In the Old Testament, remnant is the part of a community or nation that remains after a dreadful judgement or devastating calamity especially those who have escaped and remain to form the nucleus of a new community. The survival of a righteous remnant rests solely on God's providential care for His Chosen People and His faithfulness to keep His Covenant promises.

That day,
the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the House of Jacob
will stop relying on the man who strikes them
and will truly rely on Yahweh,
the Holy One of Israel.
A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob,
to the mighty God. - Is. 10:20-21 -

The concept of the remnant has its roots in the Book of Deuteronomy where Moses warned the people of Israel that they would be scattered among the nations. But God also promised that He would bring the people back from captivity and establish them again in the land of their fathers. This concept was picked up by the true prophets who spoke of the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities. It was extended to apply also to the gathering of a righteous remnant at the time when the Messiah came to establish His kingdom.

When you have begotten children and grandchildren and you have lived long in the land if you act perversely, making a carved image in one shape or another, doing what displeases Yahweh and angers him, on that day I will call heaven and earth to witness against you; and at once you will vanish from the land which you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You shall not live there long; you shall be utterly destroyed. Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples and only a small number of you will remain among the nations where Yahweh will have driven you. There you will pay service to gods that human hands have made of wood and of stone that cannot see or hear, eat or smell.
But you will seek Yahweh your God from there and if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul, you shall find him. In your distress all that I have said will overtake you but at the end of days you will return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice. For Yahweh your God is a merciful God and will not desert or destroy you or forget the covenant he made on oath with your fathers. - Deut. 4:25-31 -

In the Book of Amos and Isaiah, the remnant consisted of those chosen by God who were rescued from the impending doom of the nation. As such there were labeled 'the poor' those who suffer for God. At the same time, they serve God and stand before the nation as witnesses, calling the people to repent of their rebellion and their wicked ways of life.

Therefore Yahweh says this,
the God of Sabaoth, the Lord.
In every public square there will be lamentation,
in every street wails of 'Alas! Alas!'
Peasants will be called on to lament
as well as the professional mourners
and there will be wailing in every vineyard,
for I am going to pass through you,
says Yahweh. - Amos 5:16-17 -

Had Yahweh not left us a few survivors,
we should be like Sodom,
we should now be like Gomorrah. - Is. 1:9; 29:19; 41:17 -

In the New Testament the apostle Paul picked up the teaching of prophet Isaiah and other prophets about the remnant and applied it to the Church. Paul showed that God's purpose is seen in the 'remnant' out of Israel who have joined the Gentiles to form the Church, the new people of God. Moreover, Jesus' choice of twelve apostles built upon remnant themes and in accordance to the twelve tribes, the apostles became the remnant who erected a new structure, the Church, upon the foundation of Israel. In the Church, both Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised, find their true spiritual home when they believe in Christ.

"Today the same thing happen: there is a remnant, chosen by grace." - Roman. 11:5 -

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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
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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 -

Melchizedek king of Salem (Jerusalem) brought bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. - Gen. 14:17-24 - Yahweh has sworn an oath which he never will retract, 'You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek and forever'. - Psalms 110:4 - Melchizedek's sudden appearance and disappearance in the Book of Genesis are somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abram's defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies and he presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship and religious kinship. He also bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of 'God Most High' and praise God for giving Abraham a victory in battle and Abraham paid him a tenth of the treasure he had captured.

Abraham recognized Melchizedek as a fellow-worshiper of the one true God as well as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than himself. Melchizedek's existence shows that there were people other than Abraham and his family who served the true God. In Psalms 110, a messianic psalm written by king David - Matt. 22:41-46 - Melchizedek is seen as a type of Christ. This theme is repeated in the Book of Hebrews where both Melchizedek and Christ are considered kings of righteousness and peace. By citing Melchizedek as a type, it's shows that Christ's new priesthood is superior to the old Levitical order and the priesthood of Aaron. - Heb. 7:1-14 -

Attempts have been made to identify Melchizedek as an imaginary character named Shem, an angel, the Holy Spirit, Christ, and others. All are products of speculation, not historical fact; and it is impossible to reconcile them with the theological argument of Hebrews. Melchizedek was a genuine and real historical king-priest who served as a type for the greater King-Priest who was to come, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relation with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father and in another text:

You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek and forever. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. 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 and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

On subject we have many things to say and they are difficult to explain because you have grown so slow at understanding. Really when you should by this time have become masters, you need someone to teach you all over again the elementary principles of interpreting God's oracles; you have gone back to needing milk and not solid food. Truly, anyone who is still living on milk cannot digest the doctrine of righteousness because he is still a baby. Solid food is for mature men with minds trained by practice to distinguish between good and bad. - Heb. 5:1-14 -

Here we have an anchor for our soul, as sure as it is firm and reaching right through beyond the veil where Jesus has entered before us and on our behalf, to become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek and forever. - Heb. 6:19-20 -

To suit us, the ideal high priest would have to be holy, innocent and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners and raised up above the heavens; one who would not need to offer sacrifices everyday, as the other high priests do for their own sins and then for those of the people because he has done this once and for all by offering himself. 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. 7:26-28 -

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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 -

Snails, snakes and scorpions cannot despair; neither can cabbages, camels and centipedes. Only man, with the infinite and the eternal in him, can despair. The greater the expectation, the more keen can be the disappointment. The more there is to hope, the greater is the grief at not realizing it. man alone, of all creatures, has a soul which is capable of knowing the infinite; he alone has aspirations beyond what he sees and touches and feels; he alone can attain everything in the world and still not be satisfied. That is why, when he misses the infinite and the eternal for which he was made and which alone can satisfy, he despairs.

The yearning within man for truth and love and beauty and perfection indicates that something is lacking for the fullness of life. This yearning is related to hope which int its simplest form, is gaze toward the future. A farmer cannot plant seed in the springtime nor the mother press a child to her breast nor the scientist conduct his research without hope. No spade would ever be dug into the earth nor pen put to paper were there not some expectation of good to come from it.

That hope for which we look may be in time or it may be beyond time. If the ultimate and final hope is in this world, despair is inevitable. What peace is there in possessing if death with its "shuffling off the mortal coil" means the breaking of all communication with what we hoped? There is then felt within the heart the radical tug between the infinite craving and the finite satisfaction between the sweet rind and the bitter pulp.

When, however, the desire for perfection and the infinite is placed beyond this life, there is no occasion for despair.

Those who are familiar with the thinking of the world for the last two centuries will recall how the world has swung from an unbounded optimism in human affairs to a despair which today engages and demands the attention of psychiatrists. Optimism today is at a discount. Men clamour less for happiness than they do for security. All the philosophers of the past argued to the existence of God and the moral law, from man's innate craving for happiness; today, man's deepest yearning is for some economic security.

This change in outlook may be likened to different attitudes of sea voyagers. In former days, man's first concern on taking a sea voyage was a port and a comfortable cabin; today, the first thing the traveller does is to look for a life-belt. Many today are very uncertain as to whether or not there is a destiny to the voyage of life; in fact, they would rather not dwell upon the problem, for they know it makes ethical demands upon them which they are unprepared to make.

The age that expects a future life and the perfection of happiness beyond this life has a calm and peace which the turn of events cannot disturb. But when a man loses hope and has no God to whom he can turn, then he must be in a hurry to get something out of life. The believer can wait; the pagan must hurry. The gate threatens to close; then all is over. Hence, the impatient scramble and scuffle to acquire as much as possible before the sun sets.

Communism is the logic of despair. When the ultimate hope of personality is denied, then there are no longer any limits to crass earthliness which unleashes itself with boundless ferocity. The rapidly of wars, the almost incessant revolutions which disturb our modern world are born of that frantic despair to salvage something before the world is taken away.

