The acts and deeds of Jesus likewise make sense only in the larger context of proclaiming the kingdom of God. When John the Baptist asked whether Jesus was "the Coming One", or the Messiah, Jesus answered by recounting some of His deeds of healing.

Jesus answered, 'Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear,and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor, and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me. - Matt. 11:4-5 -

The reference in these words to the expectation of a MESSIAH, especially of the true prophet Isaiah, - Is. 29:18-19, 35:5-6, 61:1 - could not have been missed by John. At the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read a passage from Isaiah 61 about the coming messianic age and then made the astonishing announcement, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." - Luke 4:21 -

All that Jesus did is related to this claim that the kingdom of God has dawned through His ministry. His healing were manifestations of the presence of the kingdom. In these deeds there was a direct confrontation between God and forces of evil, or Satan and his demons. Summarizing His ministry, Jesus declared, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven". Satan and evil are in retreat now that the kingdom of heaven has made its entrance into human history.This is an anticipation of the final age of perfection that will be realized at Christ return.

The seventy-two came back rejoicing. 'Lord', they said 'even the devils submit to us when we use your name'. He said to them, 'I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice that your names are written in heaven'. - Luke 10:17-20 -

Although the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John focus on the present aspect of the kingdom of God, it is also clear that the kingdom will be realized perfectly only at the SECOND COMING. The kingdom that comes through the ministry of Jesus dawns in the form of a mystery. Although it is physically present in the deeds and words of Jesus, it does not overwhelm the world. The judgment of God's enemy is postponed. The kingdom that arrived with Jesus did not include the triumphal victory so longed for by the Jews. It arrived secretly like leaven, inconspicuously like a mustard seed, or like a small pearl of great value that can be hidden in one's pocket.

He put another parable before them, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches'.
He told them another parable, 'The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through'.

In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfill the prophecy:
I will speak to you in parables and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world.

Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, 'Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us'. He said in reply, The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time.

The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it. - Matt. 13:13-46 -

The Jewish people expected the kingdom of God.............

                                                                        Page 2

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By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
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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 -

KINGDOM OF GOD, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN -- God's rule of grace in the world, a future period foretold by the true prophets of the Old Testament and identified by Jesus as beginning with His public ministry. the kingdom of God is the experience of blessedness, like that of the Garden of Eden, where evil is fully overcome and where those who live in the kingdom know only happiness, love, peace and joy.

This was the main expectation of the Old Testament true prophets about the future. John the Baptist astonished his hearers when he announced that this expected and hoped - for kingdom was 'at hand' in the person of Jesus.

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. This was the man the true prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said:

A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight. - Matt. 3:1-3 -

Jesus repeated this message, but He went even further by announcing clearly that the kingdom was already in His ministry. Jesus was the full embodiment of the kingdom.

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand'. - Matt 4:17 - After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. there he proclaimed the Good News from God. 'The time has come' he said 'and the kingdom of God is close at hand, Repent, and believe the Good News'. - Mark 1:14-15 -

Then they brought to him a blind and dumb demoniac; and he cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. All the people were astounded and said, 'Can this be the Son of David?' But when the Pharisees heard this they said, 'The man casts out devils only through Beelzebul, the prince of devils'.
Knowing what was in their minds he said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin; and no town, no household divided against itself can stand.

Now if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom stand? And if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges, then. But if it is through the Spirit of God that I cast devils out, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you.

Or again, how can anyone make his way into a strong man's house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first? Only then can he burgle his house.

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, everyone of men's sins and blasphemies will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And anyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but let anyone speak against the Holy Spirit and he will not be forgiven either in this world or in the next. - Matt. 12:22-32 -
The acts and deeds of Jesus...

                                                                      Page 1

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By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
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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 grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ is applied to human beings for their salvation by the HOLY SPIRIT, who is called "the Spirit of grace".

