God's call of individual to SALVATION, made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. We know that by turning everything to their good God cooperates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. God's call to salvation also involves the believer in the calling of living his and her life in the service to others.
In the Old Testament the Hebrew people were described as God's elect, a person or group chosen by God for special favour and for the rendering of special service to Him. The gracious and free act of God by which He calls those who become part of His kingdom and special beneficiaries of His love and blessings.
The New Testament speaks of Christ as God's Chosen One and of the Church of God's new chosen people. He is the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to Him set yourselves close to Him so that you too, the holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices which the Lord Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. As scripture says: See how I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone that I have chosen and the man who rests his trust on it will not be disappointed.
That means that for you who are believers, it is precious, but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring men down. They stumble over because they do not believe in the word, it was the fate in store for them.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people at all and now you are the People of God, once you were outside the mercy and now you have been given mercy. - 1Peter 2:4-19 -
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. A slave, when he is called in the Lord, becomes the Lord's freedman, and a freeman called in the Lord becomes Christ's slave. - 1Cor. 7:20-22 -
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 -
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Obedience is for children. When we grow up, we can make our own rules. That, too often is the way we think. A little observation will lead one to the contrary conclusion - children are prone to disobedience. The mature person is one who has ordered his or her life according to a law greater than oneself. It is immature to disobey, mature to obey. Those adults who are liberated from obeying other people's rules are actually the least mature.
Jesus was the ultimate obedient one. "I always do what is pleasing to (God)," he said - John 8:39 - "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his works" - John 4:34 -
Imagine that! Jesus, the fully liberated one, does not do His own will. He obeys " the one who sent me."
For Saint Paul, obedience is one of Jesus' defining characteristics. It is what makes him the Lord. Once Jesus became human, "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death" - Phil. 2:8 - Because of His total obedience, God exalted Him to such an extent that everyone should bow before him. His obedience transforms him into the one who is to be obeyed. In fact, His always doing what is pleasing to the Father is the basic of His authority. He is to be obeyed because He obeys.
This has great significance for how we ought to live our lives, St. Paul contrasts his beloved Philippians - "you have always obeyed" - with the "crooked and perverse generation" in whose midst they live. Their obedience is a sure sign that God is at work in them. Phil. 2:12-15 -
Our call is not to be "creative," to be freelancers raising our own opinions above the truth given by the Holy Spirit. It is to be obedience to God's will, indeed to live within that will. The more we obey, the more God will ask us to obey. "When God finds a person determined to obey him, He takes the life of that person in His hands......Minute by minute, He defines the gestures and words of that person, his way of making use of His time, in short everything." - Ps.189 - HE'LL MAKE YOU HIS OWN -
Authority- not worldly power, but real authority - comes from giving one's life over to God. Endeavour to make not only the large decisions of your life, but also even the small daily decisions, instruments of God's will. Turn to Him at every moment and He will more and more make you His own.
The little word "obey" pops up repeatedly throughout St. Paul's letters. There is the obedience of faith - Rom. 1:5, 16:26 - obedience to the Church's teaching - Rom. 6:17 - obedience to the Good News - Rom. 10:16 - obedience to the Truth - Gal. 5:7 - and obedience to Christ - 2Cor. 10:5 - Therefore, Obey God and know life's ultimate joy.
BY GLEN ARGUN, WCR
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 -
Jesus was the ultimate obedient one. "I always do what is pleasing to (God)," he said - John 8:39 - "My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his works" - John 4:34 -
Imagine that! Jesus, the fully liberated one, does not do His own will. He obeys " the one who sent me."
For Saint Paul, obedience is one of Jesus' defining characteristics. It is what makes him the Lord. Once Jesus became human, "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death" - Phil. 2:8 - Because of His total obedience, God exalted Him to such an extent that everyone should bow before him. His obedience transforms him into the one who is to be obeyed. In fact, His always doing what is pleasing to the Father is the basic of His authority. He is to be obeyed because He obeys.
This has great significance for how we ought to live our lives, St. Paul contrasts his beloved Philippians - "you have always obeyed" - with the "crooked and perverse generation" in whose midst they live. Their obedience is a sure sign that God is at work in them. Phil. 2:12-15 -
Our call is not to be "creative," to be freelancers raising our own opinions above the truth given by the Holy Spirit. It is to be obedience to God's will, indeed to live within that will. The more we obey, the more God will ask us to obey. "When God finds a person determined to obey him, He takes the life of that person in His hands......Minute by minute, He defines the gestures and words of that person, his way of making use of His time, in short everything." - Ps.189 - HE'LL MAKE YOU HIS OWN -
Authority- not worldly power, but real authority - comes from giving one's life over to God. Endeavour to make not only the large decisions of your life, but also even the small daily decisions, instruments of God's will. Turn to Him at every moment and He will more and more make you His own.
The little word "obey" pops up repeatedly throughout St. Paul's letters. There is the obedience of faith - Rom. 1:5, 16:26 - obedience to the Church's teaching - Rom. 6:17 - obedience to the Good News - Rom. 10:16 - obedience to the Truth - Gal. 5:7 - and obedience to Christ - 2Cor. 10:5 - Therefore, Obey God and know life's ultimate joy.
BY GLEN ARGUN, WCR
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 -
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
God Is Truth. All truth, whether natural, physical or religious is grounded in God. Thus, any seemingly inconsistent teaching between natural and physical sciences and God's revelation of Himself is more apparent than real Truth is magnified in an absolute way through God's revelation.
God Is Wisdom. God's wisdom is revealed in His doing the best thing, in the best way, at the best time for the best purpose.
