THE GREATEST REASON FOR CELEBRATION

by Sam J Christopher 

JESUS - He who created the universe and all therein.
JESUS - He who spoke from the burning bush.
JESUS - He who gave us the 10 commandments.
JESUS - He who filled the temple with His Glory
JESUS - He who conquered death though killed and buried in a sealed tomb.
JESUS - He who gave meaning to our faith by His astounding resurrection.
JESUS - He who ascended in clouds in full view of His believers.
JESUS - He who is for evermore the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient Of Days.
JESUS - He who is coming soon to grab us into the clouds to be with him forever.

So much and more to celebrate about our great God and Almighty Saviour JESUS CHRIST.

FREDRICK SEGAR

It was in the lush green hills of the former Lady Templer Hospital in Cheras that I first became acquainted with the late Fredrick. I was just a small primary school boy in the 60’s when I came to know him as Segaran. But very soon I regarded him as “Annan”, just as he was “Annan” to so  many of the younger ones in his extended family.

SMOKE-N-MIRRORS

by Sam J Christopher

Well it's out again. The same corny New Year themes:                 "Year of refreshing...Year of revival ...Year of rebuilding.....Year of restoration........ Blah blah blah......"

Who the heck comes up with these?

How come it's never any of these ↓

LEFT BEHIND ! !

by Sam J Christopher

"One by one, the strongholds fell 

Now the last soldier has fled

The final flight has taken off

The airport is closed

The  bases are empty

The heavy guns silent

The enemy has overrun the bulwarks 

His flag now flies everywhere ....

WOE, WOE, WOE!

THIS IS THE MAN

by Sam J Christopher

He stepped onto this foreign shore when just a lad of 20,

In hopes of a better opportunity of which he heard was a-plenty.

Found no one with a vacancy or a lodge,

So he slept on the five-foot ways of Telok Anson town.

He gave up his watch with a heavy heart, for a train ticket,

To travel to Kuala Lumpur without burden of loan or debt.

At that time it was his only prized possession,

But he didn’t let that get in the way of his vision.

TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK?

by Sam J Christopher

Strange, that a little palm-sized piece of cloth, can elicit so much social, political and even religious fervour and controversy. Even to the possible toppling of governments!

So.what gives?

Being an avid DIY-er, masks are not alien to me. (I have a few types on the wall in my modest workshop.) And I am well aware of the media-hyped global paranoia over a pandemic that apparently had its origins in China, that great bastion of lofty humanitarian values (not to mention cheap gadgets and fantastic taste in exotic meats).

PROPHETIC PARADE (pronounced P-A-R-O-D-Y)

by A Lump of Clay

Hear ye, hear ye! It’s time for yet another Global Prophetic Parade.

As usual, we will be unravelling for you the mysteries of the Book of Revelation – without even you having to read it.

Together we’ll be calling down fire from the skies to consume all the Baal altars in the world – those inside churches exempted of course.

With our joint prophetic anointing, we’ll practice parting the seas and rivers – except for the Dead Sea, it’s already a tourism goldmine even without a parting.

Please take note of some important announcements:

CHRISTMAS!!

by A Lump of Clay

Yep, it’s that time of the year again, when you would usually notice that yours truly begins developing a strange allergy. An allergy exacerbated by the jingling of sleighbells in a land with no snow. A jingling that leads to inevitable discomfort. Discomfort over impending festivities. Festivities that, were it not for the endless bounty of free cookies, tidbits, muruku, sweets and bubbly, would have me climbing the wall in frustration. Frustration from fruitlessly searching the pages of Holy Scriptures (“christmas” just refuses to come up in any concordance, dang!) for some hint of any mysterious celebration on the 25th of December, that would explain the mysterious origins of all the mysterious brouhaha surrounding this mysterious date. 

But then it came upon me on one very silent night this December. 

