Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony In a Complex World (1981, 2005) by Richard J. Foster, Book Review

Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony In a Complex World (1981, 2005) by Richard J. Foster

 
I was first introduced to Christian spiritual disciplines through Richard Foster's classic Celebration of Discipline many years ago. I learned so much from that book, and I've practiced some of it until today, such as the disciplines of study, service, solitude, celebration - and simplicity. But then, I read and heard other authors criticize this book as being very influenced by ancient Catholic mystics, Eastern practices, and extrabiblical advice. In my opinion, some of the critics are valid (such as contemplative prayer, Lectio Divina, etc., which I'm very uncomfortable with), and some simply disagree on methods and traditional streams of Christianity, which are very subjective. This is a good reminder - for me and you - to read any books, even so-called Christian books with spiritual discernment, and holy skepticism, and get the most out of them (perhaps Philippians 4:8 is applicable here).

With this in mind, I reread Richard Foster's Freedom of Simplicity, an extension of one of the disciplines in his classic book as mentioned above. The idea of Christian simplicity is similar to secular minimalism but with one major difference: the main focus of simplicity is on God first, not the self. It is about intentionally getting rid of the things and reordering our lives that hinder our walk with God. Or, to put it positively, to enable us to walk with God with joy and freedom. God is calling us to live a simple life as Jesus lived simply. It allows us to create more space and the mental capacity for the Holy Spirit to move in all areas of our lives. This book reminds me of Proverbs 30:8b-9, "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name." Give me Jesus!

Foster divided the book into two parts: the foundation and the practice. He first argues why the discipline of simplicity is urgent, challenging, complex, and yet necessary. He also shows that it is rooted in the Old Covenant (Testament), the New Covenant, and church history among the saints. Based on his survey of Biblical texts, witnesses and practices, he concludes that inward simplicity must consist of 1) The Divine Center and, 2) Holy Obedience. From these, outward and corporate simplicity will overflow from our lives to affect our community and the world around us. Foster ends this book with encouragement, namely, the simplicity of simplicity: "There are not many things we have to keep in mind - in fact, only one: to be attentive to the voice of the true Shepherd. There are not many decisions we have to make - in fact, only one: to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. There are not many tasks we have to do - in fact, only one: to obey him in all things." Come to think about it, the discipline of simplicity IS indeed simple because it is by God's grace. How do I get there? Well, hard work! A paradox.

#LeadersAreReaders #FreedomOfSimplicity #RichardFoster #SpiritualDiscipline #GraceAndWork #ChristianLifestyle #ServeToLead #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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What of Those Who Have Never Heard? (1986) by J. Oswald Sanders, Book Review

Whenever someone asked me, "Is Jesus the only way to salvation?" my answer is, "Yes." Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). It's not a way or one of the ways but "the Way" and He emphasized on exclusivity,  "No one... except through Me." But what about those who have never heard about Jesus and the Gospel? My initial response is that, except for children and the mentally deficient who are covered by the blood of Jesus, everyone is morally responsible for the light that they have received and for the law written on their hearts through nature, tradition, and conscience (refer to Romans 1-2). So, even if they never heard about Jesus once in their lifetime, on judgment day, they will have no excuse. As for what will happen to them, I say, we can be certain that the God who exhibits His love on the cross will be absolutely fair and that the righteous Judge of all the earth will do right!

Now, where do I get a such conviction? Through the written Word of God, the Scripture, and with the help of books such as this one, that is, by divine revelation (mainly) and critical thinking. I'm all for originality but when it comes to eternal matters, I go to the Author of life and His (flawed yet faithful) saints. J. Oswald Sanders writes this book with compassion, conviction, and clarity. He cares for souls and set out his Biblical position clearly by quoting relevant Scriptural passages with context and supporting them with thoughts from recognized evangelical scholars. He begins not by answering the question directly but first and foremost, with the urgent call of mission and evangelism. Chapter 1: Why Mission? I love it! If you read books on an important topic like this one only out of curiosity, then, it is of no use. But if it's also out of concern for others, then, it will move you to action. This book is a great tool to do just that.

