25 December 2014 - A Christmas Poem

People often say that Jesus is the reason

For this festive and meaningful season

Of course that is true but perhaps there is more

About three types of gifts I will briefly explore

 

The first gift is covered in John three verse sixteen

God gave us His Son, the greatest gift ever seen

He did that because He loves us so much

And each of our lives Jesus did then touch

Jesus showed us how to live and conquered death

We should give thanks for this with every single breath

 

The second gift is what God has given each person

He gave us a unique set of talents, not just for fun

Each person on earth God does love for He did create

We each have a mission that we should not leave to fate

Because of our unique talents we each have a unique role

To utilize them for God's glory should be our ultimate goal

 

The third gift results directly from the stanzas above

It happens when we use our gifts to share God's love

By sharing God's love, we can be a gift to others

Whether old or young, rich or poor, sisters of brothers

Gifts of love are shared in many a different way

What we do, what we show, and what we say

 

In conclusion, I guess what I am trying to convey

Is that God's gifts to us are visible every day

Our way of showing thanks should therefore be

Showing His gifts and His love for the world to see

30 November 2014 - ENCS

The Redemption Stories series was continued by Pastor Mark Chew

He said we all have stories, some that are old and some that will be new

God is actually redeeming us, per Philippians chapter one

Our picture and story reflect our response to what is done

More often with others, our stories we should share

That is one way we can show God that we do care

Luke chapter twelve warns us against covetousness

The rich man planned for more but ended up with less

 

Pastor Mark's goal was to have a condo and cars three

Looking back, he realizes just how foolish that would be

The phrase 'full time' was planted in his brain

If he loved God so much, the answer was plain

God's gifts are irrevocable, per Romans eleven

Mark tried to bargain with our God in heaven

But he felt no peace, so he decided to take the leap

In his first church job, the learning curve was steep

 

Similarly, God has already called each and every one

We might have to give up dreams or even some fun

But per Psalm thirty one, in God we should trust

Pursuing God's dream with excitement is a must

For if to God we say yes and serve full time

He will not shortchange us by even a dime

 

Full time takes various forms, Pastor Larry did say

It does not mean being in the church every day

But whether in church or in the marketplace

On God's plans, our actions we must base

16 November 2014 - ENCS

The Redemption Stories series was continued by Rachel Ong

Despite fighting God's call at first, her testimony is very strong

For through her companies she can now reach the marketplace

Bringing to others the messages of God's joy, hope, and grace

 

She then referenced the book of Job, with chapters forty two

Job was apparently blameless and upright in all that he did do

With a large family and ten thousand cattle, he was called great

He lost everything but refused to blame God on that woeful date

His family, wealth, health, and good name did all disappear

But in the end, all was restored and he lived for many a year

 

Rachel asked God about areas of life numbering four

Little did she know what for her was soon to be in store

About health issues, she told God that she did not understand

She might have kept silent if she knew what God had planned

 

A diagnosis of appendicitis due to immense pain in her side

But a twenty three centimeter tumor the doctor then spied

Rachel never questioned God over the next six days

In fact, she continued to trust Him and give Him praise

For God does not owe us anything, including our health

Everything we have comes from His immense wealth

 

The operation was successful although the tumor had grown

Hearing that it weighed seven kilos made many of us moan

There was no cancer and one ovary was able to be saved

The doctor said "divine intervention" on her should be engraved

From a very painful recovery she did not shirk

But after four weeks, Rachel returned to work

 

Three points about her story Rachel then with us share

They serve as a wonderful reminder not to ever despair

The first is that our God is bigger than any pain we may face

"Hope against hope, for hope never fails" due to God's grace

 

The second is that some pain is actually good for our soul

It provides a perspective that helps us to others console

Rachel also said it gives us a small understanding

Of the pain to Jesus that his crucifixion did bring

This relates to Philippines chapter three verse ten

Paul wanted to share in Christ's sufferings again

Bad things happen to good people, that is quite plain

But through all of our suffering, God will always reign

 

The third is in God we should give our wholehearted trust

Increasing our faith instead of fear, Rachel said is a must

Googling about symptoms tends to merely add to our fear

Whilst going to God in earnest prayer helps us to persevere

 

By referring to Job forty two verse ten, Rachel did conclude

For Job's family, wealth, health and name were all renewed

Job lived another one hundred forty years being blessed

We should also believe in miracles and not be stressed

For God reigns, whether circumstances are good or bad

That fact in itself should make us joyful instead of sad

2 November 2014 - ENCS

Pastor Larry continued the series entitled "Redemption Stories"

Redemption saves us from sin, enabling us to receive God's glories

Because Jesus redeemed us so we can have life eternal

Changed should be our lives, both internal and external

Pastor then read from Revelations twelve verse eleven

The exiled John heard these words, directly from heaven

"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb" we did see

And then, as importantly "by the word of their testimony"

The enemy wants us to feel defeated and facing damnation

But God says we are victors, not victims, in every situation

 

By the blood of Jesus, Pastor Larry said we can overcome

Jesus' sacrifice was required, so we should be far from glum

We have all sinned and fall short, per Romans chapter three

The penalty should be death, in Romans six we clearly see

But per Hebrews nine, we have now secured redemption

Our sins are forgiven, so from death we have exemption

Isaiah fifty three prophesied that by His stripes we are healed

So when we claim victory, the enemy will be scared and yield

 

