Your Pastor Is on the Firing Line—Please Pray!

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones 

This Sunday is Pastor Appreciation Day. Here are six specific ways to pray for your spiritual leaders.

Often when I speak to a group of aspiring ministers, I greet them by saying: “Welcome to the war.” I also remind them that when they signed up to join the front lines of spiritual battle, a bright red target was painted on their backs. Ministry can be wonderfully rewarding, but let’s not kid anybody: Most of the time it’s a thankless job full of headaches, disappointments, conflicts, loneliness, frustration, petty complaints and tight budgets.

And while we might assume all pastors lead megachurches and drive new cars, keep in mind that the average church in this country has 75 members and the average pastor makes less than $34,000 a year—and may work an extra job to feed his or her family. The statistics are alarming: 90 percent of pastors work more than 50 hours a week; 70 percent say they don't have any close friends; and 45 percent say they've had to take a leave of absence from ministry because of depression or burnout. 

“It’s normal for leaders to have emotional highs and lows, but when discouragement becomes debilitating it can knock them out for good.”

My friend Eddie Taylor, pastor of Church on the Hill in Dalton, Ga., has faced his share of ministry pressures and has looked burnout square in the face a few times. He dug deep in the story of Elijah (see 1 Kings 17-19) to learn how to survive, and he recently shared with me a message about how to pray for people in leadership. I decided to share his main points since October is Clergy Appreciation Month.

Till Death Do Us Part…

by Mark Gungor 

My Response to the Pat Robertson Controversy 

I’ve been asked several times over the past several days what I think about the whole issue of Pat Robertson’s comments in regard to divorce and Alzheimer’s. I did address the actual story on the September 20th episode of my radio show. If you are so inclined to hear what my take was, click here. I won’t go into detail here in this post, but what I would like to comment on is the outpouring of responses that Christian people all across the Internet and media world put forth.

Huge numbers of people—both believers and non-believers—have been in an uproar and it’s created quite the firestorm of controversy. First, over Robertson himself, and second, about how awful, heartless and cruel someone would be to divorce a spouse in the throes of a terrible disease. Yet, I would guess that it is many of these very same people who condone and advocate divorce in circumstances far less trying than Alzheimer’s. Does anyone else see the inconsistency here? READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY: I am NOT advocating divorce in the cases of Alzheimer’s. I am NOT saying it’s okay to dump your spouse and find another. I DO believe that the marriage vows we take say we are in this covenant for better or worse, sickness and in health, till death do us part and that we don’t get a free pass just because a disease like this is, in Robertson’s words, like a death.

Love, Marriage, and Stinking Thinking: Spiritual Leader in the Home

Join Mark and Debbie on this week's episode as they take on the subject of spiritual authority and the concept of the husband being the spiritual leader in the home.

Many Christian marriages struggle and stumble in this area because we have created an image where the man is supposed to do everything from taking care of finances to praying to being the one who hears from God and more.Hear how Mark challenges this image and find out why he thinks that a more correct model is that of the King and Prophet... a model that is shown to be very effective throughout scripture.Both husbands and wives will find their relationship is accompanied by less resentment and more freedom when they understand that there are two roles and men don't have to fulfill both.

For more information on the show and more of Mark Gungor, please check out our website, http://www.stinkingthinking.tv -

Sunday Sermon - 25-Sept-2011 - Dr Siow Kim Woon

Speaker: Dr. Siow Kim Woon
White Fields Assembly

http://www.mediafire.com/?v1pz9230k9gzqgt

Worship Roster - 2 Oct - Communion

CHAIRMAN Tan H. L.
W. LEADER Priscilla Sim
BACK UPS Foong Yee, Chris Lai, Kenneth Lai
PIANO Lydia Sim
SYNTH
BASS Anna Sim
GUITAR
DRUMS W. Kai Yew
TIMBREL
PROJECTION Joseph Yap
PA SYSTEM Tommy Q.

Revealing Yourself

by Dr Gary Chapman

Intimacy comes from a Latin word meaning 'inner'. It is two people sharing the 'inner self'. Marriage is meant to be an intimate relationship-one in which a husband and wife reveal themselves to one another. Two of the things we share are 'thoughts' and 'emotions'. Emotions can't be seen, but they can be revealed. When I say to my wife, "I'm feeling disappointed," I have shared an emotion. If I tell her why, then I'm sharing my thoughts.

We make it easier for our spouse to share thoughts and emotions if we don't pounce on them with condemnation. If you say, "Well, that's nothing to be disappointed about. You shouldn't let that bother you," you have become a preacher not a loving spouse. When you say, "I can see how that would be disappointing, tell me more about it." You are encouraging intimacy.

