Not to do’s

Most specifications and requirements documents always talk about “what it does” and rarely does it ever talk about “what it doesn’t”. People create to do lists, and everyday we think about what we need to do, but how often do we think about what not to do?

Talking about what not to do is just as important as talking about what to do. Sometimes you can have so much to do’s that you just don’t know where to begin.

E.g., To be a good leader you must lead by example, and not be violent.

Knowing what not to do provides a more defined set of boundaries. There is nothing wrong with to do’s, but the to do’s can be made clearer when combined with not to do’s.

The Gift of God (part 3)

Share it

The final part, which is what we ought to strive continually for, is sharing the gift, the blessing and the life God has given to us.

Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! – 1 Cor 12:7 (MSG)

Whe God gives us something, it’s never for our own benefit. When you are blessed with talents such as playing an instrument, writing, technical expertise, singing or anything else. The purpose of those things are so that you can use them to bless the lives of people around you. This is what we were made for, our purpose in life is to live for others, not for ourselves and ultimately all the glory needs to go back to God.

People who live for themselves will never find satisfaction, they may be satisfied superficially, however when you go deeper, their lives have very little meaning. When was the last time you took the time to help someone out? How did you feel when you did that? It felt good didn’t it?

The most precious thing I can share is the love that Jesus has shown me. It is unconditional, a love that surpasses any other love you know – you may not even know what love is. Let me tell you that God defines love. So what does this mean for you?

Well basically Jesus loves you, no matter what you’ve done, whether you’re a criminal or a sexual predator, God is willing to forgive you and take you back, the only thing you need to do is to receive this gift of life (Get it). To do this, acknowledge that you’ve made a mistake and receive Jesus into your life so He can come into your life and give you a fresh start and a new life in God.

The Gift of God (part 2)

Live it!

When you receive a gift from someone, what do you do with it? Do you just toss it aside? some people recycle their gifts (or even the wrapping, I come from an Asian family, I know). I guess it depends on how much the gift means to you doesn’t it?

So how much does the gift of life mean to you? I guess your actions show how much life means to you. How you live out your life, speaks a great deal on how much you value your life.

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. – Matthew 7:21

Receiving the gift is one thing, but living it out is another. Anyone can call on the name of God, but those who walk in His ways will be the ones who will gain the benefits of it. If I were to join a basketball team that I knew would win the championship, but in every game all I did was sit on the bench, what good is that? Sure you’ll be part of the winning team, receiving the trophy and all, but wouldn’t it be much more rewarding if we actually took part in winning the trophy?

When we receive the gift of God, we are essentially joining God’s team and God’s team WILL WIN – no doubt about it. Being a part of God’s team are we just standing on the sidelines or are we taking part in the game? Although the game is tough and it can be brutal at times, in the end when we receive the prize, it’s all worth it.

Make full use of the gift of God and live life to the fullest!

The Gift of God (part 1)

Get it

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23

It is clear from that verse that God came to give us life, but that is only half of the story. Before we can have this gift, we need to get it, i.e., we need to actively take it and receive this gift. When someone gives you a present, you won’t receive it until you take it. The present can be held out to you, but until you take it, you won’t be able to receive it.

Growing up in a Christian family I did not realise the fact that I had to receive this gift for my own. I had always thought that because my family were Christian, I’d be ok. The truth is, we are all responsible for our own actions and becoming a Christian has nothing to do with family heritage, instead it is a personal decision that you make, to have a personal relationship with God.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23

This applies to everyone, nobody is exempt, not even someone like Mother Theresa. We are all sinners and we need to come to God and receive the gift of life from Him. Have you got it?

HopeMissionCentre.com update

The update has finally come, to coincide with the Church’s 8th anniversary (last Saturday). Check out the new look Hope Church site at: http://www.hopemissioncentre.com/

Any feedback, both positive and negative are welcome. Although the site is up and running, there’s still plenty of work to be done, so stay tuned for more to come.

This week on Channel-H

Highlights:

• Vertical Games Day (this Saturday)

This week on Channel-H

This should’ve been up earlier, but anyway, here it is:

Highlights:

•  Hope Church 8th Anniversary (11th August)
• Vertical Games Day (18th August)

A tree analogy

I got this analogy from a Tyler Perry play (very funny guy). Think of yourselves like a tree and in life you’ll come across 3 types of people:

1. The leaves – these are the people who come into your life and they make you look good, they keep you company, they give you self worth, but they only last for a season. Once the cold, harsh winter hits, they die away.
2. The branches – they are strong and ready by your side, however as soon as they break, they leave you high and dry.
3. The roots – these are the people that build you up, they are always there, they won’t move no matter what happens.

I guess it’s important that we understand that in life it is inevitable to come across these types of people, you might be Mr or Ms Popular, with over 1000 friends on your MySpace or Facebook, but most are likely to be “the leaves” in your life. However I believe it is important that we make sure to embrace those who are “the root/s” in our life, for they will be who you can depend on, they are the ones who made who you are today.

A tree can have many leaves and branches, but it won’t last a day without its roots. The most important root in my life is Jesus, because He would never leave me nor forsake me. Jesus has made me the person I am today and He continues to mould me and shape me to become a better person day by day.

This week on Channel-H

Channel-H is the weekly news from Hope Church. I might start making it a regular thing here.