Healing Prayer : Max on Life #67

The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book, Max on Life.

QUESTION #67:
In my med-school class we discussed the place of prayer in the hospital. As you can imagine, we heard strong opinions on both sides. What are your thoughts? What is the purpose of healing prayer?

We tend toward one of two extremes on this subject: fanaticism or cynicism. Fanatics see the healing of the body as the aim of God and the measure of faith. Cynics consider any connection between prayer and healing as coincidental at best and misleading at worst. A fanatic might seek prayer at the exclusion of medicine; a cynic might seek medicine at the exclusion of prayer.

A healthy balance can be found. The physician is the friend of God. Prayer is the friend of the physician.

The example of Jesus is important.

Fence Love

Love that Protects

Behold, love! For that word armies have marched, fortunes have been squandered and perfectly normal men and women have made total fools of themselves, often in front of complete strangers. Preachers preach about it. Singers sing about it in every possible language. It has inspired operas and rock songs, poems and graffiti, little notes and endless novels.

Love has cured people and (some say) killed others. Yet no word confuses us more than love. In marriage the confusion continues. Do we marry for love? Is love important? It is. But only if we understand what it is. Can we develop the kind of intimacy a marriage needs without love? It isn’t likely, for love is the substance of all true intimacy.

To help us understand the link between love and intimacy, I want to give you three different expressions of love to consider. Each is vital to an intimate marriage, as you will see. In this installment we will look at Fence Love.

Has the Baton Been Passed to the Asian Church?

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Last week in Singapore I saw the future of Christianity—and it has a definite Chinese flavor.

Last week during a trip to Singapore I enjoyed all the tastes and smells of China—chili crab, salted milk crab, prawns, ban mian (flat noodles), bak chang (rice dumplings), lychee fruits, chicken feet (not my favorite!) and several varieties of fish. But the flavor I savored most was found in the worship times at Cornerstone Community Church.

“Missionary strategists have already predicted that by 2035 China will be a Christian nation. Then nations of Asia, including Singapore, are positioned to be 21st century Antiochs.”

I got choked up while watching the young people at Cornerstone last Sunday. Hundreds of young people—mostly Chinese, many first-generation converts to Christianity—jammed to the front of the auditorium at the close of their youth service. Many were on their knees. Some were sobbing. They were all singing:

Set this generation apart for You. Let me be a part of what You’re doing

I want to stand in purity and righteousness. Set this generation on fire

Lord I will burn, I will burn for You.

Punctuality and Your Spiritual Focus - 2/2

So what does the Bible have to say about punctuality? Does God care if you are often late to worship?

We read in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God.” Jesus encourages Christians to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt.22: 37). Is it possible to love Him whole-heartedly and seek Him first and still be habitually late to the assembling of His saints where He is reverenced and praised?

Consider an example of five girls who were late to a wedding, as recorded in Matthew 25:1-13. They were unprepared for the coming of the bridegroom. Hastily, they attempted to get themselves ready and then appeared at the wedding only to find the door shut and their entrance denied. If these ladies had been on time, with the necessary supplies, they wouldn’t have missed out on the celebration they obviously wanted to attend.

Drawing the Lines

by Mark Gungor

There is a great song by Michael Buble titled “Everything”. It’s quite romantic actually, as he is telling his girl how important she is to him:

You’re a falling star, You’re the get away car. You’re the line in the sand when I go too far.

You’re the swimming pool, on an August day. And you’re the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it’s kinda cute. Ah, when you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

Baby don’t pretend, that you don’t know it’s true. Cause you can see it when I look at you.

You’re a carousel, you’re a wishing well, And you light me up, when you ring my bell.

You’re a mystery, you’re from outer space, You’re every minute of my everyday.

And I can’t believe, uh that I’m your man, And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.

Whatever comes our way, ah we’ll see it through, And you know that’s what our love can do.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times. It’s you, it’s you, You make me sing.

You’re every line, you’re every word, you’re everything.

Did you catch this phrase: “You’re the line in the sand, when I go to far.” Do you realize that amongst all the wonderful things he is praising this woman for, he says it’s a positive thing that she acts as the one to draw the boundaries when he pushes the envelope.

Expectations and Limitations

A common obstacle to restoring intimacy is a lack of agreement about the need for positive change.

Janet is worried because Frank seldom talks to her. She tries to discuss it with him, but he doesn't see things the same way. He thinks he says all the necessary words, so what's the problem? This couple might need an honest discussion of their expectations and limitations. Let's define some terms.

Expectations are the attitudes and actions that we feel entitled to receive within a relationship. They grow out of our upbringing, but also from the ideas we have developed through reading, observing, and dreaming.

Limitations are the hindrances within us that keep us from meeting expectations. Many are temporary and we outgrow them or overcome them in time. Some, however, do not change. For example, no matter what she does my wife will find it hard to walk as fast as I do. She doesn't have the length of stride I do. If I expect that of her, she will always experience frustration and I will feel disappointed. So we have learned to walk together. I shorten my stride, she quickens her pace a bit, and we have many great walks.

Intimacy Lost

Robert and Freda met at university. Eventually they decided they had what it takes to make a good marriage. Everyone who knew them thought so too, so after graduation they married.

Love began dying during their first year of marriage, but they hardly noticed it. Like many couples, they allowed their careers (both were lawyers) to consume their lives, leaving little time for each other.

