We need to heed the advise of Bro. Doug in this article to stay focused on Jesus this Christmas. Let us set aside all that has happened and turn our attention to celebrate the Birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. ************************************************************ Holy Socks! Just when you think the world can’t get any crazier, you pick up a newspaper, turn on television or just listen to the conversations around you at the local café and you hear … we should overhaul Health Care in the United States (or not) … “Developing Countries” walked out of Copenhagen Climate Summit … Tiger Woods may move to France … “Developed Countries” walked out of Copenhagen Summit … Guantanamo prisoners may be moving to northern Illinois … Iran tested another missile … let’s limit executive salaries … a child’s drawing of Jesus on the cross was declared a “violent image” and banned … the recession is / is not over …. and on and on! It’s time to say “STOP!!!” Close your eyes. Take a deep breath (yes, we’ve talked about doing that before). Now, open your eyes again … and FOCUS!! What really important, global impacting, predicted yet totally unexpected event are we about to celebrate? What is really worth our attention: the U.S. health care situation or the birth of The One by whose stripes/scourging we are healed? (Isaiah 53:5) Man’s attempt to influence the global climate, or the coming of The One by whom “all things were created; both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible … all things have been created through Him and for Him.”? (Colossians 1:16) The fall of a sporting idol, or the celebration of “One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin”? (Hebrews 4:15) The fate of prisoners bent of destroying those who disagree with their theology, or Him sent “to proclaim liberty to captives, and release to prisoners”? (Isaiah 61:1) The fear of weapons created for war, or the confidence of knowing that “the battle is Mine, says the Lord”? Manipulation of the global economic system, or worship of the God who “will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus? (Philippians 4:19) Of course, you and I can’t totally ignore all of those other things that bombard us every day - and we need to engage in many of those battles - but we can ask God to enable us to keep them in perspective. After all, “these momentary light afflictions are producing in us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”! (2 Corinthians 4:17), and, as this season clearly reminds us, we can be “convinced that neither death nor life, nor angles, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38) The key during this season is the same as it has always been: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2) … not always easy (that’s why God did not leave us to do it alone), but always effective. May God Bless Your Socks Off as you focus on Him more than ever this Christmas! Expectantly, DougPresident and CEO Click here for original source: Answering the call...Staying Focused. |
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Answering the Call...Staying Focused by Doug Hunter
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Crisis Can Rock CC But Cannot Rock God!
Crisis Rocks Calvary Church. The Church of Jesus Christ? UNSHAKABLE!
There it was, the article entitled “Crisis Rocks Calvary Church", from a page in the Metro section of The Star, clear as day for the eyes to see. What possible crisis could rock a church which for decades had claimed to be the youngest, largest, fastest-growing, most dynamic and richest church in the elite heartland of Kuala Lumpur called the Damansara Heights. Now, in just barely two years, the leadership of the church has allegedly been plagued with autocratic leadership, nepotism and monetary mismanagement. A group, called the TTG, comprising about 350 people and making up about 45% of the total voting membership, has come together and to challenge the leadership to live a lifestyle that is more exemplary of the Christian faith they have been preaching for the last 40 years or so. They strongly believe that if Truth, Transparency and Good Governance are qualities of management that are demanded of by the Government and the Corporate World then much more should be expected of a Christian church.
The article shocked the Christian world and the non-Christians in general. Searching questions are being asked.
1. WHY WASH DIRTY CHRISTIAN LINEN IN PUBLIC?
2. WHY BRING SHAME TO THE NAME OF GOD?
3. WHY BRING CHRISTIANITY INTO PUBLIC SHAME?
4. CAN A CHRISTIAN JUDGE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN?
Let’s try to find some answers to these questions.
1. WHY WASH DIRTY CHRISTIAN LINEN IN PUBLIC?
Maybe we can answer this question with another question. If dirty linen is not washed in public where can it be wash? Should it be kept a secret from the public? Is that not living a lie? Can the leadership be trusted to deal with the matter wholly and impartially? But then it is the leadership that is in the heart of the problem! Another question. Can we then go to the General Council of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia? Yes. But their conclusion is that this problem is an internal matter of Calvary Church.
The situation reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30 -36. It says, a man was beaten up and robbed as he travelled from Jerusalem to Jericho. A PRIEST and a LEVITE, representing the JEWISH RELIGIOUS PEOPLE of that time, passed by and DID NOTHING. BUT A SAMARITAN, a JEWISH HALF -BREED despised by the Jews, showed compassion and spent time and money to care for the man.
Now let’s ask the question again: Why wash dirty Christian linen in public? The answer is, there is no other place to wash it.
If fact, we should NOT REALLY be asking, “Why wash dirty Christian linen in public? We should really be asking, “Why is the Christian linen DIRTY in the first place?”
2. WHY BRING SHAME TO THE NAME OF GOD?
Study how God, Jesus and the prophets go about dealing with sin. They expose it, they pass a judgment and the sinner bears the penalty.
Eze 36:17 – "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth. V18 They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. V19 I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. V20 But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, “These are the people of the Lord, but He couldn’t keep them safe in His own lands”.
The sequence of events is as follows:
a) The people lived evil lives V17.
b) God pour out His fury upon the Israelites V18
c) God scattered the Israelite into different nations V19
d) The exile of Israelites brought shame to the name of God V20
e) The nations had contempt for the power of God V20
The FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE is this.
When God’s people do not live righteously He will punish them EVEN IF it brings SHAME to His name and MAKE the surrounding nations CONTEMPTOUS OF HIM. LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO GOD THAN THE SHAME HE GET FOR PUNISHING THE ISRAELITES.
