LOVE

Love. Thinking about this word is awe-inspiring, it is deeper than the depth of the ocean and every language uniquely describes its attributes with words, yet those words are unable to express the encompassing meaning of love.

The English language uses "love" very loosely, when we say "I love my partner" we are not using the same love as "we love that piece of chocolate". Confused? The Greeks have a good range of words used to specify which loving word they mean ;)

The wonderful and colourful range of words that Greeks use to describe love are listed as follows:
Agápe means unconditional love.
Éros means a passionate, intimate love.
Plato means an appreciation for inner beauty.
Philia means love for family and friends.
Storge means affection.

For those who have not heard about Jesus' love, let me say that it's a privilege to share this with you. Jesus sacrificed His life in order to save us from having eternal death. In essence, Jesus is God and He loved us so much that He died for us so that we may have eternal life with Him in Heaven if we choose to follow Him.

God's love is unconditional - Agape. There is nothing good we can do to earn His love and nothing bad we can do to change His love for us. However, we are responsible in living our lives to please God and we do this by living our lives in accordance to His will. Aren't these ideas profound when they are put together? In saying this, I do not encourage a religious lifestyle - one that is filled with rituals without a relationship with God Himself. Rather, I encourage people to have a personal relationship with God, love Him and living by obeying His words in the bible or divine revelation through the Holy Spirit. Pray, read the bible, worship Him and live it out because you love Him :)

1 John 4:16-21

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Global Financial Crisis (GFC)

GFC is spreading and taking hold of nations the way it did throughout history. The advent of the Great Depression was a bleak period and I was lucky to have a conversation with an old church member who attended Ashfield Baptist Church after the war. She revealed to me that even among the uncertainties of men and women, the church was spilling over with people whom were hopeful. However the world has changed and my church is now two-thirds empty, what is a Christian to do? We have an economy to manage and it seems like it’s taking its grip on people’s lives. There are many lessons to be learnt from the GFC. We will discuss the effect of the economy and how it correlates with the bible.

The development of an economy simultaneously developed a culture of acquiring. Acquiring was a form of bartering to exchange possessions but it has developed into greed. Rather than exchanging possessions, we live beyond our means and accumulate assets, stock, fashion trends and other material goods. God said to the rich fool “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21).

The motivation for acquiring goods is to gain happiness. Shoppaholics get a high from spending sprees but the happiness is short lived. When we focus on gaining happiness materialistically, happiness diminishes. For instance, eating one ice cream makes us happy, another ice cream is pushing it, but after the third one we won’t feel as great as we did previously and eventually we don’t want it at all. It won’t make us happy anymore. The bible tells us we should be cautious about the effects of worldly possessions and the way it effects our lives, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

Contrary to many beliefs of the vast splendors that money provides, money can’t make us secure. Money is very fickle. One day we will have it and in one day it can be gone! In essence, we shouldn’t be putting our trust in money since our trust can also tumble down with it. Instead put your trust in God, for he is in control and he is the source of eternal life.

We are stewards not owners. Our possessions are not ours to keep forever. One day we will perish and so will our possessions. Our possessions shouldn’t be the way of life, for God said “…do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:29–31)

What should a Christian do during the GFC period?
Read the bible and reorient ourselves
Pray to our dear God
Help someone else. The affluent are inconvenienced, but the poor are crushed in the GFC.

Remember we can’t serve 2 masters “…either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:13).

Always put God first.

Pure Heart

I love this song :)

Glory to God!

Oh God you alone deserve all the glory in my life. If anyone shall glorify my name, I will bow humbly to You and direct all praises and glory to You. For I am nothing without You. My strength is nothing compared to Yours. I don't have much to give You, but I know I love You with all my heart and I pray in the name of Jesus, Your will be done upon me. I feel that even sacrificing my entire life to serving You is an insufficient gift. Holy Spirit, let me be a holy habitation where your spirit is pleased to dwell. I will always try to please You and protect You, in order to keep You within me - to use my body as a living sacrifice for Your purposes. I don't want any lustful eyes to fall upon me, for I know that this is not what You desire. I will not watch anything or listen to anything that is against Your teachings because You are my precious gift dwelling within me. I am so joyful and humbled by Your grace. I don't know what I did to deserve Your gifts. For some reason You have chosen to bless me so abundantly and as I write this, I have tears pouring down from the fountain of my faith. I am not worthy of all the blessings that You have given me - but since You have given it to me, the gifts that I receive will be used to serve You in Your body of Christ. I serve You and Your people enrapturedly with all glory, praise and honour to You, my sovereign King, my precious God!

Saved

Forgive others Reject bitterness Follow God's righteousness Freedom from guilt, shame and condemnation through God's redemption

Religion vs Christianity

I came across some notes written by Passion and it made me think a lot... I came to realise that I believe this is the truth, judging from my personal experiences. It is confusing after being taught that faith and works gives salvation but now I think that this makes more sense.

Looking back on the first time that Jesus touched me, God truly reached out to me, making me whole again - I didn't do much except pronounce my faith to the world. I cannot testify enough how much God reaches out to people and saves them! On that note, read what Passion has to say about this topic :)

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Hey World Here are some notes that I took while listening and watching a sermon that a Pastor preached. I hope that you can or would take time to read the verses stated in this sermon or simply consider what's being said:

Religion is mans attempt to please God by adhering to rules and regulations.

-Galatians 1:6-7

Why are people drawn to religion?
-Provides a system of measurement
-It provides a false comfort

I am not a religious person because religion never works

Problem with religion:
-It creates confusion
-Galatians 1:7

Break down the barriers and concentrate on the ONE thing that matters; that Jesus died on the cross for your sins.

-Galatians 1:10
-Religion focuses on mans work.

Why do people embrace religion?

-JESUS. Not Jesus PLUS being religious. It is JESUS no matter what!

The book of Galatians is all about breaking down the myth of religion.

RELIGION is spelled DO
You gotta do this, you gotta do that, gotta do it do it do it

CHRISTIANITY is spelled DONE
There is nothing left to do, when Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and when you accept that free gift of salvation, THATS IT! PERIOD! You do not have to do WORKS to gain His salvation.

RELIGION is mans attempt to reach God

CHRISTIANITY is the opposite. It is Gods attempt to reach man. Its Jesus loving us SO MUCH, that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. NOT when we were so good, but when we were sinners.

NOT US REACHING TO GOD, BUT GOD REACHING TO US

RELIGION focuses on the external
CHRISTIANITY focuses on the internal (whats inside your heart?)

God doesnt look at the exterior, He looks at the HEART.

Why are we doing the things we are doing?

I obey God not to gain His approval,
I obey God because of my sincere appreciation for what Hes done.

How does this apply to me?

-Galatians 1:11-12
-If you look at every other world religion on the scene, ever other religion that man has come up with, it all boils up to one thing, MAN trying to please the god. Man TRYING to gain approval, man TRYING to do this, man DYING, TRYING to please God.

-Christianity is totally different. Christianitys God dying for the world, while we were yet sinners.

-Galatians 1:13- 14 (BUT WHEN GOD)

-But when God changes everything.
-There are people that feel so bad for what they have done, BUT WHEN GOD, comes into the scene, everything changes.
-It doesnt matter what youve done or how many times youve done it, BUT WHEN GOD.
-When Saul saw Jesus, everything changed.
-When you catch a glimpse of what Jesus has done for you, everything changes.

-When God speaks, the doctors are silent.
-Jesus did not come into the world to put us in bondage (RELIGION),
-He didnt come into the world for us to live by a set of rules and regulations,
-Jesus came into the world for ONE purpose, to set the captives free.

-When you are free, you are free indeed!
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So these are my notes that i took the other day. Remember that religion bites! yikes! lol. And remember that reading His word, praying, and just spending time with Him is what He longs for. Not your works and your constant battle of gaining His love. It's already been given to you. He wants to have a relationship with you, not religion. Anybody can be religious, but its the HEART that God looks for. Take care and God bless!

sincerely,
Jeremy "Passion" Manongdo

Strong Christians

Leadership training - Pastor Philip Mantofa

You have to be stronger in faithfulness to God, you have to pray more, read the bible more. Seek His face more, especially if you want to win your family to God, then you cannot be weak christians. You have to be strong in claiming God's promise for your family. When your family hinders you from coming to the Lord, whether to church, or to anything that is of the Lord; don't be angry with them, don't scold them, because anger is weakness. Any strength of the flesh is weakness of the spirit. You should come down on your knees to your God and pray for them. You should show them love. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the discipline of showing love and one day, because you are stronger than them, you will lead them to Christ.