Praise Is God's ‘Reset' Button

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Are you trapped in a prison of despair, doubt or anxiety? 

Learn to release the power of praise.

The apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians is one of the Bible's most unique books. Some scholars call it "the epistle of joy" because the word "joy" or "rejoice" appear in it 16 times. Yet what is amazing is that this letter about Christian joy was written from a prison cell!

While Paul was under the watchful eye of Roman guards, bound in chains, he wrote some of the most uplifting spiritual words ever penned. In the letter's four short chapters the author continually exhorts us to praise God no matter how dark our circumstances are. He writes: "I will rejoice" (1:18, NASB), "I rejoice and share my joy with you all" (2:17), "I urge you, rejoice in the same way" (2:18), "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord" (3:1) and "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!" (4:4).

"Paul always looked for the hidden blessing in every trial. Have you been complaining about your situation? Grumbling short-circuits faith, but joy revives it."

Six New Testament Words You Need in Your Vocabulary

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

We've dumbed down the gospel for too long. 

Let's rediscover the Bible and become mature disciples.

I love words. That's why I do a crossword puzzle every day—not just because it is the mental equivalent of a three-mile bicycle ride, but also because I enjoy discovering that a word such as "coulrophobia" means a fear of clowns, or that "jobbernowl" means a stupid person.

Words are especially important to us as Christians, not only because Jesus is the logos—the word made flesh (see John 1:14)—but because our faith rests on the truth revealed by God in the Bible. We can't really know Him apart from the God-inspired words that describe who He is and what He has done for us.

"Countless martyrs died so that we could have the Bible, yet today we are forgetting it. I urge you to rediscover the timeless truths of Scripture."

Worship Team 3 April 2011

Chairperson: Tom Cheryan

Worship Leader: Peter Long Terry Choong
Vocalist: Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Lareina

Pianist: Johnathan Long Meng Fhui
Synth: Meng Fhui Jocelyn Lee
Guitarist: Anna Sim
Bass: Weng Ern
Drummer: Ken Fhui

Projectionist: Moses Tan

PA Personnel: Tommy Q, Hiew FF.

Tinkerbell Christianity

by Mark Gungor

Why does the Church seem to be so impotent today?

As I look at what we Evangelical Christians have accomplished over that last decades, I cannot help but be stunned at how far we have “dumbed down” the Christian message. For the last fifty years, we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on crusades, television and radio broadcasts, concerts and outreaches trying to get as many people as we possibly can to “believe” in Jesus. We have told millions of people that if they just “acknowledge Jesus as their savior, they will be saved!”

Really??

We have convinced millions of people that all they needed to do was “repeat this prayer after me…” and Christ would transform them from the kingdom of this world to the Kingdom of our glorious God. That “it doesn’t matter what you do – just believe”. That once they let those magic words ooze over their tongue, push past their teeth and bubble over their lips, they would now would become real Christians.

Really???

Sunday Sermon 27-Mar-2011 - Pastor Beniah Naresh

Speaker: Pastor Beniah Naresh
Associate Pastor NECF

http://www.mediafire.com/?5zdyd0ydgjjtk03

Recovering the Lost Gift of True Friendship

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Last week one of my best friends showed me what it really means to selflessly lay down your life.

Last week one of my best friends, Chris Maxwell, organized a two-day prayer gathering for me in north Georgia, where he serves as the pastor of a Christian college. Chris had listened to me whine for months about how confused I was about my future. He took it upon himself to contact a group of my friends, and they agreed to take time off work to pray with me about some important decisions.

Chris not only gathered nine men for this prayer retreat, but he also solicited counsel from other friends who couldn't attend, and from my wife. When I sat down in that living room on the first night, they put me under a microscope and proceeded to meddle in all my business. It was 48 hours of probing questions, wise counsel, sober warnings, gushing encouragement, brotherly affection and in-your-face honesty.

"True friends pray for each other. The prophet Samuel even wrote: 'Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you' (1 Sam. 12:23)."

Uncomfortable? Definitely. Embarrassing? At times. Humbling? Totally. But the pain was worth what I gained in the end.

The Power of Love

Love Heals
Do you have a relationship that you would like to see improved? Then, why not decide to do something for that person that she/he would not expect. I mean an act of kindness that would fall in the category of 'returning good for evil'. That's what Jesus taught. You'll never go wrong while following the teachings of Jesus.