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE METRO STAR ARTICLE?
a) Unrighteous living in a Christian Church was exposed.
b) There is PUBLIC SHAME for the church involved.
c) The NAME OF GOD is shamed because of unrighteousness
d) The non-Christians will be contemptuous of Christians.
e) What God wants is for the church to become righteous again.
Can you see the similarity between Eze 36:17 – 20 and the effect an unrighteous church has on the media? THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN METRO STAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A CHURCH HAS BECOME UNRIGHTEOUS.
When the Church leadership allow the problems (dirty linens) to persist for almost two years without seriously attempting to solve it (wash it), the media and the public is bound to pick it up.
In the first place, there should not be any dirty linen in the Church. However, if there is and sometimes there will be, wash it quickly with our small domestic washing machines. Otherwise the dirt and smell will become so unbearable that the domestic machines will not be able to do the cleaning properly and it will have to be sent outside to be washed in the professional laundrette.
3. WHY BRING CHRISTIANITY INTO PUBLIC SHAME?
All mature Christians should be alert to churches that gradually deviate in the wrong direction. Many churches start well but soon become somewhat skewed in their teaching and may even become cults. If a Christian is aware of such occurrences it is his responsibility to alert as many people as he possibly can - family members, relatives and friends. And he should use all the different means available to spread the information in order to protect Christians and non-Christians from going to those churches – email, face-book, blogs, mobile phones, magazines, newsletters and even newspapers. Christians have this public accountability.
The article that Metro Star published has somewhat achieved this objective.
Hos 4:6 - "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
In the case of Calvary Church, the leaders have lived in the dirty linen for so long that they have become immune to the dirt and smell. It is difficult to tell if the leadership are "lack of knowledge" of the problems in the church or they have become so accustomed to the dirty linens. Whatever the reason may be, it is now imperative that outside help be sought for. That's the only way left.
The Church can only be the transforming salt and light as Jesus wants it to be when all our linen are properly washed and clean.
4. CAN A CHRISTIAN JUDGE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN?
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that ye be not judged", is perhaps the most quoted and yet the most misunderstood verse in the bible. It is also the most favorite verse used by Christians trying to evade accusation and accountability for wrongs. They often retort,” “Who are you to judge me?” or “But Jesus said we are not to judge anyone”. So what does “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” in Mat 7:1 really mean? Who does it apply to?
a. It does not apply to professional judges during the time of Jesus, for example, judges of the Roman secular court, the judges of paganistic court and judges in the Jewish judiciary system. If it applied to any of these groups of people they will be out of a job and on the dole.
b. Neither can the phrase “so that you will not be judged” be alluding to a person trying to seek absolution from being judged. If that is possible we would not have needed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.
c. Jesus, in Matt 7:1, was really referring to people who were incline to be exceptionally harsh in their judgement of people, like the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and they lay heavy penalties upon people. At the same time they were hypocritical in that they gave themselves light judgements and imposed upon themselves light penalties.
d. Does Jesus mean that we are not to judge anyone at all? This cannot be so, because, in many places in the bible, we are clearly instructed to make judgements over someone. In John 7:24 we are admonished to “Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly”. Heb 5:14 also says that we are to “have our senses exercised (trained, practised) to discern (judge) both good and evil.” Furthermore, the Bible is filled with admonitions that require us to make some form of judgement calls some of which were done with great boldness.
(i) Titus 3:10 - “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”
(ii) 1Tim 1:3, 4 - “…so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer….”
(iii) 1 Cor 5:13 - "Expel the wicked man from among you."
(iv) Neh 13:25 - “I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair.”
(v) 2 Tim 4:2 - “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
e. How do we judge correctly? John 12:48 gives us the answer…… “The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day.” Hence, it is scripture that is our ultimate standard of right and wrong and of spiritual discernment. The correct level of harshness with which we are to judge is not to be determined by our carnal emotions but by the wording and expression of scripture. Matthew 7:2-5 , "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus is cautioning us not to be hard on others. If you are hard on them then He will be equally hard on us when he judges us.
God desires that we treat other sinners the same way he treated us when He gave us His Son freely, sacrificially, mercifully and lovingly in order that we be saved from eternal damnation. His ultimate aim is for us to restore the sinning Christian back into fellowship.
f. Christians guilty of the same sin are not qualified to judge a person with the same sin. Rom 2:1 - “Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself.” Matt 7:3 - “And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? V4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? V5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye."
BUT NOTE: Jesus didn’t say, however, that you are permanently disqualified from dealing with the splinter in your brother’s eye. You must first humbly repent and get cleansed from your own sins first i. e. you must first remove the beam in your own eye. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Now, with the beam gone, then you can help the brother remove the splinter from his eye.
Summary concerning judging:
1 Professional Judges are not forfeited from judging.
2. No one can escape being judge
3. We are asked as Christians to judge fellow Christians
4. We must not be harsh in our judgement
5. We use scripture to judge correctly
6. We must cleanse ourselves for our own sins firsts
So can the crisis that rocked Calvary Church published in The Star, rock Christianity and the Christians in Malaysia? NO IT CANNOT.
This is a Review on the topic written by Dr Paul Nah
References:
Is it Right to Judge Others? M Randall; Judging others Dictionary of American Slang
and Colloquial Expressions, by Richard A. Spears, 4th Edition; Hard Sayings of the Bible by Kaiser, Davids, & Brauch; Who Are You to Judge? By: Chip Bell; Judging ; Provocative Bible Verses: Judge Not Lest You Be Judged, April 6, 2009 Dan Lacich
.
