FEBRUARY 2010 BULLETIN

LET US GO ON

Christian life is a life that focus on CHRIST and always going forward.

1. Let us go on to maturity (perfection) Hebrews 6:1-2
1 Corinthians 13:11b. If we are going to make progress, we have to leave the
childhood things behind and go forth in spiritual growth. In other words, let us
be carried 'forward'. It is GOD who enables us to progress as we yield to HIM,
receive HIS Word, and act on it.

2. Let us run with endurance Hebrews 12:1
the Hebrews Christians getting weary and wanted to give up; Paul encouraged
them to keep moving forward, like runners on a track.

3. Reaching forward to the thing ahead Philippians 3 :13
Paul says [Acts 20:24] But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life
dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy.

4. Let us go forward, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Amen.
The LORD of peach HIMSELF give you peace always in every way.
[2 Thessalonians 3:19]

Rev. Racheal (Senior Pastor)

Question:

"Why does GOD allow good things to happen to bad people?"

Answer:

This question is similar to its opposite: "Why does GOD allow bad things to happen to good people."

Both questions refer to what seems to be perplexing injustice we witness everyday. The 73rd Psalm is our answer to the very same questions that also tormented the Psalmist.

Finding himself in terrible distress and agony of soul he writes. "But for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lose my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked"

(Psalm 73:2-3)

The writer of this Psalm was a man named Asaph, a leader of one of the temple choirs. Obviously, he was not a wealthy man, but rather one who had dedicated his life to serving GOD (see 1 Chronicles 25). But, like us, he had experienced some difficulties and questioned the injustice of it all. He watched the evil people around him living by their own rules, enjoying wealth and pleasures of the world and piling riches upon riches. He complains: "they have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from the burden common to man; they are not plagued by human ills"

(Psalm 73:4-5)

Asaph was looking at these people who didn't have problems. They could pay their bills. They had plenty to eat and plenty of luxuries. But the poor Asaph was stuck with directing choir and trying to live godly. And to add insult to injury, it didn't seem to be getting him anywhere. He began not only to envy these people, but even to question GOD as to why HE would allow such a thing to happen!

How often do we find ourselves relating to Asaph?

We dedicate our lives to serving GOD. Then we witness the wicked, the ungodly people around us get new cars, luxuries homes, promotions, beautiful clothes, and take fabulous trips, while we struggle to pay the electric bill. The answer lies in the rest of the Psalm. Asaph envied these evil people until he realized one very important thing. When he entered the sanctuary of GOD, he finally understood their final destiny: "When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of GOD; then I understood their final destiny. Surely, you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O LORD, you will despise them as fantasies" (Psalm 73:16-20). Those who have temporary riches on earth are in reality spiritual beggars because they do not have true riches ... Eternal Life

There are many times when we do not understand what is happening to us, nor do we understand how providence works. When Asaph entered the sanctuary of GOD, he began to see that there was no need for him to be envious of the prosperity of the wicked because their prosperity is in reality an illusion. He began to comprehend that the ancient deceiver, Satan, had played tricks with his vision and used lies to distract him from the reality of GOD. Upon entering the sanctuary, he realized that prosperity is a fleeting fulfillment. A fashion show of what is to pass away, like a pleasant dream that pleases us only for a little while but when we awaken, we realize it was not real. Asaph rebukes himself for his own stupidity. He admits to being "senseless" and ignorant" to envy the wicked or to be jealous of the perishing. His thoughts then returned to his own happiness in GOD when he realized how much more joy, fulfillment and true spiritual prosperity he had in the CREATOR.

We may not have everything we want here on earth, but we will one day prosper for all eternity through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Whenever we are tempted to try the other road, we should remember that the other road is a dead end (Matthew 7:13). But in all truth, the narrow road before us through JESUS is awesome and is the only road that leads to eternal life. That should be our joy and comfort. "Whom have I in heaven but YOU? And earth has nothing I desire besides YOU. Those who are far from YOU will perish; YOU destroy all who are unfaithful to YOU. But as for me, it is good to be near GOD. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge...(Psalm 73:25, 27-28). We need not concern ourselves when good things seem to happen to bad people. We only need to keep our focus on our CREATOR and enter into HIS presence everyday through the portal of HIS holy Word. There we will find truth, contentment, spiritual riches and eternal joy.

FILL MY CUP, LORD.

Video by Joseph Prince Ministeries

JANUARY 2010 BULLETIN

[Isaiah 43:19] SEE I AM DOING A NEW THING

The LORD has promised to give us many new things.

A NEW HEART

[Psalm 51:10] Create in me a new heart.

We do not want an old heart [Jeremiah 17:9] says,

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it?

[Mark 7:21] Whatever comes out of a man is what make him 'unclean'.

[Ezekiel 3b:26] I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

[1 Samuel 16:7] Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.

Let Lord see in out hearts, forgiveness, the joy of salvation, holiness, divine (godly) character, righteousness and humility.

[1 Peter 2:1-2] So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You've had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness.

Then you'll grow up mature and whole in GOD.

Rev. Rachel (Senior Pastor)

"What sort of New Year's Resolution should a Christian make?"

The practice of making New Year resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. the Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year's resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year's resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year's resolution are:
==> to quit smoking
==> to stop drinking
==> to manage money better
==> and spent more time with family.

By far the most common New Year's resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating healthier. These are all good goals to set.

However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective:
"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

The vast majority of New Year's resolutions, even among the Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year's resolution to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals.

However, these New Year's resolution fail just as often as the non spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year's resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity.

For example, why do you want to read the Bible everyday? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have heard that it is a good thing to do?

Why do you want to lose weight? is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tell us, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

John 15:5 declares, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

If God is the center of your New Year's resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God's will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God's Word, we will not received God's help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year's resolution should a Christians make? Here are some suggestions: resolution, if....

(1) Pray to the lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make;
(2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you;
(3) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you;
(4) Don't become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further;
(5) Don't become proud or vain, but give God the glory.

Psalm 37:5-6, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make righteousness shine like a dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

The Christmas Joy :))

Every year it comes and goes....but the moment being togetherness is happiness and value added to life. Are you in this slideshow? Then, you have missed out...Lets make each and every occasions our most memorable one. With you, this is even more awesome. Welcome year 2010.

Carolling 2009 by "The Young Eagles"

CHRISTMAS 2009 Celebration

"MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL IN CHRIST"

May you find this Christmas inner peace

Equal to the patient love you give,

Releasing all the pain you can release,

Renewing all the grace with which you live.

Yearnings may you turn to rhapsodies,

Choosing to find happiness in beauty,

Holding in their haunting melodies

Riches that sustain your sense of duty.

In anger may you find an evening star

Showing you the way to Bethlehem.

The angels that watch naked from afar

May you hear sing of who would none condemn.

As all you love are blessed in having you

So may you feel the joy in all you do.

DECEMBER 2009 BULLETIN

A Blessed Christmas and Blessed New Year 2010

The Dawning of a new day [Luke 1:78-79]

The arrival of Jesus signaled the beginning of a new era.

God entered history in a personal way, and made it clear that He is on man's side, doing everything possible to save man.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God is presented as speaking the creation into existence. Everything seen and unseen, called into being by God's spoken word.

This time God's word takes on human form and enters history in the person of Jesus.

[Isaiah 9:2] He came as the Great Light, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide out feet into the way of peace. It was the dawn of a new day.

(Day spring from on high has visited us)

[Luke 1:78] because of the tender mercies of God.

He brought redemption, salvation, life, light and peace. Truly Jesus is the light which gives light to all man.

Celebrate JESUS

Rev. Rachel (Senior Pastor)

How's Your Firewall?

1 Kings 22 (The Message Version)

Make sure you're protected.

We've recently expanded our offices and in the process of moving, we've had to invest in new telecommunications, office equipment, alarms, network stuff and so on. The one thing that we initially forgot was a firewall to safeguard us from internet pirates.

Now, if you're tech savvy - you'll understand that we could have been in for some trouble. In theory some malicious hackers could get in and do some damage to our network or worse yet, install viruses or steal data.

