28 January 2024 - ENCS

Vicki Tekwani concluded the Set Apart series today

Focused on the biblical view of holiness, he did say

As per First Peter one, our conduct should be holy

We must aim to be holy since God is holy, we see

Confirming to God’s character leads to our holiness

To God, we are called into a relationship with access

To be holy like God, commands Leviticus eleven

We should desire to see God here and in heaven

We should want to be holy not to impress others

Building relationships with God must be our druthers

Throughout the Bible, the focus is on relationship

But we should do willingly, not due to a guilt trip

How we can be holy, Romans twelve does share

Present our body as a living sacrifice in prayer

Surrender and sacrifice, worldly patterns resist

Per Joshua one, renewing our minds is the gist

1 October 2023 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke today on the topic “The Addict"

In old times, a positive attribute this term did depict

Joey said in Acts two verse forty two it was noted

The apostles were addicted, in other words devoted

To teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer

As in First Corinthians sixteen Paul also did share

Since there was no New Testament or printing press

From the Old Testament, those apostles did profess

With Jesus and the Holy Spirit as an interpreting lens

The hearts and minds of thousands they did cleanse

The apostles meditated, as per Joshua chapter one

Per Psalm one, their delight in the Law not outdone

Returning to Acts two, the believers were together

Addicted to fellowship, regardless of the weather

They met every day, their hearts glad and sincere

Breaking bread together every day through the year

Per the words of Jesus, to break bread is to proclaim

Leaving prayer as the last element, Joey did exclaim

The many signs and wonders filled everyone with awe

Their numbers grew daily based on what others saw

The four elements still apply today, Pastor did quip

PMPF equals Pray, Meditate, Proclaim, and Fellowship

Our SQ App is designed for the purpose and is free

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11 September 2022 - Keene UCC