There it was, the article entitled “Crisis Rocks Calvary Church", from a page in the Metro section of The Star, clear as day for the eyes to see. What possible crisis could rock a church which for decades had claimed to be the youngest, largest, fastest-growing, most dynamic and richest church in the elite heartland of Kuala Lumpur called the Damansara Heights. Now, in just barely two years, the leadership of the church has allegedly been plagued with autocratic leadership, nepotism and monetary mismanagement. A group, called the TTG, comprising about 350 people and making up about 45% of the total voting membership, has come together and to challenge the leadership to live a lifestyle that is more exemplary of the Christian faith they have been preaching for the last 40 years or so. They strongly believe that if Truth, Transparency and Good Governance are qualities of management that are demanded of by the Government and the Corporate World then much more should be expected of a Christian church.
The article shocked the Christian world and the non-Christians in general. Searching questions are being asked.
1. WHY WASH DIRTY CHRISTIAN LINEN IN PUBLIC?
2. WHY BRING SHAME TO THE NAME OF GOD?
3. WHY BRING CHRISTIANITY INTO PUBLIC SHAME?
4. CAN A CHRISTIAN JUDGE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN?
Let’s try to find some answers to these questions.
1. WHY WASH DIRTY CHRISTIAN LINEN IN PUBLIC?
Maybe we can answer this question with another question. If dirty linen is not washed in public where can it be wash? Should it be kept a secret from the public? Is that not living a lie? Can the leadership be trusted to deal with the matter wholly and impartially? But then it is the leadership that is in the heart of the problem! Another question. Can we then go to the General Council of the Assemblies of God of Malaysia? Yes. But their conclusion is that this problem is an internal matter of Calvary Church.
The situation reminds me of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30 -36. It says, a man was beaten up and robbed as he travelled from Jerusalem to Jericho. A PRIEST and a LEVITE, representing the JEWISH RELIGIOUS PEOPLE of that time, passed by and DID NOTHING. BUT A SAMARITAN, a JEWISH HALF -BREED despised by the Jews, showed compassion and spent time and money to care for the man.
Now let’s ask the question again: Why wash dirty Christian linen in public? The answer is, there is no other place to wash it.
If fact, we should NOT REALLY be asking, “Why wash dirty Christian linen in public? We should really be asking, “Why is the Christian linen DIRTY in the first place?”
2. WHY BRING SHAME TO THE NAME OF GOD?
Study how God, Jesus and the prophets go about dealing with sin. They expose it, they pass a judgment and the sinner bears the penalty.
Eze 36:17 – "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth. V18 They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. V19 I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. V20 But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, “These are the people of the Lord, but He couldn’t keep them safe in His own lands”.
The sequence of events is as follows:
a) The people lived evil lives V17.
b) God pour out His fury upon the Israelites V18
c) God scattered the Israelite into different nations V19
d) The exile of Israelites brought shame to the name of God V20
e) The nations had contempt for the power of God V20
The FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE is this.
When God’s people do not live righteously He will punish them EVEN IF it brings SHAME to His name and MAKE the surrounding nations CONTEMPTOUS OF HIM. LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY IS MORE IMPORTANT TO GOD THAN THE SHAME HE GET FOR PUNISHING THE ISRAELITES.
WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE METRO STAR ARTICLE?
a) Unrighteous living in a Christian Church was exposed.
b) There is PUBLIC SHAME for the church involved.
c) The NAME OF GOD is shamed because of unrighteousness
d) The non-Christians will be contemptuous of Christians.
e) What God wants is for the church to become righteous again.
Can you see the similarity between Eze 36:17 – 20 and the effect an unrighteous church has on the media? THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN METRO STAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A CHURCH HAS BECOME UNRIGHTEOUS.
When the Church leadership allow the problems (dirty linens) to persist for almost two years without seriously attempting to solve it (wash it), the media and the public is bound to pick it up.
In the first place, there should not be any dirty linen in the Church. However, if there is and sometimes there will be, wash it quickly with our small domestic washing machines. Otherwise the dirt and smell will become so unbearable that the domestic machines will not be able to do the cleaning properly and it will have to be sent outside to be washed in the professional laundrette.
3. WHY BRING CHRISTIANITY INTO PUBLIC SHAME?
All mature Christians should be alert to churches that gradually deviate in the wrong direction. Many churches start well but soon become somewhat skewed in their teaching and may even become cults. If a Christian is aware of such occurrences it is his responsibility to alert as many people as he possibly can - family members, relatives and friends. And he should use all the different means available to spread the information in order to protect Christians and non-Christians from going to those churches – email, face-book, blogs, mobile phones, magazines, newsletters and even newspapers. Christians have this public accountability.
The article that Metro Star published has somewhat achieved this objective.
Hos 4:6 - "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
In the case of Calvary Church, the leaders have lived in the dirty linen for so long that they have become immune to the dirt and smell. It is difficult to tell if the leadership are "lack of knowledge" of the problems in the church or they have become so accustomed to the dirty linens. Whatever the reason may be, it is now imperative that outside help be sought for. That's the only way left.
The Church can only be the transforming salt and light as Jesus wants it to be when all our linen are properly washed and clean.
