Into Thy Presence Lord

Jonkers' Street Melaka, Hokkien Huay Kwan

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way." Hebrews 10;19-20a (NLT)

Door posts in different parts of the world are ornately decorated according to the different cultures and traditions. The most striking ones are found in Chinese houses. One example is this elaborately carved and painted door which fronts the Hokkien Huay Kwan Association along Jonkers’ Street, Malacca.

The two large warrior figures, Qin and Yuchi are known as 'door gods'. Door gods are supposed to keep evil spirits from entering the premises. This custom originated during the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD).

Two Tang dynasty generals, Qin Shubao and Yuchi Jingde were ordered by the emperor to guard the door of his bedroom chamber. Apparently, a ghost was harassing the emperor, causing him to have sleepless nights. With Qin and Yuchi on guard, the emperor had a blissful sleep. The next day, the emperor, not wanting to trouble his two generals, ordered their portraits to be hung on either side of the door. Qin Shubao, who is most often seen carrying swords, has very pale skin (often depicted as red), while Yuchi Jingde has much darker skin and wields one or several batons. These door gods, Qin and Yuchi are meant to ward off unwelcomed visitors. 

Rev Soh Guan Kheng writing an article for Lent (Ref 1) pointed out that the design of the Jewish Tabernacle was not so welcoming either, 'The two sections, called the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, and the curtains that separate each section, were places of highly restricted access—only the priests were allowed into the Holy Place, and not without a prescribed liturgy of sacrifice for sin. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place and only once a year, with the prescribed blood sacrifice for sin. No one else was allowed into these Holy Places.' 

The design implied the inaccessibility of God. Rev Soh posited, "The message was clear—God is holy, and sinful humanity had no access to Him except by His grace and on His terms." He asked, "Whenever we gather for worship, do we “barge” into God’s presence unprepared—in a hurry, flustered by frustrations and worries, too casually dressed, or with an attitude that says: “I have a right to be here”, or “I’m doing my spiritual duty for the week” or even, “what am I doing here”? Are we ever struck by the awe and wonder of God calling us into His presence?

It is a Christian's privilege to be able to enter into God's presence. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and cleansing of our sins, for those who believed, ushers us into God's Holy Presence. Christ has done for us what the Tabernacle and the ancient rituals could not provide, the ability to worship in God's presence, unfettered and unencumbered.

Into Thy Presence Lord, I Bring My Heart In Praise

I Give My Life To Thee, My Hands I Raise

And As I Worship Thee, I Feel You Close To Me

Lord Make My Eyes To See Thee Face To Face

Within Thy Presence Lord, I Bow My Heart In Praise

I Give My Song To Thee, The Song You Gave

For On The Cross For Me, You Poured Out All So Free

And I Now Worship Thee, My Lord And King

The New Testament writer, Jude declared,

'To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.' Jude 1:24-25

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 10 April 2022

Ref 1: Rev Soh Guan Kheng Access in Christ into the Holy Places in Up From The Ashes Hope Will Arise - Daily Devotions For Lent 2022 Sowers Publication

For the Beauty of the Earth

Aurora Borealis, Alta Norway 26 Oct 2019

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." Psalms 19:1 

On a cruise up the Norwegian coast to the Arctic Circle, Pat and I  were fortunate to see the  Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. It was a spectacular display on the night sky. It is visible as dancing white-green clouds but if seen through the screen of mobile phones, IPad, using special camera apps, the colours become more vibrant with tinges of yellow and red in a largely green spectral background. 

I discovered that the Northern Lights experience is very unique to earth. The solar winds/storms emanate from the core of the sun and hurtle through the universe passing through the various planets as strong electromagnetic waves. However when reaching earth, these waves are deflected by earth's thin magnetic field, pass the earth by  and then are re-deflected backwards to the north and south poles.

Deflection of the Solar Wind

These re-deflected  waves now become visible in the visual spectrum especially the colour green. If the strong solar winds are not deflected it could cause havoc to earth's electronic and electrical systems as well as causing deleterious health effects. 

After  witnessing the Northern Lights, I cannot help but appreciate God's grace in enabling us to see the beautiful colours while at the same time protecting us from harmful effects. How fortunate for us! What a joy to be God's people and creation.   

Indeed when viewing these wonders of nature, we are confronted with an undeniable fact, how great is our God! God is ever present. We experience intertwining relationships, God with us and we with His creation, the good earth. We are reminded of two fundamental affirmations (Ref 1)  

    

• The earth is the Lord’s by creation

'The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.' Psalm 24:1

• The earth is given to the human race by delegation

'The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to mankind.' Psalm 115:16

·    Nature can teach us many things.

