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WHAT A FRUITFUL SUMMER FOR THE CHURCH!

May 29th, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk

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
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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!

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God’s Peg

May 23rd, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk

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!

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NOW THAT ELECTION IS OVER…

May 15th, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Reaching Out

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!

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A LIFE–CHANGING MISSION…ACCOMPLISHED!

May 10th, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Thankfulness

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!

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The Bended Knees

May 1st, 2010 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk
  • Bible with Eyeglasses — - Image by © Kristy-Anne Glubish/Design Pics/Corbis
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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
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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!

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The Heart of Worship!

Sep 13th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Godly Life


worship1

What a blessing to see God’s people worship in unison…

The H4U Dipolog trip is indeed a success! We have seen how His Word instruct, correct, rebuke, encourage and build up His people in the worship seminar. How hungry indeed are His people for the teaching of His Word. Can you imagine: it’s supposed to be “snack-time” (break time) and yet they didn’t want the snacks, they want “real food” from His Word! So we continued until lunch break! What a joy to serve God’s people in that way.

In the morning of Sunday, we were also given the privilege to lead worship and teach the Word in a church where we held our Night of Psalms. It was sweet and beautiful! And the Night of Psalms? It’s just amazing! It was full packed (overflowed outside the church building), it was hot (there’s no air conditioning, just electric fans), and you can feel the sticky air! But the beautiful thing is…the worshippers didn’t mind all these! The place was just saturated with praises for Jesus, our King!

And that’s what true worship is - “Worship is that adorning attitude of reverence that is lost in the glory and wonder of all that God is and does!” What a blessing to see God’s people worship in unison, with one voice and sound, with one heart and mind, not minding the comforts, setting aside denominational barriers and forgetting about themselves and focusing on who really is the object of worship – Jesus Christ our Lord!

Now do you know what happens when we worship God in spirit and in truth? It results in — 
First, It will revitalize our walk with Him - Zech.14:17! Are you here this morning worshiping God in spirit and in truth? Or are you just going through the motions? If you are a Christian, have you lost that wonder and the sense of awe of God? That passionate love for Him? That desire to bless Him, not only to be blessed? That heart that is lost in Him (that you are not always looking at your watch, but you are so lost in Him that you are looking to Him, loving every minute of it?) If not, then God wants to revitalize your relationship with Him? How? You need to begin to worship Him. Go back to your “first love.”

The second thing that happens is that one finds that his conscience is quickened by God’s holiness – thus he lives a sanctified life (or separated life). That’s what happened to Isaiah in the 6th chapter. And thirdly, true worship results in witness and Christian service. Don’t say you are a worshiper of God when you don’t want to share it to anyone! A true worshiper worships God with his/her life. He’s a witness to the One true God who is Jesus Christ!

who-are-you-worshipping

Who are you worshiping?...

Everyone is a worshipper. Everyone has a master passion, a controlling force. Everyone has something that dominates them. Everyone has something that they're devoted to. The question is not - "Are you a worshiper?" But the question is, "Who are you worshiping?" This is important because "You'll become what you worship!" (Ps.115:8). The highest priority of our life is to worship God.

God is calling us back to the most wonderful experience and act He has privileged us to have and do -- worship. We were created to know Him, fellowship with Him, to worship Him and to enjoy Him forever!
  

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National Heroes Day

Sep 2nd, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Godly Life


peoplepower_monument

What is a hero? How does a hero look like in the eyes of God?

Today is National Heroes Day, a day of remembering those who have died in our nation’s service. We won’t be enjoying the freedom we have today without these people’s heroism. But let me ask you: what is a hero? Well, a flip through a dictionary can show you a number of definitions. But what I want to focus on is how does a hero look like in the eyes of God?  Hebrews 11 provides us with a list of some of God’s past heroes. They were ordinary people who were used by God. Everyone here can be one of God’s heroes. But what does it take to be a true hero, a Christian hero? You see, a Christian hero is not some superman, endowed with a myriad of abilities and talents. It is an individual who is willing to believe God’s Word, commit himself to God’s Will, and devote himself to God’s Work.


Belief in God’s Word - Today, many looked up to sport stars and athletes, movie stars and musicians as heroes. They are seen, as heroes because in many ways they do things that most of us can’t. But God’s heroes, the heroes of the Bible, were not men and women of extraordinary ability or talent but men and women of extraordinary faith. Every individual listed in Hebrews 11 took God at His Word. From Abraham to Moses to Joseph, etc…


Commitment to God’s Will – (Read Hebrews 11:13-16Hebrews 11:13-16
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13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. in faith: Gr. according to faith 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.  

WP-Bible plugin). “It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.” (Phillips Brooks). Who is a hero? He who conquers his will and surrenders to God’s will! Jesus, our greatest and ultimate hero exemplified it when at the Garden He prayed, “Not My will but Your will be done!” (Matthew 26:39Matthew 26:39
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39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  

WP-Bible plugin). The Holy Spirit chooses the nobodies of the church and makes them somebody when they are committed to God’s will in their lives. The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire for God. We are to be consecrated not to Christian work, but to the will of God, to be and to do whatever He requires.


”Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the kingdom of God on earth”. (James S. Hewett)


walk-by-faith

…the heroes of faith – those who Believe in God’s Word, Committed to God’s will and Devoted to God’s Work.


Devoted to God’s Work - Heroism is faith transformed into action. Matthew 23:11Matthew 23:11
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11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  

WP-Bible plugin “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”  There is a Norwegian Proverb that says’ A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.” In Christ’s service, the heroes are those who work until Christ says it’s time to stop. So beloved, here are the heroes of faith – those who Believe in God’s Word, Committed to God’s will and Devoted to God’s Work. How about you?


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The Cause Worth Dying For

Aug 25th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Reaching Out

It was overwhelming…the adulation, the outpouring of love, the tear-jerker eulogies given to the late president Corazon Aquino during her funeral service. I’m sure many of us were glued to our television that day watching history unfold before our very eyes. She was greatly loved indeed. I remember being among those who fought the dictator during the Edsa Revolution, so I could say I’ve been a part of that historic event. Now the icon of Philippine democracy is gone.

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Beloved, beyond the eulogies, the flowers, and the crowd it’s still God’s Word that has the final say. That apart from Christ there is no salvation…

But just as I was teary-eyed, clearly touched by the show of love to her and by just her passing away, I grieved too.  But this time it’s a different kind of grief. It’s spiritual in nature.  It’s “beyond the grave” kind of a grief. My spirit grieves for our country still so bound by religious blindness! Those who watched the coverage have seen the obvious and dominant Catholic pagan practices and beliefs - Mary, rosary, praying for the repose of Cory’s soul, she watching and listening from above, etc…Such superstition! You rarely hear the name of Jesus mentioned! Oh, Lord have mercy on us!

Beloved, beyond the eulogies, the flowers, and the crowd it’s still God’s Word that has the final say. That apart from Christ there is no salvation. It’s by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone! This may not be what the crowd shouts about, definitely not a popular slogan but it is the truth! What I realized is that indeed there are still so many things to be done, even here in our own country. Don’t take your eyes off of the harvest precious people.

You see, when I saw the multitude of people willing to wait for the vehicle carrying the remains of Cory pass by for hours, and under the rain, I said to myself, “Wow. What love, what dedication, what commitment to one who’s already dead!” But then it hit me. Imagine if all followers of Christ would display and demonstrate the same, and even more, love, dedication and commitment to the One who was dead and is alive forever more, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior  — our nation will be never be the same again!


family-cross-silhoutte

But we live for that which has value in this life and the life to come – the gospel of Jesus Christ! Live for what matters…

Time to wake up people of God! Those who are asleep wake up! People live and die for a cause that will not count for eternity. Ultimately they will find out it’s a lost cause indeed…and they are lost forever in deepest darkness. But we live for that which has value in this life and the life to come – the gospel of Jesus Christ! Live for what matters. Don’t waste your life for that which will rob you of Christ’s life in you. May we, like Paul can say, “TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN!”

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Getting the Pieces Right

Aug 22nd, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: Interesting Stuff

A father wanted to read a magazine, but was being pestered by his daughter. To keep her busy, he tore a sheet out of the magazine that had a picture of the world printed on it. He tore the picture into small pieces and said “Here, now go into the other room and see if you can put this picture of the world back together again.”

A few minutes goes by and he daughter appears in the room and hands him the picture all correctly fitted together.

The father was surprised and ask her how she was able to fit all those little pieces of the world back together again so quickly.

“Oh..” she said, “On the other side of the paper was a picture of Jesus and once I got Jesus in the right place, then the world came out alright.”


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Keep Jesus Christ at the center of your life!