If you're not tech savvy, let me try it this way: would you drive your car without wearing a seat belt or having insurance? Would you leave your house without locking all the doors and windows (ok, now that I don't live in London, I can see people might). Do you leave your money under the mattress?

I am hoping you say 'no' to most of the above, but here's a question that really is the start of what I want to share with you this time: How's your Firewall!

Not the one on your network or the free one that came with your home computer bundle - I mean the one that's in your heart!. The one that protects your life.

When was the last time you checked it was configured properly and doing its job right. maybe you've turned it off because everything feels safe or maybe it's overloaded from being under too much attack. Either way - if it isn't working - you might get wounded or even die (I don't mean literally but maybe emotionally, spiritually, mentally or soulishly)

1 King 22 is a great story that starts out with a season of peace, then encounters prophetic consultation, disbelief, stubbornness, a bad decision, blood shed, and then death, if you don't have time to read it, here's the Key facts:

Peace had been enjoyed for 3 years.

The King of Israel went into war disguised; in other words, he didn't go as King )who God had made him to be) but as someone of no significant. He had a chink in the armour he was wearing, which 'randomly' led to his death.

This is one of those stories that makes me think - am I hearing god properly and will I listen to REAL words He speaks! Can I hear from Him and what if the firewall on my heart doesn't let the God traffic through but let's the hacker traffic in? What if there's a gap in my armour that could let a random arrow pierce my heart and cause my death: emotional, spiritual or otherwise.

I wonder if there has ever been a moment in your life when there your firewall wasn't working and you got hurt? Have you recovered? Have you lost your way? Or have you died in some way? May be you've been sitting around on your hands, enjoying peace and thinking there's no need to listen to the warning that God is giving.

Think about this story.

I want to encourage you to take a moment at the beginning of every day to make sure that before you do anything 'ask God guidance' (verse 4-5), make sure that you then listen to His guidance - this way you won't have to miss the mark and suffer from a random attack.

Prayer: Father I thank you for your wisdom and I pray that there is always an open connection to my heart. Please show me the way, show me Your way and guide my path. Help me to make good decisions and give me the strength to fight, the courage to stand and the passion to pursue all that You have for me.

Jamie Anderson

Creative Director

Prayer for the Nations

www.prayerforthenations.org

God the Parent
Whenever your kids are out of control,
you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids.

After creating heaven and earth, God's created Adam and Eve.
And the first thing He said to them was 'Don't'.
'Don't what?' Adam asked.
'Don't eat the Forbidden Fruit." God replied.
'Forbidden fruit? We got Forbidden fruit?
Hey, Eve....we got Forbidden Fruit!"
'No way!"
'Where?'
'Don't eat that fruit!" sad God.
'Why?'
'Because I am your Creator and I said so!' said God,
wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants.
A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.

'Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?' the 'First Parent' asked.
'Uh,' Adam replied.
'Then why did you?'
'I dunno,' Eve answered.
'She started it!' Adam said.
'Did not!'
'DID so!'
'DID NOT!'
Having had it with the two of them,
God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own....
thus the pattern was set, and it has never changed.

Father!
St.Peter stood at the Pearly Gates, waiting for the incoming.
He saw Jesus walking by and caught his attention.

'Jesus, could you mind the gate while I go do an errand?'

'Sure,' replied Jesus. 'What do I have to do?'

'Jesus find out about the people who arrive.
Ask about their background, their family, and their lives.
Then decide if they deserve entry into Heaven.'

'Sounds easy enough. OK.' So Jesus waited at the gates while the gates was a wrinkled old man.
Jesus summoned him to the examination table and sat across from him.
He peered at the old man and asked, 'What was it you did for a living?'

The old man replied, 'I was a carpenter.'

Jesus remembered his own earthly existence and leaned forward.
'Did you have a any family?' he asked.

'Yes, I have a son, but lost him.'

Jesus leaned forward some more.
'You lost your son? Can you tell me about him?'

'Well, he had holes in his hands and feet.'

Jesus leaned forward even more and whispered,
Father?

The oldman leaned forward and whispered,

'Pinacchio?'

