27 December 2015 - ENCS

Unsure whether to give thanks for the past or about the future talk

Pastor Josh reflected on decision making in a sermon “The Walk”

He said we often find ourselves balancing between two extremes

Per Matthew seven, opting for the narrow gate is hard - so it seems

But choosing the wide gate often leads down a road of destruction

Whether that be of trust, body, relationships, or just our production

Going through the narrow gate leads to where God wants us to be

And gives us excitement and joy every morning for others to see

But decisions in life are rarely that easy, Josh so appropriately said

So how we make good decisions must use both our heart and head

Four sequential ‘P’s to guide us, Pastor Josh did then with us share

Before he gave the stage to the worship team and took his chair

The first P is principles, which Josh said are partial not complete

Nonetheless, as guidance providers, they are very hard to beat

Per Isaiah forty, listen to and read God’s Word, as it stands forever

Per Second Chronicles seven, pray to God who ignores us never

And if we do not get clarity from words written or from heaven

Then seek advice from wise counsellors, per Proverbs eleven

For, as Josh astutely said, God wants us to behave relationally

Principles are a good start, but more is needed occasionally

The second P is priorities, as these are reflected by our choices

Put another way, our actions and decisions also act as our voices

Per Second Corinthians five, we should live for Jesus who died

When making decisions, choose which will result in Him glorified

Per Matthew six, we should opt for treasures eternal, not of the earth

Jobs should be to spread light and salt, not just building our net worth

The third P is preferences, as some decisions are actually situational

Per Psalm thirty seven verse four, delighting in the Lord is foundational

It says that when we do that, God will give us the desires of our heart

For through it all, God has wanted our friendship from the very start

Second Corinthians five instructs us to walk by faith, not by sight

When we do that, Pastor Josh said our decisions will be alright

The fourth P is person; Jesus should be honored by every decision

Per John fourteen, Jesus is the way, the truth, the life - our provision

And when we turn to Jesus and use our faith to make a choice

Even if it is wrong, God will help us “win” and for that we rejoice

In summary, principles, priorities, preferences, and the person

If we make decisions with that framework, God’s will be done

25 December 2015 - PLMC

Rev Dr Isaac Lim spoke at PLMC this Christmas Day

About “Christmas as a heart story” he had lots to say

The heart of God always reaches out to the heart of man

Throughout the Bible, this was evidently the game plan

Mary, Zechariah, and Joseph were examples of this

Angels came to assure each that nothing was amiss

John’s perspective differs from the others, it is seen

As evidenced in chapter one, verses one to eighteen

Per the first two verses, Jesus was there at the beginning

In fellowship with God and He actually was God the King

Darkness entered the world, per verses three and four

Evil intentions come from within and defile forevermore

But verse five says that in this dark world, Jesus is light

And light cannot be overcome, because of God’s might

John the Baptist was not the light, per verses six to nine

For man alone cannot with paradise completely align

Similarly, Christmas is actually a celebration in darkness

Unless Christ is present to bring His love into the mess

Evidence of God’s love for the world, Christmas is in fact 

But we need to receive His wonderful gift and then act

Verses ten to thirteen say Jesus is not accepted by all

Each person’s heart decides how to respond to His call

Our response is what limits God’s willingness to save

Once we do accept Christ, a new path He does pave

Then moving onto verses fourteen through seventeen

From Jesus alone, grace and truth are clearly seen

These establish Christ’s presence within our mix

Any challenging situation we can with love then fix

We then heard of a monastery looking for a breakthrough

A wise rabbi told them that “The Messiah is one of you”

Which led everyone to treat others with more respect

For in each person, at least part of Christ we can detect

Christmas isn’t Christmas until it happens in the heart

By bringing light to the darkness, we can do our part

20 December 2015 - ENCS

The “Christmas Foretold” series today Pastor Larry did complete

But the key messages from the last two weeks he first did repeat

Isaiah chapter nine verse six talked of Immanuel, God is with us

Isaiah chapter fifty three verse five spoke of how God saves us

Today’s message of “God anoints us” was from Isaiah sixty one

In Luke four, Jesus said it was fulfilled, in other words it was done

Pastor Larry said that as believers we are anointed to proclaim

Sharing the good news with the poor in spirit should be our aim

Luke chapter two said angels brought "good news of great joy"

