10 November 2013 - ENCS

The Catching Fire series Pastor Charles did continue today

He said that God wants us to experience power His way

Living with His power is how we were designed to be

As highlighted by several passages that we did see

 

Pastor Charles first referred to Acts chapter one verse eight

Jesus' final words spoke of the Holy Spirit and its power great

The church cannot operate without this awesome power

With it, we can be witnesses globally until our final hour

 

Pastor then read from Acts chapter two verses one to four

The tongues of fire came from heaven, not through the door

On one hundred and twenty believers flames came to rest

They spoke in tongues for with the Spirit they were blessed

 

God has promised the Holy Spirit for each of us as well

He always keeps His promises, as the Bible does tell

The Holy Spirit is part of our eternal inheritance

Something God has planned, not a circumstance

 

An esteemed writer compared baptism to the pickling process

Step one is being dipped in boiling water for a minute or less

Then the fruit is submerged in vinegar and spices to be transformed

Similarly, we should be an example for the world - not be conformed

 

In Luke 24 verse 49, Jesus did instruct his disciples to stay

Until they were clothed with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day

Remember what is said in verse twenty five of Hebrews seven

That for believers, Christ Jesus lives to intercede from heaven

 

The core of the message from Pastor Charles today

Is that Jesus left us a message and showed us the way

The Holy Spirit gives us great strength and power

Which we should use every day and every hour

25 August 2013 - ENCS

Despite his PowerPoint disappearing, perhaps due to spam

Pastor Charles spoke on "The Nature of the Lion and the Lamb"

He started by turning to Revelations 5 verses five and six

On the bolded words Lion and Lamb our eyes did transfix

Interestingly, this is the only reference to Lion in the book

As opposed to thirty Lambs if we gave a thorough look

As a side note, in reference to First Peter five verse eight

The devil is only like a Lion, Pastor Charles set that straight

 

God's character is being formed in us all the time

Like the pressing of gold, that is pure with no grime

He wants us to have authority like the Lion

As well as the demeanour of the Lamb's scion

Sin separates us from His image, Pastor did say

So we have to make sure that we wash it away

It is not acceptable to say "but that is who I am"

Just to try to escape the consequences of a jam

We must let God do His work in and on our heart

Then His character from our personality will not part

 

The Lamb by nature has no defense except to run or call out

Calling to God for help is a good thing, of that there is no doubt

In the same vein, the Lamb does not retaliate even when he could

Jesus forgave the soldiers when they nailed Him to the wood

We should also remember that the Lamb is humble

Being a servant-minister, that prevents a big stumble

In that way, silence is a perfect response to a verbal attack

Turn away a rant with a soft answer instead of fighting back

 

The Lion on the other hand by nature does not retreat

Not intimidated, with boldness adversity he does meet

We should have this same Lion-like boldness with our faith

Look to the early church as an example, Pastor did saith

The Lion gives authority to pray and share the good news

Like Joshua and Caleb, being confident they did choose

For a life of negativity leads to a life that is forgettable

But our life can leave a legacy, otherwise it is regrettable

 

In conclusion, Pastor said that is our calling to be like both

As a Lion and as a Lamb, we can continue to see growth

God wants us to use the right nature at the right time

To ignore this calling is effectively a heavenly crime

In our nature, both a Lion and Lamb we should see

So that we can be everything God wants us to be

16 June 2013 - ENCS

"The Code" series Pastor Charles did continue today

On "Saying Thank You to Fathers" he had a lot to say

His core text was Ephesians chapter six verses two and three

"Honour your father and mother" is linked to a promise we see

The code of honour means that appreciation we should show

A "thank you" from the heart has great weight, as we all know

Pastor then talked about thank yous numbering four

Although I have a feeling he actually had several more

 

"Thank you for providing" was first on the plate

He read from 1 Timothy chapter five verse eight

Fathers have it in their DNA to provide for family

If not, we are denying our faith Paul says reliably

For resources, to our fathers like ATMs we often look

They provide an atmosphere of love in every nook

 

"Thank you for teaching and training" was number two

As Ephesians chapter six verse two tells fathers to do

This relates to life and faith, by example they should lead

For fathers can model the love of God that children need

 

"Thank you for your life of serving and sacrifice" was number three

John 3:16 provides the most poignant example of this we will see

A father always wants his children's lives to be better than his own

So whatever the price required, he will never complain or moan

 

"Thank you for showing love and grace" was then number four

Luke 15:21-23 tells of the prodigal son's return to his home door

The best robe and fatted calf, his father did bring out to celebrate

Showing that no matter what, a father's love for children is great

 

