Under The Shade Of His Grace

 

'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it;

I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 

On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it, it will bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.

Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. 

All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord will bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. 

I the Lord have spoken and I will do it' Ezekiel 17:22-24

The Charis Methodist Church's new sanctuary, building and renovated premises was consecrated and dedicated today, 21 January 2024, to the Glory of God. The theme of the worship service and the topic of the sermon delivered by Methodist Bishop, Rev(Dr) Gordon Wong was, 'Under The Shade of His Grace.'

The Bishop was quick to point out that the topic was well chosen because the name Charis comes from the Greek word Χάρις meaning grace and kindness. It is a prayer, said the Bishop, that Charis will be a church where many people will find comfort, salvation and fulfillment with the ministry of the church - under the shade of God's grace.

'Under the Shade of His Grace' used during the dedication service of the church, will likewise, be the theme of Charis Methodist Church's witness and ministry. In a world of trouble and tribulation, the church will reach out and welcome the community to enjoy the comfort and shelter of God's grace.

The Charis Congregation @ Dedication Service

Bishop Gordon Wong based his sermon on the passage Ezekiel 17:22-24. There are several lessons to be drawn from this bible passage:

• Charis Methodist Church is Established by the Design and Initiative of God. Pay attention to the positive actions of God's will,
• I myself will a take a shoot from the top of the cedar. 
• I will break off a tender sprig.
• I will plant it.

• Charis Methodist Church shall (will) Establish a Fruitful Ministry
• It will produce branches
• It will bear fruit
• It will become a splendid cedar

• Charis Methodist Church will Serve the Community and Needy
• Birds of every kind will nest in it
• Birds will shelter in it.

• Charis Methodist Church will Thrive but Only by God's Grace
• I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall
• I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish
• I the Lord have spoken and I will do it

We celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the church today. This is because we count our age from the day we became independent of the mother church, on 1 January 1989, and became a local conference of the Methodist Church in Singapore. 

In reality the congregation of Charis Methodist Church started way back in 1966 when several of our pioneers started an English Worship Service at 4.30 pm at the Geylang Chinese Methodist Church in Aljunied Road. It was inaugurated by Bishop Robert F Lundy, the Bishop of the Malaysia-Singapore Methodist General Conference. 

The English Worship Service was managed autonomously by a English Working Committee. The Chairpersons of the Working Committees were Goh Say Hong (1968 to 1975), Victor Koh (1976), Lim Eng Chong (1977), Lionel Lee (1978 to 1982), Lim Eng Chong (1982/83), Lionel Lee (1983-1988) until the first Local Church Executive Committee was formed on 1 Jan 1989 with Lionel Lee as the Chairman. The LCEC chairpersons of Charis Methodist Church were Quek Koh Eng, Koh Hai Theng, Charles Loh, Khoong Hock Yun, Too Shiun Jye. In 2024, LCEC leadership transferred to the third generation under Gabriel Tham. 

That English Service included two worship services, Sunday School, two Methodist Youth Fellowships, the 17th Company Boys Brigade, Young Adult Fellowship, Adult Fellowship, Young Adult Bible Class, Children's Ministry called the Charis King's Army, Adult Choir, Children's Choir, Evangelism, Social Concerns and Missions Ministries. 

Thus, Charis Methodist Church existed as a congregation for 57 years since 1966.  For 37 years, from 1966-1993 when we acquired the present property upon which the new buildings were dedicated today, we were a Church without a Home. But it did not really matter to us, because we always knew that the Lord God will provide shelter and nest.

'Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.' Ezekiel 17:23b

The Bishop pointed out that these two words nest and shelter are translated same in Mandarin as 'Home.' We are reminded that God has provided Charis Methodist Church with a home just as Christ said, 

'Upon this rock, I will build my church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it' Matthew 16:18b (NLT)

The Charis Methodist Church Choir sang the song, 'Upon This Rock' at the dedication service. The Choir sang the same anthem on the 3 Apr 1993 at the inaugural service at our newly acquired property. It sang again on the 20 Jan 2019 celebrating our 30th Anniversary as a independent local conference.

 

When others see with earthly eyes

Just what they want to see

You will see the things that never die

You will know and recognize

By simple child-like faith

The priceless truth that

Others will deny.

When others say I'm just a man

Who likes to dream His dreams

When others call a miracle a myth

You'll listen for eternity

In moments as they pass

And see with spirit eyes

What others miss.

Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom

And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand

And all the powers of Hell itself

Shall never more prevail against it

For Satan's thrones are built on sinking sand

Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom

And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand

Upon this rock of revelation

I'll build a strong and mighty nation

And it shall stand the storms of time

Upon this rock.

