31 December 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Larry gave his last sermon of year twenty seventeen

Through the Bible, the theme of giving thanks is clearly seen

Per First Thessalonians five sixteen, Paul took no chances

“Rejoice always, pray,…and give thanks in all circumstances”

The power of giving thanks, four points Pastor said we glean

From the story of the ten lepers in Luke chapter seventeen

Leprosy is an illness but also represents being an outcast

Something we will all face even if we have not in the past

By giving thanks and acknowledging God, we remain humble

Remember that even the men of faith in the Bible did stumble

Per passages in First Peter five and Second Chronicles seven

If people humble themselves, healing will come from heaven

That the obedient lepers were cleansed reminds us to obey

Worship includes listening to God, Pastor did emphatically say

This was evidenced by Namaan’s story in Second Kings five

Only when he finally listened to Elisha did his cleansing arrive

Giving thanks builds our faith and that of those around us

In John four, the woman at the well testified about Jesus

Romans one says those who do not give thanks are fools

Ephesians two says we are saved by faith, not our tools

Having a grateful heart brings and sustains our healing

We should give thanks no matter how we may be feeling

But this must be a continual action, not just a point in time

For throughout our lives, there will be mountains to climb

In summary, so many references to being thankful are seen

We should thank God for He is good per Psalm one eighteen

Per Philippians four, we are not to be anxious but thanks give

He will guard our heart and mind for as long as we shall live

24 December 2017 - ENCS

Calvin Hong delivered the Christmas Eve exhortation

He referred to the Isaiah chapter nine proclamation

As a Wonderful Counsellor Jesus would never cease

And Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

To the shepherds in Luke two the angels did appear

The Saviour was to be born, they should not fear

Before His arrival, there was no hope for the earth

God sent Him to prove that all mankind had worth

Due to His death and resurrection there is now hope

God’s love and mercy help us do more than just cope

It is not just Jesus’ birth that Christmas we celebrate

But also eternal life, peace, and joy which are great

Jesus is the good news and also knows our situation

Like the Magi, we should trust in him for the duration

He can heal us if to Him we turn without expectation

And for us with His Father, He brings reconciliation

Per First John four, perfect love drives out all fear

That Christ offers us that perfect love is quite clear

For Jesus not only healed, but He offered hope too

Per Second Corinthians five, reconciliation anew

So as we continue in this festive Christmas season

Let us remember God’s gift to us, the real reason

Here’s wishing each of you a Christmas blessed

Let us celebrate with our lives full of God’s zest

17 December 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh started by quoting Provers twenty nine eighteen

"Without prophetic vision, people cast off restraint" was seen

Vision is needed to do the right thing physically or spiritually

It provides motivation, without which growth we will not see

Referring to current affairs, Pastor then quoted John McCain

He said that presently in Congress, political chaos does reign

Compromise is no longer acceptable as the vision changed

The role to govern and lead, other forces have rearranged

Pastor Josh then linked this thought to the Christmas season

Saying that unlike the world, we must remember the reason

We are easily distracted by the gifts, food, friends, and family

Remember that Jesus was a gift from God for all humanity

Isaiah nine verse six highlights what we should all celebrate

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given” it does state

Jesus created the world but He returned as a humble man

Showing true leadership and self-sacrifice was God’s plan

Jesus "will be called Wonderful Counsellor", per Isaiah nine

Per Psalm nineteen, His perfect wisdom He does us assign

The Lord gave His beloved Son for everyone on this earth

Implying that in God's eyes everyone has tremendous worth

Jesus became wisdom from God, per First Corinthians one

His goodness outweighs all of the bad things we have done

Jesus gives us righteousness, sanctification, and redemption

These are offered as gifts to all believers, without exemption

Per Isaiah, Jesus is also Mighty God and Everlasting Father

For He is always with us and about us He always will bother

God lavishes great love on us, per First John chapter three

So therefore being a child of God should be our core identity

That core identity should provide a purpose and self-confidence

With peace and stability, aid to others we can readily dispense

Per Luke one, into earthly darkness Jesus came to shine light

And "to guide our feet into the path of peace" - which is right

10 December 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Joey announced this was his last sermon of the year

In Genesis ten, about Noah’s sons after the flood we did hear

In verses five, twenty, and thirty one four key terms we do see

All people are part of nations - language, clans, and territory

Clans are circles of family, offering acceptance and familiarity

Together with affirmation, affection, and consistent availability

Languages are instruments by which people communicate

While territories are habitable lands which people populate

Nations are a race of people, like Israelites from Abraham

An indefinite lineage for mankind, all are the race of Adam

In God’s eyes, all clans and nations come together in unity

His love and spirit outweigh all the differences and variety

God’s desire for all nations, per Psalm ninety six verse three

Is to proclaim His salvation and glory daily from sea to sea

Pastor highlighted that according to John three verse sixteen

God gave his Son so eternal life is available to all, it is seen

Since eternal life is timeless, only God can fulfil this desire

We serve an infinite God, the master of the universe entire

His glory is in seeing relationships cut across any diversity

And if we rely on His love, we can overcome any adversity

This knowledge is important because it provides us hope

Per Hebrews eleven, being armed with faith helps us cope

For Paul stated that faith is the conviction of things unseen

The ancients were commended for faith that was so keen

In summary, Pastor said having a successful life on earth

Does not always equate to one leading to eternal worth

We should focus on doing things which lead to eternity

That is what we should remember from a Christmas tree

3 December 2017 - ENCS

The series on Genesis and Noah, Pastor Joey did continue

But first a litany of Noah’s life themes he did take us through

God’s calling, grace, righteousness, and Noah’s obedience

Waiting, seasons, blood of life, and covenant did commence

The word ‘account’ appears multiple times within Genesis

The importance in chapters two, five, six we can not dismiss

Now the account of Noah’s sons is mentioned in chapter ten

And the theme of ‘sons’ is also repeated time and time again

Ham had four sons, named Cush, Egypt, Canaan, and Put

Into many foreign lands their descendants did put their foot