“For all the people” so that the enemy our God can fully destroy

That Jesus fulfilled more than three hundred fifty prophecies

Defies all odds of random occurrence, per lots of analyses

In John chapter one, about Jesus did John the Baptist speak

That Jesus would take away the world’s sins, rather mystique

The word of testimony, per Revelations twelve verse eleven

Needs to declare Jesus is Lord, seated with God in heaven

From the Old Testament, proclaiming good tidings we do see

Bringing joy as per First Chronicles sixteen verse twenty three

Pastor Larry said that as believers we are anointed to heal

God mends broken hearts and bones, Isaiah does reveal

To those from broken homes and families, we should reach out

Per First Peter two, words from Jesus can heal, have no doubt

So that he could help so many others, Peter himself was healed

Per Acts three, great power in his words Peter did then wield

Pastor then said God answers us the minute He hears our prayer

We may need to wait, but that does not mean He does not care

Like when the wise men brought Jesus gold, incense, and myrrh

The lengthy and arduous two year journey did not serve to deter

Pastor Larry said that as believers we are anointed to love

Because He loves us so, to earth Jesus came from above

Likewise, in this dark world we are each to be a shining light

Such a love revolution can assuredly make this world right

John thirteen verse thirty five says we are to love one another

For this shows that in Jesus, we are each a Christian brother

Per First John three, we have been called to do God’s work

The fact that God’s glory appears in us is a wonderful perk

In conclusion, we are anointed to proclaim, heal, and love

For these are instructions from our dear Lord God above

13 December 2015 - ENCS

The “Christmas Foretold” series Pastor Josh did continue

Investing in quality relationships is what we all should do

The core text for the sermon was Isaiah chapter fifty three

Which Josh said was an extremely well studied prophecy

But first he read from chapter fifty two, from verse thirteen

In which Isaiah talked about the king that would be seen

The king would be exalted, a term Israel would understand

But he would be unrecognizable after being tortured by hand

Yet his blood would be sprinkled to cleanse many a nation

In keeping with the Old Testament method of sanctification

In chapter fifty three, for each of our lives God has a plan

All of which fit into His masterplan since the very first man

Some challenges lead us to develop a strong foundation

Like a mesquite’s roots, among the deepest in the nation

And regardless of fictional pictures we might see in books

Jesus only attracted people with His words, not His looks

Verse three says He was despised and rejected by men

So He always knows how we feel, not just now and then

Then as Pastor Josh emphasized from the key verse four

All our infirmities, sorrows, and transgressions Jesus bore

Tough seasons we would avoid if we had our druthers

But they often help us when we need to comfort others

Although no matter what circumstances have done

Remember that Jesus took on sadness for everyone

In Matthew chapter eight verses fourteen to seventeen

To fulfil the prophecy, the same words are clearly seen

Jesus was able to cast out evil spirits with merely a word

He never had to rely on yelling, brute force, or a sword

Jesus was falsely accused, per verses seven and eight

Again he knows how we feel when attacks do not abate

Verses nine and ten also have a prophecy that eventuated

God was pleased to crush Jesus, due to the sin He hated

Jesus gladly endured His season of pain, per verse eleven

Because of the joy that assuredly awaited Him in heaven

We have been forgiven and made righteous in this way

But of course this is a debt that nobody can ever repay

So all our actions and good works should come from love

For God and Jesus Christ who are sitting in heaven above

Then an interesting point about Jesus’ life Josh did say

Thirty years with family versus three ministering each day

And now almost two thousand where for us He does pray

We should thus sing His praises while on earth we do stay

And per Isaiah fifty four we should look to enlarge our tent

So we can increase our influence as opportunities present

6 December 2015 - ENCS

Pastor Josh stated a new series entitled “Christmas Foretold”

Based on Isaiah, which had many prophecies very bold

It was so accurate that many doubted its original date

But the Dead Sea Scrolls then set the record straight

In chapter forty nine, Isaiah said he laboured in vein

But looking forward to eternity, he did not complain

God told him that even bigger was his real destiny

For in time, Isaiah would be a light for all to see

Very powerful were Isaiah’s words and prophecies

For God always fulfils His Word and does not tease

The fruit of his labour, Isaiah did not on earth see

For many of us, that is just the way things will be

God has a master plan that He did clearly reveal

In Matthew one, the place in Micah became real

In a similar manner, per Isaiah chapter seven

A virgin birth brought us Jesus from heaven

'God is with us’, His name Immanuel does mean

Our sin hurts that relationship, it is regularly seen

Per Isaiah fifty nine, this leads to pain and separation

For those in Christ, however, there is no condemnation

Jesus lived the life that we were supposed to live

As the perfect sacrifice, His life He did then give

To renew our link with God, Christ came to earth

Only He can give us new life, aka a new birth

Only the Holy Spirit brings us to this new life

So we can sit with God and avoid any strife

With us forever, God clearly wants to be

His intentions for us are great, per John three

Josh then referred to Revelation twenty one

For God to be with us, sin must be done

22 November 2015 - ENCS

To start things off tonight, Joy Talavera made us all wait

Her point was that nobody likes waiting, she then did state

Whether due to uncertainty, fear, or possible disappointment

But waiting is part of life’s journey so might be heaven sent

The title of Joy’s sermon was “Wait for What?”, not surprisingly

Several verses about Joseph throughout Genesis we did see

In chapter thirty seven, Joseph had his first noteworthy dream

His brothers only laughed and resented him more, it did seem

His father sent Joseph to help his brothers despite their feeling

They threw him in a dry pit with no clothes despite his appealing

To a bunch of Egyptian-bound traders Joseph was then sold

Apparently taking him further away from the dream he was told

But God was with Joseph and favour did He continue to show

Nonetheless, into prison Joseph was for no good reason thrown

He must have felt that the distance to his dream has again grown

But in prison, God showed him more favour and steadfast love

Allowing Joseph to interpret dreams with guidance from above

The cupbearer was released and about Joseph did soon forget

For two more long years, about his dream Joseph had to fret

But eventually Pharaoh’s dream Joseph did rightly interpret

And as a result, both power and a new nice robe he did get

After all of that, Joseph’s original dream did come to fruition

For he believed in God and God’s purpose, not just intuition

From Psalm one hundred thirty, Joy did read in conclusion

We should wait on the Lord, of that there is no confusion

8 November 2015 - ENCS

Based on Mark chapter five, Shirley Ong shared about compassion

Her heart is dedicated to serving others, her points she did not ration

Jesus healed a demon-possessed man in verses one to twenty

And then sent him out as the first missionary to share with plenty

In Mark four, Jesus prayed to God when in the morning He did arise

He also heard the man crying out; ergo “Pray and Hear Their Cries”

In a parallel fashion, God hears our prayers and cries of anguish

Per Romans eight, Jesus intercedes and God often grants our wish

It is of course beautiful when God does answer our heartfelt prayer

For it also serves to confirm that about each of us He does care

Jesus left Capernaum and the boat went through a very rough sea

He went despite knowing the challenge; ergo “Take That Journey”

We may go and bless others but God finds ways to bless us too

Just like when the haze messed up the team’s plan to visit the zoo

Jesus then clothed the healed man, although probably not in tweeds

Even small tokens build self-esteem; ergo “Attend To Their Basic Needs”

Shirley then shared about when she to Penang she led a church team

One of the highlights was when they were able to get the kids to dream

In order to help others, Jesus dealt with discomfort and pain immense

Volunteers often do manual work; ergo “Endure The Inconvenience”

Shirley told us about when ten of them cleaned many a wheelchair

They did it to help the disabled centre and to show that they care

The man wanted to join Jesus but to Decapolis, Jesus did him compel

When Jesus has affected our lives we must similarly “Go And Tell”

Shirley said our calling is not just about the gifting that God in us did install

It is about bringing God to the people around us, as did the apostle Paul

We should not become overwhelmed by the community’s needs 

We should instead use our giftings to do God-inspired deeds

Per Jeremiah chapter twenty two verse sixteen, all went well

For he who defended the poor and needy, Shirley did re-tell

1 November 2015 - ENCS

Tonight ENCS Kallang was blessed as Pastor Neli Atiga was back

With him leading worship, energy was something we did not lack

I was a bit surprised he did not launch into a haka like an All-Black

Before he started on his sermon which was as sharp as a tack

Neli read from Matthew chapter seven, verses twenty one to three

Doing things in accordance with God’s will was his earnest plea

If so many people do not like their jobs, why don’t they just flee?

For avoiding our calling and God’s will merely pleases the enemy

The title of Pastor Neli’s sermon was “For The Sake of The Call”

Only God’s will gives us complete fulfilment, be it spring or fall

Our calling is not just about the gifting that God in us did install

It is bringing God to the people around us, as did apostle Paul

It is not just a platform when God calls us to a specific place

But it is for all of the people with whom we begin to interface

And it is of course not our actions that brings God’s grace

Having a servanthood heart is what matters in life’s real race

Neli asked if we are using our platforms or just building profile

God always saves the lost and blesses worshipers all the while

We should serve others in love, utilising our gifts with a smile

As Jesus laid down His life for us, in the face of crowds hostile

In verse twenty two, they called to the Lord not once but twice

If they knew him well and He knew them, once would suffice

That is the Greek ‘ginosko' and ‘oida’ are different to be precise

We must know God and therefore His heart was Neli’s advice

For once we know the Lord, we know what breaks His heart

And our hearts will in turn break for those are broken apart

In Jeremiah twenty nine eleven, a promise God does impart

From wherever we now are, His plan and purpose do start

25 October 2015 - ENCS

The “Gifted” series Joy Talavera did complete today

She used Ephesians chapter two to show the way

In verses nineteen to twenty two, we were then told

We are fellow citizens, members of God’s household

Jesus is the cornerstone, joining us all together

For we are better together, no matter the weather

This enables our God-given gifts to be better applied

And the results and blessings can then be multiplied

Joy highlighted three things that can get in the way

Of using our talents and gifts appropriately every day

The first Joy termed “comparison vs collaboration”

