Is Women Elders/Deacons Biblical?

Women in ministry, women leadership, female ministers/pastors, women elders and deacons. These are not exactly the simplest topic of conversation to many. And certainly in the environment and culture that we’re in today. You can’t seem to talk about this issue without some controversy or disagreements.

Many like myself grow up under the influence of postmodernism, feminism, individualism. And in seeking gender equality, we are told that we have many abilities and skills and can do what men can do. We can climb the corporate ladder and be company executives. We are encouraged to be independent and take on the role of men in many ways. Even as a Christian, I struggled with the notion of submission and women’s role in the Bible. It just seems so unfair to not be given the same opportunities to use our God given abilities and somehow feel restricted or feel like 2nd class citizens so to speak.

But as I grew in my knowledge of God and His word, I came to understand His design and plan for males and females, their roles to compliment and complete one another. A lot of the discussion on women in leadership today that surrounds cultures and practices are somewhat different if not distorted interpretations of the scriptures in my opinion.

To me, the instruction for women not to be ministers, elders and deacons is quite clear in 1 Tim 3 and Titus. Not only were the criteria for elders and deacons specific to include those who are the husband of one wife (1 Tim 3:2, 12). But in earlier verses, Paul said that he doesn’t allow women to teach or to have authority over a man. And all these clearly apply in the church context, if not in other settings. The reasons Paul given are historic rather than cultural. It’s because Adam was created first (1 Tim 2:13) and Eve was the one who was deceived (1 Tim 2:14). Whether we’re more talented or gifted isn’t quite the issue here, and it doesn’t mean that gifts and talents can’t be used other than in church governance.  One important fact that I tend to overlook at times is that the woman in Genesis 1 was created for the man and as his helper.

In response to this issue, some people point to the mention of a deaconess in the bible and the fact that there are females residing in those offices in our churches today. This could be a sticky point for many, but thinking about it a little more, I realized that what was stated as a fact doesn’t necessarily in any way support the case. There’s a mention of a deaconess, but we don’t know the circumstance surrounding it. It’s simply describing what is or what happened. But the instructions in 1 Timothy are very clear and not circumstantial. The language used is plain and direct and it applies to those who’s seeking such positions. Also, what has been done before, in other words traditions or practices don’t naturally make something right or biblical.  

When I was thinking about this, the example of David and Bathsheba came to mind. In the bible, adultery is a sin and we’re asked not to commit adultery. So if we were only told the fact that David and Bathsheba committed adultery but not any information surrounding it. It’d be like the case of the deaconess. But could we then say that it’s ok to commit adultery because David and Bathsheba did and they were ok. I guess what I’m trying to say is that if 2 options were given, clear instructions and a circumstantial description, which one has more authority and which one’s more likely to be right.

I don’t know a lot and I wanted to make sure that my understanding is correct, so I was doing a bit of research and discovered that the Greek word for deaconess is actually a word meaning servant and used in the New Testament in a variety of ways. Paul used the same word to describe himself as the servant of God.  A detailed explanation can be found at http://www.carm.org/womeninministry/deaconess.htm.  I also found a lot of useful resources on this subject at http://www.carm.org/womeninministry.htm.

At this point, I’m satisfy that my understanding of the passages isn’t mistaken, and that the positions for elders/ministers and deacons are reserved for men and not women.

How Christmas Has Changed

Only 1 week to Christmas!

Everywhere’s bustling in the Christmas atmosphere. Packed shopping centres, busy crowds, mailbox full of enticing junk mails, pretty lights, gift cards, decorations, Christmas carols, parties, travels, presents, food...We are all so busy buying gifts, preparing for family get togethers or enjoying the holidays that Christmas has become a festive season. Its original meaning has shifted from Christ's sacrifice to human generosity, from gratefulness to indulgence.

We’ve seen Christmas being gradually stripped of its meaning over the years. Happy holidays has become the preferred Christmas greeting to avoid any religious connotation; carols depicting the birth of Jesus are slowly replaced by the almighty Rudolph the reindeer and the ever popular jingle bells. Kids are taught anything about Christmas but the story of Jesus’ birth.

In the midst of all the frantic activities and busyness, are we forgetting what Christmas is about? Are we taking the opportunity to tell others about the birth of Jesus and what that means to us? Have you entered a church building this Christmas and the only things you see are Christmas trees, flowers, presents and all sorts of decoration, except the very signs that remind us of the object of celebration? Have you wondered where the cross, (baby) Jesus, wise men, manger, angels, Mary or Joseph's gone? I have and for a moment I wondered if someone new who came into buildings like that would be inspired to think about God or know that it's a place of worship?

It was under such commercialism of Christmas that we decided quite a few years ago to have a nativity scene rather than a Christmas tree as the centre stage at our home. It was difficult to find anything like that back then, so we made puppets of the characters, complete with stuffed animals. To gain back some perspective and to remind ourselves of what Christmas really is about, we’ve also introduced a time to reflect upon the past year, remembering the goodness of God and thanking Him for what He has done before opening the presents. 

How can you put back some of the meaning that’s been lost in your celebration of Jesus’ birth this Christmas?

Which Principles?

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

I really like this verse in Colossians 2 from today’s devotion. It’s so true as I came to think of the issues and practices of Christians and churches today, and how many of us have given way to the ideas and practices of the world rather than based our judgements and decisions on the unchanging principles in the Bible.

Satan is very clever and in many ways have deceived us without our noticing it. A lot of times when we tackle a difficult issue or situation, we tend to base our reasoning on what the majority is doing, how it works in our culture or what we think is right. It’s not common for people to ponder upon the scriptures and seek to understand how to apply it and actually put it into action in real life. Our solutions tend to be influenced by the world around us, and they are often so different from what the Bible teaches.

I think some of the controversial issues in Christianity and in our life such as abortion, homosexuality, divorce, women leadership, church growth etc. wouldn’t be much of an issue if we truly look at those issues in light of the scriptures, and take seriously God’s principles laid out all through the bible rather than relying on the wisdom of this world.

Are we and our churches being true to what we have entrusted? Are we relying on God’s wisdom rather than men’s? Do we meditate on God’s words and careful to carry out what He has instructed us? Do we live our life based on a biblical worldview? the world’s or a mixture of both?

An Interesting Lunch

Well, well, well.  What an interesting day on Sunday!

It was our year end lunch and praise God for the good weather.  He has definitely answered our prayer considering that it has been raining for the whole of last week and has just started again yesterday.

We were going to have a picnic at Hinze Dam, but unbeknown to us, it was closed.  What's worst?  The official contact person (yes, that's me) left her mobile at home, so a new person who was going to come couldn't contact her for the new location.

