Dengar, Kenal dan Patuhi

Klik dengar ayat di atas dalam bahasa Ibrani

Ulangan 6:4-9: Saudara-saudara, ingatlah! Hanya TUHAN, dan TUHAN saja Allah kita!
Cintailah TUHAN Allahmu dengan sepenuh hatimu: Tunjukkanlah itu dalam cara hidupmu dan dalam perbuatanmu. Jangan sekali-kali melupakan perintah-perintah yang saya berikan kepadamu hari ini. Ajarkanlah kepada anak-anakmu. Hendaklah kamu membicarakannya di dalam rumah dan di luar rumah, waktu beristirahat dan waktu bekerja. Ikatkanlah pada lenganmu dan pasanglah pada dahimu untuk diingat-ingat. Tuliskanlah di tiang pintu rumahmu dan di pintu gerbangmu."

Ayat-ayat di atas menunjukkan bagaimana kita boleh mengasihi Tuhan dalam amalan kita seharian. Demi menjaga umat-umatNya agar tidak melupakan Tuhan dan juga generasi yang seterusnya, Tuhan telah memberikan firmanNya seperti yang tertulis dalam Ulangan 6:4-9.

Umat-umat Tuhan diseru untuk mendengar, mengenal dan mentaati Tuhan serta FirmanNya demi pertumbuhan rohani bagi setiap individu.

Ayat-ayat menyeru agar ibu-bapa mengajar anak-anak mereka agar mereka kenal Tuhan dan tidak akan lupakan Firman Tuhan.

Oleh itu, si ayah, pemimpin keluarga kena pastikan Firman Tuhan diperdengarkan di rumah agar keluarga itu tidak lupakan Tuhan begitu juga generasinya yang seterus.

Firman Tuhan kenalah diselami dalam hati setiap individu sebelum dapat diajarkan kepada orang lain.

Anak-anak kenalah mentaati ibu bapanya kerana inilah perintah Tuhan.

Oleh itu mendengar, mengenal dan mentaati Firman Tuhan adalah untuk membentuk rohani serta menjaga kesejahteraan setiap individu dan keluarga serta ahli-ahli keluarga.

Have you seen a lego Church?

This is amazing! Someone certainly is talented and patient to create such
a masterpiece.

LEGO CHURCH..........

A few quick facts:

• How long to build it? It was about a year and a half of planning, building and photographing.
• How many pieces of LEGO to build it? more than 75,000
• How big is it? About 7 feet by 5 1/2 feet by 30 inches (2.2 m x 1.7 m x .76 m)
• How many LEGO people does it seat? 1372
• How many windows? 3976
• It features a balcony, a Narthex, stairs to the balcony, restrooms, coat rooms, several mosaics a nave, a baptistry, an altar, a crucifix, a pulpit and an elaborate pipe organ
  
  
  
  
  
  

True as it that creativity makes a good desgin, however, the true Chuch of Jesus Christ lies not on person effort but in Christ Himself. It is the Lordship of Jesus Christ makes the foundation of the church.

One of the statement in the Apostle Creed which says "The Holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints: He is the head os this body".

Samuel J. Stone composed a hymn titled The Church's One Foundation. This hymn reminded us again to reflect the Lordship of Jesus on His church. When he composed this hymn, he was combacting some liberal scholars tht threatened to destroy the great cardinal doctrines of the Anglican Church.

Samuel believed that church is a place for meeting the needs of people. Samuel who is a pastor ministered and helped the poor and underpriviledge people in London East End. People from ground, various background and life finds his church a place of worship and a center of presenting their needs.

Church is a spiritual hospital for hurting humanity and never meant to be a private club for the well of people. Church is a palce where people meet regularly for worship, inspiration, instruction and fellowship. Christ is the Head where people model after His love for one another.

Lets give thanks for our church and for our fellow believers from local to universal where Christ is the Head.

Hymn : THE CHURCH'S ONE FOUNDATION

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against or foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master’s hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!

Thy Words are beautiful, wonderful and of Life

Study it carefully, think of it prayerfully,

Till your heart its precepts dwell;

Slight not its history, ponder its mystery,

None can e'er prize it too fondly or well.

Hymn : Wonderful Words of Life by Philip P. Bliss in 1874 while preparing his first Sunday School paper titled Words of Life. This hymn speaks to both young and old on the importance God's word in our life.

