Please pray for our Ozamis Medical Mission and Hope For You Concert in June!

ATTN H4U Team for Ozamis—H4U Band, CCD Choir, the Drama Team, the Medical Team and the Technical staff will have our general meeting on Thursday, June 3 right after the Mid-week bible study.

Our summer was indeed a long one but very, very fruitful – from the Easter Sunrise service to the Thailand Mission trip, to the Kid’s Camp; and now to the just recently concluded Youth Camp. How amazing our God is indeed! He was and is sufficient to us every time in every way. But there’s still one more major event we’re focusing on now – H4U outreach in Ozamis. Already all our gears are up, knees to the earth and eyes fix on Jesus, our Commander-in-Chief!

A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity.

But before we take another step, let’s give thanks to the Lord for a fruitful summer. Like God’s people of old, the Jews, looking back to their history, the people made a conscious decision to focus on the blessings of God rather than the hurts of the past. Somebody writes, “A thankless spirit betrays a life which is no longer focusing on the greatness of Christ.” If you don’t feel very thankful today, it’s probably because you’ve taken your eyes off of Jesus and put them on your problems. A thankful spirit is a mark of Christian maturity. When the believer is overflowing with thankfulness, he is really making progress. The opposite is being ungrateful, murmuring, grumbling, criticizing! Always finding something negative in a situation instead of finding good out of a negative situation!

Beloved, there are so many reasons to thank God for.  Being thankful is not just being grateful when everything go your way, when your prayers are answered but to see the good things, even though surrounded by bad things, bad situations, and undesirable people and circumstances, and then to give God praise despite all these bad things that may be going on around you! That’s maturity. Regardless of the circumstances we can choose to be thankful. Why? Because we know that in every circumstance God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose…(Rom 8:28Rom 8:28
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  

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Regardless of the circumstances we can choose to be thankful.

I know one time or another we fall short of this. But we are to be growing in this area of thankfulness which is a sign of maturity. How do we often take our blessings for granted and fail to thank the Lord? Too often we are content to enjoy the gift but we forget the Giver. We are quick to pray but slow to praise. Beloved, the greatest expression of God’s love is in the cross of Jesus Christ. There the Father has given us the best He could give us – His Son – so that we can be forgiven and receive eternal life! That alone should cause us to praise and thank Him – for that alone is what we really need in this life and the life to come! Is there anything greater than the salvation of God through Christ? Absolutely nothing! Then rejoice in that today!

I followed the news about the chaos and trouble in Bangkok and glad to know that the Red Shirt leaders have surrendered already and their followers have been dispersed (though there were still violence and vandalism that went on). But whether in Bangkok or in our country it’s simply a mirror of a troubled world we live in. In every nation in and every country it is marked by troubles – socially, economically and politically. And people are looking for answers…in the wrong places – even in man.

And people are looking for answers...in the wrong places.

There’s a man in the Bible whose name is Eliakim (Isaiah 22:22-25Isaiah 22:22-25
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22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. ²³ And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. ²⁴ And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. vessels of flagons: or, instruments of viols ²⁵ In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.  

WP-Bible plugin). He was a godly man. Dedicated and faithful. He was given the key of the house of David. The key represent position and authority to make decisions. God called him to be the Prime Minister of the nation Judah. God said that Eliakim will be like a peg set firmly in a wall, able to bear enormous weight without apparent strain. Though the administration of his office was weighty, by God’s enabling he was able to bear it. But, as much as Eliakim was God’s man and a faithful, he was insufficient in delivering the nation. Ultimately the accumulated weight of the nation’s rebellion pulled God’s leader down with it. The sin of the nation, its blindness, was such that a capable leader was inadequate to turn the nation from its downward direction.

As a result, too much was demanded of too few Eliakims and they all fell.