Of course God is our Father perfect in every way

He shows us grace and mercy every single day

We are naturally drawn to his fatherly heart

For the fruits of grace He wants to impart

 

So as this Father's Day we celebrate and enjoy

Let us remember one thing, whether girl or boy

God is deserving of our every thanks and praise

For in His time, He will always deliver and amaze

He is the perfect Father for us all

12 May 2013 - ENCS

Pastor Charles Curtis had several things to say

On "And The Winner Is" series this Mother's Day

A tradition started by a Methodist lady 100 years ago

It soon reached the White House so now we all know

He based his sermon on Ephesians 6 verses 1-3

"Honor your father and mother" is what we did see

This commandment comes with a promise too

Saying that in return "it may go well with you"

 

Our mothers we should honor and remember

We should respect, revere, prize, and value her

This comes from "timao" which means honor in Greek

A language into which Pastor Charles often does peek

We should honor for merit and position, he also did note

Remember that for nine months, our mothers did us tote

Pastor said that work is the job description of motherhood

For young children, being obedient to show honor is good

When older, a relationship of respect with deeds and prayer

Will show our mothers how much we thank them and care

 

About generational faith in 2 Timothy 1:5 Paul did write

Both Timothy's mother and grandmother Paul did cite

We can be the product of generational faith, Pastor did tell

Teaching our children to pray, we can pass it on as well

In teaching things, mothers have a critical role to play

They teach more than anyone else, Pastor did say

This is in line with 2 Timothy 3 verses fourteen and fifteen

"You know those from whom you have learned" is seen

There is also little more powerful than a mother's prayer

Her faith propels the child, because she always does care

 

So here's wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day

We thank you all, what you have done we cannot repay

Our lives you continually and positively effect

So you deserve all sorts of honour and respect

28 April 2013 - ENCS

To conclude the series based on Philippians chapter four

Pastor Charles spoke of the "ode to joy" and a lot more

Joyful Christians who are happy in the Lord, he did say

Make a difference in this world, each and every day

Reading from Philippians four verses four through seven

We should always rejoice in the Lord, who is in heaven

It goes on to say not to be anxious about anything

For our safety and eternal peace the Lord will bring

From prison, this epistle was written by Paul

Acts 16:16-40 has the story, we can read it all

Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight

After the earthquake, everything ended up right

 

Pastor said that rejoice comes from "chairo" in Greek

To be full of cheer and calmly happy is what we seek

"Merimnao" in Greek relates to worry, anxiety, and stress

This is part of most lives, which results in many a mess

But Paul says we should not fret in any hour

It is true we cannot fight this with our own power

We should not worry about being stressed

God wants to empower us to ace this test

Against stress and its effects, Pastor said the best way to fight

Is to remember to count our numerous blessings every night

Our greatest blessing, Pastor then said with a knowing nod

Is our relationships with loved ones and of course with God

 

Only eight percent of concerns are legitimate, one study did say

The appropriate response to those is to trust God and to pray

Paul says to overcome worry with prayer and thanksgiving

Resulting in a peace which surpasses all understanding

Remember that each situation has some redeeming quality

We can always find a way to thank God, as in Paul we can see

Having joy in difficult circumstances is a testimony so great

Others will see the difference and be impressed with this trait

Then we can say that through Christ, we can do everything

Verse thirteen of Philippians four we should continually sing

 

On how to lead a contented life, some ideas Pastor then did share

We should have a gracious spirit, one that for others does care

Instead of being critical of others, we should have a merciful heart

Lowering our expectations per Robinson Crusoe also plays a part

Remembering all the things that we should be thankful for

That is of course central to Paul's words in Philippians four

 

Pastor closed with a reference to Psalm twenty three

"The Lord is my shepherd" and "still waters" we do see

If we follow Him and do just as He does say

We will have His peace throughout every day

This contentment is what brings us true joy

And allows us our anxious feelings to destroy

10 February 2013 - ENCS

Gong Xi Fa Cai as we welcome the Lunar New Year

About "Love" from Pastor Charles Curtis we did hear

On the redemptive qualities of CNY traditions, he did talk

Spring cleaning, oranges, and new clothes in which to walk

Lucky oranges and lo hei which often ends up on the floor

But remember that God's promises are worth much more

 

Pastor started by reading form 1 John 4 verses 7-11

Which talks about love which comes from God in heaven

We should love each other because from God love does come

John felt very strongly about this so he was far from mum

We were created in God's image to that we could love

To give and receive live, on earth and in heaven above

 

