Angelus' Quote: Behold, the Virgin Shall Conceive and Bear a Son

 

The writer of old (unknown) wrote this beautiful description of my Lord Jesus Christ: 

In Chemistry, He turned water into wine.

In Biology, He was born without a normal conception.

In Physics, He disapproved of the law of gravity when He ascended into heaven.

In Economics, He disapproved of the laws of diminishing return by feeding 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.

In Medicine, He cured the sick and the blind, without administering a single dose of drugs.

In History, He is the beginning and the end.

In Government, it is declared that He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace. 

In Religion, He said no one comes to the Father except through Him.

#ServeToLead #ChristIsAwesome #Emmanuel #GodWithUs

FB Page: https://facebook.com/LEGASI.tv/               
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/LEGASI.tv/            
YouTube: http://bit.ly/LEGASItv

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

6 Observations from Kuching Christmas Parade 2018 (and Why You Should Come Next Year)

Trinity Methodist Church (TMC) Kuching is a missional church. I had attended TMC for about 2 years and then moved to the local Anglican Church. I was involved in the TMC Mission Ministry for one year as part of the committees. I’ve witnessed the church's genuine passion for Christ and desire for others to know Him as Lord and Saviour. TMC's Mission is “Being and Making Disciple for Christ” and the leaders led by Rev Dr. Lau Hui Ming (a very humble man) make sure that their members – the church – grasp the vision and mission in their lives. They put their money (and prayer) where their mouth is. The church grows because the church goes. So, no wonder TMC has been organizing the Kuching Christmas Parade since 2007 because it aligns with its mission statement.

This year, the theme is Good News of Great Joy. It was expected more than 7,000 participants before the event, but it turned out to be more than 10,000 Christians from almost all the main churches in Kuching on the actual day. There were children and adults, church leaders and elders, youths and students, uniformed bands, decorated cars and Christmas trees. The 4-5km parade started from MBKS Jubilees ground to Kuching waterfront and back to the Jubilees ground. Malay Mail (8^th Dec 2019) online news reported that the participating churches were the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church SCAC, Methodist Church SIAC, BEM (SIB) Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Blessed Church, Sarawak Grace Assembly Kuching, Hope Church Kuching, Calvary Family Church, Good News Fellowship, City Harvest Church, and Fellowship of Evangelical Students (FES). I joined under the banner of FES, a student ministry, which consisted of students from local campuses and universities such as UiTM, UNIMAS, TCS, SIDMA/UNITAR, I-System, etc. To use Nicholas Spark’s classic romance novel, the parade was “a walk to remember.”

The picture was taken from Herald Malaysia (http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/some-10000-christians-take-part-in-kuching-christmas-parade/33776/1)

There are Six (6) Things that I observed during the parade that I want to share with you here:

#1 It Didn’t Rain. 2 hours before the parade, the weather was cloudy. When I took a picture at 4.04 pm, I thought it was going to rain and the event would be canceled. But the people who were practicing that day seemed to be ignoring the weather and proceeding with the program as if nothing bad going to happen. Either they were ignored or they had faith in God for good weather (or both), what was sure was that people were praying all day long. I was told that a group of intercessory prayer was praying for the event since morning until the end of the parade [To the point of contrast, the anti-ICERD rally at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, ends early today due to rain. Coincident?].

#2 There Was No Wind. I noticed during praise and worship and prayers when most people bowed down and prayed, I looked up and was puzzled by the strangeness of the weather. The tree leaves don’t move at all. No wind. So how come the cloudy weather suddenly becomes clear? Strange. Usually, if the weather is cloudy and there is no wind, then most probably (90%) it’s going to rain. But during the parade, there is no rain at all, only drizzle after that. Miracle.