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Refrain

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessèd One, gives to all wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.

Refrain

Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.

Refrain

Lawatan ke Langkawi

Setiap kunjungan atau lawatan ke Langkawi tidak dipisahkan melihat keunikkan serta kecantikkan helang ini. Binaan helang ini terletak beberapa minit dari Jeti Kuah. Ia dirasmikan oleh bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir pada April 27, 1996. Ia juga salah satu daripada mercu tanda terbaru dibina di Langkawi dengan ukuran 12.6mx21.6m memakan belanja sebanyak RM 12.5 juta.

Pulau Langkawi yang merangkumi antara 104 pulau-pulau kecil, merupakan pulau terbesar.

Pelbagai tempat yang menarik pelawat-pelawat baik dari dalam serta luar negara. Pantai-pantai yang tersergam indah serta alam semulajadinya menarik pelbagai pelawat kembali ke alam semulajadi.

Keindahan Pantai Cenang tersergam indah sewaktu terbenamnya matahari. Saya kesini setiap lewat petang melihat keindahannya.

Tempat peringatan Mahsuri ini terletak di Makam Mahsuri. Langkawi terkenal dengan banyak lagenda seperti yang tercatat dalam Hikayat Maha Merongwangsa, Mahsuri dan pelbagai mistik

Saya berkesempatan mengambil gambar bersama dengan dua orang yang berpakaian Melayu :

Saya berasa gembira disamping bekerja saya dapat bersiar-siar di Langkawi. Semasa saya berpusing-pusing di pulau itu, saya nampak ada sebuah gereja Cina dan sebuah pertubuhan Kristian di Langkawi. Pujilah Tuhan kerana adanya nur di kalangan saudara seiman kita di Langkawi.

Christian Yi Xian Jackson

Dalam bulan ini sahaja, saya melawat 3 kawan yang dianugerah dengan cahaya mata. Lebih-lebih lagi bagi pasangan Leon dan Alicia dikurniakan dengan anak lelaki pertamanya. Namanya ialah Christian Yi Xian Jackson.

Leon yang berketurunan Serani dan isterinya Alica berbangsa Cina... i pun tak tahulah bangsa apa anaknya itu. Walau bagaimanapun semua manusia adalah ciptaan Tuhan serta memerlukan kasihNya.

Leon akan menyambut secara rasmi Hari Bapa. Leon ...selamat hari bapa dan selamat hari keluarga kepada keluarga Leon.

Semoga Leon, Alica dan Christian berada dalam sihat, gembira dalam berjalan dalam kasih Tuhan. Amin

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

Picture courtesy from CDPC Website

The above picture is taken during CDPC Family Camp 2005. Children eagerly listening to stories. This is their natural response. Upon their natural response we must built on it by equipping them well the stories in the Bible and lesson that they can learn from it. Well children are fast learner and response quickly. In my Sunday School class, the stories of Bible especially the story Jesus is at their finger tips. If you tell the story wrongly, children would know it and correct you.

Besides children ministry e.g. AWANA or Sunday School, parental guidance and home disciplines are always the main foundation. Based on Malay saying, "Kesedaran sivik bermula dari rumah ". Home is the main base bringging up children. A good home, where Christ is loved and His word is preached, father and mother loving one another, loving their children is the basic foundation in shapping their children.

Biblical values must be teach to children. Children must be taught well so that they would not forget those lesson which they learned. aAongside with songs, crafts and games can enhanced the biblical teaching into their mind.

I believe both parties parents and church (Sunday School and AWANA) play their important part in upbringing of our children to Christian values.

William H. Parker wrote this hymn in 1885, "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus" for his Sun­day school stu­dents at the Chel­sea Street Bap­tist Church, New Bas­ford, Not­ting­ham, Eng­land. He got the inspiration to write this hymn as his students in his Sunday School keep asking him, "Tell us another story". As he reflected, he came out of this hymn. A creful study text shows the important events of Christ from Galilee to Calvary.

Let us pray for our children and also those who are in children ministry that they draw strength from God and to build and impact the lives of children.

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear

Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
Things I would ask Him to tell me if He were here;
Scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children stood round His knee,
And I shall fancy His blessing resting on me;
Words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
All in the love light of Jesus’ face.

Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea,
Tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee;
And how the Maker, ready and kind,
Chided the billows, and hushed the wind.

Into the city I’d follow the children’s band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand.
One of His heralds, yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas, “Jesus is King!”

Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Savior for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
Stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

The Necessity of Prayer

by EM Bounds


"IN any study of the principles,
and procedure of prayer,
of its activities and enterprises,
first place, must, of necessity, be given to faith.
It is the initial quality in the heart of any man
who essays to talk to the Unseen.
He must, out of sheer helplessness,
stretch forth hands of faith.
He must believe, where he cannot prove.
In the ultimate issue, prayer is simply faith,
claiming its natural yet marvellous prerogatives --
faith taking possession of its illimitable inheritance.
True godliness is just as true, steady, and persevering
in the realm of faith as it is in the province of prayer.
Moreover: when faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live.

Faith does the impossible
because it brings God to undertake for us,
and nothing is impossible with God.
How great -- without qualification or limitation --
is the power of faith!
If doubt be banished from the heart,
and unbelief made stranger there,
what we ask of God shall surely come to pass,
and a believer hath vouchsafed to him
'whatsoever he saith.'"

Keindahan langit mencerminkan kekuasaan Tuhan

Permandangan ini diambil sewaktu kami (saya dan rakan sekerja saya) dalam perjalanan pulang dari sebuah sekolah yang terletak dalam penempatan FELDA di Kota Tinggi, Johor. Permandangan langit di waktu lewat petang tersergam indah. Kawasan di mana foto itu diambil ialah kawasan estet. Begitu indah langit sewaktu matahari terbenam.

Mazmur 19 : 1-2

"Langit menceritakan kemuliaan Allah, dan cakrawala memberitakan pekerjaan tangan-Nya; hari meneruskan berita itu kepada hari, dan malam menyampaikan pengetahuan itu kepada malam"

Dari Mazmur di atas, melihat permandangan indah dapat membantu kita dalam renungan harian kita pada Tuhan.

Kita harus menghargai kejadian Tuhan
Melihat permandangan indah seperti pergunungan, laut, langit atau berjalan-jalan di tepi pantai sememangnya membuat kita terfikir ... "mesti ada sesuatu atau kuasa yang lebih tinggi dari saya sendiri". Melihat keindahan alam membuat kita terfikir adanya Pencipta yang mencipta keindahan alam ini. Bila kita terfikir atau merenungi sesuatu keindahan, kita mendapat ilham atau wahyu yang semulajadi. Baik yang Kristian atau tidak, keindahan alam ini menjadi petanda atau wahyu semulajadi adanya Pencipta. Melalui penglihatan (tidak perlu adanya kata-kata) cukup untuk menghayati kebesaran Pencipta alam ini.

Permerhatian
Kita kena membandingkan permerhatian kita dan orang lain dengan apa yang tertulis dalam AlKitab. Manusia boleh mengeluarkan pelbagai ilmu atau hipotesis. Tetapi jikalau bercanggah dengan apa yang tertulis dalam AlKitab, dikiranya tidak betul.
Contohnya kawan saya berkata kejadian alam serta manusia adalah melalui evolusi. Ini bercanggah dengan AlKitab walaupun dalam logik saya mengatakan dapatkah perubahan evolusi ini menjadikan atau membentuk sesuatu yang begitu indah serta mengekalkannya mengikut hukum alam. Biarkanlah dia seorang professor, jikalau pemerhatiannya bercanggah dengan AlKitab sememangnya tidak betul.
"All truth is God's truth" - ungkapan dalam Inggeris ini haruslah kita fahaminya. Kalau sesuatu itu betul, ia memang benar. Kita kenalah bandingkannya dengan wahyu diturunkan Tuhan (Firman Tuhan) untuk memastikan kebenarannya.

Visitation to Bandar Melaka

Our journey continues. This time we are visiting the famous building Stadthuys. This building was built by the Dutch. This place is the residence for the Gabenor Dutch until 1824. This building was an administrative building. It was built in 4 stories on a terrace of St Paul's Hill.

And in the middle of this building there is a Anglican Church, called Christ Church Melaka.
It was Sunday that time. We went in to the church. It was so traditional like. I manage to share with my friend about Christ sacrifice based on the Last Supper picture that was on the main sanctuary. We are not allow to take any photo inside.

