BEAUTIFUL FEET

Café World on Facebook

2009-11-14T07:34:00.001+08:00

Is this a waste of time?

Nothing good can come out of this game and the likes of it?

I tend to defer.

For me theses games help people to understand the simple concept of buying, selling and projection. Money does not grow on trees…

I think games on facebook are good common grounds whereby parents and children can be on talking term and thus friendly learning environment is created..

You are addicted to the applications on facebook? Then get a hold on yourself.. We have learnt not to get addicted to other things, surely we can be in control over facebook too!

List down your priorities and things to do and do them accordingly and you will be all right!

What say you?

Café World on Facebook

His pure and perfect bride...

2009-03-23T22:33:00.002+08:00

Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic who was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager, talks about her wedding day. She says, “I felt awkward as my girlfriends strained to shift my paralyzed body into a cumbersome wedding gown. No amount of corseting and binding my body gave me a perfect shape. The dress just didn’t fit well. Then, as I was wheeling into the church, I glanced down and noticed that I’d accidentally run over the hem of my dress, leaving a greasy tire mark. My paralyzed hands couldn’t hold the bouquet of daisies that lay off-center on my lap. And my chair, though decorated for the wedding, was still a big, clunky gray machine with belts, gears, and ball bearings. I certainly didn’t feel like the picture-perfect bride in a bridal magazine. I inched my chair closer to the last pew to catch a glimpse of Ken in front. There he was, standing tall and stately in his formal attire. I saw him looking for me, craning his neck to look up the aisle. My face flushed, and I suddenly couldn’t wait to be with him. I had seen my beloved. The love in Ken’s face had washed away all my feelings of unworthiness. I was his pure and perfect bride. How easy it is for us to think that we’re utterly unlovely — especially to someone as lovely as Christ. But he loves us with the bright eyes of a Bridegroom’s love and cannot wait for the day we are united with him forever.” And we, unattractive, frightened, paralyzed and imperfect, yet wild with hope, come to the wedding feast of the Lamb. We feel inadequate and unworthy, yet our eyes are fixed on Christ. We are overwhelmed with emotion as we know that we are loved and accepted just as we are, and that the wedding will bring about a transformation. The blood and water that flowed from his side has released us from our bondage, healed our brokenness and cleansed us from our sin. We become the Bride of Christ, not just in theory or potentially, but in reality. And there, together with him and all the redeemed, we will taste the new wine of the kingdom. The writer of Revelation proclaimed: “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Revelation 21:2-5).

(Note: A true story made to be an illustration in Sermoncentral)

Obama Wants You to Pay for Abortions

2008-11-10T10:03:00.003+08:00

Christian Group's Concern over elected-Obama

During the run for The White House...

Senator Barack Obama Wants You to Pay for Abortions

WASHINGTON — Christian group under the leadership of Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney launches new effort in their campaign to educate American voters on the abortion policies of Senator Obama.

The campaign called, “Barack Obama: The Abortion President,” will focus on how Mr. Obama wants taxpayers to pay for abortions.

A major part of the campaign is to inform the public on the fact that Senator Obama wants people of faith, Catholics and Evangelicals, to pay for abortions through their tax dollars.

The Chicago Tribune reported last year, when Senator Obama was “asked about his proposal for expanded access to health insurance, Obama said it would cover ‘reproductive health services.’ Contacted afterward, an Obama spokesperson said that included ‘abortions.’

Although in recent days Senator Obama has tried to downplay his views on abortion, his own Presidential website says, “…he has been a consistent champion of reproductive choice and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v. Wade a priority as President.”

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states, “Senator Obama talks about bringing hope, faith and change to American politics. We now see this is all just political ‘doublespeak.’ One of his top priorities as President would be protecting abortion rights and even expanding them. If elected, Senator Obama would become ‘The Abortion President,’ with the most extremist policies on abortion of any President in history.”

“Senator Obama’s views on abortion are so radical that he even wants American citizens to pay for them. This would include Catholics, Evangelicals and all people of faith. He would also expand abortion rights through his passionate support of The Freedom of Choice Act.”

“The Christian Defense Coalition will be working diligently over the next 5 months before the November elections to educate people of faith, especially Catholics, that Barack Obama wants them to pay for abortions. This is not a candidate who is concerned about social justice, hope and equality. Rather, this is candidate who will continue the violence and pain of abortion and refuse to end this tragic war against America’s women and children.”

Kaitlin Clare, Program Director for the Christian Defense Coalition, adds, “As a 23 year old woman of faith, I am appalled at the radical and extremist abortion politics of Senator Obama. This is not a progressive view on abortion or one that affirms women. As most of this emerging generation is embracing a ‘culture of life’ and growing less comfortable with abortion, Senator Obama wants to take us back to a radical pro-abortion posture that is both archaic and disturbing.”

