26 December 2016 - Perspectives

Some reflection and prayer provide an interesting perspective

Thinking about communication, actions, and how I often live

Before I get irritated when someone does try to me cheat

I should remember what Jesus sees from his heavenly seat

Before fretting if someone does my earthly possessions steal

I should remember the eternal ones are so much more real

Before I get worked up about someone telling another lie

I should remember that my own sins caused Jesus to die

Before complaining that someone causes a schedule delay

I should remember that it gives me another chance to pray

Before I get insulted when not being shown proper respect

I should remember that my behaviour is even more suspect

Before I get affected by others and any unjust accusation

I should remember that via Jesus there is no condemnation

So before a minuscule speck in someone else's eye I do magnify

Per Matthew seven, I must remove the plank from my own eye

Dear Jesus, please forgive me for all the pain I have caused you

And give me the strength to live a life that is to your word true

24 December 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh Harris spoke at ENCS this Christmas Eve

In advance of the food and presents we would receive

On “what Christmas Eve was like in heaven’ he spoke

From Hebrews chapter ten, his message did invoke

Old Testament annual sacrifices, per verses one to four

Could never our once sinless state ever fully restore

But then Christ, as detailed in verse five through seven

Came to earth as a man, per the will of God in heaven

To be that perfect sacrifice and for all our sins to bear

In this way, Christmas Eve was very far from being fair

God loves us so He sent His son to atone for our fall

We have been sanctified by His sacrifice, “once for all”

In this way, Christmas Eve proves God’s immense love

That is why we should celebrate Jesus in heaven above

And as into communion and worship we transitioned

We were reminded that we are eternally positioned

The reason for the season is what Jesus has done

So a very blessed Christmas I now wish everyone

18 December 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Harris shared about Christmas Scene Investigation part three

Using Luke chapter one, his title was “There’s Something About Mary”

Like Herod and Zechariah, Mary was troubled when the angel spoke

Unlike those two leaders, Mary was just one of the ordinary townsfolk

When God speaks to us, often very challenged by His vision are we

As well as the gap from where we are and where He wants us to be

This can be compounded by what Josh called “the trouble with favour”

In other words, being great in God’s eyes may lead others to deplore

God’s favour is not always convenient, Pastor did then highlight

That Mary was a virgin made the pronouncement seem not so right

Add in an uncomfortable birthing place and to Egypt a forced escape

Thirty three years later Mary cried while on a cross Jesus did drape

But God’s favour was indeed on Mary and her son Jesus for eternity

Prophesied in the Bible, God's great favour was borne out in history

God’s favour invites us into impossible situations, Josh then said

For nothing is impossible for God’s word, in verse thirty seven we read

Interestingly very few biblical miracles in a religious setting took place

This was to show non-believers God’s immaculate power and grace

To live in God’s favour is to be with the Holy Spirit, per verse thirty five

As the Spirit prepares us for when doors open and opportunities arrive

Mary then responded by affirming that she was a servant of the Lord

Being a believer implies a level of servanthood not to be ignored

And we should remember that God works all things for eventual good

Often challenges we face prepare us for helping others in adulthood

From verse thirty nine, Mary visited Elizabeth who was finally with child

Elizabeth’s long wait helped Mary with her challenges to be reconciled

Verse forty five states that blessed are those who state God’s promise

Mary went on to rejoice and magnify the Lord, unlike doubting Thomas

Magnification does not change God’s power, Josh quickly pointed out

Only our perception of it, like a far off star through a telescope no doubt

Josh then again highlighted four key steps to help us on our life's trip

To pray, to meditate, to preach to others, and to engage in fellowship

Returning to the question of why we should want to walk in God’s favour

If we only serve in sacrifice, we will burn out as it will end up as a chore

The favour of God is actually His presence, per Second Corinthians four

God sent Jesus for our benefit, so His grace can reach more and more

In conclusion, Josh quoted that our troubles are light and momentary

Whereas God’s eternal glory outweighs them and is our goal primary

11 December 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh Harris spoke on Christmas Scene Investigation, part two

Per Luke one, with Zechariah and Elizabeth great things God did do

As a prelude, Josh reminded us of Herod’s seemingly difficult choice

Whether to retain his status as king of Judea or to listen to God’s voice

Even for us today, it is often very dangerous if we are too successful

To follow God, we must make sacrifices which can be very stressful

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous members of the Levi clan