#3 The Most Smiling Faces of the Year. Pastor Nicholas Ningkau of the Sarawak Grace Assembly Church of Kuching said to the Malay Mail reporter, “When Christians take part in the parade, it has always been peaceful as we sing Christmas songs.” Imagine about 10,000 participants filled with Christian joy of celebrating the birth of the Saviour, met with about 5,000 plus excited people who stood on the sidewalk to witness the parade (including those in the cars), there was no doubt about the joy that we experienced together. I’ve never seen the most smiling faces in Malaysia any other month of the year except on Christmas (probably I'm biased).

#4 A Cloud of Witnesses. Cloudy weather? No more. A cloud of witnesses? Yes! Everyone knows that there are lots of Christian denominations in Sarawak. So much so that even some Christians are confused. Thus, the Christmas parade is one of the biggest opportunities for us to show that although we are different – we are one. Also, the Christmas parade is the largest gathering of Christians in Kuching (on the same day, there was also a Christmas parade in Miri and Bintulu). Not only had we witnessed churches coming together as one body of Christ, but we also represented Christians from multi-ethnic and racial backgrounds. This reminds me of Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17:21, “that all of them may be one” so that “the world may believe that [the Father] has sent me.”

#5 Kids, Kids, Kids. One of the best parts of the Christmas parade is the kid's joyful heart. If you joined the parade you’ll know what I mean. If not, I hope you join next year. For the sake of these kids, join the parade! They love to see us. They enjoy joyful celebrations. They expect gifts from us. Even if some of the kids might not get any presents or candies, your smile, handshake, and hi-five are enough for them (although there were kids who solely came with one overarching purpose – to collect gifts only). If we can instill in the children’s minds that Christmas is a season of celebration, giving, and sharing, then we already teach them the most important values in life.

#6 Sarawak Is Like No Other. You heard this so much that it might sound like a cliché but it’s true. Sarawak is a place where people of various races are (almost totally) free to practice their culture, tradition, and religion without hindrance. “For Sarawakians,” said Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, “diversity is beauty and strength, and not division.” I agree! During the parade, a group of Malay Muslims wished us “Merry Christmas!” and we did not end up with a religious debate. Instead, we greeted one another in perfect harmony and peace-loving humanity. A group of Buddhist society (I assumed because they were wearing the same uniform) joined the parade and passed along biscuits for us to give to others. It wasn’t much but it shows that we are all in this together. Jason Mraz puts it beautifully: “The question is why, why are we here? To say our hello's and goodbye's and then disappear; This beautiful life, what is it for? To learn how to master peace or master war… Love is still the answer.” And Sarawak is like no other (it rhymes).

Next Year's Christmas Parade. Don’t miss it. Join.

You Will Be Blessed and Bringing Blessing to Others. This is Christmas.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

PS: I don't like big events. Crowd drains my energy, personal time empowers me. But the Christmas Parade is different. It is churches coming together. It is an open invitation. It is a Church with no walls! Worship in buildings is comfortable, but worship in the open space is freedom. Christ's birth was announced to sinners, His death was a public execution, and He rose again and was taken up to heaven... all in public. This is not a secret society or buildings religion... this is Christianity, followers of the living Christ!

Simple Book Review: "A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger" (2005) by Lee Strobel

The Case for Christmas:
A Journalist Investigates the Identity of the Child in the Manger (2005)
by Lee Strobel

I have read The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Strobel before, and both books are very eye-opening. The Case for Christmas (actually excerpted from The Case for Christ) - compact and brief, interesting and challenging - is a very carefully investigated accounts of the Man behind the first Christmas morning.

This book is divided into four chapters:

§  The Eyewitness Evidence: Can the Biographies of Jesus Be Trusted?

§  The Scientific Evidence: Does Archaeology Confirm or Contradict Jesus' Biographies?

§  The Profile Evidence: Did Jesus Fulfill the Attributes of God?

§  The Fingerprint Evidence: Did Jesus - and Jesus Alone - Match the Identity of the Messiah?

Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the Son of God worthy of our adoration and worship :) Merry Christmas everyone.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Young Men, Consider the Infant Jesus

“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God”
(Luke 1:35, NIV).

