JURONG OUTREACH - AUG 03

MAKE TODAY COUNT by Sis Sharon Chan
3 Aug 03

(Ps 39:5) “Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity”.

Our life on earth is a mere breath.  How easily it will vanish. We know that one day we will all be gone from this earth but we don’t expect it to be tomorrow.  In our hearts we tell ourselves, at least we expect to live up to 60 yrs old.  We expect to see our children marry and to play with our grandchildren then we are ready to go. 

I had a brush with death when I was diagnosed with cancer.  Now almost 4 years down the road, things seemed to be better and I’ve gone back to work and living a “normal” life.  Slowly the reality of death is eroding and I go about my daily routine as if I’m going to live till a ripe old age.  The recent sickness around me jotted me back to the reality of the breavity of life.  First my brother-in-law suffered a stroke, next, my sister-in-law was warded for stomach bleeding but worst of all my mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas.  The Lord has said in this world, we will have tribulation, but the Lord is in control of all.

(Jn 16:33) “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”.

We must constantly bear in mind that this world is not our home.  We are just passing through and we must make every day the Lord blesses us with, count.

(Ep 5:16) “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

We must learn God’s way so that we can tread His path.

(Ps 25:4)”Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”

(Ps 119:9) “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

Look around you today and see how you can give a little of yourself, your time and your money to help those in need. It is in giving that we benefit most.

(Acts  20:35) “ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

How then can we live our lives for the Lord? What contributions can we make?

We can at least be faithful in our attendance. 

Although sitting in the service does not make one a faithful Christian, yet a faithful Christian cannot but attends worship and bible classes regularly. The regular and public meetings of the church are its heart-throb and life-blood.  Each member who forsakes these assemblies saps the church of some of its power.  Each of us can at least make the minimum contribution of faithful attendance. This way, we can encourage one another and at the same time be encouraged.

We can make our day count by doing good.

The Lord’s people are made for good works.

(Ep 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  And since I’ve started working for the Church, I realized that many are working behind the scene helping those in need.  Many members are generous, not only with their love and time, they are ever ready to part with their money to help even strangers, people whom they have never met, people who are in need. They are ever ready to offer help.  I was scared at first, to approach the brethren when needs arise one after another, but I have seen the genuine love and willingness to contribute in them that gave me the confidence to approach them. Their work for Christ, demonstrates the sincerity of their worship on Sunday. Ask yourself today, “Did you make your day count?”

Live To Make A Life

 Do not live to make a living
Rather live to make a life.
For the measure of succeeding
Is your service in the strife.

All you ever leave behind you,
When your soul has crossed the bay,
Is the good you’ve done to others,
As you tarried by the way.

Build a life as pure as crystal;
Build a spirit full of love
Build our mind by noble thinking’
Build a faith in God above.

Build your life with care and patience,
As the sculptor hews the stone;
With the Master as your model
And your eyes upon the throne.

Noble lives have been the beacon,
Lighting mankind’s upward way;
They who serve are the immortals,
Fathers of a better day.

Let your life shine out in service,
Noble living— noble deeds,
And until time’s course is ended,
Good will blossom from the seeds.

                                                           Wilfred A. Peter

The Chinaman and Mama Go Down Under by Bro Ullas Nair
10 Aug 03
(Report of the 9th Annual Eastern Shore Lectureship in Tasmania Australia)

It has been my ardent desire to visit the beloved Christians in Eastern Shore COC in Hobart , Tasmania (Tassie for short). During my 4 years military tour in the late 90s, I had participated in 3 of the lectureship as a speaker and had made many friends. By and large we had kept in touch over the years and I often think of the beloved Christians there especially Ian and Mabel McPherson, Jim and Barbara Backhouse, the Tattersalls, Gary Young and family, Lawson and Maxine Mayo amongst many others.

They had showered us with love and affection during my previous visits, Emily and Debra too had an opportunity to visit Tassie back then.

The Eastern Shore congregation is small in number less than 30 members, ( as are most COCs in Australia ), but they are full of good works. There is even the Eastern Shore School of Preaching with Brother McPherson’s sons Alex and Greg being one of the first graduates. They had their share of trials and tribulations in Tassie, but the Church is strong in doctrine and continue to serve the Lord with their best efforts.

