23 June 2024 - ENCS

Pastor Seth Trimmer from Oregon spoke on “Church Hurt”

A topic which is both universal and historical, he did assert

From a passage in Second Corinthians chapter thirteen

Even Paul struggled with the Corinth church, it was seen

He said that people hurt leaders and leaders hurt people

This is true in many workplaces but also under the steeple

But church hurt tends to hurt even more than other places

As our expectations are for loving and supportive bases

When we experience pain, we tend to want for it to stop

But God wants us to achieve growth as our pain we swap

Jesus knows all about pain, both physical and emotional

His pain helps us achieve glories, so it’s not just notional

Pastor Seth said there are three questions we should ask

When dealing with hurt in church or elsewhere is the task

Who hurt you? Were you hurt or were you harmed? is next

Was the hurt initiated or aggravated? then gives us context

Tim Fletcher says that healing requires a surrogate family

And of course that is what a church community should be

Excitement often leads to disappointment which we loath

We should follow on from there to adjustment and growth

24 May 2024 - Freedom

Pastor Josh Harris led a session entitled “Freedom” last night

We were made for freedom, as in Genesis two Josh did cite

Freedom enables us to choose life, per Deuteronomy thirty

As the alternative has implications for one's generational tree

Being rightly related to God is known as spiritual freedom

Being rightly related to others is called relational freedom

And being rightly related to ourselves is physical freedom

While being rightly related to resources is financial freedom

Through God’s truth and God’s spirit, His freedom we see

Per John eight verse thirty two, His "truth will set us free”

"For where God’s spirit is, there is freedom” is thus seen

In Second Corinthians chapter three verse number sixteen

Spiritual freedom releases us from spiritual disobedience

Also from spiritual oppression which we may experience

Alternatively it enables us to follow Jesus wholeheartedly

And to experience fruitfulness by  loving others willingly

Spiritual freedom in turn empowers freedom relationally

From unforgiveness and bitterness which are far from holy

Also from relational dysfunctions which are hard to survive

But to forgiveness and walking in love, per Ephesians five

For physical freedom, spiritual freedom also does empower

Taking us away from anxiety, stress, and pasts that are sour

Instead into the peace of God, per Philippians chapter four

As well as to power, love, self-discipline, and so much more

Spiritual freedom also does empower freedom financially

Financial aspects include time, energy, as well as money

From addictions, habits, and false refuges Josh did tell

But into serving others and stewarding God’s grace well

13 February 2024 - Second Wind

Looking through the SQ App from an earlier date

Sometimes we wonder if it might in fact be too late

To find a new purpose in life we can always pray

God can always change our trajectory in a big way

Remember eighty year old Moses who was on the run

God had a plan for him despite what he had earlier done

Moses found a new purpose and changed Israel’s destiny

In both the Old and New Testaments we can clearly see

As per Second Corinthians five, whoever does believe

Is a new creation and about the past should not grieve

For no matter our age, we can always have a fresh start

Learning from mistakes and following God with our heart

17 December 2023 - ENCS

The Christmas sermon series Pastor Josh did continue

Uncertainty surrounds, as in Psalm four we did view

David asked The Lord God to lift up the light of His face

If we see God, then good things appear in every place

A contrast to Jesus the Saviour we see in Luke two

Born in a manger,  far from a king’s traditional debut

The angels promised peace on earth, goodwill to all

Supernatural God can change things big and small 

In Psalm four, David lay down in peace and sleep

For the Lord would allow David in safety to keep

Jesus will fix everything, either in this life or the next

That is mentioned or alluded in many a biblical text

God himself is our peace, as per Ephesians two

Jesus preached that peace for all should ensue

Remember peace is relational, not circumstantial

Our access to God via the Spirit is substantial

In Second Corinthians five, we are a creation new

We receive God’s peace as a major breakthrough

And because we are now in Christ a new creation

Jesus has given us the ministry of reconciliation

24 September 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey continued the “how’s your SQ” series today

Referring to Genesis when Adam and Eve went astray

In large part because with the serpent she did engage

The sermon title was “Breaking Free From The Cage”

Joey started by asking what’s freedom got to do with it?

