New Year Resolution? READ the Bible!

Wow, it is amazing 2010 is coming to a close. And knowing what most of you would do at this time of the year, pondering away a list of next "break through" or "big things" you want to accomplish in 2011, may I humbly suggest this one simple thing - READ your Bible.

Yes, read your Bible from cover to cover in 2011.

Here is a list of Bible Reading Plans to help you out:

52 Week Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year, with each day of the week dedicated to a different genre; Epistles, The Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, and Gospels.

Bible Reading Chart [WWW]
Not technically a “plan”, but have total freedom and control with this minimalistic, yet beautifully designed, Bible Reading Chart to track what you have read over 2011.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year in the order the events occurred chronologically.

The Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year. Four chapters a day beginning in Genesis, Psalms, Matthew and Acts.

ESV Daily Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year taking a reading from each of four lists; Psalms & Wisdom Literature, Pentateuch & History of Israel, Chronicles & Prophets, and Gospels & Epistles.

Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System [PDF / NEW Bookmarks + .PSD File]
Read through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times, the OT wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the OT History and Prophetic books about 1.5 times each year.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan [WWW]
Read through the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament once in a year. Also contains Don Carson’s modified version spread over two years.

Straight Through the Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read straight through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in a year.

Tabletalk Bible in a Year [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year. Two readings each day; one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. (This currently links to their 2010 plan)

The Legacy Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible in a year. What makes this plan different is that it doesn’t have set readings for each day. Instead, it has set books for each month. The aim is to give you more flexibility, but also to ground you in “a book” and its message.

Two-Year Bible Reading Plan [PDF]
Read through the Bible over two years, with Psalms and Proverbs being read four times during those two years.

Praise God we are living in a nation where the Bible is abundantly available. And what greater joy is there than to come feast on God's very own words - His very own revelation of Himself to us!

Happy Reading!

Christmas 2010

EBC wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

Kudos to the Mandarin Sunday School's children team - a most creative performance by them!

And also special thanks to the Mandarin Youth Group that gave us two awesome performances too!

Alpha Course - Marriage

This evening when I stepped into the "dance hall", I almost couldn't recognise the place! 

The whole place is SOOOO romantic! Welcome to EBC's Alpha Marriage Course!

Since I was busy taking photos, I didn't really get a chance to focus on the topic tonight, but judging from the attentive faces, I guess it must be interesting.

Another thing I noted was - everyone was looking so gorgeous tonight! For example, sister Karen here is simply DASHING, while Elder Phang is *ahem* so cold COOL looking!  :D

Much thanks to brother SH & sister Emily who are heading our first Alpha marriage course.

Bible says:

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1Cor 13:13)

And I pray all the participants will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to manifest their precious saving Faith through LOVE, first and foremost in their sacred marriages, that the world may witness and glorify God.

Praise the LORD!

Video Update:

家庭营 2010 - Part 2

One of the key activities over the Family Camp was a series of teachings on 内在生命 by Pastor Ivan. And in the spirit of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matt 13:44) we can see how precious are these teachings as discovered by brother Simon ;)

The workshop styled lessons are very pragmatic, teaching the participants how to overcome some "works of the flesh" in order to lead a more effective life for the glory of God.

One such example was "Self-Esteem"  ;)

A note:  In many circles, self-esteem has become more of a narcissistic, lover-of-self (2Tim 3:2) promotion as taught by many prosperity gospel televangelists. It has resulted in making many churches "man-centered" rather than "God-centered" since they don't look to Christ and His cross as the source to liberate them from guilt & condemnation, rather, they deem self-help psychology as a better solution.

But praise God pastor Ivan didn't go down that path but rather admonished the church to look unto Jesus who has redeemed us through His death on the cross that we might receive the adoption as sons! Thus, today when we boast about our freedom - freedom from "low-self-esteem" - we will boast the way Apostle Paul boasted:

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14)

One of my favourite lessons was on - Redeeming the Times.

Using Parable of the 10 Minas (Luke 19:11-27) as the foundation, pastor Ivan taught on the importance & urgency of Christians in being occupied doing the Lord's work.

Like the dear sister in the photo above, we know Jesus Christ is coming back soon. Many of us are awaiting eagerly for His return. We look and look everyday. But unfortunately we don't know the exact day nor the hour of our Lord's return.

So meantime, what lessons can we draw from the Parable of the 10 Minas? Let's take a look... and I will use the basket of bananas as the minas the Master had given us prior to His departure :)

Some are of the Martha type - they worry too much...

Some are the "bo-bian" (reluctant) type - they need to be pushed, kicked in order to move... all the while complaining & murmuring...

Some are the joker type -  monkeying around with the Minas bananas... instead of redeeming the time they waste time... ;)

But the worst is the selfish type -  they ate all the bananas for themselves!  :(

So how should we serve instead? Like this - with a WILLING & SMILY heart that shows on the face... because it is such a privilege to be a servant of God Almighty!

We serve with a HUMBLE heart... knowing it is the LORD who gives grace & empowers us to serve!

We sincerely want to thank Pastor Ivan and his beloved wife for their time & love in coming to serve at our church. We pray also that we may see them soon.

Last but not least, I heard some are already signing up for 2011 家庭营...  :)

家庭营 2010 - Part 1

The Mandarin congregation had a wonderful "Family Camp" over the weekend at CWC Convention Centre, Bau. To most of us it was our first time there at CWC, a most quaint & charming place. I believe most of us are looking forward to 2011 家庭营 here again (hint hint, pastors).

Thank you Pastor Frank & Belinda for choosing this place. Thank you to all the people who were involved in the planning & organising of this memorable outing. And most important of all, we give thanks to the LORD for blessing & watching over us over the 2 days.

Since this was a "Family Camp", we did the typical family thing - hanging loose...

One thing we really enjoyed during the stay - home-styled cooking!

And just like any home, we washed our own cups & dishes after every meal...

Yes, macho men not spared either :)

Lastly, like any typical Malaysian family, we enjoyed our NIGHT SNACKS! I think we ate more at 10pm than at 6pm. And yes, we love our Maggie Mee... Pastor Ivan included!  :)

AOIC

Our English congregation kicked off their first Alpha course last month with much food, kopi & learning  :)

Alpha course is basically a systematic set of lessons conducted over weeks in trying to "explore the meaning of life" in an easy & relaxing atmosphere. (For those who want to know more about Alpha course, you can check out here & here.)

Now back to our first day evening's actions:

MUCH FOOD & FUN:

SINGING & PRAYING:

LEARNING & SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION:

A SAMPLE DISCUSSION:

Come join us every Thursday night at 7:30pm! You will be blessed!

EBC LineDancing Party 2010

Praise the LORD for EBC Line Dancing Ministry!

* For BEST video quality, change play mode to 720p instead of the default 360p!

By the grace of God, this outreach is growing bigger by the year :)

Happy Mother's Day!

(please pardon the low quality video...)

Praise the LORD for all the mothers in EBC!

Easter Sunday

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

(1Timothy 1:15)

Last week our church celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ at MBKS building for the first time.

Easter is more than just a religious holiday. It is the celebration of God's supreme grace & mercy in the redemption of us, men, who are wretched sinners, deserving of hell fire.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard...

(Colossians 1:21-23)

Through what theologians called the GREAT EXCHANGE - where on Calvary cross, Jesus took our sins and suffered the full wrath of God's punishment on our behalf, that God might impute to us His righteousness...

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

(Bro Allen sharing his awesome testimony to the glory of God)

Today, as blood bought children of God, we have peace with God, and we can cry to Him, God Almighty, ABBA FATHER!

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:15-16)

(Rev. Mark Geppert, guest speaker)

Today, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are commissioned to proclaim this GOOD NEWS to a dying world that is without hope through the preaching of the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ...testifying to every tribe, tongue & nation of repentance towards God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(1 Peter 1:3-5)

Is Jesus Christ your Lord & Saviour?

Bible says: "In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! Do not harden your heart by the deceitfulness of sin anymore! Repent & believe!

Bible also says: God commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.

And Jesus is RISEN! He who is blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To Him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

Hallelujah!