If in a simple carpenter

You see the Son of God

If you would chose to lose

When you could win

If you would give your life away

For nothing in return

Then you are where

My kingdom will begin.

Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom

And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand

Upon this rock of revelation

I'll build a strong and mighty nation

And it shall stand the storms of time

Upon this rock

I'll Build My church

Upon this rock

I'll Build My church

Upon this Rock

Upon this Rock

The clarion message, is that Christ alone will build Charis Methodist, His Church.

Lionel

Don't Let The Sun Come Down On Your Anger

 

'My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.' James 1:19

Some of us think that there is such a thing as 'Righteous Anger'. We justify this by pointing out to the many times God was angry in the Old Testament or to Jesus Christ strenuously driving the merchants away from outer courtyards of the temple in Jerusalem. We even point out to Ephesians 4:26, which says 'Be angry and do not sin' to excuse us when we lose our tempers.

Can we lose our temper and not sin? Solomon in Proverbs 29:22 had already made up his mind,

'An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.'

I do not think that there is a right to be angry. Righteous anger is self-righteousness on display. However it is easier said than done. I thought as I grew older I became more mellow but at a recent committee meeting I became very angry and upset at the lack of progress of an outstanding matter. It was very regretable. Then, the Bible reminded

'In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.' Ephesians 4:26

There is a lesson in this: Do not let your anger broil up nor let it simmer for too long. That is not a characteristic of Christians. Rather, the apostle James instructed,

'My dear brothers and sisters, take not of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.' James 1:19-20

The words from James describe a 'measured' person to whom we should all aspire. One characteristic of measuredness is being 'slow to anger' which is also describes the anger of God. God wants everyone to have a chance to turn from their wrongdoing.

 

The experiences of the people in the Old Testament with God clearly illustrate this as we read of episodes of God's anger and punishment followed by forgiveness and mercy. God's anger is a divine reaction to selfish and destructive human decisions and behaviours but it's rooted in God's love. 

Exodus 34:5-6 tells us that despite God's righteous anger, His core character trait is rooted in generous mercy, compassion and love. God's anger is followed by redeeming love as noted by this experience of Moses,

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him (Moses)  and proclaimed His name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses proclaiming, "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." 

Another characteristic of God's anger is that it is relatively short-lived,

'For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.' Psalm 30:5

There is a flip side to God's anger and that is God's grace, which the Psalmist described as lasting a life time. In Greek the word for grace is 'kharis' which means graciousness or undeserving gift. 

Saving by Grace - the Gift of Salvation

Charles Wesley wrote of this salvation in Christ in his famous hymn, "My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose when forth and followed Thee." Underdeserving though we may be, in Jesus we found saving grace. God's anger did not rain down on us, instead His grace did. God's grace saves us thoroughly.

'God has shown us undeserved grace by coming to save all people. He taught us to give up our wicked ways and our worldly desires and to live decent and honest lives in this world' Titus 2:11-12 (CEV)

Light of Grace - the Gift of Freedom

Charles Wesley wrote of being set free from the oppression of sin. "Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night. Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke the dungeon flamed with light." The apostle John opened his gospel referring to this light, 

'In Him was life and that life was the light of man. That light shine in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.'John 1:4-5. 

The Bible described the birth of Jesus Christ as the dawning of a great light and the star in the east signifies this. 

Here is a modern version of the Charles Wesley hymn: Amazing Grace! My Chains Are Gone   

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

My chains are gone, I've been set free

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

And like a flood His mercy reigns

Unending love

Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine

But God who called me here below

Will be forever mine, will be forever mine

You are forever mine

'Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.' John 1:16

We have received grace upon grace. Don't let the sun come down on our anger. Replace all anger with grace.

Lionel

This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes!

Dubrovnik In The Morning

'This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalm 118:23-24

This picture of Dubrovnik, in the morning, captures some interesting colours of the city and clouds painted by the rising sun. It is one of the most charming cities we have been to. The sun has just arisen and the old town, a fortress and a harbour directly in front of us, glistened in the light. Against such a background, it is refreshing to spend our Quiet Time and read the Bible.

On the 20 Sep 2005, I was sitting on a balcony overlooking this morning sunrise in Dubronik. I was reading from “Make Me a Instrument of Your Peace” (Ref 1) by Kent Nerburn. It is a simple commentary on the prayer of St Francis of Assisi. The book was described as ennobling by a reviewer. I knew what this meant at once. Mr Nerburn has a gift of commenting on life in a most endearing manner, linking profound truths to ordinary encounters and even the mundane events of daily living. He draws soul-deep lessons in a simple, easy to read, manner. I like his writing. It has encouraging perspectives and insights.

