~PEACE~

~PEACE~

My Question: How can I make peace with the people around me, knowing that it is either them or myself, that people find it hard to live with and get along?

God’s Answer: Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11)… Always keep yourself united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace (Ephesians 4:3)… Never pay back evil for evil to anyone… Do your part to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:17-18)

When I spent some moment to reflect and did some quick flashback on what had been happening around me over the past few days (and hours) it was worth the time spent as I realized that I have not been so merciful with some of the younger members in the church, partly because I’m genetically fierce and I stressed very much on the church discipline.

‎Among the things that we have missed so far is the openness to correction from the minister of God's word and some are being too stubborn and emotionally defensive. How can we BERUBAH (kitai mesti) if we refused to listen? God speaks through man too, bear that in mind. God want to use others to correct us, and as iron sharpens iron, we may grow into maturity and directed into a proper Christian ethics.

Too often we react to differences of opinion with the swords we know as our tongues. Even if we don’t see that in our very own eyes, we can still those mentioned skirmishes in Facebook, Twitter or other cyber means of communication. We forget that these things are open to public, hence other people can read whatever we have argued and so on. That’s not a good thing I might say.

Angry debates, insults, accusations, verbal manipulation and character assassination are some of the ways we try to make ourselves and our agenda the “winner”. But the victory isn’t WORTH it, dude. Too many people are wounded, too many relationships are hurt. Constructive disagreements are essential to deep relationships, but conflict that divides the church breaks God’s heart.

This misdirects energy that should be spent on DISCIPLESHIP, EVANGELISM, WORSHIP and MISSIONS. It also sabotages our witness to the world (John 17:20-23). Friends, we need to express our opinions in a way that honors and serves those who differs from you (Proverbs 12:18).

Finally, I’ll leave all of you with this short sentence from Psalm 34:14:

“WORK HARD AT LIVING IN PEACE WITH OTHERS”

Kunsi Penusah Nuan enggau Urang Bukai.

Dalam pengidup kita besari2, kitai enda ulih lari ari ‘penusah’. Nama reti ‘penusah’, penusah tu reti iya barang utai ti ngachau pengidup kitai lalu ngenusah ke diri sereta ngeruga runding kitai. Taja amat penusah ti nuntung kitai nya mar amat ka di iyar, tang kitai tau ngelempung ke iya, ngambika enda entu balat pedis diasai. Bakani kitai deka ngelempung ke penusah? Aram kitai meda ari Bup Kudus, randau antara Jetro enggau Moses:

Pemansut 18:18, 21-23 “Enda ulih nuan ngereja pengawa kadiri baka nya, lalu baka nya mega urang mayoh enda ulih nganti nuan…pilih urang ti patut dalam ati nuan lalu tudoh ke sida nyadi tuai orang mayoh: megai tuboh saribu, saratus, lima puloh enggau megai sapuloh iko. Sida enda tau enda orang ti nangi ke Allah Taala, urang ti tau dikarap lalu enda ulih suap. Asoh sida mangku pengawa tetap nyadi pengulu…enti nuan nitih ke ator Allah Taala, nuan tentu enda tebunsa….”

Enti kitai berasai ka diri bisi dituntung penusah, kitai mesti ngiga jalai kena ngelempung ke penusah nya. Reti nya kitai bekunsi penusah kitai enggau urang ti ulih dikarap ke kitai. Tang dulu ari nya kitai besampi minta penemu ari Tuhan. Bisi jaku ribai tu munyi tu, ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Kitai enda nemu pemerat tauka pengelempung penusah ti nuntung kitai seagi-agi kitai enda bekunsi lalu nanya penemu urang bukai. Kitai anang malu minta saup, enda ngira kitai nya urang ti besai pangkat tauka nembiak sekula. Kabuah nya mega, Jetro ngajar Moses pasal ‘bebagi ke pengawa’ ngambika enda tekelalu ngenusah ke Moses. Tang lebih ari nya, kitai minta saup ari Allah Taala.

1. Sida ti gawa, tentunya kita bisi penusah ba tempat kerja tauka penusah enggau diri sebilik.

2. Sida ti besekula, tentunya kita bisi penusah ba kaul enggau kaban sekula tauka ba senentang utai ti dipelajar kita.

Kena nutup ke jaku ajar tu, aram kitai meda ba Bup Pengajar 4:9-10, 12.

Orang dua iko badas agi ari siko, laban pengawa saduai tau mujur agi. Enti siko sida terap siko ulih ngangkat ka iya. Tang enti orang siko kediri lalu terap, nya sigi tusah bendar, laban nadai orang ti ulih ngangkat ke iya…tali sabut ti digaga begembar tiga sigi mar ka diputus.