“Senator Obama, this generation will not go back to the violent days of abortion on demand with no restrictions. It is very confusing that you do not want tax dollars going to pay for the deaths of American solders in Iraq, yet you want each of us to pay for the killing of innocent children through abortions here in America.”

“We also want to remind Senator Obama that although we may be more progressive than our parents on the environment, social justice and other cultural issues, we could never vote for a President that wants to expand and embrace abortion policies that diminish women and violate human rights.”

Source : The Voice

God has vindicated the black folk

2008-11-10T09:38:00.005+08:00

GOD HAS VINDICATED THE BLACK FOLK!

Across the country, from a mostly white church in the Southwest to the pulpit from which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached his message of equa

lity and nonviolent change, Christian clergy members on Sunday asked God to give Obama the wisdom and strength to lead the country out of what many consider a wilderness of despair and gloom.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Pastor Shirley Caesar-Williams opened her sermon Sunday at Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church with a prayer of thanks for the election of Barack Obama -- at the risk of her flock getting "more excited over this than you do over the word."

"God has vindicated the black folk," the Grammy-winning gospel singer said as a member of the congregation waved an American flag and another marched among the pews blowing a ram's horn.

"Too long we've been at the bottom of the totem pole, but he has vindicated us, hallelujah," she cried. "I don't know about you, but I don't have nothing to put my head down for, praise God. Because when I look toward Washington, D.C., we got a new family coming in. We got a new family coming in. And you know what? They look like us. Amen, amen. They look like us."

Across the country, from a mostly white church in the Southwest to the pulpit from which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. preached his message of equality and nonviolent change, Christian clergy members on Sunday asked God to give Obama the wisdom and strength to lead the country out of what many consider a wilderness of despair and gloom.

And on the day King famously called "the most segregated day of the week," they also called for the nation to come together behind the man who will be the first black president.
In his Web message last week, senior pastor Gregg Matte of Houston's 167-year-old First Baptist Church decried a society that has turned to government as its savior.

"Today," he wrote, "Hollywood is our pastor, technology is our Bible, charisma is our value and Barack Obama is our President."

But from the pulpit Sunday, Matte asked the 1,000 or so mostly white faces staring back at him to "lift up President-elect Obama" even if he wasn't their choice on Tuesday.

"Regardless of whether you voted for him or not, he's now our president come Jan. 20," he said. "So we're going to come behind him and pray for him and pray for wisdom, that God will give him wisdom and be able to really speak to his heart."
At a white church in Mississippi, where roughly nine in 10 whites voted for Republican John McCain, the scene was more muted.

The neighborhood around the Alta Woods United Methodist Church in Jackson has seen its demographics shift from white to black in recent decades, and most of the parishioners have moved to the suburbs. While Pastor David W. Carroll recognized Obama's election as a "historic shift," he said he was also struck by McCain's patriotism in defeat.

"As the crowd began to boo a little bit ... he quieted them down and said, 'Now is not my time, but I'm an American first and I will serve the president-elect,"' he said. "In a loss, he showed us still how he could win through his service."

But in black churches from the capital of the Confederacy to the streets of Harlem, it was all about Obama.

At Hungary Road Baptist Church in a working-class suburb of Richmond, Va., the two-hour, 40-minute service was part celebration, part history lesson, led by a pastor who had felt the sting of the Jim Crow South. The Rev. J. Rayfield Vines Jr., pastor of the predominantly African-American congregation, paused briefly as he recalled the indignities he endured but did not bow to growing up Suffolk, in southeastern Virginia.

"I was there when you had ride in the back of the bus," Vines said under a simple cross illuminated by eight light bulbs. "I was there when you went to the department store and you couldn't try on the clothes. I was there when they had a colored toilet and a white toilet."
The pastor said he shared his humiliations Sunday to help give those "who had not tasted the bitterness of segregation ... an idea why we all shouted."

"My cup runneth over on Tuesday night," Vines said. "My eyes have seen the glory."

Inside Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church, Obama T-shirts vied with colorful plumed hats as a fashion statement. Church member Sheila Chestnut, 61, wore a rhinestone Obama pin on her suit lapel.

"I am so happy," she said. "I cried so much. I never thought that in this lifetime I would live to see an African-American become president of these United States."

When the Rev. Calvin Butts invited the congregation to stand up "and give God praise for the election," several hundred churchgoers rose as one, lifted their hands in the air and gave a sustained cheer, then chanted, "Yes we can! Yes we can!"

At Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side, less than two miles from Obama's home, jubilant Sunday services were peppered with references to the election and calls to be grateful for his victory.

"We thank the Lord for this second Sunday (in November) after the first Tuesday," Dr. Byron Brazier said to resounding applause and cheers from the mostly black congregation. "This is a wonderful time to be alive."