But Pastor said that love is breaking down in many ways

In politics, business, and relationships through the days

Even among the 38,000 Christian denominations

The differences tend to cause so many tensions
 

Pastor turned to chapter 7 verse 12 of Matthew

The Golden Rule tells us what we should do

This sums up the Law and the Prophets, by which he meant

That this rule is the core message from the Old Testament

 

Jesus knew the human heart and it selfish nature

He modelled his life after love, that is for sure

He affirmed others and others to Him were drawn

All the time, until late at night from the break of dawn

For indifference is actually the opposite of love

That is never something felt by our God above

 

In verses 35-40 of Matthew chapter twenty two

"Love the Lord" in all that we think, say, and do

"Love your neighbour as yourself" Jesus also said

Both of these should be in our heart and our h
 

"Is God there for me?" we all sometimes ask

Even Peter had John do a simple task

In John 13:24, about who would betray

Peter could have asked himself, Pastor did say

For we can all approach God directly at any time

In fact, not doing so is probably the bigger crime

 

From the Anselm of Canterbury, Pastor then did cite

"I believe so that I understand" the Anselm did write

"I believe that unless I do believe", he did further say

"I shall not understand", today or any other day

 

So let us believe that that we can understand

So we can spread His love throughout the land

18 November 2012 - ENCS

The "Next Phase" series Pastor Charles did continue

On "Warfare", Luke 8:41-56 he did go through

About the enemy we read in 1 Peter five verse eight

Like a lion who brings fear with a roar so great

In the same way, the enemy tries to instill fear

But we should not be scared, we did then hear

Two stories of illness the Luke passage does contain

Jairus' dying daughter and a bleeding woman in pain

The Roman god of the underworld is named "Dis"

Dis-agree, dis-content, and dis-ease are far from bliss

 

About Jairus' daughter Pastor Charles then did speak

At Jesus' feet Jairus fell, healing for her he did seek

For a ruler of the synagogue, this was desperation

But it was the only way he could get her restoration

Their movement to his house, the crowd did impede

Then they were delayed by the woman who did bleed

Pastor asked how we handle what we perceive as a delay

We should be waiting on the Lord in more than one way

First is that we should wait, for He does things in His time

Second is that we should serve Him, not just pen a rhyme

Verse 50 says "don't be afraid, just believe, and...be healed"

Like Jairus' daughter's spirit was restored after he appealed

 

Pastor then talked of the woman bleeding for twelve years

She had used all her money and must have had many fears

But in spite of the crowds and the required social isolation

She was desperate for Jesus who was near her location

His cloak she did grab (or fasten if you look at the Greek)

In the same way, our desperation should be far from meek

Pastor said that we should grab God and never let go

Ask for healing, even though Jesus must already know

"Your faith has healed you. Go in peace" Jesus did to her say

If we approach him with faith, we will be healed in the same way

 

With words from a song, Pastor did then conclude

Hoping that his message will into our hearts intrude

"When you can't understand, when you don't see His plan

When you can't trace His hand, trust his heart", yes you ca

28 October 2012 - ENCS

Pastor Charles spoke, in a way that only he can
About the sovereignty of God and the will of man
God and Seekers was the title of his sermon today
About Luke 19 :1-10 Pastor Charles had a lot to say
Zacchaeus was s short man who climbed up a tree
For Jesus was who this tax collector wanted to see
Jesus then told Zacchaeus to from the tree come down
For Jesus was to stay in his house on this visit to town
Others complained that Jesus went to stay with a sinner
But Zacchaeus truly repented and became a winner
For Jesus came to "seek and to save", per verse ten
This primary objective is repeated again and again

Zacchaeus' passion to see Christ led him to be bold
Similarly, Jesus came to seek the lost, we were told
This is the Augustine theology of "prevenient grace"
Divine grace precedes any decision by the human race
God reaches us through circumstances in our life
Pastor's height was given so he could marry his wife
Remember that God pursues us even if we may doubt
We can receive His love at any time, on any route
God loves and looks over us all of the time
Even if like Adam we sin or commit a crime
Of the spiritual world, we all have some fear
To dispel this is the reason Jesus did appear

"No one...seeks God" says Romans 3 verse 11
Paul said all had turned away from God in heaven
Isaiah 53:6 says we are like sheep gone astray
For "each of us has turned to his own way"
But God's remedy can be found in John 12:32
When Jesus was crucified, as He came to do
To himself, Jesus said he would draw all men
And we know Jesus will not quit on us, amen

