17 September 2017 - ENCS

I apologise in advance for the abbreviated poem today

A bicycle accident and the pavement got in the way

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

I will attempt to convey the points Pastor Joey did cite

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

His name meant to provide comfort for those in need

His purpose was to provide relief from the cursed land

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

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

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

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

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

Noah walked with God, per Genesis chapter six verse nine

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

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

And of course that may change depending on the season

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

For self pity and self centredness die without a doubt

But Pastor said that most do not fulfil their destinies

Because the identity God gave us we refuse to seize

Remember that God has a purpose, even for our pain

Devotion and discipline are the key, Joey did explain

We must be willing to forego the things of this earth

Because only in the Lord can we find our true worth

For we are God’s masterpiece, pre Ephesians two

Called for a purpose in everything we say and do

10 September 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke about Enoch using Genesis chapter five

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

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

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

The prophecy of Enoch is mentioned in Jude verse fourteen 

God would come to execute judgement, it is clearly seen

The Lord revealed His plans to prophets, per Amos three

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

Enoch fathered Methuselah, whose name was a prophecy

“His death shall bring judgement” was a Godly guarantee

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

Methusaleh died, his grandson Noah to carry the bloodline

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

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

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

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

Enoch did not experience death, per Hebrews chapter eleven

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

Romans ten verse seventeen says faith comes from hearing

Hearing the word of Christ is thus more than just endearing

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

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

Agreeing with God, not merely acknowledging Him, is key

Choosing God’s Pleasure over ours should be our reality

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

Since God is everywhere, this true joy nothing can destroy

We cannot please God without faith, per Hebrews eleven

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

3 September 2017 - ENCS

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus’ throne in heaven is surrounded, per Revelation four

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

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

Crowns of righteousness, imperishable, glory and life do await

The righteousness crown is awarded, per Second Timothy four

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

To get the imperishable crown, per First Corinthians nine

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

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

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

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

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

The elders cast their crowns, Pastor Joey did paraphrase

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

27 August 2017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on Genesis five at service today

After saying that in the Bible, Genesis shows the way

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

But remember that we are sinful physical beings too

God set eternity in our hearts, per Ecclesiastes three

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

Josh asked what happens after we physically die

Per Hebrews nine, judgement awaits us in the sky

For three different reasons this can be a scary event

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

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

Paul made this quite clear in Romans chapter three

This sin then separates us from God, per Isaiah nine

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

For sin is absolute, not relative to what others do

We are judged against perfection, not a worldview

Per Psalm ninety six, God will judge with equity

For He is righteous and faithful, very heavenly

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

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

Thus the basis for judgement is unrighteousness

In Romans three, this is a point Paul did stress

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

Then with confidence the eternal judge we can face

Because the blood required for our sin’s forgiveness

Was provided by the Lord Jesus Christ, nobody less

Per Hebrews nine and ten, Jesus is the high priest

And the sacrifice so we can have an eternal feast

Josh said we should approach the throne of grace

And with confidence our judgement we can face

We should start our spiritual journey without delay

And stay true to Jesus and His Word every day

2 July 2017 - ENCS

On Genesis chapter four, Pastor Bonifacio spoke today

God questioned Cain as repentance is His preferred way

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

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

The curse included a loss of fruitfulness and restfulness

Pastor said curses can be overcome, no matter the mess

On blessings and curses talks Deuteronomy twenty eight

Obedience leads to blessings; disobedience to a worse fate

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

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

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

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

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

That Christ Himself redeemed us from the curse of the law

Always remember that works are actually proof of our faith

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

Righteousness is revealed to us, per Romans chapter one

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

Faith breathes life and can ultimately change our destiny

Faith is never giving up no matter what challenges we see

And then from Matthew seventeen verse twenty we did read

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

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

By trusting, turning, and tapping God while being obedient

25 June 1017 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke on Genesis four verses eight to ten

We must understand Biblical context to be wise men

But we must also see how to apply the lessons today

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

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

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

With our words and thoughts, we must take great care

They can kill relationships, Pastor Josh did declare

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

His Word finds places where it has been torn apart

In those areas of darkness, His word produces light

So the Spirit can work and experiences become right

God asked Cain where his brother was in verse nine

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

The implication for us is evident and comes through

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

In Luke ten, we read about the Good Samaritan

Who took the injured man to the local Sheraton

This parable no doubt generated some controversy

But the Samaritan showed compassion and mercy

Knowledge can be dangerous, Pastor Josh did imply

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

And since we know the Scripture, we must respond

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

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

Hebrews twelve said to pay the price, Jesus did die

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

Mirroring that about our safety, Jesus does always care

18 June 2017 - ENCS

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

About fathers and fatherhood, Pastor Josh did clearly speak

Positive paternal experiences many people may not have had

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

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

So Josh referred to verse eleven of First Thessalonians two

For their children, fathers should exhort, encourage, charge

Tailoring the approach to account for differences often large

Paul prefaced this, saying actions matter more than words

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

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

Prioritising and focusing on others while for self less bother

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

By exhorting and acting as a counsellor rather than to berate

Encouraging with calm words, providing a safe place to try

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

Charging involves pushing one’s children to do their best

With talents and chances that each one God has blessed

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

Both directly and also via earthly support to set us straight

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

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