Pastor Cindy spoke on “Famous Last Words” on Sunday

For last words are often the best endings, she did say

Examples are David to Solomon and Jacob’s blessing 

And of course to the Israelites a dying Moses addressing

There are many abandoning organised religions now

Their multiple reasons Pastor Cindy cannot disavow

But we can still rely on the church to teach good truths

And to care for the spiritual well-being of our youths

In these uncertain times, to Joshua one we can look

Our faith in God’s Mosaic covenant can not be shook

“Be strong and courageous” three times we do see

God is with us all the time, everywhere we may be

Joshua 1: 1-2, 5-9

13 October 2019 - ENCS

About “making bad decisions” Pastor Josh spoke today

Esau married two Hitites, Genesis twenty six does say

This went against instructions that Abraham had shared

As a result of these mistakes, Esau became ensnared

Our internal desires and motives, per James chapter four

End up causing quarrels, fights, sinful action, and more

We should ask with the right motives, per verse three

For friendship with the world leads God to be an enemy

Solomon was extremely wise, as per First Kings eleven

But he didn’t listen to advice from friends or from heaven

Having hundreds of wives and concubines, it was seen

Did ruin him, he foretold in Proverbs five verse fourteen

He also warned against spurning discipline and correction

Instead, we should obey teachers for our own protection

Esau’s choices also did his parents’ lives greatly impact

Rebekah said that she loathed her life as a matter of fact

Our bad choices hurt others both directly and indirectly

For not sharing the word with others is acting incorrectly

Josh said the myth of independence is full of liabilities

People get self-focused and ignore their responsibilities

How we can avoid making bad decisions, Josh did quip

Is if we regularly pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

Per Matthew twenty six, watch and pray to avoid temptation

Humble ourselves and use Matthew six as the foundation

Meditating on the Word leads to success, per Joshua one

As a good work, proclaiming the Word we should not shun

Per Proverbs eleven, relying on counsellors leads to safety

Encouragement and support can be provided by community

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

19 May 2019 - ENCS

The short series on relationships, Pastor Joey did continue

For our existence and happiness, relationships are the glue

As with a chair, we must trust a relationship’s foundation

Without trust, relationships falter and go into deterioration

For human beings, having trust and relationships is a must

As we are all sinners, we can never be fully trusted or trust

So about what builders trust, five points Pastor did share

As always, looking to God and the Bible helps us to prepare

For per Proverbs three, trust in the Lord with all of our heart

And in all of our ways, from a straight path we will not depart

Pastor used the letters of the word 'trust’ to form an anagram

For some of us, that is easier to remember than a diagram

With four letters in common, truth is the first basis for trust

Truth is tough, as half truths and fake news are oft-discussed

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life per John fourteen

So from Jesus and with Jesus truth we can surely glean

Reliability is another basis, as trust follows consistency

God is always reliable, so we should trust Him completely

His promises always come through, per Joshua twenty one

While His trust in us is dependent on what we have done

The third basis is unity, our words and actions aligned

The level of  consistency is how our integrity is defined

God is perfect unity, per the words in Deuteronomy four

Therefore versus humans we can trust Him infinitely more

Fourth is standards, akin to our building blocks or bricks

God is considered “holy, holy, holy” in Isaiah chapter six

Last but not least is time as per Hebrews chapter thirteen

Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever it is seen

Pastor concluded by talking about how we build this trust

Giving and receiving trust is inherently risky, he discussed

He mentioned that if we can not trust people to be on time

It is hard to trust them with bigger things (but not a crime)