“There is a new baby born every minute. What is unique about this one?” The shepherds and the Magi might have said this about the baby Jesus. But they didn’t. They worshipped Him, while a multitude of the heavenly host praised God for His unspeakable gift.

            This baby was unique in many ways. He was the only baby whose conception was not the beginning of His existence. He claimed, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). How could there be an incarnation if there had been no previous existence? To deny the latter makes the formerly impossible. To go back further, could there be a Trinity if there were no pre-existent Son of God? Jesus was unique among men because His birth did not mark His origin.

            He was the only baby who had no human father. He was conceived by the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” were the angel’s words to Mary in Luke 1:35. It had taken more than four millennia for God to prepare for this momentous event. Was His birth likely to be according to the ordinary course of nature? A person such as Jesus demanded a birth such as Scripture records.

            No other baby was born without the taint of sin. “The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” He was holy, harmless, undefiled – free from all moral impurity. Fearlessly He challenged His contemporaries: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46). John’s testimony was, “In him is no sin” (1 John 3:5).

            He was the only baby who was more than a man. He possessed two natures – Son of Man and Son of God – and yet united, and functioning in a single personality. “He continues to be God and Man, in two distinct natures and one person forever” (Westminster Catechism). Is this mysterious? Yes! “Beyond all question, the mystery from which the true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).

            Finally, He was the only baby who was born for the purpose of dying. To all others death was inevitable. To Him it was self-chosen.

            No wonder that two millennia later, the whole world stops to take notice of His birthday, and that so much beloved music is devoted to His unique birth.

[Edited, modified and modernized from considering Him (1976) by J. Oswald Sanders]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Shows What Love Does

Would you do what Jesus did? He swapped a spotless castle for a grimy stable. He exchanged the worship of angels for the company of killers. He could hold the universe in His palm but gave it up to float in the womb of a maiden.

            If you were God, would you sleep on straw, nurse from a breast, and be clothed in a diaper? I wouldn’t, but Christ did.

            If you knew that those you loved would laugh in your face, would you still care? …Christ did.

            He humbled Himself. He went from commanding angels to sleeping in the straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier.

            Why? Because that’s what love does. It puts the beloved before itself.

            Love goes the distance… and Christ traveled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us. He didn’t have to. He could have given up. At any step along the way, He could have called it quits.

            When He saw the size of the womb, He could have stopped.

            When He saw how tiny His hand would be, how soft His voice would be, how hungry His tummy would be, He could have stopped. At the first whiff of the stinky stable, at the first gust of cold air. The first time He scraped His knee or blew His nose or tasted burnt bagels, He could have turned and walked out.  

            When He saw the dirt floor of His Nazareth house. When Joseph gave Him a chore to do. When His fellow students were dozing off during the reading of the Torah, His Torah. At any point Jesus could have said, “That’s it! That’s enough! I’m going home.” But He didn’t.

            He didn’t because He is love.

[Taken from 3:16 by Max Lucado]

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus Is the Son of God: Nobody Can both Accept God and Deny His Son (1 John 5:9-10)

The Question: What is the Truth?

“Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son”

(1 John 5:9-10, NLT).

What has been hinted at is now stated clearly: God is the One behind all of these witnesses. Through the events we see in history (“the water” Jesus’ birth and baptism; “the blood” Jesus’ death and resurrection), and the coming of “the (Holy) Spirit” into our lives, we can know beyond a doubt that our beliefs are really true (1 John 5:6-8). We know that Jesus Christ, “the Son of God” became a man to take away our sins; we know that we have passed from death to life; we know that we are God’s children and have received victory over this evil world. “True Christianity,” writes Dr. Henrietta C. Mears, “is more than a creed – it is something that can be known and felt.”