 

Psalms 19:2 states "Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night night they revealed  knowledge." 

T   William Wordsworth understood this revelation. He wrote in "Tintern Abbey", 

For I have learned

To look on nature, not as in the hour

Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes

The still sad music of humanity,

Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power

To chasten and subdue.—And I have felt

A presence that disturbs me with the joy

Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime

Of something far more deeply interfused,

Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

And the round ocean and the living air,

And the blue sky, and in the mind of man:

A motion and a spirit, that impels

All thinking things, all objects of all thought,

And rolls through all things. 

     Wordsworth found God in the inspiration of nature, the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over an around us lies

Over and around us lies

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our joyful hymn of praise

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night

Hill and vale and tree and flow'r

Sun and moon and stars of light

Sun and moon and stars of light

For the joy of human love

Brother, sister, parent, child

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thought and mild

For all gentle thoughts and mild

For each perfect gift of Thine

To our race so freely given

Graces human and divine

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n

Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n

      
   Lionel

       Updated 1st published 28 May 2023

   Ref 1: John Stott, The Radical Disciple, Inter-varsity Press, 2010

U

Look On Nature

‘When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?  And the son of man, that thou visitest him?’  Psalms 8:3-4 (KJV)

Bishop Robert Solomon opined that one of the spiritual disciplines is to train the soul by immersing oneself in nature like taking quiet walks in the picturesque countryside.

We had a family holiday in Wales once, Pat, Debbie, John and I in Oct 2004. I insisted on making a detour to visit the ruins of Tintern Abbey. I needed to see the hills that rise up from the valley of the River Wye. This was the nature scene that captivated the poet William Wordsworth when he wrote the poetic essay ‘Tintern Abbey.’ I studied the poem in school when I was 15 years old. It so inspired me that I had an urge to stand in awe of the natural surroundings, as viewed from the ruins of Tintern Abbey.

Since reading ‘Tintern Abbey,’ I have learned to view nature enrapt by worshipful thoughts and attitudes. Wordsworth wrote:

“For I have learned

To look on nature, not as in the hour

Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes

The still, sad music of humanity,

Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power

To chasten and subdue. And I have felt

A presence that disturbs me with the joy

Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime

Of something far more deeply interfused,

Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,

And the round ocean and the living air,

And the blue sky, and in the mind of man;

A motion and a spirit, that impels

All thinking things, all objects of all thought,

And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still

A lover of the meadows and the woods,

And mountains; and of all that we behold.”

The Bishop and I know the secret that God is present in nature. Let us go out of our way to find those sublime moments that awaken our hearts and reach our souls. When surrounded by the simple beauty of the woods or the splendid panoramas of the Grand Canyon we will sense the subtle presence of God. It is a sweet and gentle presence. We come out of that experience matured, elevated, chastened and subdued.

When nature confronts us, we also sense the infinite gap between man and God; just how miniscule we are and how infinitely great God is. Like the Psalmist who contemplated the cosmos, we are left to wonder just why God would even consider us. 

"Reading about nature is fine, but when a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he experiences more than what is gathered from books, for they speak the voice of God." This quote from George Washington Carver, repeats the same realisation as found in Job, 

'But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.' Job 12:7-10

Yes, nature brings the realisation of the presence of God so we can confidently declare, "All things bright and beautiful; all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all!” Listen to this lovely song by John Rutter!

 

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one;

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Lionel

Updated article. 1st Published 27 Jul 2009

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord

'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.' Psalms 19:1

No one can ever look at the beautiful sunset and not recognise the God behind that beauty. Yes beautiful scenes in nature often causes us to be uplifted and praise God who is the Creator. This realisation, this moment of inspiration can be so breathtaking that it can bring tears to our eyes!