As the Hound of Heaven, the Holy Spirit was referred
For God's relentless love for us can not be deterred
Luke 15's three parables talk of things that were lost
For the sheep and coin, they were found at great cost
But nobody seemed to be searching for the lost son
His elder brother did not do what he should have done
For he served his father well but did not know his heart
Before and after his brother's trip, he did not do his part
Per Romans 8:29, Jesus is actually our brother firstborn
He came to seek and to save us, no matter the scorn

19 August 2012 - ENCS

"The Champion" series Pastor Charles Curtis did continue
The topic "Jesus our Champion" he did earnestly pursue
"Who is Jesus Christ?" is such a pivotal question
Pastor could elaborate on it for many a session
No examination will challenge or confront us more
For those who try to discredit Christ, failure is in store
Two books on the subject did Pastor refer to
He gave authors Sanders and Strobel their due
"The Incomparable Christ" and "The Case for Christ"
He implied their contents could never be overpriced

Pastor then referred to Christ as the elegant solution
For our sinful nature, His death was a perfect substitution
This is what Paul did clearly state
In Romans chapter five verse eight
With His actions, Christ answered the question of sin
He died for us, despite the sinful state we were in

Pastor then read Philippians two verses five to eleven
Which talk about the "kenosis" of Christ from heaven
Kenosis means to empty completely
That is what Christ did so freely
He humbled himself upon the cross
Our gain thus resulted from his loss
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place"
And every tongue shall confess His amazing grace

In regards confessing, per Romans 10:9-10
Our voice is much mightier than the pen
If "Jesus is Lord" with our mouth we confess
We will be saved for eternity, nothing less
The Bible is filled with promises in which to believe
From God there are so many gifts we can receive

Moving on to Second Corinthians five verse seventeen
If anyone is in Christ, a new creation is clearly seen
It says that "the old has gone, the new has come"
That is not something about which Paul was mum
Pastor concluded with Romans 7 verses 24 and 25
Our "body of death", only Jesus can revive

1 April 2012 - ENCS

Pastor Charles spoke about Romans chapter five
Martin Luther's life it apparently did revive
The earlier chapters say all men are in sin
Chapter five talks of all the benefits we win
Another way to talk about the author's shift
Is that he now provides a much-needed lift
"Justified by faith" is mentioned in verse one
"Access by faith" is how it should be done
Pastor shared with us points one to four
With more time, there would have been more

The first is that we have been justified
Pastor Charles then gave us a little aside
He told us that when the Bible we do read
We should study it well, not go for speed
Paul made a point in Galatians 2 verse 16
Justification comes from faith, it is clearly seen
It is not enough to keep the Commandments Ten
This point has been made again and again
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did tell
That more than actions, it is thoughts as well
As such, we could never really do our part
That is why God came to change our heart
To be justified is to be declared not guilty by law
Thanks to Jesus, God does not see even one flaw
To stand in the presence of God, not chagrined
Allows us to feel "just-as-if-I-had-never-sinned"

The second is that with God we have peace
That means that our war with God will cease
The conflict for our soul is over indeed
The enemy may fight but he will not succeed
Pastor Charles then read to us the tenth verse
Being reconciled, things will be better not worse

We have access to God is point number three
We can approach boldly, in Hebrews 4:16 we see
Our faith should not be passive, but instead be bold
For God's grace He will not from us withhold

We have eternal hope in God is point number four
Our inheritance is entering through heaven's door
For we have been reconciled per Romans 5:11
Thanks to Jesus who came down from heaven
This atonement is not just the covering of sin
But the replacement of all sin that has been

In conclusion, Pastor did not leave us guessing
For us, Jesus purchased every spiritual blessing
And from Ephesians 1:3 we can gladly read
That in Christ, we can find everything we need

11 March 2012 - ENCS

For the past few weeks poetic words I did lack
But now it feels pretty good to be back
And though my body may be sore and weak
I know that God’s word and peace I must seek
For every day that I hear His voice
Gives me another reason to rejoice
So no matter what my mood or pain
I say “God is with us” once again

The ongoing series on Romans continued today
About Chapter Two Pastor Charles had lots to say
Martin Luther said Romans is the Bible’s ABC
There are so many truths that are there to see
God’s great plan of redemption is clearly seen
From chapter one through the end of sixteen
Chapter One spoke of Gentiles being “under sin”
Chapter Two says Jews are too, to their chagrin
For righteous is something none of us can claim
No matter our race or ethnicity, all the same

Scold the Jewish people did Apostle Paul
But his message actually applies to us all
For if we judge others, it is ourselves we condemn
From Matthew 7:1, this lesson does actually stem
To judge others’ actions is being rather hypocritical
For when we look inwards, we are more analytical
Of course, when Romans two verse six someone reads
God will judge each of us according to our deeds
But thanks to Christ, we have will not perish
For being reunited with God should be our wish

To understand sin, we should look at the word in Greek
“Harmatia” means to miss the mark that we do seek
Referring to archery, Pastor did then conclude
That our arrows are bent; our lives morally skewed
Or think of where our moral compass should turn
It is from God’s words that we really should learn
For per Romans 5:8, God hath provided the solution
He showed His love for us through a sacrificial substitution

Pastor Charles moved on and then did say
In front of Christ, our sins we must lay
An atheist said there may be no God so don’t worry
But this train of logic is more than a wee bit blurry
For instead of worrying, confident we should be
Thanks for Christ’s sacrifice substitutionary
Remember Jesus’ words in John ten verse ten
He came so we could have abundant lives, amen
From sin, short lived indeed is the pleasure
And it makes us miserable in many a measure
For sin’s stomach is never full for long
Another sign that sin is always wrong

Pastor said Jesus is the answer to the sin question
From Romans, that is more than a mere impression
In Romans 2 verse 4, Paul takes a clear stance
That God’s kindness leads to our repentance
But to be a man of God requires an inward circumcision
Per Romans 2:29, of the heart, but with the same precision
This means allowing God to change our heart
Only in that way, can we do our own part
In conclusion, Pastor referred to Ezekiel 36 : 26
With a heart of flesh, our heart of stone God will fix

13 November 2011 - ENCS

In the "Sign of the Times" series, Pastor Charles did speak
Saying that "False Teachers" attack if our faith is weak
He read three warning passages, although there are many more
Matthew 24:4, 2 Peter 2:1, and 2 Timothy 4:3-4
The word "deceive" comes from "planao" in Greek
To lead away from the truth that all should seek
There is deceptive teaching because of our hearts
We must be on guard, Jeremiah 17:9 imparts
Paul warns of a different gospel, per Galatians 1:6-10
Those who preach such confusion, God will condemn
But Charles said that genuine things will always be tested
With the example about forged bills that lead to being arrested
This is of course true for our faith as well
Only with testing will its true strength tell

About false teachers, Pastor then shared with us marks twelve
Being rushed for time, into details he could not really delve
Denying Christ's deity, death, and resurrection is number one
Two is legalism, for our salvation is based on what He has done
Three is if they try to win the approval of men
These points all come from Galatians 1:6-10
From Jude sixteen and nineteen come the next three
Arrogant, divisive, manipulative, and full of flattery
People who speak for their own glory, per John 7:18
It is in such people that narcissism is seen
Preaching that "godliness is a means to financial gain"
Per 1 Timothy 6:5 is missing the message main
Points nine through twelve come from Jude 12 and 13
Hidden reefs, clouds without water, wandering stars are seen
Autumn trees without any fruit he does not condone
For by their spiritual fruit people must be known

Two ways to be on guard for false teaching, Charles did then share
For about our spiritual health he obviously does care
"Build yourself, keep yourself" per Jude 20 and 21
Keep praying in the Holy Spirit until our lives are done
"Become a Berean Christian" per Acts 17, verse eleven
Every day they examined the Scriptures from heaven

Have a blessed week and remember to beware false teaching
Even those false teachers whose congregation is far reaching

18 September 2011 - ENCS

Pastor Charles continued the series on "The Race"
He spoke of "Mentoring and Coaching" at a good pace
He first referred to Hebrews 12, verses one and two
To persevere and fix our eyes on Jesus we must do
For Jesus will be waiting at the finish line
If through our lifetime we run the race fine
He also read from Proverbs 27 verse seventeen
For "iron sharpens iron" it is so often seen

For individuals to mentor, encourage, and lead
Professionally and spiritually we have the need
There are silent mentors whom we may read about
And Jesus is always there for us, have no doubt
But human relationships and mentors we also need
To "stand on the shouder of giants", from Newton indeed
A mentor is a faithful teacher, guide, and friend
To help us from the beginning until the very end
A mentor can help us maximise our own strength
And fulfill our calling and destiny over life's length
If we really want to influence and impact others
We need mentors - spiritual sisters and brothers

Jesus had twelve disciples, each of them was a mentee
But Peter, James, and John were the special three
John was referred to as the one Jesus loved the most
We can all have that relationship with the heavenly host
Paul had Timothy, his "own true son in the faith"
That is what 1 Timothy one verse two sayeth