YERUSHALAHIM, O YERUSHALAHIM!

by Sam J Christopher

So 1 country (that’s one, O-N-E) – albeit a strange one, helmed by an even stranger president - decides to move its embassy. And suddenly the whole world erupts in self-righteous anger! Big deal. I mean, just ONE solitary embassy, in a city not exactly the most developed available, agitates the whole globe? You gotta be kidding me! What’s the fuss all about?

NEWSFLASH November 2017

by A Lump of Clay

NEWSFLASH November 2017:
”A man driving a Home Depot rental truck, mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in New York today, leaving eight people dead. The bodies were later covered in white sheets.The man, an immigrant of Middle-Eastern origin was shot several times by the police. He was later apprehended while shouting ‘Allahu akhbar’. A pellet gun and a paintball gun were recovered from the scene.”

Wait a minute,

We can’t mention “Middle-Eastern origin”; that’s racial profiling.

NABEEL QURESHI – A Christ-like Christian

by Sam J Christopher

Nabeel Qureshi (1983-2017)

Christ-like in his love, for his lost fellow men

Faithful all the way, even to his painful end

A KINGDOM IN THE CITY

by Sam J Christopher

Recently went to a "church" on the top floor of a 6-storey business complex located in prime real estate in the city. Could hear the kick-drum thundering right through to the ground floor. When I entered the heavy doors of the 2,000-seater hall, I was immediately blasted by a solid wall of 120dB yells.

IF WE BREAK GOD'S HEART...

by Sam J Christopher

If I say I have love for you in my heart and then proceed to revoke that love because of the hurt you caused me, what kind of "love" is that? At best, it is just a fleeting romance. It certainly cannot be the kind of love that was described to the Corinthians.

AWARDS

by Sam J Christopher

Of late, the annual parade of glitzy award presentations seem to have become predictable and off-puttingly boring. Those were the days when the ratio of real actors really acting, to stunt doubles, was an interesting 1:1. But with the advent of camera tricks, digital enhancement, 4D computer graphics, karaoke and the ubiquitous selfie, there's nothing much to look forward to anymore, really. What now really grips the “live-telecast” world is not "What's coming out next?", but rather, "Who's coming out next?"

OCT 2016 - LATEST HEADLINES!

by A Lump of Clay

Pravda headlines carry shocking statement from the Russian President: “I’ve had enough of the flies in Syria!” The usually stoic Russian President has reportedly ordered immediate deployment of S-500 missiles to the roadside eateries of Aleppo to establish a much needed no-fly zone there. He also warned his generals of stern action if batteries are not included like the last time. Meanwhile, considering the global downturn in economy, the generals are reported to be in a deadlock over which weapon would be more cost-effective in Syria – S-500 or Samsung 7? A decision is expected before winter. UN Secretary General refused comment saying, "I've a plane to catch."

THE FINGER

by A Lump Of Clay

The human being is one of the few creatures on this planet that is endowed (whether by an Intelligent Designer or by mindless evolution) with an amazing contraption at the end of the limb. No, I don’t mean the i-phone, silly. The prehensile HAND. For those who are not overly fascinated by Darwinian evolution, “prehensile” translates as “having the ability to grasp things”. This by no means implies that those who are unable to grasp the immense wisdom in this piece of holiday drivel, are in any way fallen behind in Darwinian development in the higher faculties. (We can take it up slooooowly another day).

The hand consists of 1 unpigmented palm, on which are attached 5 flexible digits. Together they are simply amazing in construction and utility. But as I observe the debris of life, as it floats by my un-tinted window, each of the digits that occupy the palm of the human hand are not without its own controversy. Since I am quite accustomed to controversy, let me list them out.

HEATWAVE RANT

by a Lump of Clay

Pheeew! I don’t know, but apparently it’s the equinox. What does that have to do with a country sitting smack at the equator? Beats me. But I’m told the heat has gone up to 39*C in some parts of this equatorial paradise where I live. And is expected to go even higher. (Probably in tandem with the local political temperature? I don’t know. Not really into politics. Too hot to handle). I don’t know about the *C, but I can tell you this. It has been blooming hot lately, that’s for sure.