We also went to a ruin old Protuguese church, St Paul. In there you can see a lot old tombstones which were the final resting place for Dutch and Protuguese nationals.

The statue above is to commemorate St Francis Xavier who was a regular visitor to this church between 1545 to 1552. When he died, his body was interred here for nine months before it was exhume and was taken to its final resting place in Goa, India.

As we are walking through this place, my friend told me that it was a good thing that Malaya was colonised before. I agree with him and reasoned out that it is from them we have proper education and standard of living at that time was improved. We shared a lot and told him that is how Christianity was first being heard spread. Missionary came and set up schools to educate Malays and gave them proper formal education. In spite of that they didn't force them to convert to Christianity. Moreover our constitution is based on British system, a systematic law system (Boh Tea's comment). Indeed God has moved Malaya in such that His word is spread and the improvement and establishment of education and law.

On the other side I also agree that these people might have exploited our richness and brought back to their own country.

Finally we both appreciated what had happened in the past that was indeed beneficial to our age today.

Nearby you can see Dutch cemetery. There tombstone became their final resting place. Some of them has biblical scripture engraved in it.

Below is the super zoom of engravement

As we walked down the hill, we can see A Famosa. It was also called as Porta De Santiago which was a Protuguese fort. Built by Alfonso d' Albuquerque in year 1511. This fort was destroyed by William Farquhar in year 1807. Thus the below photo is the remain of A Famosa.

We had our great day visiting Melaka. Tired are we, and we continued our journey to Johor where our work begins.

Jalan2 Cari Makan @ Melaka

Jikalau anda berada di Melaka, janganlah lupa singgah di pernempatan orang Protugis. Di situ adanya medan makan yang menjual pelbagai makanan.

Saya dan rakan sekerja saya dalam perjalanan ke Johor bersinggah di Melaka untuk berjumpa dengan salah satu daripda staf kita, Dolly namanya. Kami seperti biasa membantu staf itu dalam membaik pulihkan komputer ribanya (laptop). Dolly dan suaminya belanjakan kita makan di medan makan itu.

Restoran J & J menjadi tumpuan kami. Medan makan ini terletak bersebelahan dengan pantai. Oleh itu memang banyak makanan laut terdapat di sini.

Medan makan ini kebanyakkannya adalah orang Protugis itu sendiri. Tuan punya Restoran J & J kenal benar dengan Dolly. Oleh itu, tuan punya restoran menghidangkan makanan yang lazat. Kami dihidangi dengan steam crab dan asam fish. Sedap benar makanan tu.

Kami berasa begitu syok sekali makan sambil berbual-bual. Suasana itu diceriakan lagi dengan nyanyian lagu popular Protugis tempatan iaitu Jinkling Nona. Pada hujung minggu atau hari kelepasan am, banyak yang datang dari KL, Singapore mengunjungi kawasan medan makan itu.

Orang-orang di sana amat peramah dan berlawak jenaka. Malam itu memang meriah adanya banyak pengunjung-pengunjung serta lagu-lagu tempatan yang dimainkan.

Di kawasan itu adanya monumen Saint Peter yang didirikan. St Peter pada suatu masa dulu ialah seorang nelayan. Penduduk di situ kebanyakkannya nelayan dan mereka berdoa agar memudahkan rezeki mereka semasa di laut.

Pada waktu malam, di Banda Hilir, kami mengunjungi Junko Walk. Sama seperti di Petaling Street, KL di mana banyak peniaga yang menjual barang-barang.

Semasa kami berjalan, kami nampak banyak rumah-rumah lama yang masih dikekalkan sampai hari ini. Tempat-tempat ini merupakan tempat yang bersejarah. Di sini terdapatnya Cina Peranakan yang dipanggil Baba dan Nyonya.

Inilah keadaan di Junko Walk. Ramai peniaga yang menjual barang-barang

Inilah rumah Cina lama yang masih dikekalkan sampai hari ini buat kunjungan baik dari dalam negara mahupn dari luar negara

Saya dan rakan sekerja berasa amat gembira mengunjungi tempat-tempat ini. Apa yang lebih penting lagi ialah keadaan serta suasana di kerajaan Tuhan. Sesungguhnya kerajaan Tuhan tidak dapat dibandingkan dengan keindahan di dunia ini.