Here’s the lesson: Despite his ability and faithfulness and lofty hopes, Eliakim was doomed to fail. Eliakim was merely human and if a nation placed all its hopes in him, those hopes would certainly be dashed. The nation’s true hope was in God and in the kind of repentance which would enable whole-hearted commitment.  As a result, too much was demanded of too few Eliakims and they all fell. Modern nations have done the same. We adulate good leaders as demi-gods and then, when they fail, as they must, we spit on them. Like Judah, we refuse to trust God and instead deify human leaders in the hope that they can save us. Inevitably, we must be disappointed, as Judah was.

But, there is only One God-man on whom we can hang all ourhopes and rest assured that He will not fail us – the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus is the One who has the keys who opens and no one can shut. Who shuts and no one can open. He and He alone opens the way to our Father’s House and to all eternity for us.   He is God’s peg in a sure place, and all the glory of His Father’s house hangs upon Him, is derived from Him, and depends upon Him. Even the least that belong to His Church are welcome to Him, and He is able to bear the stress of them all. That soul cannot perish, nor that concern fall to the ground, though ever so weighty, that is by faith hung upon Christ.

Jesus is God’s peg in a sure place...

The lesson: Put your trust in Christ alone not in man. Entrust every area of your life to Him…for whoever trusts in Him will never be put to shame!

Now that election is over, what shall we, as Church, do now in relation to the government…to our country?

Now that election is over, what shall we, as Church, do now in relation to the government…to our country?

1. Everyone must submit himself to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who REBELS against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves (Rom. 13:1-2Rom. 13:1-2
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13 ¹ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ordained: or, ordered ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.  

WP-Bible plugin).” It is God’s will that we respect the “position “ regardless of the personality behind it.

2. “Requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Tim. 2:1-21 Tim. 2:1-2
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2 ¹ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; exhort: or, desire ² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. authority: or, eminent place  

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3. “Do everything without COMPLAINING OR ARGUING, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the WORD OF LIFE (Phil. 2:14-16Phil. 2:14-16
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14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: ¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; harmless: or, sincere ye shine: or, shine ye ¹⁶ Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  

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4. Keep in mind the great responsibility and privilege God has entrusted to us – “He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God was making an appeal through us (2 Cor. 5:192 Cor. 5:19
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19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. committed...: Gr. put in us  

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Everybody longs for change.

Beloved, if we really want a genuine change in our nation, it begins with us the church. Don’t blame the ills of our society only to the government. The question is, “Are we living a life worthy of our calling?” Are we living in a way that people around us are affected by our faith, our witness? This verse is still timely for us to really consider and heed: “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chr. 7:142 Chr. 7:14
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14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. which...: Heb. upon whom my name is called  

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Everybody longs for change. Every Presidentiables promised change. But can politics alone bring true and lasting change? The answer is NO! The gospel of Jesus Christ alone brings genuine change. Because if there’s change, it must begin in the heart. Can a believer of Christ contribute for change? Yes. Only if he/she remains to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Only if he/she uses His God-given position as a tool and means for the gospel of  Jesus Christ to be known. Only if he/she will remain true and faithful to God’s call upon his/her life. Only if the church of Jesus Christ would continue to be the church as Christ designed her to be and not reduce to a mere political party nor a social club!

But as citizens of heaven, share with boldness the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!

Precious people of God, with the unstable and shaky political and economic situation our country is facing today, rooted in religious bondage and spiritual blindness, let’s keep our eyes, let’s exert effort on man’s most important need – not a shelter to live in, food for the table, clothes to wear, money to spend (they are important, yes –but temporal) – but the salvation of the soul! Our country needs Jesus more than ever before! Prov. 14:34Prov. 14:34
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34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. to any...: Heb. to nations  

WP-Bible plugin  “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Exercise your God-given responsibility as a citizen of this country (Rom. 13). But as citizens of heaven, share with boldness the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!

Artwork from DavidMiles.net

Revelation 4:1-3Revelation 4:1-3
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4 ¹ After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. ² And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. ³ And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.  

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The Throne in Heaven
1After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.



Calvary Chapel Dumaguete Resurrection Sunrise Sunday Service celebrated at Freedom Park. Jesus is Lord Over All!