If “we believe human testimony” in court when two or three give evidence, how much more we should accept the testimony of God – “We can believe the greater testimony that comes from God.” God’s Word is greater than human’s words. Notice that John writes “believe in” the Son of God. He makes an important distinction here. There is a great difference between believing about someone (knowing lots of details about that person) and believing in someone (accepting the whole person, believing and appreciating all that he stands for). The second kind of belief is the kind that God wants us to have. God does not just want us to believe everything about Him (though it is very important); instead first and foremost, God wants us to “believe in the Son of God,” Jesus Christ – making a wholehearted commitment to Him.

“Those who don’t believe [that Jesus is the Son of God] are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.” We might not directly say that God is a liar, but by our unbelieving, we in fact believe that God’s testimony is not true. God has said all over the Scripture that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). He also said that Jesus is the Son of God. Some people do not believe this. They deny Jesus. They do not agree with God’s testimony. So they behave as if God tells lies. They act as if God’s words are untrue. They have refused to believe in God and Christ. “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23, NIV) and “No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son” (Matthew 11:27). To receive the Son is to receive the Father. To deny the Son is to deny the Father. Nobody can both accept God and deny his Son.

Again, nobody can both accept God and deny his Son. This is a serious matter. Here is God’s verdict: “He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12). Do you have Jesus in your life? Don’t sleep until you settle this question.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. START SMALL.

Jesus' Top 10 Reasons He Came to the World (a.k.a. Birthday Sure-Happened Wishes)

Jesus Immanuel and Always Be with Us

Matthew, the writer, wanted to make sure his Jewish readers (who were his primary original audience) saw the connection between events in Jesus’ life and the prophesies about the Messiah in their Scriptures, our Old Testament. He writes, “All of this [Jesus’ birth] occurred to fulfil the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’’” (Matthew 1:22-23, NLT). The passage Matthew referred to came from the prophet Isaiah. While it likely had a short-term fulfilment, early Jewish scholars saw in passages like Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 whispers from God about the promised Messiah.

Until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the middle of the twentieth century, the accuracy of messianic prophecies were often chalked up to Christians editing the ancient texts and “writing in” references to Jesus. (Yes, Christian scholars were and are accused of editing the ancient texts even today. Why? Because the accuracy of Jesus fulfilling the ancient prophesies about the first coming of Messiah are staggeringly, miraculously accurate that it seems impossible for it to really happen. Unbelievable, it is. But it happened. Believe that the Hebrew Scriptures, the Bible to be the work of God or remain sceptic). A complete scroll of the Book of Isaiah dating to before the time of Jesus was part of the Qumran treasure trove, giving us documented evidence that prophecies about Jesus were on record long before he was born.

In Isaiah’s immediate context, the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 was (and can be) referred to a contemporary fulfilment. But the ultimate fulfilment of the prophecy would occur when a virgin (Mary) would actually conceive and bear a son (Jesus) who would be “God with us” – Immanuel. Interestingly, the final verse in Matthew’s Gospel records Jesus saying, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:10) – Jesus was not only born Immanuel, but he remains forever God with us among all peoples, to the end of the age.

Think about this: Because God foreknows, he can foretell. Because God is ultimately in control, what he foretells will come to be. These prophesies invite and test our trust in God. The accuracy of fulfilment that can be traced in Jesus’ life leaves us without excuse when it comes to trusting God’s plan for the world and his plan for our own lives. Question – In what ways are you trusting God today?

God with us.

God with us always.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Jesus, You're Not Welcome (A Reflection on Mark 6:1-6)

Christmas. The angels announced Jesus’ coming. The visitors from the East welcomed him. The shepherds were rejoiced and visited him. But his own people did not welcome him. Jesus was rejected. I have had many friends in the past. Friends who would ‘die’ for me, drink with me, smoke and share cigarette with me. When I told them that I want to follow Jesus seriously and invites them to join me, they rejected me (Even my mother and family members, at first, accused me of being radical). My hundreds of friends now reduce to dozen of good faithful friends. Christmas reminds me of that truth.