Intimate Desires 

We are creatures of desire. That is, we want certain things. Desires are usually expressed in terms of "I want..., I wish...I hope... or I would like... In an intimate marriage couples can share their desires without making demands. If my wife tells me that she would like a new dress for the party, then perhaps I can make it happen.

Power Moves In

by Max Lucado

What got into Peter? Seven weeks ago he was hiding because of Jesus; today he is proclaiming the death of Jesus. Before the crucifixion, he denied Christ; now he announces Christ. From wimp to warrior in fifty days. What happened?

What got into Peter?

God’s Spirit did. Ten days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, “all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). The followers experienced a gushing forth, a tremendous profusion. They were drenched in power. They all were: “sons and daughters…young men…old men…servants, both men and women” (vv. 17–18). The Holy Spirit, in his own time and according to his own way, filled the followers with supernatural strength.

The Holy Spirit is not enthusiasm, compassion, or bravado. He might stimulate such emotions, but he himself is a person. He determines itineraries (Acts 16:6), distributes spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7–11), and selects church leaders (Acts 13:2). He teaches (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), and comforts (John 16:7 KJV).

How One Brave Pastor Is Fighting Child Slavery

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Pennsylvania pastor Bruce Ladebu pays up to $500 each to free children from cruel exploitation.

My friend Bruce Ladebu is a pastor, but he has never been comfortable behind a desk or a pulpit. A former adventurer who has explored Arctic islands and tracked timberwolves in the Canadian Rockies, he prefers to take his faith outside the American comfort zone. That’s why he ended up in Central Asia two weeks ago on a daring 12-day mission to rescue chidren from slavery.

Bruce’s work is not for the squeamish. He has watched 4-year-old children work 14 hours straight in 120 degree heat in crude brick factories or fabric mills. Some of the children are chained to looms and forced by their owners to urinate in pots so they won’t run away. On his most recent trip Bruce met a boy who had been burned with acid by his owners. The child had developed an infection and was given no medical care

“According to the International Labor Organization, 55 million children under the age of 15 are exploited as laborers. Some work in coal mines in Colombia or in match factories in India. Others toil in carpet mills in Morroco or in toy factories in Taiwan.”

“We saw kids in rope factories and cigarette factories,” Bruce told me. “They have no access to clean water. They bathe in pools where the bricks are made. These kids live and die there. And every girl we encountered, some 9 and 10 years old, had been raped by their owners.”

Sunday Sermon - 18-Sept-2011 - Ps Donald Wayne Dickman

Speaker: Ps. Donald Wayne Dickman
Sword of The Spirit Ministry, Petaling Jaya.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ncr3iluw3w753nu

Worship Roster - 25 Sept

CHAIRMAN Siow K. W.
W. LEADER Peggy Tan
BACK UPS Ng Siew Pin, Shankar R., Gigi Lim
PIANO Jocelyn Lee
SYNTH Jacinta Lee
BASS Terry C.
GUITAR C. Weng Ern
DRUMS Darren Oi
TIMBREL
LCD PROJECTION Moses Tan, Bryan Tan
PA SYSTEM Manjit Singh

Marshmallows and Patience

by Dr. Gary Chapman

In Western culture, we are not trained to be patient. We get irritated just waiting for the computer to boot up. We are also impatient with people who don't operate on our time table. Or waitresses who bring us the wrong order. And yet, patience is one of the traits of love. To be loving is to be patient. In a nutshell: patience is accepting the imperfections of others.

A Better Way

When I become impatient, lose my temper, and spout condemning words to my wife, I have become an enemy, not a friend. So, she will likely fight the enemy or flee from the enemy. So, we have a royal argument that no one wins, and both of us walk away wounded, and try to avoid each other the next few days. All because I was impatient.

On the other hand, had I been patient, I would have asked questions in an effort to understand my wife's behavior. Once I understand what motivated her behavior, I'm more likely to have a reasoned response. I am now her friend and she responds positively to a friend. The whole atmosphere remains positive because I chose to be patient. Patience begins by recognizing that people are not machines. They have thoughts, feelings, and they make decisions. Those decisions do not always please us, but we must give them the same freedom that God gives them. To condemn your son for not going to college will not have a positive effect on his life. Step back, and give him freedom to be human.

Marshmallows

More than 40 years ago, Dr. Walter Mischel conducted an extensive long-term study at Stanford University that came to be known as the Marshmallow Test. The researcher put a marshmallow in front of a 4 year old child and said: "You can have one marshmallow right now, or you can wait 15 minutes while I do something else and then you can have two marshmallows.