"If what is written in the foregoing pages is the Scriptural teaching concerning the spiritual condition of the unevangelized heathen - and I see no alternative to believing that it is - then how URGENT is our obligation to make Christ known to all men as speedily as possible. We should throw ourselves into the missionary enterprise with abandon," challenge Mr. Sanders to us, the receivers of God's gracious salvation. A student once asked Charles H. Spurgeon about this very same topic. He answered him very directly, "It is more a question with me whether we who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who are lost can be saved." Amen.

Note: I would like to recommend another short book that covers this topic but from a different theological perspective (a.k.a. Calvinism), namely, John Piper's Jesus The Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to Be Saved? (2010)

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #JesusTheWay #MissionAndEvangelism #GospelOfSalvation #JOswardSanders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Power of The Word and words #LeadersAreReaders January 2023

I was doing a house cleaning last week when I discovered my old notes with amazing stories in them. Let me share one about the transforming power of the Word. It is written by Peter V. Deison about a man named Ramad. Ramad was the most dangerous man in all of India. His gang attacked, plundered, and terrified the remote villages of the area. He was wanted dead or alive. While ransacking a small home in one of these villages, he found a small black book.

At first, he started to throw it away, but he noticed that the paper was very thin and just the right size for roll-you-own cigarettes. Each evening after a meal Ramad would relax with a smoke. He would take out the little book, tear a page out, and fold it over for the tobacco. One evening while folding the paper, he noticed the writing was in his own language. So each evening after eating, he would read a page of the little book - presumably the New Testament - and then smoke it.

One evening, by God's grace, over time, he was convicted! He knelt and asked Jesus Christ to forgive his sins and confessed Him to be his Lord and Savior. At once he turned himself over to the police, much to their surprise, and turned from a bandit to an evangelist for Christ in the prison! It became Ramad's first mission field where he led many other prisoners to Jesus.

I heard and read many real-life stories like this when God's Word - even His servants' words a.k.a. books about the written Word - made a change in people's lives. It's true: "Know it in your mind; Stow it in your heart; Show it in your life; Sow it in the world." Amen!

#ServeToLead #ReadersAreReaders #PrisonMinistry #ThePowerOfTheWord #Repentance #ChangedLife #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Seeing Jesus In All of Scripture #LeadersAreReaders May 2022

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. This is one of the many post-resurrection appearances. The Scriptures say that “God kept them from recognizing him” (Luke 24:16). Interesting. As they were walking, the two disciples talked about “the things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth” (v.19) to… Jesus. Interesting indeed. I’m not sure whether they believe everything they heard about Jesus was true or not, for sure, they heard that “Jesus is alive!” (v.23). Then, imagine this, Jesus, a stranger to them said strongly, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” (v.26). There and then, Jesus did an overview Bible Study with them. He “took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from ALL the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (v.27). read the rest of the passage. The good ending is this: “Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him” (v.31).

I love this sacred narrative. We can know about Jesus without really knowing Jesus. We can study the Scriptures diligently without recognizing Jesus in them (In John 5:39, Jesus said the Scriptures “point to me!”). And we can outline facts about what happened to Jesus from A to Z without really believing what we said. The two disciples were foolish and so are we if we don’t have faith to see Jesus the Messiah as He is. By God’s grace, He has opened my eyes to see and recognized Jesus in the pages of the Scriptures (This simply means I was foolish then and if I don’t see it now, I’m being foolish again). Now, this is both a supernatural and natural phenomenon. We can’t see and believe if God doesn’t open and make known to us the truth first. So we need to pray, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law [or the Scriptures]” (Psalm 119:18, bracket mine). Yet, we can’t see and believe if we don’t read and study the Scriptures. The supernatural and natural must go hand in hand. For example, in Isaiah 32 verses 1 and 3, “Look, a righteous king is coming! [So we must look]… Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth” [But God is the One who enables us to see].