Some people have knowledge, but little wisdom while the most wise at times have little knowledge. But God is "the only wise God" - 1Tim. 1:17 - In creation, history, human lives, redemption and Christ, His divine wisdom is revealed. Man, lacking wisdom can claim God's wisdom simply by asking. - 1Kin. 3:9; James 1:5 -
The believer's understanding of God continues to increase throughout his earthly pilgrimage. It will finally be complete in eternity when he stands in the presence of God.
God is the author of life and salvation. His "I am" expresses the fact that He is the infinite and original personal God who is behind everything and to whom everything must finally be traced. This name "I am who I am", signals the truth that nothing else defines who God is but God Himself. What He says and does is who He is.
The inspired Scriptures are the guide to understanding who God is by what He says about Himself and what He does. Yahweh is the all-powerful and sovereign God who alone defines Himself and establishes truth for His creatures and works for their salvation.
The divine name Yahweh is usually translated Lord in English versions of the Bible because it became a practice in late Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the sacred name YHWH, but to say instead "my Lord" (Adonai) a practice still used today in the synagogue.
The Word of God figures prominently in Scripture as another name of God. The Word is not as clearly a person in the Old Testament as in the New Testament where Jesus Christ is identified as the personal Word of God. - John 1:1, 14 -
In the New Testament God is known as Father and Abba. - Matt. 5:16, 28:19; Mark 14:36; Gal. 4:6 - Jesus is known as Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah, Lord, Word, Wisdom, Bridegroom, Shepherd, Vine, Light and "I AM". The Holy Spirit is known as the Helper, Advocate, Paraclette - Matt. 11:27; John 9:35; Matt. 8:20; John 1:41; Rom. 14:8; John 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:30; Mark. 2:19; John 10:11; John 15:1; John 1:9; John 8:12; John 14:16 -
Page 4
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 -
God Is Wisdom. God's wisdom is revealed in His doing the best thing, in the best way, at the best time for the best purpose.
Some people have knowledge, but little wisdom while the most wise at times have little knowledge. But God is "the only wise God" - 1Tim. 1:17 - In creation, history, human lives, redemption and Christ, His divine wisdom is revealed. Man, lacking wisdom can claim God's wisdom simply by asking. - 1Kin. 3:9; James 1:5 -
The believer's understanding of God continues to increase throughout his earthly pilgrimage. It will finally be complete in eternity when he stands in the presence of God.
God is the author of life and salvation. His "I am" expresses the fact that He is the infinite and original personal God who is behind everything and to whom everything must finally be traced. This name "I am who I am", signals the truth that nothing else defines who God is but God Himself. What He says and does is who He is.
The inspired Scriptures are the guide to understanding who God is by what He says about Himself and what He does. Yahweh is the all-powerful and sovereign God who alone defines Himself and establishes truth for His creatures and works for their salvation.
The divine name Yahweh is usually translated Lord in English versions of the Bible because it became a practice in late Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the sacred name YHWH, but to say instead "my Lord" (Adonai) a practice still used today in the synagogue.
The Word of God figures prominently in Scripture as another name of God. The Word is not as clearly a person in the Old Testament as in the New Testament where Jesus Christ is identified as the personal Word of God. - John 1:1, 14 -
In the New Testament God is known as Father and Abba. - Matt. 5:16, 28:19; Mark 14:36; Gal. 4:6 - Jesus is known as Son of God, Son of Man, Messiah, Lord, Word, Wisdom, Bridegroom, Shepherd, Vine, Light and "I AM". The Holy Spirit is known as the Helper, Advocate, Paraclette - Matt. 11:27; John 9:35; Matt. 8:20; John 1:41; Rom. 14:8; John 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:30; Mark. 2:19; John 10:11; John 15:1; John 1:9; John 8:12; John 14:16 -
Page 4
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 -
Sunday, October 25, 2009
God Is Eternal. Eternity refers to God's relation to time, Past, Present and Future are known equally to Him. - 2Pet. 3:8 - ; Rev. 1:8 - Time is like a parade that a man see only a segment at a time. But God sees time in its entirely.
The second group of attributes is called moral attributes. These refer to God's character. His essential nature.
God Is Holy. The word holy comes from a root word that means "to separate". Thus, it refers to God as separated from or exalted above other things. - Is. 6:1-3 -
Holiness refer to God's moral excellence. Being holy, God demands holiness in His own children. And what He demands, He supplies. Holiness is God gift that we receive by faith through His Son, Jesus Christ. - Eph. 4:24 -
God Is Righteous. Righteousness as applied to God refers to His affirmation of what is right as opposed to what is wrong. The righteousness of God refers to His moral laws laid down to guide the conduct of humankind, as in the Ten Commandments. Righteousness also refers to God's administration of justice. He brings punishment upon the disobedient. - Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Rom. 2:6-16 -
Finally, God's righteousness is redemptive. In the Book of Romans the righteousness of God refers to God declaring the believer to be in a state of righteousness as though he had never been unrighteous. - Rom. 1:16-17; 3:24-26 - This is possible because of the sacrificial death of Jesus on our behalf.
God Is Love. Love is the essential, self-giving nature of God. God's love for people seeks to awaken a responsive love of people for God. Divine love runs like a golden thread through the entire Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. Nature is eloquent with the skill, wisdom and power of God. In the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, however, do we discover God giving Himself and all He possesses to His creatures, in order to win their response and to possess them for Himself.
God loved and gave; He loved and sought-just as a shepherd seeks his sheep. God loved and suffered, providing His love by giving His all on the cross for the redemption of humanity God, in His love, wills good for all His creatures. - Gen. 1:31; Ps. 145:9; Mark 10:18 -
Page 3
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 -
The second group of attributes is called moral attributes. These refer to God's character. His essential nature.
