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Our current generation is now living a life affected mostly by the advancement of technologies, which are evolving too fast, dynamic, and influential. We can't deny it in our daily lives, personal, family, work, community, even here in our church. These enhances our living becoming more productive in doing other more important things to do. Moreover, people nowadays are becoming more intellectual, radical, social (at least in Virtual Space). However, its danger is it also affects our wisdom. The thoughts in the mind reasons purely by what is in the mind injected by our studies, profession, and with these advanced technologies. We tend to equate them as wisdom, therefore, Atheist are now becoming more popular belief in this world. They nullify God because there is no more space left in our brain to know Him.  Wisdom does not only comes in the mind, if it is, it's purely knowledge or intelligence. Wisdom only comes from our God, he delivered it through our experiences in our li...

Today as the technology advances, our generation is also pressured to embrace it. The social media, for instance, is becoming part of our daily lives not to include the different kinds of mobile devices to make these applications easily accessible. These technologies, indeed, influence us, rule us, and enslave us to the worst as we become more dependent to it. The absence of it now makes our day incomplete, especially to our younger to middle-aged generations. Every technology owners would like to promote their products and will make every effort to make them attractive as every usage means profit. I know that it meant for a certain purpose, but mostly the product is being abuse in other aspect. And today as religions of the world are becoming unpopular and becoming a little piece of our lives, gods are now migrating to these new technologies. These become our gods. Idolatry is no longer contained to statues or any images worshiped by people, it is now elevated to the worship of the ...

The "ber" month has already started and we are looking forward to Christmas season and to a New Year. And our culture is to prepare as early as today for the Christmas celebrations, not only that, we are a fan of New Year resolutions. We prepare a long list of what we want to change or to happen in the next year to come. And we all know that making decision is a difficult task. We have to consider many things before we come to the final one. And I know that there are many times in our lives where we are required to provide a critical choice. Like listing our goals for the next year, most of the times we only achieved few. Why? Simply because ... we are not used to the changes and are not prepared enough to pursue it. We need lots of preparations, we sometimes succeed but also we failed. But that is part of learning and a good exercise of making a sound decision as long as we are gaining the wisdom, the knowledge, and the experience every time. In Philippians 1:9-11, Apostl...

It is too common for us to be easily annoyed when things that surround us are not what we expect to see, hear, experience, and the like. When our family and loved ones are getting into addictions, when our work colleagues adds cause you more pressure and stress, when your community are not improving rather getting worse, and many more. We wish that it is better if they are not around or exist.  Paul in his encouragement to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 not to look at the weaknesses of the people around us. He says "12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labour among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for a...

"Do you think it’s right?" When I was asked with this similar question, I feel obliged to provide a qualified answer acceptable to the person who asked this. Not only that, I also have to carry the burden of the real story behind this simple query. The question has options to be answered in many ways such as political, legal, moral, spiritual, etc. It will depend on how I perceived it based from whom it originates from. As a servant of the Living God, I need to consider an answer which mostly morally and spiritually right and not only the legally acceptable. There are many political rules, laws, rights in many parts of the world that seems wrong a few years back but now legislatively right. There are norms and cultures that are previously detestable but now socially tolerable because it adapts according to the trend in our current generation which now are politically right. In Philippians 2:1-2, Apostle Paul says “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being unit...

When we were young, we were brought up by our parents to what they want us to be. Usually they groomed us to be the person whom they admired and hoped to become but didn't happen. They wanted us to continue the dreams they did not achieved. But I know that other parents wanted to bring out the best from their children and allow them to choose the path they want to take. Whether we like it or not, our success and failure are a product of how our parents guided and influenced us. It has no difference to what God's desire for us, his children. He surely desire to let us find our true selves whom God plan us to be. But most of the time, we want to be of someone else rather than simply be ourselves. There is no wrong in this attitude, if and only if this desire is also aligned to our capabilities, skills, characters, and God's will and purpose in our lives. Like our biological parents, God is so glad to see his children succeeding in their lives and to all the aspects of it. B...

