24 June 2014 - ENCS

The final part of the series on the church, Pastor Joey did share today

Church involves a pattern, a purpose, and a pursuit he did again say

But without participation my members, those three Ps will fall short

Because, as Pastor did emphasise, church is not a spectator sport

In Matthew sixteen, Jesus called on Peter to be the church’s rock

Against the gates of hell, the church is built to push back and block

The enemy appears as a tempter, deception, adversary, and accuser

But our participation can help ensure that the enemy will be a loser

Pastor highlighted four actions, each of which serves as an antidote

The first is to always pray, per the Matthew chapter twenty six quote

Per Matthew six verse nine, we need God’s help to resist temptation

We should pray to God, tapping into his resource via daily declaration

Meditating on the Holy Word arms us against the enemy’s deception

Per Psalm one, this applies to all aspects of our life without exception

Proclaiming our faith is by far the best way to combat condemnation

Per Romans eight, Luke two, and chapter five of the book of Galatian

Fellowshipping with other people of God helps fend off accusation

For we are stronger and able to resist the enemy when not in isolation

So in conclusion, we should pray, meditate, proclaim, and fellowship

Allowing the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts so it can continually equip

For per the Bible, the Spirit can teach, reveal, counsel, and baptise

Always illuminating the path to eternal life, which is the ultimate prize

Thus for the church to have meaning, everybody should participate

Not just in church but in our daily lives, Pastor did emphatically state

17 June 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Josh spoke about “Why Dads?” on this Father’s Day

Starting with what to Jesus at His baptism His Father did say

Per Mark chapter one, via the Holy Spirit coming like a dove

God said Jesus was His Son who he loved and was proud of

All children look for such affirmation, affection, and availability

Fathers should thus try although there is no earthly infallibility

Josh noted three things fathers do to foster that environment

To defend, define, and discipline should be the ongoing intent

Defending the family involves providing, protecting, praying

Per First Timothy five, a believer not providing is dismaying

Nehemiah four says to fight for our families against intrusion

Prayer is the best because human control is a mere illusion

There are many Bible stories about fathers using their voice

Genesis thirty five, Luke one, and Numbers thirteen - rejoice

Isaac, Zechariah, and Moses each saved the day somehow

Per Numbers thirty, a father’s words can nullify a child’s vow

Josh said children need healthy boundaries for life to enjoy

Proverbs thirteen says we spoil if the rod we do not employ

Per Hebrews twelve, God disciplines us for our own good

We are actually illegitimate if He does not do as He should

No earthly father is perfect for a variety of obvious reasons

But per Psalm sixty eight, God is our father for all seasons

John fourteen says that if we love Jesus, God will us love 

Per Romans eight, we will then be adopted by God above

To have a wonderful earthly father, I am very very blessed

And having God on my side ensures I will not be oppressed

For my children and godchildren, I pray for the right direction

So I remember to affirm, be available, and to show affection

3 June 2018 - ENCS

The series on “What is Church”, Pastor Joey did today continue

About the pattern and purpose of the church he did first review

The purpose is for spiritual community, growth, and intimacy

Having a spiritual family helps us to grow our spiritual maturity

Each church has a set of core values, its own distinctiveness

Pastor Joey said that here are five Every Nation does possess

Putting a high value on our obedience, at the core is lordship

‘Lord’ is in the Bible thirty times as much as grace or worship

We must understand the Lord before other things we can do

Without strong foundations and actions, destruction will ensue

In Luke six, Jesus used a parable to teach us how to aptly live

‘No’, ‘Not Yet’, ‘Not Now’, and ‘Now’ are answers God may give

Then come evangelism, discipleship, leadership, and family

EN values lost people, for Luke nineteen was not an anomaly

Per Luke fifteen, we should pursue the lost sheep in every land

Help people to follow God, Matthew twenty eight does command

In Second Timothy two, Paul implores us to entrust reliable people

Long term relationships hold the church together under the steeple

These four pillars support the church, but lordship is at the heart

Embracing them all enables us to be salt and light, doing our part

20 May 2018 - ENCS

A new series titled “Being Church”, Pastor Josh did undertake

Relationships and community, all humans endeavour to make

Josh said that in order for people to make a quality connection

They look for availability, affirmation, acceptance, and affection

Community was mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament

But only twice in the New, as ‘church” was much more frequent

Church comes from Greek words meaning “called out people”

People called to assemble, not just the place under a steeple

We are all living stones in a spiritual house, per First Peter two

Knowing that whatever we suffer, Jesus already lived through

When we read the Bible, we need our Lord God to bring it alive

By praying for guidance, we glean wisdom and therefore thrive

“I will build my church, said Jesus in Matthew sixteen eighteen

And “the gates of hell cannot prevail” it is subsequently seen

God accepts us as we are but He continues to with us work

Becoming who we can be is an objective we should not shirk

God builds his house with dressed stones, per First Kings six

Serving to remind us that each has different flaws He can fix

In the same way, we each have unique talents and abilities

With a place in His house, the opportunity we should seize

Relationships come from trust, love, dialogue, and forgiveness

Trust takes time to build but only with God do we not guess

With love we show grace and dialogue leads to discipleship

We should be quick to forgive, a sign of good stewardship

The church establishes community with a common mission

Into a royal priesthood and a holy nation without condition

This allows us to bless others and proclaim His goodness

Helping all of our interactions with others to be a success

Per Ephesians four, the whole body is joined, growing in love

Like interdependent ligaments and bones, as Paul did speak of

Pastor said that as long as we focus on God, we should know

Being around those who differ from us actually helps us to grow

13 May 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Joey spoke on “Wonder Women” this Mother’s Day

He first highlighted what Proverbs one fourteen does say

Her own house, the wise woman builds with her own hand

The foolish one tears hers down, we read and understand

He spoke about Zechariah and wife Elizabeth, per Luke one

They were righteous despite what the Herodians had done

But despite praying and walking blamelessly in God’s sight

Elizabeth was barren, so their future did not look so bright

Once entering the temple, to Zechariah an angel did appear

The angel’s first words to the pious priest were “do not fear”

He told Zechariah the couple’s prayers would be answered

They would have a son because their pleas had been heard

In order for Zechariah to have the promised gladness and joy

He must name his son John and give no alcohol to the boy

This was because into John the Holy Spirit would instead fill

So he could turn many to God, according to God’s divine will

Zechariah unfortunately doubted the message that God sent

So until his son's birth his vocal cords were completely silent

This reminds us that our words carry a huge amount of clout

It is better to be quiet than to God’s promises verbally doubt

Eight days after the boy was born, he was duly circumcised

Their family wanted to name him Zechariah, it is surmised

But Elizabeth intervened in order to protect the boy’s destiny

Naming him John, which Zechariah supported for all to see

Remember that with the world, God’s ways don't always align

But if we incubate them, His plans will inevitably turn out fine

Be like Elizabeth and do not be afraid to apt objections raise

Then, like Zechariah, we can speak and to God send praise

It is interesting that Elizabeth had more faith than Zechariah

She was the hero, saving her husband from being a pariah

So on this second Sunday in May, all mothers we celebrate

Thanking them for prayers and support which never abate

1 April 2018 - PLMC

Three PLMC pastors reflected on the meaning of Easter Day

As we gathered for service to greet the morning’s first sun ray

Pastor Chris asked what if Christ was not raised from the dead

And leaving us with only Good Friday and forgiven sins instead

Our faith would be futile, per Paul in First Corinthians thirteen

For without the resurrection God’s work is incomplete, it is seen

Pastor Irene concluded that Easter makes our faith a daily event

Per Romans eight, in us dwells the Holy Spirit that God has sent

The women shared the good news, as per Matthew twenty eight

We should do likewise with other people, for it is never too late

God will give us strength, according to Ephesians chapter three

Christ’s power enables us to do more than we imagine, we see

Pastor Jonathan spoke about the heavy stone in Mark sixteen

It can represent obstacles in our lives, both visible and unseen

Whe the women reached the tomb, the stone was rolled away

The promise that God deals with our obstacles holds true today

In conclusion, Easter provides us hope and promises salvation

This good news we should share without further procrastination

4 March 2018 - ENCS

Pastor Joey Bonifacio spoke about Genesis twelve at service today

Abram, even before his name change, listened to what God did say

Unlike his ancestors' migrations, Abram’s was a pilgrimage with God

So into the new land Abram walked with confidence, he did not plod

Contrasting that versus those in Genesis eleven, Joey did highlight

With Abram, God used the words “I will” to assure all would be right

Promising to him make a great nation, a great name, and a blessing

While in Sinar they said “let us” while God’s plans they were messing

Pastor Joey then spoke about being driven by faith rather than by fear

Fear of the unknown, of loss, of failure, and of pain is real, we did hear

But it is so very dangerous to allow our lives by that fear to be deterred

Instead we should be positive and be driven by listening to God’s word

Joey said a desire for fame and being driven by fear are clearly linked

But a desire for God’s glory links to faith and life, a point very succinct

Also, a dependence on one’s own efforts will not over time succeed 

While relying on God ensures that He will provide for our every need

So between the terms “let us” and “God will” we must make a choice

One leads to scattering; the other to blessing, allowing all to rejoice

In summary, we should look to Abram and his reasons for migration

Remembering that by listening to God, he fathered a great nation