This time around in Jan 03, the brethren in Tassie had asked me to participate once again and they had specifically asked for brother Eddy to try and come. Brother McPherson was here last year for the Asian Bible Lectureship and was most impressed with brother Eddy and we talked about making the trip back then. Some of you will recall brother McPherson the good looking baldy (getting tips from him to save what little I have), who is a debater and  evangelist, keeping the Lord’s flag flying high in Tassie.

After some convincing, brother Eddy agreed and it was a pleasure that we could travel together, then the dreaded SARS outbreak, we decided to go by faith. Lo and behold we made it.

Moving Down Under

At Changi Airport, we were troubled to see many wearing the face masks inside the check–in terminal, in the aeroplane, it was the same, worries about SARS. It would be a lie to say that we were not worried. Although brother Eddy had brought his mask, we decided not to use them. We travelled on 29 April, arrived 30 April. There to meet us was a smiling brother Chris Herd, whom we were meeting for the first time. As brother Backhouse had just got out of hospital after a heart surgery, the lectureship oversight had fallen on the able hands of brother Chris Herd. Just after collecting our luggage and getting into the van, our Eddy realised that he had broken his dentures, the devil was trying to keep him from speaking in Tasmania! We rushed to a denture repair shop, to get it fixed, after some negotiations, the cost of repair was lowered, “I am a preacher you know”, that helped. By now we realised that the weather was getting chilly, 15 to 18 degrees Celsius.

Lectureship Proper

On the first day, we briefed them on the SARS situation in Singapore, I told them to avoid brother Eddy (Since Chinese in China had SARS all Chinese are guilty by association)  Joking Mate. Australians unlike our locals are not paranoid, “No worries mate”. Indeed it was a great joy to meet all the speakers and brethern in Tassie. The speakers included Ian McPherson, his sons Alex and Gary, Glen Tattersall, Gary Young, Chris Herd, Brett Rutherford and the evergreen 92 year old Perry Cotham. The Eastern Shore church had a custom of pinning on their back wall the group photo of the lectureship speakers, so we took a group photo. The rest of the 4 days was great lessons from the book of James. Half a day was catered for open forum where brothers Cotham, McPherson and Eddy fielded questions from the floor. I must say that the ‘star’ of the lectureship was our very own brother Eddy whom the brethren looked forward to see and hear and he did not disappoint them. brother Eddy shared many occasions and experiences with brother Chris Herd, whom I am sure benefited from the interactions.

The brethren were very kind to us, arranging to pick us from the Motel to Church and looking after all our needs. brother Chris, God willing will attend the Kuala Lumpur lectureships and we can renew our friendship. He and his wife Michelle have 4 children, and he is a dedicated worker, he  even preaches through a Radio Programme in Hobart. The ladies there provided almost all our meals which were excellent, we got one day of rice and curry, much to the relief of brother Eddy. They played both the Mary and Martha roles well. The children there attended the services and were not allowed to loiter or play games. The school going ones, some of them sat in front, good examples for us. We also became aware of some of the problems that the churches in Australia faced such as Anti-ism, denominationalism,  lower church attendances, fewer young people attending church, internal church problems based on doctrinal differences, personality problems etc.

It was a joy to listen to the various speakers and to see that we are all united in the faith based on the book. The manuscripts were collected from the speakers and compiled into a booklet and distributed on the last day (one copy in our library). I believe we all gained very much from the lessons. One of the speakers, brother Gary Young (son in law of brother Backhouse) will be visiting Singapore and holding a Gospel Meeting for us, looking forward to that.

Conclusion

It has been a satisfying experience for both brother Eddy and I, it was a good break from the routine, more importantly we benefited from the visit. I would urge other Christians to plan their holidays in countries which are holding lectureships, then extend their stay from there. The coming Asian Bible Lectureships in KL is a good opportunity. For us, we may never know if we will be able (afford) the trip to Tassie again, at least we went this year. We learned that there are good, faithful Christians in other parts of the world, struggling yet doing God’s work diligently. We must also honour those men who do fulltime work labouring for the Lord, men like Eddy and David Chew, Chris Herd, Ian McPherson Glen Tattersal, George Villanueva (Phillipines), Oscar (Phillipines), James Lork Choeu (Cambodia), Jim O’Connor, Charlie Dipalma and many others. When the roll is call up yonder guess who will be amongst the first….

What will it take to make you closer to God?  by Sis Irene Nyau
17 Aug 03

This topic is specially written from my heart to the family of God; to those of us who are the "called-out" that is, if we really dare to be called by our identity as Christians (God's very own people created for good works) as in

(Eph. 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”

By words of reminder, for many times we are forgetful creatures as in (2Pet. 1:12-13) “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance”

Ponder awhile dear brethren, why proudly stick to the identity of a Christian (follower of God) when we do not have the same mind and concern for the things that are spiritual?

