Things I remember about Stephen

In Dec 2007, we completed the dry run of Project Timothy in CBC SEA Park. I approached Stephen Choi, the head tutor to express my desire to be a tutor. Kathleen and I were the only ones from the Chinese church. He smiled and said ok. I have been with PT-Asia since. I have gone through 1 complete cycle of PT and I am now in the 2 of 6 semesters of the 2nd round.

Here are some of the things I remember about this friend, mentor, sifu of mine.

• His smile
• His trademark moustache
• His love of God
• His love for the Word of God
• His love for the people of God
• His humour

I always enjoy the PT tutors meeting where Stephen would wait for the others tutors to share their thoughts, and then with a smile, bring up some of the things he observed from the Bible. This is usually followed by dumbfounded silence and a few daring attempts to answer his questions. He'd then share his suggestions. I always enjoy learning from my fellow tutors but Stephen made learning a very interesting and enjoyable experience.

I am very inspired by his faith in God especially during his times of trial. He really kept his eyes on the author and finisher of his faith.

Stephen is now back to be with Jesus. I will miss him very much.

Scandal in the Kampung #sermon #dumcMY #fb

Pastor Dr. Daniel Ho, Christmas morning

Scandals are outrageous and utterly shocking.

In 1995, a young man created a huge scandal. The young man, Nick Leeson, 28 then brought Barings down with the loss he caused. He was sent to 6.5 years in prison.

Another scandal involves a young girl who had an encounter with an angel.

SJG XVI – The Master’s Resurrection #dumcMY #fb #sermon

Pastor Chris Kam, 06/08/2011

Introduction

“I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history.”
~Josh McDowell (Evidence that Demands a Verdict)

SJG 10: The Master washes His disciples’ feet #dumcMY #fb #sermon

Pastor Chris Kam, 18/06/2011

(When Pastor Chris prayed for the fathers, Jesse ran over to me. Kathleen commented that he didn’t do that for her. Heh.)

Pastor gave  an illustration about missing the point.

What is the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What is at the heart of gospel of Jesus Christ? It is the mandate to love.

SJG 9: The Master as the Good Shepherd #fb #dumcMY

Pastor Daniel Ho, 04/06/2011

The text is John 10:1-18.

In the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see three characteristics of the Good Shepherd.

SJG 8–The Master Raises the Dead #dumcMY #fb

Pastor Mike Ngui, 21/05/2011

The text is taken from John 11:1-48.

In 1983, a Jewish rabbi Harold Kushner wrote a book called When Bad Things Happened to Good People. We may find it easier to see bad things happen to bad people but to good people?

John 11 tells of such a story. Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha died. Mary’s devotion and her act of worship must be so well known that John made a reference to it. This is a story that happened among people who loved Jesus and whom Jesus loved.

One of Satan’s most favourite putdown line is that when something is wrong, then we have not been waling with God.

We have a bird’s eyes view of the whole story. But let’s try to put our shoes into the people there and then – imagine the mind of Mary or Martha then. Bad things do happen to good people.
Lazarus was so sick that Martha sent a desperate message to Jesus. In fact, Jesus was a day’s walk away. When the messenger finally got to Jesus, He sent word that Lazarus won’t die. By the time the message got back to Bethany where Mary and Martha were (the round trip took 2 days.) We can deduced that Lazarus died soon after the messenger left for Jesus. Imagine, imagine the irony when Jesus’ message was passed on to Mary and Martha AFTER Lazarus was buried.

CWS I–Worldviews & the Christian Faith #dumcMY #db

Pastor Daniel Ho, 15/05/2011

A farmer brought a strong into town and offer it to anyone who could get the cow to do three things – make it laugh, cry and run.

A pastor whispered into the cow’s ears and made it laugh, cry and later run. The farmer gave the cow to the pastor. He asked what did the pastor said.

The pastor said, he first told the cow how much he earned, how hard he worked then whether it wanted to be a pastor.

Even the cow has a certain perspective about the pastoral ministry. And perspective is all about worldview.

SLC II–Servanthood vs. Servant Leadership #dumcMY #fb

Rev. Dr. Tan Siang Yang, 07/05/2011
Leadership or Servant Leadership without Servanthood as the foundation can be problematic.

SLC I–Jesus’ Call to Servanthood: Serving our Best Friend #dumcMY #fb

Rev. Dr. Tan Siang Yang, 06/05/2011
There is an emphasis on leadership based on the books we can find. There are some who mentioned servant leadership. But the Bible talks about servanthood.