4. CAN A CHRISTIAN JUDGE ANOTHER CHRISTIAN?
Matthew 7:1 - "Judge not, that ye be not judged", is perhaps the most quoted and yet the most misunderstood verse in the bible. It is also the most favorite verse used by Christians trying to evade accusation and accountability for wrongs. They often retort,” “Who are you to judge me?” or “But Jesus said we are not to judge anyone”. So what does “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” in Mat 7:1 really mean? Who does it apply to?
a. It does not apply to professional judges during the time of Jesus, for example, judges of the Roman secular court, the judges of paganistic court and judges in the Jewish judiciary system. If it applied to any of these groups of people they will be out of a job and on the dole.
b. Neither can the phrase “so that you will not be judged” be alluding to a person trying to seek absolution from being judged. If that is possible we would not have needed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.
c. Jesus, in Matt 7:1, was really referring to people who were incline to be exceptionally harsh in their judgement of people, like the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and they lay heavy penalties upon people. At the same time they were hypocritical in that they gave themselves light judgements and imposed upon themselves light penalties.
d. Does Jesus mean that we are not to judge anyone at all? This cannot be so, because, in many places in the bible, we are clearly instructed to make judgements over someone. In John 7:24 we are admonished to “Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly”. Heb 5:14 also says that we are to “have our senses exercised (trained, practised) to discern (judge) both good and evil.” Furthermore, the Bible is filled with admonitions that require us to make some form of judgement calls some of which were done with great boldness.
(i) Titus 3:10 - “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”
(ii) 1Tim 1:3, 4 - “…so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer….”
(iii) 1 Cor 5:13 - "Expel the wicked man from among you."
(iv) Neh 13:25 - “I reprimanded the men, called down curses on them, beat them, and pulled out their hair.”
(v) 2 Tim 4:2 - “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
e. How do we judge correctly? John 12:48 gives us the answer…… “The words that I have spoken will judge them on the last day.” Hence, it is scripture that is our ultimate standard of right and wrong and of spiritual discernment. The correct level of harshness with which we are to judge is not to be determined by our carnal emotions but by the wording and expression of scripture. Matthew 7:2-5 , "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus is cautioning us not to be hard on others. If you are hard on them then He will be equally hard on us when he judges us.
God desires that we treat other sinners the same way he treated us when He gave us His Son freely, sacrificially, mercifully and lovingly in order that we be saved from eternal damnation. His ultimate aim is for us to restore the sinning Christian back into fellowship.
f. Christians guilty of the same sin are not qualified to judge a person with the same sin. Rom 2:1 - “Do you, my friend, pass judgment on others? You have no excuse at all, whoever you are. For when you judge others and then do the same things which they do, you condemn yourself.” Matt 7:3 - “And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? V4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye? V5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye."
BUT NOTE: Jesus didn’t say, however, that you are permanently disqualified from dealing with the splinter in your brother’s eye. You must first humbly repent and get cleansed from your own sins first i. e. you must first remove the beam in your own eye. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Now, with the beam gone, then you can help the brother remove the splinter from his eye.
Summary concerning judging:
1 Professional Judges are not forfeited from judging.
2. No one can escape being judge
3. We are asked as Christians to judge fellow Christians
4. We must not be harsh in our judgement
5. We use scripture to judge correctly
6. We must cleanse ourselves for our own sins firsts
So can the crisis that rocked Calvary Church published in The Star, rock Christianity and the Christians in Malaysia? NO IT CANNOT.
This is a Review on the topic written by Dr Paul Nah
References:
Is it Right to Judge Others? M Randall; Judging others Dictionary of American Slang
and Colloquial Expressions, by Richard A. Spears, 4th Edition; Hard Sayings of the Bible by Kaiser, Davids, & Brauch; Who Are You to Judge? By: Chip Bell; Judging ; Provocative Bible Verses: Judge Not Lest You Be Judged, April 6, 2009 Dan Lacich
.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
An email bearing God's Confirmation
This afternoon a few of the Concerned Members or TTG (more popularly known) met with a Pastor from India. He has been praying for Calvary Church, the church pastors and TTG, at the request of a concerned Christian. The Lord showed the Pastor visions as he prayed for us - the Church and TTG. God gave him these visions - A Big pond and small pond and God will send rain to fill the small pond and A big ball of fire breaking up into many small balls of fire on earth. The fire is a purifying process from God upon His children.
CT received the e-mail posted below this afternoon and did a check on the authenticity of the article attached and discovered the site wherein the article is found : http://www.openheaven.com/
Upon reading, we found this line is at the bottom of page :
Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind and love your neighbour as yourself.
lynmac771@bigpond.com
lynmac771@bigpond.com
Then we checked the "next topic" on the site and this was written in the next article:
For the earth has broken and brought forth her cry and I have heard it...I am sending the rain of My Love...My heart is swelling and I am about to burst....
Oh don't you know the latter rain are the tears of our Father's pain.... (we shared earlier of a vision of "tears". WE asked then, " Whose Tears?")
God is lighting small fires all over the world. These small fires are being ignited by the purity of His Love and are fore ordained of Him since the foundation of the world... Those found chosen and faithful are being merged as one in His Love, His purity and His joy. . Their prayers have gone up to Him as incense. His tabernacle is being restored.
These balls of fire of His Pure Love are being lit in the most obscure places
Oh don't you know the latter rain are the tears of our Father's pain.... (we shared earlier of a vision of "tears". WE asked then, " Whose Tears?")
God is lighting small fires all over the world. These small fires are being ignited by the purity of His Love and are fore ordained of Him since the foundation of the world... Those found chosen and faithful are being merged as one in His Love, His purity and His joy. . Their prayers have gone up to Him as incense. His tabernacle is being restored.
These balls of fire of His Pure Love are being lit in the most obscure places
It is not by coincidence that this e-mail was sent to CT. We believe it is God's confirmation of what the Pastor shared with the group of Concerned Members or TTG this afternoon.
________________________________________________
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Brothers and sisters of CC,
Let us be encouraged. To stand against religious authority was never an easy task even in Jesus' time. Nonetheless, the will of the Father must be done. There is a part of the Lord's ministry was to expose sins especially on those who sat on Moses seat. For CC, the grace period for this man is over. The men made temple of Babel need to be destroyed, so be it. He would rebuild it in 3 days. The Lord is setting His people free from the bondage of one man and releasing them into the marketplace, preparing them for the end time harvest..........therefore, do not repeat the same mistakes by building another temple. Go to the streets, the highway and byway gather the people in small groups inviting them to the banquet of the King!
Standing with Truth,
Bro J
VISION of SUBTLE LIES
-by Pam Brown.
God gave me a vision 1 1/2 years ago about one of the biggest names in the Christian world and showed me what this person and many other leaders are doing to the body. I saw a HUGE "SUBTLE" written in the sky after this person's name came up. -by Pam Brown.
I was sobbing like I've never sobbed before. It was breaking the heart of Jesus. I kept asking Jesus what was breaking his heart so badly and that's when this scripture came to mind..."How I wish I could gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks but you would not listen."
I knew that Scripture and cried even harder because I knew that Jesus wanted the church to turn from her deception and follow Him. That told me that Jesus is very much aware that many in His body are being lead astray. They are decieved and the only one who can open their eyes and get them to repent is Jesus. It's a mixture or a malgam of the truth and lies.
The sense that I got was that much of the church had been contaminated. Poisoned and didn't even know it. Doctrine of demons had entered, New Age/occult ideas and books had infiltrated the body (many are in the Christian bookstores) and famous pastors were leading thousands down the "Apostate Church " road. Not the true church of Jesus Christ.
They were leaving out the name of Jesus, the cross, repentance and the blood. It has become a "Social" gospel to many in the church. Just do "good things" and attach the name of God to it... Oh how I pray that people in the church will wake up!!
Well, that was my interpretation of this 20 minute sobbing session that I had with Jesus. Even though I felt like Jesus was extremely sad at how easily His leaders and sheep were lead astray...I still felt like He was going to do some shaking and gather back as many "chicks" as possible from the enemy's camp.
He doesn't need a huge army... he just needs a few people that will do what he tells them to do and HE will make the needed changes. Not everyone has fallen into deception. That's the good news.
Just like Elijah thought he was the only one left and God showed him that there were 7,000 other people that didn't bow their knee to Baal.
That's the situation with the church today.
Praise God!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Letters from an Overseas Brother-in-Christ
We post here 2 e-mails we received from Bro Michael who is from overseas.
to : calvarytoday@gmail.com
date : Nov 23, 2009 7:30 AM
subject : Scandals at Calvary Church
SCANDALS AT CALVARY CHURCH.................
It is time to stand up and say enough is enough…..
I have read with interest the article in the Star and the various comments on the Calvary saga. There seems to be many people outside and inside of Calvary church posting comments in the web. Some of the comments are highly emotional while others very factual. Some not directly commenting on the saga but revealing other things that have been very unpleasant that was kept out of public scrutiny. It looks like all these things have been happening for many years dating back to 2004.
There is definitely some element of truth is what has been highlighted both in the news paper or else the person so central to the issue would have filed for defamation . It is indeed an eye opener for all of us to see the amount of abuses that has been committed behind closed door and under the disguise of church authority. The question I want to raise is this; Why is it that only one Director from the Board of directors (BOD) was willing to address these problems, while in fact all directors have fiduciary duties to ensure that all things are done according to accepted commercial standards of practice which would entail ethical stands and good governance on the part of those in position of authority. What about the Deacons who’s first loyalty is towards God but is incapable of exercising sound bible reproach to any members or leaders of the church who has committed fraud ,abuse of power and practice of cronyism and nepotism .
The one example is the transfer of 1.8millon funds to CIM without proper authorization. Who has been given the delegation of authority to allow this to happen. If it is the senior pastor ,did the BOD give him a delegation of authority to effect this . If not , he has over stepped his authority and is liable . Did he benefit from such transfer even though restitution has been made. How long was the money kept in this CIM account . Was the funds used during the time it was in CIM and that restitution was possible only due to new additional funds being transferred to the CIM account. What other funds have gone into this account? Was there overseas funds solicited for this CIM?
There are so many other instances such as creation of positions for family members ,& high salaries for selected related parties which is nothing but abuse of powers for the benefit of a few. With all this happening why is that the present BOD still condone such practices .Does the BOD also benefit from the agreement with the Senior pastor’s action by getting bigger and better benefits for themselves in the church ..a scratch your back and you scratch mine mentality.
Has the church members ever asked who the title holders of all the properties the church own are in? The so called trustees ..can they be actually trusted? Who acts as an ombudsmen for the members of the church? As the present BOD are under suspect would it not be prudent to have a reputable External auditors to investigate, report and come up with recommendations to safe guard the church from such shameful and deceitful plundering of church funds.
With the position that the senior pastor holds in the church, has it ever occurred to the church that he may have committed sexual abuse as well to those female members that come to him for counseling. The victims may not even want to come forward now to say their piece for fear of shame and dignity lost and would want to move forward with life and take what has happened as a painful experience. But with this blog by Calvary Today this is an avenue to seek some form of release from the hurts, pains and betrayal.