Obama spoke at Apostolic on Father's Day in his first address to a congregation after leaving his longtime church, Trinity United Church of Christ, following inflammatory remarks there by his former longtime pastor and others.

Perhaps nowhere was the weight of history more palpable Sunday than at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, from whose pulpit King spread his message of inclusion and across from which he lies entombed.

When the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock tried to put into words what it meant for Obama to win Virginia, where the first American slaves landed nearly 400 years ago, his words were drowned out by the applause and cheers from a capacity crowd whose faces captured the entire spectrum of the human rainbow.

"Barack Obama stood against the fierce tide of history and achieved the unimaginable," he said. "But he did not get here by himself. Give God some credit. He is the Lord."

But while he told the congregation that it was a time for celebration, he also reminded them it was "a serious time."

"We still have a whole lot of work to do," he said. "You have two little girls who will grow up in the White House. Around the corner, you have two little girls who will grow up in a crack house.

Among those in attendance was the slain civil rights leader's sister, Christine King Farris. She was reminded of her brother's prescience.

"As he predicted the night before he left us, 'I may not be with you, but as a people we will reach the promised land,"' she said stoically. "That promised land was realized Tuesday. Yes, it is our promised land. ..

Source: Fox's News

Texas school district to let teachers carry guns

2008-08-16T04:40:00.005+08:00

What does this title brings into your mind?

The very first pictures that kicked out from my memory files are:

1. Wyatt Earp
2. Doc Holiday
3. Buffalo Bill Cody
4. Billy the Kid
5. Who was the sheriff that shot Billy the Kid? Eeerrmm... will come back to that, but what I remember, no one can beat Billy the Kid in a gun duel, so being friends as they were, Billy didnt want to kill his friend ..so you know what he did? He being lefthanded, repositioned his handgun to his right side...because he is a little slower to draw from his right compared to his left....Who was that sheriff?
6. The Young Riders
7. High Chaparal (Reminds me of Monalito Mantoya!)
8. High Noon
9. The Zorro serials ! (We had 'Zorro Fighting Legend, The Black Whip, Son of Zorro... there were so many zorroes ooo..!)
10. How the West was won..
11. Pat Garreth (yeah, I think he was the one that shot Billy the Kid! Or was he the one?)
12. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (loved this one!)

Did I miss any?

Where have all the good movies gone to?

But we are not talking about western movies and Tv serials here..!

Sad isn't it, when it comes to present day Tewas..? And it is not just Texas... Lawlessless seem to be prevailing more and more everywhere....! I believe if our big bro Paul (the apostle) is still around today he will surely say "Told you so, didn't I?" with a shrug..... He wrote it down in a very ancient text called the Bible, and you can find it in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power.(NIV)

How did this lawlessness came to be? Where did it sprung out from? To answer this, let me share a quote from a book I am currently reading ...

"Scripturally, the cause of this worldwide wave of hatred is lawlessness. The root of lawlessness is a focus on self at the expense of the good of the whole. When the heart of a society turns to self, self becomes law. We then thrust aside the laws of God to allow freedom for each "self" to live according to his or her own law". [Sigh!] (Source book: Purifying The Prophetic by R. Loren Sandford, Chosen Grand Rapids pg. 102)

What say you?

Christ's love compells us..

2008-06-22T08:15:00.006+08:00

It was our second trip to Kg. Bambangan, Pitas. I have not upgraded myself to a GPRS system but I have a fairly good idea of where it is located that I had put it on Google Earth. Just type "Kg. Bambangan, Pitas" and you will see its approximate location.

Twelve of us went this time. A medical doctor (Bobby's sister in law), and a dentist (our G.I. Jane) came along. This was the Powerhouse (the Youth of our church) mission initiative. Way to go, Bob!

We always find going into the interior as a challenge. I for one is very particular about toilets. I am not asking for a "five star" toilet but at least a descent one at that. So much so that each time I go deep in the interior, I will tell my system to "behave". No "business" until I say so. It works everytime!

But its not that bad at all. If you cant get a "five stars" toilet in the interior, there are many stars toilets available!! And there are all around you! Behind a big rock, under a tree, behind some srubs... you get the idea!

Bathroom? Mandi sungai la ! We go to the river la.. Christine and her species were downstream we were upstrem.. What will happen if one of us decided to do his business in the river right there and then? Imagine that!

Dr. Alice and Dr. Jane were superb. They did what they do best. The small church building and the house we stayed in turned health and dental clinic respectively in no time ! It was truly Christ's love in action!

All went well except during the ministry of the Word. I sensed that these people may have a religion but not a relationship with Christ. They may come to us for the goodies we brought to them and not for anything else. We truly need to penetrate into their world views as to penetrate in with the life changing power of the Gospel.

I shared on the importance of being receiving Jesus as persoal Savior and Lord by using the examples of Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman. The first was a "very holy man" and the latter was a "very sinful person". Both needed Jesus for salvation and entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven. I stresed that we didnt come all the way to bring them goodies for we cant be doing that all the time. We have come for the love of Christ's compells us to come...