The bottom line is for us to do the right things consistently

Then amazing relationships with God and people we see

10 March 2019 - ENCS

With the series on Genesis, Pastor Joey did continue today

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

Lot became wealthier in Sodom but left with just his family

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

Pastor said that these instructions parallel repentance for us

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

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

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

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

Pastor said that clueless leader Lot made a clueless choice

We should decide based on faith instead of bowing to fear

Through the entire Bible, this principle is exceedingly clear

We need to decide which game we are choosing to play

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

Different rules, leaders, and results based on the game

Making uninformed or clueless choices is a big shame

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

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

Looking back effectively prevents us from forward moving

Indecision is a decision to be ineffective and not improving

Per James one verse six, we should believe without doubt

Doubt is double-mindedness, leading to an unstable route

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

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

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

God remembered Abraham and his prayers were understood

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

A relationship with God will ensure that to heaven we ascend

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

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

12 February 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Harris started by asking why do people get jealous

Often because we are not sure what we have, he did tell us

God has a plan and a place for each of us, per Genesis two

As such we should let God guide us in what we should do

For with all pleasant things God’s original garden was filled

Adam and Eve should've understood that and been thrilled

But instead they ignored God’s command about one tree

Introducing sin to the world, the consequences we still see

In Psalm sixteen, David acknowledged that God had a plan

And of course God’s knowledge exceeds that of any man

As part of His plan, lines or boundaries God does introduce

Boundaries limit us but also protect us, we should deduce

David recognised that only God gives us eternal inheritance

In tough times, it may be worth to give this psalm a glance

About a young boy looking through a fence, Josh did share

But when he turned around, into Disneyworld he did stare

This reminds us, despite boundaries, of how blessed we are

For looking to God for our happiness is the best path by far

On how to get there, four points Pastor Josh then did share

To pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship we are all aware

If we lack wisdom, we should ask God per James one five

Per Joshua one eight, to repeat His Word we should strive

The enemy was conquered by words, per Revelation twelve

The tongue has immense power, if into the Bible we delve

Paul says to build each other up in First Thessalonians five

Romans fourteen says the Spirit provides while we are alive

Specifically offering us peace and joy and righteousness

Which provide us with love so that others we can bless

8 January 2017 - ENCS

As ENC globally heads into a prayer and fasting week

On the topic of fasting Pastor Joshua Harris did speak

With a look at Matthew nine verse fourteen he did start

With a reminder that Jesus’ answers focus on our heart

That passage says to be relational rather than religious

For getting closer to God is obviously more prodigious

That should be our purpose of fasting from whatever

For by freeing up time to talk with God, we are clever

Proper fasting can turn a perceived duty into delight

Some effort may be required but the result is alright

Remember that whatever we do for God does pale

In comparison to what He did for us in gory detail

That is evidence of His infinite love for every person

When we do not love others, we therefore incur sin

Pastor Josh then turned to Psalm sixteen for advice

It states that God does not delight in our sacrifice

Rather, God takes delight when we do listen to Him

For then we do God’s will and the result is not grim

By letting His Word take its rightful place in our heart

Our lives will illustrate His glory as we all do our part

Fasting’s focus changes from deprivation to desire

And from desperation to devotion we should aspire

Per Joshua three verse five, in order to aptly prepare

We should focus on God so that He can show His care

Josh said that by fasting at the beginning of the year

It is like rebooting a computer when problems appear

We should thus move from religion to relationship

And remember we have nothing to fear on life’s trip

Per Psalm sixteen, God provides counsel for the heart

Peace and pleasures forever is what He does impart

Joy means having positive expectations all of the time

Hence what God is doing in our lives becomes prime

In summary, as we fast from things that get in our way

We should focus on the eternal, not temporal, each day

1 January 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Larry spoke about “The Slingshot Effect” today

As we start a new year, encouraging words he did say

Per First Corinthians fifteen verses fifty seven and eight

We are to give thanks to God, Paul did resolutely state

For no matter what struggles or obstacles we may face

Our work for God is never in vain thanks to His grace

“Do not fret” in Psalm thirty seven King David did write

Nor should we envy those who act in ways not upright

For per Psalm one hundred and eighteen verse seven

We will triumph over enemies thanks to God in heaven

In Ephesians four, Paul repeated a similar exhortation

We should let Christ, not our worrying, be our foundation

Pastor Matsuwaki's first message for us we did then hear

For twenty seventeen, remember “this year, crush fear”

Returning to Psalm thirty seven, in God we should trust

By committing our ways to Him, His actions will be just

None of God’s promises ever fail, per Joshua twenty two

All enemies will be defeated for the Lord's Word is true

Pastor Larry’s second message to us was no less bold

“This year, determine to trust in God” we were told

And per Psalm thirty seven verses twenty three and four

If God delights in our ways, He will uphold us for sure

Pastor Matsuwaki then told us to do something different

“This year, build a closer walk with God” with intent

For in order to grow our faith, Pastor Larry did state

We must focus on our walk with God to reinvigorate

In conclusion, struggles and troubles we will all face

Like Apollo Thirteen and its challenges in outer space

The astronauts, like David, used a slingshot approach

We should see God working in our lives like a coach

Pastor said that last year’s hardships did us prepare

To experience greater things this year - if we dare!

17 January 2016 - ENCS

The “Discipleship Simplified” series Pastor Josh Harris did continue

Focusing on “Establish Biblical Foundations”, as step number two

Last week, he talked about “engage”, including making a friend

Having conversations and making new disciples becomes a trend

Pastor Josh ran through five points about how we can “establish”

For establishing ground that produces fruit and shade is our wish

The basis for his message, Colossians chapters one to two did form

Although Josh did intersperse other passages, as is often his norm

The first point was that we should establish a foundation in CHRIST

For He is the Rock, our inheritance derived from what he sacrificed

Jesus is head of the church and pre-eminent in every relationship

We can have peace and thus any worry in the bud we should nip

The second point was that we should establish a foundation in FAITH

Trusting God and the Holy Spirit’s presence, Colossians two does saith

If we walk with thanksgiving like Jesus, our faith will assuredly grow

Rhema-hearing Christ’s message is how His Word we can really know

The third point was that we should establish a foundation in HIS WORD

Meditating on it day and night, per Psalm one and Joshua one we heard

And, Pastor Josh did opine, if we happen to be going through a dry season

Not studying the Bible enough, feeling distant from God, may be the reason

The fourth point was that we should establish a foundation in COMMUNITY

In one day the church grew by thousands, in Acts chapter two we do see

For when we work together in peace, God can use us to do even more

Reminding us about the importance of relationships at a church’s core

The fifth point was that we should establish a foundation in LOVE

Per Ephesians three, being rooted in love gives power from above

The love of Christ surpasses knowledge, as per verse nineteen

Therefore our faith is unshakeable, and our heart will be serene

27 April 2014 - UCC Keene

On the last Sunday before Pastor Gordon Ellis leaves UCC Keene

He spoke about water, about which many Biblical passages are seen

Psalm sixty seven, Acts ten, and John seven

All speak about water as a gift from heaven

We cannot live without water, which is a key element of creation

Engineering prowess enables water's amassing and utilization

Great aqueducts collected water and carried it far away

The ruins of these aqueducts are still impressive today

The Jordan River has been shrinking as it is siphoned for irrigation

Reflecting water's status as a scarce resource in every Mideast nation

Water symbolizes cleansing and renewal and so much more

In particular, it symbolizes the foreboding underworld's door

So when God stirs up water, it proves that miracles happen

In Genesis, there was creation and then after the flood again

In Exodus, the Israelites escaped when God stirred up the Red Sea

Later Moses' rod brought water from a stone for all the nation to see

In Joshua, the ark carriers saw a swirling Jordan River all around

But God stirred up the water to allow them to cross on dry ground

There were also water miracles in the New Testament

John baptized many, telling of the Messiah God had sent

Jesus turned water into wine and walked in the Sea of Galilee

And on Pentecost, believers were baptized and filled with glee

Miracles still happen today when God stirs the water in our soul

Having God present and alive in our lives should thus be our goal

15 March 2014 - Joshua and The Promised Land (part two of two)

Joshua six tells how the Israelites conquered Jericho

The town was tightly shut up, nobody could come or go

The Lord told Joshua to march around it for six days

And on the seventh day to blow trumpets of praise

Then when the people shouted, the walls would collapse

And the Israelites would easily walk in through the gaps

Joshua followed God’s plans and destroyed the town

Rahab’s family was spared when the city burned down

Moses passed along commandments, per Joshua eleven

Joshua did all in line with these instructions from heaven

By doing so, Joshua conquered Canaan and the entire land

The Lord’s great power, none of the kings could withstand

To each tribe land as an inheritance Joshua did then give

“Then the land had rest from war” and in peace did live

Joshua’s farewell address is detailed in Joshua twenty four

He said to “fear the Lord” and for all other gods to abhor

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”

They agreed because His actions could not be ignored

Joshua warned them that the Lord is a holy and jealous God

And therefore with sins and rebellion not to his anger prod

But the Israelites said that the Lord they would always serve

Promising Joshua from God’s path they would not swerve

14 March 2014 - Joshua and the Promised Land

Moses was one hundred twenty in Deuteronomy thirty one

He was no longer able to lead the people as he had done

God told him that he would not enter the Promised Land

But the people should proceed under Joshua’s command

“The Lord your God Himself will cross over ahead of you”

And will destroy any nations that Israel may pass through

“Do not be afraid or terrified because of [other nations]”

“God will never leave nor forsake you” or your relations

To Joshua in public, Moses did these words repeat

The handover of leadership was then almost complete

Moses wrote down the law, giving it to the Levites clan

Joshua would succeed Moses, for he was a great man

After Moses died, God spoke to Joshua in Joshua one

He said to get the people ready to cross the River Jordan

For the Israelites would inherit the Promised Land soon

From God’s power, no other people would be immune

God then told Joshua to “be strong and courageous”

By following the law, things would be advantageous

God said in prosperity and success the nation would grow

“For the Lord … [would] be with [them] wherever [they] go”

Joshua secretly sent two spies into Jericho, per Joshua two

They entered Rahab’s house, where they could get a view

The king of Jericho was told that the spies were present

Rahab said that she did not know which way they went

So the king’s men left the city and followed false tracks

In fact, on her roof Rahab hid the spies under some flax

Her people were fearful and mass destruction they did expect

In return for her actions, they promised to her family protect

Joshua said, after the spies returned from seeing the lands

“The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands”