That they had no children was actually part of God’s master plan

They had given up hope since they had effectively run out of years

In those days, having no heirs was one of a couple's biggest fears

But Zechariah was chosen by lot to enter the temple, per verse nine

He was afraid when an angel appeared and said all would be fine

His prayer had been heard, the angel promised he would have a son

Our prayers are heard by God, even if in our time they are not done

Zechariah questioned the angel, as he did not believe the promise

But being in the temple, he should not have been a doubting Thomas

God wants to do better things with our lives than we ourselves believe

But God’s plan requires God’s involvement, which we must receive

The angel said Zechariah would be unable to speak until the birth

Ensuring that he did not destroy his manifold destiny here on earth

Faith empowers us to speak, per Second Corinthians chapter four

Paul honoured God despite going through pain that was hardcore

Josh said that faith and wisdom balance each other, just like wings

Too much of one without the other can lead us into spinning rings

That is why we need a relationship with God, not just mere religion

There is a right time for everything, not to be varied by a smidgen

The more time we spend with God, the more His voice we know

That helps us filter out deceptive voices that come from the foe

Remember that God’s picture is bigger than ours, Josh did say

So there can be a variety of reasons that we encounter a delay

No word from God will ever fail, according to verse thirty seven

Elizabeth was also given John to help Mary, as a gift from heaven

Her son John the Baptist fulfilled many an Old Testament prophecy

As his camel hair clothes and his lifestyle were evident for all to see

Josh then again highlighted four key steps to help us on our life's trip

To pray, to meditate, to preach to others, and to engage in fellowship

4 December 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh started a new series "Christmas Scene Investigation”

Matthew two details the birth of Jesus, who came as our salvation

The Magi likely came from Babylon, as presaged in Daniel four

They followed a star, as has oft been recounted in songs of yore

King Herod had rebuilt the temple even grander and had a big plan

But he was disturbed and did not want the baby to become a man

The people of Jerusalem were also afraid of any type of change

When Jesus comes into our lives, it might also feel a bit strange

For the Jews, they did not want to get their hopes too elevated

Similarly for us after a good time of worship, Josh then stated

Herod asked the Magi to report back so he could worship the boy

Although what he really wanted to do was Jesus’ life to destroy

A principle is that you will not find what you are not looking for

Herod was looking to protect his power and position, nothing more

But God spoke to the Magi who ignored Herod’s designs uncouth

Fortunately, God leads and guides those in search of the truth

The Magi brought gold for a king and frankincense for worship

And were also prompted to bring myrrh for their extended trip

For myrrh is an embalming herb, as per John chapter nineteen

So from the time of Jesus’ birth, his death for us was foreseen

Even if we don't understand, we should obey God all of our days

For remember, God’s ways are always higher than our ways

An encounter with Jesus will change our life’s direction

As Christ represents omnipresent truth, love, and perfection

Josh asked what are we looking for and who is guiding us

Along with what is our goal and are we willing to obey Jesus

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on our life's trip

To pray, to meditate, to preach, and to engage in fellowship

28 November 2016 - Awaken Generation

Pastor Neli Atiga last night spoke on “The Herd That Heard”

First Samuel one to four formed the basis for his erudite word

Neli said that sheep inherently know the voice of their shepherd

Similarly, we need to know God’s voice, from Neli we heard

Barren Hannah prayed to God and was seen by Eli the priest

He thought she was drunk but her desperation only increased

She promised that her son would serve God is she conceived

God answered her prayer and then Hannah no longer grieved

So Samuel lived at the temple under Eli's mentorship and care

But there was no frequent vision and the word of God was rare

Pastor Neli then spoke to the AG graduating class in a side note

They should create, not just import, worship was his apt quote

Samuel rested in the temple while Eli slept at his own place

Another sign that between Eli and God there was a big space

Neli said that we must be careful and always with God rest

Even doing the work of God can become idolatry he did attest

Samuel heard a voice and eventually realised it was the Lord

Consequences loomed for it was the priestly position Eli adored

With Eli, these dire warnings for his family Samuel did share

Because about God more than man’s view Samuel did care

When he heard about the lost ark of God, Eli met his demise

For he was more focused on his appearance in man’s eyes

Remember that God fills us up to send us out, Pastor Neli did say

To give us the character we need for our platform, we should pray

We should position ourselves to carry out our calling with humility

For it is the heart behind our actions that our Lord God does see

27 November 2016 - ENCS

The "words of wisdom" series tonight Pastor Josh did finish

That we each build strong foundations is God’s stated wish

Step-by-step is the way such foundations we must build

Asahel ran too fast and as a result with a spear was killed

We need a foundation so that when our platform arrives

We are prepared for the challenge and can impact lives

We should not despise discipline, per Proverbs three eleven

For discipline is only for those loved by our Father in heaven

The verse mentions “reprove”, which is a gentle correction

Also “loves” and “delights” which imply a family connection

Proverbs twelve five says His discipline not to regard lightly

Nor to feel weary or condemned and thus behave contritely

Josh drew a line from ‘fear of the Lord’ to 'love of the Lord’

