19 April 2019 - Good Friday

In the midst of the first Lord’s Supper and Holy Communion

To betray Jesus, the disciple Judas left the sacred union

To Gethsemane, Jesus and the other disciples did retreat

“Your will be done” to God in prayer Jesus did then repeat

Jesus the human was in agony and like blood He sweat

He knew what was forthcoming to pay for our sinful debt

Being crucified would be the Son's ultimate act of obedience

For the Holy Jesus was not allowed a path of expedience

He earnestly prayed for the cup of suffering to be removed

By sending an angel, God’s love for His Son was proved

Strength was provided, as only an angel of the Lord could

For per Isaiah, this anguish would result in eternal good

So as I reflect on this Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

I again realise that obedience to the Lord is the only way

And when facing challenges, I may be tempted to complain

I remind myself of Jesus’ undeserved suffering and pain

Knowing that after two days of the enemy’s celebration

Jesus would be resurrected, offering hope and salvation

7 April 2019 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke about Genesis chapter twenty one

Four different perspectives from one story were spun

When Isaac was weaned, Abraham threw a great feast

Hagar’s son Ishmael laughed, Sarah’s angst increased

Abraham sent Hagar and son away per Sarah’s request

In the heat of the desert, Hagar became quite depressed

God came to her and behold there was water to drink

Ishmael would father a nation, with God’s plan in sync

Each of the four looked at things in a earthly perspective

Adopting God’s perspective would be far more effective

Sarah’s perspective was in fact about self-preservation

But she should have trusted God about Isaac’s nation

We should not judge people or situations too quickly

For God wants the preservation of all, as we often see

Abraham’s perspective and solution were problem-driven

If we are purpose-driven, better approaches will be given

Hagar’s perspective was fear-driven, not wanting death

God says “fear not” and He does not waste His breath

Ishmael’s perspective was limitation-driven and grim

But God’s ways are unlimited so we should follow Him

24 March 2019 - ENCS

On Genesis twenty Ms Rhia Mora did preach today

About why dear Abraham did revert to his old way

There are many reasons such reversion is viewed

Recessive memory, reinforced values and attitude

We don’t want to change for the old way did work

It is about ourselves that old habits we do not shirk

Abraham had wrestled with the Lord in his old life

But still he claimed Sarah was his sister not his wife

He feared for his life when Abimelech he did meet

What he did in Genesis twelve, he then did repeat

Thoughts, words, actions, habits, character, destiny

That is an unfortunate progression we often do see

Blind spots are dangerous and can affect our identity

Without our purpose, we can lose our life’s serenity

In Abraham's new life, God did beneficially intervene

He can bring newness of life even into a bad scene

Even when we are faithless in some things we do

God is always faithful to us, per First Timothy two

Then in Abraham’s now life, everyone God did heal

For faith is about what we do today towards the ideal

Per Hebrews eleven, faith is assurance and conviction

For God gave us Jesus, that is a fact not mere fiction

In summary, Rhia read from Isaiah chapter fifty five

An important point we should remember while alive

Versus ours, God’s thoughts and ways are higher

So having faith in Him helps us escape a quagmire

Sometimes we need friends who tell us hurtful truth

This applies no matter whether old or still a youth

10 March 2019 - ENCS

With the series on Genesis, Pastor Joey did continue today

We should follow, not filter, God’s word he did earnestly say

Lot became wealthier in Sodom but left with just his family

The angels said not to look back or stop, from Sodom to flee

Pastor said that these instructions parallel repentance for us

If we decide to look back instead of forward, it is dangerous

Lot told the angels that up to the mountains he could not go

Rather he asked to head to Zoar where fresh waters did flow

By focusing on the green pastures and ignoring God’s voice

Pastor said that clueless leader Lot made a clueless choice

We should decide based on faith instead of bowing to fear

Through the entire Bible, this principle is exceedingly clear

We need to decide which game we are choosing to play

God’s game and the world’s game differ, Pastor did say

Different rules, leaders, and results based on the game

Making uninformed or clueless choices is a big shame

Once Lot went to Zoar, with fire God did destroy Sodom

Lot’s wife looked back, turned into a pillar of salt - so dumb

Looking back effectively prevents us from forward moving