Strangely, their courtship years had been just as busy, maybe more. Love flourished, even in a typhoon of exams and research papers. In those days their relationship gave them relief from the stresses of school work. Now their marriage had become just one more drain on their time and energy.

It didn't help when Freda, feeling lonely, developed a close friendship with her young, male piano teacher. The friendship was apparently innocent, but potentially dangerous. There was a certain excitement and tenderness that she missed with her husband. And laughter! Freda enjoyed the bright humor of her piano teacher. Definitely dangerous, especially for a woman in Freda's situation.

Sunday Sermon 22-May-2011 - Dr Isaac Yim

Speaker: Ps. Dr. Isaac Yim

http://www.mediafire.com/?wqg0bi7f9v8py91

Understanding Intimacy

Have you ever met a couple whose marriage seemed to glow, even in the common, everyday times? Intimacy creates that glow. It is the warm core of every successful marriage.

But Martin and Janice (not their real names) are not that couple. Married more than 15 years, yet constantly drifting apart. Now it looks like their marriage might end. The reason? Lost intimacy.

Sadly, many couples have lost their intimacy. Some never even had any intimacy to lose. Instead of a warm glow, they experience a constant chill. And, like cold people everywhere, they cover up to protect themselves.

In a survey of married couples, family therapist Stuart Johnson emphasized the importance of intimacy to a successful marriage. He found that all the happily married couples he surveyed had developed healthy intimacy in four vital areas:

Necessitites of Life : Max on Life #145

The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book, Max on Life.

QUESTION #145:

In most of my prayers I ask God for things I need each day. These are legitimate needs. (I’m not asking God to make me a millionaire, just to help me pay the mortgage.) Is God really concerned about the necessities of my life?

“Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3).

What is this daily bread Jesus spoke of, tucked inside the Lord’s Prayer? A loaf of warm Italian bread on my doorstep every morning? That would be nice.

Bread is a staple of every culture. From flat bread to yeast-filled loaves, grain has been mixed with water and oil and placed over a fire by every civilization. What’s the first thing a restaurant brings before the meal? Bread. (Okay, maybe Mexican restaurants don’t, but those chips are made from grain. They’re just fried in oil.)

But how about a slight change to the daily menu: “Give us this day our daily mocha chocolate chip ice cream” or “Give us this day our daily beluga whale caviar”?

Those are luxuries, not necessities. Sorry, God does not promise those.

Bread is a valued necessity, tasty and welcomed, but certainly not extravagant.

Jesus tells us to ask for the necessities in life, but does he promise to provide them?

Soon after this plea for daily bread, found also in Matthew 6, Jesus presents his famous “Don’t worry” passage: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (v. 25). God takes care of birds, flowers, and grass and provides the basics they need to exist (vv. 26–30). Why not us? Aren’t we more important than a barn swallow, a multiflora petunia, and a blade of Bahia grass?

You bet a loaf of sweet sourdough we are.

In that statement comes a promise from God to provide his most important creation on earth with food, clothing, and drink (vv. 25–34). The necessities once again.

Jesus tells us to ask, then promises to give us the basics we need to survive.

So don’t worry; be prayerful. God has something wonderful for us baking in the oven. Can you smell it?

NEW Book!

MAX ON LIFE: Answers and Insights to your Most Important Questions

Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

Making Decisions in Harmony

Decisions in Love

Most counselors agree that one of the greatest problems in marriage is decision-making. Visions of democracy dance in the minds of many young couples, but when there are only two voting members, democracy often results in deadlock. How does a couple move beyond deadlock? The answer is found in one word - love.

Love always asks the question, "What is best for you?" Love does not demand it's own way. Love seeks to bring pleasure to the one loved. That is why Christians should have less trouble making decisions than non-Christians. We are called to be lovers. When I love my wife, I will not seek to force my will upon her for selfish purposes.

Is There Anything Wrong With Rob Bell’s Gospel?

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

The popular author’s controversial book Love Wins celebrates God's love but drifts dangerously into Universalism.

I'm usually quick to speak my mind. But in the case of Rob Bell's controversial book Love Wins, I've withheld comment until now because (1) I don't think Christians should judge books before reading them; (2) the theological issues addressed require careful analysis; and (3) I have many young friends who are fans of Bell's books, and they may write me off if I don't treat him fairly.

So I'll begin with a compliment. Bell is a masterful writer whose prose is poetic. As pastor of the 7,000-member Mars Hill Bible Church in Michigan, Bell has gained a following because of his casual style, his ultra-cool Nooma videos and the previous books he's released with Christian publisher Zondervan (especially Velvet Elvis).

How Healthy is Your Marriage?

An epidemic is sweeping the world. If this epidemic were medical in nature, if it was, for instance, a deadly virus that brought a painful death, the world's citizens would fight it with every weapon and tactic. But this epidemic doesn't cause sickness and death, at least not directly.

This is an epidemic of lifeless, joyless marriages and homes. It represents a social and spiritual catastrophe, a rising tide of broken relationships and broken people. You will find the symptoms in every country, in every culture, in all economic conditions. Sometimes it leads to divorce, sometimes only to chronic tension and unhappiness.

The technical word for this sickness is dysfunctional, as in, "They have a dysfunctional relationship." But let's not get too technical. Dysfunctional simply means, according to the Oxford Dictionary, not operating normally or properly. In other words, these marriages are broken and needing repair. How badly broken? How much repair do they need? It varies, but generally speaking, the longer the problems have been neglected, the more damage there is to repair.