My heart is bursting with unspeakable joy and my mouth is filled with praises to Jesus our Savior – whose heart beats for missions – for the rich, meaningful and unforgettable mission trip! Thank you Church once again for standing and kneeling with us in prayers. We could literally sense them every step of the way. Blessed to have you as partners. There’s so  much to say and I don’t intend to tell all in this issue of the Pastor’s note (Just wait for the Thailand Mission 2010 Testimony Night to be announced soon). But one highlight is the opportunity given to Pastor Jing and I to visit the Karen Refugee Camp at the border of Burma and Thailand.  What a privilege indeed! Just to actually meet, see, hear, talk and touch these special people who were persecuted almost all their lives and always in constant fear of a mortar falling on their camp or from an attack from the Burmese military! The goal? It’s more than land control (gaining logs and rubies)…it’s to eradicate Christianity!

A Karen refugee camp.

Yes, most Karen are followers of Christ, and that knowledge alone is amazing. And inspite of the extreme poverty and persecution, you could see across their faces the peace of Christ and the smiles that you can conclude it must be supernatural! With nothing much, they display qualities that many people in the world try to attain through money, fame, material things, drugs and even religion. But to no avail. These are all empty promises that leave one emptier! Oh if they just knew what the Karen people knew – a relationship with Jesus Christ and doing His will! And beloved, we could learn from the Karen as well. How our hearts are so prone to stray seeking peace, joy and fulfillment at the wrong places leaving us dry and empty. That we could learn to be content in and every circumstance. We live in an age where we’re increasingly urged to be discontented; where covetousness is the given, where greed is good. And yet more people have become miserable and frustrated.

“Content” means to be independent of external circumstances. It conveys the idea of self-sufficiency and competency that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Those who have a personal relationship with God but no contentment is really a contradiction. And this contradiction occurs when your primary purpose in life is not satisfied. If your primary purpose in life is happiness or having everything your way, you will never be content on this side of Heaven. But if your primary purpose is what God’s Word says, that is to glorify God with your life, then you can be content in whatever situation. Just as a painting and a sculpture glorify or give credit to their Maker, so is our purpose, to glorify or give credit to our Maker, God. Any other purpose will leave us without peace and contentment.

“Content” conveys the idea of self-sufficiency and competency that is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Karen people…rejected, insignificant, forgotten, hated in the eyes of men…but appreciated, cared and loved by God. If you get to see their situation you may feel pity but the truth is you will realize how you’re the one lacking and they have everything!

Artwork from peterolsenart.com

Revelation 3:14-22Revelation 3:14-22
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; of the Laodiceans: or, in Laodicea ¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  

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To the Church in Laodicea
14″To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”



After today’s Sunday service they will travel again(around 6 hours) to the border of Burma where they will be ministering to the Karen people while Ptr. Jo and Ptr. Jing will continue on another 6 hours of travel to minister to the Karen Bible College in Burma.

Friday and Saturday they held a 2-day English Camp with the Compassion Kids Ministry.

Thursday the women in the team ministered to the Women’s Fellowhship.

The Thailand Mission Team left last Tuesday afternoon from Dgte and arrived midnight in Bangkok. Praise God for their safety. Last Wednesday they travelled 7 hours by train to Sinakhon where Eric and MJ are ministering.

• They left last Tuesday afternoon from Dgte and arrived midnight in Bangkok.  Praise God for their safety. Last Wednesday they travelled 7 hours by train to Sinakhon where Eric and MJ are ministering.
• Thursday the women in the team ministered to the Women’s Fellohship.
• Friday and Saturday they held a 2-day English Camp with the Compassion Kids Ministry.
• After today’s Sunday service they will travel again(around 6 hours) to the border of Burma where they will be ministering to the Karen people while Ptr. Jo and Ptr. Jing will continue on another 6 hours of travel to minister to the Karen Bible College in Burma.
• Please see the Admin Corner for the Mission Team’s complete itinerary and continue to lift them up in prayer.