The next day word sharing was on the crucifixion. Jesus was crucified alongside two very notorious criminals. Both the accounts of Matthew and Mark related to us that both crooks ridiculed Jesus, but Luke wrote it quite differently. I used these texts first of all to show forth the richness and extend of God's mercy and forgiveness.. Secondly I used the comparisons to penetrate into our Dusun worlview of appeasing the gods for spiritual and physical wellbeing. Now that Christ has shed His blood and died we need not offer animal sacricifes any longer. The response from the floor was "Tiada lagi bah kami sembah berhala sekarang pastor...." and it was said by a man seated at a corner. I sensed something amiss but I couldn't identify what was it. On the way back, a brother told me that the man whom responded earlier is still practicing his animistic belief. He told me that the person went to a big tree and asked his son to be healed from the spirits of the woods.. O brother! No wonder he was the first to respond saying that they no longer practice their animistic belief and rituals... God have mercy...

Am I dissapointed? Not at all. Jesus loves them all the same. The time will come when God's Spirit will sweep through that area like while fire! Just wait and see...

Engaging the gates of the enemy

2008-04-13T05:28:00.008+08:00

It was a spiritual struggle and warfare. Everything looked normal on the surface, but something was triggered in the spiritual realm. The Bible says...

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:13-16(NKJV)

I am referring to our recent mission trip to Banggi Island on the 29-30th March 2008. As much as we looked forward to the trip, we were fully aware that it was entering into the "unknown" (most of us had never been there before) and that we need to be extra careful physically and spiritually..

Some 17 years ago, one of us had been to the island. His team of 5 managed to enter after three months spiritual preparation of fasting and prayers. They went in trekking the island for 10 days with the help of a lady tour guide, eating tapioca and drinking coconut juice most of the time. There were earlier attempts from the SIB church but were not successful. I was told that even the former President of SIB himself was rejected at the jetty of the island and was asked to go back. In those days the islanders were known for their animistic belief and practices. You can find shamans and witchdoctors in the island quite easily. I am also told that they still have their high places and secret places of worship similar to the pagan worship in the Old Testament times to this very day. It is believed that this is one of the main reason for the slow growth and advancement of the church on the island. They said that a challenge was given to the Christian to go to these "sacred places" and if they can come back alive, the islanders will then believe in the Gospel of our Lord. That was only 17 years ago.

So this time 23 of us went in. All were rookies to the island except for that one friend. I had to really persuade this brother to come along. I told him that compare to us he is like John Rambo (Rambo I, II, III, IV), and the rest of us are mere army rookies.

God was good! God is good! He is always is! He answered our prayers for fine weather to and fro.
By the way, for another angle for this trip, please read Kristine's at http://weblog.xanga.com/chrishellz/649659093/pulau-banggi.html, thanks Christine!

I cant forget praying for an elderly lady on Sunday morning. She is the mother of a local evangelist. We were told that this lady was an intercessor. She related to the pastor that one day while walking, she suddenly fainted for no reason at all. When we were praying for her, she was quite thin and weak. It was difficult for her to move around and to do work. Suddenly I sensed the spiritual power of darkness that was oppressing her. The intend was to silence her witness. I announced it to the team and asked each member to be on their guard and pray for protection for each one as well as for their family members back home. The enemy will retaliate when disturbed. Example, Paul was attacked after he prayed healing for the sick (Acts 14: 19-20), and after he had engaged the gates of the enemy many times over, a snake tried to bite him (Acts 28:3-5), but the Lord was there beside him. In the spiritual realm, the enemy must had been very busy trying to take him down. With this knowledge, I asked the team to really pray for protection.

We had two young ladies whom accepted Jesus for salvation that Sunday morning and prayed for two other ladies that have demonic oppressions in their lives. But the most touching moment was when my friend met up with the man he baptized 17 years ago. The first ever! They hugged each other for some time. That was a very encouraging moment to be in. Praise be to God for He is still doing His works of salvation everywhere and that He is faithful to bring into completion that He had started until the day of our Lord Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6)

We went back at around 11.30 am. 45 minutes of dusty and bumpy road to the jetty. One of us said the ride remind him of "Dirty Dozens". Upon reaching the jetty, we took the tongkang (Kristine says its a jongkong).. Mana yang betul aa? (Which one is correct?).

It was drizzling when I was asked to pray for God to stop the rain. And yes, He stopped the rain from coming. What followed after was for me a pure enjoyment of 3 hours on sea under the sun! Feeling jealous already? Dont have to be at the Carribean lol! Cheap cheap only!

All of us reached Kota Kinabalu safely the evening of the same day, feeling tired and having stories to tell.... "Been there ,done this ,done that..."