This is odd because Noah cursed Ham’s youngest offspring

Canaan fathered many tribes and was effectively their king

Why Noah’s curse seems to be so harsh, Pastor did question

Maybe because it was the first record of his verbal expression

This appears to have coincided with Noah being with the flesh

Instead of previously when with the Spirit he did clearly mesh

A “father wound” is something that we all face, Pastor did say

Due to a father’s emotional absence or physically being away

It can also result from emulating weaknesses like selfishness

So having an eternal loving father is critical, Joey did impress

Several characteristics of the “father wound” he did highlight

Feeling rejected, lacking self-confidence, fearing the night

An extreme reliance on self, being suspicious of all authority

Distorted views on relationships as well as a loss of identity

JI Packer said the fatherhood of God is central to Christianity

We should turn to the Father for we are part of his family tree

Paul said that the spirit of adoption not slavery we did receive

Per Romans eight, His acceptance and access will never leave

In summary, of God the Father we are all children and heirs

We should thus remember that He always loves and cares

And linking back to Noah in Genesis, what God has blessed

Even a father’s curse cannot undo this blessing which is best

26 November 2017 - ENCS

About Genesis, the seed plot of the Bible, Josh did speak

Into all Biblical themes and principles Genesis does peek

Including blood, storms, God’s purpose and covenants

As a foundation, the book of Genesis has no equivalents

According to Genesis nine starting from verse eighteen

Noah had three sons - Shem, Ham, Japheth -  it is seen

Noah planted vineyards but got drunk and was uncovered

Per verse twenty two, in this nakedness Ham discovered

And about Thanksgiving, Josh’s point was far from murky

The focus should be on praising the Lord, not the turkey

For although God does not require from us any praise

Giving Him praise ends up helping us even on bad days

Returning to Genesis, to his brothers Ham did then share

He did this intentionally, clearly not out of concern or care

Per Proverbs seventeen, he who covers a sin seeks love

Otherwise, it will separate friends and upset God above

Shem and Japheth did not look while covering their dad

What they did was as good as what Ham did was bad

Noah awoke and blessed them and their descendants

But cursed Canaan for Ham’s sin and lack of penance

Blessings last more generations than curses, Josh said

Neither one ends just because the first person is dead

Adam and Eve sinned, thus were shamefully exposed

Their relationship with God was regrettably transposed

Jesus, when faced with the adulteress in John eight

Forgave her in love, even though the sin he did hate

We are to restore a sinner gently, per Galatians one

And definitely not be tempted by what he has done

Like with Adam and Eve, God knows all that we do

Jesus came to cover our sins, heal and make us new

And thus, God’s presence we can once again access

Which means even our descendants He will bless

19 November 2017 - ENCS

On Genesis nine, Pastor Joey based this morning’s dissertation

In terms of Noah’s story, these ten verses were the culmination

Importantly, the key word covenant was mentioned times seven

Reinforcing this was the first such coming from God in heaven

The word covenant actually means to cut a promise in Hebrew

God promised that flooding the earth He would never again do

Pastor said that the Noahic covenant mirrored that of Christ

Per Luke twenty two, on the night before He was sacrificed

Jesus said that the cup was poured out for a covenant new

Which in First Corinthians chapter eleven Paul did review

Reminding us all that communion is not to be taken lightly

Given our sinful state, we should approach it very contritely

But when we reach out to God, He will forgive and cleanse

If we do not, then we end up being under a judgement lens

The apostle Paul then goes on to state, in verse thirty two

God disciplines us so condemnation will not to us accrue

In summary, as long as we commune with God on this earth

He will find ways to bless us because He sees our worth

12 November 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh shared on the start of Genesis nine today

Sometimes, even for God, a rebooting is the only way

“Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth”, per verse one

Echoing Genesis one twenty eight, His plan not done

For God’s overarching plans never actually change

Even when circumstances and situations are strange

Humans were then allowed to eat meat, per verse four

But only after there was not blood, or life, anymore

That blood equates to life isbBiblically very important

How to maximise life’s value is a topic quite constant

God now values human life above that of an animal

So partaking of dead animals is actually quite practical

But we should therefore value human life all the same

God created everyone in His image and with a name

Objectifying or degrading any other is clearly not right

Respecting our bodies, all are valuable in God's sight

God repeated what He said in verse one in verse seven

Reminding Noah what was important to Him in heaven

All believers do overcome the world, per First John five

But not necessarily all good times while they are alive

Our mission is to change death to life, darkness to light

Giving others an inheritance of spiritual life that is bright

Per the gospels, enabling everyone to have a new birth

This is how we become fruitful, multiple, and fill the earth

Jesus is the Son of God, per First John and John eight

His Spirit, water, and blood all testify that He is great

Blood of God is more powerful than of human or animal

In Jesus’ blood, there is power which is quite valuable

To heal bodies, cleanse minds, and restore relationships

Per Ephesians two, religious prejudices it can eclipse

Per First John five, our God offers us life that is eternal

All we must do is bring Jesus into a relationship internal

Whoever does not believe in Jesus will not have that life

And will no doubt have a lack of peace and endure strife

But if we have life, we should share it in ways clearly seen

For we are to proclaim the gospel to all, per Mark sixteen

5 November 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on Genesis chapter eight verse twenty two

God said “while the earth remains”, seasons we would view

Akin to summer and winter, we have our individual seasons

We should remember that God does this for different reasons

Webster says that a season is a time that is suitable or fit

The key is to know what season we are in and understand it

Otherwise we get frustrated and God’s plans do not achieve 

His seasons are unique for each of us, we should believe

Know that each season has its own challenges and benefits

Both evident and not evident, as God decides and permits

Per Jeremiah seventeen five, we must trust God not man

Sometimes hardship is part of the Lord's overarching plan

We must work hard during harvest time, per Proverbs ten

Responding to God’s windows of opportunity like wise men

Blessed is he who trusts in God, per Jeremiah seventeen

They will bear fruit in every season, in verse eight is seen

God provides throughout, sometimes more, sometimes less

That is why Chisholm penned “Great is Thy Faithfulness"