About one third of the children waited and received the second marshmallow. Fourteen years later the same children were interviewed about their present lives. Those who waited had better self-esteem, higher SAT scores, and were considered more socially adept and trustworthy. Patience, is indeed a virtue.

GET SOCIAL: Share your questions, thoughts insights, or comments by joining the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/5lovelanguages

Don’t Date Unless You Want to Marry

by Mark Gungor 

In these days of hook-ups, serial dating, friends with benefits, stay-over relationships and other such collective stupidity, I can understand how the real purpose of dating has gotten lost. Just to be clear and fill in the blank for those of you who are wondering…the whole point of dating is to find someone you love and want to build a life with and to get married. I know people “date” for all kind of reasons—anything from boredom, and loneliness, to getting sex or boosting their egos—but none of those should be the motivation to date. It’s pretty straightforward people: If you don’t want to get married, then don’t date.

I frequently hear young couples say things like this: “We’ve been dating for three years but we just can’t afford to get married yet.” “I’m just not ready to settle down.” “I want to complete my education and get established before I think about marrying.” Why in the heck are you even dating to begin with?

If you want to finish college and get a big job, if you think you don’t have the money to marry or believe you are too young to commit or settle down, if you don’t think you are “ready”…then why on earth are you dating? Because while you are out there meeting some nice girl and falling in love with her, while you are growing closer and giving your heart away to that great guy—all the time not thinking you will marry for another four or five years—your emotions and hormones are thinking otherwise.

Your Story Indwells God's

by Max Lucado

God wants you to know his story. Stories about Bethlehem beginnings and manger miracles. Enemy warfare in the wilderness and fishermen friends in Galilee. The stumbles of Peter, the stubbornness of Paul. All a part of the story.

But they are all subplots to the central message: “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” (John 3:16). This is the headline of the story: God saves his people! He casts his net over cities and individuals, princes and paupers, the Pontius Pilates of power and the Peters, Jameses, and Johns of the fishing villages. God takes on the whole mess of us and cleans us up.

This quest is God’s story. And we are a part of it!

We can easily miss this. Life keeps pulling us down. The traffic, the troubles. The doctor visits and homework. One week you are having a baby; the next you are having to move out of your house. “Good news, a bonus!” “Bad news, a blizzard.” Hectic. Haphazard. Playgrounds and cemeteries on the same block.

Christianity Is All About Relationships

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones 

Jesus called us into friendship, not just with Him but also with His followers.

I don’t like goodbyes, especially on the mission field, because sometimes I get emotional. Last week it was really bad.

I had spent six days with a church in Tarapoto, Peru, and I invested a lot of time and energy encouraging the people—especially some young adults who are emerging leaders. When it was almost time for me to go through the security checkpoint at the airport, about 18 of these men and women burst through the lobby doors and gathered around me and my translator, Diego.

“Christianity, at its core, is about relationships. Unlike Eastern religions—in which individuals seek a solitary, Zen-like state to discover truth—Christianity calls us to follow God as a loving community.”

I lost it. I tried to walk around the circle to say goodbye to each person: Giancarlos, Jhor, Dalia, Juanita, Roberto, David, Cristian, Clavela, Rays. Each time somebody hugged me I sobbed. I was a slobbering mess by the time I hugged the last brother, Enrique.

People in the airport were staring at us, but that wasn’t the painful part. My heart was being ripped out of my chest.

Day 40: For a Better Malaysia

Brothers, truly my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is for it to be saved. (Romans 10:1)For I myself was wishing to be accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh, (Romans 9:3)

Much has been said about Malaysia. Unfortunately, there are more negative news than positive ones. Sometimes it appears as though there is no hope for the nation. This has created a wrong perception in the minds of the public in particular the young. Many have chosen to abandon the nation and migrate overseas. But are these facts true? Do we see widespread poverty? Do we see civil strife? Do we see war? While we are not denying there are problems in the nation, the nation itself is not as bad as it is perceived. In fact, it is still a land filled with much goodness. We have one of the best infrastructures, good education and medical care, and affordable cost of living. With the millions of migrant workers in the nation, surely it is a testimony that anyone can make a decent living here. Instead of mourning, let give thanks to God. Instead of migrating, let us make this our permanent home and work to make it a better place

Prayer Points:

• Christians will see beyond the flaws of the nation and recognize her goodness, potential and destiny
• Christian will embrace and love the nation
• Christians will seek the welfare of the nation
• Christians will make a difference in the nation.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ weakness: Struggles

Day 39: Arise & Build

O Jehovah, I pray You, let now Your ear be open to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name. And I pray You, bless Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. (For I was the king’s cupbearer). (Nehemiah 1:11)

Nehemiah is a good example of a successful agent of change. He rounded up the people together and roused them to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. In rebuilding the walls, he also helped the people regain their faith, confidence and dignity. A whole city was transformed. How did he do it? Apart from being a man of prayer, he availed his life to be the answer to his prayer. He did not only pray for God to intervene, he asked God to use his life to meet that need. Our prayers must be translated into action if change is to be a reality. God is not looking for someone else to make that change. He looking at what we are willing to offer to make that difference and He will work out the rest.