God Is Holy. The word holy comes from a root word that means "to separate". Thus, it refers to God as separated from or exalted above other things. - Is. 6:1-3 -
Holiness refer to God's moral excellence. Being holy, God demands holiness in His own children. And what He demands, He supplies. Holiness is God gift that we receive by faith through His Son, Jesus Christ. - Eph. 4:24 -
God Is Righteous. Righteousness as applied to God refers to His affirmation of what is right as opposed to what is wrong. The righteousness of God refers to His moral laws laid down to guide the conduct of humankind, as in the Ten Commandments. Righteousness also refers to God's administration of justice. He brings punishment upon the disobedient. - Gen. 18:25; Deut. 32:4; Rom. 2:6-16 -
Finally, God's righteousness is redemptive. In the Book of Romans the righteousness of God refers to God declaring the believer to be in a state of righteousness as though he had never been unrighteous. - Rom. 1:16-17; 3:24-26 - This is possible because of the sacrificial death of Jesus on our behalf.
God Is Love. Love is the essential, self-giving nature of God. God's love for people seeks to awaken a responsive love of people for God. Divine love runs like a golden thread through the entire Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. Nature is eloquent with the skill, wisdom and power of God. In the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, however, do we discover God giving Himself and all He possesses to His creatures, in order to win their response and to possess them for Himself.
God loved and gave; He loved and sought-just as a shepherd seeks his sheep. God loved and suffered, providing His love by giving His all on the cross for the redemption of humanity God, in His love, wills good for all His creatures. - Gen. 1:31; Ps. 145:9; Mark 10:18 -
Page 3
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 -
Saturday, October 24, 2009
God may be described in terms of attributes. An attribute is an inherent characteristic of a person or being. While we cannot describe God in a comprehensive way, we can learn about Him by examining His attributes as revealed in the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. The first group is known as the natural attributes of God.
God Is Spirit. Jesus taught that "God is Spirit". - John 4:24 - God has no body, no physical or measurable form. Thus, God is invisible. He became visible in human form in the person of Jesus Christ, but His essence is invisible.
God Is Changeless. Progress and change may characterize some of His works, but God Himself remains unchanged. - Heb. 1:12 - He does not change, otherwise, He would not be perfect. Thus, what we know of God can be known with certainty. He is not different from one time to another.
God Is All Powerful. God's power is unlimited. He can do anything that is not inconsistent with His nature, character and purpose. - Gen. 17:1; 18:14 - The only limitations of God's power are imposed by Himself. - Gen. 18:25 - "Impossible" is not in God's vocabulary. God creates and sustains all things, yet He never grows weary. - Is. 40:27-31 -
God Is All Knowing. God possess all knowledge. - Job 38:39; Rom 11:33-36 - Because God is everywhere at one and the same time. He knows everything simultaneously. That God has the power to know the thoughts and motives of every heart is evident from many Scripture passages, notably - Job 37:16; Ps. 147:5; Heb. 3:13 -
God Is Everywhere. God is not confined to any part of the universe but is present in all His power at every point in space and every moment in time - Ps. 139:7-12 - Thus, God does not belong to any one nation or generation. He is the God of all the earth. - Gen. 18:25 -
God Is Eternal......
Page 2
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 -
God Is Spirit. Jesus taught that "God is Spirit". - John 4:24 - God has no body, no physical or measurable form. Thus, God is invisible. He became visible in human form in the person of Jesus Christ, but His essence is invisible.
God Is Changeless. Progress and change may characterize some of His works, but God Himself remains unchanged. - Heb. 1:12 - He does not change, otherwise, He would not be perfect. Thus, what we know of God can be known with certainty. He is not different from one time to another.
God Is All Powerful. God's power is unlimited. He can do anything that is not inconsistent with His nature, character and purpose. - Gen. 17:1; 18:14 - The only limitations of God's power are imposed by Himself. - Gen. 18:25 - "Impossible" is not in God's vocabulary. God creates and sustains all things, yet He never grows weary. - Is. 40:27-31 -
God Is All Knowing. God possess all knowledge. - Job 38:39; Rom 11:33-36 - Because God is everywhere at one and the same time. He knows everything simultaneously. That God has the power to know the thoughts and motives of every heart is evident from many Scripture passages, notably - Job 37:16; Ps. 147:5; Heb. 3:13 -
God Is Everywhere. God is not confined to any part of the universe but is present in all His power at every point in space and every moment in time - Ps. 139:7-12 - Thus, God does not belong to any one nation or generation. He is the God of all the earth. - Gen. 18:25 -
God Is Eternal......
Page 2
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 -
Friday, October 23, 2009
God is the creator and sustainer of the universe who has provided humankind with a revelation of Himself through the natural world and through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible does not seek to prove the existence of God; it simply affirms His existence by declaring:
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God's spirit hovered over the water. God said, 'Let...... - Gen. 1:1-31, 2:1-25 - God has revealed Himself through the physical universe. - Psalms 19:1; Rom. 1:19-21 -
By observing the universe, one can find positive indications of God's existence. Creation reveals the results of a universal mind that devised a master plan and executed it. It makes more sense to accept the idea of God as Creator of the universe than to assume that our orderly universe came into existence apart from a divine being.
The greatest revelation of God, however, comes through the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. Through the inspired written record, both the existence of God and the nature of God are revealed in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus stated, "He that has seen me, has seen the Father" - John 14:9 -
Although the full revelation of God was in Jesus Christ, the human mind cannot fully understand God. One reason for this is that Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible does not record all the actions and teachings of Jesus. There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written. - John 21:25 -
Another reason is the limitation of the human mind. How can man's finite mind understand the infinity of God? It is not possible. Although we cannot fully understand God, we still can know Him. We know Him through a personal relationship of faith and love through a study of what the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible teaches about His nature.