Those who have hope are like a boy with a kite. The kite may conceivably be so high in the clouds that it cannot be seen; but he who holds the string feels the tug of it. Once our hope is in God, we feel the pull and tug of it on earth. But as the heir must believe in his title to the inheritance before he can hope in it, so there must be faith in things beyond before we can hope. With such a strong basis for hope, despair fades away.

BY ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ( 1895 - 1979 )

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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 -

The act of cursing, slandering, reviling, showing contempt and without reverence for God refers to blasphemy. In the Old Testament, blaspheming God was a serious crime punishable by death. It was a violation of the Third Commandment which required that the name and reputation of God be upheld. And the name of God and our teaching are not brought into disrepute.

There was a man whose mother was an Israelite woman and whose father was an Egyptian. He came out of his house and in the camp, surrounded by the sons of Israel, he began to quarrel with a man who was an Israelite. Now this son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name and cursed it. So they brought him to Moses (his mother's name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan) He was put under guard until the will of Yahweh should be made clear to them.
Yahweh spoke to Moses; he said:

"Take the man who pronounced the curse outside the camp. Let all who have heard him lay their hands on his head and let the whole community stone him". Then say to the sons of Israel:
"Anyone who curses his God shall bear the burden of his fault. The one who blasphemes the name of Yahweh must die: the whole community must stone him. Stranger or native, if he blasphemes the name, he dies". - Lev. 24:10-16 -

'You shall not utter the name of Yahweh your God to misuse it, for Yahweh will not leave unpunished the man who utters his name to misuse it.' - Ex. 20:7 -

In the New Testament, the unbelieving of Jews of Jesus' day charged Him with blasphemy because they thought of Him only as a man while He claimed to be God's Son. Actually, the lawlessness of the Jews themselves was causing God's name to be blasphemed among the Gentiles and by their bitter opposition to Jesus and His gospel, they themselves were guilty of blasphemy.

Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.' And at this some scribes said to themselves, 'This man is blaspheming.' Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, 'Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier: to say, "Your sins are forgiven", or to say, "Get up and walk"? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins - he said to the paralytic - 'get up, and pick up your bed and go off home'. And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this and they praised God for giving such power to men. - Matt. 9:2-8 -

You preach against stealing, yet you steal; you forbid adultery, yet you commit adultery; you despise idols, yet you rob their temples. By boasting about the Law and then disobeying it, you bring God into contempt. As scripture says: It is your fault that the name of God is blasphemed among the pagans. - Rom. 2:22-24 -

Christians are commanded to avoid behaviour that blasphemes the Lord's name and teaching. For those who continue behaving and teaches as such, Jesus condemned as blasphemy their attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.

He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every one of man'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. 12:30-32 -
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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 -

Before Pilate, Jesus Christ proclaims that He "has come into the world to bear witness to the truth". The Christian is not to "be ashamed then to testifying to our Lord". In situations that require witness to the faith, the Christian must profess it without equivocation, after the example of St. Paul before his judges. We must keep a "clear conscience toward God and toward men". - CCC 2471 - John 18:37; 2Tim. 1:8; Acts 24:16 -

The duty of Christians to take part in the life of the Church impels them to act as witnesses of the Gospel and of the obligations that flow from it. This witness is a transmission of the faith in words and deeds. Witness is an act of justice that establishes the truth or makes it known. All Christians by example of their lives and the witness of their word, wherever they live, have an obligation to manifest the new man which they have put on in Baptism and to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit by whom they were strengthened at Confirmation. - CCC 2472 - Matt. 18:16 -

Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude. "Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God". - CCC 2473 -

Christ's disciples have "put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness". By putting away falsehood," they are to "put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander." - CCC 2475 - Eph. 4:24-25; 1Pet. 2:1 -

False witness and prejury. When it is made publicly, a statement contrary to the truth takes on a particular gravity. In court it becomes false witness. When it is under oath, it is prejury. Acts such as these contribute to condemnation of the innocent, exoneration of the guilty or the increased punishment of the accused. They gravely compromise the exercise of justice and the fairness of judicial decisions. - CCC 2476 - Prov. 19:9, 18:5 -

