My Struggles are About Him

by Max Lucado
What about your struggles? Is there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God’s glory? Have you “been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29)?

Here is a clue. Do your prayers seem to be unanswered? What you request and what you receive aren’t matching up? Don’t think God is not listening. Indeed he is. He may have higher plans.

Here is another. Are people strengthened by your struggles? A friend of mine can answer yes. His cancer was consuming more than his body; it was eating away at his faith. Unanswered petitions perplexed him. Well-meaning Christians confused him. “If you have faith,” they said, “you will be healed.”

No healing came. Just more chemo, nausea, and questions. He assumed the fault was a small faith. I suggested another answer. “It’s not about you,” I told him. “Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering cranks up the volume of God’s song.”

Oh, that you could have seen the relief on his face. To know that he hadn’t failed God and God hadn’t failed him—this made all the difference. Seeing his sickness in the scope of God’s sovereign plan gave his condition a sense of dignity. He accepted his cancer as an assignment from heaven: a missionary to the cancer ward.

A week later I saw him again. “I reflected God,” he said, smiling through a thin face, “to the nurse, the doctors, my friends. Who knows who needed to see God, but I did my best to make him seen.”

Bingo. His cancer paraded the power of Jesus down the Main Street of his world.

God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.

Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God.

Through your problems and mine, may God be seen.



From
It's Not About Me
© (Thomas Nelson, 2007),
Max Lucado

6 SEPTEMBER 2009 - communion

CM: Dr. Siow KW

WL: Kai Yew
BU: Jason Lai, Siew Pin, Lareina

P: Lydia Sim
G: Chew Weng Ern
D: Darren Oi

LCD: Tian Sia, Colleen Chang
PA: Hiew FF, Tommy Q.
-
13 SEPTEMBER 2009
CM: Barnabas P.
WL: Shankar R.
BU: Kenneth Lai, Shankar R., Foong Yee
P: Jason Lai
S: Christopher Lai
G: Chew Weng Ern
D: Kai Yew
LCD: Tian Sia, Colleen Chang
PA: Manjit Singh,Hiew FF

Believe In God

Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6

The life of Wilma Rudolph, the great Olympic sprinter, is a remarkable story of faith. Wilma was born with health problems that left her crippled. "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?" Wilma asked her parents.

"Honey, you have to believe in God and never give up hope," they responded. "If you believe, God will make it happen." Taking her parents' councel, she painfully struggled to walk. By the time she was 12, to the delight and surprise of many, Wilma no longer needed her braces. She went on to play basketball on her championship high school team and win three gold medals in the Olympics.

When you hear inspiring stories of faith like Wilma Rudolph's, do you sometimes wonder, "What could I accomplished if I took God at His Word?" Faith is the foundational principle of the Christian life. Believe who God is, what He says, what He has done, and what He will do defines the kingdom of GOd.

Furthermore, faith is the essence of the Christian's day-to-day activity. Paul wrote: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6). How did you receive Christ? By faith. How then are you to walk in Him? By faith. In Scripture, walking refer to the way you conduct your everyday life. Victorious Christian living and spiritual maturity are determined by our belief in God.

We tend to think of faith as some kind of mystical quality which belongs to only in the realm of the spiritual. But everybody walks by faith. It is the most basic operating principle of life. The question is, in what or in whom do you believe? We are challenged to believe in God and take His Word seriously.

We thank You, Lord, that Your Word stands forever in heaven. We can trust in You and Your Words stands despite our changing feelings and circumstances.

- Neil Anderson

Sunday Sermon 30 August 2009

Speaker: Sis Ch'ng Kooi Hwa

White Fields Assembly Seremban

My Success is About Him

by Max Lucado
With success comes a problem. Just ask Nadab, Elah, and Omri. Or interview Ahab, Ahaziah, or Jehoram. Ask these men to describe the problem of success. I would, you might be thinking, if I knew who they were. My point, exactly. These are men we should know. They were kings of Israel. They ascended to the throne…but something about the throne brought them down. Their legacies are stained with blood spilling and idol worship. They failed at success. They forgot both the source and purpose of their success.

You won’t be offered a throne, but you might be offered a corner office, a scholarship, an award, a new contract, a pay raise. You won’t be given a kingdom to oversee, but you might be given a home or employees or students or money or resources. You will, to one degree or another, succeed.

And when you do, you might be tempted to forget who helped you do so. Success sabotages the memories of the successful. Kings of the mountain forget who carried them up the trail.

The man who begged for help in medical school ten years ago is too busy to worship today. Back when the family struggled to make ends meet, they leaned on God for daily bread. Now that there is an extra car in the garage and a jingle in the pocket, they haven’t spoken to him in a while. In the early days of the church, the founding members spent hours in prayer. Today the church is large, well attended, well funded. Who needs to pray?

Success begets amnesia. Doesn’t have to, however. God offers spiritual ginseng to help your memory. His prescription is simply, “Know the purpose of success.” Why did God help you succeed? So you can make him known.

Why are you good at what you do? For your comfort? For your retirement? For your self-esteem? No. Deem these as bonuses, not as the reason. Why are you good at what you do? For God’s sake. Your success is not about what you do. It’s all about him—his present and future glory.