The Hebrew word, Kavod which is translated as glory, splendour or beauty actually means rich or heavy. The Jews would say a rich man is 'heavy with wealth' in the same way we might say a rich man is 'loaded.' The idea behind kavod is that when we experience God's glory, we are experiencing the weight of His goodness, the weight of His beauty, the weight of His mercy and the weight of His compassion. A beautiful sunset at a beach is an example of the richness of God's beauty. Ref 1

I love to travel and experience, firsthand, the wonders of the earth, the beauty of God's creation and feel an affinity to them. These are moments of closeness to God, a recognition that behind the spectacular field of daffodils is God's handiwork. William Wordsworth recognised this sublime and creative presence when he wrote:

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Nature is a gift. Nature informs us who we are, the more we appreciate God's creation the more we will know ourselves. We become aware of the preciousness of life. Look At The World, a song composed by John Rutter celebrates this:

Look at the World: Everything all around us

Look at the world: and marvel everyday

Look at the world: So many joys and wonders

So many miracles along our way

Praise to the O Lord for all creation

Give us thankful hearts that we may see

All the gifts we share and every blessing

All things come of Thee

This realisation that God gives us the beauty of His creations invokes a emotional drive to praise and Christians surely love to praise. In recent years the Praise Worship as taken a life of its own; driving up the Christian music industry. But engaging in praise is not new,  in 1221, St Francis of Assisi wrote this canticle:

All creatures of our God and King,

Lift up your voice and with us sing,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

In 18th Century England, William Wilberforce wrote, "When engaged in worship, our souls seemed to become ignited with rapture" (Ref 2). It's spontaneous and often happens when we perceive a wonder of nature and then we can emphatically state, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!"

Lionel

Ref 1: Dave Adamson. 52 Hebrew Words, Every Christian Should Know. Christian Arts Gift

Ref 2: William Wilberforce. Real Christianity, 1797 revised and updated by Dob Beltz Regal Books 2006. 

Updated. 1st Published 30 Aug 2020

Our Hymn Of Joyful Praise

As The Waters Cover The Sea

"For the earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:8

I had the opportunity to enjoy a morning’s freshness, staring out into the far horizon of the Adriatic Sea from the balcony of a cruise ship. The huge cruise ship seemed so puny when set in the vast expanse of water. Looking at the sun rising out of the distant horizon against the deep blue colour of the sea, I was deeply moved by the thought of the greatness of God. God made this wonderful and vast Blue Planet, Earth, on which we live. 

A New Year has dawned, a new world is expected. Man will expect to shape this new world. The advances in science and technology will astound us beyond all imagination. This world will become an easy a place to live in. That is when humanistic tendencies will get the better of us and we will pride ourselves with the greatness of Man. Encouraged by discoveries that will unravel the mysteries of nature and inventions that improve our lives, some of us may go so far as to posit that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion or god. 

Nothing can be further from the truth. Whilst the achievements of the human race deserve some recognition, we should be careful not to leave God out of the equation. For despite all the advancements in science and philosophy, we have not solved the inherent problems of the human nature; of pride, greed, selfishness and brutality. To some extent, man can punish faults and write new laws. Hopefully, society can hope to become more egalitarian by community effort and education. However, in the end, all these will still fail because the human heart is deceitful and inherently wicked 

'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9

and will corrupt all noble intentions. 

There are tragic stories of human excesses committed on innocent victims. I remember one in 2002, a sad story of a young Indian girl who was brutally gang-raped in New Delhi. In Singapore, we are fortunate to be shielded from the violence and gangland behaviours that often pervade the inner cities of some of our neighbouring countries. Nevertheless, this particular tragedy struck home because the poor girl died in one of our hospitals. The Indian government had referred her for medical management in Singapore in view of her critical condition but to no avail. Alongside India, all of Singapore mourned this needless death and repudiated the senseless violence and the depravity of the men who perpetrated this heinous crime. Yet these gang rapes continue unabated in India.

Our saving grace is that God is present. This is still 'our Father's world'. God made it. Another ancient voyager once wrote 

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?" Psalm 8:3-4. 

So, as I contemplated the vast expanse of the Adriatic Sea and realising how small we humans are, I prayed that "the earth will be full of the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea" The Bible tells us that this reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 

We need to look to God. Can our fear and knowledge of God change our hearts? Can we live as friends, brother, sister, parent, child? This should be the prayer for the new year. John Rutter put it better in his canticle 'For the Beauty of the Earth'.

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Over and around us lies

Lord of all to thee we raise

This our hymn of joyful praise

For the joy of human love

Brother, sister, parent, child

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thoughts and mild

  

Happy New Year!

Lionel

Updated. 1st Published on 1 Jan 2020

Take My Yoke

Take My Yoke Upon You: Missio Dei 

 

 ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ Matthew 11:29-30

When you are a cancer patient such as Pat, my wife, you carry a concern, a burden, that weighs heavy on you. This burden is also carried by the whole family and close friends.

