Author andrewong2024

Obedience is Better than Sacrifice

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Over the weekend church service, the Lord ‘whispered’ to me during the corporate worship time.

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

1 Samuel 15:22

Beginning 2008 on the right note

With the start of 2008 slowly taking pace, many of us have charted plans and projections for the new year. And I’m sure plenty of us (including me) have also jotted down goals that we believe would be for His Kingdom and glory.

However, I was gently reminded that at times, in the course of our pursuit of these goals, the underlying motives might not be as pure as we thought it to be.

The heart is deceitful above all else. (c.f. Jeremiah 17:9)

Obedience to God all the way

This is a personal reminder that obedience to God is the primary priority for me as His child.

And this takes precedence over everything including things/goals that are even labelled as “For Him” or beyond my logical understanding.

Cos if it is truly “For Him” that I seek, then shouldn’t I be fully trusting and obeying His ways and not mine?

Ultimately, the end of goal for us all is to follow Jesus’ example (c.f. John 5:19) of walking right and close with our God; to obey what He sets us off to be or to do according to His purpose and will, even to the point of death.

Thank You Lord for this reminder! =)

Have Faith In What He Has Called You to Do

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If you want to see what you’ve never seen, you have to do what you have never done.

Because if you do what you always do, you’ll continue to see what you always see and you’ll never see what you have never seen.

Ed Silvoso

Pastor PN’s New Year Message

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Here’s a Christmas and New Year Message from Pastor PN Srithawong, President of Hope of God International (HGI) to members of Hope Church taken from the HGI eNewsletter.

“Let’s move on to reach out to more souls, more lives and fulfill the Great Commission and do the mission together: domestically and internationally.”

Pastor PN

My Thoughts On Resolutions

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From observation, I think the world views new year resolutions as if they are mostly lofty ideas or ho-hum wishes.

Weekly PlannerBesides it been the year-end and the beginning of a new year, I think our lives are more important than we think it actually is.

Thus, we should be seriously thinking of how are we in tune with our vision or life purpose on a daily basis rather than when only the year-end approaches.

“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.”

Psalm 39:4

Taking stock  

In fact, I strongly believe that we need to take stock of our lives on a regularly basis- monthly or quarterly, depending on the level of responsibilities we bear.

Which means we need to constantly evaluate and keep tabs with how we are living in tandem with our goals and purposes.

If business organisations take their year-end reports and yearly projections seriously in order to stay on top of the competition, how can we not do the same with our lives?

Our lives is just too short to merely drift and cruise along. Cos you might not know where you will end up after doing so many things.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

An un-examined life is not worth living for. 

Making plans  

As a saying goes, “Fail to plan and you plan to fail.”

Therefore, I think a better term to use for resolutions would be plans. Plans are achieve-able and calculated with commitment involved in the process.

Nonetheless, I think there should be no difficulty in drawing up “resolutions” when we are constantly focus on our goals and purpose in life.

That’s because when the vision is clearer, the options are lesser with the decisions that need to be made easier to make.  

Towards our destiny

And if the next question that pops is, “I do not know my life purpose and goals.”

Then welcome to this adventure called life with God your creator in discovering your destiny and the meaning why you exist in this life! =P

Pick up a Bible (Acronyms of BIBLE- Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) and search for His will for you.

I guarantee that you will find your answers in the world’s most-printed and number 1 seller book!

Random Thoughts on 2007

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Before summing up my personal journey for the year of 2007, here are some of my random thoughts from last year…  

1. My unforgettable answered prayer

My job at SMa Federation in February! Upon God’s leading, I quitted my previous job before landing my current job and was put to test my faith in Him. What a ride! =p

ThoughtsAfter 2 months, the job came and it came with the exact “FIT” for me in honing my skills and expanding my boundaries. Thank God!

2. My greatest breakthrough

Participating and completing the 10km Standard Chartered Run!

This was a breakthrough cos I hated to run, but did it to push my limits. All things are possible (with God)!

3. My memorable experience

It happened at Suntec City on 22 December 2007. It was my first time approaching strangers and sharing them the Good News with their permission.

Besides being my first, it was also an experience that helped me debunked the presupposition that most Singaporeans have heard the Good News.

4. My happiest and elating moment

The completion of the Breakthrough campaign with Hope Church’s attaining debt-free status for Nexus Auditorium!

5. My lessons learnt about God

My vision was enlarged as He showed me more of what He can actually do in regards to fulfilling His purpose and His will.

I experienced a paradigm shift in how God works relevantly beyond the walls of the Church and “spiritual” work.  

Now I understand in particularly how I can partner with God to work through our global marketplace in advancing His Kingdom.   

6. My lessons learnt about my own-self

I am discovering that I have this God-given “gift” to identify potential, talents or resources with people and link them up, in order all can achieve some common purpose with synergy.    

The Promise of the Gift of Salvation

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But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Romans 10:8-10 (NIV)

The Impact of God’s Love

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If you didn’t get to read X-Hooker, Annie Lobert’s testimony, here’s an interview with her open sharing how she got trapped into prostitution in the sex industry.

But the incredible part is where she shares with tears on how she got out from that lifestyle after 11 years!

♥ GOD LOVES YOU! ♥

Christianity’s Forgotten Impact

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December 15, 2007
The Straits Times

By Roland Chia

The CrossIN RECENT years, there has been a spate of anti-religion literature authored by atheists who are either crusading for religion to be privatised or abolished.

The titles of their books openly declare their basic agendas: The God Delusion (Richard Dawkins), God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (Christopher Hitchens), The End Of Faith (Sam Harris) and Breaking The Spell (Daniel Dennett). These authors champion atheism and the ideology that it has spawned, namely, secularism.

They argue that religion is responsible for some of the worst atrocities in history and that society’s future lies in a secularism that would keep religion out of the public square.

These authors often quote stark examples in history of the chaos and bloodshed for which religion was allegedly responsible. And one of their favourites is…. (cont’d)

Read the full article here

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My Doodling:

When Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees on why he eats with tax collectors and ‘sinners’? Jesus’ reply was simple: For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners. Isn’t it amazing to know that Jesus showed love to the ‘outcasts’ such as tax-collectors, lepers, sick, murderers and prostitutes???

For many of us who might not be able to identify with prostitutes, here’s a wonderful and insightful testimony of Annie Lobert, a self-confessed ex-hooker who started Hookers For Jesus Ministry.