The authorities assure me they are desperately trying to do something about it. I’m sure they are. After all they ARE the authorities, right?

OF ETHIOPIANS AND LEOPARDS

by Sam J Christopher

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" (Jer 13:23)

Well, thousands of years have passed since these rhetorical words were uttered. Today, both these "impossibilities" are actually possible, thanks to quantum leaps in the field of genetics in the last hundred years, that remained unavailable in the days of the prophet.. 

But be that as it may, the point of that rhetoric must not be lost in the ever-changing science-driven knowledge landscape.

AN OLD HYMN (as sung by some "christians" these days)

Sam J Christopher

My hope is built on my witness

Not Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust His sweetest Name,
So also lean on my own name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the part-time Rock, I stand;
All my own ground can help me stand.
All my own ground can help me stand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on my own strength and faith;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within my sail.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Is not enough in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
My self-effort will be my stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, in my strength may I be found;
Dressed in my righteousness alone,
My trumpet loud before the throne. 

Epilogue:

You see, I have been pondering on some discussion relating to God's salvation plan. Some Christians hold that God's salvation plan comes in 2 separate parts - where God does His part and man does his part, in order for that salvation to be materialize effectively – like a glue plus hardener. I don't subscribe to that.

THE CRY OF THE BLOOD OF THE INNOCENTS

a Facebook post by Rolley Haggard

 

58,000,000 babies have been aborted in America since January 22, 1973. Few of us have any idea how many “anythings” fifty-eight million is. Here's something I did that might help us all to grasp the enormity of that number.

JUST TAKE THE GOOD AND LEAVE THE BAD

by Sam J Christopher
 

How often have you heard that? Whatever the issue, and whatever your personal persuasions, this is one ubiquitous advice you would have most certainly heard more than once in your life. “JUST TAKE THE GOOD AND LEAVE THE BAD.” And there seems to be no short supply of self-appointed personal and public advisers, to ensure that you don’t walk down life’s road without hearing repeated mouthfuls of this adage. It's as if this is the "golden rule" no.2 - handed down by the gods themselves. And it also is a handy tool to abruptly pull the rug from under the feet of a healthy challenge or even an earnest query. Its popularity is mostly because it provides the ideal instant smokescreen for someone who has just been caught with his pants down (...errr ...not literally of course.....), to coolly walk away without having to provide a rational justification for his claims or actions. This then leaves the other party no other choice but to raise their eyebrows, throw up their hands into the air and move on to contemplating more profound things, like ....hmmmm... did that Jenner feller really cut it off, or just flat-pack it?
But does it really end there?

WAYFARING STANGER

by Sam J Christopher

I am just a wayfaring stranger

Just passing through this 1-Malaysia

I don't plan to be here for much longer
For I am heading to the land beyond the river
And there settle with my Jesus, forever and ever

FREE WILL? NO, THANKS

by Sam J Christopher

"Life is all about your choices,
 with free-will to ride your own horses” 

That old song was blaring over the speakers as I had a whale of a time. In the cesspool. The cesspool here is the perfect choice for a fun-house paradise. Lazing in the slime, wallowing in the filth, tasting the stinky goo, as waves of frothy pleasure massage me all over. Spoilt for choice! What else could I want in life? A life of the free-will enterprise.

How much is the Lord's prayer worth?

excerpt from the book, Extreme Devotion

Six men and one widow were taken before the court for committing an extreme crime against the Church of England. They had taught their children the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments in the English language.