God can be described in terms of attributes...
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 -
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God's spirit hovered over the water. God said, 'Let...... - Gen. 1:1-31, 2:1-25 - God has revealed Himself through the physical universe. - Psalms 19:1; Rom. 1:19-21 -
By observing the universe, one can find positive indications of God's existence. Creation reveals the results of a universal mind that devised a master plan and executed it. It makes more sense to accept the idea of God as Creator of the universe than to assume that our orderly universe came into existence apart from a divine being.
The greatest revelation of God, however, comes through the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible. Through the inspired written record, both the existence of God and the nature of God are revealed in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus stated, "He that has seen me, has seen the Father" - John 14:9 -
Although the full revelation of God was in Jesus Christ, the human mind cannot fully understand God. One reason for this is that Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible does not record all the actions and teachings of Jesus. There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written. - John 21:25 -
Another reason is the limitation of the human mind. How can man's finite mind understand the infinity of God? It is not possible. Although we cannot fully understand God, we still can know Him. We know Him through a personal relationship of faith and love through a study of what the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible teaches about His nature.
God can be described in terms of attributes...
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 -
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Holy Spirit appears in the Gospel of John as the power by which Christians are brought to faith and helped to understand their work with God.
Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity who exercises the power of the Father and the Son in creation and redemption. The Holy Spirit is the power by which believers come to Christ and see with new eyes of faith.
And there are two kinds of knowledge of Christ; the speculative and the practical. The speculative is obtained by study, the practical only through the Holy Spirit, Who leads us to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit moves even souls dedicated to sorcery and magic. Such souls in their darkness may be searching for the truth.
They travelled the whole length of the island, and at Paphos they came in contact with a Jewish magician called Bar-jesus. This false prophet was one of the attendants of the proconsul Sergius Paulus who was an extremely intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and asked to hear the word of God, but Elmas Magos - as he was called in Greek - tried to stop them so as to prevent the proconsul's conversion to the faith.
Then Saul, whose other name is Paul, looked him full in the face and said, You utter fraud, you imposter, you son of the devil, you enemy of all true religion, why don't you stop twisting the straightforward ways of the Lord? Now watch how the hand of the Lord will strike you; you will be blind, and for a time you will not see the sun. That instant, everything went misty and dark for him, and he groped about to find someone to lead him by the hand. The proconsul, who had watched everything became a believer, being astonished by what he had learnt about the Lord. - Acts 13:6-12 -
No soul is beyond conversion. The Lord assures us through prophet Joel that He will make good the bad years.
I will make up to you for the years
devoured by grown locust and hopper
by shearer and young locust,
my great army
which I sent to invade you. - Joel 2:25 -
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 -
Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity who exercises the power of the Father and the Son in creation and redemption. The Holy Spirit is the power by which believers come to Christ and see with new eyes of faith.
And there are two kinds of knowledge of Christ; the speculative and the practical. The speculative is obtained by study, the practical only through the Holy Spirit, Who leads us to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit moves even souls dedicated to sorcery and magic. Such souls in their darkness may be searching for the truth.
They travelled the whole length of the island, and at Paphos they came in contact with a Jewish magician called Bar-jesus. This false prophet was one of the attendants of the proconsul Sergius Paulus who was an extremely intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and asked to hear the word of God, but Elmas Magos - as he was called in Greek - tried to stop them so as to prevent the proconsul's conversion to the faith.
Then Saul, whose other name is Paul, looked him full in the face and said, You utter fraud, you imposter, you son of the devil, you enemy of all true religion, why don't you stop twisting the straightforward ways of the Lord? Now watch how the hand of the Lord will strike you; you will be blind, and for a time you will not see the sun. That instant, everything went misty and dark for him, and he groped about to find someone to lead him by the hand. The proconsul, who had watched everything became a believer, being astonished by what he had learnt about the Lord. - Acts 13:6-12 -
No soul is beyond conversion. The Lord assures us through prophet Joel that He will make good the bad years.
I will make up to you for the years
devoured by grown locust and hopper
by shearer and young locust,
my great army
which I sent to invade you. - Joel 2:25 -
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 -
Monday, October 19, 2009
Suffering has been part of the human experience since man's fall into sin. - Gen. 3 -
The theme of the Book of Job is the problem of suffering and why God permits the righteous to suffer. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible makes it clear that some sufferings is the result of evil action or sin in the world. This type of suffering came upon man after the FALL in the Garden of Eden. - Gen. 3:16-19 - But some suffering is not related to the past. It is forward=looking in that it serves to shape and refine God's children.
This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials, so that, when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold - only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire - and then you will have praise and glory and honour. - 1 Peter 1:6-7 -
Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering, but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation - Heb. 5:8-9, 2:10 -
Suffering has the potential of demonstrating God's power and those who suffer are in position to comfort others. - 2 Cor. 1:3-6, 12:7 -
Suffering also helps believers to identify with Christ, which is more than suffering for Christ. Since it is by faith and through the Lord Jesus Christ 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 suffering 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. 5:2-5 -
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 -
The theme of the Book of Job is the problem of suffering and why God permits the righteous to suffer. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible makes it clear that some sufferings is the result of evil action or sin in the world. This type of suffering came upon man after the FALL in the Garden of Eden. - Gen. 3:16-19 - But some suffering is not related to the past. It is forward=looking in that it serves to shape and refine God's children.