Punctuality and Your Spiritual Focus - 1/2

published : November 26, 2006
by Michael Gibson

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth” (Col.3: 1-2).

In the verse above, Paul is admonishing the Christians in Colossae, and us today, to focus on spiritual matters and seek the things of God. What I want you to ask yourselves today, brethren, is how you can be setting “your affections on things above” if you are habitually late to the services? Since we, too, are risen with Christ, we are obligated to seek -- put diligent effort into -- putting our affections on things above.

“What is so bad,” you may ask, “about consistently being a few minutes late to services?” “Does the Bible have anything to say about punctuality?” I believe I can show you that it does! To clarify matters, let me make it perfectly clear that I am not talking about one who is occasionally late or one whose good intentions to be on time are derailed by unforeseen circumstances. I am addressing the practice of arriving at services tardy more often than arriving on time.

Skit Guys - Grace

In this conversation between Jesus and Peter, grace is illustrated when Jesus forgives the unforgivable.

The Marriage You Really Want

Do you have the marriage you really want? We do. Diane and I have been married for forty years. And most of the time, for most of those years, our marriage has brought us deep satisfaction. Perfect? No. Wonderful? Yes!

It could have been different. Diane and I could be like two prisoners serving a life sentence in a cold, dark jail. Prisoners have two choices. They can resign themselves to their captivity and make the most of it. Or, they can look for ways to escape. Pretty obvious, isn't it, that jail is not the place you want to be.

I am not writing as a prisoner. I am writing as a man who would not escape even if he could escape. We love each other, my wife and I, and we really enjoy our marriage. Can you say the same?

Worship Team 22 May 2011

Chairperson: Liong KC

Worship Leader: Prisca Sim
Vocalists: Jocelyn C., Siew Pin, Lareina

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

Projectionist: Joseph Yap

PA Personnel: Manjit Singh, Hiew FF

Skit Guys - Romantically Challenged

A group of men gather to discuss their lack of romantic inclinations, when a more evolved member of the group reveals that the secret to romance is simply being there for your wife.

Sunday Sermon 15-May-2011 - Rev John Chin

Speaker: Rev John Chin
Asian Interior Network

http://www.mediafire.com/?uk8sbxzdp8w687b

A Psalm and Scriptures for Singles

This is a paraphrase of the twenty-third psalm that I wrote with singles in mind. As you read it remember Jesus is your Shepherd. He cares for you. He knows what it means to be single, for he lived as a single man himself. Who better to watch over you and keep you safe?

Jesus is my greatest friend,

My Protector,

My Guide:

I shall be contented.

My walk with him provides rest and refreshing.

He satisfies my inmost self.

I will face everything that comes with Jesus, my Lord.

I will know him as my constant companion.

My fellowship with him will be my greatest delight;

I will not let enemies steal it from me.

I have an overflowing cup;

I am fully satisfied;

And I will always be at home with him.

Can We Believe the Bible?

Max on Life #72 : The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book, Max on Life.

QUESTION #72:
Can we believe the Bible? How can we know it is anything more than a collection of sayings and stories? Can we truly believe that the Bible is the Word of God?

There are many reasons I believe in the Bible. Here are a few:

Composition. It was composed over sixteen centuries by forty authors with one central theme. Written by soldiers, shepherds, scholars, and fishermen. Begun by Moses in lonely Arabia, finished by John on lonely Patmos. Penned by kings in palaces, shepherds in tents, and inmates in prisons.

Forty writers, most unknown to each other, writing in different countries and three different languages, separated by three times the number of centuries since Columbus discovered America—was it possible for these authors to produce a book of singular theme unless behind them there was one mind, one designer? The Bible is remarkable in composition.

Should Everyone Marry?

Marriage is part of God’s provision for men and women. He established it and set down the model of the marriage covenant: a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh (See Genesis 2:24). Most of us will marry. But some will not. We can divide those people into two groups: those who choose to stay single, and those who would marry if someone showed interest in them.

Of the first class there are many notable examples. These single saints have enriched many lives. The Apostle Paul probably was married once. His wife may have died, or left him when he became a follower of Jesus. He chose to remain unmarried, as he says in I Corinthians 7, because he believed that he could serve God more effectively, in his unique calling, as a single man.

Why I Don't Buy the May 21 Prophecy

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Here are three reasons why Harold Camping's end-times prediction should be ignored.

I spent the past week in Guyana, a South American nation where the people are friendly, the food is spicy and churches are growing at a healthy pace. But Christians there face a serious challenge because of the sad legacy of Jim Jones, the American cult leader who ordered his followers to drink poisoned Kool-Aid at their compound in Jonestown in 1978. The mass suicide, which killed 909 people (including Jones), went down in history as the world's worst example of religion gone wrong.

"Even today, the Jim Jones tragedy poses a problem of credibility for us," one pastor in the city of Corriverton told me last week.

“As sincere as Camping's devotees may be, sincerity is no excuse for theological error. It is wrong-headed and irresponsible for any Christian to tell an unbeliever when Jesus is coming back or when the world will end.”

You can imagine my dismay when I arrived in Guyana and learned that groups of Americans were combing the streets and passing out literature claiming that Jesus will rapture the church on May 21. These Christians apparently are so convinced of the prediction that they traveled to the only English-speaking country in South America to deliver a last-minute warning.