Pastor said that a good mentor fulfills roles numbering three
An advisor, sounding board, and journeyman he should be
An advisor offers suggestions and advice, but not directions
A sounding board listens and asks the tough questions
A journeyman with lots of experience from his own life
Can help you succeed without causing additional strife

Pastor returned to "iron sharpens iron" before he was done
Remember that using a sharp knife is safer than a dull one
A mentor will often give you sincere affirmation
His words of adjustment will not be a condemnation
Beware flattering words that can deceive and harm
Even if they may sound as sweet as a charm

In conclusion, Pastor said that mentors we all need
For encouragement and their advice we should heed
Some of these are seasonal and some for lifetime
We should never walk alone as there are hills to climb

28 August 2011 - ENCS

The “Attention” series continued with “Forgiveness”
Pastor Charles even used a one point sermon no less
He referred to two passages of Scripture
That we got the point, he was making sure
Colossians 3:13 was the first we did view
Saying “forgive as the Lord did forgive you”
And then verses 25 and 26 from Mark eleven
“Forgive so we are forgiven by God” in heaven

For forgiveness, Pastor shared Greek words three
‘Chorazomai’ is the extend grace, we did see
‘Apheimi’ is to command to go away
‘Aphesis’ is to grant a pardon, he did say
We can get offended by what people say or act
The key of course is how we choose to react
As Philip Yancey wrote in ‘What’s So Amazing About Grace”
Forgiveness is about the hardest work we will face

Remember Joseph, whose brothers gave him away
He forgave them when they later came his way
That was part of God’s plan, per Genesis 50:20
For Joseph had ensured there was food aplenty

The girl whose body was covered in napalm
Spoke at a church in 2006, her voice very calm
Despite all that so many people had done
“Forgiveness is more powerful than any weapon”

Forgiveness is an initiating process
Per Romans 5:8, God the same for us
For our sins, Jesus did die
He did so without even a sigh

“Forgiveness is the essence of Christianity”
Said John Macarthur about our activity
To really forgive, for others we must pray
For them to be blessed, Pastor did say

Pastor concluded his sermon with passages three
Psalm 22 was the first he did direct us to see
Interesting is the reference to a worm in verse six
A worm gets crushed, unlike a snake when in a fix
Then we looked at Luke 23 verse 24
Jesus forgave and even prayed some more
And nine verse later in Luke 23 : 43
To the repentant sinner, “in paradise with me”
Look at forgiveness as our inheritance in the same way
And include it in our behaviour each and every day

8 May 2011 - ENCS

About “faith of our mothers” Pastor Charles did speak
On “five reasons for Mother’s Day” we got a peek
The core text was Proverbs 31 verses ten thru thirty one
A better blueprint for a virtuous mother, there is none
A “because of” started each point
None of which did disappoint

“Obedience to the commandment of God” was number one
Exodus 20:12 applies for every daughter and son
How to honor your mother is then the key
Have a meaningful abundant life for her to see
Pastor also said that words and actions of affirmation
Are better than a gift, no matter what the nation

“Pregnancy and childbirth” was point number two
John 16:21 talks of the pain mothers must go through
But giving birth to a girl or to a boy
Brings about a bigger measure of joy

“Her constant work” was point number three
Walking and talking incessantly
Often the last to bed but the first to rise
Per Proverbs 31:15-17 in front of our eyes
When not at home, things don’t seem right
Due to her nurturing nature and smile so bright

“She prepares and releases her children to the will of God”
Like Moses’ mother who after three months gave him a prod
And the mother of Methodism Susannah Wesley
With ten rules, nineteen children into the world she did see

“Her prayer and faith imparted to her children” was number five
Faith passed down by generation keeps it alive
Per 2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:14-15
The power of generational faith is seen
For nobody prays for children like mothers do
And thus they leave a legacy of strong faith too

So Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful women
Thank you for all that you do, and to God I say amen

17 April 2011 - ENCS

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Charles did talk
Telling us “make Him known” on our walk
He reminded us that John chapters 12 to 21
All focused on Holy Week and what was done
The core passage today was Matthew 21:1-10
The first trip to Jerusalem for Jesus and his men
Jesus sent some disciples to get a donkey
In order to fulfil Zechariah’s prophecy
A question that comes up as a matter of course
Is why Jesus rode a donkey instead of a horse
Horses are what warriors tend to ride
But kings sat on donkeys with some pride
The disciples were nervous when they were sent
But the key is that they were very obedient
Christ engages us in the same way
He wants our obedience every day
Pastor told of his brother and Wyoming’s Laramie
Where he went following a dream he did see
And to a quote from Hudson Taylor we should comply
“God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply”

Returning to the donkey of which much was spoken
“Never a man sat”, in other words it was unbroken
Per Luke 19:30 and Mark 11:2
No other ride for Jesus would do
But when Jesus sat, the donkey was completely at peace
The same is true for those who to Jesus their hearts release
For when we invite Him into our life
We will have calm instead of strife
Two donkeys were mentioned in Matthew 21:2
Perhaps symbolising covenants both old and new

The palm branches and clothes that were laid down
Were symbols of victory and joy, not a frown
People shouted ‘hosanna’, or ‘save us now’
But we should let God decide the when and how
We should let Him decide how to respond when we pray
For surely He knows the most appropriate way
The people wanted deliverance from the Empire Roman
For they did not like all the things that were done
The Romans used crucifixions to generate fear
It is ironic that we now hold the cross so dear
For Jesus overcame death and our sin on the cross
Following instructions from God, the ultimate boss

“The whole country was moved”, says the tenth verse
Our hearts should be stirred when in Jesus we immerse
At the end, Pastor gave us a rather apt dare
Will we be willing the Lord’s burden to bear?

13 March 2011 - ENCS

Today's sermon Pastor Charles did give
The title was "The Grace to Forgive"
Colossians 4:6 was the first passage he did read
Grace-filled conversations include forgiveness, he said
Then he referred to Ephesians one verse seven
About forgiveness that comes to us from heaven
We then learned the definition of Aphesis, a word in Greek
An act of pardoning or release from imprisonment that one does seek
Followed by a phrase about justification
"Just as if I ever sinned" was the definition

Pastor then shared points about human forgiveness
The point of all three is to reduce our ongoing stress
First, forgiveness is not merely an event but is a decision
Accepting God's grace to let go of resentment is the mission
Second, forgiveness is a decision not to seek revenge or to retaliate
Third, forgiveness may require a process to set things straight
Remember that revenge never obtains what it desires
There is no satisfaction and it only fans the fires
That is not to say that justice should not be sought
A "fair and moral accounting" is apt, Pastor taught
For an act of human forgiveness, as we often see
Does not release others from moral responsibility
Pastor mentioned the Hatfield and McCoy family feud
In light of eternity, these matter little he then argued
He referred to Luke 17 verse 4 and 5 where Jesus did say
To forgive a repentant sinner seven times each and every day
Matthew 18:20-21 also talked about forgiveness
Responding to Peter, Jesus said it should be limitless
An anonymous quote Pastor then did impart
"Forgiveness is the evidence of God's grace in our heart"
If imitating God's nature is how we want to live
Then it should be natural to choose to forgive

Pastor then shared of forgiveness' benefits and blessings
By not letting small things turn into big things
Forgiveness unlocks the prison of the soul
Bringing it freedom, which should be a goal
To both parties forgiveness also brings joy
(A lot more than the gift of a little toy)
"Forgiveness is Christianity at its highest level"
It is clearly not something consistent with the devil
In 1999, when Australian missionaries were burned to death
The widow forgave the perpetrators with her next breath
This allowed her to share God's loving grace
With the Indian nation, standing in one place

About forgiving ourselves, Pastor then did talk
It is something at which many people balk
But shouldn't we believers be enticed?
It is effectively receiving forgiveness from Christ
Carrying our sins with us should not be our fate
For Jesus is there to carry all the weight

In summary, Pastor could have used the old line
That "to err is human, to forgive divine"
Our lives would be better and so would the earth
If there was a surplus of forgiveness instead of a dearth

13 February 2011 - ENCS

Pastor Charles talked about "Love" today
On the eve of St Valentine's Day
His core text was John 13, verses 34 and 35
Loving each other shows discipleship while we are alive
He told us about St Valentine in 450 AD
Persecuted, but did not renounce Christianity
Today love is really big business
But let me not digress
For God is the true author of love
That was Jesus' impetus from above
Napoleon Bonaparte had a way with words
"Christ's kingdom was built by love, not swords"
Recently, the case of Egypt did patently show
That earthly kingdoms can come and go
But God's kingdom of love will always last
Even when ten thousand years have passed

Pastor shared three thoughts on love in his talk
That were designed to help us in our walk

The first was to look at love's definition
For there is clearly more than one rendition
"Phileo", or friendship love, is a word in Greek
Implying that kindness and affection we should seek
"Agape" is another very relevant Greek word
Meaning selfless love, as we saw from our Lord
For a point John 3:16 is making
Is that "loving is giving, not taking"
Pastor did try to debunk a common notion
Remember that love is not just an emotion