YOUTH CAMP 2010 is on May 16-22! Open to High School students only.  REGISTRATION is now going on until May 8. 60 capacity only, so CCD youth is a priority. We will have a waiting list for outsiders.

• Theme: “…and what I have heard from Him, I WILL TELL THE WORLD” – John 8:26John 8:26
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  26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.  
  
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• Venue: Calinawagan Beach Resort in Dauin.
• Registration Fee: P1500 (including t-shirt)
• Special Event: Evangelistic Concert on May 21 @ 7 pm at Zamboangita Gymnasium.

NEEDS FOR THE CAMP:

1. Transportation to and from the camp site.
2. Snacks donations during the camp.
3. Counselors for the Youth Evangelistic Concert (to do follow-up after the Altar Call)

• Counselors for the Evangelistic Concert will have a short training on May 13, 2010 right after the mid-week bible study.

Continue to pray:

• For the youth who will be attending this camp.
• For boldness as they share their faith on May 21.
• For open hearts t receive Jesus (the people of Zamboangita).

For the Campers:

• Transportation for Calinawagan will leave CCD at 2 pm today. So please be here before 2 pm.

For the Parents:

• We request parents to pray for their kids while on the Youth Camp.
• If parents want to get their kids’ laundry, please get it from 7 pm – 9 pm.
• Please refrain from always visiting the camp period.  We want your kids to focus on their evangelism training.  Be assured they are taken care of.

Special Event: Evangelistic Concert on May 21 (this Friday) @ 7 pm at the Zamboangita Gymnasium.

• Transportation will be provided for all counselors.  Please be here (CCD) at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 21.  Bring your own snacks.

KIDS CAMP 2010 is scheduled on May 13-15 at CCTC. Registration fee is P700. For more information and registration, please approach Chona Duran.

At the time of this writing, the Thailand Mission 2010 Team is overflowing with joy, tears already shed and mouths full of inspiring testimonies to share. The first day of ministry was indeed memorable, especially to our ladies who ministered to the Thai women from two churches. And this is just the first day. We believe that the Lord will continue to amaze us as our mission progress.  And we’re also aware that the enemy of our soul will just be waiting for an opportune time to discourage, disrupt and divide us. So continue beloved church to kneel with us in prayer as we are actually sensing your prayers for us. Your prayers and ours are the biggest factor to maintain spiritual victory.

Your prayers and ours are the biggest factor to maintain spiritual victory.

Somebody said, “Prayer is not designed as an intercom between us and God to serve the domestic comforts of the saints.   It’s designed as a walkie-talkie for spiritual battlefields. It’s the link between active soldiers and their command headquarters, with its unlimited fire-power and air cover and strategic wisdom.” I like that. Because life is a battlefield. We have to maintain an open communication with our Commanding General for we can’t fight this battle apart from Him.

Satan’s chief strategy for your life and mine is to keep you off your knees. Maybe some of you are thinking, “Is prayer that important?” You bet it is. And the enemy knows how important it is. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees!  Ephesians 6:12Ephesians 6:12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. flesh...: Gr. blood and flesh spiritual...: or, wicked spirits high: or, heavenly  

WP-Bible plugin says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. You know what I picture? I picture you and me on our knees and the devil is doing anything he can to flip us and get us off those knees. He’ll do anything he can to wrestle us down.  We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, spiritual wickedness in high places. And our spiritual weapons are prayer and the Word of God.

Public victories are first won in private devotions. One of the greatest mistakes you can make in spiritual warfare is to wait to train for battle in the midst of battle. The time to train is before the battle ever begins. We need not wait for the storm to come before we prepare, but we prepare before the storm comes. Some of our greatest training for battle takes place in the house of God – spending time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.

Public victories are first won in private devotions.

You see, sooner or later you’re going to face some crisis or fear. You better start getting your roots deep in the Word of God and your knees bent in prayer. So that when it comes, you’ll not be overcome, nor be controlled by it but keep your head above it with eyes fix on the Victor, Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith!