Society can live only by standards of right and wrong. But these standards can be lost. In earlier days, peoples knew why anything was right or wrong; they could give reasons to deter members of society from acting in a certain way. But, curiously enough, our age has forgotten the reasons. Right and wrong are largely matters of "feeling" and even when something is said to be "wrong in itself" such as murder, abortion, divorce, few seem to be able to say why it is wrong. Morality is thus reduced to something as personal as taste; the mind becomes like the stomach, preferring right to wrong as it might choose pickles rather than choose cucumbers: "It all depends upon your point of view or how you like it to be".

As of today, the society, as a whole had degenerated: "The meaning of words and actions has no longer the same relation to things but it is possible to changed as they thought proper". The false principles behind this "feelings" theory of right or wrong are very evident: first, it is held that every experience is for its own sake whether that experience be sexual, political, social or economic. The experience cannot be for the sake of anything else, there being nothing else but the self. Second, if we attempt to make any judgement on our experience, it must be done solely on the basis of whether or not the experience is pleasurable to the ego; if it makes me "feel good" it is right. Finally, since pleasurable or thrill is the sole standard of judgement, it follows the more intense the thrill, the more useful anything is to the self, the better it is.

In contrast with this position, compare what might be called the sensitiveness of innocence. The sensitiveness of innocence does not mean ignorance or "not having lived". Rather it is an awareness of what is good and true because one has avoided the false and the evil. The director of any orchestra, despite the number of musicians he and she has before him and her, is able to hear the false note from the smallest and least important of the music instruments, the physician is sensitive to disease and any deviation from the norm of health. So in the moral order, when Divine Innocence sat at the table with a traitor, he said: 'I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me'. - John 13:21 - Holiness can quickly detect blots.

The instinctive reaction of good people to evil is not due to their rational immaturity but to their maturity in innocence. Such judgements of innocence and purity are totally different from suspicion. Suspicion can often be a reflection of one's own failings. Often, the sins we most loudly condemn in others are those to which we are most secretly attached. Do not judge and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother's eye and never notice the plank in your own? - Matt. 7:1-3 - Purity is never suspicious but looks for some ground for reposing trust. It has a power of apprehension, discovery that comes not to those who have been infected by wrong. At the Last Supper when the Saviour, Jesus said that one was about to betray Him. They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, "Not I, Lord, surely? - Matt. 26:22 - No one can be sure of his or her goodness before innocence.

A society that needs healing and regeneration will receive it mostly from the innocent. The pure can look on the impure without contempt. It was Divine Innocence Who asked of a sinful woman: 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' - John 8:10 - There was no condemnation in Him Who was righteousness itself; so there are sympathy and forgiveness and healing in the wings of the innocent.

                                                                   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
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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 -

It is very difficult for the world or today generation to understand sorrow but that is only because it does not have such love. The more one loves, the more one shrinks from hurting the beloved and the more one grieves at having done so. But this grief should not make us dour and self-centered like those who say, "I can never forgive myself for that." That is hell - when the soul refuses to accept forgiveness for having wounded Love Divine.

The difference in standards between the pagan, unbeliever, old or new and the believer [Christian] which results in remorse in one instance and sorrow in the other, is evidenced by the Lord's six statements beginning with, 'But I say this to you'. These contradict six precepts of worldly wisdom, each beginning, 'You have learnt'.

The Pagan, Unbeliever, standard statement: when he and she was hurt or injured by peoples even though they are wrong or guilty: "Do not let him and her get away with it. Take revenge, plant evil plan and stir up class enmity in order to seize power.

The Christian standard statement: For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

'You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill: and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother "Fool" he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him "renegade" he will answer for it in hell fire.' - Matt. 5:20-22 -

The Pagan, Unbeliever standard statement: Freedom is what you think and when you do is always right or no right, no wrong. Be self-expressive. Repression of sex instincts causes frustration. Liberty means the right to do whatever you please in the realm of the flesh.

The Christian standard statement: 'You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.' - Matt. 5:27-30 -

The Pagan, Unbeliever standard statement: When you are a materialist, rich, successful and powerful. Be it, anything, human can do, for example, Get a divorce! Marry again. What a big deal?

