jesus Christ shall receive eternal life…to many who underestimate the power of God this may seem unlikely to be fulfilled, and so do we have the faith of Abram?
- Is there a link between the blood/sacrifice of these animals, and the blood of the Passover Lamb, and the blood of Jesus in their respective covenants?
- V1-6, God made Abram a promise which by worldly standards and human experience looked unlikely to be fulfilled…but Abram believed God, and his faith was accounted for righteousness. You and I are given a promise by God, that all who seek forgiveness from God through faith alone in the salvation of Jesus Christ shall receive eternal life…to many who underestimate the power of God this may seem unlikely to be fulfilled, and so do we have the faith of Abram?
- Is there a link between the blood/sacrifice of these animals, and the blood of the Passover Lamb, and the blood of Jesus in their respective covenants?
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Could Do Better
The question of whether or not Britain is a Christian country has taken a new turn. David Cameron raised the issue in an Easter article in the 'Church Times'. Last week the focus was on faith schools. In a BBC interview, Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby said that faith schools provide education for some of Britain’s poorest children.
His comments came after Birmingham City Council launched an inquiry into alleged plots by Islamists to take control of the governing bodies of some Muslim schools in the city - the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot.
To detractors, the Birmingham story fuels their opposition to faith schools, which they regard as elitist or abusive. The Fair Admissions Campaign ‘wants all state-funded schools in England and Wales to be open equally to all children, without regard to religion or belief’. Using free-school-meal eligibility as a benchmark, it claims that by admitting pupils on the basis of religious affiliation, faith schools are turning their backs on the poorest children.
The Archbishop said that Church of England schools ‘are often in the poorest parts of the country … we seek to love and serve people, as we should, through these schools’.
The National Secular Society believes that faith schools are abusing public money and their position. Responding to the Archbishop’s comments, executive director Keith Porteous Wood said: ‘He fails to point out that his schools, run entirely at public expense, prioritise evangelisation over serving the population who are steadily abandoning his pews.’
Do church schools really ‘prioritise evangelisation’? Do parents really move into a catchment area or start going to church so their little darlings can be evangelised - as a priority?
Christianity - a relationship with Jesus - is not something that can be drummed in between maths and science lessons. It is an all-embracing life choice that is based on fact, lived by faith and expressed by serving others.
UK & Ireland War Cry 17 May 2014
His comments came after Birmingham City Council launched an inquiry into alleged plots by Islamists to take control of the governing bodies of some Muslim schools in the city - the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot.
To detractors, the Birmingham story fuels their opposition to faith schools, which they regard as elitist or abusive. The Fair Admissions Campaign ‘wants all state-funded schools in England and Wales to be open equally to all children, without regard to religion or belief’. Using free-school-meal eligibility as a benchmark, it claims that by admitting pupils on the basis of religious affiliation, faith schools are turning their backs on the poorest children.
The Archbishop said that Church of England schools ‘are often in the poorest parts of the country … we seek to love and serve people, as we should, through these schools’.
The National Secular Society believes that faith schools are abusing public money and their position. Responding to the Archbishop’s comments, executive director Keith Porteous Wood said: ‘He fails to point out that his schools, run entirely at public expense, prioritise evangelisation over serving the population who are steadily abandoning his pews.’
Do church schools really ‘prioritise evangelisation’? Do parents really move into a catchment area or start going to church so their little darlings can be evangelised - as a priority?
Christianity - a relationship with Jesus - is not something that can be drummed in between maths and science lessons. It is an all-embracing life choice that is based on fact, lived by faith and expressed by serving others.
UK & Ireland War Cry 17 May 2014
Genesis 14 – Lot is captured and then rescued by Abram
Read Genesis 14
- V14, the first mention of the Hebrews!
- V1-17, Have you noticed how already life had become very tribal, with various kings waging war against each other?
- V18-20, for more about the mysterious Melchizedek read Hebrews chapter 7!
- V20, was Abram’s tithe compulsory or optional?
- V14, the first mention of the Hebrews!
- V1-17, Have you noticed how already life had become very tribal, with various kings waging war against each other?
- V18-20, for more about the mysterious Melchizedek read Hebrews chapter 7!
- V20, was Abram’s tithe compulsory or optional?
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Sharing Faith Is The Goal
‘We aim to encourage young people with low self-esteem that whatever happens, we’re with them,’ says former Portsmouth FC player Linvoy Primus. ‘We want them to feel they are appreciated and to gain a self-worth that they didn’t have before.’
In 2001, after becoming a Christian, Linvoy became keen to express his faith by working in local communities. His vision - which he shared with teammate at the time, Darren Moore, and Portsmouth FC’s club chaplain, Mick Mellows - became reality in 2002 after a mission trip to Nigeria.
‘Mick and I spent ten days in the country,’ Linvoy says. ‘We went to one particular school and invited other schools from the area to join us. After coaching sessions and a football tournament, we shared our testimonies about coming to faith. After that, a number of the young people committed their lives to Jesus. We thought the same model of community work could happen in the UK. When we returned home, Faith and Football was born.’