Indecision is a decision to be ineffective and not improving

Per James one verse six, we should believe without doubt

Doubt is double-mindedness, leading to an unstable route

Per Joshua twenty four, serving the Lord is the path to take

For himself and family, this is the decision Joshua did make

Unlike Lot, Abraham returned to where with the Lord he stood

God remembered Abraham and his prayers were understood

In the same way, we should each choose to be God’s friend

A relationship with God will ensure that to heaven we ascend

We should opt not to be busy but to the game of faith play

God will bless us for He hears our prayers, Pastor did say

3 March 2019 - ENCS

Recently about spiritual maturity from Pastor Joey we did learn

Obedience, the ability to feed self, and being trained to discern

Identifying with the lost world and wrestling with God’s truth

Implying that spiritual maturity applies to seniors and youth

Joey based his sermon on Genesis nineteen, one to sixteen

Lot was a leader, for sitting by the city gates he was seen

He rose to meet angels, taking initiative and being persuasive

But he was clueless about the judgement God was to give

Because leadership and spiritual leadership are quite different

Lot could not convince the city folk to respect the angels sent

John Maxwell wrote a book about five levels of leadership

Position, permission, and production are the basics to equip

People development and then to the pinnacle is the ascent

Because of who leaders are and what their actions represent

Lot struggled because he only had a leadership position

Unable to convince the townspeople about their condition

As we are all sinners, other people we should not judge

We all need God’s mercy and many a truthful nudge

We should thus follow God, who is a leader at the pinnacle

His truth, mercy, love, and grace are anything but cynical

He has shown His love in actions for everyone on the earth

Because He is God whose power and love have no dearth

24 February 2019 - ENCS

Fresh from a two week Kiwi holiday, Pastor Josh spoke

When things are well, do God in prayer we still invoke?

Referring to Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis eighteen

Responding to the outcry and sin, God’s wisdom is seen

Even though He is omniscient, He did not act in haste

Often times, our initial judgements can be misplaced

Per James, we should be slow to talk, but quick to hear

Over time, the complete story becomes much more clear

Do not be envious of wrongdoers, per Psalm thirty seven

Instead focus on doing good and trust in God in heaven

In John fifteen, Jesus instructed us to love one another

This involves doing simple acts of kindness for each other

Per Psalms, if we delight in the Lord and each do our part

He will most assuredly give us the desires of our heart

We should get used to little miracles that God will do

When we are facing challenges, He will help us through

Per Luke six, we should forgive others but not judge

Taking that further, we should not even hold a grudge

Turning back to Genesis, before God Abraham stood

Instead of judging those sinners, Abraham did good

For mercy for Sodom and Gomorrah, he did seek

God’s judgement came, but only after they did speak

In Luke six, Jesus that our enemies we should love

Doing unto others as we would want from God above

3 February 2019 - ENCS

On the last Sunday before Lunar New Year’s Eve

Before to New Zealand Pastor Josh was to leave

He referred to Proverbs chapter twenty two four

The reward for fear of God is riches and honour

For when we fear the Lord and have true humility

He will take care of us and our lives, we will see

Fear actually implies respect, reverence, and trust

As following common sense can often lead to bust

God sometimes asks us to give time or resources

When we are feeling weakest or facing evil forces

We can learn to trust in the Lord if we do our part

Because what God actually desires is our heart

Per verse seventeen of Second Corinthians five

Anyone in Christ is a new creation and can thrive

God offers all of us second chances many times

For He loves us no matter what our sins or crimes

From the domain of darkness, per Colossians one

God can deliver us into the kingdom of His Son

To all sinners, Jesus showed compassion and love

So no matter how we mess up, He will rise above

We can never repay Jesus for what He did for us

We should accept His gift of new life without a fuss

Our reconciliation with God and others is His desire

Like the prodigal son despite all that did trasnspire

Once reconciled with God, ambassadors we become

Representing His kingdom is the obvious outcome

For reconciling with God is a life changing event

That is why His son Jesus Christ to earth was sent

Remember that God created and loves everyone

Reconciliation is open until our earthly days are done