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Is It Just About Me?

Aug 22nd, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Reaching Out

Years ago I found myself sitting in a hotel room on the 11th floor, early in the morning, sleepily watching and just observing everything I see through the wide window glass. It was still quiet until the sun begins to rise and the streets begin to be filled up with people from all walks of life going to different directions…then cars, jeepneys, pedicabs start to join in signaling another start of a new busy day.   Think about it. If you were to do a little fun research to discover the sheer quantity of activities that happen each day, you’d be amazed. Consider, for example, the number of cups of coffee consumed, the number of babies born, the number of people who take a taxi, go to the grocery, go to work, watch prime-time television, ride on an airplane, and go to school.


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The problem is it’s easy to get selfishly swept up in the whirlwind of our own little world…

So what? That’s trivia, right? When you multiply all those things by 365, you get the general idea that there’s a fair amount of energy, money, activity, and trauma going on in a year’s time. And that’s just here in the Philippines—representing only a portion of the world’s population. We may not be big, but we’re busy. The problem is it’s easy to get selfishly swept up in the whirlwind of our own little world. Every so often it’s helpful to stop the annual merry-go-round, get off, look objectively, and think clearly. It’s not only helpful, it’s essential for the Christian. We tend to be deafened by the blare of our own cry for more stuff and blinded by the lights of our own importance.

That needs to change. We need to hear the voice of the Lord of the Harvest as He raises His hand to say: “We interrupt this program to bring all of you a reminder that the world in which you live is not the whole world … but only a very small part of the world for which I died.” The Great Commission is still “the Great Commission.” Jesus still looks out across a wide world and weeps over men and women and children who do not know—have never heard—His healing, life-giving Name.


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Jesus still looks out across a wide world and weeps over men and women and children who do not know—have never heard—His healing, life-giving Name…

Can you feel His pain? What could you do this week to reach farther, see wider, feel deeper? What could help you kindle a greater understanding, perspective, and compassion for this vast hurting world of ours? Taking a missionary out for coffee?  Reading—really absorbing—a good missions magazine?  Writing a letter to some battle-weary missions veteran in the trenches of a distant country?  Making friends with a lonely international student?  Praying that the Lord would give you an opportunity to serve Him in a cross-cultural experience—even for one year? Sound risky? Maybe. But I’ve got a hunch that when the score is added up one day as we stand before our Lord, many of us will wish we’d played a lot more Risk . . . and a lot less Trivial Pursuit!


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A Healthy Church

Aug 19th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Godly Life



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An isolated Christian cannot minister to others, nor can others minister to him, and it is impossible for the gifts to be ministered either way…

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph.4:16) – Last Sunday was an awesome sight to me. Coming together as one family worshiping Jesus together. How God has indeed increased our numbers. But more than numbers I pray that everyone will continue to grow in quality. And this cannot happen without each other. It’s the “joints and ligaments” that connect us with other parts of the Body as we rub up against each other and lean on each other and cooperate with each other. These supporting ligaments refer to the times we study God’s Word together and when we serve together side by side. It is these joints in the body that keep all the parts of the Body interdependent on each other.

I can’t imagine a body without any joints, can you? Without the joints, we’d be a sorry dislocated mess! We need those connection points of fellowship in order to grow in Christ in love. It has been discovered that isolated, unloved babies do not grow properly and are especially susceptible to disease, while babies who are loved and handled grow normally and are stronger. SO it is with the children of God. An isolated Christian cannot minister to others, nor can others minister to him, and it is impossible for the gifts to be ministered either way. Some of us need to make that decision to get more closely connected in fellowship with other members of the Body today.

The body grows as each part of the body does its work. One part stops working and the whole body is affected. When a cell in the body revolts and stops functioning and starts attacking its own, the body becomes sick. So does in the local church. Your inactivity affects the whole church. Oh yes we can still function, we can still move forward, but may not be as effective as when everybody does its part. Instead of a blessing one may become a burden. Instead of being part of the solution one becomes the problem! But as each part of the local Body of Christ uses his or her spiritual gift to serve in a ministry, the result is that the church grows and becomes healthy — but only as each part does its work. Some of us need to make that decision to be willing to do our part of the ministry, starting today.