I have no advice for the supernatural since it is beyond our willpower to do so except to pray and ask God the Holy Spirit with humility. But I do have advice for the natural ways to see Jesus in “ALL the Scripture.” First, read the Scriptures a.k.a. the written Word of God a.k.a. the Bible prayerfully. This is essential and all else is subordinate! Secondly, join sound teaching and Jesus-centered Bible Study (if you want to join #DugDownDeep let me know). And thirdly, read books that can supplement and instruct you deeper into the Scriptures. Good faithful pastors, preachers, teachers, and writers are God’s gifts to us for the growth of His church. Two books that I finished reading in May 2022 that are very instrumental in helping me to see and read the Scriptures with Jesus at the center anew are: 1) Finding Jesus In the Old Testament (2015, 2017) by David Limbaugh. He wrote, “Just as the Old Testament is foundational to the New, our basic understanding of the Old Testament is crucial to our comprehension of how Christ dominates its pages”; and 2) Encountering the Book of Hebrews: An Exposition (2002) by Donald A. Hagner. The Book of Hebrews doesn’t make sense without the Old Testament and the Old Testament - particularly the Law, the sacrificial ritual, the covenants, and typologies - doesn’t make sense without it all being fulfilled by Jesus the Messiah as explained very beautifully in the Book of Hebrews. Blessed!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #JesusInAllofScripture

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The Greatest Fight: Spurgeon’s Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists (2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, Audiobook Review

 The Greatest Fight: Spurgeon’s Urgent Message for Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists 
(1891, Revised Edition 2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, Audiobook

I’ve listened to this audiobook for the third time already! (that shows how good it is). Every time I hear it again, I learned something new. There is something peculiar about Christian classic books written by old, faithful, and powerful preachers like Charles H. Spurgeon that draw me to them over and over again. Perhaps it is due to (most, not all) shallow popular Christian writings in this present day. Or perhaps it is due to Bible-saturated, thoughtful, and meaty writings of the past. Or maybe both (obviously, I’m biased). One observation that I see in the writings of such men and women of God of the past that are considered timeless is this: they believe by faith that the Scriptures, namely the Bible, is the very Word of God. The assumption is that if God said it in the Scriptures, then it is so. Spurgeon once remarks: “If your creed and Scripture do not agree, cut your creed to pieces, but make it agree with this book.”

And hear this: “Men talk of ‘the mistakes of Scripture.’ I thank God that I have never met with any. Mistakes of translation there may be, for translators are men. But mistakes of the original word there never can be, for the God who spoke it is infallible, and so is every word He speaks, and in that confidence, we find delightful rest.” Spurgeon was not uninformed with the Biblical and textual criticism issues during his lifetime (in fact, he engaged with it directly in the famous Downgrade Controversy). But Spurgeon - and few others - stand firm in the promise of God that He will keep and preserve His words forever (Psalm 12:6-7). Because of this Spirit-originated conviction, I can hear his confident and urgent plea for the pastors, teachers, evangelists, and Christians, in general, to continue to fight the greatest fight in the world in the pages of this powerful book… Errr… or in my case, in the audiobook to be exact.

This short book is originally known as The Greatest Fight In the World and was first published in 1891. Aneko Press revised and updated it in 2018 by replacing the terminology from the 1800s with language that modern readers would understand “while keeping the heart of the message unchanged.” They also replaced the old references from Scripture by using the Jubilee Bible. I love to hear the soothing voice of the narrator, Saethon Williams, with the not-so-thick Englishmen accent (Spurgeon was a British preacher). In 1891, one year before Charles H. Spurgeon's death (1834-1892), he delivered his final annual address to his fellow pastors and Pastors’ College students offers them practical advice on how to approach the fight of faith. He does so under four (4) main headings:

Chapter 1: Our Fight. “My topics have to do with our lifework - with the crusade against error and sin in which we are engaged. I hope every person here wears the red cross on his or her heart as a badge and promises to act boldly for Christ and His cross and to never be satisfied until Christ’s enemies are defeated and Christ Himself is satisfied. Our fathers used to speak of ‘the cause of God and truth,’ and it is for this that we bear arms, the few against the many, the feeble against the mighty. Oh, to be found good soldiers of Jesus Christ!.” This first chapter set the tone for the old Spurgeon to challenge his readers to fight the good fight of faith by the power and grace of God. Truly, the battle is the Lord’s, rather than ours, he reminds us.