The story of Jesus is a story of rejection. The apostle John summarised that fact when he wrote, “He came to his own people, and even they rejected him” (John 1:11). It’s sadly ironic that the people in general have arrogantly displayed a “No Trespassing” sign to their Creator.  Mark 6:1-6 is especially touching because Jesus is rejected by the people of Nazareth, his hometown where he grew up. No doubt, they had heard reports of his powerful teaching and healing ministry throughout Galilee, and his first appearance in the local synagogue was impressive that “many people were there; and when they heard him, they were all amazed” (Mark 6:2).

“’Where did he get all this?’ they asked. ‘What wisdom is this that has been given him? How does he perform miracles? Isn’t he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters living here?’ And so they rejected him” (Mark 6:2-3).

Based on the people’s respond, “Isn’t he the carpenter?” they doubted Jesus’ validity because he did not have the status or prestige of a teacher such as a Pharisee. To them, he was no more than a common labourer. They amazed at his wisdom, lifestyle and godliness but because of his low status, he remains nothing to them. “Isn’t he… the son of Mary?” another respond. Do you know? In Jesus’ time, a child was always referred to as the son of his father (same also in our Iban culture. My real name is Richard anak Ramlee. ‘anak’ means, in this context, is ‘the son of.’ The Indian is more obvious, ‘A/L’ in between of their name means ‘anak lelaki.’ Same also as the use of family surname in Chinese culture). Thus, referring to Jesus as the son of Mary implied that Jesus was illegitimate (or the more harsh word would be, ‘a bastard child’). The hometown people evidently knew and remembered that Mary had become pregnant with Jesus before her marriage to Joseph.

So rather than welcoming Jesus as a teacher and healer, the people of Nazareth snubbed him as a simple village carpenter and supposed illegitimate. Jesus was obviously hurt and disappointed. Jesus said to them, “Prophets are respected everywhere except in their own hometown and by their relatives and their family” (Mark 6:4). For sure, among the people were his own relatives and family. But on the other side, their unwillingness to accept Jesus hurt them more than it did to him because, “he was not able to perform any miracles there, except that he places his hands on a few sick people and healed them. He was greatly surprised, because the people did not have faith” (Mark 6:5). Truth is their rejection to the message of Jesus was also their rejection to God’s message, and their judgement would be infinitely worse than their rejection of Jesus.

Friends, be prepares to be rejected as a true Christian. Jesus clearly stated that rejection, even hatred, would be the destiny of his followers. “Because… I chose you out of the world… the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). When a friend finds out that you won’t cheating for exam with him because of your obedient to follow Christ, he may reject you. When you refuse to be compromise and defended the faith when religion lecturers or friends play a fool and talk nonsense about Jesus, when you stand up for the truth with love and conviction, you will be persecuted. Your loyalty, purity, honestly and dependability as a Christian is going to make you look as weird in the eyes of some people. Take heart!

But let’s look on the bright side now. Jesus promised a special blessing and reward for those who are rejected as his followers. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For great reward awaits you in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). Friends, you can live this life as a camouflaged ‘Christians’ avoiding confrontation and rejection. But the believers who takes a stand for what is right, even if it means losing their popularity, friends or status, is entitled for “great reward in heaven.” Not I, but Jesus promised you. This is sure assurance as Jesus is living today.

How does all of these (above) make you feel about being a follower of Jesus?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Christmas: What Christ Done for Us and What We Done for Christ Matters

“There is a blessed kind of giving, which,

though it makes the purse lighter, makes the crown heavier” (Thomas Watson)

Good movie to watch on Christmas Eve. The film Schindler’s List chronicled the heroic efforts of a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler. Through his unselfish activities, over a thousand Jews on the trains to Auschwitz were saved. Although the film, even on television, has some very graphic and disturbing scenes, the message itself is profound.