“Datai ngagai aku, semua kita ti lelak

ngema utai berat, lalu aku deka ngasoh kita lantang.”

(Matthew 11:28)

Is My Church Growing? I Think So!

Is my church growing? Physically, it is self-evident. But bear in mind that church is also the place for corporate spiritual growth. Some clear evident for spiritual growths are:

1) the congregation thirst for the Word of God;

2) the awareness of the importance of personal prayer, instead of depending on the clergies. The clergies are there to pastor and guide. A shepherd never feed his sheep with a spoon full of grass; instead he LEAD them to a field and monitor.

There are many more signs of church growth, but these two are in need of serious attention at the moment as I personally felt that ‘we have not yet switched on the right switch to intimacy with God’.

Let’s go to basic: We laughed at the Sunday School children, assuming that they looked FUNNY and cute when they sing and pray but little do we realize that we are no better than them; we are not even close to be more ‘matured’ than the kids if we don’t grow spiritually. Let’s be frank; we feel as if we ‘know God more than the kids just because we are OLDER.’ We laughed when the kids said ‘dairy’ instead of ‘daily bread’ in the Lord’s Prayer. But do we pray like the kids, who of no great knowledge of the world around them, pray for ‘just enough for the day’?

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14)

Do we feel the growth in our church? The disciples rebuked those who brought the children to Jesus (verse 13) for they thought that it is ‘unnecessary’ and that Jesus might be disturbed. But hey, Jesus WANTED the kids to be brought to him and said ‘the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ The children, obviously not fully-grown adults, were the ones that God wants to have in His kingdom. They are in the process of GROWING. Think about that. I’ll leave that all for you to ponder. I have to go out for supper. Catch up with you guys later….!

Lastly, don’t stop growing even when you get out of shape! (“,)…

Character: The Inner Struggle That Shows the Outer Victory.

Shalom!

It's almost the end of the month of August now, which means I've been serving here in Sri Aman for a complete 9 months. That also means I have came across hundreds of different people's characters, so much so as they had came across mine. Character is that one thing that defines who we are, apparently from the outer appearance, and that is also a disadvantage because it is hard to evaluate our own character; unless of course we ask directly to the people closest to us. But then, that also is not a precise evaluation. In order to know our own character, we need to ask the one who created us and formed us in our mother's womb- God the creator.

A good question arose in my mind: Why does character matter…..???

Before we sort out the probable answers, let us look at what God wants to say about ‘character’:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

(Proverbs 3:1-4)

Next, we look at what our good friend Paul preached to the believers in Galatia:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

We can easily fool people for a while by our words and actions, but who we are on the inside will ultimately show itself on the outside. Our words and actions will reflect our hearts.

Character is so important because it is a direct reflection of our hearts. For example, committing to worship shows that God comes first in our hearts. Committing ourselves to kindness shows a commitment to serve others. What is our hearts committed to? If we are not sure about it, then others probably aren’t either.

Lastly, ‘even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right’ (Proverbs 20:11)…. ‘Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind’ (Psalm 26:2)

CHARACTER builds COURAGE and gives the COMMITMENT to CHANGE..!

-Pastor Rock Rod-

Church: Our Involvements.

“Lord, why is it important for me to be involved in the church”?

‘Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.’ (Ephesians 2:19-21).

There are many things that can be said from the portion of scripture above, among the many, is that we are ONE in Christ. The picture that can be projected from it may be the picture of a big building, or a big church; where the walls and the foundation are made up of different bricks and stones. We are, though in times we forget, those bricks and stones, put together to make up a strong and unshakable building during the hurricanes of world’s trials and temptations. And yet, because of the divine ‘chief cornerstone’, Christ himself, we were given God’s warranty that lasts eternally. We are that ‘building’ and subsequently, the ecclesia.

Again and again, we are being reminded that ‘church’ is NOT merely a ‘building’. It is not; in fact there is a saying ‘the Church is the only thing left when the building collapsed’. Where there is the assembly of Christ’s followers, be it in an open space or a field grouped together to celebrate God’s glory in worship, it is then a Church. Jesus said ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” That is why fellowships are needed apart from the Sunday services.

Let us look at Romans 12:4-6

‘Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS! God has given us different gifts! Why? So that the Church will be more exciting! But then, not many churches have urged their members to exercise their gifts and that is sad. Some are kept in the dark corners for no apparent reason. If you know any of them in your church, invite them to serve. God wants to use them for His glory.