Why is it that in all church matters ,those in position of power are always allowed to get away with whatever wrong just to keep things within the family. I am sure the senior pastor wants to keep within the family as he is just using the mentality and mindset of the church mentality to hide all his wrong doing amounting to criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, unethical practice and lack of good governance. Are Calvary church members so naïve to be fooled and hoodwinked by this person .You make yourself a laughing stock not to the general public but to the senior pastor himself as he looks at you as nothing but some adult with a child’s mind so innocent to not see the evil intentions of his actions…..A pawn in his game of high financial chess .
Stand up Calvary Christians if you so dare to call yourself Christians and do not let such vulgarities happen to your church that is from God that has been vandalized and prostituted to such a horrible level. Have courage and the common sense to remove and purge your church of such leaders.
To the senior pastor and the BOD…resign and make restitution with your God and the church but also be prepared to face the laws of the land for you are no different from the everyday people.. .No one is above the law .
Let this be a lesson for all churches and their leaders that you are not above the law and you need to have ethics and good governance in the way you run the church of God. In fact your standards should be God’s standards which is in the bible but because you are weak and are tempted, the corporate world has come up with a lesser standard like good ethics and good governance that is punishable by laws of the land should you falter from it. So don’t hide behind the veil of keeping within the family as it is all an excuse to cover your evil deeds.
Michael M Oldham
*********************************
to : calvarytoday@gmail.com
date : Nov 24, 2009 10:25 AM
Dear Sir,
I am from overseas and only read the article at your Calvary Today blog and was very disappointed to see these things happening to the Church of God and that it took caring Christians such a long time to address this issue and bring it out in the open.
I like to give you an analogy....Can you imagine in a home where the father abuses the child with the wife and the other children just watching.Relatives suspect but do nothing but just say he will change.Caring neighbours just suspect and say it is not our business.Don;'t you think that he should be reported to third party authorities who can have the full extent of the law on him.
Calvary church is just like that.Deacons and caring Christians pray and try and speak with the senior pastor but to no avail for years.Deacons and BOD are afraid of him for reason which I cannot comprehend.He is only a human being nothing more.
To keep this within the confines of the church with the excessive abuse of his authority,misappropriate of God's money,the contineous sins committed in the house of God,to allow him to preach the Word which is definitely NOT from God,to allow people from outside to visit your church knowing that he is preaching not God's word but who knows what is mind totally boggling and shows a lack of COMMON sense.
Every calvary member who has witness this episode for so long is guilty of sin of not caring enough of your church members, But praise God that there are those that have left the church as they sensed the falseness of Calvary church.
These members and all who know of the happenings at Calvary church must ask God also for forgiveness for not bringing this out in the in the open sooner. That is the problem with christians and the mind set of keeping problems within the house of God.Like I have said keeping this within the confines of the church is the best tactic for a sinful person to continue to do as he pleases just like an abusive father in a home.
Please do not allow him and those that are with him to continue to violate the sanctity of Calvary church.Do what you must do with all legal means which include reporting to the authorities.The house of God must be purged of such despicable things .
God Bless. God will bring a new beginning to those that love his church.
Michael M Oldham
to : calvarytoday@gmail.com
date : Nov 23, 2009 7:30 AM
subject : Scandals at Calvary Church
SCANDALS AT CALVARY CHURCH.................
It is time to stand up and say enough is enough…..
I have read with interest the article in the Star and the various comments on the Calvary saga. There seems to be many people outside and inside of Calvary church posting comments in the web. Some of the comments are highly emotional while others very factual. Some not directly commenting on the saga but revealing other things that have been very unpleasant that was kept out of public scrutiny. It looks like all these things have been happening for many years dating back to 2004.
There is definitely some element of truth is what has been highlighted both in the news paper or else the person so central to the issue would have filed for defamation . It is indeed an eye opener for all of us to see the amount of abuses that has been committed behind closed door and under the disguise of church authority. The question I want to raise is this; Why is it that only one Director from the Board of directors (BOD) was willing to address these problems, while in fact all directors have fiduciary duties to ensure that all things are done according to accepted commercial standards of practice which would entail ethical stands and good governance on the part of those in position of authority. What about the Deacons who’s first loyalty is towards God but is incapable of exercising sound bible reproach to any members or leaders of the church who has committed fraud ,abuse of power and practice of cronyism and nepotism .
The one example is the transfer of 1.8millon funds to CIM without proper authorization. Who has been given the delegation of authority to allow this to happen. If it is the senior pastor ,did the BOD give him a delegation of authority to effect this . If not , he has over stepped his authority and is liable . Did he benefit from such transfer even though restitution has been made. How long was the money kept in this CIM account . Was the funds used during the time it was in CIM and that restitution was possible only due to new additional funds being transferred to the CIM account. What other funds have gone into this account? Was there overseas funds solicited for this CIM?
There are so many other instances such as creation of positions for family members ,& high salaries for selected related parties which is nothing but abuse of powers for the benefit of a few. With all this happening why is that the present BOD still condone such practices .Does the BOD also benefit from the agreement with the Senior pastor’s action by getting bigger and better benefits for themselves in the church ..a scratch your back and you scratch mine mentality.
Has the church members ever asked who the title holders of all the properties the church own are in? The so called trustees ..can they be actually trusted? Who acts as an ombudsmen for the members of the church? As the present BOD are under suspect would it not be prudent to have a reputable External auditors to investigate, report and come up with recommendations to safe guard the church from such shameful and deceitful plundering of church funds.
With the position that the senior pastor holds in the church, has it ever occurred to the church that he may have committed sexual abuse as well to those female members that come to him for counseling. The victims may not even want to come forward now to say their piece for fear of shame and dignity lost and would want to move forward with life and take what has happened as a painful experience. But with this blog by Calvary Today this is an avenue to seek some form of release from the hurts, pains and betrayal.