If, after we have been given knowledge of the truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer any sacrifice for them. There will be left only the dreadful prospect of judgement and of the raging fire that is to burn rebels. Anyone who disregards the Law of Moses is ruthlessly put to death on the word of two witnesses or three and you may be sure that anyone who tramples on the Son of God, and who treats the blood of the covenant which sanctified him as if it were not holy and who insults the Spirit of grace, will be condemned to a far severer punishment. - Heb. 10:26-29 -

The Spirit is the One who binds Christ to His people so that they receive forgiveness, adoption to sonship and daughtership, and newness of life, as well as every spiritual gift or grace.

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you therefore to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all. Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. It was said that he would: When he ascended to the height, he captured prisoners, he gave gifts to men. - Eph. 4:1-8 -

The theme of grace is especially prominent in the letters of apostle Paul. He sets grace radically over against the law and the works of the law. Paul makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not something that can be earned or merited; it can be received only as a gift of grace. Grace, however, accompanied by faith and a person must trust in the mercy and favour of God, even while it is undeserved.

On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous man finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told: the man who practices these precepts finds life through practicing them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit. - Gal. 3:10-14 -

Do we mean that faith makes the Law pointless? Not at all: we are giving the Law its true value. - Rom. 3:31 -

Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. - Matt. 5:17-19 -

What I do admit to you is this; it is according to the Way which they describe as a sect that I worship the God of my ancestor, retaining my belief in all points of the Law and in what is written in the prophets; and I hold the same hope God as they do that there will be a resurrection of good men and bad men alike. In these things, I, as much as they, do my best to keep a clear conscience at all times before God and man. - Acts 24:14-16 -

The law of Moses revealed the righteous will of God in the midst of pagans darkness; it was God's gracious gift to Israel. - Duet. 4:8 - But His will was made complete when Jesus brought the gospel of grace into the world.

Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received-
yes, grace in return for grace,
since, though the Law was given through Moses,
grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ. - John 1:16-17 -

                                                                        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 -

Grace is one of the key attributes of God. Grace is a gift given by God, and is a favour or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves. The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, patience and abounding in goodness and truth". Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress. - Ex. 34:6 -

In the Old Testament, the supreme example of grace was the redemption of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land. This did not happen because of any merit on Israel's part, but in spite of their unrighteousness. - Deut. 9:5-6 - Although the grace of God is always free and undeserved, it must not be taken for granted. The gift of grace is given by God, is received by man through repentance and faith. - Amos 5:15 - Grace is to be humbly sought through the prayer of faith. - Mal. 1:9 -

In the New Testament, the grace of God was supremely and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was not only the beneficiary of God's grace. - Luke 2:40 - He was also its very embodiment, bringing it to mankind for salvation.

The Word was made flesh,
he lived among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth. - John 1:14 -

You see, God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. - Titus 2:11-13 -

By His passion, death and resurrection, Jesus restored the broken fellowship between God and His people, both Jew and Gentile. The way of salvation for any person is 'through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ'.

Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus. - Acts 15:11 - The grace...................

                                                                       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 act of setting apart, or dedicating, something or someone for God's use is refers to Consecration. In the Old Testament, the Temple and its trappings were the most important objects consecrated to God and Aaron and his sons were consecrated to the priesthood. But even such items as the spoils of battle and cattle could be consecrated. - 2Chr. 7:5-9; Ezra 6:16-17; Ex. 29; Lev. 8; Josh 6:19; Mic. 4:13; Lev. 27:28 - Before the beginning of the priesthood in Israel's history, the first-born of men and beast alike were consecrated. - Ex. 13:2 - But after the priesthood began, the tribe of Levi served as a substitute in this consecration.

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said:
'I myself have chosen the Levites from among the sons of Israel, in place of the first-born, those who open the mother's womb among the sons of Israel; these Levites therefore belong to me. For every first-born belongs to me. On the day when I struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the first-born of Israel, of both man and beast. They are mine; I am Yahweh.' - Num. 3:11-13 -

In the New Testament the supreme example of consecration is Christ himself. But believers are also consecrated by and are urged to consecrate themselves as well.

Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world,
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too may consecrate in truth. - John 17:17-19 -

The Law appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness; but the promise on oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son who is made perfect forever. - Heb. 7:28 -

Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ. - Heb. 10:9-10 -

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. - 1Pet. 2:9-10 -

                                                                     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 -

Conversion involves turning away from evil deeds and false worship and turning towards serving and worshiping the Lord. The initial change of attitude and will that brings a person into right relationship with God. Conversion marks a person's entrance into a new relationship with God, forgiveness of sins and his new life as a part of the fellowship of the people of God.

Closely related to conversion are repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin; faith is turning to God. Thus, conversion is more than the exchange of one set of beliefs for another; it is a wholehearted turning to God. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible is filled with the examples of persons who experienced conversion, especially in the New Testament.

The fullest description of conversion occurs in the words spoken to Saul [Paul] of Tarsus at his own conversion: To open their eyes and turn them from the darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share in the inheritance of the sanctified.

On one such expedition I was going to Damascus, armed with full powers and a commission from the chief priests and at midday as I was on my way, your Majesty, I saw a light brighter than the sun come down from heaven. It shone brilliantly round me and my fellow travellers. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Hebrew, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you, kicking like this against the goad".

Then I said: Who are you, Lord? And the Lord answered, "I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason: to appoint you as my servant and as witness of this vision in which you have seen me, and of others in which I shall appeared to you. I shall deliver you from the people and from the pagans, to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to God and receive, through faith in me, forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the sanctified.

After that, King Agrippa, I could not disobey the heavenly vision. On the contrary I started preaching, first to the people of Damascus, then to those of Jerusalem and all the countryside of Judaea, and also to the pagans, urging them to repent and turn to God, proving their change of heart by their deeds. This was why the Jews laid hands on me in the Temple and tried to do away with me. But I was blessed with God's help and so I have stood firm to this day, testifying to great and small alike, saying nothing more than what the prophets and Moses himself said would happen: that the Christ was to suffer and that, as the first to rise from the dead, he was to proclaim that light now shone for our people and for the pagans too. - Acts 26:12-23 -

The experience of conversion may differ with various individuals. The apostle Paul's conversion was sudden and radical, while the conversion of Lydia was apparently gradual and gentle. - Acts 16:14-15 - But the results of conversion are always a clear change of attitude and a new direction for life. And always have faith, hope and love in God. Amen.

                                                                       Page 1

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

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

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

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-25 -

Without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is. In the face of the enormous problems surrounding the development of peoples, which almost make us yield to discouragement, we find solace in the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ, who teaches us: "Apart from me you can do nothing" - John 15:5 - and then encourages us: "I am with you always, to the close of the age." - Matt. 28:20 -

As we contemplate the vast amount of work to be done, we are sustained by our faith that God is present alongside those who come together in his name to work for justice. Paul VI recalled in 'Populorum Progressio' that man cannot bring about his own progress unaided, because by himself he cannot establish an authentic humanism. Only if we are aware of our calling, as individuals and as a community, to be part of God's family as his sons and daughters, will we be able to generate a new vision and muster new energy in the service of a truly integral humanism.

The greatest service to development, then, is a Christian humanism that enkindles charity and takes its lead from truth, accepting both as a lasting gift from God. Openness to God makes us open towards our brothers and sisters and towards an understanding of life as a joyful task to be accomplished in a spirit of solidarity. On the other hand, ideological rejection of God and an atheism of difference, oblivious to the Creator and at risk of becoming equally oblivious to human values, constitute some of the chief obstacles to development today.

A humanism which excludes God is an inhuman humanism. Only a humanism open to the Absolute can guide us in the promotion and building of forms of social and civic life - structures, institutions, culture and ethos - without exposing us to the risk of becoming ensnared by the fashions of the moment. Awareness of God's undying love sustains us in our laborious and stimulating work for justice and the development of peoples, amid successes and failures, in the ceaseless pursuit of a just ordering of human affairs.