Prayer Points:

• Christians to see themselves as the answer to their prayer
• Christians to move from prayer into action
• God’s favor to be with them as they launch out by faith
• Others will be gathered to them as the work requires more than one person.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ weakness: Shortcomings

Day 38: Give Thanks

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. (Philemon 4:6)

As we approach the close of our 40-Day Fast and Prayer, we want to begin to offer our thanksgiving to God. Thanksgiving expresses our gratitude for all He has done, the acknowledgement that all things come from Him and the confidence that He will do what He has promised. Thanksgiving is a reflection of our attitude and faith towards God and is an important ingredient of prayer. When our prayers and supplication is accompanied with thanksgiving, it becomes as sweet incense unto God.

Prayer Points:

• Thank God for His accompanying Spirit and grace that has help us through the last 37 days
• Thank God for the many that had sacrificed their meals and time to stand in the gap
• Thank God for His enduring promises that can never fail
• Thank God for all that He will do in response to our prayers.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ weakness: Blind spots

Pictures from the PIT

Making Marriage Sexy

by Dr Gary Chapman

Unrealistic Expectations

Contrary to the opinion of some, sex is not a topic that God finds taboo. In fact, sex was God's idea. He created us male and female and He instituted marriage with the intent that two would become 'one flesh'. Why then do so many couples fail to find satisfaction in this important area of marriage? I want to suggest one major reason: Unrealistic expectations. 

Films, magazines, and novels convey the idea that sexual thrill and mutual satisfaction are automatic. That is simply not true. God told Israel that a young couple should 'take a year' and learn to pleasure each other. 

What makes us think that we can do so in less time?

Sexy Communication

In a society that is saturated with sex, why do so many couples struggle in this area of marriage? One of the reasons is that we fail to communicate. Your wife will never know your feelings, needs, and desires if you do not express them. Your husband will never know what pleases you if you do not communicate. I have never known a couple who gained sexual oneness without open communication about sexual matters.

Make a list of suggestions that would make this part of the marriage better for you. Share the list with your spouse. If you would like to read a list made by other husbands and wives see my book: The Marriage You've Always Wanted.

Communication is the road to finding mutual sexual fulfillment in marriage and helps makes marriage sexy.

GET SOCIAL: Share your questions, thoughts insights, or comments by joining the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/5lovelanguages

Day 37: Single Parents

In His holy dwelling God is the father of the fatherless, and the judge of the widows. (Psalm 68:5)

Even with two parents, effective parenting can be a daunting task. Parenting alone can therefore be a nervewracking experience. Having to juggle career, home responsibilities and parenting can not only be physically exhausting but it can also be mentally and emotionally draining. The growing number of single parents need support and from others--families as well as singles. Usually siblings and relatives are of help but with families shrinking in size such support may be difficult to come by. The church can play an important role in alleviating the emotional and physical stress that single parents need to endure. The many families and single adults in the church must avail themselves to help. After all, the church is supposed to be another extended family.

Prayer Points:

• Christians to be compassionate and supportive towards single parents
• Christians to aid and assist single parents and their children who are without the assistance of their extended family
• God’s grace and strength for all single parents who face the task of working as well as raising their children at the same time
• God’s protection upon their children while they are away working.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Teachable

Sunday Sermon 11-Sept-2011 - Dr John Lee

Speaker: Elder Dr John Lee
Full Gospel Assembly Batu Pahat

http://www.mediafire.com/?hus0g1ba5s0ar36

Day 36: United Families

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5:8)

In just one generation, family composition and dynamics have changed tremendously. The contributions by members of the extended family are very rare today. With the focus on the nuclear-family a wealth of experiences and learning opportunities for children is lost. In the past, grandparents were an important resource for the learning experiences of the young. They were trusted, experienced and wise adults who were effective complements in the parenting task. Unfortunately their function has been increasingly sidelined. There is a need to recapture the important contribution the elderly can make to the younger generation by embracing contributions from the extended family. Instead of being allowed to grow old alone or in special homes, the possibility of including the elderly in the family home needs serious consideration. It may well be a symbiotic relationship.