Josh said patterns are a reminder of God’s steadfastness

Per James one, if we ask then with wisdom He will us bless

Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, said to preach the Word

To be ready both in and out of season was stated not inferred

In summary, our various seasons we should accept with joy

Doing God’s work while our God-given talents we do employ

29 October 2017 - ENCS

The series on Genesis, Pastor Josh did this evening continue

Per chapter eight eighteen, God did what He said He would do

He delivered Noah’s family and all the animals from the flood

He protected them from harm with no loss of life or even blood

When we get breakthroughs, Pastor asked about our celebration

Or do we tend to focus more on our God in times of desperation

For a lack of gratitude is dangerous, per Romans chapter one

As people’s hearts darkened when God they foolishly did shun

Jesus healed ten lepers, per Luke eleven verses eleven to sixteen

But only from the Samaritan was thankfulness to Jesus even seen

Pastor reminded us that when an illness God does for us defeat 

The first thing we should do is to give thanks and fall at His feet

Having a ‘foreigner’s attitude” so everything is amazing and new

Gives us fresh eyes and into our hearts thankfulness will imbue

This is what Noah demonstrated in Genesis eight verse twenty

Upon exiting the ark, he built an altar and gave offerings plenty

God was pleased and made a promise never to destroy again

Although as a righteous judge, He had to deal with sinful men

His solution involved his only son Jesus, per Isaiah fifty three

Who was offered as a perfect sacrifice, crucified so willingly

What that means for each of us, Pastor Josh did then conclude

Is our response should be thankfulness, worship, and gratitude

We should easily find many things to give thanks for each day

And reflect that in our attitude, not just to God when we pray

22 October 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke about Noah and the flood from Genesis seven

As promised, for forty days torrential rain came down from heaven

Noah had followed God’s instructions about the ark, not just a boat

While everything else was destroyed, on the water the ark did float

The flood lifted Noah toward heaven, Charles Spurgeon did state

The ark provided rest and peace, while protecting from a bad fate

For us, true rest and peace can only be found from our God above

Without Christ as our ark, we do not have perfect safety and love

Floodwaters covered everything, per verses nineteen and twenty

We also sometimes similarly feel flooded, overwhelmed a-plenty

Noah was not in control and had to wait for instructions from God

If we do not likewise trust in God, the results will oft be slipshod

Beyond the first forty days, many more months Noah had to wait

Waiting can be uncomfortable and unproductive that we all hate

But like Noah, who God never forgot per Genesis eight verse one

We must patiently wait, not knowing when our storms will be done

The waters eventually subsided as the God’s wind, or spirit, blew

To remind us what matters, storms we must sometimes go through

The ark came to rest on Ararat but Noah's waiting was not complete

It was several more months before on land Noah could put his feet

God was preparing Noah, for results matter less than one's heart

This is consistent with what Jesus in Luke chapter five did impart

Pastor said we are often brought closer to God through desperation

And our relationships with God can dwindle in times of celebration

Over the months on Ararat, Noah sent out a raven and then a dove

He waited more than a year before finally hearing from God above

We need to ask if it God’s will as well as His timing before we act

For if we proceed without both in place, the results will be inexact

"Go forth and multiply” God said in chapter eight verse seventeen

The precise phrase that in Genesis chapter one was initially seen

Pastor Josh said that waiting can allow God our world to reboot

Which as a summary of Noah and the flood is difficult to refute

15 October 2017 - ENCS

The lengthy series on Genesis Pastor Josh did today continue

Per chapter six verse seventeen God knew what He had to do

In order to rid the role of all the corrupt behaviour and violence

Due to all the sin, almost everything on earth he had to dispense

To focus on our relationship with God, for a crisis we cannot wait

For if we don’t know how to hear God by then, it will be too late

God told Noah he would establish a covenant, per verse eighteen

It was God’s first, although until chapter nine details were not seen

“Just trust me and be obedient, Noah”, God was effectively saying

His omnipotence and love are why we should frequently be praying

God said to take a male and female of all species in verse twenty

That would enable them all to procreate and repopulate aplenty