Getting lost is a difficult situation. You are exerting all efforts to figure out how did you get there, and worse, how will you get over it? We started to worry, panic, and fear especially if no one to give you some help. Are we in this situation now? Are we in a position that we have tried our very best to resolve things but we still found ourselves to nowhere? Where are we heading? Our lives are like a boat and we ride to it. We go to a journey that mostly relies simply to ourselves and serve to be the captain of it as we sail through the sea. But the trip is not always safe and smooth. Strong winds challenge us, the sea currents defy us, and sometimes even the lightning strikes us. We encounter troubles, storms, and even disasters as we go along. In John 6:16-21, the apostles sailed through the night and they seem lost as they are occupied with worries because of the storms shaking their boats and filling them with water. Then Peter saw Jesus walking on the water from a distance an...

The humble beginning of our satellite church here in Point Cook started from a simple bible study meeting. We opened our place for this kind of gathering and later decided to open for the home church service. Is our church real? It looks like a fancy little group of people who simply gathers together with the appointed pastor leading the group in every services and activities. We need to be careful of what our church bears and does that recognize us as a genuine Christians. Paul shared in Colossians 3:16-17 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Primarily, our church must dwell in God's words. We need to soak ourselves with the Words of God; we must read the Bible that records the word spoken by God and Jesu...

Looking back to my earlier days, I feel chained by poverty that seems too impossible for me to get out of it. I still remember that as I age more and understand what my true situation was, I feel even harder for everyday that ends. It was a difficult situation for me, indeed; but I thank God for He did a great job to put everything in my life in order under His careful instruction and supervision. God made us and breathed us to life, and so His spirit was shared in us too. Only if we learn to believe that God does exist in our lives, then we can make use the power behind it to the most possible way. God is too willing to free us from any form of bondage like pain, sufferings, inequities, and sins. He wants to restore not only the broken relationship between us and Him but also to restore us as His precious creation. We are the only creation of God that He breathed to live, and that makes us the apple of His eye. Paul, in His letter to the Corinth churches, reminded them the presence of...

During my advanced military training way back on my university days, we were thought of the very common principle “Obey first, before you complain.” This discipline has embedded to me and I allow myself to submit to any person that has authority over me, most especially to our God. In the same way, I am sharing the same principle to others if there are opportunities and with shared responsibility. Before, my idea of being obedient to this principle is simply following any orders given by my superior. And when it came a time for me to impart this to others, I feel the burden while sharing it to them. I have learnt that there is hidden joint responsibility to it which is to be a role model to my subordinates. The moment I told them about the value of full obedience without any hesitations, then the burden of bearing the influential authority and its responsibility felt heavier. Thereafter, everything I am about to say, to act, and to think must be carefully presented to avoid them copyi...

The legality of same-sex marriage in America has finally declared legal throughout its whole nation and is a trending topic in the whole world, indeed. Different Groups, Communities and even Christian Believers have their different views of this worldwide historical event of humanity. A dangerous question is --- what is our view about it? In my personal view only and as per my Christian background, I strongly disagree of its legality. Not that I don’t want these people to be happy but I firmly believe that if this becomes the law of the land, the whole nation will be opened up to participate in vulnerabilities of its acts. Moreover, this does not differ to legalizing divorces, prostitution, gambling, adult pornography and the like. We all know how these legalities affects the people getting involve to it, enjoying it, and later on abusing it are ending their lives in miseries (but not everyone, of course, those who find their way out of it). I would like to remind myself about Jesus ...

There are people whose hearts are hardened by their experiences and starting to ignore God and denying His utmost participation in our daily lives. Some are due to sorrows, difficulties, and disabilities but others are due to their self-confessed successes in our lives. We tend to forget God when we are reaping fruits of our labour like bearing education, a well-paid job, a great career and promotion, a good business, and many more. Because we enjoy them most, we get rid the joy God has given and shared to us from the time we were borne. In His ultimate plan for us to reconcile with Him, He called everyone to return to Him with true repentance. He allowed His own Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and be restored with Him in the same way Jesus has risen and ascended to heaven to join Him. But He wants with all of our heart and not of compulsion. Even before the time of Jesus ministry here in earth, God wants His people to return to Him as He is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and ...