Learning to Say No

by Mark Gungor on May 11th, 2011

One of the first words that a child learns is “no”. A small toddler knows what it means and it is an early entry in their verbal vocabulary as they wobble around repeating, “No, no, no” everywhere they go. Even a dog will quickly learn the word when you are training him. Yet while it is one of the earliest concepts that humans acquire, and extraordinarily simple to understand, many people never grasp the word or learn to act on it.

It is imperative that we get the whole idea of “NO!” drilled into our heads, learn to deny selfish desires and feelings, and do the right things in life. If you don’t get this, you will live a life that is nothing but a series of disasters that leave a wake of destruction in your path.

Parents must instill their children that they cannot act on every desire and need to teach them that the ability to delay gratification. Both are essential skills to acquire if you are going to live as a successful person. While this is especially important in many areas of life, it is critical when it comes to the area of sex.

How to Choose for Life

Choosing the person you will marry is just that- a choice. Some men and women feel they were swept off their feet by a rush of romantic love, true. But beneath all the emotions and all the thrills of knowing someone is crazy about you, there is still your will to decide. This section of our series, Choosing For Life, will help you make a wise decision, not just an emotional one.

Choose someone who is happy, not someone who relies on you for happiness.
Statistics show that people who have learned how to be happy when they are single have a better chance of being happy when they are married. The opposite is also true. An unhappy, depressed person who gets married, thinking marriage will create the happiness they lack, is usually disappointed.

Worship Team 15 May 2011

Chairperson: Caleb R.

Worship Leader: Peggy Tan
Vocalists: Hong Lu, Foong Yee, Gigi Lim

Pianist: Lydia Sim
Keyboardist: Jonathan L
Guitarist: Nigel
Bassist: Ken Fhui
Drummer: Anna Sim

Projectionist: Terry C.

PA Personnel: Hiew FF, Tommy Q.

How Far Can We Go?

You can only do something the first time, one time. A simple statement, but true. You only get one first time. Do you want your first intimate sexual experiences to be with the person you marry and will spend your life sleeping with? Or do you want to marry with the memories of other sexual experiences with other people?

Because sexual experience is sacred, the Lord has wisely prohibited it from any relationship except marriage. Sex is so powerful, involves so much of the total person, that it needs the strongest covenant to protect it from abuse. That covenant is marriage. In marriage it is safe; outside marriage it never is.

Skit Guys - The Mom Song

The Skit Guys deliver a special Mother’s Day message, but Tommy gets a little carried away in song.

Sunday Sermon 8-May-2011 - Sis. Romila Thomas Cheryan

Speaker: Sis. Romila Thomas Cheryan
White Fields Assembly Seremban

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

How Should I Pray?

My wife prayed quite specifically for me, but probably not in the way you think. She prayed that the Lord would work in my life, help me develop in ways that pleased him and strengthened me, before she ever met me. She didn't know if I would be short or tall, with much hair or little (it turned out to be little). She prayed about the things that were most important to her and she prayed that God would bless her unknown future husband. When she met me she knew her prayers were answered! (It's just great being the answer to someone's prayers.) Praying specifically built her faith, too.

By the way, she does think I'm handsome and I think she's beautiful! Don't think that if you pray for a prince you will get a frog. God wants to give you the best possible person as your life partner. Looks aren't everything, though. And it seems to me that we make far too much of that part of courtship.

The Importance of Parental Love

Secure in Love

A mother recently said to me, "I don't know if I'm ready for my children to become teenagers. It seems like all teenagers are having sex, using drugs, and carrying guns to school. Is it really that bad?" The answer is 'no'. It is true that 10% of teenagers are troubled and get into trouble, but most of them were troubled children. Good kids don't suddenly go bad in adolescence.

When teens are secure in the love of their parents, they will have confidence to face the negative influences in our culture. In my opinion, nothing is more important than parental love. The teen wants to feel connected, accepted, and nurtured by parents. When this happens the teen will move through adolescence in a healthy manner.

Overtime : Max on Life #121

The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book, Max on Life.

QUESTION #121 : My job requires lots of overtime, so I can’t attend many of my kids’ school activities. My wife worries about this a lot. Could this have a negative effect on our kids? Or on my relationship with them?

As a father of three girls, I struggled with the same issues. As God blessed my ministry, more and more calls came in from all over the world, wanting me to speak at churches, conferences, and grand openings of supermarkets. It was hard to say no at first. I felt every opportunity was from God.

Finally I realized that every time I said yes to something, I had to say no to something else. It’s called Max’s Yes Law of Inverse Dynamics. Look it up! It says this: with every yes in your schedule, there is an equal and opposite no reaction. When I said yes to another speaking engagement, I said no to another family dinner. When I said yes to another meeting, I said no to my girls’ volleyball game. When I said yes to another book tour, I said no to taking a walk with my wife.

Did Osama bin Laden Go to Hell?

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones 

Some people cheered when the world’s most hated terrorist was killed. 

But I don’t think God was happy about his death.

Like many other Americans who stayed up late to hear the news about Osama bin Laden on Sunday night, I had one eye on my television and the other on my laptop. I was waiting for President Obama to make his statement about the demise of the world’s most infamous terrorist, but the White House was moving as slow as Vermont syrup in December. When Obama finally stood in front of his teleprompter, many of us had already finished the story—by tweeting, texting and posting entries on Facebook.

These days we don’t just sit and watch TV. We are involved in the story, and sometimes we know the news before Wolf Blitzer does. Empowered by our lightning-fast digital media, we are the commentators now. Yet as I read some of the verbal shots fired into the Twitterverse by this new army of armchair journalists (“May Osama rot in hell!” for example, or “I’m glad he’s fish food now”), I had to ask myself: Is it right for Christians to rejoice over the death of a criminal—even one who masterminded a plot so evil as the 9/11 attacks?