Why is it that in all church matters ,those in position of power are always allowed to get away with whatever wrong just to keep things within the family. I am sure the senior pastor wants to keep within the family as he is just using the mentality and mindset of the church mentality to hide all his wrong doing amounting to criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, unethical practice and lack of good governance. Are Calvary church members so naïve to be fooled and hoodwinked by this person .You make yourself a laughing stock not to the general public but to the senior pastor himself as he looks at you as nothing but some adult with a child’s mind so innocent to not see the evil intentions of his actions…..A pawn in his game of high financial chess .
Stand up Calvary Christians if you so dare to call yourself Christians and do not let such vulgarities happen to your church that is from God that has been vandalized and prostituted to such a horrible level. Have courage and the common sense to remove and purge your church of such leaders.
To the senior pastor and the BOD…resign and make restitution with your God and the church but also be prepared to face the laws of the land for you are no different from the everyday people.. .No one is above the law .
Let this be a lesson for all churches and their leaders that you are not above the law and you need to have ethics and good governance in the way you run the church of God. In fact your standards should be God’s standards which is in the bible but because you are weak and are tempted, the corporate world has come up with a lesser standard like good ethics and good governance that is punishable by laws of the land should you falter from it. So don’t hide behind the veil of keeping within the family as it is all an excuse to cover your evil deeds.
Michael M Oldham
*********************************
to : calvarytoday@gmail.com
date : Nov 24, 2009 10:25 AM
Dear Sir,
I am from overseas and only read the article at your Calvary Today blog and was very disappointed to see these things happening to the Church of God and that it took caring Christians such a long time to address this issue and bring it out in the open.
I like to give you an analogy....Can you imagine in a home where the father abuses the child with the wife and the other children just watching.Relatives suspect but do nothing but just say he will change.Caring neighbours just suspect and say it is not our business.Don;'t you think that he should be reported to third party authorities who can have the full extent of the law on him.
Calvary church is just like that.Deacons and caring Christians pray and try and speak with the senior pastor but to no avail for years.Deacons and BOD are afraid of him for reason which I cannot comprehend.He is only a human being nothing more.
To keep this within the confines of the church with the excessive abuse of his authority,misappropriate of God's money,the contineous sins committed in the house of God,to allow him to preach the Word which is definitely NOT from God,to allow people from outside to visit your church knowing that he is preaching not God's word but who knows what is mind totally boggling and shows a lack of COMMON sense.
Every calvary member who has witness this episode for so long is guilty of sin of not caring enough of your church members, But praise God that there are those that have left the church as they sensed the falseness of Calvary church.
These members and all who know of the happenings at Calvary church must ask God also for forgiveness for not bringing this out in the in the open sooner. That is the problem with christians and the mind set of keeping problems within the house of God.Like I have said keeping this within the confines of the church is the best tactic for a sinful person to continue to do as he pleases just like an abusive father in a home.
Please do not allow him and those that are with him to continue to violate the sanctity of Calvary church.Do what you must do with all legal means which include reporting to the authorities.The house of God must be purged of such despicable things .
God Bless. God will bring a new beginning to those that love his church.
Michael M Oldham
Monday, November 23, 2009
Axed for attending TTG meeting
This was an e-mail "carbon copied" to CT earlier in the year by a Calvarite. We have no idea if this person still attends Calvary Church. The reason we publish this mail now, for all to read is because we feel very sad and sorry that this person was discriminated by the Church leadership because this person came out for one of our earlier "Teh-Tarik" meetings. This is evidence of members being deprived of their service unto God in church, just because they showed an interest to the TTG cause. This person was not a known TTG member at all. It is our sincere hope and prayer that this person is still faithfully serving God.
This was a reply to an e-mail this writer wrote to Calvary Kini, an anonymous blog which many believe was started by the church leadership to counter-attack Calvary Today.
From:
Date: Jun 1, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: The Question On Everyone's Minds
To: Calvary Kini
Cc: calvarytoday@gmail.com
To whoever sent this email to me:
I wish to be silent on this but because you have sent me this email I would like to share what I feel about all these:
1. I am glad that only God and the persons involved know who is telling the TRUTH and who is lying. God is the judge. I always believe that the Truth will finally prevail.
Proverbs 21:12 says... The righeous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
2. Psalms 1 advises us to ....not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers or scornful,....the ungodly are not so but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the unrighteous, for the Lord knows the way of the righteousbut the way of the ungodly shall perish.
3. In James 1: 14-15, we were reminded that: but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
4. In Philippians 2:12, Paul warns us ....to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.....
In Revelation 3: 16 ...so then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth....
In John 8:12,31 : Jesus is speaking:..."I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life......If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."
5. John 15:8..."by this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
Matthew 3:8,10 .... therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance......every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire......
Matthew 18:9...and if your eyes causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having 2 eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Finally, what am I trying to say? Well, check how we walk ourselves. Never listen to others. Love God and love people. Don't judge and let God defend the righteous in His own time. Jesus died on the cross righteous. He was not guity although he was accused. Truth will reveal itself.
I was removed from CW because I went to listen to a talk by TTG group to be a busybody..... to know what is happening..... just like what you are all doing explaining to the members...... Is this sin? Do I not have my liberty to go where i want. It is to God that I am accountable to..... I am a Christian because I admit I am a sinner and I cannot saved myself and that my Lord Jesus is my Saviour. Praise God that I am saved from hell. I want to go to heaven and it is God who decides who should be in Heaven and who should go to hell.