But consider what happened to some of us in the following week

1. The rear tyre of one of the team member's truck pulled off and hit a Kancil. It was driven by the wife sending their youngest to Kindergarten. Thank God nobody was hurt.

2. On Saturday night an accident took place right in front of the gate of the house of the Ministry Leader of our Mission Department.

3. On Sunday morning, Sarah ( always there together praying for the sick and oppressed while in Banggi) who was to give testimony on the Banggi trip, her Kancil was rammed by another car at Jalan Tuaran in front of the Shell Petrol Station. Her car went spinning and overturned. Her son was thrown out of the car in the process. Thank God nobody was seriously hurt. Her son-despite the momentum- landed on the roadside and suffered only a broken teeth. His friend got his forehead knocked but otherwise okay. The two were running around with my youngest during and after the Sunday service.

We dont believe that these incidents were coincidental. These were the backlashes of the enemy. And they are real. We thank God because God does protect His own. We concluded that we must have touched something in the spirit realm while in Banggi that these things happened to us. This is telling us that we need to go there again. Jesus is the Messiah. He is Lord. Upon this confession, upon the rock of our confession, He will build His church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16: 18)

Any takers for Banggi? Can you hear the trumpet calls?

Christ's love compels us...

2007-09-18T21:19:00.001+08:00

It was on the 8-9th September. Just over two weeks ago. My third time in Kg Mendulong in three months. My first visit was during my holiday trip with some Korean tourists. The second was during my visit doing the Celebration of Hope Malaysia project.

I have heard of this village since the first year I became a Christian in 1984. I heard lots of good reports about the people of this particular village. One of our former SIB Presidents came from this village. Many strong leaders of SIB came from this village too. So I was really looking forward to visit the place and arranged a visit when I had the chance to do so last August.

It is a very clean and beautiful village. Beautiful and friendly people. Nice place to be. Calm and quiet. But I cant help noticing the absence of young people in the church service during my first visit. I noticed the same thing my second. I was told that, the young people would come to church if some youth group will come and pay a visit to the church. Powerhouse and BPM came to my heart. So I conveyed the invitations to both teams to team up with the Interior Ministry...The purpose? To stir and encourage the young people of that church!

So how was the trip?Lets hear what someone had to say about that trip:

Christine ( http://www.xanga.com/chrishellz) wrote:

I went to Sipitang over the weekend for a short mission trip in Kampung Mendulong. We went in 3 groups/ministries and there were 22 of us, in 6 different cars. There were the mission ministry headed by Ps. Jubilee, and he was alone, and then 10 from Powerhouse Youth ministry and 11 from Borneo Praise Ministry. Ps. Jubilee and 10 of us from Powerhouse left for Sipitang first at around 12.30pm, and BPM left at 2pm cause some of them were working. It took us like 3 hours to reach Sipitang, and 45 minutes to Kampung Mendulong.So yea, we arrived at Kampung Mendulong at around 5pm, and we were told that the first service starts at 7.30. So we hung out with the people there, ate lotsa local fruits, like rambutan, langsat and mangoesteen. nyummm!!! Also rested for a while. When it was almost 7pm, we took out shower, wanted to get ready for dinner, but instead of dinner, they served TEA! LoL~So we were having tea at 7pm. We were still waiting for the group from BPM, and it was raining quite heavy. And by the time they arrived, it was already around 8pm. They said that the river was too deep, and they were going around trying to look for different route to get into the village, and there was one way also but the bridge broke down, and well yea, not sure how, but they finally got here safe and sound and in 1 piece.

How we got through?

The brigde was giving away as we reached it. And there was this "no entry sign" put up. We had to make up our mind very quickly. If we walk from that point, that would mean some 45 minutes walking to the church carrying delicate musical instruments ... daring the rain! So, mumbling "Lord, help me!" I crossed over to the other side driving a heavy Hilux! What a rush! Roger, Rijol and Jeffrey followed my lead...We were told in the following morning that the bridge had collapsed!

God is good!

LoL~ We had our opening prayer, thanked God for everything and had out dinner!!! Dinner was good!!! =) But there was no eletricity. lol! So we had candlelight dinner instead. lol! How cool is that. We started our night service at 8.45. BPM took over the worship and Ps. Jubilee preached. It was a good time in the Lord's presence, and the messaged was good, he basically preached about being the light, stay strong and also live a life as a true christian. He closes us in family prayer!! We held each other's hand across the church and prayer!!! =)

I had to play by ear while preparing myself for preaching. I find myself of late that I dont read the Bible to "prepare" sermons as such but I read the Bible to live! So when we have the "Life" in us, preaching will not be a struggle but a life-giving experience..

So after the night session, we had duriansssssss! Nyum~ And we slept around 1am.