After Schindler found out what was happening at Auschwitz (one of German Nazi’s concentration camps), he began a systematic effort to save as many Jews as he could. For money, he would buy Jews to work in his factory which was supposed to be a part of the military machine of Germany. On one hand he was buying as many Jews as he could, and on the other hand he was deliberately sabotaging the ammunition produced in his factory. He entered the war a wealthy industrialist; by the end of the war, he was basically bankrupt.

When the Germans surrendered, Schindler met with his workers and declared that at midnight they were all free to go. The most emotional scene of the film was when Schindler said good-bye to the financial manager of the plant, a Jew and his good and trusted friend. As he embraced his friend, Schindler sobbed and said, “I could have done more.” He looked at his automobile and asked, “Why did I save this? I could have bought 10 Jews with this.” Taking another small possession he cried, “This would have saved another one. Why didn’t I do more?”

Friends, one day Jesus is going to split the eastern sky and come for his own. It will not matter then how much money we have in mutual fund or how many bedrooms we have in our homes. The temporary satisfaction we have in vacations and nice cars will be gone. Only what we have done for the cause of Christ will matter. “Only what’s done for Christ, will last.” This is the message of Christmas I learned strongly this year. Give. Give. Give.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Unless We Walk Daily with Christ in a Real Experience, We Have Nothing to Share this Christmas

“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished…” (Luke 2:15-18, NLT).

Christians are supposed to be witnesses, not judges. It is not our responsibility to tell people their faults and sins; it is our privilege, especially this Christmas, to tell them about Christ and the salvation he alone can give. Like the shepherds and the apostles, our task is simply to tell people what we have seen and heard concerning Jesus Christ.

This makes witnessing a personal, practical thing. Some Christians “play the same old record” (consider how the Christmas messages were delivered for the past few years) and think they are communicating the excitement and challenge of the Christian life, but they’re not. Unless we personally walk daily with Christ in a real experience, we have nothing to share with others. The Gospel or Good News is not past history (although it is certainly based on historical facts) – it is present reality. “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3).

If witnessing means sharing a personal experience, then the believer must maintain that fellowship with Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit makes Christ real to us, and then through us to others. “[I] will send you the Advocate – the spirit of truth,” said Jesus, “He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry” (John 15:26-27).

Don’t allow witnessing to become a strained, artificial thing. Stay in the Spirit, enjoy a personal walk with Christ through his Word, prayer and fellowship, and like the disciples, you will say, “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Merry Christmas!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

History behind "The Twelve Days of Christmas" Hymn

Many historians believe the well-known children song, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is actually a Christian hymn in disguise. During the reign of England’s Queen Elizabeth I, a staunch Protestant, English Catholics were oppressed and persecuted (during Protestant-Catholic religious war). Priests met secretly with small groups of Catholics, risking their lives to conduct worship and observe mass.

Under such circumstances, it was difficult to train or catechize Catholic children. But an unknown, clever priest found a unique way to teaching the Gospel to children, using the theme of the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany, when the Wise Men, according to tradition, arrived with their gifts for the Christchild.

The priest hid biblical truth in the symbols he used in his carol, beginning with the words: “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…” The “True Love” referred to God the Father, and the “Me” represents the Christian who receives the gift. The “Partridge in the Pear Tree” is Jesus Christ. Why a partridge? Mother partridges are known for feigning injury to decoy predators from their babies. The children were thereby taught about Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

The two turtle doves represented the Old and New Testaments. The three French hens symbolized faith, hope, and love – the three great virtues we should display as we come to know Christ as Lord and read the Old and New Testaments. The other symbols*:

·        Four calling birds – the four Gospels

·        Five golden rings – the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch

·        Six geese a laying – the six days of creation

·        Seven swans a-swimming – the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

·        Eight maids a-milking – the eight Beatitudes of Matthew 5

·        Nine ladies dancing – nine choirs of angels

·        Ten lords a-leaping – the Ten Commandments

·        Eleven pipers piping – the eleven faithful apostles

·        Twelve drummers drumming – the twelve articles of the Apostles’ Creed

So, next time if you listen to or sing ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, remember that it was composed to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to its listeners. Sing, people sing, with your voice and heart, words and meanings – sing Christmas songs!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Reference:

Robert J. Morgan, Preacher’s Sourcebook of Creative Sermon Illustrations (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2007), p.112

It's Okay to Sing Off-Key this Christmas Eve

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalms 95:1,esv)

In her book In My Father’s House, Corrie Ten Boom used to tell a story about an old monk who sang a Christmas song every Christmas Eve for his brothers in the monastery, and for visitors who would come from the village for the special services. His voice was very ugly, but he loved the Lord and sang from his heart. One year the director of the cloister said,

“I’m sorry, Brother Don, we will not need you this Christmas. We have a new monk who has a beautiful voice.”

The man did sing beautifully, and everyone was happy. But that night an angel came to the superior and said, “Why didn’t you have a Christmas Eve song?”

The superior was very surprised. “We had a beautiful song,” he replied. “Didn’t you hear it?”

The angel shook his head sadly. “It may have been inspiring to you, but we didn’t hear in heaven.”

“You see,” Corrie would say, “the old monk with the raspy voice had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus, but the young monk was singing for his benefit, not for the Lord.”

This Christmas sing with joy unto the Lord,

Sing with our heart and not just our voice,

Oh come; let us sing to the Lord,

To the rock of our salvation – let us make a joyful noise!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Misteri tentang Kelahiran Yesus (dan Selamat Hari Krismas)

“Oleh itu, Pilatus bertanya kepada-Nya, ‘Jika demikian, adakah kamu ini raja?’

Yesus menjawab, ‘Kamu yang berkata bahawa Aku raja. Aku dilahirkan dan datang ke dunia untuk satu maksud sahaja; Aku datang untuk berkata tentang apa yang benar. Sesiapa yang menerima apa yang benar, mendengarkan Aku’” (Yohanes 18:37)



Ini gambar sahaja.
Saya rasa bayi Yesus tidaklah bersinar begini.
Dia datang sebagai manusia - bukan makhluk ajaib!



Pagi ini saya membaca dan merenung Firman ini. Firman ini sangat memberkati dan sungguh memberi semangat kepada saya sebelum menyambut hari perayaan Krismas esok (walaupun teks ini datangnya dari riwayat terakhir Yesus di dunia, bukannya semasa kelahiran-Nya).

Keunikkan kelahiran Yesus ialah Dia tidak ‘wujud’ atau ‘diadakan’ semasa kelahiran-Nya. Dia sudah ada, sentiasa ada, sebelum Dia dilahirkan di Betlehem. Personaliti, keperibadian dan diri Yesus Kristus sudah ada sebelum Yesus datang sebagai manusia.

Ayat teologi untuk misteri agung ini ialah bukan ‘kejadian’ (creation) tetapi ‘penjelmaan’ (incarnation) [Nota: Tiada ayat dalam Bahasa Malaysia yang sesuai untuk menyatakan maksud ‘Incarnation’ dalam erti istilah Teologi Kristian dengan lebih tepat. Maka, saya menggunakan ayat ‘Penjelmaan’. Saya sungguh kecewa]. Diri Yesus, bukan badan fizikal-Nya, tetapi inti pati diri ketuhanan Yesus telah wujud (sentiasa wujud) sebelum Dia dilahirkan sebagai manusia. Kelahiran-Nya di dunia tidak ‘menjadikan’ Yesus sebagai makhluk baru, tetapi Yesus yang lahir lebih kurang 2,000 tahun dahulu ialah Yesus yang pernah ada sejak zaman purba.

Jika kamu membuka (okay... selepas menyapu habuk) Al-Kitab kamu ke Mikha 5:1, kamu akan mendapati bahawa Tuhan Allah sudah pun menceritakan kepada nabi Mikha tentang kedatangan Yesus sebelum Dia datang ke dunia 700 tahun kemudian:

“Hai Betlehem Efrata, engkaulah salah satu kota yang terkecil di negeri Yehuda, tetapi daripadamu Aku akan memberi Israel seorang penguasa; asal usul nenek moyangnya bermula dari zaman purba.”

Misteri agung tentang kelahiran Yesus bukan hanya terletak pada kelahiran-Nya oleh perawan Maria. Mukjizat itu dijadikan oleh Tuhan Allah untuk memberi saksi kepada satu lagi mukjizat yang lebih hebat – iaitu, bayi yang lahir di Betlehem itu ialah seorang yang pernah ada “bermula dari zaman purba”. Oleh itu, Dia “dilahirkan dan datang ke dunia” untuk “berkata tentang apa yang benar”. Kebenaran tentang apa? Yohanes 14:6:

Yesus menjawab, “Akulah jalan untuk mengenal Allah dan untuk mendapat hidup. Tidak seorang pun dapat datang kepada Bapa kecuali melalui Aku. Kerana kamu mengenal Aku, kamu akan mengenal Bapa-Ku juga. Mulai sekarang kamu mengenal Dia dan sudah melihat Dia.”

Bagaimana ini mungkin terjadi? Ini kerana Yesus dan Bapa adalah satu. Dia sudah ada dan bersama dengan Bapa “bermula [dari] zaman purba”. Maksudnya, Dia pernah ada dan sentiasa akan ada. Inilah kebenarannya – Percayakah kamu?

Selamat menyambut hari Krismas!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Don't Miss what God has to Give

Don’t get so wrapped up in what the world has to sell that you miss what God has to give. Christmas is not about shopping; though it is okay to go shopping since it is at the end of the year and you want to start brand-new next year. Plus, you had your bonus this month.  Christmas is not about getting drunk; though it is reluctantly-permissible to get drunk since some of you are not really an alcoholic – you just want to have fun. God create wine, remember? Christmas is not about you; though it is true that our Saviour come to and for us. Friends, let me remind you, Christmas is about Christ. Surprise? Just realize? Still awake?

Christmas is about Jesus. Hey, go on shopping. Go on drinking. Go on thinking about yourself. There is nothing wrong doing that (but everything wrong if you’re sinning while doing that). But in the midst of all around you – don’t miss what God has to give. Don’t miss the reason why we celebrate Christmas. I remember a story:

Someone asked a boy, “Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?”

The boy said, “No, I didn’t get everything I wanted. But then it’s not my birthday, is it?”

No. the boy is right. Not ours – but Him. May I suggest to you something to do before celebrating this wonderful day? How about delighting your mind with Jesus? Think about Him. Feel Him. Get to know Him. How? Start by the reading about His birth story. Read:

The Sign of Immanuel [Isaiah 7:10-17]

The Birth of Jesus is Announced [Luke 1:26-38]

The Shepherds are told of the Birth of Jesus [Luke 2:8-20]

The Birth of Jesus [Matthew 1:18-25]

Three Wise Men [Matthew 2:1-12]

I know that these passages of the Scripture are very familiar to you… But now, instead of hearing someone reads it: go read it alone, on your own. Read it with your God-given imaginations. Read it and pray about it. Read and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate you heart to it.

Friends, how about a Date with Jesus this Christmas?

Are you ON?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Below are my reflections and thoughts on Christmas. These articles might be helpful for you – I pray. Click the title to read:

1)  It Will be Happy Christmas if You have God with You

2)    Jesus Come to You

3)    Your Deepest Need and the Message of Christmas

4)    A Swarm of Ants and the Message of Christmas

5)    Television News and the Message of Christmas

6)    Adriana’s Birthday and the Message of Christmas

7)    The Identity of Christ and the Message of Christmas

8)    The Visit of Magi and the Message of Christmas

9)    The Simplicity of God’s Salvation and the Message of Christmas

10) Gold for a King

11) Frankincense for a King

12) Myrrh for a King