MOTHER'S DAY

 by Sam J Christopher

So another "Mothers’ Day" has come and gone
One day we served her breakfast in bed
so Mom could enjoy the sunrise
One day we minded the children/grandchildren
so Mom could finish her favourite embroidery

ANGEL IN THE RUBBLE

by Nicola Menzie , Christian Post Reporter

 

 

Genelle Guzman-McMillan insists that it is not fear that keeps her from returning to Manhattan's ground zero. The Port Authority employee, now also an author, says that it is the ordeal of reliving how two hijacked planes 10 years ago sent the World Trade Center crumbling, burying her co-workers and herself beneath piles of rubble. As Guzman-McMillan lay buried alive for nearly 30 hours, the screams she heard in the darkness around her soon faded away. She was alone, she thought, and could think of only one thing to do – cry out to God.

OH NO! IT'S CHRISTMAS AGAIN!

by S J Christopher

Dear Theophilus,

Hope this letter finds you in perfect peace, by the enduring grace of the Only True God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s that time of the year again Theo, when all over the world, people calling themselves “christians”,  join hands with Roman Catholics and the rest of the non-christian world, to indulge in the most expensive, hectic, flamboyant “christian” celebration of the year.

BEWARE: THE BIBLE IS ABOUT TO THREATEN YOUR SMARTPHONE FOCUS

by John Piper

Are apps a threat to God-focus? Yes. But it works both ways. Fight fire with fire.

If you are reading your Bible on your computer or your smartphone or your iPad, the presence of the email app and the news apps and the Facebook app threaten every moment to drag your attention away from the word of God.

THE PRAYER THAT GETS DELIVERED

 by Chip Brogden




Click here for A modern prayer?? 

Foreword by Sam J Christopher:

With all the 24-hr prayers, all-night prayers, chain prayers, prayer runs,  fasting-and-prayer, 21-day prayers etc being excitedly organized in my church, I was collecting my thoughts to pen a few lines on prayer. Then, I came across the following article that just took the words right out of my  mouth. So here goes…..

 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… but when you pray, enter into your closet and pray in secret… and when you pray, do not use vain repetitions… after this manner therefore, pray… (Matthew 6:5-9).”

ANNOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT....YEAH RIGHT!!

by late Rev  Larry Thomas

One of the growing crazes in the church today is the phenomenon of being "slain in the spirit." It is something that needs to be discussed because of its continued growth in the Charismatic and Pentecostal movements. This occurrence is so closely connected with the "laughing revival" it is becoming quite commonplace.

Before I get into the actual discussion of this experience, I want to clarify a few things.

THE BLUE-EYED CUTIE

by Sam J Christopher

Recently, a stray cat had a litter of five kittens behind my house (in that place where I store all sorts of wonderful stuff that “may come in handy one fine day”). A few days later, I discovered that they had all moved out, except for this one grey-striped kitten. I left it alone thinking that its mommy would soon be back to carry it off when the coast was clear.

THE THING ABOUT INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC – Part 1

by Sam J Christopher

 Tabla, mirdangam, veena, sitar……… Sigh! Gone are those glory days when I used to drool over melodious keerthanai sung in sweet Indian classical style to the accompaniment of intricate Indian classical percussion - offerings worthy of presenting to the Almighty Himself!

As much as my heart goes thaka-thina-thom at the mention of those long-gone days, I tend to shy away from opportunities that come knocking once in a while.

GOOD OL' HYMNS - ABIDE WITH ME

http://www.preparingforeternity.org

Henry Francis Lyte

1793 to 1847

Henry Francis Lyte was born in Scotland on June 1, 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, of Dublin, Ireland, and was a member of the Church of England all his life. His health was always threatened by asthma and tuberculosis. Despite his bad health he was a tireless worker with the established reputation as a poet, musician and minister.

GOOD OL' HYMNS: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

 A Ministry of : www.biblestudycharts.com

 

Horatio Gates Spafford

Born: October 20, 1828, North Troy, New York.
Died: October 16, 1888, Jerusalem, Israel, of malaria.