From
It's Not About Me
© (Thomas Nelson, 2007),
Max Lucado

Informal Meeting

For worship leaders

To meet during lunch
After Family Prayer (6 Sept 2009)
At the Children's Room (basement)

Understanding Marital Intimacy

We did not get married in order to find a convenient way to cook meals, wash dishes, do laundry, and rear children. We married out of a deep desire to love and to be loved, to live life together, believing that together we could experience life more deeply than apart.

How can we experience this? Let's look at the five essential components of an intimate relationship: sharing our thoughts (intellectual intimacy), discussing our feelings (emotional intimacy), spending time with each other (social intimacy), opening our souls to each other (spiritual intimacy), and sharing our bodies (physical intimacy).

Intellectual Intimacy
From the moment we arise in the morning, our minds are active. Intimacy requires that we share some of our thoughts with each other. I am not talking about only highly intellectual thoughts; they may just be ones focused on finances, food, or health. When two minds link, they build intellectual intimacy.

Emotional Intimacy
The sharing of feelings also builds emotional intimacy. Be willing to say “I’m feeling a lot of fear right now,” or “I am really happy tonight.” In making such statements, we are choosing to be intimate with our spouses, to reveal to them what's going on in our emotional world. Learning to talk about emotions can be one of the most rewarding experiences of life.

Social Intimacy
Social intimacy has to do with spending time together around the events of life. As I share these events with my spouse, our horizons are broadened. Another part of social intimacy involves the two of us doing things together, alone or with others. A picnic in the park or even on the deck can add excitement to an otherwise drab day. The things we do together form some of our most vivid memories, and they also build social intimacy.

Spiritual Intimacy
Spiritual intimacy is often the least developed of all the intimacies of a marriage, yet it has a profound impact upon all other areas. It is fostered not only by verbal communication, but also by shared experience. One wife said, “There is something about experiencing worship together that gives me a sense of closeness to my husband. We hold hands during the prayers. We share with each other what we liked about the service.” Intimacy flourishes as we share our spiritual journey. Next week, we will discuss physical intimacy.


There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from The Family You've Always Wanted: Five Ways You Can Make it Happen by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

Song Story: I Want To Be Where You Are

From Don

05.04.09

I was sitting alone in a church trying to write the first song of a musical (which turned out to be God With Us) that would be a big and powerful choral anthem inviting people into God’s presence. What came out of my mouth really surprised me because it was so gentle. I put it aside thinking, “This is not the big choral anthem I was looking for;” however, I couldn’t get the medley out of my head.

I tried it out for the first time unfinished in a little church in Oklahoma. I had my legal pad at the piano and because I didn’t have the rhymes yet I just sang the four thoughts I had sketched for a bridge (I want to be where you are, dwelling in your presence, feasting at your table, surrounded by your glory) and decided I’d figure out the rhymes later. But the song so impacted the people that I never changed it.

This song was unique because I felt the Lord had let me capture, in music, a prayer and a cry on hundreds and thousands of people’s hearts, people want to be in God’s presence (Psalm 27:4).

WFA Worship Leaders' Meeting

there will be a short meeting for all Worship Leaders together with Bro. Sim..

6 September 2009
after WFA Family Prayer

kindly avail yourself for this very important meeting..

thank you

Count to Eight (Woe, Be Gone)

by Max Lucado
“We have here only five loaves and two fish.” (Matt. 14:17)

How do you suppose Jesus felt about the basket inventory? Any chance he might have wanted them to include the rest of the possibilities? Involve all the options? Do you think he was hoping someone might count to eight?

“Well, let’s see. We have five loaves, two fish…and Jesus!” Jesus Christ. The same Jesus who told us:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:19 NIV)
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:7 NIV)
What ever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24 NIV)

Standing next to the disciples was the solution to their problems…but they didn’t go to him. They stopped their count at seven and worried.

What about you? Are you counting to seven, or to eight?

Here are eight worry stoppers to expand your tally:
1. Pray, first. “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him…(I Peter 5:7 AMP)
2. Easy now. Slow down. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Ps. 37:7).
3. Act on it. The moment a concern surfaces, deal with it. Don’t dwell on it. Head off worries before they get the best of you. Be a doer, not a stewer.
4. Compile a worry list. Over a period of days record your anxious thoughts. Then review them. How many of them turned into a reality?
5. Evaluate your worry categories. Detect recurring areas of preoccupation that may become obsessions. Pray specifically about them.
6. Focus on today. God meets daily needs daily. He will give you what you need when it is needed.
7. Unleash a worry army. Share your feelings with a few loved ones. Ask them to pray with and for you.
8. Let God be enough. “Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:32-33 NLT).

Eight steps. Pray, first. Easy, now. Act on it. Compile a worry list. Evaluate your worry categories. Focus on today. Unleash a worry army. Let God be enough.

P-E-A-C-E-F-U-L

From
Fearless
© (Thomas Nelson, 2009),
Max Lucado

Spring-loaded Toward The Spirit

Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. - Galatians 5:16

When we first becoem Christians, we were like one-third horsepower lawn movers engines. We could accomplish something, but not very much because we weren't very mature. Our ambitino as Christians is to become engines that can power earth-moving machinery - real powerhouse for the Lord. But neither a lawn mover nor a bulldozer can accomplish anything apart from Christi (John 15:5). No matter how mature you are, you can never be productive unless you are walking in the Spirit.