The next day, we woke up at 5am, to do bible study and pray. I was like 10 minutes late. LoL~ Ps. Jubilee shared about Jeremiah and Hananaiah, it was a good message and also learnt a lot, about being true christian, like being sensitive and knowing that you're really called by the Lord. We finished at 6am, and then we had like an exercise thingie. LoL~ It was so funny, but fun at the same time!! At 7am, Ps Jubilee, told me that I need to get the team to do a children service. and this is a last minute thingie. LoL~ So there we go again, like Pitas trip, David did the games, with the help of Jia Jun, and I did the singing.. hahaha! It was fun. The children here are fun, and more attentive, and also all smiley! =)

Actually, when I was told that I will be sharing in the morning devotion, I planned to share on "Friendship With God" but when the morning prayer bell woke me up, Jeremiah 28 came to my heart... And about the children thingie, I was also taken aback that the ministry was given to the team! One more for the check list!

Our morning service starts at around 9am. They said the time over there is RUBBER! Rubber time! Means it can start anytime and end anytime. lol~ So yea, BPM took over worship and worship was AWESOME. The members of SIB Mendulong also had some performances for us to testify about God. They had like dances and singing. It was beautiful. Then Ps Jubilee preached about staying strong, and he focused a lot on the young people. He was very straight forward and frank, spoke about hell and also lukewarm christian. I learnt a lot from the message. Ministry time was beautiful, first he prayed for people who wants to have a new heart, and then he also prayed for parents and people who wants their kids and families to be saved. Responds was awesome, and it was a good time with the Lord..

So enjoy our slide below!

Our heart our desire...

2007-06-26T01:01:00.000+08:00

"Our heart our desire
Is to see the nations worship
Our cry our prayer
Is to sing Your praise to the ends of the earth
That with one mighty voice
Every tribe and tongue rejoices
Our heart our desire
Is to see the nations worship You"

That was one of the worship lyric on Sunday morning at our church..

I have sung the same song many times over, but this time around it had a deeper impact and meaning to me personally...

As I raise both hands in worship with Vivien at my right and son Ezra at my left...I could clearly see the faces of the the people and places in the interior that I had visited and ministered to...

Yes, the desire of my heart is for them to worship Him , our Savior Lord and King of Kings...Yes, the purpose I go to the interior is this: to make the people believe in Him and in turn become worshipers themselves... The Father is seeking for a people that will worship Him in Spirit and Truth.. As I see them while worshiping the Lord, my heart reached out to the Lord praying that these people will grow in stature and maturity for His glory.... Will you pray for them too?

In praying for them, listen..... Is God saying anything about it to you? What is He saying?

One more thing, are we all not called to be a blessing to the nations when Abraham was called? Remember one thing: Without God man cannot, without man God will not!

What say you?

(Kita minum dulu!Where is the Tenom coffee?)

Interior Trip to Pitas

2007-06-24T16:55:00.000+08:00

A write-up by Christine Majimbun

On June 16^th-17^th 2007, 10 of us including a team from Powerhouse and 2 other from SIB Immanuel(C) went for a short mission trip to one kampung in Pitas. None of us had any idea how that place would look like since none of us has been there before. According to Beautiful Feet, the trip will be a little tougher than any other interior mission trip we have been to because we need to walk by foot into the kampung.

So on June 16^th, we met in Shalom at 9am and we had 3 four wheel drives to bring us to Pitas. We went for breakfast and started our journey to Kota Marudu as we have to meet Pastor Kilon Lagadan the Ketua SIB Kawasan Tandek, to lead us the way to our destination. We arrived at Kota Marudu at about 12, had our lunch and head on to the kampung. It took about 30 minutes from Kota Marudu to the junction that will take us to that kampung. And right as we enter the junction, the road was rugged/rough all the way, and we drove on for about 90 minutes on rugged road, crossed 4 rivers, 2 big ones and 2 small ones. Bobby’s truck stucked at one muddy hill after crossing one of the rivers. He tried like 10 minutes going up and down, but finally was able to reverse all the way back. Everyone worked together to pick up rocks from the river to that muddy area, and the team from Bob’s car had to get down as he will try to speed up through that mud. And yes! He did it.

When we reached a place where we parked our car, we walked another 60 minutes by foot up and down the hills and across 2 rivers. All of us were sweating like mad, and it was really tough for some of us who are not used to this kind of stuff.

When we finally reached the place at about 4.30pm, all of us were soaked. We reached in front of a house which at first most of us thought it was the church but it turned out to be a house belonged to one of the church member and the church instead was just 20 meters away and it looked like a chicken coop, it was very small. Smaller than the house.

