Why Go To Church?
Posted by Admin | Filed under Interesting Read
A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”
This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
“I’ve been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”
When you are DOWN to nothing…. God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
Tags: church, fellowship, youths
Why is there suffering?
Posted by Admin | Filed under Interesting Read
Excerpts from: Our Daily Bread, http://odb.org/2010/06/17/why-suffer/
Jesus taught that the world seen from God’s viewpoint is tilted in favor of the oppressed. This teaching emerges in the Sermon on the Mount and other statements of Jesus: the first will be last (Matt. 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30), and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11; 18:14). But why would God single out the oppressed for special attention?
1. Suffering helps us realize our urgent need for redemption.
2. Suffering helps us experience our dependence on God and our interdependence with one another.
3. Suffering helps us distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
4. Suffering helps us respond to the call of the gospel because we may have become so desperate that we cry out to God.
The poor, the hungry, the mourners, and those who suffer are blessed (Matt. 5:3-6) because their lack of self-sufficiency is obvious to them every day. They must turn somewhere for strength. People who are rich, successful, and beautiful may go through life relying on their natural gifts. But people who are needy, dependent, and dissatisfied with life are more likely to welcome God’s free gift of love.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Why? Because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3).
The hardships we experience,
The trials that we face,
Will teach us that we’re strongest when
We’re trusting in God’s grace. —Sper
The weaker we feel, the harder we lean on God.
Read: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-12
Tags: our daily bread, pain, suffering
What the Bible Says About…Smoking
Posted by Admin | Filed under Interesting Read
Studies show that over 3,000 teens start smoking every day, and the dangers of smoking are no secret. Yet, what does the Bible have to say to Christian teens on the subject? Well, there really isn’t a specific Bible verse telling us not to smoke. However, there are Bible verses that tell us to take care of our bodies. Yet, does that mean smoking is a sin?
Why Do People Smoke?
There are a lot of reasons people smoke. For some, it helps them maintain a lower weight. For others it makes them feel “cool.” Some people find it relaxing, and others only smoke to relieve stress in social situations. The list of reasons is endless, but the habit often starts at a young age and becomes difficult to break.
What are the Effects of Smoking?
Smoking has a number of effects on the body and mind. The chemicals in cigarettes are both physiologically and psychologically addictive (meaning the body and mind both become addicted) and have negative effects on the lungs, mouth, brain, and more. The most common result of smoking is lung cancer, but there are other diseases associated with smoking like asthma, emphysema, and birth defects.
What Does the Bible Say?
Christian teens should not just look at smoking from the effects it can have psychologically or physically, but should also look at the spiritual component of the habit. Would God want you to do something that harms the body? Would God want you to do something that becomes an uncontrollable habit? While God does not directly say, “Don’t Smoke!”, He does say some things about what you do to your body and how you use your time.
Continue reading here: http://christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/a/WBSASmoking.htm
Tags: articles, biblical perspective, smoking
Is God All Of My Life?
Posted by Admin | Filed under Interesting Read
Yesterday, a profound but simple message challenged my way of thinking beyond any other. Since Sunday school the message of “putting God first in your life” had been the cornerstone for the Christian faith, and that is true. However, we can put it in another perspective. In a life filled with desires, passions and goals, prioritising our heart’s true desires is almost a fall-short.
It almost feels as if one could not ever really rank in order the importance of direction in our life. A great way to look at this could really challenge the way we live our lives. Maybe it is not about putting God “first” in our life. In fact, what God truly wants, is that God is ONLY our lives.
The statement is simple but challenges our life-thinking beyond imagination. Every decision, every word, every action, every thought – is God’s. It goes beyond saying that God is placed first. No, it says that God encompasses all aspects of life, He becomes the first to the last of every desire in your life. He is “only”.
The greatest commandment, as we all know it, is much more challenging than it is in words. God did not say, “Love the Lord your God with the first of your heart’s desires, the greatest part of your soul, and the highest echelons of your mind.” He said, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your mind and ALL your soul.” Imagine a life where every single ounce of purpose, every single waking thought was dedicated, portioned and lived for God. Yes, that is a great commandment.
Is God first in my life, or is He ALL of my life?
Sourced from ChangedForLife.net
Written by Aaron
Wednesday, 16 July 2008 13:25
Click here: http://tiny.cc/s2iju
Tags: changed for life, devotion
BREAK FREE 2010 Theme Song Lyrics
Posted by Admin | Filed under Interesting Read, Local Fellowship
Download the BREAK FREE 2010 Theme Song Lyrics here
This is the BREAK FREE 2010 Theme Song Lyrics.
Written and Composed by: Rev. Herbert D. John
Original Music & Performance by: TMC Ipoh Youths
Sari,sari,sa,
Nesaa,nesa,nee 4x
1. Siluvaiyai ennakaai sumanthavaray,(sari)
Mul kreedam serasenil aninthavaray(sari)
Viduthalai vaalkai naan vaalnthidavay,
Maranathai murithu jeyathavaray.