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Christ wants you to do in His Body exactly what He’s made you to do…

There are no unnecessary parts in the Body of Christ! There are no little people in the family of God. Even if you think of yourself as just a big toenail, just imagine how it would hurt the whole Body if you became ingrown! If you are a true Christian, Christ declares you to be a valuable and needed part of this church. You are a specialized part. No one else can do what you can do as well as you can do it. You cannot be replaced with a substitute part any more than a surgeon can replace a defective stomach with a pair of lungs. Christ wants you to do in His Body exactly what He’s made you to do because you, as an individual, really do count.

God stimulates us to grow through the process of giving each one of us a ministry, a ministry that forces us to learn and stretch and grow up. It’s a good plan. Our Heavenly Father thought it up. It’s God’s healthy plan for a healthy church.

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To Know Christ and to Make Him Known…To a World That Knows Him Not…

Aug 15th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Reaching Out
  • harvest, God’s love
  • great commission, filed, God’s love
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But missions didn’t begin with the Great Commission. Missions began with God. It first beat in His heart…

Usually, when we think of missions we think of the Great Commission. But missions didn’t begin with the Great Commission. Missions began with God. It first beat in His heart before it was ever breathed as the life sustaining force into His church. Our God is missions-minded. If He were not, there would be no Christian mission. The Gospel He has given us is a missions message. If it could not save every sinner, there would be no reason to take it to every nation. And the Great Commission is a missions mandate. It identifies the local church as the center for world evangelism.

A strong missions program rests on these three foundations:

I. A Compassionate God. That God so loved the world…(John 3:16John 3:16
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16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  

WP-Bible plugin). It is an extravagant love. It is a love so infinite that it is everlasting (Jer. 31:3Jer. 31:3
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3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. of…: Heb. from afar with lovingkindness…: have I extended lovingkindness unto thee  

WP-Bible plugin). It is a love so incomprehensible that it passes knowledge (Eph. 3:19Eph. 3:19
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19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  

WP-Bible plugin). It is a love so indiscriminate that it would be given to the least worthy, sinners (Rom. 5:8Rom. 5:8
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8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  

WP-Bible plugin). It is exhaustive – it’s for “the world”. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9
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9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  

WP-Bible plugin). It is expressive – “He gave His Son.” He promised a Savior to deal with the problem of sin (Gen. 3:15Gen. 3:15
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15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.  

WP-Bible plugin). And then He came. He died. He rose again (1 Cor. 15:3-41 Cor. 15:3-4
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3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  

WP-Bible plugin). To the everlasting praise of God, salvation is now offered on the sole condition of faith in the finished work of Christ upon Calvary.

II. A Compelling Message - In Romans 1:14-16Romans 1:14-16
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14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  

WP-Bible plugin, Paul declares that he is indebted to God to give the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having heard the greatest message in the world, he was compelled to share it with whomever he could. So great was this sense of obligation that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:161 Corinthians 9:16
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16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!  

WP-Bible plugin, “ Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!!” It is a distinct message. Every major religion relies upon performance for salvation. Hinduism preaches a fourfold path to salvation. Buddhism leads its followers down an eightfold path to salvation. The salvation offered by Islam rests upon Five Pillars. In Catholicism, salvation is gained through fulfilling five sacraments. But the Gospel centers upon a Person for salvation…Jesus Christ! (John 14:6John 14:6
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6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  

WP-Bible plugin). Peter declared, “There is none other name …whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12Acts 4:12
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12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  

WP-Bible plugin). The Gospel finds its source, content, and meaning in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, there is no salvation. Other messages tell men what they must DO to be saved; the Gospel tells men what has been DONE to save them.

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No one is exempted from the responsibility to evangelize the lost. Christ’s command means that you are either sent or you send…

III. A Commissioned Church – (Mark 16:15Mark 16:15
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15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  

WP-Bible plugin) Every member involved. Missions is imperative - “Go”. Multitudes are born and die whether or not anyone is prepared to reach them. Missions is inclusive. “You.” No one is exempted from the responsibility to evangelize the lost. Christ’s command means that you are either sent or you send, but you cannot remain uninvolved and be obedient to Jesus Christ.

Where do you stand today? Are you involved? If not, what’s your excuse?


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One Father, One Family

Aug 13th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: From Pastor Jo's Desk, Godly Life
  • reading, holy bible, faith
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The church is the gathering of God’s children…

Welcome! Glad that you all can join in our Family Fellowship today. “Family” because we are a family in Christ. Before the church was the institution, as we know it today, the church was a family. “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matt.12:47-50)

It was and is a place of fathers and mothers in the faith, brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as, elderly saints and newborn babies in the faith. The church is the gathering of God’s children, where they can be helped and fed like babies and then, guided by her motherly care, grow up to manhood in maturity of faith. If you are born again, washed by the blood of Jesus, trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, then you are a brother or a sister in Christ.