Semoga kawan saya menerima kasih serta pengampunan Kristus dalam hidupnya. Saya berharap saya akan berjumpanya di kerajaan Tuhan pada masa depan nanti.

How good to hold a new born baby

Seng Chee and Sue were blessed again with the arrival of their new born daughter

Praise the Lord for blessing Seng Chee and Sue a new born daughter. They had a son who is 2 years old. Both of them were born in the same hospital, Hospital Putrajaya.

Again both their children were born in a quiet intresting was as Seng Chee shared with me. His son was on 30th March 03 Bed 3 whilst his daughter was born on 05th May 05 Bed 5. i guess you know what i mean here and Seng Chee is asking me what does it means.

As i see the child laying helplessly and need to be nurse by mother, life is yet so valuable in God's sight. Each individual must know God's love in Jesus Christ and they have their opportunity moreover the child is born in a Christian family. Jesus who was once born as a baby and was nurse by His mother became the Saviour for mankind. And in Christ becomes the hope to all mankind. How good to hold a new born baby because of Christ given hope to us.

And to Seng Chee and Sue, Congratulation and may the Lord bless you and your children

Happy Birthday Samuel Seo

Samuel Seo celebrating his first birthday.

This is my nephew who by His grace was born on 29 April 2004. Watching him growing through the past one year is the most exciting one more over for his parent. Well I have not been a parent but thanks be to God, that I am an uncle to my nephew.

I took most of his photos whenever i see him and some little cute action he did. Perhaps one day I can show those photos to him.

May the Lord continue to care for him and that God's grace be revealed to him in a special way that he can know.

This is my beloved nephew... in whom I take joy in him. Happy Birthday Samuel. God bless you

Some of his photos :

Picture taken when he was 2 days old

Still with his drypers. Learning to look at his uncle

Am i cute?

He is crawling and learning to stand

Visiting the left behind community

The recent visit to perkampungan orang asli has built a good fellowship and relationship between us the city folks and orang asli. 9 of us from CDPC went there to further enhance our relationship by rendering our small service to this people. Thanks and appreciation to Kok Wai and Su Mei who have provided us and drive us there using their own 4WDs. Thanks Kok Wai! Thanks Su Mei!

Love for all in regardless to ethnics and languages. There were so many things we can serve them in developing this community. Our humble Lord Jesus who once washed his disciples feet has echoed into our life in rendering our service to this community. Though we are from educated background and from civilized community, we are no more or no less different with these people. Yet the Word has spoken into my heart to look see - look see our neighbours.

The construction of fish ponds for orang asli community is a joint effort from various churches e.g. CDPC help the orang asli to feed on protein. We also helpout in the home rental for workers. This is the mark of true discipleship of Christ - caring for one another. Yet I can see that it is not the financial that matters as whole though it does in part. There are more into this. I was thinking of giving and provide them skills of 3M (Membaca, menulis dan mengira).

To match them into our development society may be far for now. But I believe now is the good time for us to build them their basic necessary skills e.g. Membaca, Mengira, Menulis (Reading, Counting and Writing) before they can go on into further education. This basic skills may helped them in their daily life especially when interacting with people in the city..

As we interact with them on that day, they were so happy especially children. We helped to wash their hair and give them a hair cut. Pastor Wong was so efficient in cutting hair. When he wants to cut my hair, I refused caused I scared...but after I saw his skill... I have confident in him. I can see there lots of things we can helped them...like educating them in basic health care, teaching them the basic farming and rearing lives stock plus carpentary. This is teached in our national education which is called Kemahiran Hidup Bersepadu for Form 5 . Why I say this is that with this skills they can make an daily earning for themselves and who knows they might be employed by factories and with salary they have, they can improve their living standard.

Back to the trip... those kids enjoyed themselves having their hairs being washed with shampoo. Many were shy but we reached out to them. Later we gathered all children and their mothers to be entertained with the puppet shows. Alyster and I played the puppet show. Script was drafted by Wai Fong. I have to admit that we did not well prepared for the show. We did it last minute. But thanks be to our God for His grace who look through our presentation that day. With this puppet, I hope that children will find us easy to talk to. It is our job to build friendship with children. We prayed that the little and simple message, for this time Noah's Ark will mark into their heart that Tuhan Yesus yang menyelamatkan mereka. Though they are not educated and do not know the written Bible, at least in their heart is written the word Yesus whom they can pray and refer to at all times. I was humbled when they eager to ask to be prayed for whether for their health, life, children etc. Every item whether it is small matter or big matter they bring it before God. Their simple faith, would seek Jesus in any situation.