The Kent Nerburn style is the way we ought to read the Bible. We could annotate each reading with a life-event commentary, drawing soul-teaching and spirit-enriching lessons. Can we learn to experience life and interpret the truths that each ordinary event is teaching us? Can we draw insights from the unfolding scenes life presents to us whether mundane or significant? What is the Bible teaching us? Can we “see” God?

I was reading from Isaiah's commentary on King Hezekiah's near death experience. On the same date in 2003, Pat was reading from the same passage  a passage of Scripture in Isaiah 38:1 to 40: 31 in Grenoble, France sitting on steps of the cathedral. This was another beautiful city set near the French Alpine region.

That piece of scripture informs us that the good things in life are the Lord’s doing. The passage in Isaiah relates to Hezekiah, who was struck by illness at the prime of his life. He was instructed to put his house in order because he was to die soon. There was some resignation as he prayed and asked God, to recognise that he had "walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and done what was good in Your eyes". 

The Lord spared Hezekiah and added another 15 years to his life. In a subsequent prayer, Hezekiah recalled his petition in his dying moments. Isaiah 38:15 noted that it dawned upon the king that sparing his life was entirely God's doing, only by God's grace. Hezekiah wrote "What can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. Lord by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too".

I understand that these were the same words Queen Elizabeth I of Great Britain uttered when on 17 Nov 1558, a messenger arrived from London with the long awaited news that she is to be crowned Queen. "A domino factum est mirabile in oculis nostris – This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes."

So what does a near death experience and a coronation have in common? What about reading the scripture in Croatia and France? 

The common thread is in the phrase, "There by the grace of God, go I." Life events are lived and experienced entirely by God's grace, be it a re-living after a near death experience, ascension to a throne or recalling of more simple and less dramatic experiences. Both are the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes. 

There is an Christian song I learned in the 1970s written by Jimmy Owens, 'Illusive Dream' which always reminds that we live in reality by the grace of God and not in illusion. It is only by God's grace could we have enjoyed the lives we live and experience.

Where might you be going this fine day, my friend

Off along an aimless road that soon must end

Chasing an illusive dream that shines so fair

But when found, isn't there

I can understand your weary sigh, my friend

There, but for the grace of God go I, my friend

Come and let Him lead you to your journey's end

So come along and walk with Him

If without the grace of God your life should end

And before the face of God you'd stand, my friend

What would your illusive dream avail you then?

So come along and walk with Him

Like Hezekiah and Elizabeth I, let us recognise that all that are happening to us is the Lord's doing. We walk with Him and live by His grace. It is marvelous. 

Lionel

First published 3 Sep 2007

Ref 1: Kent Nerburn. Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace - Living in the Spirit of St Francis. HarperOne, 1999

In The Belly Of A Whale

Whale (Pastel painting by Christine Lee, Feb 2021)

'Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn his fierce anger so that we will not perish.' Jonah 3:8-9

On the 27 Jan 2021, the Internal Security Department disclosed that a 16 year old Singaporean Protestant Christian was arrested for plotting to attack two mosques in Singapore. He was influenced by online antipathy towards Islam. The Singaporean protestant community was in for a rude shock, that in our midst there may be individuals who have such radical views as to plot harm against our fellow Muslim citizens

Timothy Keller in the book The Prodigal Prophet (Ref 1) on the book of Jonah explained that such Christians have shallow identities resulting in some being racists. These professing Christians have a self-righteous image, blinded to their flaws and sins; hostile to those who are different.

Jonah the prophet was like that, he was a nasty and self-righteous person. He could not believe that God would save those he considered to be irredeemable. He had bias and negative views of people who are racially and religiously different from him; a toxic disdain of people with different faiths. So when God ordered him to preach to the people of Nineveh in order that they could repent and turn to God, he was flabbergasted and defiant. He simply refused and sailed away in the opposite direction. 

God punished him. While at sea a raging storm broke. What followed was a seemingly implausible event. Jonah was thrown into the sea during that severe storm and was swallowed by a big fish. In the belly of the whale, Jonah prayed, "In my distress I called to the Lord and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help and you listen to my cry." Jonah 2:1-2. Three days later, that big fish vomited him onto a beach.  

Upclose Whale-Watching@Merimbula, NSW Australia-5 Sep 2008

People who debate whether this is a real story or a fairy tale will miss the real miracle behind the Jonah story, the wonderful grace of God. Despite the incorrigible nature of the Ninevites, Jonah was sent to these people to preach repentance and a return to God. Unexpectedly, they heeded Jonah's warnings, God showed them mercy and the city of Nineveh was saved. Thus, Jonah's shameful behaviour helped demonstrate God's grace for people beyond the Christian community. God saved the city just as He rescued Jonah. 