Life is especially overwhelming for Pat this past year. But I notice that throughout the year, while receiving many cycles of chemotherapy and stem cells transplants; despite being admitted to hospital for five times and attending outpatient treatments about 2-3 times a week, Pat continues to be in high spirits, confident that the Lord Jesus will take care of her.

In these trying periods, Pat learned to transfer and share her burdens with Jesus, her Lord and Saviour.

‘Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.’ Psalm 55:22

Pat, the family and friends have learnt to harness ourselves to the ‘yoke’ of Christ

Farmers used a wooden yoke to strap the shoulders of two animals such as oxen or horses together so that they could combine strength to pull a load that would have been too much for one animal to carry.

Jesus Christ assures us that His yoke is easy. We can only surmise that He is taking on the heavier lifting; He takes on the larger share of the load. That way we lift off our burdens and give it to the Lord and Christ lifts it off our shoulders.

In hitching our shoulders to the yoke of Christ we learned:

• To move in the same direction as Christ, to be on the same path
• Not to carry the whole burden ourselves but to lean on Christ
• Being closely yoke, we become refreshed and can carry more than we ever thought we could.

That is why Saint Paul and all the early followers of Christ can say, despite persecution and hardships, sometimes leading to martyrdom:

‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.’ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Poor farmers often cannot afford oxen or horses; these farmers will yoke themselves to the plough to till the land. So when Jesus spoke of being yoked and carrying the weight upon His shoulders, His hearers in 1st Century Judea and Samaria, understood and emphatise completely. But Jesus meant that He carries the weight of the whole world not just a plough. He welcomes us who are burdened and heavy laden to be yoked to Him. 

There is no problem too big God solve it. He will help us lift that burden. He will carry you.

 ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ Matthew 11:28

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it

There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it
And there is no storm too dark God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you

‘For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.’ Psalm 62:5-7

Lionel

In Spirit And In Truth

 

'For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.' John 4:24 (NLT)

In the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, the woman commented on the various forms and places of worship practiced by the Jews and the Samaritans, each claiming to be more superior than the other. The Jews worship at the their temple at Jerusalem and insisted that Jerusalem is the only place of worship. The Samaritans worship at their temple on Mount Gerizim which they regard as the holiest place on earth.

However, Jesus dismissed the comparison of forms, rituals, places and styles of worship by simply stating,

'Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.' John 4:21 (NLT)

He then went on to say,

'The time is coming - indeed it is here now - when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.' John 4:22

If we are to worship God we need to understand what it means to worship in spirit and in truth. 

• Worship in Spirit. Worship is an experience of the heart, it must originate from within, from our spirit. Worship must be sincere, motivated by our love for God and gratitude for all He is and has done. Jesus said 

 'These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me;in vain do they worship me.' Matthew 15:8-9a

Worship is not a mechanical ritual or a formality that takes place for an hour at the end of a hectic week - but an experience from deep within the spirit; deep within the heart.

• Worship in Truth. Worship must be based on the truth of all that we know of our Triune God. Jesus was quick to direct the Samaritan woman's attention from the 'where' and 'how' to worship to the 'whom' to worship. It must never be thoughtless but grounded on knowledge of who God is and what He has done for us.

Worship is facilitated by God's Word, in that we can meditate on God's Word when we worship. We allow the truth of God's Word to influence, fill us during worship.

• Worship in Spirit and Truth Simultaneously. Worship must have heart and worship must have head - that is to say, worship must engage your spirit and your thoughts at the same time. We do not worship in spirit as one setting and in truth in another setting, we engage the both simultaneously. Our minds and will as well as our emotions have to be moved. 

Psalms 95 aptly describes what it means to worship in spirit and in truth; worshipping with our spirit and vitality:-

'Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come to Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.' Psalms 95:1-2 (NLT)  

and with our minds and wills:-

'Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. Psalm 95:6-7 (NLT)

The word 'worship' is derived from an old English word weorþscipe, which means 'worth-ship' or 'worthiness.' 

Thus, worship is giving value to something, to honour someone or something. Real worship of God means we ascribe to Him ultimate value, holding our God in the highest regard.

'For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.' Psalm 95:3-4 (NLT)

The hymn 'O Worship The King' clearly and rightfully points to God's greatness and majesty, leading us to worship God and give him ultimate glory.

O worship the King all glorious above,
and gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
his chariots of wrath the deep thunder-clouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, your power has founded of old;
established it fast, by a changeless decree,
and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

We children of dust are feeble and frail -
in you do we trust, for you never fail;
your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end!
our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend.

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to worship above!
Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,

In true adoration shall sing to your praise!

Lionel

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