Beloved, there is a deeper and stronger relationship we have as Christians than our natural families who are unsaved. Isn’t that true? I’m sure you already have noticed that. I’m really closer to you than my cousins or my other relatives who do not know the Lord! I have shared the gospel to most of them but until they accept Jesus, we really have nothing in common where we can really share and have fellowship. Now our Lord was not suggesting that believers ignore or abandon their families in order to serve God, but only that we put God’s will above everything else in life. Certainly it is God’s will that we care for our families and provide for them (see 1 Tim. 5:81 Tim. 5:8
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8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. house: or, kindred  

WP-Bible plugin), but we must not permit even our dearest loved ones to influence us away from the will of God.

So what is it that characterizes the person who is spiritually related to Christ? What is the indication that we are indeed part of God’s family? Because we go to church? Is it because we carry our Bible? Is it because we speak Christian lingo? No, if we hear God’s Word and put it into practice! That’s always the challenge for every hearer of God’s Word. Many church-goers tend to regard sermon-listening as an end in itself. Others look at it as an “escape” or a “substitute” for obedience. But God wants transformation from listening into living! And there’s one key ingredient for this to happen – faith…believing in what God has said, for we cannot really apply God’s Word without believing it. What moves us to obey is because we believe God will do what He said He will do! Faith in God’s Word moves us to action. You see, the Word of God feeds faith (Faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ -Rom.10:17), and faith leads to obedience (Rom.1:5)!

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God wants transformation from listening into living! And there’s one key ingredient for this to happen – faith…

May we, who call on the same Father, trust the same Savior Jesus Christ, in the fellowship of the same Spirit, come together now and offer Him our love Him and worship and live a life of obedience that He may be glorified in us!

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“I Am a Very Lonely Man…”

Jul 11th, 2009 | By CCD-Chew & Jenny E | Category: Discouraged, From Pastor Jo's Desk


i am a lonely man...

…a loneliness that is caused by sin and being estranged from the God who gives life.

This was Michael Jackson’s reply to his friend who asked him if he’s lonely. You would never think that in spite of the fame, riches, and success that a man in his calibre would say those words. But if you know the Scriptures it is not surprising. It reveals to us that these things would never make anyone happy. Solomon can testify to it, “Everything is meaningless under the sun!” Many people today can relate…for many are lonely. And I’m referring to a loneliness that is caused by sin and being estranged from the God who gives life. And even the Son of God knows what it’s like to be lonely as He begins to carry the sins of the world to His shoulders.

Isn’t that a comforting thought? Jesus walked this valley before us. He felt the pang of isolation in the Garden of Gethsemane. And He felt the ultimate loneliness on the cross when He bore our sin. Because He has gone before us, He is our lifeline of hope. The author of the letter to the Hebrews assures us, “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:15-16Heb. 4:15-16
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15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  

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Jesus will meet you in your loneliness with a word of understanding and a heart of compassion. With Christ, you can be alone without feeling the sadness of loneliness. Right now, your aloneness is like an emotional desert, where the landscape is barren and all you feel is the heat of the sun and an awful thirst for companionship. Now, contrast this desert image with a garden image. Imagine yourself alone in a garden, listening to the soothing sounds of the birds and the relaxing rhythm of the wind in the trees. In the garden, you experience solitude—an entirely different sensation. Solitude brings refreshment, peace, and meaning.

How can you start feeling less like you’re in a desert and more like you’re in God’s garden? First, be right with God by confessing your sins. Let Jesus cleanse you by His blood. Second, stay close to the Lord through prayer and Bible reading. God invites you to share everything that you’re experiencing with Him: Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:8Psalm 62:8
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8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.  

WP-Bible plugin). Third, look for people who need a friend and show Christ’s love to them. Seek out people who are likely to relate to you, those with whom you share common interests. Often people around us are also lonely and looking for companionship. Maybe you could connect with others in your church or your neighborhood.

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Go to Jesus today and He can turn deserts into gardens.

Beloved, He is close to the brokenhearted. Go to Jesus today and He can turn deserts into gardens. He really can. May you find His peace in your lonely place.

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