12 August 2012 - ENCS

The "Champions" series was continued by Pastor Neli
In Joshua 1:2 about treading five points we did see
But first Pastor read about Joshua in verses one to eleven
"Be strong and courageous" came the voice from heaven

Pastor started by referring to "Moses my servant is dead"
With previous generations in mind is how we must tread
For although God uses revelations and with relation
(Testimonies are powerful; we should not act in isolation)
He also tends to build generation upon generation
As with Singapore our forty seven year old nation

The next word mentioned was "arise" from verse two
To tread, sitting down is something we cannot do
In what we believe, we must take a stand
Even if it contradicts all others in the land

"Go over" was the next phrase mentioned by Pastor
Without small steps, walking we cannot master
We should keep stepping out in faith in the same way
We will then gain more confidence every single day

About "you and all the people" Pastor did then talk
With other people is the best way to tread or walk
To walk with us, God often sends others
Young and old, sisters and brothers

The last was "into the land I am about to give them"
Where God places us we should not condemn
For wherever he leads, we should tread
And in that way, His Word we can spread

In conclusion, we must all learn to tread
The alternative is really something to dread

13 May 2012 : Joshua 1:5-8

After His servant Moses' life was done
The Lord spoke to Joshua, son of Nun
"No one will be able to stand up against you"
"As I was with Moses", I will be with you too
"Be strong and courageous" after verse five
And into the promised land you will arrive
"Be strong and very courageous" per verse seven
"Obey all the law" given to Moses from heaven
Then God instructs, in verse number eight
On His words, day and night should meditate
"Be careful to do everything", even if stressful
For "then you will be prosperous and successful"

These few words serve to encourage and uplift me
A reminder that "strong and courageous" I should be
God keeps His promises and provides us His word
So to ignore either one would really be absurd
I ask to be "strong and courageous" in decisions I make
As well as in the words I say and the actions that I take

18 July 2010 - ENCS

A special sermon today was delivered by Jim Laffoon
Some prophetic words for the church that come none too soon
"Turning the Corner" from bad times to good
Can be frightening, that is understood
The pastor felt that our nation Singapore is in this state now
There is a fight for moral leadership, he said with curled brow
As only the church is adequately armed
Church leaders are being attacked and harmed
Remember that there is always a battle before a blessing
So a bigger battle should not lead to stressing
For ENCS, Pastor envisioned 500 more people
As well as another site, perhaps even a steeple

He highlighted four words to describe God's actions
That can bless the church and all its interactions
The first is increasing grace and power - effluence
The second is increasing ethnic mix - confluence
The third is increasing prosperity and spirituality - affluence
The fourth is increasing impact through quality leaders - influence

But while everything is from Christ a gift
Sometimes we have to fight for the blessing to lift
The enemy will try to ambush us in an L-shape
Using accusations to break our unity, making it hard to escape
He deceives us into some serious and deadly sin
As Achan did at Jericho, from Joshua 6-7 we read in
A leader can be lured into a pattern of sin or strife
That serve to destroy and break his life

The level of spiritual warfare has been on the increase
For the enemy will not allow us to grow in peace
Think of the three levels of warfare Jesus did face
Per Luke 4, early in his life in the desert place
Later he went to Judea for safety per John 7:1-10
Then after saving Lazarus, he was targeted by all the Pharisee men
The lesson is that as there is an increase in our spirituality
We are a bigger target for the enemy's brutality
Pastor said that to put these attacks in the proper light
They are paradoxically the result of us doing more things right

He then told us how to handle the enemy's attack
Per Ephesians 6, the armor of God we must not lack
We can expect to fight the enemy alone
Even Jesus took disciples into the danger zone
We must use God's word and have good friends
Who will tell us we are straying or at loose ends
That also means that all the time we should pray
To help others and ourselves, Pastor did say

In conclusion, Pastor said we are turning the corner into greater days
"A big problem leads to a bigger promise" was his phrase
He then encouraged us and did implore
Saying "this is what we were born for"