Chapter 2: Our Armory. In my opinion, this is the most important chapter in the book (although Spurgeon said chapter 4 is). It is worth the time to consume it and reflect upon the wisdom of this wounded but victorious man of God on his theology and practice of the Scriptures. “The first is our armory – our weapon, which is the inspired Word.”

Chapter 3: Our Army. “The second is our army, the church of the living God, called out by Himself, which we must lead under our Lord’s command.”

Chapter 4: Our Strength. “The third is our strength, by which we wear the armor and use the sword. The Holy Spirit is our power to be and to do, to suffer and to serve, to grow and to fight, to wrestle and to overcome. Our third theme is of main importance, and though we place it last, we rank it first.”

You don’t have to be a pastor or a teacher or an evangelist - or even an unashamed Calvinist like him - to appreciate this book. If you’re a Christ-follower, I highly recommend that you read or listen to it. Spurgeon speaks with authority because he relies on our common authority, namely, the Scriptures. In his own words: “Go forth, oh, soldiers of Jesus Christ, with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).” Amen!

[Note: I get the audiobook - and many other wonderful books - from Aneko Press YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/Anekopress. Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it! Also, if you prefer to read the ebook, you read it for free from their website.]

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #1Book1Week #CharlesSpurgeon #TheGreatestFightInTheWorld #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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I Believe In The Holy Spirit (1965) by Maynard James, Book Review

 I Believe In The Holy Spirit (1965) by Maynard James

A good and sound Biblical book on the Holy Spirit is very hard to find. There are chapters on the subject in my systematic theology textbooks but it is either too technical or too Western-minded to appreciate the personality and work of the Holy Spirit in all phases of human life. And most of the popular modern-day books on the subject are very shallow and too self-centered (and sometimes heretics!) for me to take their words seriously. I agree with Norman P. Grubb in his foreword when he writes: "The range and aptness of [Maynard James'] Biblical references, the breadth and scope of his quotations from theological authors through the centuries, and the pungency of his facts and illustrations collected from all kinds of courses, grip my attention." Yes, it sure did grip my attention too! I opened my Bible as much as I turned the pages of this book as I read it.

In my observation, there is a good steady development in the interest of honoring the most neglected person in the Trinity, namely, the Holy Spirit today - even this year. For example, in October 2021, The Reformed Seminary of Latin America have organized a 6-day virtual conference The Person & Ministry of the Holy Spirit (I've watched most of the sermons on YouTube). Also, there was a 2-day Holy Spirit: Mantles conference held on January 2021 organized by Project ETV by well-known Charismatic preachers. Again, since last year, a popular pastor, Philip Mantofa, has made "Holy Spirit, My Best Friend" tagline known in both Indonesian and Malaysian churches through his book, song, and sermon series. For all of this exposure to bring awareness to God the Spirit (although we must acknowledge there are weird and false teachings out there), we should be deeply thankful. But overall, to the church worldwide, the reality of the person of the Holy Spirit remains neglected down the centuries until today. This is, as the author would call it, "The sin of neglect." I'm guilty of this sin too.

"It has been pointed out that the Holy Spirit is directly mentioned not less than 86 times in the Old Testament and at least 261 times in the New Testament," explained Maynard. "Some Christians would be quite surprised if told that 25 different names or titles are given to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures." Here are just ten names: The Spirit of Holiness (Romans 1:4), The Eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), The Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9), The Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2), The Spirit of Truth (John 14:1, 17), The Spirit of Grace (Hebrews 10:29), The Spirit of Adoption (Romans 8:15), The Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4), The Comforter (John 14:26), and The Spirit of Glory (1 Peter 4:14). Needless to say, the Holy Spirit is a prominent character in the Scriptures and just because He is called the Third Person of the Trinity, it doesn't mean that He is the third in terms of importance. The Holy Spirit is coequal and coeternal with the Father and the Son. Maynard has done a good job explaining in each chapter the matchless operations of the Holy Spirit in the creation, the written Word, the incarnate Word, and the human experience. He also discusses the sanctifying power, the gracious regeneration miracle, the three baptisms*, the emblems or symbols, and the gifts of the Spirit. I find that anecdotes that he used to illustrate his points are very helpful and not as annoying as some books that always make themselves the heroes of the story!