Walking up the hill to another kampung was indeed a good exercise. I admire those who can walk up the hill every day. Well me being fat and big size, makes me tired. I must do something lah but until now never do something to reduce my size. Pendeta Sim was like a Moses as he hold his staff and lead us but too bad lah he cant depart a small river. I have to wet my shoes as I walked across. He sang hymns as he walked up. I could only sing in my heart as I was nearly breathless.

Brother Christopher shared with me that they can walk with their feet to a kampung for 2 and half hours. When asked how can he do it. It is by faith that drives them to walk for 2 and half hours. it is by love for their neighbours, they walked. This reminded me of a song in Handel Messiah's album which says "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the gospel of peace".

We joined their service in singspiration. I am so thankful to be in the midst with other races. In the book of Revelation, there are will be people from every tribe, nation, language from different background sing praises to the Lamb. We presented our puppet show again and Pendeta Sim shared a good sermon. We sang a Malay hymn... "Hanya dengan darah Yesus". These people are eagered to be prayed. Like no one else they can turn to but by prayers and in the Lord they are clinging their hope on. I prayed that the Lord will use these people and the whole kampung mightily for His glory. Later as usual we have dinner together.

Looking through their lifes, more works need to be done like caring and enhacing their way of living e.g. healthcare, education and spiritual needs. With these efforts must be put that one day this community able to cope with the development of the society without endangering their cultures.

Hymn's Reflection : Grace Greater than Our Sins

Words : Julia H. Johnston
Music : Daniel B. Towner



Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Exchange of Cup

Refusing the cup that would deaden the pain
To drink the cup that meant our gain,
He, Servant of all, trod a thorn-girt path
To bleed and to die and give all that he hath,
His soul crushed down in grief’s dark hour
That others might gain by his sacrifice power,

His priestly garments he laid aside
To wash the feet of the weary and tried,
His Majesty linked with service so low,
He dared to stoop, that he might show
His power to bend, His joy to serve,
And touched His cup lip to the cup’s cold curve

(Author unknown)

Pope John Paul II Remembered

Yesterday night I was watching VCD on the life of Pope John Paul II to know him more of his work, how he was ordained as a Pope and contributions made. As I watched, I really respect Pope not for his contributions but his humility and has heart for people like in Malay saying "berjiwa rakyat". And the next day, while my way to church in the morning, I heard over the broadcast in radio announcing his death. He died on April 2nd, 2005 7.37 p.m. GMT. I joined the world in mourning for his death

He was unafraid to challenge the Nazi regime and later the Communists in Poland and stood strong with President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when they worked together to bring about the collapse of the Soviet Union. His faith in Jesus Christ was what motivated him to speak out fearlessly about tyranny and to always defend the right to life of the unborn and those who could not speak for themselves. Though he faced many retaliations yet he stood firm in combating mafianism etc.

He was a man who played a significant role in liberating millions from the slavery of Communism and was deeply concerned about the third-world countries and the millions who went to bed hungry and had nothing but poverty in their way of life.

Pope John Paul was a man of peace; always concerned when there was physical conflict and violence. So much so that he even visited and blessed the man that attempted to murder him at one time.

He was also a man of righteousness, never wavering in his belief that the Holy Scriptures were to be obeyed in matters of morals and human sexuality. He spoke out clearly that homosexuality was not a gift from God, but could be healed through the Gospel.

He once stood up against immorality and cruelty done to children. He spoke up against child slavery and prostitution.

Though I have different theology with the Pope John Paul but humanly I see him as a leader, a good man who has make impact to the society in this world.

Yet the world must turn to one man that is Jesus Christ himself who is the mediator between God and man. And also His revealed Word in the Holy Bible. Even Mary, His earthly mother submit to Christ being her Saviour. Only in Christ can man be saved. Peace only comes through Christ alone. In Christ alone, can man find joy. He is the Way, The Truth and The Life and no one comes to the Father (the only Holy Father who art in heaven) except through Christ.