When it comes to the choice between walking according to the flesh and walking to the Spirit, our will is like a toggle switch. The new Christian's will seem to be spring-loadead toward fleshly behaviour. He is still the unwitting victim of a thoroughly trained flesh which only knows how to operate independently of God. The mature Christian's will is spring-loaded toward the Spirit. He makes occasional poor choices, but he is learning to crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit on a daily basis.

If you are hoping for a magic formula or a list of foolproof steps for walking in the Spirit, you will be disappointed. The moment you reduce the Spirit-filled walk to a formula or an intellectual exercise, you probably won't be Spirit-filled anymore.

The Holy Spirit is a "He", not an "it". Our walk with God is a personal experience, not a mechanical or legalistic formula. We see the immorality of the flesh indulgence everywhere, but simply preaching against it and telling people to shape up is not God's answer. The law is powerless to give life (Galatians 3:21). Reintroducing the law to believer won't work. But if we learn to walk by the Spirit, we won't carry out the desires of the flesh. Let us encourage others to do the same.

"Lord, we desire to be patient with others in their walk of faith as You are patient with us. Help us have gracious response and gentle answer to others today."

- Neil Anderson

30 AUGUST 2009

30 Aug 09

Barnabas P.

Terry C.

Siew Pin, Joycelyn C., Richard

Grace Lee, Jocelyn Lee

Darren

Jaemy C.

Colleen, Ken Fhui

Tom C., Tommy

Sunday Sermon 23 August 2009

Speaker: Pastor Dr Sandra Nair

Eagle Height Networks

Practical steps needed to check H1N1

Thursday August 20, 2009

I CAN understand the Health Ministry’s urgent and all-out attempts to get public cooperation in containing the spread of the A (H1N1) flu. To date, the disease has claimed an unproportionate number of lives and as such, all citizens should be truly concerned and do their part.

But is it practical to fine and/or imprison those with flu-like illness (ILI) symptoms but are found not wearing face masks?

How is the enforcement to be carried out? Who are going to catch the defaulters – the police or health officials? Don’t forget we have problems even to catch smokers in designated non-smoking areas. Also, those who litter are rarely reprimanded in spite of our anti-littering laws.

I can’t imagine how the whole process of identifying and confirming the sick can be done in public places or on the streets.

We are told that the ministry is hard pressed to provide sufficient medical personnel to handle all the suspected cases in hospitals and clinics and leave for medical staff has been frozen.

Now, we are talking about putting enforcers in public places to detect and catch those who are sick but not wearing face masks.

Are these enforcers to be equipped with thermometers, flu detectors or what? Or are all the suspects to be brought back to hospital for confirmation, adding to the already big crowd there? How sick does one have to be in order to be considered guilty for not wearing a face mask?

If a person is sick and indeed very sick, shouldn’t he be hospitalised rather than being sent to prison when he is unable or refuses to pay the fine? Also, to put these sick people in prison for not wearing masks, are we not risking infecting the whole prison?

If it becomes widespread in the prison, are we going to close the prison and send all the inmates home, just like we do for our schools and institutions of learning? Our prisons are said to be always overcrowded, so separate quarantine rooms are out of the question.

We should stop all these knee-jerk reactions and be more proactive and innovative in ways that are practical!

In this context, please look into how the hospital and clinical medical staff can render more speedy and effective treatment to all those who seek help.

It is not accurate to say that those infected were late in seeking hospital treatment. It is more accurate to say that the hospital delayed treatment for them. How many who sought treatment were first sent home only to be re-admitted when their conditions deteriorated?

In this critical time, the minister and his director-general should make more visits and get first-hand information on how exactly their medical staff is handling and coping with the situation on the ground in hospitals and clinics all over the country.

LIONG KAM CHONG,
Seremban.

God Never Sends You Out Alone

by Max Lucado
When you place your faith in Christ, Christ places his Spirit before, behind, and within you. Not a strange spirit, but the same Spirit: the parakletos. Everything Jesus did for his followers, his Spirit does for you. Jesus taught; the Spirit teaches. Jesus healed; the Spirit heals. Jesus comforted; his Spirit comforts. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, he sends his counselor to go with you.

God treats you the way one mother treated her young son, Timmy. She didn’t like the thought of Timmy walking to his first-grade class unaccompanied. But he was too grown-up to be seen with his mother. “Besides,” he explained, “I can walk with a friend.” So she did her best to stay calm, quoting the Twenty-third Psalm to him every morning: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”

One school day she came up with an idea. She asked a neighbor to follow Timmy to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, lest he notice her. The neighbor was happy to oblige. She took her toddler on morning walks anyway.

After several days Timmy’s friend noticed the lady and the child.

“Do you know who that woman is who follows us to school?”

“Sure,” Timmy answered. “That’s Shirley Goodnest and her daughter Marcy.”

“Who?”

“My mom reads about them every day in the Twenty-third Psalm. She says, ‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Guess I’ll have to get used to them.”

You will too. God never sends you out alone. Are you on the eve of change? Do you find yourself looking into a new chapter? Is the foliage of your world showing signs of a new season? Heaven’s message for you is clear: when everything else changes, God presence never does. You journey in the company of the Holy Spirit, who “will teach you and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26 NLT).

