From the Priest-in-charge 12 February 2012
I would like to report to the church some of the events that we were involved in over the past two months. Through the allocation of 10% of the church’s tithe & offering, we have made contributions to welfare community service centres such as Jireh Home in Tuaran (Orphanage), Pink Ribbon, Mission School in Seguntur, Sandakan and Cheshire Home. This is part of our commitments to help the needy. In particular, a number of us have visited the Jireh Home, where we sang carols, play games, share the word of God and got to know them better. This Home has about 50 children in the centre. I hope this relationship will continue and I am encouraging cell groups to take some iniative to visit the centre. You can also involve by sponsoring the children on a monthly or yearly basis. You can find out more information from the church office.
The Alpha courses will continue this year. The Alpha BM Manggatal is entering into its third week and so far we have an average attendance of 60 a week. This is definitely a breakthrough for the BM Alpha course. There are people who hunger and want to explore more in this life. The BM Youth Alpha has also started last night. We have send some of our young people for Youth Alpha Team Leaders training and our own team leaders training for Chinese Adult (8 person) and English Adult (12 person). I want to encourage the Chinese and English congregations to invite their friends for the upcoming Alpha course starting on the 17th Feb, every Friday night at 7:30pm. As you may have noticed from the bulletin, I have assigned a special corner for all information related to Alpha Courses. I want us to take part by inviting friends, cell members who like to explore more about life. We need to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send out labourers to the harvest field to bring in the harvest. Pray for the urgency of saving souls. We must not say there are 4 months more, like in John 4:35 “it’s still four months until harvest”. Now is the time! I will be sharing this with every single ministry of our church. I want us to capture this vision. One of the ways to grow the church is through evangelism.
I would like to remind the church not to believe everything that we read in the internet. Church issues have been discussed in the blog. I do not believe issues will be solved through this channel. We should not be easily “convince” by those statements. We must understand the background of these people and what are the motives behind it? Always check the facts from reliable sources, look at the present situation and what are the general feelings about the church? If what is discussed in the blog is true, the church will admit it but if that is false allegations, it will only do more harm than good. Without doubt all of us have the right to say or write something but not all are beneficial. For the listener, you have the wisdom to decide what the truth is. I am asking the church to be more mature in dealing with the issue.
From the Priest-in-charge 05 February 2012
We may all know what a sprint relay race is; it takes the lead runner on each team to run the first leg of the race, while the next runner in the team waits anxiously for the lead runner to pass the baton to the next runner before he/she can begin running the next leg of the race. The crucial moment is when the baton is being passed to the next runner. This process is again repeated twice in the race, as each man/woman surrenders the baton to the next runner. A good track coach will tell you that the relay is half won or lost in the transfers of the baton. A miscalculation or hesitation at that crucial point can cost them the race.
Many of us, Christian parents, grandparents, pastors, and teachers have this fear and feeling that we’re losing the race; that we’re muffing the transfer of “the baton” to our children. I am concerned about our Christian parents today not passing on their values, their morals and their faith to their children.
We are worried sick that the society is going to seize our kids; we fear that the worldly culture is going to influence our children; We fear that they will make wrong choices and subsequently bear the consequences of a value system they’ve picked up from the world around them; We fear that they will lose the interest concerning the truth of the Bible; One that mocks Biblical morality, glorifies sex, violence, laughs at drunkenness and rudeness and etc.
We need to face up to the fact and we must change it. Of course, there are hindrances; the crowd may be distracting, and the competition may be tough, and as in a relay, we have a limited zone in which to make the transfers, a miscalculated transfer will cost us the race. However, transferring of “the baton” is not an option and we need to do it with biblical values to the next generation. What we can do is to impart biblical concepts of truth and morality to our children. Help, guide, impress, talk, teach and be an example to them. No words of God, no hearing of the message; No hearing, no faith; No faith, no life!
From the Priest-in-charge 22 January 2012
It is typical of Chinese New Year to be associated with animals; this year is the year of the Dragon in the ancient belief and practice. Chinese always call themselves as the descendants of the dragon. Dragon is a very important symbol for the Chinese because of its power, arrogance, control, origin, goodness, protection, leadership, majestic and etc. But there is confusion between the dragon in Chinese tradition and the Bible.
Here is what the world book tells us about the dragon. Dragon is a legendary beast in the folktale of many European and Asian cultures. Legends describe dragons as large, lizard like creatures that breath fire and have a long, scaly tail. In Europe, dragons are traditionally portrayed as a ferocious beast that represents the evil fought by human beings. But in Asia, especially in China and Japan, the animal is generally considered a friendly creature that brings good luck and wealth.
According to some medieval legends, dragons lived in wild, remote regions of the world. The dragons guarded treasures in their dens, and a person who killed one supposedly gained its wealth.
In China, the traditional Chinese New Year’s Day parade includes a group of people who wind through the streets wearing large dragon costumes. The dragon’s image, according to an ancient Chinese belief, prevents evil spirits from spoiling the New Year. Another Chinese belief is that certain dragons have the powers to control rainfalls needed for each year’s harvest and the legend goes on.
We, Christians will relate the dragon or the big snake in the Bible portrayed as a satanic symbol. We cannot live in ignorance that Christians will declare this year will be under the devil’s control. We may not want to talk about it, we may avoid it and we do not want to be associated with anything that has signs or stamp of a dragon on it. How about the tangerine inside the box? The Singapore ten dollar bill? The Dragon Air? Chinese pot with a dragon image? Even name with the word “Dragon”? Where is our Christian’s stand? I always believe the Holy Spirit inside of me is always bigger than the one outside. Our God is an Almighty God. I do not want us to be easily influenced by comments such as “you will live under curse” because of the dragon. We were given the gift of understanding from God. Do not live as if we are like the pagans. God has given us the Spirit of freedom and not of fear. Trust in the Lord and commit everything to Him. You will see this year will be a year of favour of the Lord