The Book of Jonah shows how much God desires us to be peacemakers, to build bridges across different communities and faiths. It was very heartening that the day after the troubling news broke, Muslim and Christian leaders met to singularly condemn this terror plot and to reaffirm mutual trust. Thereafter the newspapers carried articles of the necessity to maintain religious harmony and respect for different races and religions.

Are there bigoted people like Jonah around, imprisoned by the narrowness of their self-righteous prejudices? God's grace can turn them around. God's love can build bridges across many communities and help maintain the harmony between the various races.    

There is a old familiar song, Wonderful Grace of Jesus which clearly states what this Grace has done and will do for all of us.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost;

By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled;
By its transforming power,
Making me God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and Heaven, for all eternity;
And the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Refrain

Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
the rolling sea;
Wonderful Grace, all sufficient for me, for even me
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame
my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!

Lionel

Ref 1: Timothy Keller, The Prodigal Prophet - Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy. Hodder and Stoughton, 2018.

Was blind but now I see

'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.' Ephesians 2:8 

The hymn 'Amazing Grace' was the signature tune of the Evangelical Movement in the UK in the 1700s and is still very popular among Christians today. The romantic notion about its writer John Newton, was that he turned from being a captain of a slave ship to a minister of the Gospel after he was converted to Christianity. 

However, I discovered having read the book 'The Trader, the Owner, the Slave' by James Walvin (Ref 1) that this was not quite the whole  truth. In Part 1 of this book Walvin wrote of John Newton, as a slave trader, then a preacher, a hymn writer and finally an abolitionist not sequentially but concurrently. He had cut his sea-legs working in the Atlantic Slave business plying between the shores of Sierra Leone to the Caribbean islands and passing though the port of Liverpool. He became a Christian after escaping a shipwreck and was a pious Christian with an interest in theology but he continued to engage in the slave trade eventually becoming a slave ship's captain. Christians at that time probably saw nothing wrong with slavery.  

Walvin wrote, “Everyone involved in the world of Atlantic slavery, from the captains of the ships through to slave owners in America and the British-based shippers – all of them measured in their thousands, were lured by the hope of profit." But few of them seemed to have any moral or religious qualms about what they were doing. That it wreaked misery on an epic scale for untold millions barely registered among people like Newton who profited from such a business. He would discharged his human cargo, made a handsome profit, then proceeded to discuss God’s word in his cabin and stepped ashore without a scruple.

However, years later, Newton did repent. He regretted and recanted of his past and wrote Amazing Grace, a hymn of repentance, confession and testimony of a life once lost but saved by the grace of God. 

'Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

But now I'm found

Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught

My heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers

Toil and snares

I have already come

'Twas grace hath brought me 

Safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

When we've been there

Ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We'll have no less days

To sing God's praise

Than when we first begun'

In the 1780s, slavery had become a political issue in England. William Wilberforce having been acquainted with him sought his counsel but Newton still maintained his silence on the issue. Finally, Wilberforce persuaded him to take a public stand. In 1788, John Newton published his 'Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade' and explained, “I am bound in conscience to take shame to myself by a public confession, which, however sincere, comes too late to prevent or repair the misery and mischief to which I have, formally been an accessory.”  After this, his sermons followed the theme of “Amazing Grace”. They were laced with anecdotes of his past life and sins but with much remorse. 

Since then Christians have lived through Hitler’s Germany, the Rwandan massacre and many other such tragedies, oblivious to injustices done to their fellow men and sometimes even perpetrating them. Our Christian conscience can be blind-sighted, our behaviour laced with 'holier than thou' attitudes and our minds prepared to rationalise evil intentions. The heart can be deceitful and desperately wicked.

We can repent. The Bible in Acts 3:19 states 'Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.' No matter what he had done, there was reconciliation and final resolution between John Newton and his God. The same is true for us no matter how ugly or bad we think our sins are. Amazing Grace. 

Philip Yancey wrote a book 'What is so Amazing about Grace.' The grace of God, Yancey wrote, separates the sinner from the sin, grace does not excuse sin but it treasures the sinner. 

For Charles Wesley the hymn writer, grace became the background music of his life. He wrote

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay

fast bound in sin and nature's night

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray.

I woke. My dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off, my heart was free

I rose went forth and followed Thee."  

 

Newton's tombstone reads, "John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."  Truly amazing

Lionel

Ref 1: James Walvin, The Trader, the Owner, the Slave. Random House 2007

First published 12 August 2007.