This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials, so that, when the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold - only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire - and then you will have praise and glory and honour. - 1 Peter 1:6-7 -
Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering, but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation - Heb. 5:8-9, 2:10 -
Suffering has the potential of demonstrating God's power and those who suffer are in position to comfort others. - 2 Cor. 1:3-6, 12:7 -
Suffering also helps believers to identify with Christ, which is more than suffering for Christ. Since it is by faith and through the Lord Jesus Christ 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 suffering 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. 5:2-5 -
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 -
Sunday, October 18, 2009
BELIEVE, BELIEVER -- to place one's trust in God's truth; one who takes God at His word and trusts in Him for salvation.
To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:
If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
you will learn the truth
and the truth will make you free. - John 8:31-32 -
A belief that saves is one that rests in the finished work of Christ; it trusts God alone for salvation.
Yes, God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life. - John 3:16 -
Believers are those who have trusted God with their will as well as their mind. Some of the classic New Testament references dealing with belief are; - Acts 16:31 - They told him, Become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, and your household too. We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, - Gal. 2:16 -
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been begotten by God;
and whoever loves the Father that begot him
loves the child whom he begets. - 1John 5:1 -
Man was created to see God. By sin, man lost the blessedness for which he was made, and found the misery for which he was made. He did not keep what was good, even though he could keep it easily. Without God it goes badly for us. Our efforts are in vain without God. Man cannot look for God unless God himself teaches him, or find him unless he reveals himself. God created man in the image so that he might be aware of him, think about him, and love him. The believer does not try to understand so that he may believe, but he believes so that he may understand - for if he did not believe, he would not understand. - Saint Anselm of Canterbury -
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 -
To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:
If you make my word your home
you will indeed be my disciples,
you will learn the truth
and the truth will make you free. - John 8:31-32 -
A belief that saves is one that rests in the finished work of Christ; it trusts God alone for salvation.
Yes, God loved the world so much
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life. - John 3:16 -
Believers are those who have trusted God with their will as well as their mind. Some of the classic New Testament references dealing with belief are; - Acts 16:31 - They told him, Become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, and your household too. We had to become believers in Christ Jesus no less than you had, - Gal. 2:16 -
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ
has been begotten by God;
and whoever loves the Father that begot him
loves the child whom he begets. - 1John 5:1 -
Man was created to see God. By sin, man lost the blessedness for which he was made, and found the misery for which he was made. He did not keep what was good, even though he could keep it easily. Without God it goes badly for us. Our efforts are in vain without God. Man cannot look for God unless God himself teaches him, or find him unless he reveals himself. God created man in the image so that he might be aware of him, think about him, and love him. The believer does not try to understand so that he may believe, but he believes so that he may understand - for if he did not believe, he would not understand. - Saint Anselm of Canterbury -
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 -
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible consists of 72 books i.e. 45 books of the Old Testament and 27 books of the New Testament. The New Testament has four versions of the one gospel: the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
GOSPELS -- the joyous good news of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated as gospel means " a reward for bringing Good News" or simply "Good News".
In Isaiah 61:1-2, the prophet proclaimed the "Good Tidings" that God would rescue His people from captivity. In His first sermon in Nazareth, Jesus used a passage from the Old Testament to characterize the spirit of His ministry.
"The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord's year of favour. - Luke 4:18-19 -
The gospel is not a new plan of salvation; it is the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation which was begun in Israel/Jacob, was completed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is made known by the Church. The gospel is the saving work of God in His Son Jesus Christ and a call to faith in Him.
Jesus is more than a messenger of the gospel; He is the gospel. The good news of God was present in His life, His teachings, His person, His work, His passion, death and resurrection and His ascension.
Therefore, the gospel is both a historical event and a personal relationship.
Faith is more than an intellectual agreement to a theoretical truth. Faith is trust placed in a living person, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the apostle Paul warned Christians of the dangers of following "another gospel" - Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Cor. 11:3-4 - Saint Paul was reminding them that any gospel different than the one he preached was no gospel at all and is to be condemned.
In the second century, the word gospel came to be used for certain writings in which the "Good News" or story of the Lord Jesus Christ was told. These writings were written in the first century, but they became known as "Gospels" much later. Saint Mark was the first to write such a story - Mark 1:1 - and in so doing he invented a literary form that we call a "Gospel".
A gospel is more than a biography intended to provide information about a historical character. It is the presentation of the life of Christ Jesus, the Lord, to show His saving significance for all people and to call them to faith in Him.
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 -
GOSPELS -- the joyous good news of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated as gospel means " a reward for bringing Good News" or simply "Good News".
In Isaiah 61:1-2, the prophet proclaimed the "Good Tidings" that God would rescue His people from captivity. In His first sermon in Nazareth, Jesus used a passage from the Old Testament to characterize the spirit of His ministry.
"The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord's year of favour. - Luke 4:18-19 -
The gospel is not a new plan of salvation; it is the fulfillment of God's plan of salvation which was begun in Israel/Jacob, was completed in the Lord Jesus Christ, and is made known by the Church. The gospel is the saving work of God in His Son Jesus Christ and a call to faith in Him.
Jesus is more than a messenger of the gospel; He is the gospel. The good news of God was present in His life, His teachings, His person, His work, His passion, death and resurrection and His ascension.
Therefore, the gospel is both a historical event and a personal relationship.
Faith is more than an intellectual agreement to a theoretical truth. Faith is trust placed in a living person, the Lord Jesus Christ. When the apostle Paul warned Christians of the dangers of following "another gospel" - Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Cor. 11:3-4 - Saint Paul was reminding them that any gospel different than the one he preached was no gospel at all and is to be condemned.