This occurs when others’ gifts become our fixation

Of course everyone is better than us at something

But per Genesis four, this allows sin to be crouching

For whenever we compare, angry we tend to become

By collaborating, “better together” is the rule of thumb

“Cringe vs courage” was the second Joy did highlight

When God gives us a gift, He provides grace to ignite

Grace acts like the batteries for a store-bought toy

Allowing our gifts to bless others in a spirit of joy

This grace, per Ephesians chapter four verse seven

Is apportioned to each person by Christ in heaven

Using that grace, our gifts each other do complement

For with courage, “better together” becomes an event

The third tradeoff Joy said was “captivity vs community”

When we are isolated, we walk into the enemy’s captivity

When we compare or cringe, isolation is often the result

This causes God’s family to mourn rather than to exult

Joy called on Kevin, who one chopstick could easily break

But when given a bundle, not even a crack he could make

Ecclesiastes chapter four verse twelve does state the same

To avoid being tossed about, Ephesians four says is the aim

When working as a community, God provides the sticky matter

For with community, “better together” leads the enemy to scatter

In summary, we should collaborate and with courage act

Then in community, our gifts are “better together” for a fact

25 October 2015 - Walking with Integrity

In Ruth chapter two, Boaz commended Ruth’s integrity

Saying that her actions had made it clear for all to see

She stood by her mother-in-law Naomi in a foreign land

As a result, in marriage Boaz eventually took Ruth’s hand

From a solid foundation of values, integrity does flow

To stand by one’s beliefs, one’s strength must show

God’s Word should always provide the foundation

Telling right from wrong without any consternation

In this way, integrity leads to a top-notch reputation

And we often get earthly as well as Godly affirmation

Integrity can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes

But bottom line, perhaps it really means no surprises

For if you do what you say and actually say what you did

Then people will trust you much more than Billy the Kid

18 October 2015 - ENCS

The “Gifted” series, Jenny Balase did today continue

A video of Genesis chapter one we first did all view

God is a creator and can thus be called creative

Creativity is in our identity and part of how we live

For creativity is not about doing, but is about being

This was extremely clear in the video we were seeing

God created things just by the sound of His voice

That is why singing praises should oft be our choice

For this creates lots of joy, from Jenny we then all heard

“And it was so” confirms the authenticity of God’s word

Since God created man in His image and His likeness

Therefore each person is creative, talents we do possess

Jenny then showed us a picture of the left and right brain

The former is for logic, the latter for creativity in the main

“When we see ourselves as creative beings, we create”

Our doing should follow our being, Jenny did then state

Just as God created and said “and it was good” every day

For our creative dreams and passions, we should find a way

“Creativity reflects God’s image within us” so that others see

Through Jesus, we learned who God is and who we are to be

Jesus said that God was within Him, per John chapter fourteen

And whoever believes in Him will do greater works, it is seen

Worship allows God to act through us, reflecting our identity

Allowing others to learn about Jesus and also to God see

In summary, Jenny said that we are all creative and can create

Although our primary goal remains to know Jesus, Jenny did state

11 October 2015 - ENCS

Pastor Josh Harris started the “Gifted” series at Kallang today

Everyone has gifts and a calling from God above, he did say

“You Have A Purpose” with what God does us individually equip

Ephesians two verse ten says that we are God’s workmanship

God prepared us each of us to do good works in His name

Although our gifts and callings are obviously not the same

Josh said that we must determine how our identity is defined

Not knowing our purpose leads to misuse of gifts, he opined

It is important that we are both a physical and spiritual creation

Adam and Eve died spiritually after falling for the temptation

“You are Gifted” and those gifts will be awesome via His grace

God spent more time creating us than on all the stars in space

In Genesis one, God called the stars he created merely ‘good’

In regards male and female, ‘very good” is clearly understood

In First Corinthians twelve, we read about spiritual gifts from Paul

Diverse gifts, ministries, and activities - the church needs them all

In Romans twelve, Paul lists prophesying, serving, and teaching

As well as exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy outreaching

Paul lists five distinct callings in Ephesians chapter four verse eleven

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers all represent heaven

Several gifts of the Spirit, First Corinthians chapter twelve does name

Comparing to Romans and Ephesians, some of the items are the same

Words of wisdom and knowledge, healing, miracles, and faith manifestation

As well as prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, and interpretation

“Your Gift Isn’t For You” as the Spirit’s manifestation is for the profit of all

As in First Corinthians twelve verse seven, according to the apostle Paul

Most gifts cannot be used on ourselves, so they are used to others bless

In that way, per Philippians two, lights into this world our actions do express

This is consistent with Jesus’ admonition in Matthew five verse thirteen

That through our good works, the glory of God can be very clearly seen

4 October 2015 - ENCS

Joshua Harris finished the series on James’ book

Into chapter five tonight we did take a deep look

“Rich oppressors” are the focus on verses one to six

Josh pointed out that all of us might be in that mix

For the real question is whether we steward well

Of our God-given talents, Pastor Josh did tell

With everyone and always, we must also be just

For justice is important, in God’s eyes it is a must

James then touched on suffering, starting from verse seven

We should be patient like a farmer waiting for rain from heaven

Josh said that a world of instant gratification we live in today

Enjoying pleasures now for a future price is Satan’s way

But God wants to bless us, especially for our self-control

Through His grace, we will get eternal salvation for our soul

Our job is not to exact justice, but to bring about reconciliation

James also commended Job’s perseverance in his tribulation

Verse eleven says that God is full of mercy and compassion

In fact, His supply is so infinite that He never needs to ration

Josh encouraged us not to stop if we are going through hell

For God’s breakthrough is often on the other side, he did tell

For from the enemy Satan come dark times and darkness

But per Isaiah fifty, we can trust in God and He will us bless

Verse twelve reminds us not to swear by heaven or by earth

Instead, let our words have integrity and convey full worth

When faced with suffering, we should immediately pray

Jesus knows what we are going through, Josh did say

Likewise, if we are happy, we should sing songs of praise

And then get church elders to pray for us on our sick days

For in the name of the Holy Spirit, the leaders do us anoint

Thus healing our spirit, soul, and body - that is the point

Our heart opens when we truly ask for forgiveness

And when our heart opens, God can us richly bless

Elijah prayed earnestly and dutifully waited on the Lord

Eventually crops grew after rain from the heavens poured

Remember that one word from God can change our life

Josh heard that word when he married his lovely wife

“Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way”

“Will save him from death”, verse twenty does say

Our heart will mirror His if we spend more time with God

Then the prodigal son’s father’s reaction will not be odd

James urges believers to their faith express in daily living

So that blessings our dear Lord can continually be giving

27 September 2015 - ENCS

About James chapter four, today Nate Curtis did speak

As usual, he was knowledgable and emphatic, not meek

The chapter covers types of conflict numbering three

Perspectives on planning for tomorrow we also did see

On some relatively silly courses of war, Nate did share

About beards and buckets people clearly did overly care

Of conflict among ourselves, these examples were reflective

For it happens even if with fellow Christians we happen to live

Even though the first verse of Psalm one hundred thirty three

Says that it is good when God’s people live together in unity

Remember Abraham and Lot, Paul and Barnabas, and others

All were biblical examples of conflict between believing brothers

Nate said that James assuredly had other conflicts in his sights

Wars about class and employment as well as intra-church fights

There is also inflict within ourselves, a war inside our heart

Largely due to unchecked desire and selfishness on our part

To wrong thoughts and actions, this does all too often lead

And to unanswered prayers, for we don’t know what we need

Nate said that conflict with God is actually the overarching source

For this affects all other relationships and conflicts in due course

Being friends with the world, our flesh, and the devil take the form

Of unlawful desires, pride, and temptation becoming the norm

To enjoy peace with God we must therefore fully submit to His will

We draw near to God if purity and humility in our hearts we instill

And if we regularly resist the devil, the enemy will surely flee

Thus making our walk easier and bringing to God more glee

Verses thirteen to seventeen talk of perspectives on tomorrow

It is sin if we do not do good things that from the Bible we know

It is not wrong to plan, but we must always let God’s will prevail

His will is revealed in the Bible and the truisms never go stale

But Nate added that we must not just stick to the law’s letter

For actions may be permissible, but we should try to do better

In summary, we should understand the source of conflict in our life

And then take steps to rid ourselves of ungodly conflict and strife

And because we are but vapour wisps in time, per verse fourteen

We should live and plan our lives so that God’s will is always seen

20 September 2015 - James 3

I am out of the country so will not hear the sermon today

But know that James chapter three is the topic of the day

With his direct and forceful style, James does continue

About “taming the tongue” many points he clearly knew

He warns that those who teach are judged more strictly

So to be careful as none of us can live our lives perfectly

James reminds us of the power of the bit in a horse’s mouth

And of a ship’s small rudder which can turn it east or south

One small spark can set off a forest fire killing trees very tall

Similarly, the tongue is powerful despite being quite small

James points out that many animals humans can tame

But taming the tongue's ‘deadly poison’ is not the same

With our words, we praise God and yet also curse others

Despite the fact that as God’s creations, all are brothers

In verse ten, James says that this dichotomy should not be

For from a spring, both salt and fresh water we do not see

About different types of wisdom James writes from verse thirteen

“Who is wise and understanding among you?” is the question seen

Wisdom is demonstrated by good deeds done with humility

“Bitter envy and selfish ambition" others should not see

For that is earthly, unspiritual, and not from heaven above

Wisdom from heaven is full of peace, sincerity, and love

Those "who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness”