After a bit of checking out Hinze Dam, deciding on new location and letting people know, we ended up at the Little Nerang Dam.  It was a quiet road into the park and we weren't expecting anyone to be around.  So it was quite a surprise to see the carpark full of cars.  It was a nice little area with bbqs and picnic tables, so it was good.  Someone bought along a bbq in a box.  Thought that was interesting.

We all had a good time.

Year End Lunch

It's almost the end of November, can you believe how quick the year has gone!

As the year is drawing to a close, lets get together and celebrate the year's passed. Invite your friends, bring your own lunch and enjoy some fun and relaxing time by the waters.

There's a kiosk if you want to get food there. Don't forget to bring a ball or frisbee along to have a kick or something after lunch.

Here's the details:
Date: Sunday, Nov 23
Time: 12pm
Location: Hinze Dam

If you need transport or need help with directions getting there, give us a yell.

Islam and the World

The world has changed forever since September 11th, 2001. Many now live in constant fear of terrorist attacks. The threat of 'radical' Islam has been brought to the forefront of people's minds. With so many other religions out there, why has Islam bred both terrorism and a hatred for the West?

Consider these statistics:

Islam is the 2nd largest religion in US.
More than 7 million Muslims live in France alone.
Today, over 2 million Muslims live in Britain (and London has been dubbed 'Londonistan').
It is predicted that by 2040, more than 55 million people in Europe will be Muslim.

Many 'moderate' Muslims live peacefully among people of different religions than their own. Others however, live with hostility towards non-muslims, whom they call 'infidels.'

So what do we really know about Islam? Does it really seek world domination? How would it affect us if Islam actually ruled the world? Are our fears justified, or are they based on misunderstanding and propaganda against a 'peaceful' religion?

We are showing an award-winning documentary called Obsession the Movie. Come watch it together and stay for a chat afterwards. Here are the details fof the event.

What: Obsession the Movie
Where: Peter & Anchalee's place, Mudgeearaba
Notes: We'll have snacks and drinks, but lunch isn't included. Feel free to bring something for lunch if you'd like.

Another Great Recharge

Everything about the Recharge camp this year was great! We all had a really good time at the camp. The messages from the key speaker Tim Hein were excellent. The worship led by Andrew Sercombe of course was great and awe inspiring. The electives were relevant and the speakers were good too. There's always something new to learn and we were eager to share with one another what we've learned from the different electives. The major theme this year seemed to be around engaging the culture and being missional.

It was raining a bit last week, but the weekend was beautiful. It was so warm and perfect for the activities Saturday afternoon. There were jumping castles, climbing wall and other fun things to do. Some of us opted for a walk around town. We all had a wonderful time fellowshipping, getting to know one another. But we also got to meet new people from other churches and places which was great.

Those who gone up for the first time this year didn't need any convincing. They saw it, experienced it and couldn't wait for next year's Recharge to come!

Recharge 2008

Spring is finally here, and so is the Recharge camp up on Mt Tamborine. It's on next weekend 19-21 September. Less than 2 weeks away!!

If you haven't been before, this is one event not to be missed. Its getting bigger each year and those who have been to one will tell you that you won't be disappointed with great worship, solid teaching, fantastic electives and excellent opportunities to hang out with other Christians and make new friends. You'll be recharged and feel refreshed after that.

Make sure you check out their website for info on the programme, speakers, and other activities. Some of us from the church will be going up, either for a day or camping for the weekend. If you prefer not to camp, let us know and we can help arrange other non-camp accommodation.

There's a cafe at Recharge that you can get food there. Or you can get food from the town's many food places and supermarket. We're planning a bbq on Sat night, so remember to let us know if you'll be there.

Contact Joshua or Mable if you are interested in coming along.

Quick info
When: 19-21 September 2008
Where: Mount Tamborine Convention Centre
Cost: Camping packages start from $50. Accommodation and meals packages from $110
Website: www.recharge.org.au

Talk on financial principles

The event last Sunday started off with some yummy freshly made pizzas.

Then our speaker Cathy took us through the basic principles of God’s ways of managing money with a video from Crown ministry. It highlights the importance of being debt free and brought home the reality of how loans of any kind can end up to our disadvantage depending on how much we borrow. Many of us borrow not knowing the physical cost of the debt we service. Cathy personally shared with us her amazing experience of God’s provision when she waited rather than borrow to purchase things.

Someone referred to the scripture pointing out that people failed because of their of lack of knowledge. This is so true, because we spent an awful lot of time thinking and researching the details of the things we want to buy, but not many of us go to such extent digging into God’s words to see what He says about money. The video also highlights the verse in Proverbs 22:7 about those who borrow are slaves to those who lend. To be blessed and free is to owe no one anything.

We had a good discussion afterwards touching on mortgage, credit cards, personal loans, investment, our financial responsibilities and the basic principles of budgeting and debt repayments.

We were also encouraged to do the Foundations for life series to understand more of God’s perspective in managing our finance. Visit www.crown.org.au for more details on the course as well as resources and radio broadcasts on the subject.

Money Talk

Petrol prices up.
Foods getting more expensive.
Interest rates going up.
Money's getting less value.
Rent's more expensive.
Bills are piling up.

Fortunately, there are interest free loans, credit cards, buy now pay later schemes and other ways to help us cope with the ever increasing living cost. But are they really helping? What does the Bible say about debt? How could we be wise in our spending?

Join us for our next Ignite event, Money Talk, and get some insights from our in-house speaker who've studied and thought a lot about these issues over lunch. Here are the details:

Date: Sunday, August 24th
Time: 12pm
Where: GCCF training centre, room T1
Cost: $7 for lunch

Book your spot by Friday, August 22!

Bowling

Well, we've decide to have some fun and get our bodies moving a bit more. So lets go and roll some balls down the lane. Do you know that there are 6 different types of indoor bowling? Yes, there's candlepin, duckpin, 5-pin, 9-pin and bumper bowling. But unfortunately, we only have 10-pin bowling here. So that's what we are doing this Sunday 20/7 after church. Bring your friends and enjoy a good time. Contact Brett for details.

People's stories

I like hearing people’s stories and reading about people’s lives. I remember going on long distance buses across provinces in high school, and like sitting beside elderly people so I could hear their story. Every person has a story to tell and it always fascinates me hearing other people’s experience.

The last year, I read a few auto/biographies including the former deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, the famous evangelist Billy Graham and the founder of the flying doctors John Flynn. All have interesting stories, but what struck me the most with all these Christian men are their unshakable faith, their absolute integrity and their genuine humility. It’s hard to be honest in the political arena, we all have seen corruption in the highest level of governments, yet John Anderson is regarded by his colleagues to be a man of integrity above all else. Billy Graham despite his enormous success in bringing so many to Christ, was grateful and humbled for God to use him at all. And John Flynn, facing such an impossible task and in such unfavourable conditions, never doubt that his God given vision would be fulfilled, and it did.

