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!

It’s such a blessing to come together as a church family to celebrate the most important event in the history of man. In this very day the whole nation and millions all over the world celebrate the best news man has ever heard – that Jesus Christ rose from the dead! This is the single greatest event that changed the world permanently. The world has never been the same again. Indeed He is Lord of all!

And because it’s the first Sunday of the month we will break bread together. Today we also remember the cross for before the resurrection is the cross. What does the cross of Jesus mean?

In the days of Jesus, the Roman Empire had a strict and ruthless justice system. They glorified courage and viewed mercy as a sign of weakness. A popular philosopher called mercy “the disease of the soul.” Jesus came into this heartless society teaching the benefits of mercy. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt. 5:7Matt. 5:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  

WP-Bible plugin). Mercy is a characteristic of God, an essential part of His nature. The psalmist declares: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ps. 103:8Ps. 103:8
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  

WP-Bible plugin). Mercy can be defined as providing for people in need, ministering to the miserable, helping the hurting… in essence , offering people what they don’t deserve.

"God is a just judge…"

God is also completely just. The psalmist reveals: “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Ps. 7:11Ps. 7:11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. judgeth…: or, is a righteous judge  

WP-Bible plugin). Another word for justice is righteousness. It means to render everyone their due. Therefore, you might logically say, “I don’t understand! How can God be both just and merciful at the same time? If God is completely just, shouldn’t He punish sin? If He’s completely merciful, doesn’t that negate His justice?” Good questions! But God had the answer: Jesus Christ.

At the cross, both justice and mercy were accomplished. Justice was served when Jesus died, paying the price for our sins. Mercy was extended through Christ’s atoning death. We did not receive the punishment we deserved, but were offered eternal life instead. God is truly the Supreme Judge! Beloved, as we partake of the bread and drink of the cup, remembering the Lord this morning, thank God for being both a merciful and just judge. For if He’s not, we won’t even be here today!

“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His Name together (Ps.34:1-3).”

November 4 marked the church’s anniversary - 13 years of God’s faithfulness and love! Let us thank Him today for all the answered (and the unanswered) prayers! There’s a lot to thank God for: His sustaining grace - sustaining this church during those difficult times up to this time; His provision - finances, abled workers for the different ministries (ushers, praise/worship team, soundcrew, sunday school teachers, women’s fellowship, hospital ministry and those who are serving in any capacity that we are not even aware of), our faithful elders, the outreaches, our upcoming church building, our present place of worship (OK Pensionne; Mr.Boy Ong), everything we see, touch, hear and use for the furtherance of His glory; and thank the Lord for the congregation - everyone coming to this church (the new converts and the maturing) to worship with us, the Body of Christ whom Jesus bought with a prize, not with silver and gold but by His precious blood! And most of all, thank Him who loves us with an everlasting love without whom we are nothing - Jesus Christ the ETERNAL LIFE!

This is My prayer: Father, words are not enough to express my eternal gratitude to everything you have done in our midst, as individual and as a church. Thank you for Jesus who is the source of our salvation and the Author and the Finisher of our faith. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who is and has been our Comforter, Guide, Teacher, Transformer and Power. Lord Jesus, may our daily expression of our love to You go far beyond what we do. Only You know the depth of genuine love we are yet capable of. May these offerings be acceptable in Your sight and hearing. Draw us closer. Be adored in our hearts. Sow love through us. Be obeyed and worshipped as a result. May others see You in us that they too would love, adore and worship You with us! Into Your gracious, loving Hands we commit our lives, our families, this church. Have Your way in and through us today! Be glorified! Amen.