Too extreme towards fear leads to legalism from the Word

Going too far towards love leads to YOLO in not a good way

Rather, balance gets us peace and righteousness every day

Hebrews twelve eleven says that discipline seems painful

But it yields the fruit of righteousness, far from disdainful

We must put in effort to follow our calling good works to do

And ensure our character is ready as opportunities accrue

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

Referring to First Thessalonians five sixteen and Romans eight

Second Timothy three and First Thessalonians five add weight

We should preach to ourselves and others every day and night

Encouraging others especially when a bad mood we must fight

20 November 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh again spoke on “Words of Wisdom”, this was part three

Before looking at Proverbs three, Ecclesiastes seven we did see

As there are bandwidths to wisdom, the extremes are dangerous

Josh said it is important that principles of understanding drive us

God’s word was timely when it was given, Ravi Zacharius did say

But it is also timeless in its implications, even for all of us today

Proverbs three verse one says the we are not to forget teaching

And ensure our heart keeps commandments that are far-reaching

Josh said that depth is not in understanding, but in its application

Love, not just pure knowledge, is what leads to wisdom inflation

This then leads to more quality and quantity of life, per verse two

Life and peace will be added to what wise people are able to do

Josh then used a diagram to talk about the spectrum of new to old

Going too far in either direction is actually more foolhardy than bold

One direction leads to emotional decisions that are short sighted

The other leads to stubbornness and legalism that is not excited

Verse three says to let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake

Because from relationships, wisdom into our hearts we can take

The wise man can find favour and good success, per verse four

In the sight of God as well as many other people, that’s for sure

Verses five and six say to trust in the Lord with all your heart

For leaning on your own understanding is not wise or smart

When trust is broken, our hearts can easily become hardened

When trust is rebuilt, love will follow and mistakes pardoned

In order to turn away from evil, per verses seven and eight

Then in our own wisdom we should not give too much weight

For what God and Jesus did for us is what should really amaze

And letting God drive the depths of our wisdom all of our days

In summary, we must combine the new (heart) and the old (head)