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:
- of rash judgment who even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbour;
-of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
- of calumny who by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgment concerning them. - CCC 2477 - Sir. 21:28 -

To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbour's thoughts, words and deeds in a favourable way:
Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favourable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved. - CCC 2478 - St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercise, 22 -

Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbour. Honour is the social witness given to human dignity and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honour of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity. - CCC 2479 -

Every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation or complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct. Adulation is a grave fault if it makes one an accomplice in another's vices or grave sins. Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech. Adulation is a venial sin when it only seeks to be agreeable, to avoid evil, to meet a need or to obtain legitimate advantages. - CCC 2480 -

Boasting or bragging is an offense against truth. So is irony aimed at disparaging someone by maliciously caricaturing some aspect of his behaviour. - CCC 2481 -

"A lie consists in speaking a falsehood with the intention of deceiving." The Lord denounces lying as work of the devil: "You are of your father the devil... there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speak according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - CCC 2482 - St. Augustine, De mendacio 4,5:PL40:491; John 8:44 -

Lying is the most direct offense against truth. To lie is to speak or act against the truth in order to lead into error someone who has the right to know the truth. By injuring man's relation to truth and to his neighbour, a lie offends against the fundamental relation of man and of his word to the Lord. - CCC 2483 -

The gravity of lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victim. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity. - CCC 2484 -

By its very nature, lying is to be condemned. It is a profanation of speech, whereas the purpose of speech is to communicate known truth to others. The deliberate intention of leading a neighbour into error by saying things contrary to the truth constitutes a failure in justice and charity. The culpability is greater when the intention of deceiving entails the risk of deadly consequences for those who are led astray. - CCC 2485 -

Since it violates the virtue of truthfulness, a lie does real violence to another. It affects his ability to know, which is a condition of every judgment and decision. It contains the seed of discord and all consequent evils. Lying is destructive of society; it undermines trust among men and tears apart the fabric of social relationships. - CCC 2486 -

Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly. It someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. This reparation, moral and sometimes material, must be evaluated in terms of the extent of the damage inflicted. It obliges in conscience. - CCC 2487 -

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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 -

Even before prophet Isaiah time, the concept of God's servant was deeply rooted in the history of the nation of Israel. The term servant was frequently applied to those who performed some task, service and mission for God. For instance, Abraham - Gen. 26:24 - Isaac - Gen. 24:14 - Jacob - Ezek. 28:25 - and Moses - Deut. 34:5 - as well as many of the true prophets of the Old Testament.

The prophet Isaiah used the phrase 'Servant of the Lord' in a specialised or messianic sense. The Servant of the Lord not only would encounter and accept suffering in the course of His work but He also would realise that His vicarious suffering would become the means by which He would give His life as a ransom for others. According to Isaiah's, the Servant of the Lord would bring forth justice to the Gentiles and establish justice in the earth. He would bring Jacob back to the Lord and would be a light to the Gentiles. He would not hide His face from shame and spitting. He would be the sin-bearing Servant, giving His life for the redemption of His people. - Is. 42:1,4; 49:5-6; 50:6 -

See, my servant will prosper,
he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights.
Hence I will grant whole hordes, for his tribute,
he shall divide the spoil with the mighty,
for surrendering himself to death
and letting himself be taken for a sinner,
while he was bearing the faults of many
and praying all the time for sinners. - Is. 52:1 to 53:12 -

In the New Testament writers are unanimous in stating that the Servant of the Lord is a messianic figure and that Jesus is that Servant. The first of Isaiah's 'Servant Songs' - Is. 42:1-4 - was quoted by apostle Matthew as being fulfilled in Jesus. - Matt. 12:18-21 - The violent treatment suffered by Jesus was precisely what the 'Servant Songs' of Isaiah prophesied about God's Servant. Jesus saw His role as that of a servant. He taught His followers, disciples, apostles and the chosen one to view His mission and theirs as well, in terms of servant-hood. Thus, the Servant of the Lord, spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, is preeminently Jesus Himself.