SJG VII–The Master Heals a Blind Man

500 were expected to turn up for the Easter children party last week. 1100 children and 300 adults turned up. 100 children made their decision to receive Jesus. Praise God!
The text today is John 9. It can be found at the end of this post.
“Giftedness is not everything. Humanness is.” Rev Dr Tan Siang-Yang.

SJG 5–The Master as the Bread of Life #fb #dumcMY

Pastor Chris Kam, 09/04/2011

A good sermon

• inform our minds
• inspires our hearts
• instructs our behaviour

After listening to the speaker, we must ask ourselves, what we are going to do about it.

SJG IV–The Master and an “Outcast” #fb #dumcMY

Pastor Daniel Ho, 02/04/2011

DUMC is the overall champion of the 2011 Interchurch Sports Carnival.  It came in last in 2010.

DUMC has given RM50k in aid to Japan. A total of RM 83,641 was collected for Japan.
The text of the sermon is taken from John 4:1-42. I put it at the bottom of the post because of its length.

Pastor Daniel painted a situation where a reject entered a church. Would the church accept him? The more important question is would Jesus accept him.

Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman.

Jews don’t talk to Samaritans. Back in 722 BC, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered and captured by Assyrians. The Samaritans were half-Jews and half gentiles.

Jesus broke all barriers, He wanted to go to Samaritan regions. He broke all kinds of prejudices. DUMC runs streets ministry because they believe everyone is precious in God’s house.

SJG III–The Master’s Supreme Gift #dumcMY #fb

Pastor Daniel Ho, 26/03/2011

Joh 3:1-21  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council.

Be a Righteous Servant #dumcMY #fb

Rev Irwin Rutherford, 19/03/2011

It’s Missions Weekend here in DUMC,

Psa 31:14-16  But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."  (15)  My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.  (16)  Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

(This will be for tomorrow – Every Member a Servant.)

A video on the unreached is shown. Majority of the missions resources are NOT channeled to the poorest unreached people group.

Did you know?

SJG II–The Master’s Call 2 #dumcMY #fb

Francois Vosloo 13/03/2011
“The cell group that eats the most grows the most,” said Pastor Daniel.

Francois is the Associate International Director of OM. He and his wife Karen have been with OM for over 30 years. “Joining OM is a life sentence.” Another one from Pastor Daniel.

Francois is from Africa. He said he was white because he was born during winter.

The passage talked about the lives of four people. When they were called, they immediately dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus, unlike “good Christians” who would want to pray about it first.

SJG II–The Call of the Master #dumcMY #fb

George Verver 12/03/2011

The is the 2nd installment of the 17-part Knowing the Master series.

Today’s text is taken from John 1:35-51.

SJG I–The Master’s Incarnation #dumcmy #fb

Pastor Daniel Ho, 05/03/2011
This is the 1st of 17 in the Studies in John’s Gospel: Knowing the Master series. This series will plan 6 months. We must know our Master first before we can be mature. This is in line with our theme of Presenting Everyone Mature in Christ.

Marketing Ministry II– Influence & Impact #dumc #fb

Lim Kah Hui, Head of Marketplace Ministry19/02/2011

Overcoming Myths

Luk 13:18-21  He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?  (19)  It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."  (20)  And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?  (21)  It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."

CCS I: Laying Solid Christian Foundation #dumc

Senior Pastor Dr Daniel Ho

This is the first in three the Christian Civilizational Series (CCS).

Introduction
The foundation of any civilization is crucial because this will determine whether a civilization is strong or weak. More than that, this foundation will determine whether a civilization will last or not last. And, even it if lasts, the foundation will determine whether it will be powerful and world-transforming or not?

The Day that Changed the World #dumc

Pastor Dr. Daniel Ho, Christmas Day

Luk 1:25-38 "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people." (26) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. (28) And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" (29) But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (30) And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (34) And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (35) And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. (36) And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. (37) For nothing will be impossible with God." (38) And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

On the Tuesday morning of 6 Jun 1944, the Allied forces landed on Normandy and thus began the defeat of the Nazis. It was often known as D-Day. It changed the course history. There is another Tuesday with great historical impact, that is 11 Sep 2001. America was attacked.

There was another day that shook the world and changed the history of mankind forever.

Announced prophetically (Is 7:14, Micah 5:2)

Notebook acting up. There will not be full notes.

Announced in privacy (Luke 1:34, 35, 37)

Proclaimed in glory (Luke 2:8-12)

God intended favour and peace for us. It is up to receive it.