29 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh concluded the “Miracles” series today

Referring to “one story, many verses”, he did say

About Lazarus, John chapter eleven does relate

He was ill and then an early death was his fate

Lazarus was the brother of Martha and Mary

To see him so ill would have been quite scary

Jesus was alerted to his condition in verse four

He cared for them but waiting would mean more

To Judea he ventured when the time was right

Despite Jewish opposition, Jesus had no fright

Thomas told the others to follow in verse sixteen

Even if death with Jesus was what it would mean

Lazarus had been in a tomb for four long days

Mary and Martha were in mourning, John says

Martha was focused on her pain and bother

Per Greek, Mary’s prayer was for her brother

Jesus was troubled and wept, per verse thirty five

But in response to our prayer, Jesus can thrive

Josh reached into his 80s playlist for Vanilla Ice

If there’s a problem, yo Jesus can solve it - nice

Jesus asked the crowd to roll away the stone

For a miracle they were about to be shown

Removing the stone represents seeking truth

That this leads to stench doesn’t require a sleuth

Lazarus come forth” Jesus said in a loud voice

Thanking God so that the people would rejoice

To bring dead people alive, Jesus came to earth

This can result in physical and/or spiritual rebirth

22 Janaury 2023 - ENCS

From Josh, more on the Miracle series we did hear

As we usher in the start of the Chinese New Year

Jesus turned water into wine, as written in John two

But why highlight this given all else Jesus did do?

Jesus’ mother told Him that there was no more wine

Allegorically, like when joy into lives does not shine

That Jesus could fix any problem, His mother knew

Out of respect for her, Jesus responded as if on cue

The servants obeyed Him and filled jars to the brim

Without knowing the outcome, they just trusted Him

For Jesus listens and cares about the concert we tell

And of course it is evident that He does al things well

He manifested His glory with the miracle at the feast

Thus helping the belief of His disciples to be increased

This in turn helps us to have a fulfilled life in His name

For once we believe, things will never be the same

To the Tiger Year we did say good bye

And the Rabbit says Gong Xi Fa Cai!

15 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastors Neli and Tina Atiga spoke about progress today

Progress is possible and it is also purpose, they did say

Neli and Tina both complimented and complemented

And a very powerful message they jointly presented

Neli referred to Exodus fourteen, verses six to fourteen

The Israelites yearned for where slaves they had been

Egypt was significant for Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac

All three went there at times when food they did lack

But when Moses brought the Israelites to the Red Sea

Moving towards the Promised Land, they did not agree

Akin to lifting weights to gain strength, as we know

We must be broken, rest, replace, in order to grow

But this process of progress should not be feared

Per verse fourteen, the Lord has never disappeared

Tina said we need a new wineskin in order to progress

We have had setbacks, heartaches, and often a mess

But Tina pointed out that we must recognise the pain

Not easy but failure to do so will our progress constrain

We must know our purpose, clearly rooted in our identity

God’s plans for us stand forever, per Zephaniah three

Psalm one hundred thirty nine says to God give praise

For we are fearfully and wonderfully made, to paraphrase

Our words can give death and life, per Proverbs eighteen

Speak positively so as children of God we are to be seen

Remember Proverbs chapter nineteen verse twenty one

We may have plans, but God’s purpose will be done

The Lord chose us because of our future faithfulness

Thankfully not because of our past failures or success

8 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the "Miracles” series today

We must read passages carefully, he did often say

John six does highlight Jesus' supernatural power

Especially if into each of the passages we do scour

Many thousand hungry followers Jesus did face

He took the boy’s bread and fish and said grace

It seemed like a mismatch but Jesus was undaunted

Telling the people to take as much as they wanted

By collecting fragments that remained strewed

“Nothing was lost” applied to the lesson and food

For God’s provision is always more than enough

Even when the situation seems extremely tough

The problem is people in desperation and in need

A lack of resources which can be amplified by greed

Our provision is gratefulness even without finance

Bringing what we have and enjoying His abundance

Pastor Josh focused on our priorities to conclude

Do we want an easy life or a real life of certitude?

Do we want a one time fix or eternal pleasance?

Do we want temporary pleasure or His presence?

The answers seem so obvious but we often resist

We will turn to the Lord when things are in a twist

Yet then forget about Him when things are well

But this is not the right path, Pastor Josh did tell

1 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh started a series “Miracles” in church today

The aim of miracles is to let God be known, he did say

It is very challenging when unanswered go our prayers

Per Second Corinthians five, have faith for God cares

John wrote about Jesus’ miracles so we would believe

Per chapter five, healing a sick man could not achieve

An angel would appear when the pool water was stirred

But the man’s pleas to get into the water went unheard

Jesus then asked the man if he wanted to be made well

This actually related to the man’s identity, Josh did tell

Our challenges can be physical, emotional, or mental

Not following and believing in Jesus is quite detrimental

Sans explanation, Jesus told the man to arise and walk

The man was cured and walked away without more talk

Jesus said to take his mat, thus getting rid of the past

But then by the Jewish leaders the man was harassed

The Jewish leaders were wrongly focused on traditions

Jesus tried to rid them of their external-focused positions

The healed man did not know Jesus, let alone wax lyrical

We should be focused on the miracle man, not the miracle

All things are possible for one who believes, per Mark nine

We should pray for help with our unbelief from God divine

This is a passage that we should remember all life long

For where we are weak, the Lord God can make us strong