God asks me to serve in Cw and I obeyed. What wrong or sin have I commited that I am removed..... ? God knows what is happening and that is sufficient. God knows who loves Him. I will let God be the judge.
Note : CW is Carpenter's Workshop, the children's ministry in CC.
This was a reply to an e-mail this writer wrote to Calvary Kini, an anonymous blog which many believe was started by the church leadership to counter-attack Calvary Today.
From:
Date: Jun 1, 2009 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: The Question On Everyone's Minds
To: Calvary Kini
Cc: calvarytoday@gmail.com
To whoever sent this email to me:
I wish to be silent on this but because you have sent me this email I would like to share what I feel about all these:
1. I am glad that only God and the persons involved know who is telling the TRUTH and who is lying. God is the judge. I always believe that the Truth will finally prevail.
Proverbs 21:12 says... The righeous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.
2. Psalms 1 advises us to ....not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers or scornful,....the ungodly are not so but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the unrighteous, for the Lord knows the way of the righteousbut the way of the ungodly shall perish.
3. In James 1: 14-15, we were reminded that: but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
4. In Philippians 2:12, Paul warns us ....to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.....
In Revelation 3: 16 ...so then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth....
In John 8:12,31 : Jesus is speaking:..."I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life......If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed."
5. John 15:8..."by this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."
Matthew 3:8,10 .... therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance......every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire......
Matthew 18:9...and if your eyes causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having 2 eyes, to be cast into hell fire.
Finally, what am I trying to say? Well, check how we walk ourselves. Never listen to others. Love God and love people. Don't judge and let God defend the righteous in His own time. Jesus died on the cross righteous. He was not guity although he was accused. Truth will reveal itself.
I was removed from CW because I went to listen to a talk by TTG group to be a busybody..... to know what is happening..... just like what you are all doing explaining to the members...... Is this sin? Do I not have my liberty to go where i want. It is to God that I am accountable to..... I am a Christian because I admit I am a sinner and I cannot saved myself and that my Lord Jesus is my Saviour. Praise God that I am saved from hell. I want to go to heaven and it is God who decides who should be in Heaven and who should go to hell.
God asks me to serve in Cw and I obeyed. What wrong or sin have I commited that I am removed..... ? God knows what is happening and that is sufficient. God knows who loves Him. I will let God be the judge.
Note : CW is Carpenter's Workshop, the children's ministry in CC.
An ex-Calvarite comments on CCC
to : calvarytoday@gmail.com
date : Oct 9, 2009 8:09 AM
subject : Calvary Convention Centre
Greetings to you all.
I am __________, a former calvarite who had left calvary church some 7 yrs ago, but have been keeping watch on whats happening in Calvary through their website. I have today just discovered your website and I stand by what you have written.
I knew that problems will surely arise from this CCC project, a project that SP said is from a call of God, but never elaborate on how he got this call. The project looked more like a 5 star recreational centre complete with multi facilities, then a true worship centre. I am especialy irked how these so called 'pastors' who called themselves 'servants of God' can compromised and support someone who belongs to an anti christ organisation, the freemasonary to create a design which had a satanic logo on it. Just amazing and unbelievable. No way this project is a vision from God.
Brothers & sisters, you all are facing a very, very difficult task ahead of you, an almost impossible mission I would say. Chances are that you will never win against them. As I see it, the real problem is not with the CCC. The root of all thats happening in Calvary goes far beyond the CCC and all these controversies. But I will rather not say what it is as it might not go well with some of you. It took me 6 to 7 yrs to come to this realisation that caused me to leave Calvary church. Should any of you would like to discuss, you may contact me.
All these controversies and the unchristian- like behaviour of these pastors and others does'nt surprise me a bit. I knew its already there waiting to be erupted now and then. I am no more a calvarite, but you all are, and would have many, many question to ask ahead of you. Why not start with asking yourself, "Is it the true spirit of God that is operating in Calvary, or some false spirit?
Best wishes to you all and God bless.
J T
date : Oct 9, 2009 8:09 AM
subject : Calvary Convention Centre
Greetings to you all.
I am __________, a former calvarite who had left calvary church some 7 yrs ago, but have been keeping watch on whats happening in Calvary through their website. I have today just discovered your website and I stand by what you have written.
I knew that problems will surely arise from this CCC project, a project that SP said is from a call of God, but never elaborate on how he got this call. The project looked more like a 5 star recreational centre complete with multi facilities, then a true worship centre. I am especialy irked how these so called 'pastors' who called themselves 'servants of God' can compromised and support someone who belongs to an anti christ organisation, the freemasonary to create a design which had a satanic logo on it. Just amazing and unbelievable. No way this project is a vision from God.
Brothers & sisters, you all are facing a very, very difficult task ahead of you, an almost impossible mission I would say. Chances are that you will never win against them. As I see it, the real problem is not with the CCC. The root of all thats happening in Calvary goes far beyond the CCC and all these controversies. But I will rather not say what it is as it might not go well with some of you. It took me 6 to 7 yrs to come to this realisation that caused me to leave Calvary church. Should any of you would like to discuss, you may contact me.
All these controversies and the unchristian- like behaviour of these pastors and others does'nt surprise me a bit. I knew its already there waiting to be erupted now and then. I am no more a calvarite, but you all are, and would have many, many question to ask ahead of you. Why not start with asking yourself, "Is it the true spirit of God that is operating in Calvary, or some false spirit?
Best wishes to you all and God bless.
J T
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