I’m encouraged to know and grateful for these godly men who have made such an impact in the world we live in and be examples that we can follow.

Separation & Oneness

I was worshiping at my old church in Sydney this past Sunday. It happened to be a special family service celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Korean congregation. The Korean congregation was started by a Korean pastor who linked up with the church and hold their service after the English service each Sunday.

Among the many things in the service was a segment showing videos of various church members congratulating the anniversary of the Korean congregation. One of the messages was that the church, both the English and Korean congregation, would become one in Christ. This made me think about how this unity could be achieved if the 2 congregations meet at different times and therefore hardly see each other.

I can fully understand that the older generation would want to worship God in their native language, and rightly so. But that separation or segregation which exists in our churches today goes beyond the context of language barrier and cultural difference. It extends to ministries, age group and worship style etc., all encourage coming out rather than coming together. I recalled someone pointing out the many ministries in our churches today are but unnecessary because they separate people rather than bringing people together. I think there’s some truth in it. Although I won’t go so far as to say that ministries aren’t needed. They do serve their purpose in building up the body of Christ. But in order to maintain balance and bring unity, the church needs to put in place ways to actively and intentionally draw and bring people together.

Back to the Korean congregation, I thought the younger generation all speak English fluently, and would be good if their youth and young adults could work cross congregation. And I was glad to find out later that they do work together. Looks like their youth groups are combined which is one way to cross the great divide.

Let's have a picnic!

Ignite Queen's Birthday picnic is on June, Monday 9th . So come along for a great day out together, catching up with friends and meeting new people.

We will be meeting at Burleigh Beach. So look for a large group of familiar faces somewhere on the esplanade near Justin Park around 11:30am.

Each small group is to bring enough food for their own group and share it there. You can also get fish and chips or other food from the local shops. If you feel up for it, you could also bring meat for BBQ!

Hope to see you there for food, fun and great time of fellowship!!!

Hillsong Worship

I came across Darlene Zschech’s book "Extravagant Worship" and was reading it with interest. No doubt many would know who Darlene is. As the worship leader in Hillsong, her songs have been used and sung by churches around the world.

I too have been singing many of her songs, but it wasn’t until this book that I got a glimpse of this woman who has influenced so many in recent years and understand where her songs are coming from. Darlene’s passion for God is evident in the book, so is her desire to see others becoming excellent worshippers. She explained what worship is, the importance of praise, the difficulties and trap faced by musicians and practical advice for those who involve in music ministry.

While her book is encouraging and uplifting, and full of bible references, I’m afraid many of the references are taken out of context and I couldn’t help but noticed some of the incoherencies that are potentially dangerous to our walk with Christ.

Praise a weapon?
First, the book suggests that there’s power in praise. There is no doubt that God delights in our praises. But to think that praise and worship has the power to cause God to act is something new to me and which, I believe is a misunderstanding of the scriptures.

The book uses the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:22 to show how God defeats the enemies as the men appointed by Jehoshaphat were praising God. It says on p52 "When we, God’s people, come into His presence with thanksgiving and praise, warfare is waged against our enemies, and our battles are won by the supernatural power of God." It went on further to say in p53 that "If you need to have the Enemy flee from your life, then you need to praise your pathway to victory!"

This is misguided because earlier in the chapter, we know that Jehoshaphat upon knowing that his enemies are coming, he inquired of the Lord and called for a fast for all Judah. Then, he prayed before the assembly in the temple. In response, through the Levite Jahaziel, God told them that the battle is God’s and told them what to do. Then, Jehoshaphat led the people to bow down and worship God before encouraging the people to have faith in God and appointed men to sing and praise God as they went out. God set ambushes against the enemies just as they were going out to the battle field. It’s not praise alone that causes God to act. It’s because of their seeking God’s direction, prayer, worship, faith and trust in God that led to the victory.

It is therefore incorrect to say that "When you sing, praise, dance, and rejoice in the face of opposition, you are using the spiritual warfare weapons against the devil." (p 57). There is no where in the Bible that talks about praise being a spiritual weapon. And in 2 Corinthians 10:4, it didn’t mentioned praise as a weapon. If any, what follows on in v5 indicates that it’s God’s words rather than our praises that has the power. In fact Paul urges us more than once in Ephesians 6:10-18 to put on the full armour of God in order to fight against the spiritual forces of evil. And the weapon that we have is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God (v17). So not only is praise not a spiritual weapon, it doesn’t cause God to act. Praise is merely our response to God’s goodness and greatness.

Thanksgiving brings peace?
It’s interesting that Psalm 100:4 and Philippians 4:6 are used to conclude in p61 that, "Thanksgiving paves a way for us to go straight into that awesome throne room of the King of Kings. When you enter into praise with true thanksgiving, the peace of God, which passes all understanding, accompanies your thankful heart." They sound ok on the outset until you look into the passages. God can use anything to draw us close to Him. But the reality is, thanksgiving doesn’t take us straight to God, Jesus does. God delights when we come into his presence with a thankful attitude, but a thankful heart is certainly not the way in which we could come into God’s presence. Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is the way and no one can come to the Father but through Him.

Now, Psalm 100:4 is a song of praise that mentions entering God's temple with thanksgiving and praise. Philippians 4:6 is Paul's advice to the brothers in the Philippian church urging them not to be anxious of anything, but to bring their anxieties and worries before God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This is saying that when we leave our worries and burdens to God, our knowledge of His character and our trust in Him will give us peace. It's flawed to connect the 2 passages together and it's in no way indicating that praising God with a thankful heart will bring peace.

Power in shouting?
What I found dangerous is the belief that shouting has power and will cause God to respond. It’s true that there are numerous places in Psalm 95:1, Psalm 47:1, 98:4 mention shouts. But one has to look at them in its context and nature to understand that many of the Psalms are poetry and they are the lyrics of what they were saying or singing, not actually shouting. Darlene’s song ‘Shout to the Lord’ is a good example. We sing shout to the Lord, but I don’t think many of us actually shout while we sing or sing while we shout.

She uses the story of the fall of the walls of Jericho as the people shout and took the city in Joshua to advocate the practice of shouting when things don’t go right. As an example, she says in p105 that "In times when I feel overwhelmed, I shout to the Lord! I bury those melancholy blues in a shout and declare that it will bow down to the name of Jesus." She compares shouting as a prophetic cry in p66 "A shout of joy is like a prophetic cry to break obstacles in your life." And on p70, "A tenacious, explosive shout of praise is a punch in the face of the devil."

This is dangerous because we're saying that we can rise above our circumstances and winning in life through shouts of joy rather than Jesus. We're saying that shouts and praise have power and not the blood of Jesus. There is nothing in the New Testament or what Jesus said or in fact the whole bible that indicates a shout of praise or joy is a means for us to get God's attention when we are up against our enemies or hard pressed with our problems. On the contrary, when we are discouraged, facing trials of many kinds or in difficult situations, we are instructed to pray. Elisha, Nehemiah, David, Jesus and many others in the Bible when pursued by their enemies or in difficult situations, they pray rather than singing praises to God. Shouts of joy don’t have power and can’t deliver us from evil, it’s Jesus’ death and resurrection that has power and that can deliver us!

There’s a good review on the book by Matthias media, raising some issues associated with the Hillsong worship ‘revolution’.

Fishing

We all had an enjoyable day on the water Saturday. It was a nice day and we went up to Mariner's Cove, which is next to Sea World, and onto the Broadwater. We drove the boat 40 mins north to Wavebreak Island, a popular spot for diving. It was pretty quiet and there were only a few boats parked there. People couldn't wait to start fishing, and you can see plenty swimming around and ready to be hooked up.

We had a bbq lunch on board and decided to change location for more variety of fish. So we headed south through the canals around Cronin and Chervon Islands in the direction of Surfers Paradise. It was there that someone who just learnt to use a fishing rod, very surprisingly caught the biggest fish of the day.

The funniest thing happened at the end of the day when one of the guys standing by the side of the boat accidentally let loosed his slipper on the water. So for the next 10 mins or so, it was a chasing game as we circle around, go forward and backward trying to get the slipper back. Eventually, it was fished back with a BBQ tongs.

On the way back, we saw the dark clouds and the coming of a storm as forecasted on the Southern end of the Coast. It was getting quite windy and looked like it could rain. But the storm didn't come till much later when we all got home. Praise God for holding the rain back so we didn't get soaking wet. ;-)

Movies on Bible Characters

I recently discovered a movie series on Bible characters and have since watched Jacob, Solomon and Jeremiah. Both Jacob and Solomon are a good 3-hour long, but are good quality movies. Unlike most Christian movies made today, they were big budget movies filmed on location, got good acting with famous actors and actresses and good quality.

What’s most impressive is the Biblical accuracy in these stories. It wasn’t just a contemporary interpretation of the Bible, but the characters in the stories are often quoting straight out of the Bible. Not only are they enjoyable to watch, but each one gave me new insights into these stories that I’ve read so many times in the Bible.

For example, it wasn’t until “Jacob” that I connected the prophecy of Abraham’s descendents to the biases of Rebecca. It made sense to me that because she heard the prophecy of the 2 nations and the young will rule the old that Rebecca decided to help fulfill that by encouraging Jacob to use deceitful means to get the birthright.

These are available from the public library, but only 3 out of the set of 12. I wonder why they aren’t in any of the major Christian bookstores here? At least I haven't seen or heard about this series before, although it looks like you can easily buy them online.

Boating and Fishing Trip

We are going boating and fishing again! It was a lot of fun when we did that last year. You can read about it and see some photos here.

So come with us this year and share a great day out together.

When: Saturday May 17th.
Cost: $30 (including meals and boat hires)
Space are limited so please RSVP by May 14th.

Jesus in China

Just finished watching the 2nd episode of Jesus in China. It’s a documentary about Christianity and the Christian church in China, mostly through testimonies of Chinese Christians there. Much has been heard about the rapid growth of Christianity in China in recent times, but despite that, persecution and suffering are still very real.

The documentary is full of ministers of house churches, missionaries and ordinary Christians who have endured and still continue to be under persecution. Getting arrested and going to jail more than once and for 10 or 20 years are common occurrences. Under the Communist government, Christians meeting outside the government approved Three Self Church is illegal. Those who were jailed were asked to denounce Jesus. Yet none of these persecution, suffering, jail or risk of dying seem to chip away their faith in God or convince them not to be followers of Christ.

What really moved me and stirred my spirit is to see Christians of such strong faith, conviction, devotion, boldness and gratitude in the face of imprisonment, suffering, hardships and ridicule. Their determination to carry the cross and follow Christ no matter what. Their hunger and thirst for God’s words. Their eagerness to meet with other Christians to pray and study God’s word everyday. Their sincere and authentic Christianity. Jesus is truly precious to them, and they show and demonstrate it in their daily life. They truly live like passers by rather than taking up permanent residency in this world. It is a picture of the early Christian church in the Bible.

How I wish our churches and Christians in the western world today to regain their focus and dedication to Jesus like these Christians do. We are blessed with freedom and abundance in this country, but that blessing could also become a curse. We simply become too comfortable and let our surroundings and busy lifestyle take our focus away from God.

It’s so wonderful to see Christians, like those in the documentary, to be so consumed and captured by God. Imagine if we and our churches are on fire like that, how much more God could use us in this sick and troubled world? How much more our testimony will mean to the world around us?

May we get back to our first love. May Christ capture our mind. May we hunger for God’s word and thirst for His righteousness. May we be people of conviction and fervour.

This documentary is available from the public library. You can also download or watch the 4-part documentary or read the scripts from their website at www.chinasoul.org.

Divorce & Remarriage - God's Design? (part 4)

Implications
In our world today, we are taught to be our own person, to decide what’s good for us, to do what feels good. And I feel sometimes we Christians and our churches have so bought into the world’s ways of thinking and handling things that we’ve given the authority and power to make life’s decisions to our own senses, feelings and intellect rather than to God and His true and unchanging words. Feelings come and go, but only God’s words last forever. By this, we aren’t discounting the hurt and emotional turmoil that some may have experienced. They are very real. But all the same, it doesn’t make God’s command on this issue less real or less applicable. Homosexuality and abortion, like divorce involve a great deal of emotions. But if they are considered wrong, why aren’t divorce and remarriage, that have even more explicit references and instructions in the Bible, be treated the same?

In making concessions to divorce and remarriage, whether on emotional or other grounds, we are saying that we know better than God. At the same time, we’re telling others that we can take only those parts of the Bible that we like and ignore those bits that we have difficulty with. Not only that, but it also paves the way for more concessions, all based on our human wisdom. Isn’t this what the world’s doing? Everyone has their own standard. What’s right for you doesn’t necessary apply to me. Soon, God’s word is no longer valued and the church ceases to be a light to the world. The Bible in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12 and Psalm 119:105 all speak of the scriptures being God breathed and powerful in judging our thoughts and attitudes. The Bible is God’s wisdom, standard and morality, and therefore should be our guide for life decisions.

Finding excuses will only establish us as hypocrites in the world’s eyes and prevent the furthering of God’s kingdom. As mentioned before, if as Christians we fare worst than non-Christians in our standard and morals, why would any non-Christians want to be like us? After all, they’ve succeeded conforming us and there’s no reason to reverse that position.