As a side note, Josh asked if we have built an ark for our families

So that when storms inevitably hit, they will feel like a light breeze

Noah did everything that God commanded, per verse twenty two

That is a reminder that knowledge means nothing unless we do

And the greater the crisis, the more important it is to fully obey

For God always has our best interests at heart, Pastor did say

We should set boundaries and discipline our children in love

In the same way we are guided and disciplined by God above

Not disciplining our children is in fact hate, per Proverbs thirteen

As we are God’s legitimate children, the same approach is seen

Proof of how much He values us is seen when He sent His son

To pay the price for all the sinful behaviour we have ever done

God actually protects us by giving us commands, Josh did state

Being able to hear Him and then obey can help avoid a bad fate

Per Genesis chapter seven verses twenty two and twenty three

It is evident that Noah’s obedience affected his family’s destiny

So as we go forth into this world filled with its challenges and sin

Listening to and obeying God's commands should be our linchpin

8 October 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke about Noah based on Genesis chapter six

The corrupt and violent earth the Lord was determined to fix

Per chapter two verse fifteen, God placed man on the earth

To care for everything and glorifying God in hIs immense worth

God warned Noah of consequences in chapter six verse thirteen

Luckily he had found favour in God’s eyes, as previously seen

In verse fourteen, God provided Noah with a specific instruction

And then lots of details that were to be followed in construction

Similarly we each need to build our own safe place, our own ark

And we must listen to God, for He does not tell us things as a lark

Both are important as we must take care not to be “of” this world

As being “in” the world means that temptations to us will be hurled

To withstand floods and turbulence, Noah’s ark was carefully built

We need to follow God’s instructions so our defences do not wilt

It is important to remember that God’s process may seem slow

But the journey of freedom takes a lifetime, we should all know

When we disobey God’s instructions, consequences there will be 

Some are immediate while others take time for us to feel and see

Of course with God there is always a way back, albeit with pain

That’s why Pastor Josh told us to be obedient, again and again

It is easier to freely walk if we invest to help others, it is observed

For it is better to give and to serve than to receive and be served

Per Hebrews eleven seven, Noah built the ark by faith and in fear

He did so in order to save his family, the Bible makes that clear

In summary, Josh said to pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

Building our own ark requires consistency on all fronts, he did quip

1 October 2017 - ENCS

On Genesis chapter six and Noah, Pastor Joey did speak

To find favour in God’s eyes like Noah we should all seek

He was righteous and blameless, per verses nine and ten

Noah walked with God, not just once but again and again

To do likewise there are three elements, Pastor did instruct

Have the right character, the right cause, the right conduct

Of course this is far from easy to do - in fact it is very tough

For having one or even two without the third is not enough

As Ironman told the hero in the latest Spiderman movie

Having talent without character is a waste, as all can see

Our hearts and souls, per Deuteronomy chapter eleven

Should be pressed by words from our Lord in heaven

For character allows us the right lives and paths to walk

True beauty comes from an inner light, not just nice talk

To build a good thing, a good cause must be the ambition

ML King and Mandela were driven by a sense of mission

Conduct is living out your character and cause every day

Walking with God is the secret of success, Joey did say

Pastor Joey then shared his four steps that help us equip

We should pray, meditate, proclaim, and then fellowship

24 September 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh continued the Genesis series, looking at chapter six

Commenting that our hearts, more than our bodies, we should fix

The sons of God married daughters of man, per verses one and two

But “any they chose” implied that without God's guidance they did do

The words ‘saw, good, took’ mirrored those of Eve in Genesis three

And the result of that mentality was bad, as we once again will see

For in verse three, God said the Spirit shall not abide in man forever

For any man to live more than one hundred twenty years - never

Josh said to remember this about God, per Jonah chapter three

God sent Jonah to Ninevah, where much wickedness He did see

Jonah preached “forty more days and Ninevah will be overturned”

