entries
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
-8:08 AM
I went to New Creation Church the other day, to see what was so great about it. I mean, if you have a huge following there has got to be something behind all that. Anyway, aside from the first impression it gave me (live recording of Super Band in Mediacorp Studio) and the rock concert like worship, the message was actually quite good. I learnt about putting God in your situation wherever you are. It was encouraging and i think messages like that are rare these days. Most messages just make you feel lousy about yourself by reminding you of your sin and your degenerate state. YES, i agree that there is nothing wrong with it and we should be reminded that our God is a holy God as well as a loving one. But you know, i came out of that message feeling encouraged and hopeful, and feel like i can take on another week and want to be a better person. It's no wonder that people keep going there.
Friday, July 27, 2007
-11:39 AM
I'm thankful for many things in my life. I'm thankful for where i am in my life right now, and how God is good and faithful to us, and that his patience for us doesn't cease. I'm thankful that God is love, that He is not like us, that He doesn't change.
I'm thankful that He's the only element i can trust.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
-11:29 AM
This came to me when i woke up this morning :
Christianity isn't so much the forgiveness of sin, but the denial of it.
Sometimes i don't think it is really about God forgiving our sins , but a reminder of everything wrong that i do; each wrong choice, each wrong word, the wrong occupation etc. I don't need to go to church to tell me i'm a sinner. I feel that all the time. I want to go to church, so i can learn a thing or two about God. I want to learn something different. I don't want to sit in a message that preaches about something that i can just read at home.
Monday, January 29, 2007
-8:15 AM
Pastor Rich McCarrell explained to his young son how his secretary screened his phone calls at the church office. He said, " If your mom calls me and i'm busy, the church secretary will tell her what i'm doing, and then Mom will decide if i should be interrupted or if she should leave a message."
Then he said to his son, " If you call me, you'll be put right through. I want you to know that you can call me anytime, because you're my son."
A few days later, the church secretary put a call through to the pastor from his son. He said hello and asked what he could do for his son. He replied, "Nothing, Dad. I just wanted to make sure i could actually get through to you that easily."
We too always have instant access to our Father in heaven. There's no secretary to screen His calls. No need for a descision on whether or not we should bother Him. No need to leve a message so that He can get back to us later. The psalmist reminds us, " The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry" (Ps.34:15)
Because Jesus has provided the way by His death and resurrection, you can have boldness and confidence as you draw near to your Father (Heb.4:16) - Anne Cetas
-7:42 AM
Communications experts tell us that the average person speaks enough to fill 20 single-spaced, type-written pages every day. This means our mouths crank out enough words to fill 2 books of 300 pages each month, 24 books each year, and 1,200 books in 50 years of speaking. Thanks to phones, voicemail, and face-to-face conversations, words comprise a large part of our lives. So the kinds of words we use are important.
The psalmist's mouth was filled with praise when he wrote Psalm 126. The Lord had done great things for him and his people. Even the nations around them noticed. Remembering God's blessings, he said, " Our mouth was filled with laughter, and out tongue with singing" (v2).
What words would you have used in verse 3 had you been writing this psalm? So often , our attitude may seem to be: " The Lord has done great things for me, and I -
...can't recall any of them right now."
...am wondering what He'll do for me next."
...need much more."
Or can you finish it by saying, "And i am praising and thanking Him for His goodness"? As you recall God's blessings today, express your words of praise to Him. - Anne Cetas
Sunday, December 10, 2006
-8:43 AM
Today's message was about the true spirit of Christmas.
It was about how everything is about buying gifts for others. But we should really be giving gifts from the heart. Bearing one another's burdens. Caring. Offering a listening ear. Making real sacrifices.
Also, our Cantata today , and the song, He is Seeking You.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
-7:40 AM
Prosperity Preaching
There are churches out there that preach, the more you give, the more God gives back to you. But really, who are we to expect anything from God? Is serving God, based on a reward system then? Do you serve/do , so you get blessings from God? How about doing something without expecting anything in return? Isn't that what servitude is?
I think society has brought us up to be selfish people. Everything is really based on a reward system isn't it? You study hard, so you can get good grades, so that your parents will be happy, or so you don't appear to be a loser in the world, so you can get a good job, good pay. You work hard, OT sometimes, so that your boss will see how hardworking you are, and perhaps you can finally get that pay raise you've always wanted, or maybe a promotion. And so you bring that concept into the church. You serve in different ministries, band, the choir, maybe teach a few Bible classes . Perhaps if you served God more, He'll bless you. You'll be a happier, richer,person. Life would be perfect, as long as you're doing His will.
But the God of the Bible looks into the heart of each one of us. Why are we really doing what we're doing? Because no one else does it? Because if we don't we're going to appear unfaithful to the others? If sincerity is what is prized, and lacking in our world today, then shouldn't it be practiced all the more in the church?
It seems that people go to church today to be 'served' . They go to church to get their ears tickled, to be entertained by lively music and performance. It has become a 'ME' service, instead of one being directed to God. If reverence is to be given to God, then it should be given with totality, not robbing God of His rightful worship. Are we there to listen to sermons and to pick and choose what we agree with, and what offends us, even if it comes straight out from the Bible? Are we there to feel good about ourselves?
I understand that our intentions might be good when we take up certain ministries in our local church, and sometimes it can get tiring, and eventually, we do wonder if it's worth it, and would like for once, to be appreciated for it all. God knows our intentions, and our efforts. Let's remind ourselves that we must learn to serve, just as Jesus did, when he washed the disciples' feet. Jesus taught, and performed miracles , healed the sick and did not once ask them to worship him as King. He did not use His authority when the devil tempted him to throw himself off, and let the angels catch him .He did not use that same power to prevent the full extent of God's wrath on himself. He knew He was going to die, He was afraid, but He did it anyway , only because of love. I believe servitude ties along with that; when we are truly concern about another human being .
If we can't do that, let us at least not go to church expecting anything.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
-7:47 PM
Quick Points from a Message :
Is there anything too hard for the Lord? ( Gen 18:14)
God sustains us. We are only alive because God allows it.
There are some things about God that you cannot understand unless you experience it yourself.
We do not ask for much, because we do not want God to fail us. But we need to understand that God is in control of everything.
We are not the saviour of the world, God is.
We go to church expecting to receive something back in return. Be it blessings, or some truth that will help us through the next week. But true worship is about sacrifice, and really, what we can give back to God. Whether it's our time, energies, services; surely we can do that without thinking ' what about me?'