“I had to ask myself: Is it right for Christians to rejoice over the death of a criminal—even one who masterminded a plot so evil as the 9/11 attacks?”

Can I Find the Perfect Person?

Personally, I think I have the perfect wife, the best I could have ever found. My mother once told me I could have searched the world over and not found a better wife than Diane. When your mother talks like that you know you have found someone quite special. Obviously, I agree.

But is Diane the only woman I could have married who would have been a good choice for me? Am I the only man in the world who was "the choice" for her? If so, what would have happened if one of us had resisted God’s will to marry the other? Think about where that kind of reasoning leads you and you will soon realize that there must be a better way to understand the will of the Lord concerning the person we choose to marry.

Should I Date Someone Who Doesn't Follow Jesus?

It is never, repeat never, God's will for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian. There are many reasons for this, but the essence is basic incompatibility on the most fundamental level of life: who, or what, we worship. That's the core issue. Not how handsome of how cute; not how much money or what kind of car he drives. Who, or what, does he or she worship? If you date someone who worships someone or something other than your God, or someone who worships God with only half their heart, sooner or later you will be asked to abandon your convictions. You don't want to do that, do you? If not, don't date or marry anyone who loves anyone or anything more than God, our Father.

Bait Or Believer?

One student asked this question: "If we can't date unbelievers won't they be disappointed with out attitude? Shouldn't we date them so that we can win them to Christ?"

Worship Team 8 May 2011

Chairperson: Barnabas P.

Worship Leader: Terry Choong
Vocalists: Lydia Sim, Lareina, Colleen

Pianist: Lydia Sim
Keyboardist: Jocelyn Lee
Guitarist: Anna Sim
Bassist: Weng Ern
Drummer: Ken Fhui

Projectionist: Daniel

PA Personnel: Manjit Singh, Hiew FF

Suday Sermon 1-May-2011 - Elder Sim Say Khim

Speaker: Elder Sim Say Khim
White Fields Assembly Seremban

http://www.mediafire.com/?80hh4e7hyxs8jyp

First Things First

It is always wise to begin at the beginning. If you want to be a successful single and eventually have a successful marriage there is one principle for you to consider first. That principle is total commitment.

Romans, chapter 12, verses one and two, really explains total commitment. Here it is as it appears in the Good News Bible:

"So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship you should offer." Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and pleasing to him and is perfect."

Choosing for Life

In most of youth groups and university student groups where I am asked to speak, the most frequently requested topic is dating and choosing a spouse. Young men and women want to know how to relate, date, and find a mate. They also want some clear answers, not just general principles.

The questions young people ask follow a similar line in all of the youth groups and campus fellowships. What they are looking for is clarity, a commodity not always readily available. Complexity may be fine for chemistry, algebra, political science, but when it comes to Christian principles of dating and courtship clear, practical, applicable wisdom is what we need more than anything.

I'm a New Christian...

Max on Life #62
The following is a one of 172 questions and answers from the new book,Max on Life.


I’m a new Christian who is trying to figure out how to grow closer to God. Friends tell me I need to have a quiet time with God each day, but I can’t figure out exactly what to do.

Denalyn and I like to go to the same restaurants over and over again. You could call our dates predictable, but for us they are special. We like the food. We like the servers. We like the atmosphere. When we’re there, we remember special moments we’ve shared before. Our hearts open up . . . we lose track of time . . . because we’re comfortable in that place. We talk to each other, listen to each other, laugh, and cry. I love those times!

A quiet time with God is very similar to a date. Here are some tools to help you keep your very special date with God.

Decide on a regular time and place. Select a slot in your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. A familiar place will remind you of similar feelings you experienced before with God. You need to get comfortable.

How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over quantity. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants.

You should bring on your date an open Bible—God’s Word, his love letter to you. You won’t necessarily hear God speak out loud, but you can hear what he has to say through his eternal dialogue with humanity.

You also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect mirror of God’s law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who sees and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” ( James 1:25 PHILLIPS). Listen to the lover of your soul. Don’t just nod your head, pretending to hear. Your date knows when you’re engaged.

So does God. Just as you wouldn’t miss your date with a loved one, claiming you were too busy, make sure your date with God is on the calendar, and do everything in your power to keep it special.

NEW Book!
MAX ON LIFE: Answers and Insights to your Most Important Questions
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

'Koinonia'—A Missing Ingredient in Today’s Church

  J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

A small congregation in Puerto Rico reminded me that we can’t build 
the New Testament church without supernatural love.

Last week I preached for several days at Casa del Padre, a small but growing church near San Juan, Puerto Rico. The congregation meets in a rented facility with tile floors and folding chairs. They don’t have a worship leader yet, so a CD player provides accompaniment for the singing. The pastor, a gentle guy named Luis, keeps a second job to pay his family’s bills. Up until a few weeks ago, the church’s office was in his garage.

Casa del Padre is not a fancy place. But the church’s lack of sophistication is overshadowed by an amazing level of love. When I ministered on Sunday morning, the meeting began at 10:30 a.m. yet I didn’t leave the building until 5 p.m.—not because I preached too long but because nobody wanted to go home.

“We must return to koinonia—but you can’t download it. There’s no app for it, and you can’t fake it. We will have to scrap artificial, event-driven programs if we want to return to the relational Christianity of the Book of Acts.”