I can sense that the author was trying his best to be as balanced in his judgment and theology as possible. But a book on this subject - often gets the critical treatments by the Reformed, often misrepresented by the Charismatic, often treated mystically by the Catholic - will always arouse internal debate among the well-meaning Christians. For sure, I have some disagreements with the author who (but not mentioned directly) comes from the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement background and is thus biased especially in his assessments involving the gifts of the Spirit and his understanding of Spirit baptism(s). I believe in both but differ from some of his interpretations. Let's say, I have my own biases. Other than that, I'm very pleased and edified by the book. Surely, both of us would agree with Charles H. Spurgeon: “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” Amen!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #TheHolySpirit #TheTrinity #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers (1988) by J. C. Carlile, Book Review

 Charles Spurgeon: The Prince of Preachers (1988) by J. C. Carlile
An edited and abridged version, 1997, by Dan Harmon

Once in a while, when I thought that I’ve done so many works and sacrifices for the Lord in my own small, faulty, ignorance perspective, and craving for people’s appreciation and attention, I will think of two mortal men who will have none of these and puts me - and all of us - to shame. First, the indisputable apostle Paul. “For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace” (1 Corinthians 15:10). And secondly, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was called to be a preacher when he was 16 years old. It was recorded that in his entire life he preached nearly 3,600 sermons (“The collected sermons filled 63 volumes equivalent to the 27 volume ninth edition of Encyclopedia Britannica,” observes John Piper), and published 49 volumes of commentaries, sayings, illustrations, and devotions. Every week he preached 4 to 10 times, read 6 meaty books, revised sermons for publication, lectured, edited a monthly magazine, and in his spare time, he wrote about 150 books! Not to mention, he shepherded about 6,000 church members (legend says that he knew all members by name), founded and directed a theological college, an orphanage, and oversaw 66 Christian charities.* Remember too, he was a family man with a godly wife and a healthy relationship with all his children. There are more but I think you get the point.

David Livingstone, a famous missionary, once asked Spurgeon, “How can you accomplish so much in one day?” He replied wittily, “You forget, Mr. Livingstone. There are two of us working.” No doubt, he meant the presence and grace of the living God. Reading the biographies of such godly men and women like Spurgeon is a good reminder for every Christians, especially Christian ministers, to remain faithful to His Word and be productive in doing His works. This book, under the Heroes of the Faith titles from Barbour Publishing, is a good introduction to the life, ministry, and legacy of Charles H. Spurgeon. The story of Spurgeon’s childhood and conversion are very fascinating. He was a very curious boy who love nature and learning. One of his biggest influences in my life is his thirst for knowledge. Mind you, he had no formal theological training [nor being formally ordained as a minister] but he was very well-read in Puritan theology, natural history, and popular literature. This gives me hope because I too don’t have any formal theological training (Spurgeon wrote to his father who urged him to apply for college, “You know what my style is. I fancy it is not very collegelike.” Fist bump! Although, this is not an excuse if you need one) and also a sense of unworthiness because Spurgeon is Spurgeon and he is one of a kind (to compare oneself with Spurgeon is to compare a kitten with a lion). The book outlines various aspects of his life including his development as a preacher, minister, writer, educator, and defender of the Truth. A special chapter on his belief in Calvinism is also very interesting. He famously declared: “I am never ashamed to avow myself a Calvinist; I do not hesitate to take the name of Baptist; but if I am asked what is my creed, I reply – It is Jesus Christ.”