In the second century, the word gospel came to be used for certain writings in which the "Good News" or story of the Lord Jesus Christ was told. These writings were written in the first century, but they became known as "Gospels" much later. Saint Mark was the first to write such a story - Mark 1:1 - and in so doing he invented a literary form that we call a "Gospel".
A gospel is more than a biography intended to provide information about a historical character. It is the presentation of the life of Christ Jesus, the Lord, to show His saving significance for all people and to call them to faith in Him.
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 -
Friday, October 16, 2009
Our faith cannot remain a private affair between my God and I. The symbol of "shoes-off" serves as a reminder that each time when we remove our shoes, we are one with fellow Malaysians, sharing in the same practice everyday. Through this pertinent symbol, Jesus is calling us to integrate our faith with life. We cannot have a split Christianity or religiosity. Our faith must go beyond ritualistic worship. We must be seen living what we profess in Church so that Malaysian Christian are able to encounter Jesus in the life-history of our people.
As Malaysians Christians who respond to the call of Jesus, we realize that He is asking us to understand faith as a way of life, a way of manifesting Jesus in and through the way we live. Then we shall be able to encounter and experience Him in worship as well as in life and in history of our nation. Then our discipleship will be authentic and credible in the sight of fellow Malaysian believers of the world religions.
Jesus the Shoes-off Barefoot One of Malaysia is the same person in real life and at worship. The way He is before the Father is the way He is before his fellow Jews. He prays to the Father - John 17 - and the same time lived out his faith in the context of the Jewish society by curing the sick, - Mark 2:1-12 - manifested the Father's preferential love to the sinners and tax-collectors, - Mark 2:15-17 - defended the primacy of person over the Sabbath, - Mark 2:23-28 - and even sacrificed Himself - Mark 15:33-39 - to bring about the Kingdom of God. - Mark 1:15 -
To be his followers, we cannot be two different persons, one in Church and one in real life.
Our reverence for God must be demonstrated in our respect for persons in society. How can we say we love God when we behave like a tyrant at home toward our spouses, children and colleagues? How can we worship God with such manifestation of piety when we constantly ill-treat our servants at home, condone corrupt practices, exploit the workers we employ, prostitute the dignity of women, and perpetuate the oppression of the marginalized, and even the destruction of our environment?
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
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 -
As Malaysians Christians who respond to the call of Jesus, we realize that He is asking us to understand faith as a way of life, a way of manifesting Jesus in and through the way we live. Then we shall be able to encounter and experience Him in worship as well as in life and in history of our nation. Then our discipleship will be authentic and credible in the sight of fellow Malaysian believers of the world religions.
Jesus the Shoes-off Barefoot One of Malaysia is the same person in real life and at worship. The way He is before the Father is the way He is before his fellow Jews. He prays to the Father - John 17 - and the same time lived out his faith in the context of the Jewish society by curing the sick, - Mark 2:1-12 - manifested the Father's preferential love to the sinners and tax-collectors, - Mark 2:15-17 - defended the primacy of person over the Sabbath, - Mark 2:23-28 - and even sacrificed Himself - Mark 15:33-39 - to bring about the Kingdom of God. - Mark 1:15 -
To be his followers, we cannot be two different persons, one in Church and one in real life.
Our reverence for God must be demonstrated in our respect for persons in society. How can we say we love God when we behave like a tyrant at home toward our spouses, children and colleagues? How can we worship God with such manifestation of piety when we constantly ill-treat our servants at home, condone corrupt practices, exploit the workers we employ, prostitute the dignity of women, and perpetuate the oppression of the marginalized, and even the destruction of our environment?
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
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 -
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The "shoes-off" experiences which I am about to share with you came about when I pressed myself close to the bosom of God, and listened to the whispers of His heart in the people whom I had met in the events in the Basic Ecclesial Communities, in the parish, in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, around Malaysia and the world.
These personal "shoes-off" responses to God have been rendered with profound reverence. I am learning day by day that the same reverence due to God is the respect that must be paid to God's people. Respect calls for an attitude of accepting the people at their level of maturity and growth. The God who loves us always comes down to our level. This is true of the events in Exodus and the Incarnation.
Hence, I too have to respect people at whatever level of growth and gradually motivate them toward greater progress and maturity. I am aware that I am only an instrument chosen and sent by God, like Moses, to minister to His people. I did not become their parish priest in order to ask them to live up to my expectations.
I am here to listen to God in and through their aspirations and to help them to draw closer to God. Once they experience the liberating power of God's love, God himself will motivate them toward the fulfillment of His mission.
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
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 -
These personal "shoes-off" responses to God have been rendered with profound reverence. I am learning day by day that the same reverence due to God is the respect that must be paid to God's people. Respect calls for an attitude of accepting the people at their level of maturity and growth. The God who loves us always comes down to our level. This is true of the events in Exodus and the Incarnation.
Hence, I too have to respect people at whatever level of growth and gradually motivate them toward greater progress and maturity. I am aware that I am only an instrument chosen and sent by God, like Moses, to minister to His people. I did not become their parish priest in order to ask them to live up to my expectations.
I am here to listen to God in and through their aspirations and to help them to draw closer to God. Once they experience the liberating power of God's love, God himself will motivate them toward the fulfillment of His mission.
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
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 -
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Theology? Isn't that the study of religion? So, what does it have to do with me? Isn't it concern of priests, theologians and the Vatican? Theology has little to do with me, hasn't it?
Most of us think that theology is the concern of specialists, an academic subject that has little to do with lay person. Yet, the Christian theology that we accept today has its roots in the faith experiences of the Hebrews' search for God, their reflection on those experiences and their response to Him.