Lastly, it is through Jesus that we are at home with God. When everyone in the congregation uses their gifts to serve, the church becomes a POWERFUL FORCE FOR GOOD, A STRONG WITNESS FOR JESUS, AND A MIGHTY ARMY TO COMBAT SATAN’S ATTACK AGAINST GOD’S PEOPLE in your community.

Amen.

my chains are gone (acoustic by Rod)

Shalom!

this is my simple rendition of Chris Tomlin's 'My Chains Are Gone'...let's sing our hearts out...

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Chorus:
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Chorus(x2)

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God, Who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine

wherever u will go (acoustic by Rod)

So lately, been wondering

Who will be there to take my place

When I'm gone you'll need love

To light the shadows on your face

If a greater wave shall fall

And fall upon us all

Then between the sand and stone

Could you make it on your own?

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go

And maybe, I'll find out

A way to make it back someday

To watch you, to guide you

Through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall

And fall upon us all

Well then I hope there's someone out there

Who can bring me back to you

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go

Run away with my heart

Run away with my hope

Run away with my love

I know now, just quite how

My life and love might still go on

In your heart, in your mind

I'll stay with you for all of time

If I could, then I would

I'll go wherever you will go

Way, way up high or down low

I'll go wherever you will go

If I could turn back time

I'll go wherever you will go

If I could make you mine

I'll go wherever you will go

I'll go wherever you will go

Udah nya deh...??? (Luke 12:13-21)

Siko lelaki (Kenneth) tama ke dalam kedai komputer lalu berandau enggau indu tuai ti bempu kedai komputer nya lalu ko Kenneth bejaku:

Kenneth: Aunty, amat besai endar kedai nuan tu. Ku ka belajar chara bedagang ari nuan.

Aunty: Udah nya?

Kenneth: Udah nya aku ka muka kedai komputer aku empu.

Aunty: Udah nya?

Kenneth: Udah nya aku ka ngasuh kedai aku nya ila jauh besai agi ari kedai nuan.

Aunty: Udah nya?

Kenneth: Udah nya aku lalu bepemisi, mayuh duit, lalu beridup enggau duit aku nya nyentuk ka aku tuai.

Aunty: Udah nya deh…?

Kenneth: …..udah nya aku……entah???

******************************************************************************

Bisi ‘dunia’ ti jauh manah agi ti udah disemaya Allah Taala, ti manah agi ari dunia alai kitai diau ke saritu. Udah kitai nadai agi ba ditu, kitai deka mansang kin. Udah nya? Udah nya kitai diau belama-lama iya enggau Jesus. Udah nya? Nadai agi utai bukai kelimpah ari pengidup ti meruan, muji Allah Taala belama-lama. Nya dikangau kitai ‘eternity’. Belama-lama iya.

Dalam injil ke pagi tu, Jesus ngena jaku sempama pasal siko lelaki ti kaya ti pandak runding. Ukai kategal iya ti kaya lalu iya salah, tang laban runding iya nya enda ngena ba mata Tuhan. Tuhan endang sigi deka kitai semua mujur dalam pengawa kitai sereta bulih pemisi (nya kabuah iya merekat tiap-tiap iko kitai!).

Jaku sempama Jesus nya tadi muka mata enggau runding kitai ngagai dunia ti ka datai, udah timpoh kitai ba dunia tu tembu. Jesus ngasoh kitai besedia, anang tekelalu rindang/lika enggau utai ti enda meruan.

Urang bansa Rom bisi jaku dalam ti munyi tu: ‘Pengaya tu sebaka enggau ai tasik ti masin; makin mayuh di irup nuan, makin majak nuan aus.’

Bakani kitai ngena semua pemisi sereta pengidup kitai ke saritu? Pulai ka dunia, tauka nya pulai ka perintah Allah Taala ti meruan belama-lama iya? Tau kitai ngumpul pengeraja, sigi utai ti manah, tang udah nya deh?

Penatai Raja ti Nepan Keledai(Matthew 21:1-11)

Sebaka enggau jaku ajar dlm Pew Bulletin minggu nyin kemari, jaku ajar aku besangkut-paut enggau Palm Sunday ti diintu kitai baka ke saritu lalu aku deka nerang ka reti iya dalam pengidup kitai siko-siko.

Dalam Matthew 21:1-11, kitai meda Jesus tama ke dalam menua Jerusalem nepan keledai. 520 tahun sebedau Jesus ada, pengawa Jesus ti nepan keledai nya endang sigi udah dipadah ke nabi Sekariah dlm bup iya (Sekariah 9:9-10) ti madah ke siko ‘Rajah deka datai mansang ngagai Jerusalem, ngemaroh ka diri nepan keledai’. Nya kabuah bila utai nya nyata nyadi ba mua mata urang Israel, sida balat begau lalu teringat ke bup nabi Sekariah sereta arap ke siko ‘pengelepas’ ti udah disemaya ke Allah Taala ngelepas ke menoa sida ari dipegai perintah Rome. Penatai Jesus udah ngamat ke jaku nabi Sekariah (Sekariah 9:9-10 & Matthew 21:4-5)

Bisi dua bagi kumpulan mensia kemaia nya, ti bebagi penemu:-

a.) Sida ti nemu pasal bup Sekariah ti nusi pasal penatai Jesus ti nepan keledai; lalu kedua

b.) Sida ti nemu Jesus deka datai lalu ngarap ke Iya nepan kuda perang. Tentu ati sida nya tadi teperasa lalu nadai agi pengadang ati lebuh sida meda pengelepas ti dikarap ke sida nya semina nepan keledai lalu nadai mai beribu-ribu soldadu tang dua belas iko pengikut aja.

Penatai Jesus endang sigi dianti-anti bala mayuh, tang enda semua urang nya bisi runding sereta pengadang ati ti sama (different level of expectation). Sekeda nya puas hati laban amat munyi ko nabi Sekariah, rajah udah datai nepan keledai, tang sekeda urang enda ulih nerima ‘cara rajah sida datai’ lalu berunding “tu ukai pengelepas ti disemaia Tuhan.” Nya meh cara Jesus tama ngagai menua Jerusalem; enggau pemadu pemaroh ati tang cara pemadu nyelai.

Menyadi dalam Kristus, Jesus ti pengelepas kitai mensia sentiasa bisi cara iya empu ti nyelai alai iya tama ke dalam pengidup kitai. Siti ari tanda kitai udah nerima Jesus tama ke dalam pengidup kitai iya nya kitai ‘lempong jari dalam pengawa gerija sereta gerah jari meri ngagai gerija’. Jesus ti pengelepas kitai semampai bisi cara ti nyelai kena ngenatai ke pengingat (memorable) ngambika tiap iko kitai ti betemu enggau Iya dalam pengawa kitai besari-sari berasai semak enggau iya. Dalam injil nya tadi, amat urang ba kota Jerusalem udah meda Jesus enggau semak enggau mata sida empu tang enda semua ngaku Jesus tu meh Pengelepas ti udah disemaia ke Allah Taala.

Tuhan Jesus ti pengelepas aku, Nuan endang manah,

Tama ngagai Jerusalem, enda Nuan nepan kuda ti besai tang siko keledai;

Enti ukai kategal Nuan, aku agi mensia ti bedosa ti kamah,

Tama meh dalam pengidup aku, Nuan ti pemadu mulia Nuan ti pemadu besai.

What can I give to the church? (nama ti ulih diberi ku ke Gerija?)

Kitai tau mereti leka jaku ‘gerija’ tu enggau dua cara: siti nya rumah sembiang (building, bangunan, rumah) lalu KEDUA, t nyadi ke focus kitai ba post tu, aku mai kitai semua sama-sama ngingat Kediri empu iya nya ‘kitai tu meh GERIJA/ Eklesia Tuhan’.

Dlm jaku greek, gerija tu disebut kitai ἐκκλησία (ecclesia) ti mai reti ‘assembly’- perhimpunan, segempuru mensia ti begumpul nyembah Tuhan, lalu ukai madah pasal rumah gerija. Leboh St. Paul nulis surat ngagai ‘gerija’ ba Rome, tauka Korinth, iya enda nulis ngagai gerija tang iya nulis ngagai orang Kristian ba menua Rome enggau Korint. Leboh Saul (sebedau iya dikangau St. Paul) ngerusak gerija Tuhan, iya ti kebendar iya ngiga sereta nangkap orang Kristian, tang jaku dikena iya ‘ngerusak eklesia’ (Acts 8:1-3). Nama kabuah jaku tu munyi tu? Laban mensia ti arap nya meh ti nyadi gerija Tuhan tauka eklesia.

