Books I'm Reading
Wednesday, June 9, 2010?
What is Fellowship all about? We always mention in Church.. the service had ended but fellowship has just begin!
Foundation that’s Biblical 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Excitement that’s Contagious Psalm 71:23 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I, whom you have redeemed.
Love for the Lost Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Leadership for Change Revelation 21:5 “I am making everything new!"
Opportunity to Serve Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Worship that’s Fluid Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Structure that’s Simple 1 Corinthians 14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
House of Honor 1 Corinthians 6:20 ...you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Innovation that’s Attractive Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created...
Practicality in Teaching Matthew 13:34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
Grace and Peace 6:45 PM
Sunday, June 6, 2010?
I came across this sermon that I've prepared during my SOT days as sermon assignment. I feel is a good time to share. Before that maybe I will share something that is truly from the bottom of my heart. 31/5/10, the day after Asia Conference, I was doing guard duty in the evening. I was eating my dinner inside the guard house and I heard on the channel 8 news "The 17 people who are 'assisting police with investigations' included the mega church’s founder and Senior Pastor Kong Hee, who was picked up early Monday morning"... I was shock and worried. My heart sunk and I do not know how to reach during that moment. I went to Facebook and is all over page. In my heart, I was praying for the Church and my pastor.
The next day I went back home and check on the news and internet... it was all over. The newspaper has pages after pages coverage on us. Yes we are being check and someone obviously complained about us. The papers keep compare with us to RenCi, Youth challenge and NKF. 1 of it had since fallen and the rest change in management. I can boldly say City Harvest and the leaders WILL never fall. We are as strong as a solid rock. I like what Victor Lim Fei said "One critical difference is that revenue (donations) for religious charities are generally from their own members." As such, the focus is on accountability to members, "rather than putting the financial statements on the Internet or made available to the public", "Please dissociate CHC w NKF & Renci Hosp. They solicit public funds; we receive members' giving. Fundamentally different."
I heard people say us as "City Money church", a Business church and many term to describe us. Why? Because their mindset have not change. Their mind cannot conceive the reality the Church can berich. They cannot accept the fact how Charismatic church work. Yes I cannot deny that we preach prosperity gospel and we believe in sowing and reaping a 100 fold. We believe in the blessing of God. I also cannot deny that we spent huge amount of money on our creative arts the sound, light, stage decoration, multimedia and live band. Whatever ever we do in Church there is bound to be a biblical reason behind it. I learn in SOT that how we conduct a Church service, we pattern against the design and layout of the Tabernacle. 1 should really study it and find out. Solomon gave, in today context, Billions of dollars to build the temple! I believe in the temple it sure have the latest technology in their time available for them!
What we do in Church, we want to do the best for the glory of God. Can you imagine the Church is backward, ugly and irrelevant?? It reflects badly not on the pastor and the member but God. Why must we allow the clubbing people have the latest music and lighting? Why must we allow the non Christian to enjoy God's creation the most when we as the child of God should be the one who should enjoy it the most? Many people may say it is the people that will reflect well about God etc. Ya is true in a way but get this fact. People look at the outside ONLY God look at the inside.
We spent millions of dollar on Conference and the things I mention above. Many people too will say we should spend it helping the poor and needy. We should not have so much reserve as a Church in the bank. The church cannot this cannot that; the Pastor cannot this cannot that!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!! God never say anything... then why so much comment? Let me ask you, why must you have a saving account? Why must you buy insurance? Why must you eat food with dishes... just porridge and soya sauce will do... that money can feed a hungry children in Africa! Come on can anybody know what I mean? If one has such thinking, then we will be very miserable. We have limited. We cannot do all to help everybody around the world. Even government could not able to do it. But as a Church slowly but surely we have contributed and help in the poor and needy in China as we have seen in Asia Conference. In Haiti and other country we sent workers over to help. Remember the star thrower story? 1 people at a time... This is life... if we can't cloth ourselve then how can we cloth other people and be a blessing to them. We are human being after all and we have a soul that needs to be feed. Compare to the needy people we are fortunate. That is why we thank God for His grace and everything that we have. Then within our ability we contribute back to the society.
I have no idea why people always mix us all together. As if they have contribute 1 cent to the church. But anyway since the Church have not official make any comments on the issue I shall not too. But at the end of the day, I trust my Pastor the Church. There are so many life experience and testimony I can share to tell the world if without the Church and Ps Kong, I will not be who I am today by the grace of God! City Harvest can sum up with this we are: Fun, Exciting, Colorful, Trendy, Fasionable, Progressive, Excellence, Realism, Creative, Sharp, Innovative, Influential, Successful, Rich Yet... Holy, Spiritual, Love people and Love God.
Joseph was a young man who was hated by his brothers. In their anger at him, they imprisoned him in a pit and then sold him into a life of slavery and misery in Egypt. Doubtless Joseph prayed to God to help him escape, but no help was forthcoming, and into slavery he went. Thought he experience years of bondage and misery, Joseph's character was refined and strengthened by his trails. Eventually he rose up to become a prime minister of Egypt who saved thousands of lives and even his own family from starvation. If God had not allowed Joseph's years of suffering, he never would have been such a powerful agent for society justice and spiritual healing.
Our rejection always become our new direction on without rejection,
we will not find our way to God’s direction for our life! All rejection is to propel you towards God’s direction for your life in which you will not by choice go to. From the story we can see that God actually is not sending rejection to say something about you and shut you down as a person but the rejection is about birthing a new option and direction in your life.
So I really believe City Harvest and Ps Kong will be strengthen through this difficult time and as a Church, as a family we will overcome this allegation together. We will have a mighty breakthrough as a church and indivitually. Our destiny has indeed call us! Through sunshine or rain we will love just the same, we are family that love love love one another!
Grace and Peace 11:02 PM
Tuesday, June 1, 2010?
I Provide 3 services
FAST, GOOD and CHEAP
Choose any 2
FAST and GOOD, It won't be CHEAP
FAST and CHEAP, It won't be GOOD
CHEAP and GOOD, It won't be FAST
Haha think about it...
Grace and Peace 10:57 AM