Led by their king, the Ninevites then paid attention and learned

And per verse ten, they turned from their evil ways and repented

So then God had compassion and from His threats He relented

It was actually not God who changed, it is very important to note

But the circumstances, as was made clear in Jonah’s anecdote

Man’s intentions and thoughts were evil, per Genesis six verse five

Akin to Adam and Eve being spiritually dead but physically alive

The works of the flesh, per Paul in Galatians five verse nineteen

Lead us away from the inheritance of God’s kingdom, it is seen

We are all guilty of some of those sins, such as anger or envy

Opposing the fruits of the Spirit, per verses twenty two and three

In the Old Testament, God dealt with sinful ways physically

But after Jesus died for us, He dealt with our sin spiritually

God regretted he made man, per Genesis six verse six and seven

Because of the pain man’s actions caused on earth and in heaven

Fortunately per verse eight, Noah found favour in the Lord’s eyes

We will each be hit with our own floods, Pastor Josh did advise

Per Second Corinthians twelve, God’s grace is more than sufficient

In our weakness, God's power is perfected and far from deficient

And when God’s grace appears, according to Titus chapter two

It purifies us and also encourages us what is good to always do

We should thus approach God’s throne, per Hebrews chapter four

With confidence to receive mercy and grace and so much more

And because our God is filled with love (and definitely not hate)

Josh concluded that to repent and follow God, it is never too late

On a personal note, thanks for all the emails, prayers, and concern

I will be fine and am sure many a lesson through this I will learn

For although the wrist is fractured, it could have been far worse

And I have faith that this will become a blessing, not a curse

17 September 2017 - ENCS

I apologise in advance for the abbreviated poem today

A bicycle accident and the pavement got in the way

As it is rather difficult to type and harder still to write

I will attempt to convey the points Pastor Joey did cite

At the end of Genesis five, about Noah we do read

His name meant to provide comfort for those in need

His purpose was to provide relief from the cursed land

He had kids at the age of five hundred, we understand

Our names can indicate our destiny, who we are to be

In England, with Thatcher and Archer it is plain to see

God calls us for a unique purpose and by our own name

Don’t try to be someone else, for none of us is the same

Noah walked with God, per Genesis chapter six verse nine

So did his grandfather Enoch, but their paths did not align

Joey said that God created each of us for a specific reason

And of course that may change depending on the season

When we find that purpose in life, things will work out

For self pity and self centredness die without a doubt

But Pastor said that most do not fulfil their destinies

Because the identity God gave us we refuse to seize

Remember that God has a purpose, even for our pain

Devotion and discipline are the key, Joey did explain

We must be willing to forego the things of this earth

Because only in the Lord can we find our true worth

For we are God’s masterpiece, pre Ephesians two

Called for a purpose in everything we say and do

10 September 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke about Enoch using Genesis chapter five

Per two verses, Enoch "walked with God" while he was alive

But then Enoch “was no more, because God took him away”