Resolving Conflicts: Part 2

continued from here

You will never resolve conflicts if you don't learn to listen.
Many people think they are listening when in fact they are simply reloading their verbal guns. Listening means seeking to understand what the other person is thinking and feeling. It is putting ourselves in the other person's shoes and trying to look at the world through their eyes.

Here's a good sentence with which to begin. "I want to understand what you are saying because I know it is important." One man told me that he made a sign which read: "I am a Listener." When his wife started talking he would hang it around his neck to remind himself of what he was doing. His wife would smile and say, "I hope it's true." He learned to be a good listener.

Can you hear me now?
We are all busy. Often, too busy to listen. And yet, listening is the only way you will ever come to understand your spouse's thoughts and feelings. Listening takes time and requires focus. Many people pride themselves in being able to listen while reading e-mails or watching television. One husband said, "my wife insists that I sit down and listen to her. I feel like I'm in a straitjacket, like I'm wasting time."

When you drop everything, look at your spouse and listen, you communicate, "You are the most important person in my life." On the other hand, when you listen while doing other things, you communicate: "You are one of my many interests." Listening is a powerful expression of love.

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

It’s Dangerous for Men to "Follow Their Feelings"

by Mark Gungor

Maleness is under attack in this country and has been for the past 40 plus years. This is true in the culture at large, as well as in The Church, and it is extremely detrimental to male culture and our society at large. For a few years now people have been addressing this issue in books like The Feminization of American Culture by Ann Douglas, and David Murrow’s Why Men Hate Going to Church. The results of this feminization have been disastrous. Men are not real men anymore. Many males themselves don’t even know what it means to be a man because they have no role models. Part of this is due to the fact, that far too many fathers have literally abandoned their children or they are not engaged playing an active role in being a part of their son’s lives. For decades since the industrial revolution, most boys have been surrounded and raised by women who are the caretakers and role models. The message men are getting in spades—consciously and unconsciously– is that they need to be more like women and less like men.

The Character of Punctuality - 2/2

 continued from here

Many people consider Punctuality not worth the effort of study and practice. We live in a time when we are slaves to the urgency of schedules and appointments, where our meetings and outings dictate our use of time, and even our relationships. We over-commit and over-schedule, and do not give it a second glance. Yet, time is important, and our management of time will give others a glimpse of our priorities and character.

Remember, God considers punctuality important. Just look up, “at the appointed time,” in a concordance and see how many passages you find where God is concerned with our being on time. We may not see being timely as important, but God does! We are on this earth for such a short amount of time—compared with eternity—and we need to make the most of our time and opportunities. When we are careless with time, we hold others up, and miss valuable opportunities. Our time is a treasure that is given to us, and we are responsible to dish it out, fairly, in a clear and concise way—to the best of our ability, and accordingly to the situation.

Worship Team 1 May 2011

Chairperson: Dr. Siow KW

Worship Leader: Peter Long
Vocalists: Shankar R., Peggy Tan, Gigi Lim

Pianist: Jonathan L
Keyboardist: Meng Fhui
Guitarist: Weng Ern
Bassist: Darren
Drummer: Jaemy C

Projectionist: Joseph Yap

PA Personnel: Hiew FF, Tommy Q.

Sunday Sermon 24-April-2011 - Pastor David Chan

Speaker: Pastor David Chan
Itinerant Speaker

http://www.mediafire.com/?dr0kx8zn1hu8u7o

Mary Magdalene at Jesus' Tomb

by Max Lucado

Mary had been there. She had heard the leaders clamor for Jesus’ blood. She had witnessed the Roman whip rip the skin off his back. She had winced as the thorns sliced his brow and wept at the weight of the cross.

In the Louvre there is a painting of the scene of the cross. In the painting the stars are dead and the world is wrapped in darkness. In the shadows there is a kneeling form. It is Mary. She is holding her hands and lips against the bleeding feet of the Christ.

We don’t know if Mary did that, but we know she could have. She was there. She was there to hold her arm around the shoulder of Mary the mother of Jesus. She was there to close his eyes. She was there.

So it’s not surprising that she wants to be there again.

Resolving Conflicts: Part 1

What's so bad about arguing?
First, let me clarify what I mean by the word argue. It is a legal term. In a court of law attorneys make arguments designed to show the guilt or innocence of their client. They present the 'facts' with the attitude, "Any reasonable person would agree with my argument."

What works fairly well in the court room, works poorly in a marriage, because there is no judge available to determine when your spouse is 'out of order'. Arguments become charged with emotion and you end up yelling, screaming, or crying. Each feels the other is unreasonable. What's so bad about arguing? It turns spouses into enemies who have feelings of hurt, anger, and resentment.

Jesus Can Redeem Your Denials

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Peter’s three denials could have marked the end of his ministry. 

But the power of Christ’s forgiveness led to three great victories.

The Easter story is full of gloom. Agonizing prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hostile mobs demanding execution. Betrayal and beatings. A crown of thorns and a bloody cross.

But one of the saddest parts of the story, to me, is what happened to Peter the night Jesus was arrested. Peter was tired, stressed to the breaking point and fearful of the crowd. When the high priest’s servant girl accused him of being a disciple of Jesus, he denied it. When she repeated her accusation to some bystanders, he denied it again. When others questioned him, the Bible says Peter “began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about!’” (Mark 14:71, NASB)

“This Easter, please remember that after Peter wept in the darkness of his shame, the sun came up and Jesus lovingly restored his faith. He will do the same for you.”

