Every Member a Servant #dumcMY #fb

Rev Irwin Rutherford, 20/03/2011

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.

Rev Irwin is impressed with two things about DUMC – we pray (call upon the name of the Lord) and we are mission centric.


(Rev. Irwin uses an iPad. I still have not found enough reason to get one.)

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.

The Challenge of World Missions II – A Holistic Approach

Dale Rhoton,  04/07/2010
Dale Rhoton is the co-founder of Operation Mobilization together with George Verver.
The text is Matthew 10:7-8
Mat 10:7-8  And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  (8)  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

(I caught up with Pastor Matthew Foo after the service and got what he shared about F.A.I.T.H.F.U.L.)
As shared by Pastor Matthew, faithful = faithfulness always increases the heart for undying (or was it unending) loyalty.

Ping. Pong. - why can't missions work be two ways?

"On Friday, a young couple from the Bible college here in Mozambique stopped by our house for a chat. I was impressed by the simplicity and sincerity of their faith. My exegetical skills are better. I’ve got a better grasp on Biblical theology. But this young couple is closer to Jesus than I am."

Ping.
Pong.

Posted using ShareThis

Uzbek pastor jailed for conducting Bible study

Accurately pointed out in the news article is the fact that Bible Study is a freedom most people take for granted.

Uzbek pastor jailed and deserted but still faithful

Posted: Monday, January 21, 2008, 14:02 (GMT)

A Christian pastor in Uzbekistan has been describing how he was arrested and jailed for eight years just for conducting Bible studies and having Christian books in his home – freedoms most people take for granted.

The police have come for him three times, his congregation has deserted him, his youngest daughter almost starved to death, yet still Pastor Salavat Serikbayev remains faithful to the Lord, reports Christian persecution watchdog Release International.

Pastor Serikbayev leads an unregistered Pentecostal church in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan. He tells his story on video in the latest edition of World Update on the Persecuted Church, the award-winning webcast from Release International.

Under Karakalpakstan’s repressive religious policy only Muslim communities and a single Russian Orthodox parish are allowed to operate. All other religious activity is illegal.

Pastor Serikbayev, a former Muslim, was jailed in 1999 for conducting Bible studies, performing baptisms and having dozens of Bibles and Christian books in his home. But jail and several other brushes with the law have not stopped him from serving Jesus.

"I had a family including two children at that time," he says. "Still I was happy to suffer for Christ; this was something I could do for Jesus."

Undeterred he continued to lead a church. Then in February 2006, he was arrested again for his religious activities in Karakalpakstan. He was sentenced to two years of correctional labour, reduced to one year, and was made to cultivate plants in the desert.

He was in trouble again the following year when the police raided his church. Says Pastor Serikbayev: "I was at a monthly pastor’s meeting at this apartment. After half an hour, 15 of 16 policemen raided the meeting and said, why are you here? Many had no passports, so everyone was arrested and taken to the police station.

"I was charged with illegally teaching in an illegal meeting," he told Release International’s partners, The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada.

Pastor Serikbayev' wife Aitgul was confined to her home by authorities after her husband’s arrest.

Out of fear, Christians refused to help the family and relatives rejected them because of their faith in Jesus. Their oldest daughter Rachel, just two at the time, almost starved to death.

"I was not mad at God," says Aitgul. "I found in the Bible that man does not live only by bread, but the Word of God. Of course it was a hard time, but it was also a time of blessing."

Sermon notes: On Mission (25 Nov 2007)

The Great Commission is given to all Christians. We who received the grace of God must share it with the others.

Mat 27:33-37
到了一个地方名叫各各他，意思就是「髑髅地」。(34)兵丁拿苦胆调和的酒给耶稣喝。他尝了，就不肯喝。(35)他们既将他钉在十字架上，就拈阄分他的衣服，(36)又坐在那里看守他。(37)在他头以上安一个牌子，写著他的罪状，说：「这是犹太人的王耶稣。」

Mat 27:33-37 And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), (34) they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. (35) And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. (36) Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. (37) And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

When a criminal is nailed on the cross, the crimes committed were written on a board nailed to the cross. Jesus had no crime. His charge was being the King of the Jews.

When Jesus was nailed on the cross, there were at least four things that happened.

Mat 27:38-40
当时，有两个强盗和他同钉十字架，一个在右边，一个在左边。(39)从那里经过的人讥诮他，摇著头，说：(40)「你这拆毁圣殿、三日又建造起来的，可以救自己吧！你如果是神的儿子，就从十字架上下来吧！」

Mat 27:38-40 Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. (39) And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads (40) and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

People made fun of Jesus.

Mat 27:41-43
祭司长和文士并长老也是这样戏弄他，说：(42)「他救了别人，不能救自己。他是以色列的王，现在可以从十字架上下来，我们就信他。(43)他倚靠神，神若喜悦他，现在可以救他；因为他曾说：『我是神的儿子。』」

Mat 27:41-43 So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, (42) "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. (43) He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

The scribes did so.

Mat 27:44那和他同钉的强盗也是这样的讥诮他。

Mat 27:44 And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

So did the robbers who were crucified with him.

Mat 27:45-46从午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。(46)约在申初，耶稣大声喊著说：「以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？」就是说：「我的神！我的神！为什麽离弃我？」

Mat 27:45-46 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

The first miracle when Jesus was on the cross is that there were darkness. Some speculated this to be an eclipse.

This was the most lonely and painful time for Jesus. No one could take his life if he doesn't allow it. That the Father turned away temporarily did not indicate a separation of the trinity.

Mat 27:46-50
约在申初，耶稣大声喊著说：「以利！以利！拉马撒巴各大尼？」就是说：「我的神！我的神！为什麽离弃我？」(47)站在那里的人，有的听见就说：「这个人呼叫以利亚呢！」(48)内中有一个人赶紧跑去，拿海绒蘸满了醋，绑在苇子上，送给他喝。(49)其余的人说：「且等著，看以利亚来救他不来。」(50)耶稣又大声喊叫，气就断了。

Mat 27:46-50 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
(47) And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, "This man is calling Elijah." (48) And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. (49) But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." (50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

Jesus died.

Mat 27:51-54忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，地也震动，磐石也崩裂，(52)坟墓也开了，已睡圣徒的身体多有起来的。(53)到耶稣复活以後，他们从坟墓里出来，进了圣城，向许多人显现。(54)百夫长和一同看守耶稣的人看见地震并所经历的事，就极其害怕，说：「这真是神的儿子了！」

Mat 27:51-54 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (52) The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, (53) and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (54) When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

This is the 2^nd miracle / sign. We can now have direct access to God. Thirdly, there was an earthquake and rocks were split, fourthly, the dead came alive. These signs following his death implied he was not an ordinary person but the Son of God.

In chapter 28:2, there was another earthquake, following his resurrection, possibly happened while the angel rolled away the stone.

Jesus died for us. But our faith is in vain if he was not resurrected. Because he is alive again, we have hope for eternal life.

Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb were given money to tell lies about the disciples stealing the body of Jesus.

The eleven remaining disciples went to meet Jesus in a mountain in Galilee (v16) where Jesus directed them (v10). However, some still doubted.

It was then Jesus gave them the Great Commission, which commands us to make disciples, baptizing them and teach them the Word of God. When we do these three things, Jesus will be with us until the end of the world.

On 13 Sep 1998, Israel signed a treaty to allow Palestinians to come back to Israel. 1996 is the 6000^th anniversary of God's creation. Israelites returned to their homeland in 1948 and reclaimed the land in 1967 after the 6-day war. Muslims wanted this place for Jerusalem is their third most holy place after Mecca and Madinah.

On 27 Nov 2007 (40 years after the nation of Israel is formed again), a treaty will be signed by US, Israel, Syria and Iran. The West Bank (of the River Jordan) will be given to the Fatah party of Palestine. (Hamas is in Gaza.) Once this treaty is signed, the Hamas (the terrorist) will enter the West Bank and take Jerusalem. Fatah and Hamas are not at odds. Once they reclaimed Jerusalam, it is believed they will join forces. One book suggested that once they reclaimed Jerusalem, they will not allow entry to any Jews. The Muslims claimed the Wailing Wall in the city is the ruins of their mosque. A war will break out. A peace treaty will be signed. This is mentioned in Daniel 9.

Dan 9:24-27「为你本国之民和你圣城，已经定了七十个七。要止住罪过，除净罪恶，赎尽罪孽，引进（或作：彰显）永义，封住异象和预言，并膏至圣者（者：或作所）。(25)你当知道，当明白，从出令重新建造耶路撒冷，直到有受膏君的时候，必有七个七和六十二个七。正在艰难的时候，耶路撒冷城连街带濠都必重新建造。(26)过了六十二个七，那（或作：有）受膏者必被剪除，一无所有；必有一王的民来毁灭这城和圣所，至终必如洪水冲没。必有争战，一直到底，荒凉的事已经定了。(27)一七之内，他必与许多人坚定盟约；一七之半，他必使祭祀与供献止息。那行毁坏可憎的（或作：使地荒凉的）如飞而来，并且有忿怒倾在那行毁坏的身上（或作：倾在那荒凉之地），直到所定的结局。」

Dan 9:24-27 "Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. (25) Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. (26) And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. (27) And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator."

The prophecy of God on seventy sevens was given to Daniel. Six two plus seven are past. Only the last seven remains. This is seven year of peace treaty. The Israelites will build their temple. The mosque in Jerusalem will be destroyed. Half way through this treaty, a person believed to be the antichrist will appear and bring calamity.

It is believed that the seven year peace treaty will be signed soon after the treaty signed on 27 Nov 2007.

The time is drawing near?

My question to you: are you eagerly anticipating it? Or are you dreading it?

Next week is my turn to preach again. I am as moody as one can get. Please spend a little time to pray for me. Thank you.

It has been a good day and it's not over

Yo.

It's close to 10 p.m. I just reached home.

I was going to meet my China mission teammates this morning. Due to tight schedule of those involved, this was rescheduled.

I went to the Project Timothy meeting at 1:00 p.m. (I was slightly late but spared the need to explain.) It was a good session. The prayer of the someone dear to my dear BHP sister spoke into my heart. PT is to be a theological safe space. We are to learn together with love. And so far, it's been a very encouraging learning environment. K and I am truly blessed to be part of it, learning from others. Now, if only Jesse would pay attention to the proceedings ... perhaps I am asking too much.

Senior Pastor and Pat had a quick discussion with me on the China trip. I am to take up 2 lessons from MLM Book 2 and to translate the other 4 for them (2 each). I still have not translated the additional material from Pastor Richard. I have to start working on them.

The fellowship afterwards was good. I throughly enjoyed it. I have seldom sat down with them but I didn't feel out of place. (Note to BHP sister: sometimes you play a role in this. You can also influence the outcome of a meeting / gathering.)

I took the time after the tea talk to whip up something for the coming cell group. I did that in the church house. I prepared the notes for the meeting last week which was rescheduled (this first meeting was rescheduled 2 times) but I left it at home. So, I typed out something based on memory and whatever material I had. At about 6, I noticed the English church was open. I joined the group. It was the first meeting and I guess we need time to warm up to each other. We will have more to join us in the future.

We had dinner at a nearby restaurant. K and Jesse joined us.

Today is not as funny (funny = hilarious, not weird) as yesterday when I turn the role playing in the interview skills training into a sitcom in an attempt to wake everyone up (the other role playing sessions were BORING) and to give everyone a chance to pick up the important points in a job interview. I really enjoyed it. My colleagues who interviewed me were speechless many times, they were laughing uncontrollably. It was fun.

But today was wonderful in the sense that I make new friends. The PT and the Facebook played major roles in establishing good relationships.

It was a packed day but also a fulfilling day. I did what little things I could. Perhaps I should focus on the little things more.

My prayer partner, my H&L sister and my 'dry' sister in Perth are right. I should not worry too much about what people think. It's their choice. They chose to be be that way. It should not concern me. I just told my BHP sister not to heed the enemy's whisper too much. So, I should practice what I preach. My prayer partner would often tell me to stop sulking.

Ok, I will. Shortly.

I will see where I can contribute and check with Him. Then I will just obey like a good little lamb. Won't I?

One Among Many Martyrs

Moving Funeral for Murdered Devout Christian Charity Worker

Mourners have packed a country church in the Burnley area to pay their respects to a young British charity worker found bludgeoned to death in India last November.
by Maria Mackay

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2007, 8:52 (GMT)Mourners have packed a country church in the Burnley area to pay their respects to a young British charity worker found bludgeoned to death in India last November.

The body of devout Christian Michael Blakey, 23, was discovered in a churchyard in Dharamsala in the Himalayas of northern India, where he had been working for seven months for the charity Tong-Len. He had been bludgeoned to death.

Family and friends filled St John the Evangelist Church in Blakey’s home village of Worsthorne near Burnley where they heard moving testimonies of the compassionate and idealistic nature of the young man who had gone abroad to help the poor.

Mourners at the moving funeral service also heard him described as a genuinely remarkable young man.

Mr Blakey's parents, Paul Blakey and Mary Whitford, looked on close to tears as Anna Owen, the director of the charity, gave a eulogy, reports The Wharf.

Mrs Owen said Michael had "more essential goodness than any young man I have ever met" and was "good to the core of his being", who "not only cared for the poor, but acted upon it”.

Many of Mr Blakey's friends from Swansea, where he attended university and lived before he went to India, were in tears at the service.

An outstanding student, he was awarded a first class honours degree in development studies after studying at Swansea.

Andrew Mews said his cousin Michael had a, "thirst for life" and was passionate about his beliefs.

Blakey’s killer has not yet been caught.

The Missionary Game

Take a look at this.

It's cool and simple. The jumping can get trickly at some places. I tried it once and I could only set up 3 out of potential 19 churches.

Here is where you can pray for the rhino to go to sleep.

The head of the natives is so happy to get a copy of the Bible.

This flash game gives a very simplified picture of missions work. You face dangers. You need to understand the needs of the locals and you definitely need prayers.