I wonder very much why we take the name of being a Christian so lightly, without counting the cost of it?

Our Lord hath redeemed us through His blood, for without the shedding of blood, there is no sacrifice.  Does that make us all   grateful to Him for saving us from destruction and to give us a promise of eternal life?

What can we tell God then?  “God, thank you for saving me and giving me the hope of salvation in Christ Jesus”.  After that, what then? By just merely attending worship services on Sundays only, will not make us faithful Christians if, that is the only time we have for Him!

How can we Christians grow closer to God?  It takes effort and time involved in serving Him.  The Church is the body of Christ; we are members one of another, thus we need one another to be  uplifted, and involved in the work of the Lord.

Why let only a few people do the work and others just come and go each week, without coming together in unity to strengthen one another?

(Ps 133:1) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!“

We know brethren, the concept of a physical family being closely knitted together; how about this concept in spiritual being together to come and do things together more often, with unity and support? I appeal to you brethren that more of us  involve ourselves together in serving a living God who wants our spiritual-beings to be strengthened more, by assembling and doing things together for a purpose: and that purpose is, "more hands, less work". How then can we walk in love and build up one another, if we do not come together to do things together as we would do in the physical family of ours? We need more members to participate! We need more man-power to do personal work in troops, not only a few (more members, less time involved to accomplish a task to be done) We need YOU, and me! Come, let us come together in unity (Ps. 133:1) and strength.

 A Common Love

A common love for each other,
A common gift to the Saviour,
A common bond holding us
To the Lord;

A common strength when we're weary
A common hope for tomorrow
A common joy in the truth
Of God's Word.

Excuse me! You still dare to sin? by Abigail Chew
24 Aug 03

“You Christian very good hor. You do something wrong…say sorry can already. So-o-o easy.”  

I wonder how many of us have heard this saying before.

Is it really that easy for a Christian to get things right again after doing it the wrong way with just a word of sorry? In another word, is it really with only a word of sorry we can have our sins forgiven?

For me, I find it very easy to confess my sins to God. God says we just need to confess our sins to Him and He is faithful and just to forgive us. (1Jn 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God is ever ready to forgive our sins. He loves us.

When it comes to confessing our sins one to another, it is a different matter even though it should be like the way God forgives us. (Jas 5:16) “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed…” It takes so much humility and courage to say sorry to the other party. Our pride can prevent us from doing that. The fear that the other party may not want to forgive us can deter us from confessing our sins too. As sin brings along shame, pain and quilt, it is also very difficult to say sorry during this period of time.

In view of all these factors, I would like to say that it is not so-o-o easy to confess one’s fault one to another even though we should do it.

So, it is hard to say sorry. It is even harder to do works meet for repentance. (Acts 26:20) “…do works meet for repentance” It can be a horrendous task trying to iron out the problems that follow after sinning. We may not even have the chance to rectify the situation. The after effect of sin is really very hard to bear.

Recently I succumbed to a moment of greed and dishonesty. After that I have to spend so much effort to face up to it.

It happened when I bought something from a shop behind the church building. I parted my money and collected the goods from the cashier. As I walked out of the shop, I was sure that the cashier has under charged me. I was about to turn back but a small still voice in me told me that I was wrong with my calculation. As I continued to walk away from the shop, my conscience bothered me. I knew very well that the sum paid and the amount purchased do not tally at all but the other voice in me kept telling me that it was not my fault but the cashier’s fault. I tried also to argue within myself that the shop has profited too much money. It would not make any difference whether or not I paid up the rest of the money. By this time I was very far from the shop. The rest of the day I had to try very hard not to dwell on this matter but failed.

The next day I went back to the shop. I wanted to pay back the remaining amount. I met a different cashier. I went back home and told myself that I have tried to sort out the problem. She was not there so I could keep the money now. I still could not come to term with my decision.

The next day, I went to the shop again. Still the cashier that under- charged me was not there. I felt just too tired to come another time so I gave the remaining amount of the money to the owner of the shop. I was quite happy that the matter was settled albeit not the way I really wanted it to be.