But not all of Spurgeon’s life was bright and sunny. He shared his portion of Christ’s suffering, betrayal of friends, physical pain, and emotional depression especially due to the tragic fire incident at Surrey Gardens Music Hall and the energy-sapping ‘Downgrade’ controversy (R.J. Sheehan’s C.H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church, 1985, is an excellent short book to know more about this great battle). At the end of the day, Spurgeon is still a mortal man with flaws, and very much in need of the Saviour like the rest of us. Only by God’s grace, Spurgeon was used by Him mightily. I’m thankful for Spurgeon’s service and praise God forever. As the apostle Paul puts it: “It was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.” Amen!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain #CharlesHSpurgeon #PrinceOfPreacher #ChristianBiography

Here are a few other related #1Book1Week reviews:

1) Spurgeon on Leadership (2010) by Larry J. Michael, CLICK HERE

2) C. H. Spurgeon and the Modern Church: Lessons for Today from the ‘Downgrade’ Controversy (1985) by R.J. Sheehan, CLICK HERE

3) Words of Counsel: For All Leaders, Teachers, and Evangelists (Updated 2018) by Charles H. Spurgeon, CLICK HERE

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Romans 1:14 I Am Under Obligation to Preach the Gospel (#LetterToTheRomans)

Paul the Apostle said, "I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish" (Romans 1:14). "Under obligation" or "a debtor." How and why Paul in debt with them? And do you know, if you a believer, you are also in debt to others? Why? ��������� #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #IAmADebtor #UnderObligation

To watch previous short studies of #LetterToTheRomans CLICK HERE ��� http://bit.ly/LegasiRomans 

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Timothy, Be Respectful and Don't Show Favoritism (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

 

“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, young men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity”

(1 Timothy 5:1-2, ESV)

Last week I saw a viral video online in Malaysia, where there was a fight at a Mamak restaurant (probably before the month of Ramadhan) between an older man with a young woman. I care less about what is the real issue but when I saw the older man hits the woman and the young woman kicked the man, my heart boil with rage! This is not an unusual scene, however. We all probably have witnessed – or experience ourselves – at least verbal abuse or even physical abuse between these two generations in social media, within our community, among family members, and even in the church. This evil behavior must not be among the believers! After Paul writes to Timothy to “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16) as a leader in God’s church and a teacher of God’s Word, he then reminds him of his attitude toward others: BE RESPECTFUL.

“Do not rebuke” or “Never speak harshly” (NLT) or “Don’t reprimand” (Philips) is a negative statement for a positive reminder: BE RESPECTFUL. Toward who? All people! Older men, younger men, older women, younger women. Inside and outside the church. The word “rebuke” means to “strike with blows.” It is primarily speaking of beating with words but I think we can extend that to beating with fists too. Although young Timothy was very influential and his leadership was sealed by God’s authority (see 6:20) and the apostle’s approval (see 4:11; 6:2b), he must not abuse his power but instead “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (4:12). Having said that, the reminder to BE RESPECTFUL toward everyone also means we must NOT SHOW FAVORITISM (see James 2:1) regardless of their age, gender, and the nature of the relationship. If an older man or woman needs to be corrected, then, go to him or her in a kindly manner and speak to him or her as one would speak to a father or mother. In the same manner, reproof younger believers as brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t sugarcoat the truth when you have to discipline them. The goal is not condemnation but repentance. Be firm, clear, and “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

As for men, especially in the ministry, I would like to warn us: be extra careful when dealing with younger women. If you need to “encourage” them – as you must – do it as “sisters” in Christ and “in all purity.” In most cases, it is better to “take one or two others along with you” (Matthew 18:16) to create accountability. We all have heard the reported news about the abuse and sexual misconduct among Christian ministers. Don’t be a statistic! H.A. Ironside commented on this verse wisely: “Never to act toward any young woman in a way he would not like some other man to behave to his own sister.” Or read how J.B. Philips paraphrases it: “Treat the younger women as sisters, AND NO MORE” (emphasis mine). 