NOVEMBER 2009 BULLETIN

Zechariah 4:6-10

NOT BY human might or power, but by HIS own SPIRIT

Isaiah 60:22 "A little one shall become a thousand and a small one a strong nation." [v22].

The Christian church was a little one, a very small one at first - the number was once but 120, yet it became a thousand. When they come to heaven, and look back upon the smallness of their beginning, they will wonder how they got thither. It may seem to be delayed, but as the LORD will do it, so he will hasten it, he will do it in his appointed time by His wisdom, not in the time prescribed by our folly. Though it seems to tarry, it does not tarry it it come in God's time.

Zechariah 4:6-7 All the difficulties and oppositions that lie in the way shall be removed, even those they seems like a mountain [v7]. The enemies hard and proud as great mountains and make them plains. Christ is our Zerubbabel nothing is too hard for His grace to do. Zechariah 4:16 In God's work the days of small things is not to be despised. A grain of mustard seed may become a great tree. Matthew 13:31-21

Rev. Rachel (Senior Pastor)

Life can be complicated but.......

Happiness is really pretty simple.

SIMPLE SECRETS to a happy life.........

The heart that gives, gathers [Marianne Moore].

Change your thoughts and change your world [Norman Vincent Pearle].

If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

Burn brightly without burning out [Richard Biggs].

Nothing happens ....but first a dream [Carl Sandburg].

It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life....

that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping

himself [Ralph Waldo Emerson].

Sometimes in the wind of change we find our true direction.

Throw your heart over the fence and the rest will follow [Norman Vincent Pearle].

Courage does not always roar,

Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying.....

"I will try again tomorrow" [Milton Berle].

Laughter is an instant vacation [Milton Berle].

The best sermons are lived, not preached [Cowboy wisdom].

The only things that stand between a person and what they meant in life are the will to try it, and the faith to believe it's possible [Rich Davos].

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things [Robert Brault].

It's choice - not change - that determines your destiny [Jean Midetch].

To love and be loved is to feel the sin from both sides [David Viscott].

Keep your face to the sunshine and you'll not see the shadows [Helen Kalleu].

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes truly endless [Mother Theresa].

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there [Will Rogers].

Joy is a light that fills you with Hope, Faith and Love.

Find your joy and share it with others.

"THE DASH" - Making a difference with your life [Linda Ellis & Mac Anderson].

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his birth and spoke of the following date with tears, but he said what matters most of all....was the 'dash' between those years.

For that 'dash' represents all the time that he spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved him know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

the cars .............

the house ..........

the cash ............

What matters is how much we lived and love.....

and how we spend our 'dash'.

So to think about this long and hard;

are the things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that we can still be rearranged.

If we could slow down enough to consider what's true and real..... and always try to understand the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger and slow appreciation more and love the people in our lives........

like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile..... remembering that this special 'dash' might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read.......

with your life's actions to rehash.......

would you be proud of the things they say........

about how you spent your 'dash'?

May You Be Blessed with all thing good

May your joys, like the stars at night, be too numerous to count.

May your victories be more abundant than all the grains of sand on all the beaches on all the oceans in all the world.

May lack and struggle only serve to make you stronger......

and may beauty, order and abundance be your constant companions.

May every pathway you choose lead to that which is pure and good and lovely.

May every doubt and fear be replaced by a deep abiding trust as you behold evidence of a Higher Power all around you.

And when there is only darkness and the storms of life are closing in…

May the light at the core of your being illuminate the world.

May you always be aware you are loved beyond measure and may you be willing to love unconditionally in return.

May you always feel protected and cradled in the arms of God, like the cherished child you are. And when you are tempted to judge,

may you be reminded that we are all one

and that every thought you think reverberates across the universe,

touching everyone and everything.

And when you are tempted to hold back,

may you remember that love flows best when it flows freely…

and it is in giving that we receive the greatest gift.

May you always have music and laughter and may a rainbow follow every storm.

May gladness wash away every disappointment,

may joy dissolve every sorrow…and may love ease every pain.

May every wound bring wisdom

and every trial bring triumph and with each passing day

may you live more abundantly than the day before.

May you be blessed. And may others be blessed

by: Kate Novak