God's love calls us to move beyond the limited and the ephemeral, it gives us the courage to continue seeking and working for the benefit of all, even if this cannot be achieved immediately and if what we are able to achieve, alongside political authorities and those working in the field of economics, is always less than we might wish. God gives us the strength to fight and to suffer for love of the common good, because he is our ALL, our greatest hope.


BY  HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI

                                                                    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 distinction between preaching and teaching today is evident in the New Testament. Both Jesus and Paul regarded themselves as preachers-teachers and were so regarded by others. Luke reports that Jesus "taught and preached to the people". - Luke 20:1 - Paul testified that he was appointed 'a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher to the Gentiles'. - 2Tim. 1:11 -

The New Testament preaching, while aimed at motivating sinners to receive Christ, had a strong element of teaching.

Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead. I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching.

The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2Tim. 4:1-5 -

The Great Commission has a broad application that calls all believers to participate in preaching the gospel. And he said to them, 'Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. - Mark 16:15 -

The piercing question, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" challenges Christians to share with others the good news of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they got a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent, but as scripture says: the footsteps of those who bring good news is a welcome sound. Not everyone, of course, listens to the Good News. As Isaiah says: Lord, how many believed what we proclaimed? So faith comes from what is preached and what is preached comes from the word of Christ. - Rom. 10:14-17 -

                                                                     Page 1

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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 -

Preaching, Preacher is one who proclaims the gospel; proclamation of God's saving work through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Old testament mentions several prominent preachers. Noah, who warned of the impending flood and proclaimed God's ark of safety, was called a "preacher of righteousness". - 2Pet. 2:5 - Solomon described himself as a preacher who taught "words of truth". - Eccl. 1:2; 12:9-10 - At God's direction, Jonah made a preaching mission to Nineveh, declaring God's judgment and mercy. - Jonah 3:2 - Like Jonah, all the true prophets of the Old Testament were regarded as preachers, example Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Micah and others.

The New Testament, the gospel advanced on the wings of preaching. John the Baptist called for repentance in preparation for the Messiah's appearance.

I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand; he will clear his threshing and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out. - Matt. 3:11-12 -

Jesus was under the divine order to spread the Good News by means of preaching and proclaiming.

'I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do', And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea. - Luke 4:42-43 -

In sending out the Twelve, Jesus commanded them. And as you go proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. - Matt. 10:7 -

The apostle Paul declared his credentials as one whom God 'appointed a herald, preacher, apostle and teacher.

For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and - I am telling the truth and no lie - a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans. - 1Tim. 2:5-7 -

Virtually all New Testament preaching carries an evangelistic thrust.

For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed. The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God's power to save. As scripture says: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing all the learning of the learned. Where are the philosophers now? Where are the scribes? Where are any of our thinkers today?

Do you see now how God has shown up the foolishness of human wisdom? If it was God's wisdom that human wisdom should not know God, it was because God wanted to save those who have faith through the foolishness of the message that we preach. And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, there are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. - 1Cor. 17-25 -

The redemptive mission of Christ as fulfillment of prophecy of His death and resurrection was the main theme of apostolic preaching.

If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless; indeed, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. - 1Cor. 15:13-15 -

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

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

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

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

"I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED"

Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth. Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature. - CCC 150 -

Yahweh says this:

'A curse on the man who puts his trust in man,
who relies on things of flesh,
whose heart turns from Yahweh.
He is like dry scrub in the wastelands;
if good comes, he has no eyes for it,
he settles in the parched of the wilderness,
a salt land, uninhabited.

'A blessing on the man who puts his trust in Yahweh,
with Yahweh for his hope. - Jer. 17:5-7 -

Do not put your trust in men in power,
or in any mortal man - he cannot save,
he yields his breath and goes back to the earth he came from,
and on that day all his schemes perish. - Psalms 146:3-4 -

It is only on account of this that I am experiencing fresh hardships here now; but I have not lost confidence, because I know it is that I have put my trust in, and I have no doubt at all that he is able to take care of all that I have entrusted to him until that Day. - 2Tim. 1:12 -

For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son." in whom the Father is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him. The Lord himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in me." We can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the Word made flesh; "No one has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. Because he "has seen the Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him. - CCC 151 -