How I hoped to explain to the cashier rather than the owner of the shop. Where is she now? Was she fired because she cannot balance the account at the end of the day? Did I make her feel that this world is not a nice place to live in? Does she know that I have gotten right with myself? Oh! How I wished that I have paid her the right amount right at the beginning. Until today, I still feel very bad when I think of her. It is just impossible to straighten out the matter with her any more. The ending was not what I expected it to be. I have to live with this fact for the rest of my life. Come to think of it, I do not want to sin. The consequences are too much for us to bear. It is just too time consuming to undo the problems which follow. For some, the wrong can never be put right and have to live with them for the rest of their lives. It is emotionally so very draining.

I would not even want to go near sin also when I think of the Son of God dying on the cross for me. For every sin that I commit, I made Him bleed so that my sin could be washed away. It is like crucifying Him again and again when I sin. He is gracious towards me so, can I continue to sin? Nay. God forbid. (Rom.6:1,2) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Even though it is easy for me to confess my sins to God, I will not want to sin. Moreover, I would not want hell as my eternal dwelling place.

As I look back, there were times I triumphed and there were times I faltered. At all times, I want to repent and ask God to search my heart. (Ps.139: 23, 24) “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

So, is it easy to say sorry after sinning?

In the first place, I do not even want to sin.

What the Bible has to say about Homosexuality by Bro Cheong Chee Meng
31 Aug 03

Recently, there are a lot of news on Homosexuality.  Our PM in an interview with “Time Magazine” has spark off the debate on Homosexuality.  Our denomination friends have made their stand clear.  Our Muslim friends have also made their stand clear.  So, what has the Bible got to say about this matter?  Homosexuality is defined in the New Testament as literally “Men in bed with men.”

(1Cor 6:9) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,” Did you know that another term for homosexuality is sodomy?  Sodomy is men having sex with men.

(Gen 19:5) “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” Sodomy is named after the sinful practices of the men of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Gen 19:1-29).

Lesbianism is women having sex with women.  This practice is also a sexual perversion.  There are other terms used in the Bible which refer to sexual perversion.  In Rom 1:26, it is known as vile passions. (Rom 1:26) “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:” 

In Rom 1:27, the Bible calls it unseemliness and lust.

(Rom 1:27) “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

Those who practise such, is ungodly in the sight of the Almighty.

(2 Pet 2:6) “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

Homosexuality is not a modern society problem as some may think. Such practises were recorded as early as Abraham’s time(Gen 19) and also in the 1st centuary. (1Cor 6:9-10).  The Scriptures clearly condemn such behaviour.  Another misunderstanding is that some were borned with such “homo” genes and they can’t help but to live in such a manner.  In Gen 19:4, we find that both young and old, men from every walk of life, wanted to be engaged in such activity. They wanted to “know” the strangers that have come to their land.   Here, “to know” meaning to have sexual relationship and not just simply getting to know the person, what’s his name and occupation etc.  In (Gen 4:1) The Bible says that Adam “knew” his wife and Eve conceived and bore Cain.(Gen 4:1) “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. “

Can all of those young and old be borned with “gay genes”?  There is no evidence at present to substantiate a biologic theory that men can be born a Homosexual.  Just as there is no evidence to support any singular psychosocial explanation.  In 1999, Apr 24, the following was reported in The Straits Times: “Researchers in Canada cast doubt on the idea of a “gay gene”.., saying they had been unable to find any genetic link between homosexual brothers.  These researchers, at the University of Western Ontario, in studying pairs of gay brothers “found no evidence that they shared some sort of mutation in that area.” [William Byne and Bruce Parsons, Homosexual Orientation: The Biologic Theories Reappraised, Archives of General Psychiatry 50 (1993): 228-39]

The marriage bed between a husband and his wife is honourable in the sight of God.

(Heb 13:4) “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”

One of the single most important victory which the homosexual have attained has been to shift the debate from that of behaviour to that of identity.  This change creates the false view that those who upon the basis of God’s faith, oppose the sin of homosexuality do so because of hatred and personal aminosity toward those involved in such a pervert  lifestyle.  So what did God say about homosexuality?  IT IS A SIN!

(1 Cor 6:9-10)"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

(Lev 18:22-23) “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.  Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.”

In conclusion, men are not born as homosexual. They need not choose to live that way.  God clearly condemns such behaviour.  Nevertheless, as Christ has come to save those who are lost in sin, those who practise such sexual immorality can have their sins washed away on the basis of obedience to the gospel.

(Mark 16:16) Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

All those who repent and turn to God are welcome—yes, welcome into the Kingdom of God, His Church.