True wisdom comes learning to obey God, Pastor Josh then said

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

13 November 2016 - ENCS

More on Proverbs and words of wisdom, Pastor Josh did speak

To translate knowledge into the way we live, wisdom does seek

The contrasting tale of two women is highlighted in Proverbs nine

They both say to “follow me" but their intentions do not at all align

Between Wisdom and Folly we must all distinguish and choose

For Wisdom always speaks truth while Folly tries to us confuse

Per verses fifteen to seventeen, Folly says stolen water is sweet

Thus telling us that simple solutions can complex problems defeat

This is akin to smoking and alcohol abuse, Josh did then highlight

Folly says to ignore the long term but in the short term feel alright

This is why verse eighteen says that the end game of Folly is death

Similarly, blaming others for our problems is a waste of our breath

Wisdom has built her house and hewn seven pillars per verse one

The word ‘hewn’ implies precise workmanship until all is done

We must have faith and patience when God gives us a promise

For our God never lies, so we should never doubt like Thomas

At times, we need patience because our character is not ready

In this way, when God’s promises come through, we are steady

Wisdom’s desire is for us to have life, per verses three to six

By walking in the way of insight, our simple ways we can fix

Wisdom builds, hews, celebrates learning, and to life gives breath

Folly clamours, seduces, celebrates ignorance, leading to death

Josh again highlighted four steps to help us on life’s wisdom trip

To pray, meditate on the Word, preach, and engage in fellowship

6 November 2016 - ENCS

About Proverbs and words of wisdom, Pastor Josh did speak

With knowledge and understanding, wisdom is what we seek

Knowledge is about facts and understanding is implications

Wisdom is proven over time through consistent applications

Nigeria with its abundance of resources, Josh did compare

To Singapore and Botswana with good leaders who care

The difference in economic growth is clear for all to see

Similarly, Solomon asked for wisdom in First Kings three

Solomon said the beginning of wisdom, per Proverbs four

Was to obtain, at all cost, understanding more and more

In Proverbs nine, wisdom also requires the fear of the Lord

The Holy Spirit will ensure our efforts remain aboveboard

Four steps to have integrity and wisdom, Josh then did share

The first is to pray, a two way dialogue because God does care

We should however not use prayer as an opportunity to complain

For Christ went through so much more, enduring all sorts of pain

And if we feel wronged by others, our response needs to be right

For those are the instances where we can truly share God’s light

The second is to meditate on God’s word, so it is on our heart

Often times, this means to read less but think more on our part

The third is to preach, which also reminds ourselves of the truth

The fourth is to fellowship, which is key for parents and youth

In summary, Josh turned to Colossians three from verse fifteen

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” is evidently seen

To “admonish one another with all wisdom” is a good reminder

And to give thanks in all that we do makes us wiser and kinder

30 October 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh wrapped up the series on the Every Nation vision

Speaking about churches and campus ministries with incision

Children are a blessed heritage, per Psalm one twenty seven

The enemy attacks so that their eyes are diverted from heaven

Both spiritual and biological parents must protect that generation

In God’s eyes, to do otherwise would be enemy collaboration

God’s nature is relational, as the Trinity lives to love and bless

He calls us to relationships, John chapter thirteen does profess

On relationships, our earthly purpose is therefore dependent

Per Matthew twenty eight, to all tribes and nations we are sent

We are each given talents with which to bless others and to love

These help us share the Word and reflect God’s light from above

The core verse is Ephesians two, verses nineteen to twenty two

Which speaks of fellowship, family, and the unity of believers too

We are now fellow citizens, we are no longer aliens and strangers

We have rights and responsibilities but are protected from dangers

Christ is foundation of the apostles and is the ultimate cornerstone

As long as we stay within the lines, we never face troubles alone

Wisdom from God differs for each person but is always consistent

When we come together, it is powerful and we should not dissent

God helps each of us to find our spiritual family and community

Per Ephesians two seventeen, peace for all was Jesus’ decree

Through Christ, in one Spirit to the Father we all have access

Because of that, we should give Christ our all, nothing less

16 October 2016 - ENCS

About the spirit empowered ENC mission, Joey Bonifacio spoke

Quotes from both Oswald Charles and Jim Cymbala he did invoke

Believers experience the Holy Spirit, but it takes time to understand

Remember that it is omnipresent, always there to give us a hand

Per John ten verse ten, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy

To prevent us from living God's abundant life he will use any ploy

He relies on temptation, deception, condemnation, and accusation

But God provides us antidotes to the enemy’s acts of abomination

Prayer, truth in the form of His Word, the gospel, and fellowship

Individually and collectively, they help us avoid even a little slip

Pastor Joey said that the Holy Spirit plays a very important role

Helping us apply these four tools to achieve God’s intended goal

Per Romans eight verse twenty six, the Holy Spirit help us to pray

The Spirit guides us in truth, John sixteen verse thirteen does say

The Spirit is our advocate, per John fourteen and Romans eight

Ephesians one says the Spirit marks us with a seal that is great

In summary, the Holy Spirit helps us achieve and live our life

As God fully intends us to have “perissos” and joy, not strife

We must remember that the enemy is indeed real and a threat

But the Spirit is just as real yet is the strongest ally we can get

9 October 2016 - ENCS

Joy Talavera spoke about the vision of Every Nation

Focusing on “Christ-centred” as a core foundation

Using Colossians one verses fifteen to twenty three

Several attributes about Christ were evident to see

#dropthemic is a performance completely definitive

That describes Jesus all the time, perfect He did live

Christ is the image of the invisible God, Paul did say

So He is the beginning and the end, including today

Because in things that are material, Jesus cannot be

If possessions take priority for us, trouble we will see

By, through, and for Christ all things were created

So He is the centre of everything, Joy then stated

Since Jesus knows everything that is in our heart

We should follow Him, from His path not depart

He is before all things and holds them all together

He can help us through even the roughest weather

And since he is pre-eminent for the entire universe

So not thanking him upon waking would be perverse

God’s fullness dwells in Jesus, per verse nineteen

So is Jesus with us permanently or only rarely seen?

If we let Christ into our lives, He brings real peace

And with such peace, our joy and love will increase

Between ourselves and God, Jesus bridges the gap 

To be reconciled with God we do not need a map

For only Jesus Christ can make us holy and blameless

More than anything we do, He pulls us from the mess

Being Christ-centred allows Christ to keep us centred

Putting an end to sinfulness that into us had entered

25 September 2016 - ENCS

The Fast and Furious series was concluded by Rachel Ong

On “Excellence At Work” she has experience deep and long

What we do at work is a form of worship to God, she said

By building our skills, we build trust and actually get ahead

Skilled people will only serve kings, per Proverbs twenty two

Thus bringing more value to the world with what we may do

As long as we know God, then ‘secular work’ does not exist

For we are presented ministry opportunities not to be missed

In Genesis, God introduced labor before the concept of worship

The marketplace and church need each other, Rachel did quip

Workers need to create, not just add, value to an organisation

Using our gifts helps others and donors God with commendation

For God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven, Jesus did pray

On how to become excellent at work, Rachel shared many a way

The first is to find your niche, that is your purpose and calling

If we do, to our competitors our confidence will be quite galling

Our purpose is to solve problems with our God-given strength

In order to help groups of people, often going to a great length

Some of us may in fact know our calling from a very young age

For most of us, however, it takes longer to find the right stage

During that process, we must remain faithful on God’s path

Working hard every day pleases God and does not incur wrath

Remember that today is a gift, that is why it is called the present

As stewards of each day, we should give one hundred percent

We need freedom to discover our true potential and His design

We can then be fruitful, as barren land can yield great wine

But righteousness and peace must abide in the environment

To truly honour the name of God who on earth we represent

By finding our niche and remaining faithful, flourish we will

This can be a thriving city, a friendship, or a new medical pill

Having a deep relationship with God is the ultimate prize

Although we will still face battles, Rachel did then advise

God gave us the ability to work in order to the world impact

But He created earth and mankind to flourish, that’s a fact

Although God intends for us to work, we also need to rest

Trusting Him to help make decisions is always for the best

How we treat others is a critical element at the workplace

Per Romans three, if we judge others we are way off base

For only God can give us true peace as we have all sinned

Per Second Corinthians two, we must forgive and not rescind

So in summary, find your niche, remain faithful, and flourish

God will equip you to impact others if on His word we nourish

18 September 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh shared about Fast and Furious part three

We face volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity

Given more info, decision are tougher than in the past

In this world, we thus need a sense of normalcy to last

Josh concluded that the key is for us to find true rest

God introduced the concept of a Sabbath, not in jest

Per Leviticus, fields need a break every seventh year

Failure to do so impacts soil and yields, we did hear

Per Second Chronicles thirty six, Israel did not heed

So for seventy years they were captive and not freed

God will similarly force the issue if we refuse to rest

For internal and external rest is actually for the best

Per Isaiah fifty seven, the wicked are like a tossing sea

Still waters, like rest, reveal junk that we don't like to see

One benefit of true rest is to allow true self-reflection

And per Deuteronomy five, to praise God’s perfection

God’s aim is for us to enjoy rest while we work and live

That is one reason that the Sabbath to us He did give

In order to take such rest, we need to have a lot of trust

Per Proverbs, trusting God with our whole heart is a must

Being a trusted guide for us is for Jesus a critical role

For we need to rest not just our body but also our soul

If we are honest with God, He will offer power and grace

With those, we are very well equipped to run a good race

God offers a promise to enter His rest, per Hebrews four

So that we can be at peace - even if the world is at war

Jesus was so secure He loved while being persecuted

For us to feel the same, in His rest we must be rooted

We do not need to perform in order to get God’s favour

All we need to do is believe that Jesus is our Saviour

Josh said the Bible helps change us from the inside out

We should listen to God’s wise words without a doubt

Per Hebrews four verse twelve, His words penetrate

In that way, a new rested body and soul He can create

In summary, we should obey God’s command to rest

Relying on Him and His word to overcome any test

11 September 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on “Fast and Furious” part two

Reminding us of God’s purpose in all that we do

We should not let 'urgent' from 'important’ distract

Life can be a stressful mess, that is indeed a fact

Jesus said that it is tough to enter the narrow gate

Per Matthew seven, it is worth it and is never too late

As we find our purpose, there are enemies three

Comfort, convenience, and control they would be

Choosing what is right is harder than status quo

By ceding control to God, a fulfilled life will show

Luke nine says to deny self in order to Jesus follow

Taking up the cross daily and letting earthly idols go

Responding to Peter’s quip, Jesus said in Mark ten

Believers are repaid many times and in eternity again

But there will also be persecution, in word and deed

Remember that with our words, others can be freed

Our purpose, per First Thessalonians chapter four

Is to walk, please God, and be sanctified even more

Josh highlighted two ‘friends’ of achieving this destiny

The first is character and the second is community

God cares more about who we are, not what we do

Per Second Peter one, all power come from Him too

Paul continued by listing characteristics of character

Knowledge, self-control, godliness, and love for sure

We must try to increase these qualities as we live

Otherwise, we will become unfruitful and ineffective

In Acts sixteen, Paul had a vision and others followed

By working as a community,  we can share the load

Josh pointed out that this is a key in choosing a career

With a good team, we can do more for God without fear

We are all members of God’s house, per Ephesians two

Therefore bear in mind our specific role in all that we do

In summary, to get closer to Christ should be our creed

So both character and community are what we do need

David called to God in prayer, per Psalm one forty three

He was asking for protection from enemies plus mercy

4 September 2016 - ENCS

Josh started a new series entitled “Fast and Furious”

His use of a big movie title made us all quite curious

With both life and information moving so rapidly today

The challenge is how to filter things in the right way

Words on social media are so easily misunderstood

Leading to polarisation which is obviously not good

Romans twelve says to the world not be conformed

Instead discern God’s will so minds be transformed

In order to listen to His Word, we must slow down

And obey even if this to our face brings a frown

In Ephesians two, Jesus came to preach peace

Asking us to help God’s household to increase

Hearing God’s word is important, Josh did say

But what we really must do is apply it and obey

David demonstrated this in Second Samuel five

If he did otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed alive

For at the young age of thirty, David became king

For the next forty years, peace to Israel he did bring

When he took the throne, the Philistines did attack

David asked God for a plan so victory he did not lack

When they attacked again, he used a different plan

Since he went to God, he struck down many a man

As God was with him, more powerful David became

And doing God’s will became David’s primary aim

In summary, we can all be great if we follow God’s way

Doing this will enable us to bless others every day

But we must slow down and of God guidance ask

Before we start on any major challenge or task

28 August 2016 - ENCS

Tonight Joy Talavera completed the Generosity Stories series

Focusing on our identity in God, for it is Him we should please

From Second Corinthians chapter nine, she did then quote

God enables us to abound in every good work, Paul wrote

Generosity is the act of being kind, Joy did appropriately say

Determined by security in our identity which we should obey

That our security comes from Jesus Christ is indeed a fact

Importantly, knowing who you are determines how you act

To make her point, from the Bible Joy used examples three

Our identity must hold no matter what circumstances may be

In tough circumstances, David maintained a positive attitude

Per First Samuel sixteen, he was omitted in an act quite rude

King Saul tried to spear him, per Second Samuel eighteen

Yet David praised God, as in Psalm thirty one is clearly seen

David focused on his calling rather than his circumstance

Very famously, he didn’t give Goliath’s size a second glance

From Luke fifteen, Joy then talked about the prodigal son

His father welcomed him back despite what he had done

Despite his good circumstance, he squandered property

For his focus was very wrong and he acted so carefree

The prodigal son’s brother was the third individual named

Upon hearing the party, “unfair" was what he proclaimed

He told his father that for years he had performed like a slave 

Taking this mentality would have burdened him until the grave

Both of the sons were raised in a very blessed circumstance

They had the wrong attitude but were given another chance

In summary, Joy said that before we ask, God knows our need

For if it matters to us, it matters to He who values us indeed

Per Romans eight, for us God treated His son as an outsider

God is Jehovah Jirah, which means that he is our provider

13 August 2016 - ENCS

On a new series Generosity Stories, Pastor Josh did emote

He said that "money is THE root of ALL evil" is a misquote

Regarding money, he took us through the biblical perspective

In other words, how with our money we should all try to live

In Genesis twelve, God told Abram to go and then be blessed

Similarly, God blesses us so we can bless others with zest

God enables us to produce wealth, per Deuteronomy eight

Money is a good tool, but as a god it really should not rate

For we cannot serve two masters, per Matthew chapter six

Clearly God is more important, for only He can our flaws fix

Who we are internally matters more than appearances external

For our priorities not our looks that determine our fates eternal

After survival and then success comes a fork, Josh then said

People and nations can become significant or selfish instead

Per Matthew seven, the gate is narrow and difficult is the way

To be significant is quite hard but doing so is to our God obey

Pastor Josh focused on First Timothy six verses six to nineteen

For in Paul’s letter to his spiritual son many core truths are seen

Godliness and contentment combined are a strong combination

Not being complacent or covetous leads to God’s commendation

We should give thanks for all that God has done, Josh did say

But striving for more in life is not a sin, in fact it is quite okay

And when we are really blessed, good stewards we should be

As falling in love with our money is not what God wants to see

The LOVE OF MONEY is A root of ALL KINDS of evil, Paul said

It turns our hearts away from God and thus leaves our faith dead

Righteousness, love, and gentleness are what we should pursue

For eternal life comes from trusting God in all that we say and do

Do good, be rich in good works, be generous, and ready to share

God will always provide for us; for our needs He will always care

Paul said to take hold of life that it truly life, that is from heaven

Jesus is the resurrection and life, Josh quoted from John eleven

7 August 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh said that we should all love Singapore, our nation

Whether we are citizens, residents, or just here on a vacation

Per Jeremiah twenty nine, the Israelites were in forced exile

But were told by God to pray for that city, which did them rile

Josh said that if a nation is blessed, its population will be too

To invest in Singapore is what this should encourage us to do

Christ’s Great Commission, per Matthew chapter twenty eight

Says to make disciples of all nations, no matter how they rate

Helping others follow Jesus, allowing baptism to bring new life

Obey Jesus’ commands to love God and others, avoiding strife

In First Corinthians chapter nine, Paul said not to aimlessly run

For we need a purpose to guide our action until our life is done

Our faith overcomes the world, per First John five verse four

It determines what we see and therefore believe, that’s for sure

Pastor Josh did then refer to King David and his faith so strong

Per First Samuel seventeen, Goliath’s taunts lasted all day long

But David knew that his faith and God would help him overcome

For Goliath was small relative to God, so would have to succumb

But per Second Samuel twenty one, even David did weary grow

A new sword and spearhead Ishbi-Benob the Philistine did show

David was only saved thanks to the intervention of his nephew

Whom David had trained as a youth, part of his life’s legacy too

As Solomon later wrote in Psalm one hundred and twenty seven

Children are a reward and a heritage from the Lord in heaven

Yet David’s own son Absalom conspired to take over the throne

Per Second Samuel fifteen, his devious behaviour was shown

David then fled the palace and went up the mountain to pray

His friend Hushai the Arkite finally helped him save the day

This reminds us of the value of having even one good friend

And challenges us to be such a friend for others until the end

In Psalm sixty eight, David praised God with an apt quote

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” he wrote

Reminding us God reveals himself whenever we feel alone

For every one of us is His child, whom He will never disown

If anyone mistreats a widow or orphan, per Exodus twenty two

God will certainly hear their cry and His anger will then ensue

So we need a purpose to life and faith to guide us through

We also rely on our family, friends, and of course God too

31 July 2016 - ENCS

The 5Cs of Leadership series Pastor Josh did complete

Leaders help others at home, the office, or on the street

He summarised the confidence and connections content

Add competence and character and finally commitment

In Second Timothy chapter four, in apostle Paul's last letter

How to finish life’s journey well could not be said any better

To his spiritual son he did in verses three to five summarise

Be sober minded, endure suffering, and always evangelise

Paul was near his own life's end, having fought the good fight

He wanted to make sure Timothy kept the end goal in sight

The first of four keys is to look to heaven, Josh did say

For what echoes in eternity is what we do on earth today

Per Matthew six, our hearts will be where our treasure is

So we cannot retire from life even when we retire from biz

In Second Corinthians five, Paul advises us on how to live

Our aim is to please God, so we should love and forgive

To look to Jesus was the second point Pastor Josh did make

He is the perfecter of our faith, from Hebrews twelve we take

Using Jesus’ example, we should not be weary or faint of heart

Remembering his sacrifice on the cross can help us do our part

Per Romans twelve, we present our bodies as living sacrifices

To persevere, we must listen to God instead of our own devices

The third point raised by Pastor Josh was to look to others

For we are all one body of Christ, both sisters and brothers

We need other people as we each have a different talent

Trying to do everything by yourself is quite far from gallant

Importantly, we must think of others in order to finish well

Unlike Hezekiah, as Isaiah in chapter thirty nine did tell

The fourth and final point is to look to the next generation

Our destiny is about who we invest in, per Josh's summation

Teary received a very short mention in Genesis chapter eleven

But it was his son Abraham received a covenant from heaven

Josh concluded by referring to Proverbs thirteen twenty two

Leaving an inheritance for the future is what we should do

24 July 2016 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the series on leadership’s 5Cs

Moving from success to significance is one of the keys

Character is what will be known for at our life’s end

It's how we live our life, the result of a long term trend

From Romans five there is a lesson on how to cope

Suffering leads to endurance, then character and hope

Josh said that character is important, per First Kings ten

Although a great leader, Solomon has too many women

He ignored God’s very clear warnings in chapter eleven

And his wives turned his heart away from God in heaven

Josh then said character is a journey, not a destination

David’s sin was a blip that caused much consternation

But his response per Psalm fifty one showed his heart

Unlike son Solomon who from God his heart did depart

Repentance is actually a restoration of true character

In fellowship with each of us, God really does prefer

He knows all of our thoughts, our deeds, and our sin

Per First John one, God’s light over darkness will win

To renounce worldly passions, God’s grace trains us to do

As was written in Paul’s letter to pastor Titus chapter two

Those with good character are zealous to do good works

Leaving no time for bad things is just one of the perks

In conclusion, every great leader has a godly character

Enabling him or her to help others in their walk for sure

17 July 2016 - ENCS

As part of the Leadership series, I was asked to speak today

Talking about "Competence : Not a Laughing Matter” I did say

All of us are leaders, Pastor Josh said a couple of weeks ago

As we influence others, the Oxford dictionary also does show

Leadership is stewardship of every God-given competency

It is a process, not just bossing people around, we did see

Competence is doing something successfully and efficiently

Paul shared another definition in his second letter to Timothy

Doing our best, being proud of our work, and the truth to tell

So in addition to being leaders, we can be competent as well

God wants us all to be competent leaders, make no mistake

And like Christ, that means a servant attitude we should take

But per a Joey Bonifacio post, serving is not always leadership

Although true leadership is always serving, he did aptly quip

Books on competent leadership, there is clearly an excess

Four attributes competent leaders must biblically possess

The first attribute of competent leaders is heartfelt humility

In Deuteronomy, Moses said that God gives us the ability

Do not think too highly of self, in Romans twelve Paul wrote 

Second Corinthians twelve has the “thorn in the flesh” quote

We should be humble because from God, all talents come

Without humility, being a servant leader would be very glum

Biblical leaders were Moses, young David, Jesus, and Paul

Humility is one word that can be used to describe them all

In practical terms, better results humble leaders generate

As a team working as one, individual skills will amalgamate

I tried to give credit to the team while shouldering any blame

And got in a fight with my boss for refusing to provide a name

In conclusion, competent leadership often requires humility

And effective leadership benefits from humility, we often see

In Philippians chapter two, Paul added more perspective

With Christ-like humility and without conceit is how to live

Remember the Proverbs adage that pride precedes the fall

This has been seen both in business circles and in football

Samson and the older David both fell into the trap of pride

Fortunately, they were redeemed for God was on their side

Unlike false humility, true humility comes from one's heart

From a balanced perspective, we should try not to depart

Honesty is the best policy should be used in both directions

Both over and understating reality should elicit objections

The second attribute is that competent leaders are aware

Of their talents and competencies, honestly to compare

In Deuteronomy, Moses said choose wise, respected men

Boast of unique talents, in Second Corinthians, Paul did pen

Knowing one’s strength, as per the Sun Tzu classic quote

Allows your team to build a sustainable competitive moat

Knowing your talents also enables you to others best serve

Sometimes what matters is where you sit on the bell curve

Being aware of resulting talent gaps is at least as important

Per Exodus four, Moses’ speech impediment was not a stunt

Paul said we have different roles in First Corinthians twelve

Comparing to a body’s unique functions, he did then delve

For whenever you veer away from your core competencies

Odds of success decrease and the stress will not please

Competent leaders therefore try to hire to fill talent gaps

Hiring top tier talent allows the leader to take more naps

Honing their talent is the third competent leader attribute

Per First Timothy six, with our gifts we should be resolute

For there is always more to learn and knowledge to expand

Luckily for us, the Bible and prayer are far from contraband

The fourth attribute is that competent leaders must apply

Joseph and Paul used their talents to successfully glorify

Paul said he was an expert builder in First Corinthians three

In that one sentence, he expressed awareness and humility

Of course, leadership is not confined to Christians alone

But Christian leaders must act in line with God’s throne

So the why and the how are as important as the what

Because a competent Christian leader is not just a robot

To be respected more than liked, leaders should choose

When faced with the choice, Biblical leaders did not refuse

Making faith visible, competent Christian leaders should

This helps their leadership and marketplace ministry good

In conclusion, we are all leaders and competent ones too

Thus a servant leadership mentality we should all imbue

Humility, awareness, honing, and applying are attributes

For stewardship of leadership, there are no substitutes

3 July 2016 - ENCS

Tonight Pastor Josh started a new series on leadership

He said we are all influencers so we all need to equip

Our position matters far less than our attitude and action

Leaders help others achieve their goals with satisfaction

5Cs of leadership, starting with confidence is the intent

Then connection, competence, character, and commitment

Confidence, Josh said, is different from arrogance or pride

The main difference is in believing that God is on your side

Hebrews ten says that confidence will be richly rewarded

We must persevere with God’s will even in times sordid

The word confidence translates as “bold resolve” in Greek

Which we need as following God’s plan is not for the weak

And the meanest people are the ones needing God’s light

So in such situations we must allow His love to shine bright

Confidence can come from three places, Josh then did say

Believing in self, in our earthly situation, or in God every day

By believing in ourselves, per Jeremiah seventeen five and six

Our hearts will depart away from the Lord, leaving us in a fix

More practically, we will either be unwilling to admit mistakes

Or when we make one, our whole world collapses and breaks

By believing in our situation, in Luke twelve Jesus did warn

When the situation changes, we will feel empty and mourn

There is nothing wrong with storing surpluses as a decision

But we must worship the provider rather than the provision

The optimal route therefore is believing in God in heaven

We will be blessed, as per Jeremiah seventeen verse seven

Jesus loved, sacrificed, and forgave more than we ever can

Which is why He was the best leader ever since time began

King Abijah demonstrated this in Second Chronicles thirteen

Despite facing a bigger army, his confidence in God was seen

He cried to the Lord and the enemy was thoroughly defeated

We should also ask for help so our mission can be completed