Chorus:
Aarathipain,naan aarathipain,
Sostaripain ummai tuthiduvain.
Viduthalai, endrendrum,
Viduthalai x2
2. Parisutham aniya allaithavaray
Maa paviyam ennakai marithavaray
Tuthi paadi ummai aarathika
Aaviyin abishegam polinthavaray
Chorus:
Aarathipain,naan aarathipain,
Sostaripain ummai tuthiduvain.
Viduthalai, endrendrum,
Viduthalai x2
Refrain:
Rachepin thevanay nee paarkindraya,
Valamai thevan satham kaitkindraya,
Intha thesathin vaalibargal
Esuvidam thirumba,
Kudumbam Christuvin
Samathaanan neramba
Easu andai vaa,nee,
Easu andai vaa,2x
Viduthalai,endrendrum,
Viduthalai,
Break free forevermore
Break free ….X2
BREAK FREE!!!
Download the BREAK FREE 2010 Theme Song Lyrics here
Tags: break free 2010, lyrics, myf, song, theme
The Epworth League was the precursor to the current Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF).
Posted by revjonathan | Filed under Interesting Read
The Epworth League was formed on May 14, 1899, by the merging of two Methodist youth groups, the Oxford League and the Young People’s Methodist Alliance at Cleveland’s Central Methodist Church. The Epworth League was the precursor to the current Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF).
The EPWORTH LEAGUE, which set a pattern for church youth organizations, was founded at Cleveland’s Central Methodist Church on 14 and 15 May 1889.
Within 10 years it claimed over 1.75 million members in 19,500 chapters internationally. Prior to 1889, as many as 5 young people’s organizations existed in the Methodist Episcopal church, among them: the Methodist Alliance, claiming 20,000 members in 1883; the Oxford League, organized at the Methodist Centennial Conference, with a large chapter at Central Methodist Church; and the Young People’s Christian League, among others.
After discussions of a merger into a single body, 27 persons gathered at Central Methodist to form the Epworth League, adopting a modified version of the constitution of the Oxford League, and the motto of the Young People’s Christian League, Look Up, Lift Up.
The league, which soon spread worldwide, divided its social service into 6 departments: Spiritual Life, Social Work, Literary Work, Correspondence, Mercy and Help, and Finance. Local chapters organized Fresh Air Work (day camps for city children), literary events, lecture series, and fellowship gatherings. When Central Methodist Church was renamed Epworth Memorial Church in 1891, Epworth League chapters across the country contributed 6 panels of stained glass to the church. (Epworth Memorial later became a part of EPWORTH-EUCLID UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.)
After denominational mergers among Methodists in the 1930s, the Epworth League became known as the Methodist Youth Fellowship; it survived in 1994 as the United Methodist Youth Fellowship.
The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
Proclamation for God’s Protection
Posted by revjonathan | Filed under Interesting Read
NO weapon that is formed against me shall prosper and every tongue which rises against me in judgment I do condemn. This is my heritage as a servant of the Lord and my righteousness is from You, O Lord of Hosts. If there are those who have been speaking or praying against me, or speaking to harm me, or who have rejected me, I forgive them. Having forgiven them I bless them in the name of Jesus Christ.
Now I declare, O Lord, the you and you alone are my God and besides You there is no other, a just God and Saviour, the father the Son and the Spirit and I worship You!
I submit myself afresh to you in unreserved obedience. Having submitted to you, Lord I do as Your Word directs. I resist the devil; all his pressures, his attacks, his deceptions and every instrument or agent he would seek to use against me. I do not submit! I resist him, drive him from me and exclude him from me in the name of Jesus Christ. Specifically, I reject and repel infirmity, pain, infection and malignancies, allergies, viruses and every form of witchcraft and every type of stress.
Finally Lord, thank you that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, I have passed out from under the curse and entered into blessing of Abraham whom you blessed in all the things: exaltation, health, reproductiveness, prosperity, victory, God’s favour and God’s friendship. Amen.
Copied from Derek Prince Book mark
Prayer For Deliverance From Lustful Desires
Posted by revjonathan | Filed under Interesting Read
Lord,
I come boldly before Your throne of grace and mercy to find help and strength from you so that I will not enter into temptation, for I know that the spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Lord, I want to submit myself to You, for Your word says that if we submit ourselves unto You, that we could resist the enemy and he would flee from us. Lord I will fully submit to You, all that I am, all that I ever hope to be. I surrender all unto You.
Lord, I am weak but you are strong, I know that my weakness will be made perfect in your strength by your grace. I know that my strength is not in my will to withstand the devil and his many temptations and schemes, but my faith, my strength, my hope is in You. Therefore, Lord I confess that I am strong in You, and in the power of Your might.
Lord, I cast down every wicked, lustful, lascivious, and unclean thought of the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I refuse every evil thought of the enemy;I dismiss them from me in the name of Jesus. Father, I pray that You will cause me to think upon those things which are true, just, righteous, lovely, pure, excellent and of a good report, and I pray that You will not allow my mind to wander into idleness, but to stay upon the name of Jesus.