The Character of Punctuality - 1/2

By Dr. Richard J. Krejcir
Here is how you can find out. Take a careful look at this character, this fruit of Punctuality, from God’s most precious Word, by examining the passages below. Now ask yourself:

• How do I exhibit Punctuality in my daily life?
• What can I do to develop a better willingness to be on time, to show that I value people?
• What blocks Punctuality from working and being exhibited in me?
• How can I make Punctuality function better, stronger, and faster, even in times of uncertainly and stress?

Here are positive examples from Scripture 

(1 Kings 19:20-21; Matthew 25:1-13; Esther 4: 9-14; Luke 2:1-12)

Here are negative examples from Scripture 

(Exodus 8:10-11; Matthew 24:48-51; 25:1-13; Luke 9:60-62; Acts 24:24-26)

Worship Team 24 Apr 2011

Chairperson: Liong KC

Worship Leader: Kai Yew
Vocalists: Siew Pin, Hong Lu, Foong Yee

Pianist: Jocelyn Lee
Keyboardist: Jacinta Lee
Guitarist: Anna Sim
Bassist: Ken Fhui
Drummer: Darren

Projectionist: Terry C.

PA Personnel: Tommy Q., Manjit Singh

Sunday Sermon 17-April-2011 - Bro. Caleb Ramachandran

Speaker: Bro. Caleb Ramachandran
White Fields Assembly Seremban

http://www.mediafire.com/?f79ahr2c4kjmxxm

God's Promises in PSALM 23

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!
I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!
For His name sake = That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!
For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!

Forever = That's Eternity!

The Centurion at the Foot of the Cross

by Max Lucado

The day began as had a hundred others—dreadfully. It was bad enough to be in Judea, but it was hell to spend hot afternoons on a rocky hill supervising the death of pickpockets and rabble-rousers. Half the crowd taunted, half cried. The soldiers griped. The priests bossed. It was a thankless job in a strange land. He was ready for the day to be over before it began.

He was curious at the attention given to the flatfooted peasant. He smiled as he read the sign that would go on the cross. The condemned looked like anything but a king. His face was lumpy and bruised. His back arched slightly and his eyes faced downward. “Some harmless hick,” mused the centurion. “What could he have done?”

Then Jesus raised his head. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t uneasy. His eyes were strangely calm as they stared from behind the bloody mask. He looked at those who knew him—moving deliberately from face to face as if he had a word for each.

Getting the Weirdness Out of the Prophetic Movement

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Let’s reclaim the simple, profound purpose of prophecy—and reject all sensational substitutes.

When I was a college student, a visiting minister regularly came to preach at our campus meetings. At the end of his messages he would often point at someone in the room, smile and say something like, “You in the blue shirt, I believe the Lord has a word of encouragement for you.” Then he would prophesy.

This freaked me out! How could this man know what God was saying to someone else? What if he was wrong? I loved the gift of prophecy because I had benefitted from it myself. But I remember telling the Lord back in those days that I would never, ever stand in front of a group and prophesy to an individual like that. Way too scary!

“If we focus on spiritual gifts as an end in themselves, our distraction will lead us into deception of the weirdest kind. Let’s get our eyes back on Jesus.”

Worship Team Roster 10-April to 19-Jun 2011

Roster can be viewed HERE

Hugs=Happier Marriage

by Mark Gungor


A recent poll of 4000 couples found that those spouses who described themselves as “very happy” tended to hug one another at least four times a day. Science has found many direct correlations between human touch and physical health…and I’m not even talking about actual sexual intercourse! Just holding hands, hugs, a pat on the back, a hand on the arm or other touches like this have a great impact on our mental wellness, our health and the state of our relationships.

Studies have shown that people who don’t have physical touch don’t fair as well, single people, who generally don’t get as much physical touch, have more health problems, and babies in ICUs and people with chronic health conditions who get touched more heal faster and fair better. We are not designed to be people who are never touched or held. We really do need to have it. See the following article on the connection between touch and the release of oxytocin.

Worship Team 17 Apr 2011

Chairperson: Caleb R.

Worship Leader: Peggy Tan
Vocalists: Gigi Lim, Joycelyn C., Lydia Sim

Pianist: Prisca Sim
Keyboardist: Meng Fhui
Guitarist: Terry C.
Bassist: Nigel
Drummer: Anna Sim

Projectionist: Moses Tan

PA Personnel: Hiew FF, Tommy Q

Sunday Sermon 10-April-2011 - Dr. Siow Kim Woon

Speaker: Dr Siow Kim Woon
White Fields Assembly Seremban

http://www.mediafire.com/?hmkw3p86d97ngah

Thirsty on the Cross

by Max Lucado

Jesus’ final act on earth was intended to win your trust.

This is the final act of Jesus’ life. In the concluding measure of his earthly composition, we hear the sounds of a thirsty man.

And through his thirst—through a sponge and a jar of cheap wine—he leaves a final appeal.

“You can trust me.”

Jesus. Lips cracked and mouth of cotton. Throat so dry he couldn’t swallow, and voice so hoarse he could scarcely speak. He is thirsty. To find the last time moisture touched these lips you need to rewind a dozen hours to the meal in the upper room. Since tasting that cup of wine, Jesus has been beaten, spat upon, bruised, and cut. He has been a cross-carrier and sin-bearer, and no liquid has salved his throat. He is thirsty.