I know it's not natural. We tend to return evil for evil, but that has never been God's way. When Jesus was on the cross, he prayed for the forgiveness of those who were killing him. Our attitude is always to be one that seeks reconciliation. We don't overlook wrong, but we stand ready to forgive. Genuine love is the most healing of all medications. You'll never know the power of love until you love someone who has hurt you deeply.

Simon from Cyrene Carries Jesus' Cross

by Max Lucado

“A man named Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was coming from the fields to the city. The soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross for Jesus” (Mark 15:21)

Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as scarce as space on the Jerusalem streets. He’d hoped for a peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet. Simon prefers his open fields. And now, to top it off, the Roman guards are clearing the path for some who-knows-which-dignitary who’ll march his soldiers and strut his stallion past the people.

“There he is!”

Simon’s head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know. This is no dignitary.

Is it OK to be Gay and Christian?

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Charismatic pastor Jim Swilley’s announcement that he is gay 

opened the door wider for a subtle delusion. 

Don’t believe it.

Many people were shell-shocked last week when Atlanta pastor Jim Swilley stood in front of his congregation, Church in the Now in Conyers, Ga., and announced that he is gay. The 52-year-old minister was abruptly removed from his position in the International Communion of Charismatic Churches—a network in which he served as an overseer. Some of Swilley’s members left his church, others stayed, and countless others are now scratching their heads.

We Americans are lost in a moral fog. Two major Protestant denominations (the Episcopal Church USA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) have voted to ordain gay clergy. Meanwhile, gayness is celebrated in our media, and anyone who refuses to bow to this idol is painted as intolerant and homophobic.

“The sins we avoid addressing from the pulpit are the sins that will thrive unchallenged in our culture. We must develop some backbone and speak the truth in love.”

What Will You Do With Jesus’ Tattoo?

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Jesus wears a name that says, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Don’t mislabel His true identity.

I don’t have a tattoo, and I’m not planning to get any at this point in my life. However I’ve met many young Christians who have bought into the tattoo craze. I’ve seen hearts, crosses and Scriptures (English, Greek and Hebrew) on wrists, ankles, arms and necks. When I meet a young guy who has “JESUS DIED FOR ME” inscribed on his back, I don’t criticize his fashion sense.

Regardless of what you think about tattoos, you can’t ignore Revelation 19. I preached from this passage earlier this month when I spoke at a college in Georgia. I reminded the students that one of Jesus’ many names is written on His body. John said:

The War Is on for the Millennial Generation

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

I know the battle I faced as a teenager. Today’s younger generation faces something more challenging.

It wasn’t easy for a guy to find pornography when I was a teenager. I remember giving into the temptation to buy a Hustler magazine when I was in high school. Inside the drug store I paced back and forth near the magazine rack for at least half an hour. My palms were sweaty. My heart was racing. I finally walked to the front of the store, put the magazine face down on the counter and avoided eye contact with the clerk as I forked over the cash.

I grew bolder in my sin when I graduated from high school. When I turned 18, I went to downtown Atlanta to visit an “adult bookstore” (a strange label, really, since the men who frequented these seedy establishments did not act like mature adults). In 1976, anyone who wanted to see hard-core porn had to visit these awful places with garish signs and painted-over windows.

“Young people today are continually assaulted by temptations that kids didn’t face in the 1970s. The war for a generation is on—and it is intense.”

Worship Team 27 Mac 2011

Chairperson: Caleb R.

Worship Leader: Kai Yew
Vocalist: Shankar R., Colleen, Meng Fhui

Pianist: Lydia Sim
Keyboardist: Jocelyn Lee
Guitarist: Terry C.
Bassist: Ken Fhui
Drummer: Darren

Projectionist: Joseph Yap

PA Personnel: Hiew FF, Tommy Q.

Sunday Sermon 20-Mar-2011 - Bro. Tom Cheryan

Speaker: Bro. Tom Cheryan
White Fields Assembly Seremban

http://www.mediafire.com/?99kajvnx6vi0eod

ARE YOU INVESTING WITH TIMELINESS?

Contributed by Dr. Paul E. Toms
Senior Pastor (Retired), Park Street Church, Boston, MA
-
I. WHAT IS PUNCTUALITY?
"What a way to run a railroad". This was often said derisively when a train got off schedule and ran late. In the old days, trains were famous for running right on time, punctually that is! Today some people seem to lose all sense of time. They meander, they wander, they seem to live in another world - not the one that requires attention and responsibility. Some people always seem to run late. Some cultures even have become known for lack of punctuality, and in the Islands people often joke about "Hawaiian Time". But for others, punctuality is an important characteristic. Some of us are even a bit annoying by always wanting to be "on time", if not a little early.

