The Old and New Testament makes it clear that perform good deeds, beliefs and have faith and love of God's, with all your soul, with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, can save, and we are not far from the kingdom of God, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.

But it makes it equally clear that patience and perseverance in doing good works is the greatest indication that an individual's faith and the love of God's is genuine. - James 2:14-26 - (Faith and good works) Indeed, perseverance springs from a faithful trust that God has been steadfast toward His people. Through perseverance in God's work, the Christian proves his deep appreciation for God's saving grace.

When this perishable nature has put on imperishability and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true. Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin and sin gets its power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord's work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain. - 1Cor. 15:54-58 -

As a result of perseverance the Christian can expect not only to enhance the strength of the Church but also to build up the strength of his own character. In short, he can expect to become closer to God. He learns that he can persevere primarily because God is intimately related to him and especially because he has the assurance of a final reward in heaven.

So far then we have seen that through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope and this hope is not deceptive because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. - Rom. 5:1-5 -

For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved - our salvation is not in sight we should not have to be hoping for it if it were - but as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet - it is something we must wait for with patience. The Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words and God who know everything in our hearts know perfectly well what he means and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God. - Rom. 8:24-27 -

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Doctrine refers to a body of beliefs about God, man, Christ Jesus, the Church and other related concepts considered authoritative and thus worthy of acceptance by all peoples of the community of faith.

Christ's condemned the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees because it was of human origin.

Yahweh has said: Because this people
approaches me only in words,
honour me only with lip service
while his heart is far from me,
and my religion, as far as it is concerned,
is nothing but human commandment, a lesson memorised. - Is. 29:13 -

But though they outwardly flattered him
and use their tongues to lie to him,
in their hearts they were not true to him,
they were unfaithful to his covenant. - Ps. 78:36-37 -

Hypocrites! It was you Isaiah meant when he so rightly prophesied:
This people honours me only with lip service,
while their hearts are far from me .
The worship they offer me is worthless;
the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. - Matt. 15:7-9 - Mark 7:6-7 -

By contrast, Jesus' teaching was not systematic and repetitious. It was fresh and profound.

When the festival was half over, Jesus went to the Temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished and said, 'How did he learn to read'? He has not been taught. Jesus answered them:
My teaching is not from myself:
it comes from the one who sent me;
and if anyone is prepared to do his will'
he will know whether my teaching is from God
or whether my doctrine is my own.
When a man's doctrine is his own
he is hoping to get honour for himself;
but when he is working for the honour of one who sent him,
then he is sincere
and by no means an impostor.
Did not Moses give you the Law?
And yet not one of you keeps the Law! - John 7:14-19 - Matt. 7:28; Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32 -

After Pentecost, Christian doctrine began to be systematized. These remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. - Acts 2:42 - Doctrinal instruction was given by chosen teachers to those who had responded to the gospel. - 1Cor. 12:28-29; Gal. 6:6 -

The earliest doctrine of the Christian Church declared: that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ; that God had raised Him from the dead; and that salvation was by good deeds, faith and love in God. These truth were presented as a clear fulfillment of the promises of the Old Testament. Sound teaching was a concept deeply engrained in the Jewish mind since Old Testament times. Moses were considered leaders of God's commandments.

Since sound teaching and instruction in the faith is essential to spiritual growth of Christian and the development of the Church. In the New Testament, Saint Paul taught that true doctrines is essential for Christian growth and always pray for God's grace.

Everything God has created is good and no food is to be rejected provided grace is said for it; the word of God and the prayer make it holy. If you put all this to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus and show that you have really digested the teaching of the faith and the good doctrine which you have always followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives tales. Train yourself spiritually. - 1Tim. 4:4-7 -

Since as president, he will be God's representative, he must be irreproachable: never an arrogant or hot-tempered man, nor a heavy drinker or violent, nor out to make money; but a man who is hospitable and a friend of all that is good; sensible, moral devout and self-controlled; and he must have a firm grasp of the unchanging message of the tradition so that he can be counted on for both expounding the sound doctrine and refuting those who argue against it. - Titus 1:7-9 - Eph. 4:11-13 -

Special attention is directed to the danger of false teachings and that false doctrine destroys the Church.

Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom; proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching. The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2Tim. 4:1-5 -

Then we shall not be children any longer or tossed one way and another and carried along by every wind of doctrine, at the mercy of all the tricks men play and their cleverness in practicing deceit. If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to its function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love. - Eph. 4:14-16 -

Parents were also directed to teach their children about God and His statues.

But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather tell them to your children and to your children's children...and teach this to their children. - Deut. 4:9-10 -

Accept the strength, my dear son, that comes from the grace of Christ Jesus. You have heard everything that I teach in public; hand it on to reliable people so that they in turn will be able to teach others. Put up with your share of difficulties, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.......Think over what I have said, and the Lord will show you how to understand it all. - 2Tim. 2:1-7 -

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If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Communion life refers to the mutual relationship among Christians that issues from their participation in Christ's body, the Church. The words translated as "common", "communion" and "fellowship" express the idea of sharing. All Christians share together in the one living "body of Christ" because they are joined to Jesus.

If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it.
Now you together are Christ's body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. - 1Cor. 12:26-28 -

And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself. - Eph. 4:11-13 -

The spirit of true unity in Jesus Christ requires voluntary practise, for example, made their possessions and God's gifts available to all believers. This does not necessarily mean that every Christian sold the real estate he owned. The tragic story of Ananias and Sapphira shows that the selling of land and other possessions by these early Christians was partial and voluntary. However, there is a profound truth that must not be missed. 'Neither did anyone say that they had all things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common'. The emphasis should be placed not on their selling of possessions but on the unselfish attitude of the believers. This is the spirit of true unity in Jesus Christ.

The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.
They went as a body to the Temple everyday but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved. - Acts 2:44-47 -

The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common. The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ with great power and they were all given great respect.
None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money from them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any members who might be in need. - Acts 4:32-35 -

There was another man, however, called Ananias. He and his wife, Sapphira, agreed to sell a property; but with his wife's connivance he kept back part of the proceeds and brought the rest and presented it to the apostles. 'Ananias', Peter said, how can Satan have so possessed you that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the money from the land? While you still owned the land, wasn't it yours to keep and after you had sold it wasn't the money yours to do with as you liked? What put this scheme into your mind? it is not to men that you have lied but to God. When he heard this Ananias fell down dead. This made a profound impression on everyone present. The younger men got up wrapped the body in a sheet carried it out and buried it.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place. Peter challenged her. 'Tell me, was this the price you sold the land for?' 'Yes', she said 'that was the price'. Peter then said, 'So you and your husband have agreed to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test! What made you do it? You hear those footsteps? They have just been to bury your husband; they will carry you out, too'. Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in they found she was dead and they carried her out and buried her by the side of her husband. This made a profound impression on the whole Church and on all who heard it. They all used to meet by common consent in the Portico of Solomon. - Acts 5:1-12 -

                                                                       Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Vocation refers to a call, calling or an invitation to a profession or way of life. But in theological discussions, the word vocation is not used in reference to the professional trade which one pursues. Vocation refers to the invitation God has given to all people to become His children through Christ's.

This vocation or calling does not come to people because they deserve it; it comes strictly as a result of God's GRACE. However, it is up to the individual to decide whether he will accept and act upon the vocation. Just as excellence in any professional vocation, requires faith, hope, love, deeds and faithful study, so God requires that Christians labour to be worthy of their divine vocation. If any person accepts the Christian vocation and labours in it, he can expect not only great reward but eternal life as well. Just as he might expect from his professional vocation-rewards and recognition.

That is why I am reminding you not to fan into a flame the gift of God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardship for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy - not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News; and I have been its herald, its apostle and its teacher. - 2Tim. 1:6-10-

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you therefore to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all. Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. It was said that he would:
When he ascended to the height, he captured prisoners,
he gave gifts to men. - Eph. 4:1-8 -

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. - Eph. 1:17-19 -

Call, Calling is equally an important theological idea with several different meanings in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. God's call of individuals to SALVATION, made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. God's call to salvation also involves the believer in the high calling of living his life in service to others.

You can remember how we treated everyone of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. - 1Thess. 2:12 -

If, when you were called, you were a slave, do not let this bother you; but if you should have the chance of being free, accept it. - 1Cor. 7:20 -

To call on God for help or to pray. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible contains numerous examples of people who, in their distress, called upon the name of the Lord. God is compassionate, concerned and personal Deliverer who hears the prayers of His people. - Gen. 4:26 -

One day at about the ninth hour he had a vision in which he distinctly saw the angel of God come into his house and call out to him, 'Cornelius!' He stared at the vision in terror and exclaimed, 'What is it, Lord?' 'Your offering of prayers and alms' the angels answered 'has been accepted by God'. - Acts 10:3-4

But the angel said to him, 'Zechariah, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John. - Luke 1:13 -

                                                                          Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Witness refers to a person who gives testimony; testimony given for or against someone often in a law-court setting where there is considerable concern for the truth of the testimony. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour' - Ex. 20:16; Deut. 17:6; Prov. 25:18 -

The Old Testament true prophets often pictured God either as bearing witness against Israel or as challenging Israel to bear witness against Him. - Mic. 1:2, 6:3 - God is also seen in the Old Testament witnessing covenants between Himself and the nation of Israel or individuals. - Duet. 31:19-26 - A witness can also be a guarantee of the accuracy of a transaction. - Jer. 32:10, 12, 25, 44 -

Witness is also used in connection with the distinctively religious message of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. God witnesses to the believer about His assurance of salvation: The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. - Rom. 8:16 - It is also declares that God has not left Himself without witness. Witness to Christ is borne by the prophets, John the Baptist, the Father, the works of Christ and Christ Himself.

Now we are those witnesses - we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead - and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. - Acts 10:42-43 -

In the past he allowed each nation to go its own way; but even then he did not leave you without evidence of himself in the good things he does for you; he sends you rain from heaven, he makes your crops grow when they should, he gives you food and makes you happy. - Acts 14:16-17 -

Besides, the Father sent me
bears witness to me himself. - John 5:37 -

You judge by human standards;
I judge no one,
but if I judge,
my judgement will be sound,
because I am not alone:
and in your Law it is written
that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.
I may be testifying on my own behalf,
but the Father who sent me is my witness too. - John 8:15-18 -

The believer's life, words and deeds serve as a witness to the world. Sometimes this witness to the world is represented in the witness of the apostles and the chosen, who are Christ's special witnesses - witnesses of His resurrection.

We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us - and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection. - Acts 1:21-22 -

God raised this man Jesus to life and all of us are witnesses to that. - Acts 2:32 -

God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen beforehand. - Acts 10:41 -

But God raised him from the dead and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people. - Acts 13: 31 -

However, the command to witness has implications for all believers too. It applies to the new Christian community the similar command that was given to ancient Israel.

You yourselves are my witness - it is Yahweh who speaks
my servants whom I have chosen,
that men may know and believe me
and understand that it is I.
No god was formed before me,
nor will be after me.
I, I am Yahweh,
there is no other saviour but me,
It is I who have spoken, have saved, have made the proclamation,
not any strangers among you.
You are my witnesses - it is Yahweh who speaks
and I, I am your God, I am he from eternity. - Is. 43:10-12 -

The believer's model in witness is none other than Christ Himself.

You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses. Now, before God the source of all life and before Jesus Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate, I put to you the duty of doing all that you have been told, with no faults or failures until the Appearing of our

Lord Jesus Christ,
who at the due time will be revealed
by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all,
the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal,
whose home is in inaccessible light,
whom no man has seen and no man is able to see:
to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen. - 1Tim. 6:11-16 -

                                                                       Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Fascinating explanation of the meaning of the traditional "CHRISTMAS CAROL": The Twelve Day of Christmas.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practise their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholic Christians. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to believers of their Catholic faith. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

First Day - The partridge in a pear tree was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Second Day - Two turtle doves were the Old Testament(46 Books) and New Testaments(26 Books).

Third Day - Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love. - 1Cor. 13:13 -

Fourth Day - The four calling birds were the four gospels: (1) The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (2) The Gospel According to Saint Mark (3) The Gospel According to Saint Luke (4) The Gospel According to Saint John.

Fifth Day - The five golden rings recalled the "Torah" or the "Law". The Promise, the Choice, the Covenant, the Law - these are the golden threads, the warp and woof of the Pentateuch: the first five books of the Old Testament - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Sixth Day - The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. - Gen. 1:1-31 -

Seventh Day - Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and fear of the Lord. - CCC 1831 -

Eighth Day - The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes. - Matt. 5:10 -

Ninth Day - Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Good Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. - Gal. 5:22 -

Tenth Day - The ten lords a-leaping were the ten Commandments. - Exodus 20:1-17 -

Eleventh Day - The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful apostles/disciples: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Jude son of James. - Acts 1:13 -

Twelfth Day - The twelve drummers drumming symbolished the twelve points of beliefs in the Apostles' Creed: I believe in God..., I believe in Jesus Christ..., He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit..., He suffered under Pontius Pilate..., He descended into hell, On the third day he rose again, He ascended into heaven..., He will come again to judge the living and the dead, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,...Amen.

                                                                         Page 1

If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -

Our knowledge of the pagan gods of the ancient world comes from the religious literature, idols and other objects discovered by archaeologists. Pagan refers to the false gods and idols worshiped by people during ancient times - especially the false gods of Egypt, Mesopotamia (Assyria and Babylon) Canaan, Greece and Rome.

Religion has always played an important part in civilization; in the ancient world it was a powerful force. The pagan civilizations of ancient times worshiped many gods. They had male and female deities, high and low gods, assemblies of gods, priests and priestesses and temple and sacrifices. All the forces of nature could not be controlled or understood were considered supernatural powers to be worshiped and feared. We have also earned from the meanings of names found in the literature from this period. People in ancient times were often named with sentences and phrases; sometimes they used the name of their favourite god in the compound name. Thus, names very often reflected popular religion. Most of the people of the ancient world were polytheistic; they worshiped more than one god.

The people worshiped these gods in the form of representative idols. This practise is called idolatry. The nation of Israel however was forbidden to make graven images of the one true and living God whom they worshiped . - Ex. 20:3-6; Deut. 5:7-10 - The pagan nations made statues or images to represent the powers which they worshiped. Most of these idols were in the form of animals or men. But sometimes these idols represented celestial powers like the sun, moon, stars and forces of nature, like the sea and the rain; or life forces, like death and truth.

Belief in these false gods was characterized by superstition and magic. The people believed that what happened to their gods would also happen to them. Puzzled by the workings of nature they assigned the causes of various natural happenings to their gods. Rain was absolutely essential to life in agricultural societies. If it rained they believed this was caused by a rain god. If it did not rain they thought this was because that god had not sent the rain. They prayed and sacrificed to the god to send it.

According to the Old Testament, God spoke all these words. (1) You shall have no gods except me. (2) You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. (3) You shall not utter the name of Yahweh your God to misuse it, for Yahweh will not leave unpunished the man who utters his names to misuse it. (4) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. (5) Honour your father and mother. (6) You shall not kill. (7) You shall not commit adultery. (8) You shall not steal. (9) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. (10) You shall not covet your neighbour. - Ex. 20:1-21 -

In the new Testament, Saint Paul said: "The One whom you worship without knowing". "Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands". - Acts 17:23-24 -

Only the sovereign God has the power to rule the world; only the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to rise from the dead as the conqueror, establishing once and for all our everlasting life with Him.

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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -