Col 3.16

… hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:5,8

How wonderful your love, the mystery of mysteries, more glorious than I know!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

O Jesus, I will hide in you, the one who bears my burdens.

An open letter to those entrusted with the gospel

Dear pastors/ministers/preachers,

God has given you a much, much greater task than to merely be a motivational speaker. He has given you the task of preaching the gospel of Jesus which saves. We who listen to you week in and week out do not need to hear how we can double or triple our incomes by tithing; we need to hear of how we have a generous God who gave up his Son on the cross for us and so, like him, we too should be generous with what we have. We do not need to hear about how we can feel physically better by exercising and dieting and eating right (even though that can be helpful); we need to be fed by the word of God, to be fed spiritually and be reminded that we have a God who has given us life and life to the full in Jesus. We do not need to hear about how investing in the right market shares can lead to a financially secure future (that is an oxymoron in itself); we need to hear about how we have a heavenly Father who cares for us and provides for us, and that we don’t have to worry about tomorrow - we need to be reminded that he provided in the greatest way in Jesus so that we could be saved from death and live to glorify him. 

The gospel of Jesus is foolishness to the world, to those who are perishing. It is unpopular and often, people do not want to hear it. But, for those who are being saved, it is the power of God. It is the power of God to save those who trust in him. So, please don’t give up preaching the gospel faithfully for the sake of popularity. The gospel means that you will get to see those whom God has saved with you, through your faithful preaching of it, when Jesus returns - how awesome is that?

We, those to whom you minister, depend on the gospel for life. Please preach it faithfully to us. Many thanks if you have been!

Praying for you.

Purity

Treat…younger women as sisters with absolute purity - 1 Timothy 5:2

Praise God he’s blessed me with not one, but two sisters. There is much to learn, to be challenged and to be rebuked by.

God of this City

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are

You’re the light in this darkness
You’re the hope to the hopeless
You’re the peace to the restless
You are

This song was originally written by a band called Bluetree and it was written when the band went to Thailand, in a brothel (here’s the story behind the song).

Anyway, I was out last night having dinner with my friends in Darling Harbour. As we were heading home, we walked past a club. And I don’t know, but everytime I walk past a club, I get really saddened. Now, it’s not that I’m against clubbing or anything, but my heart sinks because here is a place where the people who go are mostly those who don’t know Jesus. Mostly, the guys who go are there to ‘pick up chicks’ - like the two separate groups that walked passed us, which I assumed were going to that club, said exactly the same things, “hot chicks, hot chicks”. If that’s the intention of those guys who go clubbing, imagine the things that are going through their minds (or maybe don’t imagine…)

I’m not likening a club to a brothel. I mean, I do have friends who go, who just want to have a fun night out - female friends who just go, not wanting to be picked up or anything, and male friends who go not seeking to pick up (though, man, even though you’re not there to pick up, I don’t know how you do it… I mean, a lot of girls who go wear things that leave little to the imagination!). But, that song comes to mind because I just think, “God is the God of this city”. If only these people could see that. If only their eyes would be opened to seeing the God who gives life. If only they would come to Him and fill up their lives with Him rather than with things that will not ever satisfy the human soul. If only those who are looking for love would find it in Jesus, who gave up his life for them. If only they would drink from him, the fountain welling up to eternal life.

Greater things have yet to come 
And greater things are still to be done in this City

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