No one has ever seen God;
it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father's heart,
who has made him known. - John 1:18 - Matt. 11:27 -

And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.' - Mark 1:11, 9:7 -

One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who reveals to men who Jesus is. For "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit, who "searches everything, even the depths of God...No one comprehends the thoughts of God, except the Spirit of God." Only God knows God completely: we believe in the Holy Spirit because he is God. - CCC 152 -

These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. After all, the depths of a man can only be known by his own spirit, not by any other man, and in the same depths of God can only be known by the Spirit of God. - 1Cor. 2:10-11 -

                                                                         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 -

PEOPLE 'S RESPONSE TO GOD

By his revelation, "the invisible God, from the fullness of his love, address men as his friends, and moves among them, in order to invite and receive them into his own company," The adequate response to this invitation is faith. - CCC 142 -

Yahweh would speak with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. - Ex. 33:11 -

He is the image of the unseen God
and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created
all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers-
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed,
and he holds all thing in unity. - Col. 1:15-17 -

To the eternal King, the undying invisible and only God, be honour and glory forever and ever, Amen. 1Tim. 1:17 -

You are my friends,
if you do what I command you,
I shall not call you servants anymore,
because a servant does not know
his master's business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father. - John 15:14-15 -

By faith, man completely submits his intellect and his will to God. With his whole being man gives his assent to God, the revealer,  Sacred Scripture calls this human response to God, the author of revelation, "the obedience of faith." - CCC 143 -

This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took, was a descendant of David; it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. - Rom. 1:3-5 -

Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom, give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ forever and ever, Amen. - Rom. 16:25-27 -

To obey (from the Latin ob-audire, to "hear or listen to") in faith is to submit freely to the word that has been heard, because its truth is guaranteed by God, who is Truth itself. Abraham is the model of such obedience offered us by Sacred Scripture. The Virgin Mary is its most perfect embodiment. - CCC 144 -

"I KNOWN WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED"..............

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

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

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

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

Although death is an enemy, St. Paul thought of death as necessary in order that believers may receive immortal, incorruptible bodies. Those living at the Lord's return will receive transformed bodies.

St. Paul taught that "the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, And thus, we shall always be with the Lord."

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus; God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord's own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord's coming will not have any advantage over those who have died.

At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another. - 1Thes. 4:13-18 -

Jesus spoke of "the resurrection of life" and "the resurrection of condemnation", Thus, we may assume that both believers and unbelievers will receive resurrection bodies - but their eternal destiny will be different.

Do not be surprised at this,
for the hour is coming
when the dead will leave their graves
at the sound of his voice;
those who did good
will rise again to life;
and those who did evil, to condemnation. - John 5:28-29 -

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

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

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

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

In Jesus' time the Sadducees denied in bodily resurrection while the Pharisees believed in it. However, at least the tone of a hope of immortality pervades the entire Old Testament, including the faith of the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob(Israel) - in God's promises.

It was equally by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive, because she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful to it. Because of this, there came from one man, and one who was already as dead himself, more descendants than could be counted, as many as the stars of heaven or the grains of sand on the seashore.

All these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw them in the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth. - Heb. 11:11-13 -

In the Lord Jesus Christ we have God's full revelation about immortality of both the body and spirit. His bodily resurrection is proof of our immortality.

Your brother, Jesus said to her 'will rise again'. Martha said, 'I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day'. Jesus said:
'I am the resurrection,
If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Do you believe this?' - John 11:23-26 -

He will repay each one as it works deserve. For those who sought renown and honour and immortality by always doing good there will be eternal life; for the unsubmissive who refused to take truth for their guide and took depravity instead, there will be anger and fury. - Rom. 2:6-8 -

This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News; and I have been named its herald, its apostle and its teacher. - 2Tim. 1:10-11 -

Now if Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead. If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing in it is useless; instead, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. - 1Cor. 15:12-16 -

Although death is an enemy, apostle Paul....

                                                                       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 -