In Christ alone

Being miracle yourself

Do not pray for easy lives!
Rather pray to be stronger people.
Do not pray for tasks equal to
your tasks! Then the doing of your
work shall be no miracle. But YOU
shall be a miracle. Every day you
shall wonder at yourself at the
richness of life that has come in you
by the grace of God.

Phillip Brooks

Kesan Kebangkitan Yesus dalam sejarah manusia

"Engkaulah yang layak ... Sebab engkau telah dibunuh dan oleh kematianmu engkau menyelamatkan manusia dari segala puak, bahasa, kerajaan dan bangsa untuk Allah" Wahyu 5:9

"Anak Domba yang telah dibunuh itu layak menerima kekuasaan, kekayaan, kebijaksanaan, kekuatan, kehormatan, kemuliaan dan kepujian!" Wahyu 5:12

Kebangkitan Yesus membawa impak serta maksud yang mendalam dalam sejarah manusia contohnya :

1. Keunggulan Apologetika : Mukjizat dalam Alkitab benar.
Kebangkitan dari maut , jika dipercayainya, mukjizat yang lain menunjukkan kekuasaan Tuhan. Jika seseorang menerima dan percaya kebangkitan Yesus, maka mukjizat yang lain tiada masalah untuk dipercayainya.

2. Bukti adanya Tuhan yang Maha Hidup.
Jika kebangkitan Yesus tidak direliasasikan, maka rancangan Tuhan dalam penebusan manusia hanya berakhir dalam kubur kosong sahaja. Maut merupakan destinasi bagi manusia. Iman kita itu kekosongan. Puji Tuhan... kebangkitan Yesus menunjukkan kekuasaan Tuhan dalam semua hal, termasuk maut.

3. Kebenaran dalam nubuat yang tertulis dalam kitab-kitab suci serta sabda Yesus sendiri
Segala rujukan berkenaan dengan kelahiran dan kematiaan Yesus serta kebangkitanNya baik dalam Perjanjian Lama mahupun disebut oleh Yesus telah digenapiNya.

4. Merupakan mesej yang penting dalam Injil
Jika tiada kebangkitan Injil itu hanyalah tulisan semata-mata. Kerana dalam Yesus, adanya kehidupan yang abadi. Inilah yang menjadikan mesej dalam Injil itu hidup.

5. KeTuhanan Yesus terserlah.
Keunikkan kebangkitan Yesus dinampakkan dalam kategori berikut :
a. Orang-orang yang dibangkitkan dari maut itu mati semula (dikuburkan)
b. Kebangkitan Yesus tidak memerlukan agen manusia. Dan yang terlibat dalam kebangkitan Yesus adalah Bapa (Gal 1:1), Roh Kudus (Rom 8:11) dan Anak, Yesus sendiri (Yoh 2:19-22).

Jelasnya jika Yesus membangkitkanNya sendiri dari maut, maka Dia lebih dari manusia. Kebangkitannya yang tidak memerlukan agen manusia menujukkan keTuhananNya.

6. Jaminan kebangkitan bagi semua yang mempercayaiNya

7. Keseimbangan dalam perspektif status kerohanian serta jasmani
Kedua-dua rohani dan jasad yang diciptakan Tuhan itu baik tetapi dirosakkan sewaktu kejatuhan Manusia. Kedua-dua rohani serta jasad dalam manusia adalah digunkan untuk kebaikkan tetapi telah dihancurkan oleh dosa. Ini membawa kejatuhan status kerohanian manusia.
Dengan kebangkitan Yesus, jasad kita ditebuskan. Maka umat Tuhan dapat melakukan perkara-perkara yang memuliakan Tuhan. Tuhan melihat kebenaran Yesus dalam kita. mat Kristian dapat didedikasikan dalam perkerjaan Tuhan serta kemuliaan Tuhan.

8. Kuasa Roh Kudus serta Kebangkitan.
Kita akan mengalami process pengudusan atau penyuciaan. Process ini adalah dalam menjadi umat Kristian itu lebih taat dan patuh akan perintah Tuhan. Dan lebih dari itu, fikiran, kerja kita, tubuh kita , kasih kita hanyalah untuk kemuliaanNya. Process ini adalah untuk sepanjang hayat. Sikap yang tidak baik kita itu akan beransur menjadi baik. Perubahaan ini bukanlah dalam satu malam tetapi hari demi hari umat Kristian akan berubah kepada yang baik.