Punctuality is being on time; timeliness. Punctuality is very closely related to dependability and responsibility, which we have emphasized in earlier sermons. It is related to the stewardship of our time and other resources. It is also related to our love for other people; for lack of it can show disrespect and cause frustration, confusion and interruption of fellowship with others. We need to be punctual.

On Trial Before Pilate

by Max Lucado

The most famous trial in history is about to begin.

The judge is short and patrician with darting eyes and expensive clothes. His graying hair trimmed and face beardless. He is apprehensive, nervous about being thrust into a decision he can’t avoid. Two soldiers lead him down the stone stairs of the fortress into the broad courtyard. Shafts of morning sunlight stretch across the stone floor.

As he enters, Syrian soldiers dressed in short togas yank themselves and their spears erect and stare straight ahead. The floor on which they stand is a mosaic of broad, brown, smooth rocks. On the floor are carved the games the soldiers play while awaiting the sentencing of the prisoner.

But in the presence of the procurator, they don’t play.

A regal chair is placed on a landing five steps up from the floor. The magistrate ascends and takes his seat. The accused is brought into the room and placed below him. A covey of robed religious leaders follow, walk over to one side of the room, and stand.

Pilate looks at the lone figure...

“Are you the king of the Jews?”

When It Comes to the Holy Spirit, Don’t Settle for Less

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

God offers much more than a momentary experience.

Let Him totally fill you with His power and turn your life into an adventure.

Years before the Azusa Street Revival a radical band of zealous ministers crisscrossed the United States advocating a second Christian experience that they called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. These men and women were known as Holiness preachers. They were the spiritual descendants of John Wesley, and like Wesley they taught that sanctification was a work of the Holy Spirit that had to be prayed for and received by faith.

One early Pentecostal pioneer, Benjamin Hardin Irwin, began to teach that a third Christian experience was available to believers. He called it “the baptism of fire” and eventually founded a denomination based on his doctrines—the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church. Irwin eventually stepped into error and began teaching that there are numerous other explosive experiences available to every Christian such as “the baptism of dynamite,” “the baptism of oxidite” and “the baptism of selenite.”

Less Martha and More Mary

Several times on the radio show, we have heard from wives who feel as if they have to be and do everything in their homes and are very upset because their husbands don’t help them. I call this the “Martha Complex”—where wives think they have to be “superwoman”. Now, because Mark Gungor is not a woman and he is not a “Martha”, he asked me to give my perspective speaking as a “reformed” Martha!

We can start with the biblical example of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) when addressing women about this and see how Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus just listening to him while Martha was running around taking care of all that she thought needed to be done. Martha ends up getting mad because she’s doing all the work, and thinking Jesus will be on her side, asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus doesn’t do that. Instead, he tells Martha to chill out and leave Mary alone because she has chosen what is better–that which is more important. (The Gungor translation!)

Worship Team 20 Mac 2011

Chairperson: Barnabas P.

Worship Leader: Shankar R.
Vocalist: Lydia Sim, Siew Pin, Lareina

Pianist: Jocelyn Lee
Keyboardist: Jacinta Lee
Guitarist:
Bassist: Weng Ern
Drummer: Anna Sim

Projectionist: Meng Fhui

PA Personnel: Hiew FF, Tommy Q

Intimacy Grows Marriages

The Language of Friendship
A number of years ago, I started the single adult ministry at my church. Do you know the most common complaint of singles: "I am so lonely." There is something about the way we are made that cries out for intimacy with another. It is not normal for a person to live in isolation. When God looked at Adam, He said, "It is not good for man to be alone." The word 'alone' literally means 'cut off' or 'isolated'. God's answer to Adam's aloneness was the creation of Eve and the institution of marriage.

That does not mean that a person must be married to find happiness. It does mean that we need people. Intimacy is the word used to describe a close relationship. Intimacy is also one of our deepest emotional needs. It is the language of friendship.

Don’t Be a Glass-Half-Empty Christian

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

I refuse to be a Christian pessimist. Here are three reasons why I can face the future with hope.