The Christian standard statement: 'It has also been said: Anyone divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.' - Matt. 5:31-32 -

The Pagan, Unbeliever standard statement: You are highly educated and very rich. Because you delude yourself into thinking that you are god, hence take matters into your own hands. Say: I'll be damned if I will do it.

The Christian standard statement: 'Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all either by heavens, since that is God's throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need to say is "Yes" if you mean yes, "No" if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.' - Matt. 5:33-37 -

The Pagan, Unbeliever standard statement: Always be proud of who you are or you will lose your pride. Forgiveness is weakness. Hit him back. Get even with him.

The Christian standard statement: 'You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two mile with him. Give to anyone who asks and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.' - Matt. 5:38-42 -

The Pagan, Unbeliever standard statement: When someone or if anyone offended you, humiliated you in public and hates you even though you are found not guilty or you may be found guilty. Sue him! Kill him! Hate him if he hates you.

The Christian standard statement: 'You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.' - Matt. 5:43-48 -

                                                                    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 part of a person that thinks and reasons is called Mind. Although the Hebrew language had no word for mind, several Hebrew words are sometimes translated as 'mind'. In the Old Testament, the word for Heart frequently means 'mind'. The word for Soul is sometimes used similarly as is the word for Spirit. - The spirit of Yahweh fell on me and he said to me, 'Say, - Ezek. 11:5 - No Hebrew word is translated as brain in English versions of the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible.

And when all these words come true for you, the blessing and the curse I have set before you, if you meditate on them in your heart wherever among the nations Yahweh your God drives you, if you return to Yahweh your God, if you obey his voice with all your heart and soul in everything I enjoin on you today, you and your children. - Deut. 30:1-2 -

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind; for Yahweh searches every heart and knows every plan it devises. If you seek him, he will let you find him; once forsake him, and he casts you off forever. - 1Chr. 28:9 -

Four separate Greek words account for nearly all instances of "mind" in the New Testament. They all mean much the same thing: understanding, thought, mind, reason. While today we think of a person's mind in a morally neutral way, in the New Testament the mind was clearly thought of as either good or evil. Negatively, the mind may be 'hardened', 'blinded', 'corrupt' and 'debased'. - Men like this defy the truth just as Jannes and Jambres defied Moses: their minds are corrupt and their faith spurious. - 2Tim. 3:8 - In other words, since they refused to see it was rational to acknowledge God, God left them to their own irrational ideas and to their monstrous behaviour... - Rom. 1:28-32 -

Having this hope, we can be quite confident; not like Moses who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not notice the ending of what had to fade. And anyway, their minds had been dulled; indeed, to this very day that the same veil is still there when the old covenant is being read, a veil never lifted since Christ alone can remove it. - 2Cor. 3:12-14 -

If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation; the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. - 2Cor. 4:3-4 -

Positively, humans may have minds which are renewed and pure. They may love God with all their minds and have God's laws implanted in their minds. Since Christians have the mind of Christ they are instructed to be united in mind.

Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do. - Rom. 12:2 - 12:16 -

No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive - it is the Lord who speaks. I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. - Heb. 8:10 -

My friends, this is my second letter to you and both of them I have tried to awaken a true understanding in you by giving you a reminder: recalling to you what was said in the past by the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord and saviour which you were given by the apostles. - 2Peter 3:1-2 - Finally: you should all agree among yourselves and be sympathetic; love the brothers, have compassion and be self-effacing. - 1Peter 3:8 -

As scripture says: Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him? But we are those who have the mind of Christ. - 1Cor. 2:16 -

The Lord our God is the one Lord and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. - Mark 12:30; Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27 -

                                                                    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 -

Sacrament is a formal religious act in which the actions and materials used are the channels by which God's grace is communicated. In short, it is an inner grace of an outward signs.

"Adhering to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, to the apostolic traditions and to the consensus...of the Fathers," we profess that "the sacraments of the new law were...all instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord." - CCC 1114 -

Jesus' words and actions during his hidden life and public ministry were already salvific, for they anticipated the power of his Paschal mystery. They announced and prepared what he was going to give the Church when all was accomplished. The mysteries of Christ's life are the foundations of of what he would henceforth dispense in the sacraments through the ministers of his Church, for "what was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries." - CCC 1115 -

Sacraments are "powers that comes forth" from the Body of Christ which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are "the masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant. - CCC 1116 - Luke 5:17, 6:19, 8:46 -

As she has done for the canon of sacred Scripture and for the doctrine of the faith, the Church, by the power of the Spirit who guides her "into all truth" has gradually recognized this treasure received from Christ and as the faithful steward of God's mysteries, has determined its "dispensation." Thus the Church has discerned over the centuries that among liturgical celebrations there are seven that are, in the strict sense of the term, sacraments instituted by the Lord. - CCC 1117 - John 16:13; Matt. 13:52; 1Cor. 4:1 -

The sacraments are "of the Church" in the double sense that they are "by her" and "for her". They are "by the Church," for she is the sacrament of Christ's action at work in her through the mission of the Holy Spirit. They are "for the Church" in the sense that "the sacraments make the Church" since they manifest and communicate to men, above all in the Eucharist, the mystery of communion with the God who is love, One in three persons. - CCC 1118 -

Forming "as it were, one mystical person" with Christ the head, the Church acts in the sacraments as "an organically structured priestly community." Through Baptism and Confirmation the priestly people is enabled to celebrate the liturgy while those of the faithful "who have received Holy Orders, are appointed to nourish the Church with the word and grace of God in the name of Christ." - CCC 1119 -

The ordained ministry or ministerial priesthood is at the service of the baptismal priesthood. The ordained priesthood guarantees that it really is Christ who acts in the sacraments through the Holy Spirit for the Church. the saving mission entrusted by the Father to his incarnate Son was committed to the apostles and through them to their successors: they receive the Spirit of Jesus to act in his name and in his person. The ordained minister is the sacramental bond that ties the liturgical action to what the apostles said and did and through them, to the words and actions of Christ, the source and foundation of the sacraments. - CCC 1120 - John 20:21-23; Luke 24:27; Matt. 28:18-20 -

The three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders confer, in addition to grace, a sacramental character or "seal" by which the Christian shares in Christ's priesthood and is made a member of the Church according to different states and functions. This configuration to Christ and to the Church, brought about by the Spirit, is indelible; it remains forever in the Christian as a positive disposition for grace, a promise and guarantee of divine protection and as a vocation to divine worship and to the service of the Church. Therefore these sacraments can never be repeated. - CCC 1121 -

                                                                   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 -

Baptism is a means by which God conveys grace. By undergoing this rite, the person baptized receives Remission of sins and is regenerated or given a new nature and an awakened and strengthened faith in Christ. Baptism involves the application of water to the head and body of a person. It is frequently thought of as an act by which believer enters the fellowship of the Church - that the power to convey grace is contained within the sacrament of Baptism . It is not the water but the sacrament as established by God and administered by the Church that produces the change.

Baptism enters the eye to reach and move the heart. The Gospel of John 3:5-6 is important to the advocates of the sacramental view of baptism: Jesus replied: I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God: what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons and daughters of God; we became believers or disciples of Christ. There are two baptisms which are mentioned: the baptism of the Holy Spirit - the baptism that brings mercy, forgiveness and life. The baptism of Fire - the baptism that brings judgement, condemnation and death. The baptism of the Holy Spirit belongs to the present age of grace and the baptism of Fire belongs to a future age of judgement.

A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people who were beginning to think that John might be Christ, so John declared before them all, 'I baptise you with water but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out'. - Luke 3:15-17 - Matt. 3:11-12 -

"This bath is called enlightenment because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding... Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man", the person baptized has been "enlightened" he becomes a "son of light" indeed, he becomes "light" himself": Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift... We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royals as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship. - CCC 1216 - John 1:9; 1Thes. 5:5; Heb. 10:32; Eph. 5:8 -

All Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan. After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you". - CCC 1223 - Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16 -



Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John the Baptist, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness" Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son". - CCC 1224 - Phil. 2:7; Matt. 3:16-17 -

In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God. - See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from his death. There is the whole mystery: he died for you. In him you are redeemed, in him you are saved. - CCC 1225 - Mark 10:38; Luke 12:50; John 3:5,19:34; 1John 5:6-8 -

From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed Saint Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". The apostles and their collaborators offer Baptism to anyone who believed in Jesus: Jews, the God-fearing, pagans. Always, Baptism is seen as connected with faith: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household", Saint Paul declared to his jailer in Philippi. And the narrative continues, the jailer "was baptized at once, with all his family". - CCC 1226 - Acts 2:38, 41, 8:12-13, 10:48, 16:15, 16:31-33 -

According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him and rises with him:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
The baptized have "put on Christ" Through the Holy Spirit, Baptism is a bath that purifies, justifies and sanctifies. - CCC 1227 - Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27; 1Cor. 6:11, 12:13 -

Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect. Saint Augustine says of Baptism: "The word is brought to the material element and it becomes a sacrament. - CCC 1228 - 1Peter 1:23; Eph. 5:26 -

                                                                      Page 1

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

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

Sunday, May 24, 2009

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

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

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

In all Saint Paul epistles, he writes with affection and the epistle breathes a note of joy throughout. Whether apostle Paul lives or dies, "Christ is preached"; and this results in salvation. Following these reflections, Paul introduces a series of exhortations: to remain faithful in suffering; to remain considerate of others as Jesus Christ was; and to avoid evil and live blamelessly.

The focus of Saint Paul thoughts is the Christ-centered life, the hallmark of which is joy. Paul has surrendered everything to Christ. Christ has laid hold of Paul and Paul's sole passion is to glorify Christ. He longs for his experiences of Christ to be repeated in the lives of everyone. He prays that they will abound in the love of Christ, will lay hold of the mind of Christ and like himself, will know the experience of Christ - His sufferings, death and resurrection.

Because Paul's only motive is to know Him, he shares in the power of Christ and can do all things through Christ, who is his joy and strength. He exhorts Christians to translate their relationship with Christ into daily life by being 'like minded' with Christ or 'setting their minds on Christ'. In the face of opposition, Saint Paul tells them to stand fast with one mind, striving together for the love and faith of the Gospel. He also exhorts the believers to set their mind on the high calling of God in Jesus Christ and to meditate on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, virtue and of good deeds. To have the mind of Christ is to see life from Christ's perspective and to act toward other people with the intentions of Christ.

Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come to you and see for myself or stay at a distance and only hear about you, I shall know that you are unanimous in meeting the attack with firm resistance, united by your love for the faith of the gospel and quite unshaken by your enemies. This would be the sure sign that they will lose and you will be saved. It would be a sign from God that he has given you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well. You and I are together in the same fight as you saw me fighting before and, as you will have heard, I am fighting still. - Phil. 1:27-30 -

This is the Christ whose attitude and intention all believers must share. To be identified with Christ in humility and obedience is the noblest achievement to which anyone can aspire. Saint Paul appealing to the believers to be of "one mind" in Christ and nowhere in the mind of Christ presented to the Christian more strongly that in Philippians 2:1-11 :

If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:

His state was divine,
yet he did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.

But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings
in heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. - Phil. 2:1-11 -

                                                                      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 evangelist was a gift of God to the early Church and is a person authorized to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. These persons were not attached to any specific local Church. They traveled over a wide geographical area, preaching to those to whom the Holy Spirit led them. The early disciples were also called evangelist because they proclaimed the Gospel.

Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. - Acts 8:4-6 -

The end of our voyage from Tyre came when we landed at Ptolemais where we greeted the brothers and stayed one day with them. The next day we left and came to Caesarea. Here we called on Philip the evangelist. - Acts 21:4-6 -

It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called "Christians". All Christians today may continue the witness of the evangelist, Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, Saint John... As the evangelists spoke and wrote of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, so may Christians bring message to others or one who proclaims good tidings.

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 trials; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service. - 2Tim. 4:1-5 -

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 baptism and, one God who is Father of 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".

When it says, 'he ascended' what can it mean if not that he descended right down to the lower regions of the earth? The one who rose higher than all the heavens to fill all things is none other than the one who descended. And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself. - Eph. 4:1-13 -

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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 -