A Sweet Surprise Is Hidden Inside Your Worst Trial

J. Lee Grady

Before you whine, complain or throw a pity party, 

remember that God can bring something good out of something bad.

I’m usually adventurous when it comes to foreign food. But I was leery when I learned about a tropical fruit called durian during a trip to Indonesia. Three things made me highly suspicious of this strange delicacy, which is sold in large quantities on the streets of Jakarta.

First of all, durian looks absolutely deadly. Each of the large, round fruits is covered with massive thorns that stick out four inches or more. I’m sure if you threw one of these things at somebody from a second-story window the victim would die instantly.

“Praise God even when everything in your flesh wants to quit. Be patient. When you rejoice in adversity, the bitterness of life is replaced by the fragrance of Christ.”

Accepting the Past and Changing the Future

You Can't Change Your History
The prophet Jeremiah asked: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?" (Jeremiah 13:23). The obvious answer is 'no'. Some things are unchangeable. Perhaps the most influential unchangeable factor in your life is your history. Your parents, good or bad, dead or alive, known or unknown, are your parents. That fact cannot be changed. Your childhood, pleasant or painful, is your childhood.

Our history is not to be changed, but accepted. We waste our time and energy when we ponder on what might have been. Admit your failures, accept the failures of others, and ask God to help you do something good with your future. No matter what has happened in the past, you can have good relationships in the future.

An Everyday Opportunity
What kind of person have you become through the years? Has your spirit been negative or positive toward life? One wife said, "My husband is so negative that when he wakes up in the morning he either says, "Oh, no, I over slept!" or, "Oh, no, I woke up too early!" Thousands of people choose to live life with just that attitude. Something is always wrong with everything.

Would you like to change? You can! Repeat this scripture aloud every morning: "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24. If you proclaim this truth to yourself, you will begin to see God's hand. And, your relationships will improve.


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

God's Delays Are Not Denials

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

Do you trust God's timing? 

The path to spiritual maturity requires us to surrender our selfish deadlines.

When Mary and Martha sent news to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, was about to die, Jesus didn't respond the way his friends expected. He actually snubbed their request. The Bible says when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, "He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was" (John 11:6, NASB).

For Mary and Martha, those were two very long days.

"When we face frustrating delays, we automatically assume that Jesus is denying us, neglecting us or rejecting us. So we throw a childish pity party. We go in our rooms, close our doors, shut out the pain and stay as far away from Him as possible.”

Worship Team 10 Apr 2011

Chairperson: Barnabas P.

Worship Leader: Shankar R.
Vocalists: Siew Pin, Hong Lu, Foong Yee

Pianist: Meng Fhui
Synt: Jonathan L
Guitarist: Ken Fhui
Bassist: Darren
Drummer: Jaemy C

Projectionist: Joseph Yap

PA Personnel: Manjit Singh, Tommy Q.

How We Short-Circuit the Power of God

J. Lee Grady Newsletters - Fire In My Bones

We can't have New Testament power if we don't walk in New Testament love

The New Testament church was characterized by exciting miracles and supernatural anointing, but it was not immune to division. The earliest churches suffered splits—not only because of doctrine but also because of bitter personal disputes.

Even the apostle Paul, who modeled Christian affection and implored his followers to preserve the bond of love, had an unfortunate disagreement with his close colleague, Barnabas, early in their ministry partnership.

The exact nature of their argument is a mystery. We only know that Paul did not want to take John Mark, Barnabas' cousin, on his second missionary journey because the young disciple had deserted the team in Pamphylia. Acts 15:39 says: "And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus. (NASB)"

“Many Christians nurse grudges for years; others collect offenses like packrats. Many people are wounded in one church and then move to another—carrying their resentment and bitterness with them.”

"Father, Forgive Them"

by Max Lucado

The dialogue that Friday morning was bitter.

From the onlookers, “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”
From the religious leaders, “He saved others but he can’t save himself.”
From the soldiers, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Bitter words. Acidic with sarcasm. Hateful. Irreverent. Wasn’t it enough that he was being crucified? Wasn’t it enough that he was being shamed as a criminal? Were the nails insufficient? Was the crown of thorns too soft? Had the flogging been too short?

For some, apparently so...

Of all the scenes around the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of people, I ask myself, would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds? How low and perverted to sneer at one who is laced with pain…

Two Extremes of Self-Esteem

Inferiority
Most of us tend to either under-estimate or over-estimate our value. We perceive ourselves as either useless failures or as God's gift to the world. How you perceive yourself greatly affects your relationships. Inferiority often stems from childhood where parents told us that we were dumb, ugly, or clumsy.

How do we overcome feelings of being inferior? Speak truth to your heart. What is the truth? You are made in the image of God. You have a mind, emotions, and the ability to make decisions. You are gifted by God with special abilities. You have a unique role to play in his kingdom. No one else can take your place. Tell yourself the truth and behave accordingly. Then, watch your relationships flourish.

Superiority
Feelings of superiority often lead to broken relationships. It all began in childhood. Few rules were enforced. The child grew up feeling the world owed him a living. He became demanding and impatient with others. As an adult he is domineering and self-righteous. If there are problems in the relationship, he blames the other person.

The first step to recovery for the "I am superior" personality, is to admit that you are human. No one is perfect, so stop playing games. Step down from your pedestal and join the rest of us. You don't have to be perfect to be important. People will respect you more if you will admit your weaknesses. In fact, you will find that confession is the road to good relationships.


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

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
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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.