And of course prevent themselves from causing a big mess

This chapter is a good reminder about words and actions for me

For both can uplift others for God or act as tools of the enemy

I must remember that words, once spoken, cannot be deleted

So it is better to hold my tongue until thoughts are completed

I must also remember that good deeds do not need to be viewed

For God sees all, whereas others’ observations can be skewed

13 September 2015 - ENCS

On the book of James and its messages, Nate Curtis did continue

After providing some interest context, he focused on chapter two

By way of background, when James wrote his letter, Nate did say

The Roman Empire was at its zenith and all the people had to obey

There was a lot of social inequality which led to rising resentment

Similar to what we read about today, some people turned violent

“James the Just” encouraged people to do good deeds and work

Even in the face of persecution and often dealing with a big jerk

Many of his followers and readers would be tempted to retaliate

He said for them to have faith, persevere, and to love not hate

The first point Nate then talked about was the “sin of partiality”

Highlighting that we were all made in God’s image, “imago dei”

If we show favoritism, it implies one part of God we value more

Instead, remember that who we are in Christ should be our core

God loves us no matter what, but He also wants more from us

Differences among believers are irrelevant, Paul did oft discuss

In verses eight through eleven, James says favoritism is sin

If not merciful, we face judgment without mercy - with chagrin

Nate then quoted six reasons James said favouritism is wrong

Although he also said that the full list would be extremely long

When thinking about what this means for each of us individually

It is not merely a matter of those we come in contact with daily

Although we can all treat each person the same and with respect

There are situations with refugees and modern slavery to correct

Using a website, Nate has sixty eight slaves supporting his lifestyle

His points were hard hitting, making everyone think for quite a while

The second point Nate highlighted was about faith and action

“Grace+faith=salvation+good works” applies to every faction

From verse fourteen onwards, James talks about faith and deeds

We are called righteous when above our faith, our action exceeds

Every individual is God-created and part of a global community

By our love and actions, our Christian faith others will clearly see

Opportunities arise if we look at situations with a new perspective

Other societies and socio-economic groups can see how we live

Nate said the gospel is good news, but doesn’t always have advice

But is a way of life, in response to the fact that Jesus paid the price

In summary, Nate asked how we are being partial and what we can do

And with our every action, would James say that our stated faith is true

Excellence vs Perfectionism

The topic of “Excellence vs Perfectionism” was last night discussed

At Awaken Generation, where participation by students was a must

Excellence is of course a core kingdom principle

Whereas living a perfect life is somewhat mythical

Something on which we should all reflect

Is that only God and His Son are perfect

This of course is consistent with from the Old Testament we learn

That nobody can follow all of God’s commandments at every turn

Most scholars would agree that this set the stage for Jesus’ birth

Which was proof of God’s love and His view of our immense worth

So living our lives excellently is something to which we can strive

Even if perfection is a place that we can on this earth never arrive

For excellence relates to our heart, our effort, and our approach

We should do the right things right, and do all above reproach

This applies to our home, our friendships, and our workplace

This is what God expects and to others presents a good face

For others will see that we put in effort honest and complete

Thus influencing them as well as helping to the enemy defeat

6 September 2015 - ENCS

On “Overcoming Trials", for the Book of James series Pastor Josh did start

In the first verse, the fact that his brother Jesus was God James did impart

That we should consider trials as joy, come through in verses two through four

For the testing of our faith produces steadfastness, perseverance, and more

Josh reminded us that faith only exists for things that we can not actually see

That Jesus always keeps His Word is something to which we must all agree

Per Romans five, perseverance and trials necessarily lead to character

God stretches us to build us, not break us, from Scripture we must infer

Verse five states that God will grant wisdom to anyone lacking it who asks

But for this to eventuate, believing and not doubting are two critical tasks

If we are double-minded, as if being blown and tossed about by the wind

We will not receive God’s blessing for by doubting, we will have sinned

From verses nine to twelve, everything on earth will eventually fade away

But if we are steadfast in our trials, an eternal crown awaits, James did say

We should therefore invest in relationships with both God and other people

No matter their background, or even whether they worship under a steeple

Verse thirteen states that God will never put us in a position of temptation

Although sometimes when we face trials, we might feel the same sensation

Ironically, “temptation” and “trial” come from the same root word in Greek

Life has plenty of trials, so that is not something we ever have to seek

An important life lesson verses nineteen and twenty do clearly contain

We should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and from anger refrain