Terrorist bombings. Middle East turmoil. $3.95 gas. Killer floods. Moral breakdown. Fragile economies.
No wonder Charlie Sheen is going crazy!

Seriously, there’s a lot of bad news out there. Negative headlines make people fearful, agitated, addicted or even sick. But from what I’ve read in my Bible, Christians should not freak out every time a gloomy cloud settles over us. We, of all people on earth, should be full of hope.

A few days ago a friend asked me what I thought about a prophecy from a well-known Christian leader. This man has predicted a financial collapse in the United States by sometime next year. Other Christians have foreseen terrorist attacks, assassinations, bread lines and even the total breakdown of society. My friend asked me: “What are you hearing from the Lord about the future?”

Sunday Sermon 13-Mar-2011 - Bro. Thomas Samuel

Speaker: Bro. Thomas Samuel
Jesus Call Prayer Tower, Petaling Jaya

http://www.mediafire.com/?4ka71134iz6xc4n

The Sufferings of His Broken Heart

by Max Lucado

Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night.

Now, look into the picture. Look closely through the shadowy foliage. See that person? See that solitary figure? What’s he doing? Flat on the ground. Face stained with dirt and tears. Fists pounding the hard earth. Eyes wide with a stupor of fear. Hair matted with salty sweat. Is that blood on his forehead?

That’s Jesus. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Honey I’m Sorry

“Honey, I’m Sorry” is the apology that Mark has husbands and wives recite to each other at the end of the Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage Seminar. The PDF download on this page is perfect for printing and framing or hanging on the refrigerator to remind you of the most important words that all of us need to say… Honey, I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

Honey, I’m Sorry:
For not always being the kind of husband I should be to you.
For not giving you the attention you deserve.
For being too caught up in my own world instead of “our” world.
For demanding too much and not giving enough.
For not loving you like I should.
Please forgive me.
With your love, your support, your patience and your prayers, I will strive to be the kind of HUSBAND God expects me to be.


Honey, I’m Sorry:
For not always being the kind of wife I should be to you.
For not always appreciating all that you do.
For not always being the lover I know you need.
For not always believing in your hopes and dreams.
For not loving you like I should.
Please forgive me.
With your love, your support, your patience and your prayers, I will strive to be the kind of WIFE God expects me to be.

I Surrender All

For five years, Mr. Van de Venter wavered between the challenge of the Gospel ministry and that of becoming a recognized artist. Here is how he tells it:

“For some time, I had struggled between developing my talents in the field of art and going into full-time evangelistic work. At last the pivotal hour of my life came, and I surrendered all.
“A new day was ushered into my life. I became an evangelist and discovered down deep in my soul a talent hitherto unknown to me. God had hidden a song in my heart, and touching a tender chord. He caused me to sing.”

A Life in the Spirit

published : Sunday, 28 February 2010
R.T. Kendall Daily Devotionals - By Love Transformed

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord . . .—Micah 3:8

Flowing in the Spirit is the best way to live. This is not to say that one is conscious all the time that he or she is flowing in the Spirit. But one can be fairly certain whether the Holy Spirit resides in a person ungrieved, and when we know this is the case, there is a great peace and an absence of tension and anxiety.

A marvelous example of flowing in the Spirit was the way Paul reacted to a demon-possessed girl who had a gift for predicting the future and kept pursuing him. For days, she kept mocking Paul and his companions and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” The funny thing was, she was telling the truth. Finally, Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the malicious spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her (Acts 16:16–18). When we flow in the Spirit we reflect God’s timing: never too late, never too early, but always right on time. There are, however, unusual times of flowing in the Spirit. That is when God is up to something that is not your usual everyday happening. Most of life is lived not on the mountaintop, but in the valley. We must learn to flow in the Spirit in the valley as well as during those times when God does the unusual.

God has never—ever—let me down or left me with the feeling I had been deceived when I experienced flowing in the Spirit. It was pure joy, although sometimes it can be costly. You may lose some friends because you are misunderstood, but God will never desert you.

Excerpted from The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (Charisma House, 2003).

Just Say Yes, Lord

Cindy deVille

Has God asked something of you? Perhaps to be or do something you just don’t think you can. Many times the things God asks of us are much bigger than we feel we could possibly do. We find a million reasons why we’re just not the right one for the task.