As Rev. Fr. Michael Amaladoss SJ, the Assistant to Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ, responsible for Dialogue and Ecumenism (May 1992-...) puts it, "Faith looks, not only backward to God's saving and powerful presence in history, but also to the future that God invites us to create in the power of the Word and of the Spirit. Theology is therefore not an abstract philosophical elaboration of eternal verities reserved to a few expert professionals. It is a discerning search for God in the here and now of history that is the concern of everyone".
In this sense, theology must be the concern of every Christian and more so of every Christian in Malaysia.
It is the recognition of the Malaysian situation, specifically that of Saint Francis Xavier's Church (P.J), that has prompted the central argument in Theology of Shoes-off, an initial effort on the part of Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to identify the elements that could form our very own Malaysian Theology.
Rev. Fr. Amaladoss SJ has this to say about Theology of Shoes-off. The flowering of local theology is a sign of the rootedness and maturity of a particular Church. So I am glad to welcome and introduce this pioneering effort by Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to develop a Malaysian theology of "Shoes-off".
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) SJ, was the Parish Priest of SFX Church (P.J) from 1988 to 1992.
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 -
Most of us think that theology is the concern of specialists, an academic subject that has little to do with lay person. Yet, the Christian theology that we accept today has its roots in the faith experiences of the Hebrews' search for God, their reflection on those experiences and their response to Him.
As Rev. Fr. Michael Amaladoss SJ, the Assistant to Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ, responsible for Dialogue and Ecumenism (May 1992-...) puts it, "Faith looks, not only backward to God's saving and powerful presence in history, but also to the future that God invites us to create in the power of the Word and of the Spirit. Theology is therefore not an abstract philosophical elaboration of eternal verities reserved to a few expert professionals. It is a discerning search for God in the here and now of history that is the concern of everyone".
In this sense, theology must be the concern of every Christian and more so of every Christian in Malaysia.
It is the recognition of the Malaysian situation, specifically that of Saint Francis Xavier's Church (P.J), that has prompted the central argument in Theology of Shoes-off, an initial effort on the part of Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to identify the elements that could form our very own Malaysian Theology.
Rev. Fr. Amaladoss SJ has this to say about Theology of Shoes-off. The flowering of local theology is a sign of the rootedness and maturity of a particular Church. So I am glad to welcome and introduce this pioneering effort by Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to develop a Malaysian theology of "Shoes-off".
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) SJ, was the Parish Priest of SFX Church (P.J) from 1988 to 1992.
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 -
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
THE VIRGIN MARY IN EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY
We cannot avoid the critical questions and enquiries about Mary role in the Christian story of salvation, even if we start from a faith perspective.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you. She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. Mary said to the angel, But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the angel answered and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too; your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God. I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary 'let what you said be done to me'. And the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38 -
The story of Mary in the New testament and Mary the mother of Jesus - Matt. 1:1-23; Mark 3:31, 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-52; John 2:1-12, 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; Gal. 4:3-5; Rev. 12:1-6 -
Now before we came of age we were as good as slaves to the elemental principles of this world, but when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. - Gal. 4:3-5 -
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 -
We cannot avoid the critical questions and enquiries about Mary role in the Christian story of salvation, even if we start from a faith perspective.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you. She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. Mary said to the angel, But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the angel answered and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too; your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God. I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary 'let what you said be done to me'. And the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38 -
The story of Mary in the New testament and Mary the mother of Jesus - Matt. 1:1-23; Mark 3:31, 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-52; John 2:1-12, 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; Gal. 4:3-5; Rev. 12:1-6 -
Now before we came of age we were as good as slaves to the elemental principles of this world, but when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. - Gal. 4:3-5 -
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 -
Monday, October 12, 2009
Temptation is an enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt us, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted.
God cannot be induced to deny Himself. The supreme tempter is Satan - Matt. 4:3, 1Cor. 7:5, 1Thess. 3:5 - who is able to play upon the weakness of corrupted human nature and so to lead people to destruction. - James 1:13-14, 2Tim. 2:13 -
The gospel of Jesus Christ directs people to resist temptation, promising blessedness to those who do. The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it. - James 1:12, Matt. 6:13, Luke 11:4 - The Lord will not allow His people to encounter temptation beyond their Spirit-given ability to resist. - 1Cor. 10:13, 2Pet. 2:9 -
In the temptation of Christ - 40 day period in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil, first temptation (to turn stones to bread) was to use His divine power to satisfy His own physical needs. The second (to jump off the Temple) was to perform a spectacular feat so the people would follow Him. The third was to gain possession of the world by worshiping Satan.
One motive lay behind all these temptations; Satan wanted to destroy Jesus' mission. Because Jesus' death would destroy Satan's power. Satan wanted Jesus to pollute His life and ministry. The ultimate issue behind these temptations was idolatry. The real purpose of Satan's temptation was that he might be worshiped instead of God. - Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 -
Jesus, however, did not prove to be a disloyal Son. He did not put the Lord to the test. He lives "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". - Matt. 4:4 - Having resisted satanic temptation Himself, Christ is able to comfort and aid His followers who are tempted in similar fashion. - Heb. 2:18, 4:15 -
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests Israel to prove the true nature of her faithfulness to Him and to confirm their faith. As in the case of Job, Satan the tempter can serve the Lord's purpose. - Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2,16; James 1:2-4; Ex. 17:2, 7; Psalms. 78:18,41,56 -
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 -
God cannot be induced to deny Himself. The supreme tempter is Satan - Matt. 4:3, 1Cor. 7:5, 1Thess. 3:5 - who is able to play upon the weakness of corrupted human nature and so to lead people to destruction. - James 1:13-14, 2Tim. 2:13 -
The gospel of Jesus Christ directs people to resist temptation, promising blessedness to those who do. The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it. - James 1:12, Matt. 6:13, Luke 11:4 - The Lord will not allow His people to encounter temptation beyond their Spirit-given ability to resist. - 1Cor. 10:13, 2Pet. 2:9 -
In the temptation of Christ - 40 day period in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil, first temptation (to turn stones to bread) was to use His divine power to satisfy His own physical needs. The second (to jump off the Temple) was to perform a spectacular feat so the people would follow Him. The third was to gain possession of the world by worshiping Satan.