Having two ears and one mouth means that we should often talk less

And of course human anger does not bring about God’s righteousness

Verse twenty one says to get rid of moral filth and evil things we do

By humbling accepting the word planted, we can be saved anew

Our hearts need rain and lots of work, like farmland in Lubbock

For they determine whether the seed of faith grows, it’s not luck

We should be doers, not just readers, of the Word, per verse twenty two

For if we listen but do not act accordingly, then deception is what will ensue

Works are not necessary for salvation, but they are a natural consequence

Reading the Bible, loving others, and other good deeds should commence

Verse twenty six says that a religious person keep his tongue on a tight rein

Otherwise, he is deceiving himself and throws his religion down the drain

How to have a pure and faultless religion, the first chapter does conclude

Is to help widows and orphans as well as to avoid all things evil and lewd

30 August 2015 - ENCS

About “Honouring Leadership” Pastor Arnie did speak today

Since we can influence others, we all lead in a unique way

For that is the definition that first came from John Maxwell

And is consistent with the Great Commission Jesus did tell

In order to lead well, Arnie gave us important points three

Along with sharing several passages for us to read and see

The first is that as leaders we must know who to follow

The answer is God our Creator, as we should all know

He has plans for us, per Jeremiah twenty nine eleven

For we are loved unconditionally by our God in heaven

By following Jesus, according to Matthew four nineteen

He will make us fishers of men, as can be clearly seen

To lead people to Jesus is the core of our mission

He will then bring a change in their lives to fruition

Put another way, leaders should listen to God’s word

And by the Holy Spirit be led, from Arnie we heard

The second is that as we lead, we should always serve

From needs and opportunities we should never swerve

Every day there are numerous chances to others bless

In Acts six, the disciples took action to prevent a mess

Picking seven to serve others, leaving others to preach

Of good repute, full of His Spirit and wisdom were each

We cannot serve unless we have a character very strong

If secure in our identity with Christ, we won’t go wrong

For God uses our weaknesses to show His power

Steven sang His praises even in his martyred hour

The third is that as we lead, we need to demonstrate love

Even small gestures can have a big impact to be proud of

Using Facebook, Skype and other forms of technology

We can span great distance as we share our theology

Pastor Arnie then pointed us to First Corinthians thirteen

For without love, even great acts are nothing, it is seen

And remember that we love because God first loved us

So we should also love others without making a fuss

God shows His love in so many ways, per First John four

Sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice, we cannot ignore

In summary, we are all called to influence and therefore lead

Which means to follow, serve, and love as we do proceed

23 August 2015 - ENCS

Pastor Josh and wife Nani spoke on “Honouring Men” today

Per Ephesians five, wives submitting to husbands is God's way

This naturally brings about female feelings of angst and pain

But is good if put in the proper perspective, Nani did explain

For this relationship mirrors that of Christ and the church

And a godly husband will never leave his wife in a lurch

Submission is like having an umbrella, Nani did then share

Finding a godly husband is worth the wait for they are rare

She said that wives should treat men with honour and respect

Focusing on the potential in their lives instead of any defect

The key to a happy marriage is found in verse thirty three

Husbands loving and wives respecting is always the key

On the topic “What Is A Man?” Pastor Josh then shared his view

To be honoured, being a man of honour is what man must do

He then referred to verse twenty one, which should be read

As it points out that all should submit to each other instead

David told his son Solomon, per First Kings chapter two

To “be strong and prove yourself a man” in all he would do

Pastor Josh then shared about what this really does mean

From many passages, several truths he was able to glean

First is that real men honour God and His Word follow

Living in integrity, loving the Lord, and in His truth go

Second is that real men take responsibility “like a man”

Not shirking away like a little boy who ignores the plan

Third is that real men exert their dominion over the earth

Per Genesis one and two, that role existed since birth

Fourth is that real men acknowledge from God they veer

And that the good news of Jesus is needed to draw near

In summary, or “so how” Josh said in the local parlance

We need to give Roman five more than just a glance

Remember that is was Adam who let the serpent in

And also did not prevent Eve from committing sin

But Jesus’ precious gift to us is worth so much more

So we do not need to live a defeated life as before

And real men also need to focus on real true love

Per First Corinthians thirteen, following God above

Making disciples should be a real man’s key mandate

That is the Great Commission, per Matthew twenty eight

16 August 2015 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the “Honour” series today

On “Honouring Women” he had quite a lot to say

Our experiences provide a lens through which we view

in the same way, our intentions can be misinterpreted too

To talk of honour, we must also consider submission

In the Old Testament, there were laws and permission

But we are no longer under the law, per Galatians three

For we are “all one in Christ Jesus” we can clearly see

To God, we now all have complete and open access

In that we are all equal so nobody is worth any less

Of course there are differences we can not ignore

But we should only care in cases God would honour

Still having different toilets for women and men

Is very different than segregated ones back then

In other words, if a difference we choose to highlight

It needs to be to honour others, by doing things right

A careful reading of Genesis one verse twenty seven

Says both man and woman came from God in heaven

Since in His image both sexes were actually created

The obvious differences should not be underestimated

For if the intention was that all humans were the same

There would be no need for individuals, or even a name

1 Peter three refers to woman as the “weaker vessel”

This is obviously true physically, Pastor Josh did tell

The passage says that God will answer a man’s petition

If the man honours his wife without any precondition

Josh said that women tend to be more perceptive

That shows in how men and women tend to live

God intended for us all to exist in partnerships

Genesis three tells of the first of man’s many slips

Covenants are serious, per Malachi chapter two

Marriage is a sacred covenant, that is not new

In terms of how man should honour woman therefore

Josh focused on two important points, nothing more

Man should not rebuke, per 1 Timothy chapter five

With purity, he should view all woman while alive

And per Ephesians four, speak all things in love

For we all belong to the body of Christ from above

9 August 2015 - ENCS

This National Day sermon was shared by Dr Lee Suan Yew

He talked about history, the present, and the future too

The history of the Bible and Judaism are important to know

Understanding their language and culture help us to grow

Relative to twenty five hundred years, Jesus’ story was short

But his three ministry years were impactful, Dr Lee did report

We should also make good use of our limited time on earth

Building up treasures in heaven is the only true store of worth

While money is important to have, Dr Lee warned about greed

During the war years, resourcefulness was what they did need

Thanks to God’s Word, the colonialists Dr Lee eventually forgave

Proverbs chapter three verses five and six tells us how to behave

For it says that if we trust in the Lord with all of our heart

God will then make our paths straight, Solomon did impart

At present, Singapore has diversity, global presence, and green

But when independence came, the Singapore River was unclean

Ephesians five tells us to make the most of every opportunity

It also says we should understand what the Lord’s will may be

To Philippians chapter four verse six, Dr Lee did then refer

We should not worry about anything, from Paul we do infer

Instead, with thanksgiving, to God we should petition and pray

We succeed by setting appropriate priorities, Dr Lee did say

For the nation, hardwork and honesty have led to success

For our leaders, we should of course expect nothing less

In future, we should all aim to learn from our collective past

Through integrity and education, our success can long last

“Mens sana in corpore sano” in Latin Dr Lee did then quote

The English “a sound mind in a sound body” gets my vote

This will help us to help fulfill God’s purpose in our lives

Matthew six states that only eternal treasure survives

Our eyes should have a cross instead of a dollar sign

In this way, our path forward with God’s plan will align

Dr Lee then shared from this morning’s Daily Bread

Reading what Psalm number forty six verse ten said

We should be still and exalt God always, everywhere

And remember that our foundation should be prayer

Per Isaiah forty, even young men tire, stumble, and fall

But the Holy Spirit can renew and is there for us all

In summary, God providence is with us Dr Lee did saith

Miracles can still happen if we just have a strong faith

2 August 2015 - ENCS

A new series on 'Honor', Pastor Josh did today start
To truly honor God, it must come from the heart

With First Peter chapter one, Josh then began
God offers hope and abundant life to all man
An imperishable eternal inheritance, we can get
God builds for the long term, we should not forget
Trials make us stronger and precious like gold
They also serve to purify us, we were then told
In this way, we can more brightly shine
And thus reflect Jesus and His ways divine

No matter what, we can shine for God above
Instead of being a victim, treat things with love
This led Josh to refer to Romans chapter five
About persevering as long as we may be alive
Suffering leads to persevering, character, and hope
Only with God’s love can we persevere and cope
If we have a vision, we will of course make a sacrifice
About our race, First Corinthians nine gives advice

Stop living for self, per Second Corinthians five

To live for Jesus, who died for us, we should strive

For God works for our good, says Romans eight

Being called, justified, and glorified is our fate

Trying to change ourselves is a disaster recipe

Either pride appears, as in Proverbs six we see

Or we quit, as we are unable to get everything done

So only boast in the Lord, per 1 Corinthians one

Not by might or power, per Zechariah four

But by His Spirit, which can do so much more

In John fifteen, Jesus says that he is the vine

If we abide in God, we can most surely shine

Perseverance, power, and presence are key

Because honouring God is meant to be