Christians are known to be peace-loving people. We are expected to behave well both in private and most especially in public. As much as possible, we avoid getting involved in any trouble to anyone or caught having trouble to others but, of course, it's inevitable.  There are times where we were witnessing others doing things which are against God's law and are evil in His eyes. Every believer is challenged when facing this kind of situation, especially if it involves our close families and friends. God drawn us to Jesus, therefore, we are saved by believing Him that He is the Lord, He is risen, and He is the Son of God. He has also given us His Lamp to be the Light of the world for those who are in darkness (Matthew 5:14-16) by doing righteous before the Lord. God appoints us to be our brother's watchman. If we knew someone, whether we are in relationship with them or not, and they commit sins or wickedness; we MUST warn them! God spoke to His prophet in Ezekiel 33:8-9...

On the very first time that I decided to start the new FBGC church service in Point Cook, I feel worried about the possibility that it may not work for me. Moreover, I was also ordained to be the local pastor in this new community of believers. Although I have that desire in my heart and seeing the vision in my mind for what this church will look like, I really have no idea that I will serve as the pastor of this church, given my lack of experience in this field. With my doubt, I did not stop to do what God has called me to perform. We open our home to serve as our initial venue for the opening of our church service, we organize according to what task each pioneering members can carry out, we plan for some activities that help us to grow as a church for both workers and members like Beginners Bible Class, organizing Cell Group for smaller group bible studies and fellowship, and many more. At this moment, we have just moved to a new place God has prepared for us to serve as new place of...

Everyone is dreaming a good life free of any troubles, hardships, and sorrows. Who doesn’t want it? But when we are going to ask Jesus about it, I think he will give us a very good illustration of taking the path between life and destruction which I think in my own opinion refers to facing the different problems we may encounter of choosing Him against the world. Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." He is warning us of choosing life against death, Him or the evil world, heaven or hell. He is showing us the options and the rewards after you have taken which path. Jesus unfolds to us the true life while we are here on earth and living a life imitating Him and His deeds. Our eyes, as the windows of our soul, are easily blinded by the world due to the lust of the flesh. And what...

I forgive but I do not forget!" This quote is one of the popular, if not the famous statement, that we can hear or read in social networking posts coming from persons who received pains, betrayals, sorrows, and troubles from family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. It is a sad situation to witness that once best of friends with their number of years of great relationship will simply be ruined because of sinning against each other that reach ones limit. Then when they start talking to each other, they will learn the things that they hate from each other before, although they have already forgiven themselves before, but it was not really forgotten. This kind of relationship and situation are becoming very popular now. Worst thing a person can do to others is to retaliate verbally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. We tend to cast curses, slander, or do the same way how it was done to us even to point of threatening others’ lives. Scary but true. It is simply b...

The Bible is our “Basic Information Before Leaving Earth”. This serves as our primary reference for everything to live here on earth; in peace, in righteousness and in saving grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reveals great wisdom from different authors of the books, moreover, the scriptures spoken and written by our God. Everything written to it has great significance; well, it may be boring in some part of the books when read but that is of equal importance. Why are we studying the Bible? Aside from being one of the longest surviving books of the early people, this is written not to entertain, inform, and teach the reader but to transform, inspire, refresh, and give insights and wisdom for those who dig on every stories, verses, and context inside of it. The message revealed is always new at every instance you read it, it maybe mysterious but this is how God designed it. I have not seen any books that a single verse can give several meanings and penetrate the heart and mi...

There was a recent miracle witnessed by the whole world over the execution of Mary Jane Veloso, the convicted drug courier to Indonesia and sentenced with a death penalty through firing squad. It was, indeed, a miracle because she was the only one spared of life among the eight other prisoners who were in the same firing line to face the gruesome act of Indonesian laws. All Filipinos around the globe are celebrating and truly overwhelmed by God’s Saving Grace and granting the prayers to spare MJ’s life. Everyone is in the attitude of praise, giving glory and honour to Him. This event is a true test of faith not only by the Filipinos but by MJ herself. The scripture is true that “only our own faith can saves us.” MJ says that “Na kahit gahibla na lang na oras ang natitira, kung gusto ng Panginoon na mabuhay ako, bubuhayin pa niya ako.” Her story really moves every Filipino in their faith and in tears simply because everyone believes, she is only a victim of human and drug trafficking sy...