The fact that he did not die is unique, Pastor Joey did say

The prophecy of Enoch is mentioned in Jude verse fourteen 

God would come to execute judgement, it is clearly seen

The Lord revealed His plans to prophets, per Amos three

Which is why the Old Testament is important for us to see

Enoch fathered Methuselah, whose name was a prophecy

“His death shall bring judgement” was a Godly guarantee

Seven days before the flood, at age nine hundred sixty nine

Methusaleh died, his grandson Noah to carry the bloodline

In order to fully appreciate His grace, we must fear the Lord

In this regard, Proverbs nine verse ten should not be ignored

In Matthew ten verse twenty eight, the disciples did all hear

As Jesus reiterated that God, not any man, we should fear

Enoch did not experience death, per Hebrews chapter eleven

Because he walked in faith, God took him directly to heaven

Romans ten verse seventeen says faith comes from hearing

Hearing the word of Christ is thus more than just endearing

Three steps we can take to have faith, Pastor Joey did highlight 

Being in God’s Presence, not being present, is what is right

Agreeing with God, not merely acknowledging Him, is key

Choosing God’s Pleasure over ours should be our reality

Per Psalm sixteen, in God’s presence there is fullness of joy

Since God is everywhere, this true joy nothing can destroy

We cannot please God without faith, per Hebrews eleven

And if we have faith, our eternal reward awaits in heaven

3 September 2017 - ENCS

The series on Life and Death, Pastor Joey Bonifacio did conclude

Speaking about the "King of Kings”, or Christ Jesus, with certitude

He should be the foundation of all that we build, we clearly see

For fire tests the quality of our work, per First Corinthians three

Revelation nineteen says Christ’s eyes are like flames of fire

Implying that into our actions, from heaven He will duly inquire

Jesus’ throne in heaven is surrounded, per Revelation four

By twenty four elders who then laid their crowns on the floor

We are all promised crowns in heaven, Pastor Joey did state

Crowns of righteousness, imperishable, glory and life do await

The righteousness crown is awarded, per Second Timothy four

To those who have kept the faith by fighting the fight with vigour

To get the imperishable crown, per First Corinthians nine

Joey stated that we must treat our faith as a passion genuine

The crown of glory can be ours, per First Thessalonians two

If we use boldness in reaching others in what we say and do

The crown of life is promised to those, per James chapter one

Who persevere under trial and stand the test in the long run

The elders cast their crowns, Pastor Joey did paraphrase

For the King of Kings Christ Jesus is worthy of all our praise

27 August 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on Genesis five at service today

After saying that in the Bible, Genesis shows the way

We are all made in God’s likeness, per verse two

But remember that we are sinful physical beings too

God set eternity in our hearts, per Ecclesiastes three

But because of our human nature, not all we can see

Josh asked what happens after we physically die

Per Hebrews nine, judgement awaits us in the sky

For three different reasons this can be a scary event

Our guilt, the judge, or the basis of the judgement

We are all guilty for from sin none of us are free

Paul made this quite clear in Romans chapter three

This sin then separates us from God, per Isaiah nine

Per First John one, to think otherwise is out of line

For sin is absolute, not relative to what others do

We are judged against perfection, not a worldview

Per Psalm ninety six, God will judge with equity

For He is righteous and faithful, very heavenly

But even if we have one sin, guilty we would be 

(In James two, this concept we can clearly see)

Thus the basis for judgement is unrighteousness

In Romans three, this is a point Paul did stress

But if we acknowledge our sin through our life’s race

Then with confidence the eternal judge we can face

Because the blood required for our sin’s forgiveness

Was provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, nobody less

Per Hebrews nine and ten, Jesus is the high priest

And the sacrifice so we can have an eternal feast

Josh said we should approach the throne of grace

And with confidence our judgement we can face

We should start our spiritual journey without delay

And stay true to Jesus and His Word every day

2 July 2017 - ENCS

On Genesis chapter four, Pastor Bonifacio spoke today

God questioned Cain as repentance is His preferred way

But eventually God put a curse on Cain, per verse eleven

Because just and true are the ways of our Lord in heaven

The curse included a loss of fruitfulness and restfulness

Pastor said curses can be overcome, no matter the mess

On blessings and curses talks Deuteronomy twenty eight

Obedience leads to blessings; disobedience to a worse fate

Pastor Joey said sin is not just an infraction, but a trajectory

Yet it can be overcome, in Hebrews four verse one we see

God’s promise that we can enter His rest remains intact

That we can have righteousness, joy and peace is a fact

In the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the Galatians we saw

That Christ Himself redeemed us from the curse of the law

Always remember that works are actually proof of our faith

For faith is in effect the emulsifier of life, Pastor did saith

Righteousness is revealed to us, per Romans chapter one

But it comes from faith, not any works that we have done

Faith breathes life and can ultimately change our destiny

Faith is never giving up no matter what challenges we see

And then from Matthew seventeen verse twenty we did read

Mountains can be moved by faith the size of a mustard seed

In short, Pastor said to make faith out life's active ingredient

By trusting, turning, and tapping God while being obedient

25 June 1017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on Genesis four verses eight to ten

We must understand Biblical context to be wise men

But we must also see how to apply the lessons today

If we are to follow God’s desires rather than to stray

Cain’s emotional turmoil led to to sin and then death

In the field, his evil actions led to Abel’s last breath

With our words and thoughts, we must take great care

They can kill relationships, Pastor Josh did declare

Part of the journey of life is letting God into our heart

His Word finds places where it has been torn apart

In those areas of darkness, His word produces light

So the Spirit can work and experiences become right

God asked Cain where his brother was in verse nine

Cain’s response said that “it is no business of mine”

The implication for us is evident and comes through

It is easy to love Jesus, but we must love others too

In Luke ten, we read about the Good Samaritan

Who took the injured man to the local Sheraton

This parable no doubt generated some controversy

But the Samaritan showed compassion and mercy

Knowledge can be dangerous, Pastor Josh did imply

For in God’s eyes, that makes the expectations high

And since we know the Scripture, we must respond

Toward those who hate us, we must love and be fond

In verse ten, to God the voice of Abel’s blood did cry

Hebrews twelve said to pay the price, Jesus did die

About his brother’s reaction to a crash, Josh did share

Mirroring that about our safety, Jesus does always care

18 June 2017 - ENCS

On Father’s Day, from the Genesis series we took a break

About fathers and fatherhood, Pastor Josh did clearly speak

Positive paternal experiences many people may not have had

(As a side note, I am very blessed to have a wonderful dad)

There is no perfect instruction manual to tell dads what to do

So Josh referred to verse eleven of First Thessalonians two

For their children, fathers should exhort, encourage, charge

Tailoring the approach to account for differences often large

Paul prefaced this, saying actions matter more than words

This requires hard work, not doing things by halves or thirds

As Jesus is the model leader, God is the perfect model father

Prioritising and focusing on others while for self less bother

A sense of security for his family, a good father should create

By exhorting and acting as a counsellor rather than to berate

Encouraging with calm words, providing a safe place to try

The children will both succeed or fail, Josh did then specify

Charging involves pushing one’s children to do their best

With talents and chances that each one God has blessed

The Lord is a father to the fatherless, per Psalm sixty eight

Both directly and also via earthly support to set us straight

God oft needs to change and humble us to fulfil our destiny

We learn from Him and others so good fathers we can be

11 June 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Joey Bonifacio spoke on Genesis chapter four today

To God, brothers Cain and Abel each took a different way

Being religious like Cain focuses on works and compliance

Having faith like Abel involves trust and on God, reliance

The Lord God asked Cain why he was angry, per verse six

How do we react when others point out something to fix?