The Christian charity began in Portsmouth and was set up by Linvoy, Mick and Darren. It is supported by other professional footballers, Bobby Hassell, Rory Fallon, and Joel Ward. The organisation has two full-time staff members and more than 250 volunteers.
‘I would describe Faith and Football as a church without walls,’ says Linvoy. ‘As an organisation we engage with young people in the community and their families by using the gifts we have to show them love and support. We started by setting up community football leagues because, as footballers, that’s what we know. It’s also a sport that everyone recognises. We set up the first league in Portsmouth, a city that has a number of social and environmental problems.’
Faith and Football runs numerous six-a-side community leagues alongside churches in Portsmouth, Barnsley, Farnborough and Plymouth. The leagues run for six weeks at a time and are available to boys and girls up to the age of 13. At the end of the season, Faith and Football holds presentation evenings where each child receives a medal and a certificate. The winning team also takes home a trophy. In the past, Linvoy has talked about his faith as part of the evenings.
‘In the early days, I got involved with the leagues quite regularly, but as we expanded it became more difficult,’ he says. ‘Having a professional footballer present is always going to be an attraction for the kids - but the programme is not about the footballers, it’s about the local church getting involved. If young people only want to take part in what Faith and Football are doing “because a footballer’s going to be there”, then we’ve missed something. Some of the children have never met me, but they recognise that their local church, supported by a charity set up by footballers, has helped them.’
Faith and Football’s work extends further than the pitch. Its Extra Time literacy scheme is designed for young children who are struggling with reading.
‘Some churches might not like the idea of the football league programmes, but they do like the idea of Extra Time,’ Linvoy says. ‘When we initially started the scheme, some of the schools were apprehensive about allowing the volunteers to read Bible stories to the children rather than using secular books, but two of the schools were fine with it. The results were amazing. Some of the children’s reading ages went up by three or four years.
‘There was one child who was really struggling when she came into contact with Faith and Football. She had a lot happening at home that meant she was disruptive in school. Her reading mentor was able to get alongside her and be a listening ear. After a year, the girl’s reading improved and she was able to stand up in front of the class and read out a poem she’d written - something she’d never thought of doing before. Two years later, we had a ten-year celebration of Faith and Football. In front of 300 people, the young girl read out her experience of learning to read. If we hadn’t been able to offer that facility to the school, where would that girl be?’
The charity has also developed other school-based programmes, including the Faith and Football Social Enterprise and Business Challenge for year nine secondary school students. Over a four-month period, a group of four to six students plan and develop a trading business, such as making and selling sweets. The aim is to help students demonstrate their enterprise, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Running across Portsmouth, Southampton and Birmingham, the programme allocates each school a Christian business mentor who offers business principles and life-skills advice. Linvoy says that he has seen many parents and children warm to the Christian faith as a result of the hands-on approach adopted by the volunteers.
‘Our community work has allowed people who wouldn’t normally enter a church building to hear the Good News,’ he says. ‘If the parents or guardians are present for their children’s football league presentations, for example, then they are likely to hear a five or ten-minute gospel message. From the beginning of the league right through to the presentation evenings, the churches using our programmes are able to build relationships with people.
‘We insisted that members of the churches volunteered to be football managers, coaches, tea-makers or administrators so that the participants’ families could see that Christians are normal people too. I believe we have been effective in joining two different communities together.’
On a personal level, how has Linvoy managed to stay successful in the public eye while continuing to be open about his faith?
‘When I was still playing football, I had good support from my chaplain, Mick Mellows,’ he says. ‘He knew what it was like having a faith in the football community. There are a lot of players who are open about their Christian faith and do good work but don’t get the publicity. I always believe that if you’re confident in Jesus, you will be naturally inclined to talk about your faith. Before I was made redundant, I wasn’t too worried or fearful of what would be coming next. I had a real conviction that I’d be going out and sharing my faith with others. So I started sending out flyers to different churches. Two years on, I’m still trekking up and down the country sharing my testimony.’
Linvoy also works for Christians in Sport, an organisation through which he gives support to other Christian footballers around the country, and receives it in return.
Twelve years on, Faith and Football continues to change lives by sharing the gospel message in communities. ‘The core of what we do hasn’t changed,’ Linvoy says. ‘But what has changed is the world we live in and the issues we face. Things are getting a little bit more complicated and harder to understand.
‘I hope that Faith and Football has brought a sense of trust to families who didn’t know Jesus. It is good to see some of them go on to volunteer in their communities and support people who they know need help.’
UK & Ireland War Cry 17 May 2014
In 2001, after becoming a Christian, Linvoy became keen to express his faith by working in local communities. His vision - which he shared with teammate at the time, Darren Moore, and Portsmouth FC’s club chaplain, Mick Mellows - became reality in 2002 after a mission trip to Nigeria.
‘Mick and I spent ten days in the country,’ Linvoy says. ‘We went to one particular school and invited other schools from the area to join us. After coaching sessions and a football tournament, we shared our testimonies about coming to faith. After that, a number of the young people committed their lives to Jesus. We thought the same model of community work could happen in the UK. When we returned home, Faith and Football was born.’