Being silent or turning a blind eye to the issue that causes much grief to God and our church today will only exacerbate the problem. We simply can’t afford to stay ignorant to this anymore, not with the state that our churches are in today. For those that are placed by God in a position of influence, there’s all the more concern that they shouldn’t take God’s words lightly, for they’ll be accountable to God. And for all Christians, we have the responsibility as instructed in the Bible to tell our brothers and sisters in Christ if they’re doing what’s not right in God’s eyes (Galatians 6:1).

Are we showing our love for God by obeying His words? (John 14:15, 21, 15:10, 20, 1 John 3:22, 24, 1 John 5:3) Are we courageous enough to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and be blessed by Him as a result? (Luke 11:28) Lets take God’s words seriously by not undermining His authority, showing it in our actions and encouraging one another to do what pleases God.

Let me wrap up with this hymn just came to mind: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Tolerance and Being Judgemental

It's amazing how there have been so many recent disputes and arguments over the topics of intolerance and judgmentalism displayed by people (and not just Christians) who verbally disagree and question this society's thoughts and actions. This is because there has been great misunderstanding of the definition of “tolerance”. The most logical and correct definition is:

tolerant; to accept the person regardless of their worldview (but not necessarily accepting their worldview).

Now, at this point, you’re probably wondering what I'm on about but let me explain. The modern definition (that will probably seem most correct to you because modern society is being indoctrinated with this false and most misleading worldview) is:

tolerant; to accept the ideas and beliefs of the person, regardless of the validity of those ideas.

Let me explain the difference between those definitions. Accepting someone but not accepting their ideas means that that person may be wrong. Yes, you heard me, the person may be incorrect in what they believe and there is nothing wrong with telling them what they believe might actually be invalid. That’s one of the big no-no’s of modern tolerance, isn't it? Telling someone they’re wrong. The funny thing is, when a person (who believes this misleading definition) calls me intolerant, what they’re really saying is I’m wrong. That’s pretty intolerant, don’t you think? If telling someone they're wrong means we're being intolerant (which is obviously a grievous sin), we can’t tell someone stealing is wrong, because then we are being intolerant of their belief (that stealing is okay). If we can’t tell them that stealing is not okay, then we can’t call the police and get them arrested and send them to jail because it would be intolerant. If tolerance was defined in the modern version, the whole legal system would not be respected because people in the legal system are the most intolerant people of all!

So, as you can see, the modern definition of tolerance is not only impractical but self-refuting (calling someone intolerant makes yourself intolerant). The only logical and practical definition of tolerance is the first that I stated.

An issue closely linked to intolerance is judgementalism. Being judgmental is to pass moral judgment on a person by defining what is morally right and wrong. The problem with this is that not only are we living in a society which does not believe in moral absolutes (which is basically the root of the problem) but judgementalism has a negative connotation attached to it because it relates to intolerance. Most of the time, modern people show “intolerance” by being judgmental. In our society, telling someone they’re wrong registers as a direct and personal attack on them – not on their worldview. They take it as an insult. They think you are not accepting them because you disagree with their beliefs. That’s why people have now reinvented or misinterpreted the words “intolerant” and “judgmental” to make people (who are probably doing the right thing) feel bad because our society believes we are personally attacking them every time we tell them what they believe might be wrong. In any case, it is inevitable that we (as humans) would pass moral judgement because, subconsciously, we all have a moral standpoint. What our society must understand is that there's nothing wrong with pointing out to a person that their worldview may be inconsistent with reality. In fact, it's healthy that we do, so that we'll always keep ourselves in check.

Now you can tell someone they’re wrong and not feel bad about doing so (just so long as you’ve got good reasoning behind your accusation). It’s ironic that the person the world considers the most “intolerant” is actually the most tolerant person of all, and that would be God. No matter how the human race behaves because of our sins, God still finds a way for us to be accepted into His kingdom. Now that's amazing.

Follow up: Keys to Fulfilling Relationships

It was a great day learning about relationships while at the same time fellowshipping with friends. And lunch was lovely too!

It was interesting to hear about how self-esteem plays an important part in our relationships. This isn't something I personally think about much, probably due to how the world portrays it. But the speaker made it clear for us that this wasn't the same kind of self-esteem. We do need to realise our intrinsic worth, in addition to admitting our fallen nature. And we should value our differences, rather than trying to change other people to be like ourselves.

Some other principles from the talk were:

• In relationships, we should be on different boat, but still heading in the same direction. What this means is that for married couples, each individual should remain themselves, while at the same time working towards joint goals with our partners.
• As individuals, we should be able to handle our own problems, rather than relying on our spouse all the time.
• When we argue as a couple, we should remember that we are working towards the same goals.
• Don't keep digging up the past in arguments! Always focus on the present.
• When you have a problem, take turns talking and listening. Don't try to fix the problem then and there, but try to listen and understand each other properly.
• Be authentic about who you truly are. There's no point trying to be someone you're not. If people don't know the real you, they can't love the real you!
  

Divorce & Remarriage - God's Design? (part 3)

Remarriage
On the issue of remarriage, the Bible is clear on the condition in which one could remarry. 1 Corinthians 7:39 and Romans 7:2 said that we are free to marry another if our spouse dies. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 couples who separated are instructed not to remarry. In Romans 7:3, Matthew 5:32, and again in Matthew 19:9, Mark 10:11 and Luke 16:18, those who separate from their spouse and marry another person while their spouse is still alive are said to commit adultery. God’s word is loud and clear on this issue, and yet the remarriage rate among Christians in the US according to statistics is a staggering 82% and higher than the 66% among non-Christians. I was told that in Australia, 60% of Christians who divorced remarry.

“God in his forgiveness and love won’t continue to punish a divorcee.”, “God wants us to be happy”, “It’s not for us to judge them but to love and have compassion on them.” or “The spiritual bond of a husband and wife is broken once they’re divorced.” are all common reasons for supporting remarriage. It’s true that God’s nature means that we’re forgiven the guilt of being divorced, but it doesn’t say we’re exempt from the consequences (or cost if you like) for taking that action. God has forgiven our sins and therefore we aren’t punished for that, but we’re bound by the consequences which come with that, and in this case it’s the prohibition of remarriage unless the spouse dies, not to mention other consequences of family, personal and financial issues that may follow.

Of course, I myself had difficulty with what the Bible says at first. Because like some put it, it seems so cruel. But as I thought more about the issue, I began to understand the reasons behind the Bible’s strict stance. If remarriage is an option,

• It encourages non-commitment and reliance on self to solve our immediate problems
• It doesn’t encourage humility, often required in a sticky situation to seek God and think of others better than ourselves
• It forever takes away the opportunity for reconciliation and God’s purpose for marriage.

As for the spiritual bond being broken, I found no mention in the Bible about this. When God established His covenant with the Israelites, it was a lasting promise. Numerous times, the Israelites abandoned God and worshipped other gods and were referred to as adulterers. I wonder if it isn’t similar that, when we place our adoration, love, devotion and commitment on someone else (remarry), rather than the one we originally married, we commit adultery. But we find nowhere in the Bible that indicates the Israelites' rebellion has in anyway broken the covenant or their spiritual bond with God. In the same way, a marriage covenant is an everlasting covenant for the couple who God put together. That one of them decided to end or shift their attention away from the relationship doesn’t make it invalid. Our human law says it’s finished, but in God’s law and design, it doesn’t end until one of them dies.

Divorce & Remarriage - God's Design? (part 2)

Divorce
On the subject of divorce, most people would have heard of Malachi 2:14-16 where God says He hates divorce. In this passage, He also asked his people not to break faith with their spouse because He made them one in flesh and spirit. In 1 Corinthians 7:27, 7:10, married couples are instructed not to separate from each other, it asks that those who are married not to get a divorce. Matthew 19:6 shows that divorce is against God’s will. Jesus said clearly in Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9 that adultery is the only acceptable ground for divorce. So not getting along, incompatibility or other problems shouldn’t be valid reasons for a divorce.

Many think abuse is a valid reason for divorce. I personally know someone who was in such a situation and was encouraged and supported to go through the divorce process by her church friends. This seems to be a difficult situation, and many Christian counselors would have said that under that situation, it’s ok. I found this issue difficult before, but as I looked into the scriptures, I saw many were persecuted. Ok, you could argue that they’re persecuted for their belief and not applicable in this case. But what about the slaves? Some of them suffered mistreatment from their masters. But they were asked to submit to their masters whether they are good or harsh (1 Peter 2:18). 1 Corinthians 7:28 warns us that those who marry will face many troubles in this life. Jesus also said that there will be troubles and persecution in our lives, but He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He also says we’re to rely on His strength and wisdom and not ours. In James 1:2-4, it says that we will face troubles of many kinds, but to treat those as opportunities for growth and tests that mould our character.

It’s mind boggling to learn that the divorce rate among Christians is higher than non-Christians. According to statistics, in the US, divorce rate within the church is 60% versus 50% among non-Christians. In Australia, 1 in 3 first marriages end in divorce and 1 in 2 second marriages end in divorce. If the only allowance in the Bible for divorce is marital unfaithfulness, and if the high level of divorce we see in our churches today is a result of that, we are in serious trouble. If the high divorce rate isn’t because of that, is it then because of our ignorance, disobedience to God’s commands or something else? Either way, as Christians, we have reasons to be greatly concerned. If we’re no different and in this case worst than the world that we’re trying to witness, you’ve got to ask why even bother to be a Christian, since our witness is powerless and only serve to turn people away from Christ.

Marriage isn’t unlike adopting children into our family. But when things don’t work out as well as we hoped, do we abandon our adopted kids? Divorce is like abandoning our family because we don’t get along with our brothers and sisters or have difficulties with our parents. Marriage relationships are often said to be a mirror of God’s relationship with the church. Is the church today then being pure and holy and acceptable to her bridegroom?

No intelligence allowed!

A new documentary is coming out questioning the dogmatism of Evolution in academia. Scientists and researchers who believe in Creation or Intelligent Design are being ostracised or ridiculed. Some were refused having their papers or works published, or even denied tenure.

'Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed' by Ben Stein questions not whether Evolution is correct on the question of Origins, but how Evolutionists obstruct free inquiry in this area, not allowing people to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

It is encouraging to see this type of documentary coming out. At least the wider public will be made aware of how Evolution is believed to have unquestionable authority.

Be sure to see it, and start healthy conversations with your friends!

The Church of Oprah

Millions of people around the world religiously tune in to her show everyday. If she recommends a book in her book club, it becomes an instant best-seller. And if she features a product on her show it becomes everybody's favourite. There is no doubt that Oprah has the power to influence. But what kind of influence is it?

On the surface, it seems quite harmless. She advocates love, acceptance, tolerance and second chances. She is all for the poor and the less fortunate of the world. She's keen to help people put their lives back together, and to be the best they can be. Sounds like a Christian message of love, hope and redemption, right? Well, not really. Her very palatable message is fooling people, posing as a substitute for true redemption, found only in Jesus Christ.

Oprah's gosel is a feelgood message about what humans can achieve on their own, through empowerment and realization of their own abilities. It is basically the New Age message of a divine self, or the god within. According to this view, human potential is unlimited! We really can create a utopia for ourselves, living together in peace and harmony. Why? There's no such thing as sin! No need for repentance, no need for Jesus.

It's no wonder her show is so popular. It feeds our pride and confidence in ourselves, ignoring our true need to rely on God. And it fits right into the popular views of our culture, which says that tolerance is the highest of virtue, and the only truth is that there are many truths (relativism).

So what should we do as Christians? Don't buy into it! Be alert and aware. Pray for discernment. Understand the times we live in, and equip our minds. Engage people in conversation, guiding them gently to the truth. Stand strong in the true message of Christianity, which is that salvation comes in the name of Jesus only!

Divorce & Remarriage - God's Design? (part 1)

This subject has been on my mind a lot lately. We are all surrounded by people who are in either of the situations or affected by it. And it doesn’t seem to be slowing at all. If any, it’s on the rise. What’s scary is that the church isn’t immune from society’s ills. We too, the bride of Christ, are taking the stand of our world rather than God’s it seems at times.

As I ponder upon the reasons for the state of our churches today, the very fact of Christians getting divorced is very evident. Even Easterfest this year has an extra ticket type, which is for single parent family. I’ve witnessed Christians divorced and remarried and wondered how that impacts their walk with Christ. But recently, my thoughts have been on the role of the church on this issue.

It’s not hard to see many churches today, while not encouraging divorce, are accepting it and not discouraging remarriages that follow. I seriously thought about this a few years back when this subject was brought up in the BSF (Bible Study Fellowship, an intensive bible study group) class that I was attending. They uphold the teaching from the Bible and believed divorce is wrong and remarriage isn’t acceptable. There were group members at the time presenting a counter viewpoint supporting remarriage. I searched through the scriptures and came to the conclusion that indeed divorce and remarriage are not in God’s design and should be avoided.

Marriage
In Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6, Mark 10:9 and Romans 7:2, it clearly tells us that God created marriage, that marriage is a life long union/commitment and that what God puts together no man or woman is to separate or break that bond. In other words, when a man and woman come together in marriage, they promise to be together for a lifetime. It is a contract that they agree before God and friends and family. The contract doesn’t have conditional clauses saying if you feel like you can’t handle the job anymore, or you realized that you aren’t the right person for the job, or you’re fed up by it that you can terminate this contract anytime. In fact, there’s a conditional clause saying if one of the parties chose to dishonour the agreement by abandoning it, s/he will be denied of further privileges to be involved in a contract of the same nature.

Keys to Fulfilling Relationships

We were made to have relationship with God and with one another. Before the fall, we didn't have any relationship problems, either with God or with each other. How things have changed since then!

It doesn't take much to see the effect of the Fall on human relationships. We have all experienced the hurt, the brokenness and the frustration. Thankfully, God didn't just leave us to struggle without help. He has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit to guide us into fulfilling relationships while we are living in this fallen existence.

So what are the keys to those fulfilling relationships? Come to our next event for some insightful answers, drawn from a biblical perspective! The talk will mainly focus on the relationship between a man and a woman, the first human relationship God created. However, the principles will be useful and applicable to other relationships as well.

What: Ignite relationship talk, "Keys to Fulfilling Relationships"
When: Sunday 20/4 after the service
Where: The church house
How: Lunch and talk, fellowship and discussion
Cost: $7 for lunch (including drinks and dessert)

Mark your calendar, and we hope to see you there!

Matt Maher's Free MP3

For this week only, you can listen to the whole album of Matt Maher's new CD "Empty and Beautiful" free on Worship Together's new song jukebox at www.worshiptogether.com/
multimedia/index.aspx.

The Sound of Music

Someone asked about Easterfest last night, and we got talking about the sound level of music. Christian music in live performances is no different to any other concerts. They are loud and sometimes makes me wonder if my ears got damaged. I remembered going to a Rebecca St James concert and the opening gig performed from another band was so loud that it literally pounded my chest with every beat. It made me feel sick.

I also remembered the much loved band Petra at AGMF 3 years ago. It was so loud that you couldn't hear the words, but only high pitch sounds screeching in your ears. It was obviously unbearable for some who left after a while. I just had to fend off the sound with my hands on my ears.

One thing I don't understand is why music has to be loud to be enjoyable. It doesn't make sense at all. Music when too loud becomes just noise. It becomes irritable rather than enjoyable. The thing that got me is, it's not even necessary to have it loud. For what? Don't think I've got a satisfactory answer from anyone yet other than the difference in generational preference. It's not like we can't hear it. But what really got me is churches are following the lead of the youth culture and our music in churches is getting louder and louder. It's not like God can't hear us, so what is the reason behind the need for high volume? I heard of churches handing out ear plugs for those who desire, doesn't that sound terrible?

And if we're talking about worshipping God that requires focus and a quiet heart, isn't loud music distractive and counter productive? It's a concern to me not purely because of the sound level, but the indication of churches following world's practices without thinking it through. Rather than being an influence to the world, the church today like the Truth project says, is conforming to the world. What hope have we then to be salt and light of the world if we're losing our saltiness?

Easterfest Weekend

It was a great weekend in Toowoomba. The weather was nice, hardly a drop of rain. Although it was a bit cold at night. But with the presence of the world famous bands, nobody seemed to care too much.

Among the many musicians and bands there, the most prominent would have to be those at the Main Stage. The Lads from New Zealand definitely has a big following and after a 3-year absence at the festival, people just don't want to let them go. But none beat the Newsboys. The venue was jam packed. It was quite an experience being in the midst. People loved the music, but more so find a connection with them when they presented a short history of the band. Some of us don't know that Newsboys is actually a Queensland band and started up from Toowoomba. It was a great night.



Another biggie was Jars of Clay who sounded like they haven't been to Australia before, at least Easterfest. Their music was different but equally good. And the mix and sounds were excellent. There were couple songs that really spoke to the heart. The fans were elated when they stayed not only for a song at the encore, but in their graciousness sang a few more songs because as they said, they rarely came over.

Of course, there were those who are the Easterfest favourites, and who didn't want to see the Lads, Alabaster Box and Compliments of Gus? Compassion was bigger than ever this year, and there were over 300 kids got sponsored compared to the 70 last year!

What was really awesome was the combined church service Sunday evening with a whole orchestra and ended with a closing song of How Great Thou Art. There were thousands of people there all singing together. Could you imagine how it's like? It gave us a taste of how heaven will be like with the saints and the heavenly hosts all praising God! I wonder how far it reached and if people at their homes would feel the awe of God through that.

The organiser had done a great job this year. There were a variety of activities including an Iona Passion Play, political forums, womens and guys only forums, focus on the family, free rides, yummy food and all that we didn't get a chance to see it all!

Legalising Drugs

A few days ago on the news, a minister was calling for the legalisation of drugs so that few will die of overdose and there could be more control. It was a Wayside Chapel minister and I gathered from the name that it must be a place helping drug addicts or people off the rail. So I had a search and confirmed my hunch about Wayside Chapel.

They are famous for running the first injection/needle exchange centre in Kings Cross, Sydney a few years ago when it wasn't legal to do so. There is no doubt they've done a lot for the down and out in society and those who are struggling with addiction of any kind. Very well you say on compassionate ground. But no amount of legalising can make the problem go away. What is harmful is still harmful, what is wrong is still wrong. By making it lawful doesn't mean that it won't hurt. On the contrary, it gives the opposite signal because it's legal and easily accessible. Just look around the world and we'll see no amount of legalising brothels, drugs, or same sex marriage actually improve the situation.

The laws are there for a reason. The Bible says that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And that the law is to help us become conscious of sin, and God's grace. (Romans 3:20b, 7:7, 21) Accepting and loving a person is different from accepting and allowing the person to continue to do what is not right and harmful (Romans 6:12-13).

In their recent newsletter, the Pastor said

“I'm sick of having my heart broken when I learn that some young person has made a brave attempt at life, made real progress in a rehab programme only to fail in the first few weeks after discharge. At least half of the people who have taken this brave journey, fail in the first couple of weeks. Imagine if we could cut that failure rate in half? I reckon we could do it. We have the passion and the skill and one day, we'll have the resources to do it.”

This is all the more evidence that we're battled against the spiritual forces rather than the physical of this world. We could try whatever human methods and would succeed to a certain extent. But it won't last. Because no matter how hard we try, it only addresses the superficial level that relies on self, rather than the transforming power of God that cleanses and reaches to the core of our being (Romans 7:22-25).

Young but not weak

How great it was to catch up with Beka and listen to her real life experiences in Central Asia in our small group this week. We were all curious about the place, but more particularly the life of a believer in such a hostile environment. We were particularly interested in the role of women in that society and how a female believer survived under the watchful eyes of men.

But what made the most impact on us is the strength of Beka's faith, her undying devotion and trust in God, her obedience to God's calling and her sacrificial service to God. When one has such focus on God, our actions, plans speech and thoughts become a reflection of God himself. Everything else in this world becomes irrelevant. All that matters is fulfilling God's mission for us.