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Total Commitment to Christ: What Is It? (Updated Edition, 2020) by A.W. Tozer, Book Review

 Total Commitment to Christ: What Is It? (Updated Edition, 2020) by A.W. Tozer

When I was having a crisis of faith a few years ago, I pressure myself to make one of the most important decisions in my life: If Jesus Christ and Christianity are false, I must leave everything that I believe and quit as a full-time worker (with my skills and talents, I can fairly earn more money!); but if He is truly God, Lord, and Saviour, then, I must give up everything, commit and follow Him and preach the Word for the rest of my earthly life (with humility, I will be His joyful-slave). I read lots of books on Christianity, against Christianity, other religions, atheism and - the Bible - and pray with even little faith that I have at that time and sometimes with zero feelings. To cut the story short, after about 4-6 months (I'm not sure exactly when the doubt appears) of struggling, the living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, increases my faith even more than before. Somehow, without God-speaks-to-me-audibly, the joy of knowing Christ is flooding in my heart as I read the Gospel of Matthew. There and then, with no moon-splitting miracle but perhaps what I perceived as the work of the Holy Spirit's illumination and assurance, only by grace, I returned home to Him. In fact, He already runs toward me and is ready to embrace me. While I was "still a long way off, [The Father] saw [me] and was filled with compassion for [me]; he ran to [me], threw his arms around [me] and kissed [me]" (Luke 15:20, bracket mine]. I was lost and now was found. So, when I saw the title of this book on YouTube - Total Commitment to Christ - I immediately found and read the ebook and listened to the audiobook. This book (or booklet, to be exact) is a good reminder of why I'm called to commit and follow Christ until today. I recommend this book to you, for, what's the use of being a nominal, passionless and powerless Christian? We are either cold or hot, no in-between! A.W. Tozer, who is called a 20th-century prophet (not the kind of OT or NT prophet, but his writings were deemed as 'prophetic.' I think we should avoid the charismatic idea of a prophet altogether): "Christ is preeminent. He is above all things, underneath all things, outside of all things, and inside of all things. As the old bishop said, 'He is above all things, but not pushed up; He is beneath all things, holding it all up; He is outside all things, embracing it all; and He is inside all things, filling it all.' Our relation to Him is all that really matters. A true Christian faith is an attachment – a devotion – to the person of Christ. The attachment of the individual person to Jesus Christ is intellectual, volitional, exclusive, and irrevocable." Are you committed to Christ? Take up your cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24) #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

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

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Lessons from Moral Failings of Christian Leaders (#LEGASItv Discussion S.2 E.1) with Bro Richard Angelus, Ps. Kelvin Felix and Ps. Ivan Ong

 

On 4th November 2020, Hillsong founding pastor Brian Houston sent an email to Hillsong East Coast informing them that Carl Lentz had been fired as the lead pastor of the New York City location. Houston cited “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures” as reasons for Lentz’s termination. In his Instagram post, Lentz admitted to being “unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life.” This is not the first case nor the last one. It’s not so much about Carl but it’s about you and me too. We all have the potential and exposes to moral failure.

Jadi, dalam LEGASI.tv Discussion (S.2 E.1) ini, saya bersama dengan Ps. Ivan Ong and Ps. Kelvin Felix membincangkan tentang isu ini, memberi respon dan komen, melihat contoh-contoh Alkitab dan petikan Firman, bercerita kisah benar dalam pelayanan dan perkongsian peribadi. Begitu juga, kami ada memberi beberapa langkah untuk terus setia dalam iman dan integriti dalam pelayanan. Selamat menonton! 😊⚡🔥 #ServeToLead #MoralFailure #MoreFaithful

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FOLLOW Ps. Ivan Ong:

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FOLLOW Lord Jesus Christ

The Bible
By Grace
Through Faith

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Angelus' Quote: When You Have Nothing, God Is Enough

 

When life becomes more than you think you can handle, don't quit. And certainly don't believe the lie God is not enough. Instead, ask yourself, "Is God enough for me?" Then plant His Word deep in your heart so you'll always have the ready answer that says, "Yes He is." He is enough for me. How about for you? "[My] God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19) ⚡💪😊 #ServeToLead #GodIsEnough

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.