He who hates correction is stupid, Proverbs twelve says 

For we are all imperfect and need correction, even a Pres

God kept talking to Cain about doing right, per verse seven

In the Bible, it was the first mention of “sin", not from heaven

Desires lead to sins which lead to death, per James one

Through sin, our perceptions of truth and right are undone

Which then affects our attitude, our actions, and our identity

For sin’s trajectory pulls us away from God and His serenity

Faith helps us overcome sin in three ways, Joey did say

Proverbs three says trusting in God’s Word is the way

That allows us to turn to His ways , per Isaiah fifty five

So we can tap into God’s power every day we are alive

God wants us to operate within a range, to avoid extremes

We do not need to be poor nor engage in greedy schemes

Our bodies are temples and are not to be idolised or abused

Both hedonism and aestheticism can leave us confused

Sin is like a crouching lion, waiting to pounce and destroy

But Jesus is a lion whose strength we can always deploy

And if we trust, turn, and tap into God, the real McCoy

We can experience righteousness, peace, and true joy

4 June 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Harris revisited Genesis four in his sermon today

Specifically about what Cain’s offering actually did convey

For although Cain and Abel both gave God an offering

Per Hebrews eleven, Abel acted by faith in everything

Josh said if worship focuses on actions, it is likely vain

But if it is merely from the heart, it can be a false domain
True worship focuses on God, that should be well known

For He sees our heart and actions, from upon His throne

James chapter one says that if anyone wisdom does lack
If we ask God in faith, He will show us the inside track

Romans ten says faith comes from hearing Christ’s word

For then our vision, path, and actions will not be blurred

Paul said that he was blameless if viewed as a Pharisee

But that this counted for nothing, per Philippians three

This is consistent with a verse from Jeremiah seventeen

If we trust in ourselves, even good things remain unseen

Self-righteousness is prideful, Philippians three days saith

But righteousness from God comes from Christ-linked faith

Faith is the conviction of things unseen, per Hebrews eleven

And without faith it is impossible to please God in heaven

Faith actually requires that we believe in God’s existence

As well as that He rewards those who seek his presence

Micah six says to act justly, love mercy, and humbly walk

Doing this is tough but must influence how we act and talk
Hebrews twelve instructs us to run the race set before us

We will not grow weak or fainthearted if we look to Jesus
For Jesus loved us so much that he was willing to die

And give us a chance to our relationship with God rectify

28 May 2017 - ENCS

The focus of Pastor Josh’s sermon today was Genesis four

But first he reminded us that context we should not ignore

If one reads just Ecclesiastes chapter ten verse nineteen

The wrong message is taken from the words that are seen

For food, drink, and money were not Solomon’s solution

For in eternity they actually do not make any contribution

Turning back to Genesis, Eve gave birth to Cain and Abel

Even though her relationship with God was far from stable

Eve may have believed that Cain would be the Messiah

But his meager offering actually made him more of a pariah

Cain got angry as he did not understand God’s reaction

But giving God an offering is never part of a transaction

In every person, there is indeed a mix of evil and good

Thus to be healed, our own darkness must be understood

God only compares us to Jesus and to our own potential

Given different talents, versus others is inconsequential

Per Isaiah twenty nine, worship is often based on rules

But not looking to God is a path only taken by fools

Micah six says to act justly, love mercy, and humbly walk

Doing this is tough but must influence how we act and talk

Acting justly implies a difference between wrong and right

We should give our best to God in order to share His light

Loving mercy means judgement we may need to forego

Walking humbly with God teaches what we need to know

If the focus of worship is on actions, it is invariably vain

But if worship is merely from the heart, it is a false domain

True worship focuses on God, that much should be known

Per Ezekiel three, God wants to replace our heart of stone

And then the Holy Spirit enables us to obey from our heart

Thus allowing each of us to use our talents and play a part

21 May 2017 - ENCS

Genesis Pastor Josh did continue the series on Genesis yearlong

Prior to Genesis three, man’s fellowship with God was very strong

But once Adam and Eve did fruit from the forbidden tree partake

Per verse twenty two, God made changes following their mistake

The issue was not in terms of the knowledge they had gained

But how they got it by disobeying God, Pastor Josh explained

God then instructed that they could not take from the tree of life

For living forever apart from God would have caused much strife

So then from the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were banished