“Nyadi Saul rindu meda iya (Stephen) kena bunoh. Kenyau ari sahari nya, eklesia di Jersusalem lalu balat bendar kena perinsa. Samoa sida ti arap, kelimpah ari orang rasul, nyau pambar pendiau di serata menoa Judah enggau Samaria. Sekeda sida ti nangi ngubor ke Stephen, lalu nyabak ke iya enggau nyawa ti inggar. Tang Saul nguji deka ngerusak eklesia; bejalai ari rumah sabuah ngagai rumah sabuah, narit sida ti arap, lelaki enggau ti indu, lalu nyimpan sida dalam rumah tutup.” (Surat Kerja Rasul 8:1-3)

Enti kitai mereti nya kitai tu meh gereja Tuhan, WE ARE THE church (eklesia), semua ti diberi kitai ngagai gereja tentu nya ke pulai ke pemanah kitai empu sereta ngemesai ke nama Allah Taala, enda ngira gamal pemeri nya sekali ka pengering/tenaga kitai tauka bakat (talent) kitai sereta mega pemeri kitai dalam mata duit.

Lalu ke penudi iya, aram kitai sama berati ke pengidup kitai ti endang gerija Tuhan tu. Kitai sama meda leka jaku Jesus empu ba Matthew 16: 18 ti madah munyi tu:

“…datas batu pemun tu aku deka niri ke EKLESIA aku…”

'Kasih, Pasti Lemah Lembut'

KASIH PASTI LEMAH LEMBUT

"KASIH PASTI MEMAAFKAN

KASIH PASTI MURAH HATI

KASIH-MU KASIH-MU TUHAN

REFF:

AJARILAH KAMI INI SALING MENGASIHI

AJARILAH KAMI INI SALING MENGAMPUNI

AJARILAH KAMI INI KASIH-MU YA TUHAN

KASIH-MU KUDUS TIADA BATASNYA"

Shalom!
the Christian song above is my dad's favourite and it is a must every time he leads in praise and worship. We even sang this beautiful song during his funeral service in St. Francis' Kota Samarahan and all the 300 plus friends and family members sang along. It was requested by his fellow House Group members on top of 'Ku Mahu Cinta Yesus'.

We all were touched that day, not because of his demise but because he cherished and lived out that song through out his moment with Jesus on earth. He is the expression of that song, he loves his children and friends and i know he would do anything to show God's love to us.

The song, in fact, was sang moments before we close the lid of his coffin.

Reflecting on the latest issue and chaos in our country, i am nothing more but to totally agree that we NEED to consider spending time to understand the lyrics of this song. There are a lot of truths and practicality in it especially the chorus that says:

"AJARILAH KAMI INI SALING MENGASIHI

AJARILAH KAMI INI SALING MENGAMPUNI

AJARILAH KAMI INI KASIH-MU YA TUHAN

KASIH-MU KUDUS TIADA BATASNYA"

And finally, 'kasih pasti memaafkan'...Lord, teach us to forgive those who are too carried away by their own short-mindedness and may those who terrorized Your sanctuary repent and believe that You are the sovereign Lord.

what it means to be Christians

Shalom!
The good Lord has been good to us that we can actually read this very post in total peace; without any worries of riots or suicide bombings around us. Let us praise God for that!
Let us begin by looking closely at what John R.W. Stott had written on 'Christianity':
"Christianity is not primarily a theological system, an ethical system, a ritual system, a social system or an ecclesiastical system- it is a person: it's Jesus Christ, and to be a Christian is to know Him and follow Him and believe in Him"- J R.W. Stott
Even among the believers there are those who still doubt the miracles that Jesus did: did he actually heal the sick? How on earth did he walk on water?? Did he, by any chance, do everything that the Bible says he did??? Is it important to believe that all this happened?
YES, it is important and it makes a big difference, because if we don’t believe and have the confidence that Jesus did all these things, then our growth as Christians will be stunted. In other words, we won’t grow as Christians at all!
Our Christian lives are built on the Gospel (as our foundation) that Jesus lived a perfect life, He died for our sins, was buried and raised from the dead on the third day just as the Bible says (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). These events are not part of a myth or a nice story you have to believe by blind faith. These are the things that you can actually KNOW. Our faith is based on things that actually happened.
As we explore the life and work of Jesus, we will have to begin by looking at the historical Jesus through the eyes of those who knew Him. Then we also have to look at his unique God-man nature (Jesus is 100% man and 100% God, not 50-50!) and his ultimate purpose of coming into this world- to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10).
As I begin my ministry here in Sri Aman, I have planned and identified some areas that needed to seriously be looked into in term of bible knowledge and the prayer lives of believers here. It is time to be solidly grounded on the scripture and rooted in Christ. It is a perfect time to learn to say even a short prayer as part of the condition to deserved to be called ‘Christians’. It is time to be serious in our faith and repent of all the mistakes and wrongs all these years.

(some parts of the articles are taken from 'Growing as a Christian 101' authored by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz, with permission)