Prayer Points:

• Christians to personally care and provide for their elderly parents
• Christians to resolve or manage any conflict they have with their elderly parents
• Christians to encourage bonding between grandparents and grandchildren
• Christians to teach their children to respect their elderly grandparents.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Generosity

And in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001... Do It Again, Lord

by Max Lucado

Dear Lord,

We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, What a horrible dream.

But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress.

People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad. There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Worship Roster - 18 Sept - Communion

CHAIRMAN Liong KC
W. LEADER Foong Yee
BACK UPS Tan Hong Lu, Colleen C., Lareina C.
PIANO Chris Lai
SYNTH Kenneth Lai
BASS Priscilla Sim
GUITAR -
DRUMS Anna Sim
TIMBREL Joycelyn / Lareina / Colleen
LCD PROJECTION Timothy C.
PA SYSTEM Hiew FF

Day 35: Healthy Parenting

And fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

Parenting today has become an increasingly difficult task. With shrinking family size, decreasing support from the extended family and increasing rate of the two-income family, children tend to be neglected. Little time and opportunity is available for children to interact meaningfully with parents or other adults in the family. As a result there is little teaching, discipline and guidance for children. Parents need to prioritise their activities, plan their time wisely and manage their financial resources prudently so that their children get enough attention and opportunities to interact and learn from them. Expensive toys and electronic gadgets are very poor substitutes for effective parenting. Parents also need to learn to be effective in raising their children--through reading published materials on the subject, attending seminars and talks, discussing the issue with other parents, etc.

Prayer Points:

• Parents to place their families as high priority
• Parents to embrace the task of parenting their own children
• Parents to equip themselves with biblical as well as up-to-date parenting approachesand skill
• Parents to be role models and not just lecturing.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Forgiving

“Surely This Was a Righteous Man.”

by Max Lucado

If it is true that a picture paints a thousand words, then there was a Roman centurion who got a dictionary full. All he did was see Jesus suffer. He never heard him preach or saw him heal or followed him through the crowds. He never witnessed him still the wind; he only witnessed the way he died. But that was all it took to cause this weather-worn soldier to take a giant step in faith. “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47)

That says a lot, doesn’t it? It says the rubber of faith meets the road of reality under hardship. It says the trueness of one’s belief is revealed in pain. Genuineness and character are unveiled in misfortune. Faith is at its best, not in three-piece suits on Sunday mornings or at V.B.S. on summer days, but at hospital bedsides, cancer wards, and cemeteries.

Maybe that’s what moved this old, crusty soldier. Serenity in suffering is a stirring testimony. Anybody can preach a sermon on a mount surrounded by daisies. But only one with a gut full of faith can live a sermon on a mountain of pain.

From 

No Wonder They Call Him the Savior 

Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 1986) Max Lucado

Day 34: Strong Marriages

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)Therefore what God has joined together, let not man put apart. (Mark 10:9)

Marriage was in God’s plan even at the beginning of creation. Therefore, strong marriages are most desirable in fulfilling God’s plan for mankind. Strong marriages ensure strong families which in turn contribute towards building a strong and stable society. When a marriage is strong, all members of the family are greatly blessed – there is happiness, love, acceptance, communication and an environment for the growth and development of wholesome individuals. Therefore, time and effort invested in strengthening the marriage is far more rewarding and fulfilling than any other investment. With marriages breaking down at an alarming rate and families becoming increasingly dysfunctional, Christian families can be a testimony to the watching world. With God’s guiding principles laid out in His Word, Christian marriages and families must be strong and exemplary.

Prayer Points:

• Marriage institution to be preserved and defended
• Every marriage to be preserved and protected
• Marital relationships to be deepened and strengthened
• Christian couples to exemplify loving and stable marriages

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Secure

Unraveling the Power of Witchcraft—One Warlock at a Time

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

How an occult leader in Peru transferred his allegiance from Satan to Christ.

Just a year ago, Victor Hugo Perez Vargas was a leader in Peru’s vast but secretive occult movement. His strange ability to curse people and cause accidents seemed to be increasing. He was being mentored by a well-known satanist master and he attended witchcraft conferences.

But today you can find Victor sitting on the front row of a Pentecostal church in Tarapoto, Peru, with his wife, Deili. He loves to worship God with his hands raised, he frequently goes to the church altar for prayer and his face glows with a bright smile. “Jesus is my Lord today,” Victor says. “The power of the devil cannot be compared to the power of the true God.”

“These satanists want to take over the nation of Peru. The witches come here because there was so much blood sacrifice during the Inca times.” –Teresa Gomez

Victor’s transformation showed me how the Holy Spirit is working in Peru, where occultism has been a tradition ever since ancient Incas sacrificed children on altars to their sun god. Today, occultists from Africa, Europe and the United States attend witchcraft gatherings in Peru because they consider the country a central power center for New Age energy.

Honor Begins at Home

From HERE

Day 33: Family Altar

For I know him, that he will command his sons and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of Jehovah, to do justice and judgment, that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)

The family altar is one of the most important practices for the Christian family. It is the place for nurturing faith in our children’s hearts and minds besides being a spiritual adventure for the whole family. It offers the setting and atmosphere for nurturing a love for God and His Word, and provides the opportunity for the family to worship God, interact on spiritual matters, and pray together. All members of the family can participate and grow together spiritually with parents setting the pace and being role models. Unfortunately, the family altar is probably the most neglected family practice. Churches have generally failed to teach, emphasise, and encourage this spiritual discipline. Furthermore, for many who are aware of its importance, it is not a priority in their busy daily routine. With the overwhelming worldly influences, the adverse consequences of neglecting the family altar are only realised when it is too late.

Prayer Points:

• Every household to be won for Christ
• Family altars will be established in every household
• Family altars will be made a priority in every family
• Head of households to take the lead in family altars and contribute to the spiritual development of the family.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Blameless

NECF 40-Day Fast & Prayer - Part 7: Family

September 8 - 12

In the creation story in Genesis, immediately after God had created man in His own image, He instituted the family: For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh (Genesis 2:24, NIV). Since then, it is apparent throughout history, that the family has played a pivotal role in every people group all over the world to shape society and civilization. It is the family, together with the extended family and often times with the help of the community, which has played the primary role of preparing the next generation to continue the process of perpetuating itself. The family has done this by teaching skills as well as acceptable norms, values, attitudes and behaviour to the new generation. As such, the family has always been the greatest influence in a person’s life at least until he/she reaches adulthood.

In the last several decades, however, the influence of the family has seen a steady decline. The onslaught of humanistic philosophies have been reshaping the mindset of the individual from one that is family- and community-centered one to a more individualistic and ‘I first’ outlook. Furthermore, with the spiralling increase in the two income nuclear family, there is much less interaction in the parent-child relationship; time and opportunities for teaching and training the young minds has grown scarce. This deprivation is leading a growing number of youth to seek security and a sense of belonging amongst their peers. With little guidance and direction from responsible adults, the youth are exposed to a multitude of bad influences: substance and alcohol abuse, irresponsible sexual activities, gambling, petty crimes and all forms of addiction. When the influence of the family wanes, all forms of social ills can be expected to rise and tear at the stability of the social fabric. This is exactly what we are seeing in the 21st century. To arrest the decline in social order and reverse the trend we need to return to the basics: we need to strengthen the family.

There is a desperate need today for the resurgence of strong families. The onus is on the Church and the believers in Christ to lead the way. Being aware of God’s warnings and being ‘illumined’ by the Word of God, Christian families must be the salt and light to the communities in which they live. Are Christian families ready to take the lead?

Bro Wrutheran Sinnadurai

Retired Teacher & Author

Day 32: Christian & Media

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me; because of this He has anointed Me to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and new sight to the blind, to set at liberty those having been crushed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19)

Much of our lives is shaped by the media. The media has been known to influence communities and shape nations. Governments understand the influential power of the media. Whoever controls the media controls the mind and life of people. Through the media, we can be a positive influence for God. Currently, the Christian involvement in the media is low. It is not because of the lack of talent. False perception and the high costs involved are among the major reasons for it. If we desire to influence and inspire change in the nation, we must explore and penetrate into this sphere of influence. We need to raise our own production house, producers and artists.

Prayer Points:

• Christian to recognize the power of media
• Christians to penetrate and serve through this sphere of influence
• Funding and development of Christian production house, producers and artists
• Christian movies and programs.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Faithful

Day 31: Cultural Arts

And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth. (John 1:14)... but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philemon 2:7)

Culture and arts are closely related. Most cultures find expression in Arts. They each have their individual music, clothing, architecture, literature, language etc. Culture often defines the identity of the community. Identification is an important tool to gain access into a community. While cultural arts may be employed for religious purposes, it can be redeemed and used to communicate the Gospel. This is what it means by incarnating the Gospel--delivering the Gospel clothed in the culture of a particular community. Using cultural arts is one effective way to contextualize the gospel into communities.