And without God’s love and grace, all hope would have vanished

We are in the same state of separation from God when we sin

But thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, into heaven we are allowed in

This is stated quite emphatically in Hebrews ten verse nineteen

Draw near to God with a sincere heart, we should thus glean

And to obtain real wisdom, we should not turn to Facebook

But instead, to God’s Holy Book we should constantly look

Hebrews also instructs us to hold to the hope that we profess

Spurring each other on to love and do good deeds to bless

Then Pastor Josh repeated the same four words to summarise

Pray to draw near to God, meditate on His Word to get wise

Then proclaim to declare our faith to the Lord and to others 

And of course fellowship to stir up our Christian brothers

14 May 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh gave us a special sermon this Mother’s Day

Linking our worth to God’s worth is really the only way

Single moments and choices often can define our lives

Every interaction with another is what actually survives

Raising children involves teaching them good from evil

The aim of which is to equip them for times of upheaval

Pastor Josh then spoke based on Exodus chapter one

Focusing on things various women for Moses had done

The midwives feared God and thus disobeyed the king

So they did not murder any of the Jewish male offspring

Moses’ mother hid him for three months, per Exodus two

Then she put him in a floating basket and bid him adieu

His sister stood at a distance, seeing what would happen

Pharaoh’s daughter found baby Moses and took him in

To find a suitable nurse, the sister did then cleverly offer

Moses’ mother was the Hebrew woman she did proffer

His mother got paid for taking care of Moses for years

Everything worked out well, thus avoiding many tears

And while behind everything, God’s plans clearly were

Without those women, the exodus could not occur

Per First Timothy one, Timothy go his sincere faith

From his grandmother and mother, Paul did sayeth

This is a reminder that God blesses generationally

And that being a mother carries great responsibility

Mothers pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

For their children at home or when on a long trip

We can all learn from this and show others love

Reflecting what God pours on us from up above

"Happy Mother’s Day” is more than just a phrase

It is an unending role that deserves highest praise

7 May 2017 - ENCS

About Genesis chapter three, Pastor Josh did speak today

Our physical beings will all die, verse nineteen does say

Adam then called his wife Eve, the mother of all the living

It is not clear if this was arrogance of for their sin misgiving

A spectrum about faith, Pastor Josh did with us then share

We need to balance both trust and diligence, not doctrinaire

One extreme leads to skepticism, the other to negligence

We should read God’s word for wisdom, not just intelligence

Per Acts seventeen, we must receive His word with eagerness

And always rely on it for guidance, Pastor Josh did stress

Turning back to Genesis three, per verse number twenty one

God showed grace despite what Adam and Eve had done

He made garments of animal skin for each of them to wear

So they would not be embarrassed by their bodies bare

More importantly, this parallels God covering us with grace

Protecting us from the death that us sinners should face

The righteousness of God, per Romans three twenty one

Is manifested apart from the law for believers bar none

We should always remember that we all sin and fall short

That we need the Spirit is something we should not distort

We are so valuable to God that He sent His Son to die

This divine forbearance actually benefits both you and I

God needed to be just but He wanted to extend mercy

Jesus paid the price so that from our sin we are now free

For that we should not be proud, per verse twenty seven

Instead we should give all credit to Jesus in heaven

Due to the Spirit, we are empowered to differently live

Allowing God to change us and love to others give

Per Daniel nine, based on God’s mercy we should pray

The righteous do live by faith, Romans one does say

By continually pursuing God, our lives get transformed

In this way, hearts of many others will also be warmed

Josh once again shared four steps that help us equip

We should pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

30 April 2017 - ENCS

Using Genesis three, Pastor Josh spoke on the benefits of pain

Which of course is linked to the old adage of “no pain, no gain”

Josh said pain is actually an extension of God’s grace and mercy

For Adam and Eve should have died after eating from the tree

Lamentations three encourages us to bear the yoke in youth

Handling various tribulations without shouting words uncouth

Doing chores as children results in us being taught diligence

Sometimes we end up facing persecution that is quite intense

But remember that God has compassion and the pain will end

Death can produce life, which is why God did Jesus to us send

The fact that pain can often lead to growth is well supported

Job chapter forty two says no purpose of God can be thwarted

Through his immense pain, Job's understanding of God grew

Later on, all of Job’s possessions God turned from one to two

We should likewise not waste our pain, Pastor Josh did say

For pain can be a catalyst for growth in many a different way

It was also mentioned that pain can lead to additional strength

In Jeremiah twelve, God spoke of the need for this at length

Paul said he received comfort, per Second Corinthians one

So he could comfort others in the way for him God had done

In order to face tougher challenges, we often need to improve

Pain should draw us closer to God, not the relationship remove

Pain, suffering, and persecution can also lead to leadership

Per Genesis thirty seven to forty five, look at Joseph’s life trip

Throughout his tough times, the Lord was with him always

And at all times, Joseph made sure to give God all praise

Per Psalm sixty six, God tests us by putting us through fire

But always brings us to a place of abundance much higher