We put all our luggage down, and rested for a while in the house that was near the church. When we wanted to take our shower, we only then realize that the river is like 30 minutes downhill, and if we were to shower there, by the time we come back up to the house, we’ll all be sweating again. Some of us decided to stay, while some insisted on walking down to the river. But right after they walked out the house, rain started to fall. So everyone just sat in the room, and all of the sudden, Uncle Ronny has a smart idea; he took off his shirt and started showering under the rain. And everyone started joining him, well except for some of us. By the time they finished showering, the rain stopped! How cool is that? God is good! The kampung has no electricity power, they had to use generator in order to give us light. So we had our dinner and started our night service with about 30-40 people in the room.

We started off with songs of praise and worship and also a testimony by David. And more worship and then Uncle Ronny preached. He preached about being the light, and encouraged the community there to stand strong, and remind them the influence of Muslim nowadays. We ended with a very powerful prayer for families and youth. One lady came forward and said that she wanted to accept the Lord! Amen! And also, a family with a 12 years old girl came forward for prayer. The family said that the girl was forced to convert. So Uncle Ronny and Ps Jubilie started sharing and encouraged them about not being influenced and stand firm on what they believe. Isn’t it amazing that what Uncle Ronny preached touched and changed so many lives?

After the night service, we had a chance to learn about the culture and race over there. They brought up their gongs and kulintangan and started dancing, and some of us managed to learn their dance. We slept around 12.30am and we slept at the place where we had dinner and service, and everything. The very same spot.

On Sunday, most of us were awakened up by the sound of people chatting. We prepared ourselves for our service. We had our service in the same house, since the church was too small. We told the community there that we’re going to start at 9am, but the people start coming in at 8am. They are so excited about God and just so hungry for the word of God. Families after families started coming in and we decided to start our service at 8.30am with the room all packed with families coming from 3 different villages. What touched us also is that a family traveled 3 hours just to come and join the service with us. They had to travel by car, boat and foot. The service started with a welcoming message and then songs of praise and worship. Danielle and Connie then shared their testimonies about how they accepted the Lord Jesus as their savior. After that, we sung some more, and Bob came up and shared about how his family accepted the Lord, and also about how he has never given up sharing the word and encouraging the family to come to church.

Ps Jubilie then realized that the children were quite noisy and a distraction to the adults, so he got Christine and David to took the children for some games. Garry and Danielle also came and helped out, and Connie worked as the video woman. Christine and David started off with games with the children, and then action songs, as well as story telling. Most of the children there are very well behaved and attentive. We had a good time in the Lord’s presence.

[In the adult service, Uncle Ronny stressed the meaning of being a true Christian. Every one need to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Christianity is not about having a religion, but having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Six came forward to pray the sinners’ prayer. After that the team prayed that the church will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit and for healing. The people in the kampung really need healing as they will need to spend at least RM40 to and fro (by boat and car) for the nearest hospital at Pitas town.]^{JA insert}

After the service, we gathered back at the house and it was gift giving time. We started with giving gifts to the fathers since it was father’s day, and then to the mothers and to the kids. We also gave away 2^nd hand clothes for everyone. We brought like (10) boxes of clothes and milk. Around that time, all of us were burning hot, we were all sweating and all of us can’t wait to get home. Some even rather not have lunch there. But we had our lunch there since they cooked for us already, and then we packed, said our goodbyes and left. It was a good challenge indeed.

8 June SIB Kg Minyak

2007-06-24T16:54:00.000+08:00

24-25 March ... SIB Kg Anam, Nabawan

2007-03-31T09:48:00.000+08:00

The aim of our interior mission is to encourage and strengthen the interior for Jesus Christ against the forces of false religion and ungodly post modernisation. We believe the only way to do this is through the preaching of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and from the teaching of His Word..Such mandate is very clear for us to carry out for it is written "Wake up!Strengthen what remains and is about to die.."(Revelation 3:2). We have no option but to obey. Dont we? So on 24-25 March we went to SIB Kg Anam at Nabawan....

I know, no video clips right? I am working on it...hehehehe

Pray for the churches at Nabawan. Pray for the gift of discernment for the leaders at SIB Nabawan so that they may know what is of God and what is not so that they will be able to minister accordingly...

I can see that the interior SIB as a whole is quite lacking in the teaching of God's Word. This need to be addressed at the pastors' and leadership levels. If we let our feelings to be our guide, believing them to be "His voice" at the expense of a good grasp of His written Word, then we are like a ship with a broken compass...

That is why we brought along copies of Pedoman Harian (BM version of Our Daily Bread) to give to the youth at Nabawan. Special thanks to RBC for those books. Pray that the youth will be greatly strengthened and encouraged by the Lord through the book. ...

18 March..SIB Minitampak 1

2007-03-31T08:15:00.000+08:00

On the 18th March 2007 Ronny, Tan, Kenny and myself went to a kampong in Kota Marudu by the name of Kg Minitampak...

The church at SIB Minitampak 1 need strengthening. They need to have a pastor to lead and to shepherd them. They desperately need a pastor's house. Please pray that the Lord will provide this church a pastor house and sent a pastor to help them..

Is the Lord saying anything to you about this? You want to help? You want to get involved? Let us know...

25 February to 23 March 2007...

2007-03-31T06:44:00.000+08:00

Some people in Church would ask "Hey, bro...! Long time no see la! Where have you been?" And I will answer "But the reverse is also true..! I didn's see you for a long time too!"

Where was I? Why the slow update on this blog? After being featured in the Sunday Bulletin once...and that's it...?

I was away for almost a month to help intrepreting in an international training.. The following slides can help to explain...

For almost a month, I was asked to help interprete in an international children worker training school. The ministry is called Christ For All Children, an Australian based. I cant remember the number of times I was asked to help interprete for them, but this time around had impacted me in a deeper way. I am so touched by the work our Lord is doing in other parts of the world such as India, Cambodia, Brunei, Philippines and China.

I strongly believe the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can give hope and strength for children to face life's challenges. Maybe we wont be reading an article such as http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=48630 during breakfast if the true message of the Gospel plus the loving care of the Church had reached the affected family .. Will the real evangelists and pastors rise up?

For me, its a signal that I need to be more serious in preaching and teaching the Gospel to other people old and young alike.. God helps us all in carrying forth His mandate.

Are you still with me?

2006's interior mission summary...

2007-02-15T19:25:00.000+08:00

Special thanks to all praying friends who had been supporting my family and I in prayers all the way through 2006 (and in the previous years)! God bless you all! We believe that you will continue to pray for my family and the ministry this year. Pray that we will continue to love and serve Him faithfully for His glory and the goodwill of mankind! Again, thank you very very much!

Let's Do it!

2007-02-08T16:11:00.000+08:00

Let's walk our talk then...

On 23-29 January I went on to help train some young evangelists and after that made a "Joshua and Caleb" trip in Ranau area. The result was a successful meeting the following week.. Enjoy the slide show!

Strengthen My people!

2007-02-07T20:42:00.000+08:00

I was driving home one evening when I suddenly remember two of my elder sisters whom had converted to another religion. It griefs whenever I think of them. I lost them the day they converted. Although we can still "eat together" occasionally, it is not the same ...

That was at the middle of December, 2006.

They were not the only ones. Many others are being lured to this religion in the interior of Sabah. The prospects of landing into good paying jobs, financial assistant for further studies and the promise of many benefits, had lured many to convert. They did not know what they were getting themselves into.

I cant forget the year 1979. I was 13. I was sent by the Sabah Foundation to study in the Peninsular. I was put up in a boarding school. During my boarding days, I was told by friends that I will go to hell when I die because I am a Christian. If I want to go to heaven, then I need to become one of them. I asked myself "Are all the good people in church back home bound for hell?" One Christian fellowship outside of the school tried to reach me. One day I was given a Bible to read. But it was "borrowed" by one of our religious teachers. A few days later, I saw the cover was what left of it when I passed by his house on my way to the school's canteen one afternoon. He burnt the Bible. Not a very pleasant memory.

I remember crying alone in the hostel when all my friends went for their Friday prayers. There in the dormitory I asked God "God, Who are You? Why cant I see You? Why am I a Christian? Why is life so lonely? Who are You? What is the purpose of study? Life?Why am I away from my family?Why You put me here? Lord, Who are YOU?? Are You the Christian God? Or are You the Muslim God? Which One? Please, I need to know Who You are. If You let me know Who You are and the way to go to You, then I promise will let others know the way..I know I am not alone in this search for You. If You tell me, I will tell them.." I remember crying. Really cried for the first time. I cried in search for His reality. I was 13. My mum was praying hard for my protection and salvation every 3 am since the day I left Sabah to study in Sekolah Menengah Ibrahim, Sungai Petani Kedah.

I got saved in 1984. What took me so long?

" Lord, I will tell them.." I am what I am because of that simple vow.

28 years ago.

God is good. He is so so good isn't He?

While driving home that evening, God's Spirit rose within me and I heard His still small voice "Strengthen My people, my son!"

I pulled over and smsed a lawyer friend "Our interior focus is to strengthen the interior for Christ"! The reply was a strong positive.

Thats exactly what I am going to do this year, strengthening God's people for Christ!

I am now on Ezra and Nehemiah. I can identify with them as I read them again in the context of what was put into my heart. Both were sent back to rebuild. I am also "commissioned" to "rebuild". Our third generation (SIB in particular) need to be strengthened. Many have knowledge about the Lord but we need to bring that knowledge into a daily reality of living in Christ! Many have a religion but not a relationship with the Lord. My sisters had religion but not a relationship with Christ. It was so then, it is so now.

But today we can make a difference. How? Through the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Christ. Because faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. Paul the apostle asked "How shall they hear without a preacher? And how they are to preach unless they are sent?" And Paul quoted Isaiah "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Are you with me? Anyone?