9. Pengampunan dosa.
Sebelum Yesus mati, beliau berkata "Tetelestai". Perkataan ini dalam bahasa Yunani yang bermaksud "Sudahlah selesai". Dalam dunia perniagaan, bill anda telah dijelaskan sepenuhnya. Kebangkitan Yesus dari mautNya adalah resit yang dijelaskan sepenuhnya bagi dosa manusia. Kebenarannya dosa manusia tidak dapat menyimpan Yesus dalam kubur. Bukti untuk dosa-dosa umat manusia dijelaskan dan diampunkan.
Oleh itu manusia kenalah saling bermaafan sebagaimana Yesus mengampuni dosa kita melalui mautnya. Tiada dosa yang durjana yang kita tidak boleh maafkan termasuklah sendiri. Walaupun begitu manusia tidak boleh leka dengan mengulangi dosa-dosanya.

Kesimpulannya, kebangkitan Yesus membawa penghidupan daru dalam perhubungan antara manusia dengan Tuhan, sesama sendiri, pengampunan dosa, masa depan, dunia falsafah serta dunia. Dunia yang mati ini kini mempunyai hidup baru melalui kebangkitan Yesus.

Dia Hidup...Dia Hidup... Yesus Hidup Dalamku. Dunia ini bukan ku lagi tapi milik Yesus

Blessed Easter

Kebaktian mengucapkan Selamat Hari Easter

Yesus Bangkit... Dia Bangkit .... Dia hidup di dalam kita



"Hai maut di manakah kemenanganmu? Hai maut, di manakah sengatmu?" (1 Korintus 15:55)

Sistem keseluruhan Kristiani adalah berdasarkan pada kebenaran bahawa Yesus Kristus yang telah bangkit dari kematiannya. Lagu himne kebangkitan "Kristus Bangkit! Soraklah" atau dalam bahasa Inggerisnya, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" telah menjadi satu himne yang popular semasa hari Easter. Alangkah sedihnya jika gereja-gerja tidak menyanyi himne kerana himne ini sangat kaya dengan pujian syukur pada kebangkitan Yesus.

Himne ini dikaryakan oleh Charles Wesley pada tahun 1738 di Aldersgate Hall, London. Himne ini dinyanyikan pada suatu servis pertama di Wesleyan Chapel, London.

Kristus bangkit! Soraklah: Haleluya!
Bumi, sorga bergema: Haleluya!
Berbalasan bersyukur: Haleluya!
Muliakan Tuhanmu! Haleluya!

Karya kasihNya genap, Haleluya!
kemenanganNya tetap; Haleluya!
Surya s'lamat jadi t'rang, Haleluya!
takkan lagi terbenam. Haleluya!

Kuasa kubur menyerah, Haleluya!
dan neraka takluklah; Haleluya!
Kristus jaya atas maut, Haleluya!
dan terbukalah Firdaus. Haleluya!

Hidup Raja mulia: Haleluya!
kita s'lamat olehNya. Haleluya!
Maut, dimana jayamu? Haleluya!
Kubur, mana kuasamu? Haleluya!

Hai tinggalkan maut kelam; Haleluya!
ikut Dia yang menang! Haleluya!
Bangkitlah, manusia, Haleluya!
dalam kebangkitanNya! Haleluya!

Raja agung, t'rimalah, Haleluya!
sorak puji semesta! Haleluya!
Hormat kami bergema: Haleluya!
Kaulah Hidup yang baka. Haleluya!

Jejak Minggu Kudus

" ... dan tanpa penumpahan darah tidak ada pengampunan." (Ibrani 9:22)

Dihapuskan dosaku
hanya oleh darah Yesus;
aku pulih dan sembuh
hanya oleh darah Yesus.

Refrein:
O, darah Tuhanku,
sumber pembasuhku!
Sucilah hidupku
hanya oleh darah Yesus.

Pengampunan dosaku
hanya oleh darah Yesus;
penyucian hidupku
hanya oleh darah Yesus.

Pendamaian bagiku
hanya oleh darah Yesus;
bukan oleh amalku;
hanya oleh darah Yesus.

Damai dan harapanku
hanya oleh darah Yesus;
Allah membenarkanku
hanya oleh darah Yesus.