To understand what love is was the second
For Pastor, 1 John chapter 4 beckoned
"God is love" says the famous verse eight
A personification, to set the record straight
And then if we read ahead to verse nineteen
We love because of God's love we have seen
Pastor then used lyrics from a hymn
They were not written on a whim
Though by a mental patient they were penned
The words are very easy to comprehend
"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky"

How we should respond to love was the third
Pastor shared stories and a serious word
From Solomon's Song of Songs he did read
Chapter five tells of a woman's misdeed
Her lover knocked but she delayed
His departure was the price she paid
Akin to the story of Thomas Carlyle and his wife
He regretted his absences when she lost her life

The morale of these stories should be clear as day
We need to respond to God's love without delay
For per Revelations three verse twenty
At our door, Jesus will knock aplenty
And if only we would let him in
Our fellowship with him could begin

9 January 2011 - ENCS

After the 52-person graduation celebration
For the Leadership Institute of Every Nation
Pastor Charles spoke of "The Making of A Leader"
It was a short sermon that required a speed reader
For into this world, leadership we can all bring
Via how we work, talk, write, or sing

He read from Isaiah 43 verse one
God created and formed us, not for fun
This links to Genesis chapter thirty two
Which tells the story of what Jacob did do
His name meant "deceiver and manipulator"
Until with God, he wrestled like an alligator
After wrestling throughout the entire night
Jacob asked for a blessing, as if it was his right
But remember that when by God we are blessed
He chooses our blessings, for He knows best
Jacob got two blessings for his part
First, a name reflecting a change in heart
Israel means 'God prevails' or 'God wins'
For He can overcome all of our sins
Second, God gave Jacob a dislocated hip
He would evermore depend on God and worship
So remember that asking God to change our heart
Is a powerful prayer that's also very smart

Pastor spoke of leadership qualities a little bit more
Referring to the passage from Mark 10:35-44
At Jesus' right hand, James and John wanted to be
As a result, Jesus had to rebuke the sons of Zebedee
For unlike earthly leaders who flaunt power over their people
Servanthood is required of leaders under the steeple
Per verse 43, whoever wants to become great
Must serve others from early until late
Matthew 20:26 shares the same basic thought
To be a true leader, serve others we ought

And since serving others everyone can do
All of us can be leaders, not just a few
From 2 Timothy 2 verse 2 we heard
That we should teach others using God's word
So if of God's word we can be avid readers
We can become a church full of good leaders

12 December 2010 - ENCS

Pastor Charles ended the "leader" series today
There's no greater one to follow than Christ, he did say
From John chapter thirteen, he used a selection
For being a servant-king was Jesus' predilection
And per verses twelve to fifteen
That is what the disciples had seen
Pastor then referred to Revelation chapter one verse six
Being servant-kings is a goal on which we should transfix
Three ways Pastor Charles then shared
Replicating how for his disciples Jesus cared

The passage talks of Jesus washing the disciples' feet
The physical and spiritual messages are both neat
Jesus' knowledge gave him strength
Allowing him to serve at great length
He was happy to do the most menial task
Before anyone else could even ask
He took off his own garment of glory without resistance
And, for our sake, wrapped himself in human existence
When Peter refused, Jesus did rebuke
(This was in John, but not in Luke)
Pastor said that John 13:9 is a key message for today
Once born again, we are spiritually clean in every way
But like the clean man whose feet get covered in dust
We walk in this world of temptation, sin, and lust
Jesus is waiting to refresh us day and night
By oft forgiving us, He makes things right
We are also to spiritually cleanse each other
Our family, friends, and every Christian brother
Although at times we may not feel strong enough
Jesus is always there when the going gets tough
For as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12 verse nine
Jesus' power is made perfect in any weakness of mine
Peter felt that John was the closest to Christ
But Jesus love for all more than sufficed
We all feel unworthy from time to time
Even when we have not committed any crime
That is why we rely on others to encourage and uplift
And why the Christian community can not afford a rift

With his disciples, Jesus spent lots of time
Per mark 3:14, when He was in his prime
In this way, as Paul said in Philippians 3:10
We can get to know Christ Jesus, amen!

His followers Jesus did commission and equip
To ensure they did His will and did not slip
Per John 20 verses twenty one and twenty two
Jesus was very explicit about what they should do
In the same way, Jesus wants us to go
Into the world, where our actions can show