This hymn was written by a Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford. You might think to write a worship song titled, 'It is well with my soul', you would indeed have to be a rich, successful Chicago lawyer. But the words, "When sorrows like sea billows roll ... It is well with my soul”, were not written during the happiest period of Spafford's life. On the contrary, they came from a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy.

ENDING THE WORSHIP WAR WITHOUT A TRUCE

Ed Stetzer

 

 Back in August I sat down with Mike Harland, Director for Lifeway Worship, to talk through the issues of relevance and reverence in the gathered church's worship. Because I love the church, and hate it when we get distracted from what matters most to God, I decided to share more of my thoughts here on the blog concerning the perennial war over worship.

2 INCREDIBLE STORIES

source unknown

STORY NO. 1 

 World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. 

SEEN THIS CHURCH?

by Sam J Christopher

Maybe it’s the unique triangular shape of the altar in my church, but I still can’t get over 2nd May 2010. That was the watershed Sunday when I had the misfortune of witnessing ordained clergymen in full uniform, jovially performing a blasphemous ritual of taking the Name of the Almighty God in vain, (with the symbols of the precious Blood and Flesh of His Annointed One just a few feet away).

A GOD TOO MANY

by A Lump of Clay

A funny thing happened the other day. I was at the mamak stall having a relaxing chat with some friends. I needed that before going on the compulsory annual stress-test called Christmas shopping. As usual, (when I am lured into a conversation and teh-tarik lebih manis is within reach), the topic veered, like a car badly in need of alignment, towards the subject of the Supreme Being. As the banter rolled across the various definitions, forms and formulae of the various entities that are touted to be “god”, it eventually morphed into the inevitable “feverish debate” stage.

OF GOLF BALLS AND MORALS - AS DANCED TO THE TWIST

by Sam J Christopher

I happened to catch an interesting piece of “trivia” on our TV3 prime-time news recently. Goes something like this:

 It seems one Joslyn James held a press conference to protest the use of her image on novelty golf balls. She argued that the balls would encourage violence against women.

CHRISTIANS URGED TO WAKE UP TO REALITY OF GLBT AGENDA

Lillian Kwon

Dr. Michael Brown (left) believes Christians have already lost the battle when it comes to public opinion on homosexuality and gender identity issues.

Pro-gay books are being read in elementary school classrooms, teachers are being mandated to use gender neutral language, gay activists have been welcomed in the White House, and young evangelicals see no problem with same-sex marriage.

THE COST OF GOING ALL THE WAY WITH GOD

by David Wilkerson

One of the fastest ways to lose friends is to go all the way with God. Once you become serious about spiritual matters, forsaking all your idols, taking your eyes off the things of this world, turning to Jesus with all your heart and hungering for more of Him---you suddenly become "a religious fanatic." And soon you'll experience the worst rejection of your lifetime.

A TALE OF 2 PRINCES – Final Part

by A Lump Of Clay

Chapter 9 – The Final Showdown

Meanwhile, back in the city, Bright Star was in hysterics at the scene of the open tomb. He was mad as hell at the cowardly city troops who had all run away without putting up a fight against the Palace Guard. He was furious that his plans to finish off the heir to the King’s Throne had fizzled out in such humiliation. Not only that, it had backfired on him.

A LESSON IN CULTURAL RELATIVISM

by SGIME(Sand Gets In My Eyes)

My son attends my alma mater back in the States, a Christian, liberal arts college in a large and diverse urban center. It's a great - if somewhat socially left - school which lays down a fabulous foundation for accurate and critical thinking as well as what I call terminal curiosity. That more than anything, has prompted some interesting conversations between my son and I - and not a few opportunities for life lessons - like the one we had the other day.

OTHERS MAY, YOU CANNOT

by G. D. Watson

If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

If God has called you to be truly like Jesus in all your spirit, He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility. He will put on you such demands of obedience that you will not be allowed to follow other Christians. In many ways, He seems to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.