Persecution

As I traveled home on the bus; I am grateful that I am safe in an orderly and civilized society that generally accepts Christian beliefs. Reflecting on The Kingdom of God, it revealed the unexpected mission of Jesus, the Messiah whom was destined to suffer and die on the cross for us. The persecution is so overwhelming to me. Jesus suffered so much and so do our Christian brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. It is hard for me to comprehend it, the brutality of ignorance, the life on the run in fear of persecution. Yet it is still happening right now in this world.

Late last year after my molecular biology and genetics lecture, I was told that there was an emergency. My friend showed me her phone with the sms from a Pastor in India, he requested for urgent prayers. I was devastated to read that Hindu extremists burnt down churches and were threatening to kill Pastors and Christians in India. While my classmates packed their bags to leave the room, I was in deep thought and couldn't hold my emotions anymore... in tears, I wept.

Our brothers and sisters are on the run, please read their news below and pray for them.

In the past 18 months, Orissa has been the scene of some of the worst anti-Christian violence and persecution since India gained independence, notably in December 2007 and August 2008. Hindu extremists have killed at least 120 Christians and injured thousands. Homes, churches and orphanages have been destroyed and whole villages cleansed of all Christians. Relief camps, where the Christian families fled in search of safety and shelter, were subsequently attacked.

Tens of thousands of Christians are now homeless in Orissa with their possessions burned; Christian children are unable to go to school and local businesses have stopped employing Christians as day labourers. The attackers also purposely ripped up educational certificates and diplomas of the Christians, burning the pieces. Families are living in cramped conditions in makeshift camps in the middle of fields. There has been limited help from the government; the homeless Christians barely have enough food and are constantly fearful of further attacks, taking it in turns to guard the camp at night.

Orissa Christians whose identity papers have been burned are not allowed to vote. The authorities in Kandhamal district have said they will issue new identity papers, but these must be collected in person. Many homeless Christians are too frightened to return to their original villages as they have been told by former neighbours that only if they renounce their faith and convert to Hinduism and drop charges against anyone involved in the violence will they be allowed to return home.

Please Pray
Pray for Christians in Orissa, that the Lord will sustain them and keep them safe in the midst of violence and persecution.

Pray that the freedom of India`s Christian minorities will be safeguarded and that the Christians from Orissa will be allowed to return to their homes without the fear of further violence or being forced to convert to Hinduism.

Pray for the upcoming general elections in India, that the polling will be fair and that Christians will have a voice. Pray for a peaceful conclusion to the elections and a ceasing of violence against the Christian communities.

Pray for the continuing successful distribution of food supplies and also for the provision of medical, educational and micro-enterprise needs for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Pray for the Hindu extremists who have carried out this violence, that the Lord Jesus Christ will touch their hearts. Some of the Hindu extremists have claimed that Hindus are the real victims in this situation, not because they have suffered any physical harm but because they "want to protect their sense of dignity".

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.

:)

Isaiah 58 True Fasting

Isaiah 58:6-7 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

There's a lot of stigma attached with homeless people, the way they live, speak and behave. Until you will get there speaking with them you will soon realise they are no different from you and me. They have different stories to tell you : no identity cards, no $$ , alcoholics, hang out with prostitutes, slept in brothels, father was worshipping the wrong divinity, partner was doing drugs.

I set off at 7.30pm with a bunch of volunteers from Vinnies and UNSW postgraduate students to Martins Place and the backyard of St Marys Cathedral with expectancy that i will sow a seed into someone's life. That person was David. David is an aboriginal looking guy, well above his 40s' , big man and he seemed to know what time the 2 vinnies vans would be coming to serve food and drinks. Giving away chocolates to him i began to know his story, he was actually taking extra food for 2 elderly women who could not walk and bring back to them. He lived in promiscuity, drugs etc, but as i was listening to him, there was hope in his words. That arouse my attention and i got to know while living a sinful life, he got saved and asked God to come into his life while kneeling next to his bed. He has had enough with his previous life. ''I am the way, the truth and the life , no one comes to God except through me''. I felt compassionate towards this guy at what he went through and the courage he is taking to bring food to those who need more than him. I am so thankful to be able to encourage him stand strong in adversity, minister to him, believing in him and sow into his life. The response i received from him nearly made my heart melt, he called me 'an inspiration' into his life.

When you meet other people's needs, God has promised He will make sure your needs are supplied. If you want to see healing and restoration come to your life, go out and help somebody else get well. The Bible says , 'In times of difficulty trust in the Lord and do good' PSALM 37:1-3. It's not good enough to say ''God i trust you, i know you are going to meet all my needs.'That's tantamount to the farmer not planting any seeds and expecting a fabulous harvest. There are two things we must do in times of trouble. First we must trust in the Lord, and we must go out and do something good. If you need a financial miracle, go and give a little extra in the offering at church, go and buy somebody a cup of coffee. If you are lonely and lacking friends, don't sit at home month after month feeling sorry for yourself. Go to the hospital and find somebody you can cheer up. If you generously take care of others, God will take care of your own needs. If you will focus on giving generously to others, God will make sure your own life is refreshed, even though you must go through a dry , dreary wilderness.

We should constantly be on the lookout for ways that we can be a blessing, not just when our backs are against the wall. We should get up each day looking for ways to help others. If you will do that the Bible says in Isaiah 58:8:''Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.''

The Painting

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'

But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'

Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. 'I'll give $10 for the painting..' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'

'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'

'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!'

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: 'The son, the son, who'll take the son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

***
If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything, If you look at what you have in life, you have everything.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Judgement

http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p123a12.htm#I

THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT
1021 Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.⁵⁹⁰ The New Testament speaks of judgment primarily in its aspect of the final encounter with Christ in his second coming, but also repeatedly affirms that each will be rewarded immediately after death in accordance with his works and faith. The parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts speak of a final destiny of the soul--a destiny which can be different for some and for others.⁵⁹¹

1022 Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven-through a purification⁵⁹² or immediately,⁵⁹³--or immediate and everlasting damnation.⁵⁹⁴

At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.⁵⁹⁵

592 Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): DS 857-858; Council of Florence (1439): DS 1304- 1306; Council of Trent (1563): DS 1820.
593 Cf. Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): DS 1000-1001; John XXII, Ne super his (1334): DS 990.
594 Cf. Benedict XII, 8enedictus Deus (1336): DS 1002.
595 St. John of the Cross, Dichos 64.
596 1 Jn 3:2; cf. 1 Cor 13:12; Rev 22:4.
597 Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): DS 1000; cf. LG 49.

THE LAST JUDGMENT
1038 The resurrection of all the dead, "of both the just and the unjust,"⁶²¹ will precede the Last Judgment. This will be "the hour when all who are in the tombs will hear [the Son of man's] voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."⁶²² Then Christ will come "in his glory, and all the angels with him .... Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.... And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."⁶²³

1039 In the presence of Christ, who is Truth itself, the truth of each man's relationship with God will be laid bare.⁶²⁴ The Last Judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life:

All that the wicked do is recorded, and they do not know. When "our God comes, he does not keep silence.". . . he will turn towards those at his left hand: . . . "I placed my poor little ones on earth for you. I as their head was seated in heaven at the right hand of my Father - but on earth my members were suffering, my members on earth were in need. If you gave anything to my members, what you gave would reach their Head. Would that you had known that my little ones were in need when I placed them on earth for you and appointed them your stewards to bring your good works into my treasury. But you have placed nothing in their hands; therefore you have found nothing in my presence."⁶²⁵

1040 The Last Judgment will come when Christ returns in glory. Only the Father knows the day and the hour; only he determines the moment of its coming. Then through his Son Jesus Christ he will pronounce the final word on all history. We shall know the ultimate meaning of the whole work of creation and of the entire economy of salvation and understand the marvelous ways by which his Providence led everything towards its final end. The Last Judgment will reveal that God's justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that God's love is stronger than death.⁶²⁶

1041 The message of the Last Judgment calls men to conversion while God is still giving them "the acceptable time, . . . the day of salvation."⁶²⁷ It inspires a holy fear of God and commits them to the justice of the Kingdom of God. It proclaims the "blessed hope" of the Lord's return, when he will come "to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed."⁶²⁸

623 Mt 25:31, 32, 46.
624 Cf. Jn 12:49.
625 St. Augustine, Sermo 18, 4: PL 38, 130-131; cf. Ps 50:3.
626 Cf. Song 8:6.
627 2 Cor 6:2.
628 Titus 2:13; 2 Thess 1:10.
629 LG 48; Cf. Acts 3:21; Eph 1:10; Col 1:20; 2 Pet 3:10-13.
630 2 Pet 3:13; Cf. Rev 21:1.