We also overcome by the work of our testimony, Pastor did say

Per Colossians one, God has rescued us out of harm's way

Since we live in freedom, we all have a testimony to share

They can encourage others who may be feeling despair

Redemption stories were then shared by Alymark and Marisol

About how they escaped troubled pasts, they both did tell

Pastor Larry referenced Psalm one hundred twenty four

And told of man who paid to release a bird out a cage door

Similarly, Jesus loves each of us so much that he gladly died

After living an earthly life that still acts for us as a perfect guide

He effectively opens our individual cages and lets us go

In return we should tell our testimonies instead of lying low

 

By not loving our lives is the third way that we can overcome

Per Mark ten, Jesus' life was ransomed for many, not just some

He expects the same from His followers, both then and now

In Romans one, unashamed of the gospel Paul did avow

For the gospel is the power of God that is salvation for all

So from telling others our testimonies, we should not stall

26 October 2014 - ENCS

At ENCS the sermon was delivered by Steve Murrell

About some key words to Ephesus that Paul did tell

In Acts chapter twenty, to Rome Paul was on his way

He thoughts it was his last chance messages to convey

After Pastor Steve shared about global activity

He quickly focused on key words for ENCS three

 

Life only has real meaning, per verse twenty four

If in all that we do, God's purpose is at our core

The first key word is that we must testify the gospel

For the gospel is good news, Pastor did then tell

It is not opinion or an editorial, but is a historical fact

Jesus came to earth and although He was attacked

He offers eternal life to those who do repent

For that is the real reason that He was sent

But to turn to God we must turn away from sin

For into this life don't let temptations come in

And although we are sinful, God loves us so much

Which is why our hearts the gospel does touch

 

Grace builds us up, per verse number thirty two

To our sin, justification allows us to say adieu

Sanctification is the process of God-driven change

It is an ongoing process of how our life we arrange

Glorification is how we can live like Jesus Christ

All of these are available for free, clearly mispriced

Per Titus two verse eleven, God's grace is there for all

Into our lives self-control and godliness we can install

 

The third word is give, in other words generosity

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" is the key

This includes our time, words, money, and passion

As individuals and a church, we should not ration

If we live to give we will be on the right track

And God will ensure that we will never lack

12 October 2014 - ENCS

On Sunday, the "Go" series Pastor Larry did complete

He showed a video of a mission trip in the Philippine heat

Based on Acts 1:8, the series talked of what our purpose should be

Using God's anointing power, we can reach family and community

Breaking through cross-cultural barriers is a way to share the worth

His sermon was not surprisingly titled "To the ends of the earth"

As Singapore is prophesied to be the Antioch of the region

People come in and go out on mission trips by the legion

The apostles went around the world to many different places

All but John were eventually martyred, with joy on their faces

Similarly, reaching out to the world should become our norm

That is why Pastor Larry focused on the word "transform"

For although the world may be under control of the evil one

God has shown his far greater power in all He has done

Per John 5:19, sixteen forty three, and fourteen twenty seven

We can overcome, with the peace of God who resides in heaven

 

Pastor then mentioned transformations numbering four

Although I am sure he could have come up with more

To be transformed for a purpose must be the case

For we are not here on earth just to take up space

Transformed love, per John thirteen verse thirty five

As disciples of Jesus, our love for others should thrive

Per Luke five, we should also have transformed obedience

We should follow quickly, but not just out of expedience

Lastly, Pastor said we need to have transformed thinking

So that from our Christian purpose there will be no shrinking

5 October 2014 - ENCS

In the penultimate week of the "Go" series, Pastor Josh did preach

Per John four, Jesus went to Samaria to avoid the Pharisees' reach

For when God is moving, rule-loving religious leaders get upset

The irony of course is that Jesus hadn't baptized anybody yet

For the Jewish people, Samaria was not a very hospitable place

Too many times, the two groups of people in conflict did face

 

After a long walk from Jerusalem, Jesus was tired and sat next to a well

He then asked a Samaritan woman for a drink, verse seven does tell

This broke all sorts of rules, for she was a single woman

It made it culturally even worse that she was a Samaritan

She mentioned Jacob, who provided for their physical needs

He talked of living water, which can absolve our sinful deeds

 

It is interesting to note why she was there at midday

Because she didn't want to hear what others had to say

But Jesus knew her whole history, per verse sixteen

He also loves us no matter how bad we may have been

 

Pastor said that we need to worship with knowledge true

Worshipping God in spirit and truth is what we should do

Per Second Corinthians, God is the only judge that matters

Even if many others may try to turn our reputation to tatters

We should try to honor our fathers, heavenly and on earth

They give us their approval and confirm our true worth

God is the truth and thus overcomes any lies that are told

Remembering the truth can set us free should make us bold

 

The woman mentioned the Messiah; Jesus said He was the One

She went to town and witnessed about what He had said and done

Based solely on her testimony, many in the town did then believe

The entire town pleaded with Jesus and His disciples not to leave

And because He did end up by two days postponing His trip

They learned for themselves and responded with worship

For anyone who believes in Jesus shall be saved, per Romans ten

We can then all worship in spirit and truth over and over again