One motive lay behind all these temptations; Satan wanted to destroy Jesus' mission. Because Jesus' death would destroy Satan's power. Satan wanted Jesus to pollute His life and ministry. The ultimate issue behind these temptations was idolatry. The real purpose of Satan's temptation was that he might be worshiped instead of God. - Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 -
Jesus, however, did not prove to be a disloyal Son. He did not put the Lord to the test. He lives "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". - Matt. 4:4 - Having resisted satanic temptation Himself, Christ is able to comfort and aid His followers who are tempted in similar fashion. - Heb. 2:18, 4:15 -
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests Israel to prove the true nature of her faithfulness to Him and to confirm their faith. As in the case of Job, Satan the tempter can serve the Lord's purpose. - Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2,16; James 1:2-4; Ex. 17:2, 7; Psalms. 78:18,41,56 -
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 -
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?
Presupposing that you believe in those words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "without Me you can do nothing," you may securely follow a line of action like this:
1 - Refuse to be "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within: protect your freedom against them;
2 - Refuse to be coerced by fear from without; hold your head high against it, keep your mind's eye clear so that you may -
3 - Allow yourself to be drawn only by what you see and "feel" is truly good and deeply satisfying to you as a person who is Christian.
The "feel" of what is truly good and deeply satisfying is both the fruit of grace and the result of sincerity in searching what Christ would do in your situation. Christ is Son of God and God is love. He is inviting you in each situation to love as He loves. Exercise your mind to discover the most loving response you could make to God and to man in your present situation.
To this exercise of your mind, these will be added infallibly the light and the power of the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you, enabling you to see to "feel" unmistakably the impulse to true love/charity. To follow firmly the impulse of truth and love/charity - of Christ, that is - and each situation without being "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within or slavish fears from without, this is truly Christian freedom, freedom most deeply satisfying and self-fulfilling.
BY REV. FR. J.B. FERNANDES S.J.
Page 2
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 -
Presupposing that you believe in those words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "without Me you can do nothing," you may securely follow a line of action like this:
1 - Refuse to be "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within: protect your freedom against them;
2 - Refuse to be coerced by fear from without; hold your head high against it, keep your mind's eye clear so that you may -
3 - Allow yourself to be drawn only by what you see and "feel" is truly good and deeply satisfying to you as a person who is Christian.
The "feel" of what is truly good and deeply satisfying is both the fruit of grace and the result of sincerity in searching what Christ would do in your situation. Christ is Son of God and God is love. He is inviting you in each situation to love as He loves. Exercise your mind to discover the most loving response you could make to God and to man in your present situation.
To this exercise of your mind, these will be added infallibly the light and the power of the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you, enabling you to see to "feel" unmistakably the impulse to true love/charity. To follow firmly the impulse of truth and love/charity - of Christ, that is - and each situation without being "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within or slavish fears from without, this is truly Christian freedom, freedom most deeply satisfying and self-fulfilling.
BY REV. FR. J.B. FERNANDES S.J.
Page 2
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 -
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What is freedom? There are many incomplete or even false views of freedom. There is the anarchist view according to which freedom is the right and power to do as you like, to let yourself go, to be free from every control.
There is another view, the liberal, which rejects any truth or law binding on all; it permits each one to be law unto himself and herself.
There is a third, the existentialist, according to which you are free only when your action has no other goal than the demonstration of your own freedom.
And a fourth, the true view, which describes freedom as the inner power of a person to put himself and herself at the service of what is good, a power that is roused and guided by its own insight into and evaluation of the good. More simply, it is the power to seek what you see is truly good for you. It reaches its highest degree when it allows itself to be led entirely by the Spirit of God which leads only to what is absolutely good. It is the freedom of the children of God.
True freedom involves a double freedom, 'freedom from' and 'freedom for'. 'Freedom from' means freedom from internal inhibiting factors like fear, compulsion, prejudice, inordinate passions, all of which paralyse the will, imprison it; or from external deterrent like human respect, adverse criticism, group pressures, majority opinions. 'Freedom for' means the power to make personal responsible choices to say 'I want this because I like it, because I see it is good for me.'
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?...
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 -
There is another view, the liberal, which rejects any truth or law binding on all; it permits each one to be law unto himself and herself.
There is a third, the existentialist, according to which you are free only when your action has no other goal than the demonstration of your own freedom.
And a fourth, the true view, which describes freedom as the inner power of a person to put himself and herself at the service of what is good, a power that is roused and guided by its own insight into and evaluation of the good. More simply, it is the power to seek what you see is truly good for you. It reaches its highest degree when it allows itself to be led entirely by the Spirit of God which leads only to what is absolutely good. It is the freedom of the children of God.
True freedom involves a double freedom, 'freedom from' and 'freedom for'. 'Freedom from' means freedom from internal inhibiting factors like fear, compulsion, prejudice, inordinate passions, all of which paralyse the will, imprison it; or from external deterrent like human respect, adverse criticism, group pressures, majority opinions. 'Freedom for' means the power to make personal responsible choices to say 'I want this because I like it, because I see it is good for me.'
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?...
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 -
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