Prayer Points:

• Churches to explore into cultural arts
• Churches to develop and invest in cultural arts
• Churches to use cultural arts to connect with communities
• Churches to use cultural arts as a medium of communication and influence.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Upright

Day 30: Communicating Through Arts

And let them make Me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments of it, even so you shall make it. (Exodus 25:8-9)Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. (Psalm 149:3)

The Arts is another means of communication which uses different modes of creative expression such as music, literature, film, theatre, photography, sculpture and paintings. It is used by individuals, cultures and religions to express and communicate their core beliefs and values. It is powerful because it touches the senses, moves the emotions and stirs the imagination. In the Bible, God Himself displayed His artistic inclination in the pattern and construction of the Tabernacle. Through it He illustrated truth for Israel to learn and remember. In worship, Israel used music and dance to express their devotion to God. History also teaches how the domain of arts used to belong to the Church. The Arts can be a powerful tool to communicate the Gospel and further the Great Commission. It is a language all cultures understand and respond to.

Prayer Points:

• Churches to excel in the Arts again
• Greater support for Arts in Churches
• Arts to be developed and used in Church and ministry
• Arts to be used to communicate Christian values and the Gospel.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Bold

Worship Team 11 September 2011

Chairperson: Tom C .

Worship Leader: Peter Long
Back-ups: Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Lareina

Pianist: Jonathan L.
Synth: Meng Fhui
Guitarist: Nigel Dusanjh
Bass: Anna Sim
Drums: Ken Fhui

Projectionist: Moses Tan

PA: Manjit Singh, Hiew FF

Day 29: Truth

Therefore putting away lying, let each man speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25)And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)

The media is a power tool. It can empower or it can destroy. Too much control can deprive us of the truth while an absence of control can lead to chaos. The public looks to the media for truth. Unfortunately, the media has been hijacked by parties with political interest to promote propaganda and spread lies to pull down one another. There is so much slanderous news and sensational stories that no one knows the actual truth. Often these news play on the sentiments of the public that leads to disharmony and division. Even the Christian community has not been spared from it.

Prayer Points:

• The public to be cautious and discerning over all information communicated by the media
• Media and journalists to uphold ethical, professional and truthful reporting
• Government and public servants to practice highest standard of transparency and accountability so as to give no room for unfounded allegations and accusations.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Humble

Sunday Sermon 4-Sept-2011 - Rev Thomas Cheng

Speaker: Rev. Dr. Thomas Cheng
World Harvest Enterprise

http://www.mediafire.com/?yfacmja297oenna

Day 28: Freedom of Information

For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (Romans 1:18)How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching? (Romans 10:14)

Media is the tool by which information is communicated and disseminated. It includes newspaper, television, radio and the internet for various purposes such as advertising, marketing, public relations, political communication, entertainment, news and announcements. While some of regulations may be needed to restrict young minds from exposure to corrupt and unhealthy materials, the suppression of the media that conceals facts and information can be abused for the purposes of control and tyranny. The government exercises control over the mainstream media but due to the proliferation of the internet, people now have access to alternate perspectives

Prayer Points:

• Continued liberalization of the media
• Mainstream media to be allowed to communicate without fear or favor
• All to have access to communicate through mainstream media.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ character: Wise

The Fear of Life’s Final Moments

by Max Lucado

This is the promise of Christ: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” ( John 14:1–3 NLT).

He promised, not just an afterlife, but a better life.

We Westerners might miss the wedding images, but you can bet your sweet chuppah that Jesus’ listeners didn’t. This was a groom-to-bride promise. Upon receiving the permission of both families, the groom returned to the home of his father and built a home for his bride. He “prepared a place.”

By promising to do the same for us, Jesus elevates funerals to the same hope level as weddings. From his perspective the trip to the cemetery and the walk down the aisle warrant identical excitement.

Weddings are great news! So, says Jesus, are burials. Both celebrate a new era, name, and home. In both the groom walks the bride away on his arm. Jesus is your coming groom. “I will come and get you . . . ” He will meet you at the altar. Your final glimpse of life will trigger your first glimpse of him.

NECF 40-Day Fast & Prayer - Part 6: Media

September 3 - 7

Though most people attribute the start of modern media to the beginning of radio in the early part of the 20th century, it really started with foot messengers of ancient days. They carried all manner of information. The most sought after news and information was about wars. The Gibeonites tricked Israel into thinking they came from a faraway country instead of Canaan. Joshua could have been helped by efficient media when he was tricked into entering into a treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9).

From the foot runner, to the town hailer, the pony express, the printed daily newspaper, television, radio and now the internet--one thing has not changed: people want and need news and information. The types of available media, and its pervasiveness (or accessibility) has increased considerably with time. In the process, it has made media more powerful. It has the capability to set up and to bring down governments, corporations and individuals. Facebook and Twitter (the most popular social media platforms today) have provided a user friendly and an efficient manner in which news and information can be disseminated. Media is a key pillar of society that people are prepared to go to great measure to control.

In today’s circumstances, many media organisations are operated on profit motivation. This has added to the challenge of having media that builds society. Like money and many other things, media can be used to build or abuse. There is no doubt about its power.

The Malaysian media scene is fast developing. In the pre-1983 era, the only daily news and information sources were television and radio run by the government (except for a wired radio service called Rediffusion) and the privately owned printed newspapers. Since then, new licences were given for private operators of television and radio but many, if not all, were related to the ruling government of the day. While this was not bad in itself, it created some conflict of interest in the way news was presented. With the advent of the internet, and a growing hunger for independent news and information sources, internet news has become very popular and attracts audiences of all ages and strata of society.

As the prophesy in Daniel 12:4 says, many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Truly media is an important pillar for transforming this nation.

Sreedhar Subramaniam

CEO of GoodTimes (Online magazine)

Day 27: Stewardship

Charge the rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, He offering to us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to share, to be generous. (1 Timothy 6:17-18)

On 9 December 2010, Forbes reported social networking giant, Facebook Founder and President, Mark Zuckerberg announced his plan to give away the majority of his fortune to charity. “People wait until late in their career to give back. But why wait when there is so much to be done? With a generation of younger folks who have thrived on the success of their companies, there is a big opportunity for many of us to give back earlier in our

lifetime and see the impact of philanthropic efforts,” he said in a statement. It is God who gives us the power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18). And this wealth is not meant to be hoarded or spent selfishly but to be used to serve others and God’s purpose. In doing this we become agents of God’s divine providence to others and reap God’s eternal blessings.

Prayer Points:

• Christians to possess the right understanding of wealth
• Christians to use their wealth in the right way
• Christians will use their wealth for the furtherance of God’s cause and His Kingdom
• Christians will also provide for social, educational and economic development of the marginalized and needy.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ ministry: Productive & successful

Fear of Global Calamity

by Max Lucado

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24: 4-8 NIV)

Things are going to get bad, really bad, before they get better. And when conditions worsen, “See to it that you are not alarmed” (v. 6 NIV). Jesus chose a stout term for alarmed that he used on no other occasion. It means “to wail, to cry aloud,” as if Jesus counseled the disciples, “Don’t freak out when bad stuff happens.”

Jesus equipped his followers with farsighted courage. He listed the typhoons of life and then pointed them “to the end.” Trust in ultimate victory gives ultimate courage. Author Jim Collins makes reference to this outlook in his book Good to Great. Collins tells the story of Admiral James Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war for eight years during the Vietnam War. After Stockdale’s release Collins asked him how in the world he survived eight years in a prisoner-of-war camp.

Day 26: Stronghold

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world’s rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

The marketplace is no ordinary realm. It is a realm dominated and controlled by the god of this world. It is a realm that feeds on the greed of men and exalts the desire for more money. It is a realm where ungodly ways are common and acceptable. To penetrate, influence and succeed in this realm, one cannot do it without prayer. The powers behind the system must be paralyzed before we can bring transformation to it. This requires every marketplace believer to be grounded in their faith, clothed with God’s armor and engaged in prayer 

Prayer Points:

• Marketplace Christians to be spiritually strong in the Word and engaging in prayer
• Their hearts to be upright and governed with the right motivation
• God’s divine protection and favor to preserve and enable them
• Demonic and corrupt powers behind our financial system to be paralyzed.

Prayer Shield: for our elders, pastors and leaders

Leaders’ ministry: Growing Churches

The Ominous Handwriting on America’s Wall

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

An earthquake rattles Washington, D.C., and a fierce storm ravages the East Coast. Is God speaking to us?

I'm not a doomsday prophet, and I don’t believe every hurricane, earthquake or drought is God’s judgment. But I did pause to ponder the significance of the freakish 5.8-magnitude quake that jolted the East Coast last week. The White House was evacuated, the Washington Monument was closed indefinitely because of cracks, and the National Cathedral’s central tower was seriously damaged.

Does anybody else find that slightly spooky?

“I hope President Obama and the leaders of both political parties in Washington are heeding the ominous signs of the times. And I pray they don’t forget the words of another one of our founders, Patrick Henry, who said: 'It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.'”

Atheists and secularists will say it was just a big seismic coincidence. They probably also ignored the fact that a few days after the quake, a massive storm weirdly drifted toward Washington, D.C., and New York City. Hurricane Irene has now been blamed for at least 42 deaths in 12 states, and more than 2.5 million people from North Carolina to Maine were still without electricity Tuesday.