The Christian charity began in Portsmouth and was set up by Linvoy, Mick and Darren. It is supported by other professional footballers, Bobby Hassell, Rory Fallon, and Joel Ward. The organisation has two full-time staff members and more than 250 volunteers.
‘I would describe Faith and Football as a church without walls,’ says Linvoy. ‘As an organisation we engage with young people in the community and their families by using the gifts we have to show them love and support. We started by setting up community football leagues because, as footballers, that’s what we know. It’s also a sport that everyone recognises. We set up the first league in Portsmouth, a city that has a number of social and environmental problems.’
Faith and Football runs numerous six-a-side community leagues alongside churches in Portsmouth, Barnsley, Farnborough and Plymouth. The leagues run for six weeks at a time and are available to boys and girls up to the age of 13. At the end of the season, Faith and Football holds presentation evenings where each child receives a medal and a certificate. The winning team also takes home a trophy. In the past, Linvoy has talked about his faith as part of the evenings.
‘In the early days, I got involved with the leagues quite regularly, but as we expanded it became more difficult,’ he says. ‘Having a professional footballer present is always going to be an attraction for the kids - but the programme is not about the footballers, it’s about the local church getting involved. If young people only want to take part in what Faith and Football are doing “because a footballer’s going to be there”, then we’ve missed something. Some of the children have never met me, but they recognise that their local church, supported by a charity set up by footballers, has helped them.’
Faith and Football’s work extends further than the pitch. Its Extra Time literacy scheme is designed for young children who are struggling with reading.
‘Some churches might not like the idea of the football league programmes, but they do like the idea of Extra Time,’ Linvoy says. ‘When we initially started the scheme, some of the schools were apprehensive about allowing the volunteers to read Bible stories to the children rather than using secular books, but two of the schools were fine with it. The results were amazing. Some of the children’s reading ages went up by three or four years.
‘There was one child who was really struggling when she came into contact with Faith and Football. She had a lot happening at home that meant she was disruptive in school. Her reading mentor was able to get alongside her and be a listening ear. After a year, the girl’s reading improved and she was able to stand up in front of the class and read out a poem she’d written - something she’d never thought of doing before. Two years later, we had a ten-year celebration of Faith and Football. In front of 300 people, the young girl read out her experience of learning to read. If we hadn’t been able to offer that facility to the school, where would that girl be?’
The charity has also developed other school-based programmes, including the Faith and Football Social Enterprise and Business Challenge for year nine secondary school students. Over a four-month period, a group of four to six students plan and develop a trading business, such as making and selling sweets. The aim is to help students demonstrate their enterprise, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Running across Portsmouth, Southampton and Birmingham, the programme allocates each school a Christian business mentor who offers business principles and life-skills advice. Linvoy says that he has seen many parents and children warm to the Christian faith as a result of the hands-on approach adopted by the volunteers.
‘Our community work has allowed people who wouldn’t normally enter a church building to hear the Good News,’ he says. ‘If the parents or guardians are present for their children’s football league presentations, for example, then they are likely to hear a five or ten-minute gospel message. From the beginning of the league right through to the presentation evenings, the churches using our programmes are able to build relationships with people.
‘We insisted that members of the churches volunteered to be football managers, coaches, tea-makers or administrators so that the participants’ families could see that Christians are normal people too. I believe we have been effective in joining two different communities together.’
On a personal level, how has Linvoy managed to stay successful in the public eye while continuing to be open about his faith?
‘When I was still playing football, I had good support from my chaplain, Mick Mellows,’ he says. ‘He knew what it was like having a faith in the football community. There are a lot of players who are open about their Christian faith and do good work but don’t get the publicity. I always believe that if you’re confident in Jesus, you will be naturally inclined to talk about your faith. Before I was made redundant, I wasn’t too worried or fearful of what would be coming next. I had a real conviction that I’d be going out and sharing my faith with others. So I started sending out flyers to different churches. Two years on, I’m still trekking up and down the country sharing my testimony.’
Linvoy also works for Christians in Sport, an organisation through which he gives support to other Christian footballers around the country, and receives it in return.
Twelve years on, Faith and Football continues to change lives by sharing the gospel message in communities. ‘The core of what we do hasn’t changed,’ Linvoy says. ‘But what has changed is the world we live in and the issues we face. Things are getting a little bit more complicated and harder to understand.
‘I hope that Faith and Football has brought a sense of trust to families who didn’t know Jesus. It is good to see some of them go on to volunteer in their communities and support people who they know need help.’
UK & Ireland War Cry 17 May 2014
Genesis 13 – Abram and Lot part company
Read Genesis 13
- V4, Abram ‘called on the Name of the LORD’…what do you think this means?
- V13, Lot chose to live in a land which looked appealing, but contained much wickedness…are there parallels with decisions regarding where we choose to ‘live’ or spend our time today?
- V4, Abram ‘called on the Name of the LORD’…what do you think this means?
- V13, Lot chose to live in a land which looked appealing, but contained much wickedness…are there parallels with decisions regarding where we choose to ‘live’ or spend our time today?
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