Per Genesis two, it is a command that God did transmit

It is a daily decision whether to follow God, our free will

Love involves having that freedom which God does install

Freedom is powerful but quite dangerous it can also be

For along with great power comes great responsibility

He steals your freedom by perverting your freedom

It is clear in Genesis three the serpent is far from dumb

Temptation, deception, and accusation are his tools

Then we surrender our freedom, following his rules

We start building a cage with unrighteousness and guilt

Add in self-righteousness and shame - the cage is built

So how then we can regain our freedom is the real key

We must confess our sins, as in First John one we see

Per Second Corinthians five and also in Romans eight

That when we are with Jesus, we avoid our sinful fate

Per Galatians five, it is for freedom that Christ set us free

So stand firm, do not be burdened by the yoke of slavery

23 July 2023 - ENCS

The Firm Foundations series Pastor Joey did complete

Hebrews five shares six elementary truths not obsolete

The last being eternal judgment, as per Revelation five

So at the title The Glory of the Last Lion Joey did arrive

The significance of God’s justice is where Joey started

It is the foundation of God’s throne, never departed

Psalm eighty nine, righteousness and justice are key

While love and faithfulness go before us, we can see

God’s justice also ensures fairness and impartiality 

Post restitution and retribution, restoration there will be

It puts in us a holy fear, also known as a reverent fear

For God judges our work in First Peter one we do hear

So then what does eternal judgement actually entail?

It is for everyone, both old and young, male and female

Per Hebrews nine, we all die and then judgement face

Our entire life is known, there is nothing we can erase

Per Hebrews four, nothing is hidden from God’ sight

It is a time of accountability, everything comes to light

Per Second Corinthians five, all appear before His seat

Since God sees all, His judgement we can not cheat

Ephesians two says we are created to do good works

But we should do these out of love, not for the perks

Joey said that eternal judgement is also a test of quality

Our foundation is in Jesus, per First Corinthians three

Our rewards will then be crowns that last for eternity

In First Thessalonians two, crowns of service we see

The crowns of devotion, as per Second Timothy four

But to Jesus, we give all the crowns and even more

16 July 2023 - ENCS

The Firm Foundations series Pastor Joey did continue 

About elementary truths in Hebrews five we can view

Repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands we see

Today Joey focused on resurrection, Embracing Eternity

To start, we must have an understanding of physical death 

For it is just a matter of time before we take our last breath

As per Second Corinthians four, we waste away outwardly

Our days are finite, in Psalm ninety and James four we see

Ecclesiastes three states that there is a time for everything

When we are born or when we die, control we cannot bring

The verse goes on to say everything is beautiful in its time

That God has set eternity in the human heart is a paradigm

Pastor then said we must understand Christ's’ resurrection

After Jesus died for our sins despite having no imperfection

As per Mark twelve, God is for both the living and the dead

So many resurrection witnesses could not have been misled

Acts seventeen says we are God’s offspring and should obey

Meaning that we should repent and in His name act and pray

This clearly has implications for our lives each and every day

We have God's power to resurrect any part of life, Joey did say

First Corinthians fifteen talks about our resurrection spiritual

The body that is sown is perishable but is raised imperishable

Similarly, the dishonourable becomes glorious thanks to Christ

The weak become powerful, in eternity for what He sacrificed

11 June 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh today continued the monthly series

To engage the next generation there are theories

People encounter Jesus in many a different way

Revelation, relationally, generationally he did say

Knowledge used to be passed from old to young

But with the internet, the pendulum has swung

Per Matthew twenty eight, we must end isolation

The Holy Spirit can be our power and foundation

Remember how Jesus spent his first thirty years

Submitting to authorities who were not his peers

By asking wise questions, he brought out the truth

That is a tactic we should employ with the youth

Jesus told the disciples to wait, as per Acts one

Until the Holy Spirit was imparted to everyone

The Spirit teaches all things, per John fourteen

And the Spirit of truth will forever in us be seen

Pastor Josh highlighted that we are not alone

Presence, peace, perseverance from the throne

We know what to do thanks to the Spirit’s light

Giving perspective, purpose, prophetic insight

Can I do It? was the next question Josh did ask

Per Romans eight, the Spirit helps with every task

God gives sufficiency, per Second Corinthians three

Prayer, power, and provision from the Spirit are free

How to do it is simple - the Holy Spirit to receive

That also fights the enemy who tries to deceive

As per Galatians five, the fruit of the Spirit is love

Helping us be living testimonies for God above

14 May 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh did speak on the topic of work again

Jesus came to give us life to the full, per John ten

Since much of our time is actually spent working

The appropriate approach is exerting not shirking

In Genesis one, a key message God did transmit

Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it

No matter what we do, to be fruitful we should strive

Since the fruit of the sprit is love, per Galatians five

What really matters is expressing faith through love

The rest of the verse are manifestations from above

Without Jesus we can do nothing, per John fifteen

He who abides in Jesus bears much fruit it is seen

Josh then moved on to talk about filling the earth

In Genesis, God made a garden of immense worth

He wants both things and relationships to flourish

The earth to be filled with His glory is God's wish

That is so clearly stated in Habakkuk chapter two 

And in Psalm seventy two, David said it was true

To take dominion over something is to subdue

The first step is to have our own breakthrough

Per Galatians five, to overcome sin and desire

Per Second Corinthians, Jesus’ love we require

In Romans eight, Paul wrote on challenges of life

We can be conquerors through all kinds of strife

30 April 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh referred to PMPF as how we equip

Praying, meditating, proclaiming, and fellowship

For these habits can help us to encounter Jesus

The more we do them, the his love can seize us

In Second Corinthians three, we were informed

That looking at God is how we are transformed

“The old has gone” per Second Corinthians five

And “the new is here” with a promise to thrive

But why is there such a disconnect to look into

Between what I should do and what I actually do

Jesus acts as the bridge by offering us salvation

Bringing us back to God's path and His nation

Our life should involve a growing understanding

About God’s holiness, our sin notwithstanding

Burnout can result from always trying to perform

The alternative is worse, Pastor did us inform

We try to hide our sin in guilt, fear, and shame

But hopelessness leads to despair just the same

Josh then focused on what we should try to do

We are saved, being saved, will be saved too

That is justification, sanctification, glorification

Justification, per Romans five, is for the duration

In Hebrews ten more on sanctification is seen

Glorification is per First Corinthians fourteen

How to be transformed, Josh did then ponder

Second Thessalonians' advice do not squander

For true freedom is being what you want to be

Not doing what you want to do, Josh did plea

Per Romans twelve, do not confirm to the earth

For transformation follows your mind's new birth

Whenever we think others owe us something

Remember all that was done by Jesus the King

Life is a journey of letting Him play a bigger role

Directly or indirectly, from the human race whole

Humility means asking God our problems to fix

We must believe in the one God sent per John six

23 April 2023 - ENCS

Today Samuel Whitefield did speak about discipleship

He came from the US to Singapore - that's a long trip

The foundational value is based on Jesus’ command

Remember that every day and minute, He is at hand

The goal of discipleship is not learning or transforming

These are admirable tools which are heart-warming

But the real goal is based on the old Jewish tradition

Follow rabbi Jesus and emulate based on fascination

For it is through fascination that transformation is seen

As Paul did state in Second Corinthians three eighteen

In today’s lingo, let Jesus be the influencer we follow

Worshiping Him ensures that our life will not be hollow

As a suffering servant the Lord Jesus came to earth

To be rejected and despised despite his eternal worth

Our fascination with Him should extend to the mundane

In conversing, serving, and worship Samuel did explain

The core of discipleship therefore is this fascination

Discipline and other tools are built on this foundation

The fruits of the Spirit should be evident in what we do

Our fascination with Jesus ensuring we pull through

1 January 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Josh started a series “Miracles” in church today

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

It is very challenging when unanswered go our prayers

Per Second Corinthians five, have faith for God cares

John wrote about Jesus’ miracles so we would believe

Per chapter five, healing a sick man could not achieve

An angel would appear when the pool water was stirred

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

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

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

Our challenges can be physical, emotional, or mental

Not following and believing in Jesus is quite detrimental

Sans explanation, Jesus told the man to arise and walk

The man was cured and walked away without more talk

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

But then by the Jewish leaders the man was harassed

The Jewish leaders were wrongly focused on traditions

Jesus tried to rid them of their external-focused positions

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

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

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

We should pray for help with our unbelief from God divine

This is a passage that we should remember all life long

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

18 December 2022 - ENCS

Today Pastor Josh spoke on “Walking in the Darkness"

Jesus is the light of the world, John eight does stress

Darkness can not overcome Him, per John chapter one

For His light is brighter and longer lasting than the sun

His word is a light on our path and a map for our feet

About this Psalm one hundred nineteen is quite upbeat

There will be many times when in darkness we will walk

But about trusting in God’s presence, we should not balk

For His light is ever present and able to be relied upon

Per Isaiah fifty, without it into torment people have gone

Trying to rely on our own strengths will lead to trouble

That is why so many empires have ended up in rubble

Second Corinthians five says to walk by faith not sight

That can be tough when things do not seem to be right

But remember what is clearly stated in Isaiah fifty one

Remember all the things in the past that God has done

Abraham and Sarah are applauded in Hebrews eleven

For their unerring trust in promises from God in heaven

We should LIVE in the light of Jesus Christ our Lord

In His victory over darkness and the light of His word

We should WALK with total reliance on God, Josh said

In trust of His character, not by sight but by faith instead

We should LOOK at God’s faithfulness and His promises

And at God’s face with trust, not as doubting Thomases

31 July 2022 - ENCS

Today as our study of Philippians reached its final climax

Pastor Josh delivered a sermon aptly entitled “Life Hacks”

If we look at chapter four verse twelve of his exhortation

Paul gives us secrets of being content in every situation

Starting in verse thirteen, his first point we clearly see

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

God’s unlimited resources, Paul encourages us to use

But not only with the people we would normally choose

As a side note, he adds “don’t hear what I am not saying"

Our real messaging is evident in acts we are displaying

Each of us is blessed with talents, money, and/or time

Leveraging these to bless others should be our paradigm

That adage links to a oft-quoted promise from heaven

The “generous person will prosper” per Proverbs eleven

Remember that our eyes do not face in, but look out

For God’s kingdom is outward looking without a doubt

We should aim to please God until in heaven we arrive

This is what Paul conveyed in Second Corinthians five

And do not store treasures on earth, per Matthew six

For where our treasure is, our heart’s eyes will affix

26 June 2022 - ENCS

The series “What Matters Most” Pastor Josh doth continued

Relationships help but can be challenging if misconstrued

Josh said that a major Relationship Killer is selfishness

Per James four, our covetousness can get us in a big mess

Our selfish nature can then lead our hearts to hardened be

“The evil heart of unbelief”, as is stated in Hebrews three

Sin actually trains us to be hard and thus bitter we become

Which hurts ourselves and defiles others, so is really dumb

Josh said bitterness to betterness God's grace does turn

We must “guard our heart”, from Romans four we do learn

For from our heart flows all that we say and all that we do

In how we respond to hurtful offences, this is especially true

Our heart is where our treasure is, Matthew six does remind

Hoarding earthly treasure leads to greed, putting us in a bind

The Venn diagram intersection of guarded and giving is best

Our growth comes from “guarded giving” Pastor Josh stressed

"Let light shine out of darkness", per Second Corinthians four

Since into our hearts the knowledge of God’s glory does pour

And if we do walk in the light, per First John one verse seven

We will have fellowship with others on earth and in heaven

Dear God, please help me remove bitterness from my heart

And in bringing light to this world, help me to do my small part

Let me be thankful for all the blessings you have given to me

And in line with your intentions, let my words and actions be

19 June 2022 - Father's Day

As around the world today most celebrate Father’s Day

For inspiration, I looked at what the Bible has to say

Proverbs twenty two says show children the way to go

They will not turn from the path when older they grow

Per Ephesians six, our children to anger do not provoke

But raise them with discipline and words God hath spoke

A righteous child has joyous father, per Proverbs twenty three

And he rejoices if wise his child eventually turns out to be

Have compassion on children, per Psalm one hundred three

As God does with those of us who fear Him, we clearly see

God will be our Father, Second Corinthians does say

So when in doubt, we can turn to Him and earnestly pray

I am blessed to have an earthly father who raised me well

And with whom so many memories we shared and now tell

Re Exodus twenty, I respect and honor him and my mother

The right balance of love and discipline they did us smother

Without their guidance along my life’s challenging way

I know that I would not be the person that I am today

I can only hope that with my children I have done the same

Prayerfully I have given them more than just my surname

For the many mistakes made, to them I sincerely apologise

They should know that love and pride fill their father’s eyes

And God, thank you for your guidance, patience, and love

It’s always comforting to know I have an eternal father above

27 September 2020 - ENCS

On Braving the Hidden Epdemic, Pastor Joey did speak

Because the health of our minds is something to seek

Millions in the world are already suffering from depression

Some say this could triple due to covid-related oppression

A spectrum goes from healthy to disordered to dangerous

Pastor Joey then referred to chapter three from Exodus

A bush burning but not consumed is what he aimed for

The outside may look ok, but the inside matters more

Per Second Timothy one, God didn't give us a spirit of fear

But the power of love and a sound mind, we did then hear

Our brain is quite light but lots of energy it does consume

Like a computer’s memory and CPU, Joey does presume

Our minds contain memories, intellect, and imagination

Knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from cogitation

Despite walking in the flesh as do all women and men

The war we wage is different, per Second Corinthians ten

Joey said that we need to be vigilant for reasons three

First, we are at war especially with those we do not see

Second, we must our divinely-powered weapons know

And we must destroy anti-God arguments that do show

Per Jeremiah twenty three, God’s word is like a fire

So let the lies be broken by His words which are higher

Third, per Second Corinthians ten, know our strategy 

Every thought should be captive to obey God, we see

Per Romans twelve two, even though it may be the norm

Paul says to the world’s pattern we should not conform

This means by earthly standards we should not be moulded 

Nor to the methods of this world should our values be folded

Instead we should be transformed by a renewal of the mind

Beyond reformed, in the right place things should be aligned

Joey added that just like a garden, we should renew and test 

Because per Romans twelve, God’s will is definitely the best

1 December 2019 - ENCS

Talking about a race, Pastor Joshua started December

To always finish the race strong, we should remember

Per Philippians one, God will bring us a flourishing finish

But if we don’t know the finish line, our odds do diminish

Of course life is a series of parallel and sequential races

A lack of clarity is often the biggest enemy in many cases

Per First Corinthians nine, Paul said not to run aimlessly

Second Corinthians five says to please God shamelessly

For if we focus on this objective whether “home or away"

We will all be living for Christ, in every race on every day

All of our problems can be addressed if we hear and obey

Be gracious and forgiving to others, as was Jesus’ way

Per Hebrews twelve, we should run the race set before us

Laying aside our sin and disbelief, so they are superfluous 

Remember that Jesus had joy despite enduring the cross

We should do likewise even if frustrated with energy loss

Our interactions with others can influence them in eternity

Remember how Jesus dealt with sinners and their hostility

Jesus loved us so we should similarly pass His love along

It is only God’s power, not our own, that makes us strong

At times, all we might need to do is obey by saying “yes"

Per Philippians four, we can thus abound in every mess

And reverting back to Philippians one, without a deletion

He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion

24 November 2019 - ENCS

Pastor Josh ended the three week prosperity series

He first showed a few pictures from internet queries

Images depicted food, family, growth, and money

Some of them were serious while others were funny

Josh then turned to the Bible for a prosperity definition

Per John ten, giving abundant life was Jesus’ ambition

The first mention in Deuteronomy twenty eight eleven

Is relationships, vocation, and inheritance from heaven

The passage says God will make us the head not tail

Lending but no borrowing our lives should thus entail

Per verse thirteen, God ensures that we will be above

Romans eight says nothing separates us from His love

Paul says that tribulation, distress, peril, and persecution

Will always be conquered thanks to Christ’s contribution

We should remember that to serve Jesus came to earth

And by following His example, we will prove our worth

Why people want to prosper, there are reasons three

More and bigger things as well as fear and insecurity

The only good reason is so that we can others bless

As Second Corinthians chapter nine does profess

We should be generous with our gifts and our time

For the impact on others might be clear or sublime

The key is to “pray, meditate, proclaim, fellowship"

Josh wants us to internalise this as it will us equip

6 June 2019 - ENCS

Pastor Arnie spoke on significance on Father’s Day

That implies a life of meaning and value he did say

It is much more than just survival or even success

Per Joshua one, the intention of the Lord is to bless

We are created to do good works, per Ephesians two

Paul wrote that "God prepared us in advance to do"

Significance is a relay race, involving run and release

Pastor Arnie used the acronym D-A-D to say his piece

Per Hebrews twelve, we need to run the right direction

And do so with perseverance despite our imperfection

Plus ability and strength from God, per Psalm eighteen

By looking to God, in First Chronicles sixteen it is seen

Lastly as Paul wrote in Second Corinthians chapter five

We need desire and motivation to ensure that we thrive

Faith is belief but love is action per a heart transformation

Per Second Timothy one, God’s word provides information

A successful person finds for him or herself the right place

While a successful leader finds for others the right space

To release others,  develop their gifts and affirm their calling

To relate others, developing gifts and affirmation is key

For to live a truly significant life implies leaving a legacy