We say things like “I’m not smart enough,” “I’m not strong enough,” “I’m too young,” “I’m too old,” “I’m too short, too fat, too tall,” “I don’t speak well,” “I’m not pretty or poised,” “I’m too poor.” And the list goes on.

It’s time to put your reasons to rest. Although you may have a million reasons why you think you can’t be or do what God is asking of you, God has just one reason why you can, and that one reason is Christ in You, the Hope of Glory! (see Col. 1:27). Not only is He in you and with you, but also His Spirit is your helper, adviser and counselor. He is fighting for you and ever lives to make intercession for you and for His church (see Heb. 7:25).

Worship Team 13 Mac 2011

Chairperson: Dr. Siow KW

Worship Leader: Foong Yee
Vocalists: Jocelyn Lee, Lydia Sim, Peggy Tan

Pianist: Meng Fhui
Keyboardist: Jonathan L.
Guitarist: Terry C
Bass: Ken Fhui
Drummer: Darren

Projectionist: Moses Tan

PA Personnel: Tommy Q., Manjit Singh

Sunday Sermon 6-Mar-2011 - Bro. Christopher Cheah

Speaker: Bro. Christopher Cheah
Scripture Union

http://www.mediafire.com/?lg87pl4xqmdrnv1

Anger Can Be Bad For Your Health

When is the last time you felt angry? How did you handle your anger? Was it a pleasant experience for you? How about the people around you? All of us have seen people explode. Many of us have exploded. On the other hand, many people pride themselves in holding their anger inside. But internalized anger is bad for your health.

The biblical challenge is that when we experience anger, we are to process it in a positive way. That may mean gently confronting the person who stimulated our anger. Or, it may mean asking God to forgive us for being so 'bent out of shape' over such a minor matter. Learning to process anger in a timely and healthy way is one of the first lessons for healthy relationships.

Teach your children & their friends about "God's Plan of Salvation"

John 14:6,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 3:23,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I Peter 3:18,
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Love is Patient (1 Corinthians 13:4)

by Max Lucado

Patience is the red carpet upon which God’s grace approaches us.

The Greek word used here for patience is a descriptive one. It figuratively means “taking a long time to boil.” Think about a pot of boiling water. What factors determine the speed at which it boils? The size of the stove? No. The pot? The utensil may have an influence, but the primary factor is the intensity of the flame. Water boils quickly when the flame is high. It boils slowly when the flame is low. Patience “keeps the burner down.”

Helpful clarification, don’t you think? Patience isn’t naive. It doesn’t ignore misbehavior. It just keeps the flame low. It waits. It listens. It’s slow to boil. This is how God treats us. And, according to Jesus, this is how we should treat others.

He once told a parable about a king who decides to settle his accounts with his debtors. His bookkeeper surfaces a fellow who owes not thousands or hundreds of thousands but millions of dollars. The king summarily declares that the man and his wife and kids are to be sold to pay the debt. Because of his inability to pay, the man is about to lose everything and everyone dear to him. No wonder “the man fell down before the king and begged him, “Oh, sir, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.” (Matt. 18:26–27 NLT, emphasis mine)

Psalm 90:12 - So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

The Day I Said Goodbye to Oscar Logan
Wednesday, 02 March 2011 11:50 AM EST J. Lee Grady

When someone dies right after you shake his hand, you realize how close we all are to eternity.

Last Saturday, in between two sessions at a ministers conference in Virginia, I noticed an older black man sitting near me. Everyone else in the hotel lobby was chatting and drinking coffee, but this man was sitting alone—and he seemed troubled. It was time to go to the next workshop, so I walked over to the guy, said hello, shook his hand and added, “God bless you, sir.”

No big deal—just a casual gesture. Or so I thought.

Breaking Free of the Matrix

by Mark Gungor on March 1st, 2011

Many people have seen the 1999 movie The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. It’s a really cool movie with all this action and cool special effects that most guys really love. One of the great things about the movie is the theme of the “chosen one” or “messiah” coming to save the race—a theme common to lots of literature and movies because of it’s universal appeal to the human soul.

For those of you who haven’t seen it, or in case you have forgotten, the basic gist of the movie is that these humans think they are alive and carrying on their normal lives, but in reality, they are not actually living. They exist in cocoons where their bodies are used to generate energy to run the giant computer program that simulates their lives—the matrix. All they are doing is living a virtual life in their heads and the movie is about trying to break out of the matrix so they will live a real life, rather than the one generated in their minds by the computer.