Preaching the Gospel of Jesus is the main task of every believer and follower of Christ. We will encounter many kinds of people of different norms and culture, life statuses, and levels of intelligence in every moment of sharing the good news brought to us by Jesus. And in the presence of dynamic information technology in today's generation, spreading the good news is being presented in more creative and fancy way, and distributed very fast and connecting to the world too easily. But great power has great responsibility. Everyone wants to upgrade our skills in these technologies and embracing it, incorporating it, and becoming part of our daily lives. Our core of sharing the Gospel of Jesus is becoming a habit of simple explanation and message created by the author and we are agreeing only most often. Our job to scrutinize it, study it, and understand it is now disregarded; rather, we simply believe it to be the truth as it was revealed. If we lost our access to all our high techno...

To most of us, churchgoers; coming to the church services is one way for us to show that we are active members of such church. However when outside of the church service, do we still keep ourselves active in expressing our faith? Or we simply keep ourselves quiet about it and simply go along with the worldly deeds of our unbeliever peers. The brother of Jesus, James, reminds us in his epistle that faith must be accompanied with works -- "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." --James 2:26. There are two separate phrases in this verse which are correlated with each other as the former refers to the church and the latter to its member. Being member of Christ's church does not start and end in coming and leaving the church service. Membership starts on the day of your salvation, the time you accepted Jesus as your Savior and repented on your sins; and ends in eternity with Jesus. Our physical death will not end our goal for ete...

When I was looking at the old photographs of my children, it reminds me how  beautiful they are when they were still babies and I noticed how quiet and contented they are when I was carrying them in my arms. It is good to be a child, indeed, as you are not aware what things are happening around you.  Psalms 131:1-3  1 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.  2 Indeed I am composed and quiet, like a young child carried by its mother; I am content like the young child I carry.  3 O Israel, hope in the Lord now and forevermore!  The psalmist in Psalms 131 is trying to console himself and not to concern the things that are beyond his. With our limited knowledge and wisdom, we cannot explain and longs for things that cannot reach by human capabilities. There are things that we can only hope for to God that everything we need will be taken care of by Him. Like ...

There was an event during the days of Jeremiah where God shows a great illustration of how he desire to bound Israel to Him forever, to be His chosen people (read Jeremiah 13:1-11). But in all the efforts of God to restore them, they keep on failing and breaking the heart of God. He was then making a decision to punish them and like the linen belt will be completely useless. God shows us that the linen belt was initially a new one. It is tied to Jeremiah's waist and it looks great, he is happy to wear it and show to everyone how good the belt is. Likewise as the chosen people of God and though we are not new, God declared us as His new creation when reconciled with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. It says in 2 Cor 5:17, "So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away - look, what is new has come!" When Christ holds us or wears us in Him, His favors is also with us. He is too happy to showcase us as to world and how blessed we are know...

“Why should any living person complain when punished for his sins? נ(Nun) Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven” - Lamentations 3:39-42. When staring in a beautifully painted wall, we may get amazed to its outstanding beauty at the first look. But staring to it for some time, we start looking for the defects, a hole, paint patches, dirt, etc. The tendency of human mind is to always try to find out of what makes a perfect imperfect. It seems that there is no difference in our relationship with our God, we tend to complain on His alleged imperfections to us especially when we feel punished by our committed sin. We assume that God is unfair as if it is Him who caused these pains to us. We are acknowledging our sin against Him, thus we repent, but we do not want to be punished. This is not a true repentance then, it is just admittance. Though God accepted us wholeheartedly, we still have to bear the conseq...

When we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour with all our heart, in truth and in action; we experienced a rebirth of our spirit. We, together with Christ, have overcome death which is the wages of sin and given a renewed life born of Spirit from God and promised of eternal life with Him. This metamorphosis drama of redemption is indeed an illustration of God's abundant grace and love to all humanity. Finally, we are now restored in our relationship with God that once had been broken by our sin. The faith of every believer, his cries, and his longings; moves God spirit and that what gives us the opportunity to live a renewed lives. Jesus, in one important event of his ministry on earth, awakened Lazarus who was buried for days then. You can follow this story in John 11:1-44. When Jesus called Lazarus to wake up, there was no participation from crowd occurred. However when Lazarus came out from his tomb, Jesus commanded them to "unwrap him and let him go." It was...