Yahweh has been pleased to crush him with suffering.
If he offers his life in atonement,
he shall see it heirs, he shall have a long life
and through him what Yahweh wishes will be done.

His soul's anguish over
he shall see the light and be content.
By his sufferings shall my servant justify many,
taking their faults on himself. - Is. 53:10-11 -

No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom to many. - Mark 10:43-45 -

The Book of Acts emphasized the suffering and hostility which the Messiah underwent to accomplish redemption. In these passages Jesus is referred to as 'His Servant Jesus' and 'Your holy Servant Jesus'.

You are Israelites and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors who has glorified his servant Jesus, the same Jesus you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate, after Pilate had decided to release him. It was for you in the first place that God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning everyone of you from your wicked ways. - Acts 3:13,26 -

This was what come true: in this very city Herod and Pontius Pilate made an alliance with the pagans nations and the peoples of Israel, against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed but only to bring about the very thing that you in your strength and your wisdom had predetermined should happen. And now, Lord, take note of their threats and help your servants to proclaim your message with all boldness by stretching out your hand to heal and to work miracles and marvels through the name of your holy servant Jesus'. As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly. - Acts 4:27-31 -

Saint Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle - Rom. 1:1 - Saint Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ - 2Pet. 1:1 - Apostle James, servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ - James 1:1 - Apostle Jude, servant of Jesus Christ - Jude 1 - always practice precisely what they preach and preach what they practice. They are many other apostles, disciples and followers, indeed does the same; in words and in deeds. Amen!

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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 -

Love is like oil to the wheels of obedience. It enables us to run the way of God's commandments. Without such love, we are as nothing. Such Spirit-inspired lover never fails but always flourishes.

I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue forever; and knowledge - for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. - 1Cor. 13:3, 8 -

The love of brothers/sisters for each other, in a sense to express love of Christians for one another, since all are sons/daughters of the same Father. The Greek word translated as brotherly/sisterly love implies more than love for one's blood brothers/sisters; it means love for the broader brotherhood/sisterhood of God's true believers, for the baptised of the Church, 'the household of faith and love' and 'of God'.

Do not let your love be a pretend but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. - Rom. 12:9-10 -

Continue to love each other like brothers and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. - Heb. 13:1-2 -

While we have the chance, we must do good to all and especially to our brothers in the faith. - Gal. 6:10 -

Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. - 1Pet. 3:8 -

Christians are a brotherhood/sisterhood in the service of Christ, a family made up of those who do the will of God. Jesus said to His disciples, 'A new commandment I give to you', that you love one another; as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are My disciples.

Jesus was still speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, "Here are my mothers and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.' - Matt. 12:46-50 -

His mother and brothers now arrived and standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, 'Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.' He replied, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.' - Mark 3:31-35 -

His mother and his brothers came looking for him but they could not get to him because of the crowd. he was told, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.' But he said in answer, 'My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.' - Luke 8:19-21 -

I give you a new commandment:
love one another;
just as I have loved you,
you also must love one another.
By this love you have for one another,
everyone will know that you are my disciples. - John 13:34-35 -

A Christian's love should extend beyond the Christian brotherhood/sisterhood, for example, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. In other words, to all people. 'If you greet your brethren only, are you doing anything exceptional?' and 'love those who love you only', what right have you to claim any credit?' said the Lord Jesus, even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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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 -

Child, Children refers to an offspring born to a husband and wife in the marriage relationship. Children are gifts from God. Giving birth to a baby or child is a joyful occasion. But it is also a painful event, characterized by agony and travail, following God's curse on Eve. - Gen. 3:16 -

A woman in childbirth suffers,
because her time has come;
but when she has given birth to the child she forgets the suffering
in her joy that a man has been born into the world. - John 16:21 -

The agony is so well known that the childbearing became symbolic of any time of sorrow and suffering. The prophet Jeremiah was especially fond of this analogy. - Ps. 48:6; Is. 13:8 -

Yes, I hear screams like those of a woman in labour,
anguish like that of a woman giving birth to her first child;
they are the screams of the daughter of Zion, gasping,
hands outstretched,
'Ah, I despair! I am fainting away
with murderers surrounding me.' - Jer. 4:31 -

What will you say when they descend on you
as conquerors,
those you yourself taught
to be your friend?
Will not anguish grip you
like a woman in labour? - Jer. 13:21 -

But the king of Babylon has heard the news of them,
his hands fall limp,
anguish has seized him,
pain like that of a woman in labour. - Jer. 50:43 -

The Lord Jesus Christ clearly expressed his love and respect for children. He cited the innocence and openness of children to illustrate the attitude necessary for entering the Kingdom of God.

People were bringing little children to him, for him to touch them. The disciples turned then away but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing. - Mark 10:13-16 -

An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds and he took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, 'Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.' - Luke 9:46-48 - Matt. 18:1-7; Mark 9:33-37 -

Jesus also applied this image to the sorrows that start the Messianic age. For nations will fight against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes here and there. All this is only the beginning of the birth pangs. - Matt. 24:7-8 - She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. - Rev. 12;2 - The apostle Paul used this figure of speech too.

Creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth. - Rom. 8:21 -22 -

It is always a good thing to win people over - and I do not have to be there with you - but it must be for a good purpose, my children! I must go through the pain of giving birth to you all over again until Christ is formed in you. - Gal. 4:18-19 -

Since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and peaceful it is' that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it. - 1Thes. 5:2-3 -

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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 -

Adultery refers to willful sexual intercourse with someone other than one' husband or wife. In the Old Testament and in the Ten Commandments God emphatically prohibited adultery when He said, "You shall not commit adultery" - Ex. 20:14 - Under Mosaic Law, when a couple was caught in the act of adultery, both parties were to be killed or stoned to death. - Deut. 22:22 -

Adultery plays havoc with personal, domestic and national happiness, ruins family life and destroy family integration. A case in point is king David's affair with Bathsheba. Their adultery led to a cover-up which was followed by the murder of Bathsheba's husband. - 2Sam. chapter 11 - Nathan the prophet later came to David, accusing of his sin and declaring that because of it, violence would become commonplace in David's household. - 2Sam. 12:10 - On disaster after another struck his family, including rape, murder and revolt. - 2Sam. chapter 13 to 15 -

Adultery reached epidemic proportions in Jeremiah's [the prophet] time. The prophet Jeremiah repeatedly spoke out against this and other sins. - Jer. 7:9; 23:10 - The problem was so rampant that Jeremiah predicted God's judgement on them.

But in the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen horrors:
adultery, persistent lying,
such abetting of evil men, that no one renounces his evil-doing;
to me they are like Sodom
its inhabitants all like Gomorrah.
So this is what Yahweh Sabaoth says about the prophets:
and poisoned water to drink,
since from the prophets of Jerusalem
godlessness has spread throughout the land. - Jer. 23:14-15 -

Occasionally, the marriage covenant was used as an analogy to describe God's relationship to His people. When the people of Israel and Judah refused to obey Him or when they practiced idolatry, the true prophets accused them of spiritual adultery. - Jer. 3:6-10 -

The record of the woman taken in adultery-who, according to the law of Moses, should have been stoned to death-reveals the wisdom and grace of Jesus. He knew that her accusers were not without sin and therefore, they were being self-righteous when they condemned her. When Jesus said to her, "Go and sin no more" He did not excuse her sin; he forgive her of it and warned against continuing in adultery. - John 8:3-11 -

Saint Paul catalogued a series of sins that exclude a person from the kingdom of God. The sin of adultery was included in these list.

You know perfectly well that people who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God: people of immoral lives, idolaters, adulterers, catamites, sodomites, thieves, usurers, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers will never inherit the kingdom of God. - 1Cor. 6:9-10 -

In other words, since they refused to see it was rational to acknowledge God. God has left them to their own irrational ideas and to their monstrous behaviour. And so they are steeped in all sorts of depravity, rottenness, greed and malice, and addicted to envy, murder, wrangling, treachery and spite. Libellers, slanderers, enemies of God, rude, arrogant and boastful, enterprising in sin, rebellious to parents, without brains, without honour, without love and without pity. They know what God's verdict is: that those who behave like this deserve to die - and yet they do it; and what is worse, encourage others to do the same. - Rom. 1:28-32 -

Try, then, to imitate God, as children of his that he loves and follow Christ by loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. Among you there must not even a mention of fornication or impurity in any of its forms or promiscuity: this would hardly become the saints!

There must be no coarseness, or salacious talk and jokes - all this is wrong for you; raise your voices in thanksgiving instead. For you can be quite certain that nobody who actually indulges in fornication or impurity or promiscuity - which is worshipping a false god - can inherit anything of the kingdom of God. Do not let anyone deceive you with empty arguments: it is for this loose living that God's anger comes down on those who rebel against him. Make sure that you are not included with them. You were darkness once but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. The things which are done in secret are things that people are ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. That is why it is said:

Wake up from your sleep,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you. - Eph. 5:1-14 -

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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 -

Sex - the concept of male and female; pertaining to the reproductive function of human beings; sexual intercourse. God created mankind in His own image as "male and female" - Gen. 1:27; 5:2 - The act of sexual intercourse is part of God's first command to mankind: "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. - Gen 1:28 - Although the primary reason for intercourse was procreation, God created mankind with a capacity to enjoy sex.

The Old Testament records legislation that sought to restrict premarital and extramarital sex. - Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10 - In addition, homosexuality, bestiality and incest were condemned. - Lev. 18:6-18, 22-23 - Distinctions between the sexes also involved clothing; articles of clothing of the opposite sex were not to be worn. - Deut. 22:5 - However, a couple was to refrain from sex during the wife's monthly menstruation. - Lev. 15:19-24 - In addition, if the husband was involved in war, he was to abstain until God gave them the victory. - 1Sam. 21:4; 2Sam. 11:11 -

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul stated that since sex is such an integral part of marriage, the spouse always should be sexually available. Sexual intercourse within marriage was considered "honourable" and if the couple refrains from intercourse, the decision should be mutual, should be for a spiritual reason and should be only for a stated period. Indeed, sex played an important role in marriage.

Marriage is to be honoured by all and marriages are to be kept undefiled because fornicators and adulterers will come under God's judgement. - Heb. 13:4 -

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and test him they said, 'Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?' He answered, 'Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide. - Matt. 19:3-6 -

Now for the question about which you wrote. Yes, it is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman; but since sex is always a danger, let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband must give his wife what she has the right to expect and so too the wife to the husband. The wife has no rights over her own body; it is the husband who has them. In the same way, the husband has no rights over his body; the wife has them. Do not refuse each other except by mutual consent, and then only for an agreed time, to leave yourselves free from prayer; then come together again in case Satan should take advantage of your weakness to tempt you. This is a suggestion, not a rule: I should like everyone to be like me but everybody has his own particular gifts from God, one with a gift for one thing another with a gift for the opposite.

There is something I want to add for the sake of widows and those who are not married: it is a good thing for them to stay as they are, like me but if they cannot control the sexual urges, they should get married, since it is better to be married than to be tortured.
For the married I have something to say, and this not from me but from the Lord: a wife must not leave her husband or if she does leave him, she must either remain unmarried or else make it up with her husband nor must a husband send his wife away. - 1Cor. 7:1-11 -

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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 -

The most important aspect is the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Peter taught that Christ Jesus now rules from the right hand of God. That rule will last until His enemies are made His footstool.

Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried; his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God's right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit who was promised and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit. For David himself never went up to heaven; and yet these words are his:

The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for you.

'For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ'. - Acts 2:29-36 -

Saint Paul also understood Christ to be presently reigning in a period designed to bring all of God's enemies underfoot. Thus the impact of Christ's present rule over the earth from God's right hand must not be seen as unrelated to His future reign.

For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet. Though when it is said that everything is subjected, this clearly cannot include the One who subjected everything to him. And when everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected in his turn to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all. - 1Cor. 15:22-28 -

One position holds that the millennium only refers to Christ's spiritual rule today from heaven. This symbolic view is known as the amillennial interpretation. Another position views Christ's spiritual rule as working through preaching and teaching for the conversion of peoples heart to bring gradual world improvement leading up to Christ's return. This is the post-millennial view.

The position that holds to an actual thousand year period in the future is known as the pre-millennial view. This interpretation does not diminish the power of Christ's present rule from heaven or limit that rule to the Church only. That position sees the need for a thousand year place in history for an earthly fulfillment of Israel's promises of land and blessing. It stresses that the one thousand years in the Book of Revelation, chapter 20 are actual years and not symbolic.

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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 -

There are four types of persons who miss their mark in the world, as revealed in the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coins, the prodigal son and the elder son.

Some are lost through stupidity and thoughtlessness, like sheep who do not intentionally go astray.

The second type of errant soul is illustrated in the parable of the lost coins. Sheep may lose themselves but a coin is not lost through its own fault but generally through carelessness of others. To this group belong many delinquent children whom parental carelessness allowed to roll into the streets and to become lost.

A third class, described in the parable of the prodigal son, is composed of those who go astray neither through heedlessness nor through the fault of others but with deliberate choice. Refusing to accept parental discipline, they ask for a share of money to enjoy what is called their 'own freedom' and to make their 'own life' as the prodigal did who went off into a foreign country.

The fourth class is illustrated in the same parable by the elder son who is unconscious that he is a sinner, though all too conscious of the sin of his brother. There was no record in the story as told by Our Lord that the younger son had wasted his substance on harlots but when the elder son protested he inserted that charge.

Neither does he speak of his brother but he speaks of the 'father's son' thereby indicating that he had lost all social sense. The parable of the prodigal son is, therefore, the story of two sons who lost their father's love: one because he was too good and the other because he was too bad.

But there is hope for each one of them. In the first instance, the shepherd, when he finds the lost sheep, put it upon his shoulders and rejoices, though there was no record that he rejoiced in the possession of the ninety-nine that were not lost. What is it that makes the Divine Shepherd so agitated and sad in heart at the loss of just one when he has so many? Very likely because it was his property and also because of his great compassion for men who have lost their way. Putting it upon his shoulders was a rest-giving act, very likely needful to the poor sheep which could go no further and was faint and weary.

The parable of the lost coin in part implies that every coin bore itself some image, as the Roman coin had Caesar's image upon it and the coin which Jacob paid for a debt was stamped with a lamb. The implication here is that every man is made to the image and likeness of God and once again what is introduced is the note of proprietorship. The woman who found the coin lighted the candle and swept the house which would represent the disturbance of settled opinion and practices and the turning of the soul upside down to indicate a willingness to have a present order disturbed in order to save one lost man. When the coin is found all the neighbours are called in to rejoice though there is no indication that there was such a celebration in the possession of the other nine. Joy is necessarily social or as someone has put it: "Happiness is born a twin!" and we must share it with others.

The prodigal son returned to the father's house because of emptiness in his soul. Recognition of his guilt preceded a true restoration. Up to this point he had lived 'outside' of himself; now in the language of the Gospel he 'enters into himself' that is, begins to reflect and to see his true nature.

When he starts back, he finds that the father is not in his own house but is out on the roadway ready to welcome him back. Forgiveness meets us more than halfway. The kiss of welcome is extended before one word of penitence or request had been spoken. Then comes the feast where Heaven keeps holiday, when some poor waif comes slinking back to the Father.

The elder son represents those who are rather resentful of the mercy extended to others. Even though the elder son had remained home, it was a thankless service; there was no glow of family love to warm it and never once did he realize the beauties of sonship. Many are cradled in the sacred associations of the Church but it is not a loving service but only a duty. There are souls within the Kingdom of God who are not fully in sympathy with the greatness of Divine Love.

BY ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN ( 1895 - 1979 )

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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 -