It humbles, encourages and challenges me at the same time. Humbled to see the power of God at work in someone younger than I am. Encouraged to know young people with such passion and earnestness for God. Challenged to have the same level of devotion and obedience in doing whatever and wherever God called me to.

Easterfest

Only 3 weeks to go!

This year's big acts include Newsboys, Jars of clay and Alabaster Box. There's also forums, combined church services, night concerts, street festival and more during the weekend.  Check out the Easterfest website for more details.

Where: Queens Park, Toowoomba
When: Friday 21/3 - Sunday 23/3
Cost: 3-day pass with camping $120, 3-day pass only $90, 1-day pass $45

There's a 10% discount for groups of 10 or more.  This only applies to 3-day pass though.  If you're going for 3 days and don't mind a bit of discount, let us know and we can get tickets together as a group.  

If you're going for 3 days and not camping but need accommodation, let us know too.  But you've to be quick, 'cause we're making bookings end of this week and you need to tell us by this Friday for us to include you.

Great Night Together

It was a pleasant evening outside on Wednesday night. There were people from all the small groups and we all had a great time of fellowship and meeting new people.

There were some uninvited guests - the mosquitoes, but it didn't spoil our night with plenty of laughter and opportunities to get to know one another.

It's such times as this that gives us the joy and a taste of what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scientology

People in my small group were interested in knowing more about Scientology after seeing it on the media a bit lately. I was doing a bit of research on it, and while it's still fresh in my head, I decided that I should share it with others at work. So I went around and told people that I'm a pre-clear and I need to get rid of my engrams so I can be clear and become an OT. People just looked at me frowning, looking bewildered and asked me what I was talking about. It was actually pretty funny.

After learning more about Scientology (you can view the BBC video at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm) and heard what the founder Rob Hubbard said, it really was unbelievable how anyone could have believed such crazy things. It sounds like something you see in movies like Matrix, where people use a machine to detect and erase images/pictures (engrams) that part of your mind (the reactive mind) scanned in so you become clear of bad and undesirable things. And allow the spirit (thetan) to reach the state (operating thetan) where you can control the physical universe (matter, energy, space and time) and separate from your body.

I guess all these shouldn't come as a surprise if you know that Hubbard was originally a popular science fiction writer. He was quoted as once saying,”Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.” The following year, he published “Dianetics: A Modern Science of Mental Health” that became the basis for Scientology's beliefs and practice.

Scientology came about as Hubbard discovered the common denominator of man is survival and the discovery that man's primary purpose is to survive. Therefore, the scientific method of helping people to increase their IQ (which he talks about a lot in his video interview) and more able to fix their own problems thus leading happier lives. He also claimed the discovery of man being spirit that established Scientology as a religion. Unfortunately, Scientology as Hubbard put it, is for the capable and not for failures.

I wonder why so many people were attracted to Scientology, and came to the conclusion that it fits into man's fallen nature of self focus and self help with the promise of immortality.
• It places 'man' as the object of focus.
• It elevates man as having unlimited potential and abilities.
• It gives you confidence and makes you feel good to be recognised as intelligent.
• It doesn't condemn sins. They are simply undesirable behaviours and emotions.
• People aren't responsible for their actions. They are but results of the reactive mind that caused them to go insane.
• Salvation is effortless. It doesn't require sacrificing of oneself, but only through auditing therapy to become a better person.

All these are so completely opposite to Christianity, and so not make sense that you can't help but question the intelligence of those who believe. Oops I'm risking being an SP (suspicious person)! ;-)

Ignite board

The Ignite notice board beside the church kitchen disappeared last Sunday morning, after a few years' residency there. After some asking around on Monday, it was revealed that someone saw it in the food bin Sunday night and thought it strange. Unfortunately by then, it was too late for it to be rescued as it was already emptied out that morning. Not sure who or for what reasons the notice board was trashed. We'd very much like to find out, so if you saw or heard anything about it, please let us know.

Young Adult Small Groups Get-together

Things are starting to get busy again and it's only February! Home groups, courses and other church programs are all re-starting. Let's get together for a time of food, fun and fellowship to kick off the year refreshed and encouraged.

Young adults small groups get-together
Where: 1 Lacerta Ave, Robina
When: Wednesday 20/2, 6:30pm
What: Pizza and fun time together (please come prepared to contribute to pizza cost)

Not yet in a small group? Come along anyway, so you can meet us all and join a group!

Let's brainstorm!

The Ignite ministry is having a meeting to plan for the year 2008. We need fresh ideas for activities, events, talks and any other suggestions to make this a year of fellowship, fun and spiritual growth.

So if you want to be involved with the planning, please come along this Sunday (20/01/08). We are meeting after the service (11:30am) in the church house.

See you there! Looking forward to the fellowship and serving together in 2008.

Daily devotionals

At the start of a new year, you may be looking for resources for daily devotions. Apart from the popular ones that you can get from Christian bookstores, you may also want to check out some online resources below. Some of these are online versions of what's already in print.

Crosswalk has quite a good selection of devotionals that you can choose based on author, type and area. It includes classics like Streams in the Desert and Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening as well as devotions suitable for couples and women.

These are some good ones not on the Crosswalk list.
Daily Bread by Scripture Union
Our Daily Bread by RBC Ministries
Upper Room by Upper Room Ministries
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chamber

If you haven't yet read through the whole bible, you can follow this guide to read the bible in a year in the approach that you prefer: chronological, historical, old and new testament together, beginning to end or blended.

The Global Warming Madness

It seems there is no issue hotter than global warming at the moment. No matter where we turn, the message is loud and clear: we have made a mess of this planet and we are doomed, unless we do something about it! So these days, it's all about reducing carbon emissions and energy-saving. It is true that we should look after the earth, since it is our home. Besides, it is God's (since He made it) and we should be good stewards of it!

But how are we supposed to do that effectively? Is it enough to use energy-saving light bulbs and appliances, plant more trees, drive a Toyota Prius and plug into green energy?

Well, it's not, according to some 'people in the know'. What they suggest is that you should reduce the amount of children you plan to have to just one! Or have none at all, since children are evil carbon emitters. If you choose to have lots of kids anyway, you should pay a tax per child, to cover the cost of offsetting their carbon emissions. Better yet, maybe we should kill off a large chunk of the world's human population, so the planet can once again return to a healthy, green state.

These are no jokes! They are some people's serious suggestions, of how we can save this planet from its biggest threat... us! According to this twisted worldview, it would be just fine if we all died out, leaving the animals to enjoy this planet without us.

Read more about this madness in these two great articles:

Human-Hating Humanitarians
The Global Warming Suicide Cult

Pilot Radio Show

Worship Together has launched a new radio show online. This week's show features the No.1 song on the chart from a new band as well as other popular songs.

What's more interesting is to learn about the stories and songs that started the era of Modern Christian worship.