From
Fearless
© (Thomas Nelson, 2009),
Max Lucado

Living with an Irresponsible Spouse

When we enter marriage, we assume we are marrying a responsible person. We know that our roles will be somewhat different, but we each assume that our spouse will use his mind, skills, and energy for our mutual benefit. When it seems apparent that our spouse is not the responsible person we thought we married, we feel hurt, angry, and often agitated.

Our response is influenced by our personality. If I am by nature a “controller”, I will deliver anger lectures about irresponsibility. If I am a “peacemaker”, then I may suffer in silence. Neither of these approaches is very productive. The first step in becoming a positive influence on your irresponsible spouse is to identify the problem behind the behavior.

Behind the Behavior
Let’s assume that your husband has little ambition. He won’t work. He shows no interest in fathering or being a husband. What lies behind this? Let me suggest four possibilities:

1. He may be following the model of his father. He is simply doing what seems natural to him.
2. He may be rebelling against the model of his father. His father was a workaholic. As a child he decided that work was bad, and so consciously or unconsciously he is rebelling.
3. He has developed a self-centered attitude. He is a taker, not a giver.
4. His irresponsible behavior may be an expression of his resentment toward you. Whatever you want, he will move in the opposite direction. His needs are not met and this is his way of expressing it.

Understanding what is behind your husband’s irresponsible behavior will help you choose a positive approach to addressing the problem.

Your Responsibility
Positive action begins by examining your own behavior to see how you might be contributing to your spouse’s irresponsibility. Acknowledge your own imperfections. Ask for suggestions on how you can be a better spouse. If you're going to be a positive change agent, you must change the emotional climate.

A Small Request
Once your spouse gives positive feedback, you know you are getting through to them on an emotional level. Now it is time to make a request of them. “Do you know what I would really like? I would like for us to have a picnic. If I make the sandwiches, would you pack the drinks?” A small but specific request. If your spouse responds positively, you are on the road to seeing more requests honored. As they respond, you begin to feel loved. You can continue to influence them in a positive direction.


There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Desperate Marriages by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

Song Story: I Will Sing

From Don
05.05.09

I wrote the title song for I Will Sing in my car and my first reaction was, “I don’t know where that came from, but I’ll never put it on a Hosanna! Music album!"

I had spent the day at one of Alabama’s gulf coast beaches, about an hour south of Integrity’s studios in Mobile, hoping to write songs for the upcoming album.

I didn't feel anything the entire day. It was one of those times when you wonder where God is. I was driving back home, feeling frustrated, and I said, “Lord, You seem so far away, a million miles or more it feels today.” It just popped out. Then I got another line: “And though I haven’t lost my faith, I must confess right now that it’s hard for me to pray.” The words kept coming, and I wrote the entire song right there in my car, but I didn’t like it. I thought, “What a waste! I need songs for the album; I don’t need this!”

I promptly filed the song away, thinking I’d never use it. Not long after, Integrity’s staff was stunned by the news that the ten-year-old daughter of David C. Reilly, a graphic artist who has designed album covers for Integrity Music for more than a decade, was killed in a car accident.

I remembered the song I had scribbled on a paper, so I recorded it on a CD and sent it to David with a note: “I know you’re going to have days when you feel like, 'Where in the world is God?' but I want to encourage you to sing. Don’t give up.”

The reality is that everyone goes through days when we feel God is far away. There’s a phoniness in Christian circles that says you don’t admit that. But look at Psalm 109. How could David, the sweet psalmist of Israel who said, 'I will bless the Lord at all times,' write these angry words? Because he was honest before the Lord, and that’s what God wants in our worship, too. He knows already, so I want to work on being honest, transparent with the Father, who delights in our hearts.

- Don

Make Friends With Whatever’s Next

by Max Lucado
Embrace it. Accept it. Don’t resist it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, he alters our assignments. Gideon: from farmer to general; Mary: from peasant girl to the mother of Christ; Paul: from local rabbi to world evangelist. God transitioned Joseph from a baby brother to an Egyptian prince. He changed David from a a shepherd to a king. Peter wanted to fish the Sea of Galilee. God called him to lead the first church. God makes reassignments.

But, someone might ask, what about the tragic changes God permits? Some seasons make no sense…do such moments serve a purpose?

They do if we see them from an eternal perspective. What makes no sense in this life will make perfect sense in the next. I have proof: you in the womb.

I know you don’t remember this prenatal season, so let me remind you what happened during it. Every gestation day equipped you for your earthly life. Your bones solidified, your eyes developed, the umbilical cord transported nutrients into your growing frame…for what reason? So you might remain enwombed? Quite the contrary. Womb time equipped you for earth time, suited you up for your postpartum existence.

Some prenatal features went unused before birth. You grew a nose but didn’t breathe. Eyes developed, but could you see? Your tongue, toenails, and crop of hair served no function in your mother’s belly. But aren’t you glad you have them now?

Certain chapters in this life seem so unnecessary, like nostrils on the preborn. Suffering. Loneliness. Disease. Holocausts. Martyrdom. Monsoons. If we assume this world exists just for pregrave happiness, these atrocities disqualify it from doing so. But what if this earth is the womb? Might these challenges, severe as they may be, serve to prepare us, equip us for the world to come? As Paul wrote, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing” (2 Cor. 4:17 CEV).


From
Fearless
© (Thomas Nelson, 2009),
Max Lucado

Sunday Sermon 16 Aug 2009

Speaker: Evangelist Louis Manual
El Shaddai, A.O.G. Kuala Lumpur

23 AUGUST 2009

23 Aug 09

Dr. Siow KW

Foong Yee

Hong Lu, Ken Fhui, Siew Pin

Jun Fhui, Meng Fhui

Terry/Weng Ern

Nicholas

Jocelyn Lee, Timothy C.

Tommy, Manjit

Our Dynamic Power Source

... the surpassing greatness of His power towards us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might ... (Ephesians 1:9)

In Ephesians 1:19-21, Paul gives us a peak at the dynamic source of our authority in Christ. He explains that teh authority at our disposal flows from the resevoir of power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at the Father's right hand. That power source is so dynamic that Paul used four different Greek words in verse 19 to describe it: power (dunameos), working (energeian), strength (kratous) and might (ischuos). Behind the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ lies the mighiest work of power recorded in the Word of God. And the same power which raised Christ from the dead and defeated Satan is the power available to us to overcome the works of Stan in our daily lives.

Paul opens our eyes to the expansive scope of Christ's authority, which is "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come" (Ephesians 1:21). Think about the most powerful and influential political or military leaders in the world. Imagine the most feared terrorist, crime kingpin, and drug barons. Think about the notorious figures of the past and present who have blighted society with their diabolical misdeeds. Think about Satan and all the powers of darkness marshaled under his command. Jesus' authority is not only above all these human and spiritual authorities past, present and future, but He is far above them. We share the same position becaus we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies, which enables us to live in freedom and victory over the demonic intrusion and influence.

Do not be deceived. You are not under Satan's power or subject to his authority. You are in Christ above all demonic rule, authority, and power.

Reigning with You, Lord - what a liberating thought! We praise You today for the power You share with us.

- Neil Anderson

Death: Because of Christ, You Can Face It.

by Max Lucado
As heart surgeries go, mine was far from the riskiest. But any procedure that requires four hours of probes inside your heart is enough to warrant an added prayer. So on the eve of my surgery, Denalyn, I, and some kind friends offered our share. We were staying at a hotel adjacent to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. We asked God to bless the doctors and watch over the nurses. After we chatted a few minutes, they wished me well and said good-bye. I needed to go to bed early. But before I could sleep, I wanted to offer one more prayer…alone.

I took the elevator down to the lobby and found a quiet corner and began to think. What if the surgery goes awry? What if this is my final night on earth? Is there anyone with whom I should make my peace? Do I need to phone any person and make amends? I couldn’t think of anyone. (So if you are thinking I should have called you, sorry. Perhaps we should talk.)

Next I wrote letters to my wife and daughters, each beginning with the sentence “If you are reading this, something went wrong in the surgery.”

Then God and I had the most honest of talks. We began with a good review of my first half century. The details would bore you, but they entertained us. I thanked him for grace beyond measure and for a wife who descended from the angels. My tabulation of blessings could have gone on all night and threatened to do just that. So I stopped and offered this prayer: I’m in good hands, Lord. The doctors are prepared; the staff is experienced. But even with the best of care, things happen. This could be my final night in this version of life, and I’d like you to know, if that’s the case, I’m okay.

And I went to bed. And slept like a baby. As things turned out, I recovered from the surgery, and here I am, strong as ever, still pounding away at the computer keyboard. One thing is different, though. This matter of dying bravely?

I think I will.

May you do the same.

Maintaining Yourself While Helping Your Adult Child

Someone has said that when children are little, they step all over your feet, and when they are older, they step all over your heart. The rigors of raising children can be extremely draining, physically, emotionally, and financially. By the time children reach young adulthood, many parents feel depleted. Parents must learn to preserve their own well being or they will soon find themselves depleted. Worst of all, they may find their marriage relationship in serious trouble.

How to Help
When their grown children get in trouble, parents often feel bound to help. Wise parents recognize that physical, emotional, and financial resources always have limits. The question to ask is: What is the best way to help our child?

Don’t try to solve the problems of your adult child. Remember, your young adult child must live his own life, and that means solving his own problems. Your caring role is to give love, acceptance, encouragement, and guidance when requested. Set boundaries for what you will and will not do to help. Nurture your own relationship. Time together having fun is not sinful. If you don’t keep your own marriage healthy, you compound the problems of your adult child.

Jesus' Example
Interestingly, Jesus, recognized by Christians and many non-Christians as the world’s greatest example of a loving leader, once said “I did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matt. 20:28). His life was characterized by self-sacrifice for the benefit of others. However, those who recorded His life indicated that at various times Jesus chose to withdraw from the crowds and retreat to a secluded spot for rest and prayer.

Restoring His own physical and spiritual strength was important to Him; so it should be for us. Your daily time with God and a daily time of relaxing and sharing with your spouse are essential to your spiritual and marital health.

A Strong Marriage
Do not allow your children’s problems to keep you from the essentials for staying physically and emotionally healthy. You cannot ignore your own emotional needs and still expect to give continued help to your children over the long haul. Watch out for your spouse's emotional health. Keeping your marriage strong is one of the best things you can do for your children.


There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Parenting Your Adult Child: How You Can Help Them Achieve Their Full Potential by Dr. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

I CAN'T HEAR MYSELF!!

a familiar gripe?
from the pianist.. to they keyboardist.. to the guitarists.. to the back ups..
sometimes even the Worship Leader loves this quote..
-
why does it happen?
position of instruments vs position of speakers vs condition of speakers & wires vs position of congregation..
it's a whole melange of reasons, factors, obstacles..
enough to make the PA Section cry..
-
sometimes it is because you are being drowned out by everyone else turning up their volume..
and so you turn up your volume..
and they play louder and sing harder..
and so do you..
and then the roof caves in...
-
how do we come to a compromise?
firstly, ask yourself: what is the role of the music & worship team (including singers, PA & LCD)
>> it is to create a conducive environment for the congregation to worship God.. to be examples to the congregation on how worship should be..
secondly, ask yourself what is your role in the team?
>> to sing - lead accurately/support the leader & to provide the melody.. to accompany with the harmony and fill in the gaps.. to provide the beat/timing/speed..
>> to gel the contributions of the singers/musicians together at appropriate volumes..
>> to assist the congregation to sing the correct words and express their adoration for God..
thirdly, be aware of what you are playing as compared to what other teammates are playing..
>> if the piano is played like the bass or drum, the team will sound like it has 2 drums or 2 bass guitars.. keep it simple, accurate and appropriate.. it is much better than complicated, inaccurate and distracting..
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what can i do as an individual musician?
>> practice the songs on your own until you are confident.. so that during the times you play in a team, you can be certain that you are playing accurately..
>> listen to Worship CDs that mimic the style & tone & needs of the congregation.. if the congregation grew up listening to Integrity Music (Don Moen/ Ron Kenoly's piano & strings driven music).. they might not appreciate Hillsongs Youth/ DC Talk (overdriven guitar & drums).. although there is a time and place to learn to appreciate, it is definitely not in the middle of a Sunday Worship Service..
-
what can we do as a team?
>> the worship leader is responsible to lead the team.. to decide (where appropriate) which instrument takes centerstage.. the tone and build up/slow down of the songs and worship service..
>> listen, listen, listen.. to other instrument players... everyone has a style of playing/singing.. try to compliment it, rather than change the style by yourself..
>> be sensitive to the congregation.. the reaction of the congregation can tell a lot about the appropriateness of the song's volume/speed.. pained expressions and silent bystanders are very obvious red flags..
>> worship leaders are encouraged to sing the main melody.. leave the countermelody to the back-up singers.. if you can not hit the high note at the end of a climatic song, don't.. it is not very nice to end a good song with an off key screech..
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when all's said & done:

1. be prepared at home/by yourself: know the song through & through before introducing it..
2. play your role/part in the team..
3. complement the team.. not contradict it..
4. come prepared for practice..
5. during practice & worship service: watch, listen & be sensitive..

Song Stories: Thank You Lord

From Don
05.19.09

I was sitting at my church in the balcony, looking at the congregation, and wishing I had a simple song of thanks that people can sing. Praise and worship songs can get very complicated. The congregation really wants to worship, but sometimes as leaders we make it difficult musically and lyrically for them to do that.

That Sunday in my own church, I asked the Lord to give me a song that causes people to give thanks to Him easily, that puts thanksgiving on their lips. The result was "Thank You Lord."

Thanksgiving is the first step to come into His presence: Psalm 100:4 NIV "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Simply saying "Thank You Lord" is one of the most powerful concepts in worship. To say thank You "for all You've given to me, for all the blessings that I cannot see" is powerful because we're remembering what He's done in the past and thanking Him for all He's going to do in the future. I pray those words in every concert. If you can say "Thank You" for something you haven't seen yet--a job, a car, a healing--that is powerful.

- Don

WATCH & PRAY

Dear brothers & sisters in Christ.

The A H1N1 flu pandemic is spreading like wildfire.

Please be vigilant, pray and take proactive steps to protect yourselves and your family & friends.

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/ 
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/updates/en/

Sunday Sermon 9 Aug 2009

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Solomon Abraham

Grace Assembly, Petaling Jaya

http://www.fileqube.com/file/CPLRdb208684

(10MB MP3)

16 AUGUST 2009

16 Aug 09

Liong KC
Kai Yew
Colleen, Lareina, Richard
Lydia Sim, Jonathan Long
Anna Sim

Tian Sia, Moses Tan
Manjit, Hiew FF

Successful Christian Living

We are to grow up in all aspects into Him (Ephesians 4:15)

It was for freedom that Christ set us free (Galactians 5:1)

There are two concepts which determine the victory and fruitfulness of a Christian. The first concept is maturity. Paul wrote: "We are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ ... to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13,15). God has given us everything we need to grow to maturity in Christ (2 Peter 1:3). But Satan is opposed to our maturity and will do anything he can to keep us from realizing who we are and what we have in Christ. We must experience victory over the dark side before we can fully mature.

The second concept of the successful Christian life is freedom. Paul declare: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Galactians 5:1). This verse not only assures us that God wants us free, but also warns us that we can lose our freedom by returning to the law.

Before we received Christ, we were slaves to sin. But because of Christ's work on the cross, sin's power over us has been broken. Satan has no right of ownership or authority over us. He is a defeated foe, but he is committed to keeping us from realizing that. He knows he can block your effectiveness as a Christian if he can deceive you into believing that you are nothing but a product of your past, subject to sin, prone to failure, and controlled by your habits. As long as he can confuse you and lbind you with his dark lies, you won't be able to see that chains which once bound you are broken. You are free in Christ, but if the devil can deceive you into believing you are not, you won't experience the freedom which is your inheritance. I do not believe in instant maturity, but I do believe in instant freedom, and I have seen thousands of people set free by truth. Once a person is free, you would be amazed at how quickly he or she matures!

We rejoice that it was for freedom that our Lord came to set us free. Holy Spirit remind us today to walk in Your freedom.

- Neil Anderson

When Your Adult Child Moves Home

You thought your adult children were gone, but suddenly they are back in your house. Many couples have discovered that the main problem was their reactions to each other. The adult child was fine, but the two of them found themselves fighting each other. If you find yourself fighting, please seek a negotiator and let him or her help you draw up some reasonable guidelines that will make life easier for everyone. This may be a counselor, pastor, or trusted friend.

Planners and Strugglers
Two types of young adults return home: planners and strugglers. Planners come home to prepare for independent living. Their goals usually include saving money, paying school debts, and building a nest egg for the future. They add vitality to their parents’ lives.

Strugglers tend to return home out of necessity. They find the outside world threatening and don’t want to struggle on their own. Parents who can respond with understanding will help them reach the level of maturity necessary to go out on their own and lead productive lives.

Terms and Conditions
When your adult child returns home, it is important that you work out an agreement on a few critical issues. First, establish a time limit for the nesting experience. Second, formulate a financial agreement that will take into account the financial goals of all parties. And third, respect the need for privacy. Your marriage will not only survive but thrive if you work together in forging such an agreement.

A Thriving Marriage
Parents who have adult children at home can consider themselves fortunate in several ways. First, they are able to help their children. Parents of strugglers also have the opportunity to rectify past mistakes. They have additional time with their children while the children are developing life values.

Nurturing your own marriage is extremely important for your adult children. They need to see a model of two adults loving and encouraging each other through the years. In order to encourage our adult children, we need to encourage each other in our marriage. Giving each other words of encouragement not only sets a model for your adult children, but it gives your spouse the emotional fuel to keep going.


There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Parenting Your Adult Child: How You Can Help Them Achieve Their Full Potential by Dr. Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

I Will Sing Devotional

From Don
05.08.09

Lyric Excerpt for “I Will Sing”
I will sing, I will praise.. Even in my darkest hour.. Through the sorrow and the pain.. I will sing, I will praise.. Lift my hands to honor You.. Because Your Word is true.. I will sing..

Scripture reference: Psalm 145:17-18
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, And loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, To all who call on him in truth.”(NIV)

When you’re privileged to do what I do, to travel around the country and minister to others through worship, you see a lot of church signs. And depending on what neck of the woods you’re in, some signs just don’t make a lot of sense. Like the one I saw out in front of a beautiful white clapboard chapel on a state highway in Louisiana. It said, “Today’s Sermon: the Word of God.” Trouble was, besides the obvious fact that all sermons should be based on the Bible, I passed that sign on a Thursday. That sermon was long finished.

Another sign I saw recently really confused me. It read: “Pot Luck Revival, Sunday-Wednesday.” I’m still not sure it that church was having a revival or a four-day buffet.

But one church sign seems to be cropping up more than others these days: “Sinners welcome here.” And every time I see one, I think: “Thank the Lord for just telling it like it is.”

The only difference between the sinners inside churches and the sinners outside churches is the amazing grace and forgiveness of God. The saints really are sinners who still fall down, but by the outstretched arm of a merciful God, we get up again. And again.

Trouble is, too many Christians think that they have to be worthy to worship the Lord. Many walk through the workweek feeling that God is far away. They don’t try to pray because they’re not convinced He’s listening. And besides, the anger and fear and doubt that consumes their thoughts isn’t really the stuff you’re supposed to tell God about, right?

Few things are further from the truth. Psalm 145: 18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” You can—in fact God wants you to—tell Him what you really think. To be honest about what’s going on in your life and in your heart. He already knows what’s going on anyway, but He longs for you to tell Him all the same.

The reality is that everyone goes through days when we feel God is far away. There’s a phoniness in some Christian circles that says you don’t admit that. But just look at Psalm 109 where David – the sweet psalmist of Israel who said, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times’ – tells God all about his fear and doubt, in no uncertain terms. Why is he so bold? Because he couldn’t be anything but honest before the Lord. That’s what God wants in our worship—our spirit and our truth.

The truth really does set us free. Free to worship with our whole hearts. Don’t be afraid. Be bold and tell God the truth about something you’ve been holding back. Release that sin or bitterness or anger by confessing it, and let the truth set you free.

- Don

The Love Language of Physical Touch

This week we are going to focus on the love language of physical touch. We have long known the emotional power of physical touch. Research has shown that babies who are held, hugged, and kissed develop a healthier emotional life than those who are left for long periods of time without physical contact. I suspect the same is true of adults.

Physical touch is a powerful vehicle for communicating marital love. Holding hands, kissing, embracing, and sexual intercourse are all ways of communicating emotional love to one’s spouse. All marriages are enhanced by tender physical touch.

If Your Spouse Doesn't Enjoy Physical Touch
One wife said, “I want to touch my husband, but when I try, he draws back. He acts like it irritates him, unless of course we are having sex.” What is this man telling his wife by his behavior? That physical touch is not his primary love language. He will respond much better to “words of affirmation” or one of the other love languages. If physical touch is your spouse's primary love language, they will welcome tender touches any time you want to give them.

Some people will find it difficult to speak the language of physical touch. They were not touched as children, and touching is uncomfortable for them. But anyone can learn to speak this language. Remember, love is seeking to meet your spouse's needs, but your own. You don’t touch because it feels comfortable to you, but because it communicates love to them.

Dialects of Love
In marriage, the love language of physical touch has many dialects. This does not mean that all touches are created equal. Some will bring more pleasure to your spouse than others. Your best instructor is your spouse. Your wife or husband knows what they perceive as a loving touch. Don’t insist on touching them in your way and in your time.

Respect their wishes. Learn to speak their dialect. Don’t make the mistake of believing that the touch that brings pleasure to you will also bring pleasure to them.

There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to touch in every society. All societies have some form of physical touching as a means of social greeting. This is also true in marriage. Physical touch can make or break a relationship. It can communicate hate or love. Tender physical touch can be a powerful language of love, but harsh abusive touch can actually destroy love. Clearly our bodies are made for touching, but not for physical abuse.

There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.

Sunday Sermon 2 Aug 2009

Speaker: Bro. Caleb Ramachandran
White Fields Assembly, Seremban

http://www.fileqube.com/file/noNabhFwC208661
(5MB MP3)

9 AUGUST 2009

9 Aug 09

Tom C.
Shankar R.
Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Siew Pin
Meng Fhui, Jun Fhui
Ken Fhui
Darren
Ken Fhui, Colleen
Hiew FF, Manjit

Godly Goals And Desires

Has (God) said, and will not do it? Or has He spoken, and will not make it good? - Numbers 23:19

One key to successful living is learning to distinguish a godly goal from a godly desire.

A godly goal is any specific orientation reflecting God's purpose for your life that does not depend on people or circumstances beyond your ability and right to control. Virtually no one but yourself. The only person who can block a godly goal or render it uncertain or impossible is you.

By contrast, a godly desire is any specific orientation that depends on the consideration of other people or the success of events or favourable circumstances you cannot control. You cannot base your self-wroth or your personal success on your desires, no matter how godly they may be, because you cannot control all the people or circumstances that affect fulfilment.

When people or circumstances block our goals, we get angry. If our mentally perceived goal is uncertain, we feel anxious. If the goal appears impossible, we get depressed. But what God-given goal can be blocked, uncertain, or impossible? With God all things are possible, and I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me (Matthew19:26, Mark 1-:27, Luke 18:27, Phillipians 4:13). No one can keep us from being what God wants us to be except us.

Notice how God distinguishes between goals and desires. John wrote, "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin" (1 John 2:1). Certainly God desires that we do not sin, but His status as God and His purposes cannot be blocked by anyone who exercises his will against repentance. But it is God's desire that everyone repent even thought not everyone will.

God accomplished His goal when Jesus said, "It is finished." What God has determined to do, He will do, so we can be all that He created us to be.

- Neil Anderson

We Shall Meet on that Beautiful Shore

The mother of our beloved Elder, Lim Swee Boon has gone to be with the Lord today.

Official memorial: Sunday, 2 August @ 8pm
Funeral: Monday, 3 August @ 10am
.

Getting Rid of Bitterness

Have you ever been deeply hurt by your spouse? Some of you may be saying, “Yes, again and again and again.” Then chances are you have also felt anger and bitterness toward your spouse. What are you going to do with these strong emotions that won’t seem to go away?

Unexpressed and Uncontrolled Anger
Let’s look at two negative ways and one positive way of responding to anger and bitterness.

First, there is unexpressed anger; holding it inside and letting it smolder. When we do this, the bitterness becomes like a malignant cancer slowly destroying the fiber of life. Then, there is uncontrolled expression of anger. Like an explosion it destroys everything in its range. Such an outburst is like an emotional heart attack and may produce permanent damage.

There is a better way. It begins by saying to yourself, “I’m extremely angry and bitter about what my spouse has done. But I will not allow their wrong to destroy me and I will not attempt to destroy them. I will turn my spouse over to God who is just, and I will release my anger and bitterness to God.” The Biblical challenge is “get rid of anger and bitterness” (Col. 3:8).

Releasing to God
Confess to God that you have held your anger inside and that you are bitter. Ask His forgiveness for handling your anger in a sinful way. Then confess your bitterness to your spouse and ask forgiveness. Find a counselor or trusted friend who can help you release your spouse and your anger to God, in order to live a constructive life in the future. Let me admit that a one time confession of bitterness may not eliminate all hostile feelings. If the bitterness has been there a long time, the hostile feelings may die slowly.

Whose Responsibility?
Paul said, “Never pay back evil for evil... Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17,19). You may have been greatly wronged by your spouse, but it is not your responsibility to punish them for their sin. They must face God with their sin, and God is a just judge. Verbal retaliation accomplishes no constructive purpose. Seeking the good of your mate, which the Bible calls love, has much potential for good.


There are five love languages. What's yours? Take the 30-second quiz.
Excerpt taken from Hope for the Separated by Dr. Gary Chapman. To find out more about Gary Chapman's resources, visit www.fivelovelanguages.com.