St James' Church

On Wednesday evening, we had 20 guests turning up at our Alpha Introduction Dinner. I have not met anyone of them before. It is a precious opportunities to meet those who don’t normally turn up in our church. The Alpha Course provides this special opportunity. Do pray that even more guests will turn up when the 3 Alpha Courses start this week. Each of them is precious in the eyes of our Lord. Do pray that they will make new friends and meet Christ in some way. And have you invited someone yet?

Talking about Alpha, Nicky and his team will be here in April. I notice that over time, our passion for the ministry and skill in running each course can wane. I encourage each of you to take this opportunity to participate in the Conference. And as with every good Course, new ideas and better ways of running it are being learned all the time. So, even if you have attended some training before, this Conference will be helpful in many new ways. 

This morning, I will be flying off to Vancouver with Pas Andrew. Obviously, praise Him, I manage to obtain my visa. Thanks for praying. I am being invited by a group of Canadian clergy from Vancouver to speak at their retreat. From Vancouver, we are crossing border by road into USA (nearby Washington State) for the retreat. It will be a short trip, given the travelling time and the need to adjust to jet lag. We are also going on behalf of our Province and strengthening our relationship with them. We will be speaking from 2 Corinthians on ministry issues. Pray that we can serve and bring encouragement to them. We will also learn a lot from them in the way they minister in their context.

My attention have been drawn in these recent years to the difficulties in marriages of young couples and the ease in which adulterous affairs are happening and the resultant pain to the family, and everyone else close to them. It is a grave situation which should concern all of us as we seek to follow Christ and help each other to do so. This is not the avenue to say too much on this. The costs of such voyeuristic actions are huge – loved ones, relatives, one’s testimony for Christ and so on. And I have not even mention yet the explicit teaching of Scripture warning that those who persist in doing so are in danger of being excluded from His Kingdom. If that is harsh, remember the teaching of Jesus – “It is better to tie a millstone around your neck than to stumble one of the little ones.” It is hard for those in modern society, where the pursue of individual ‘happiness’ (more like gratification) supersedes all other considerations and responsibilities, especially familial, societal and to our Creator and Lord.

As a pastor, Christian and a fellow human being myself, I don’t stand in judgment. I need to speak His Word plainly but doing so as a fellow pilgrim, under the very same temptations to live for the moment and selfishly. Let’s take the call to discipleship seriously and help one another to do so. I have seen and heard much in my years of ministry – nothing shocks me. If talking as men helps, let’s do so. Life is not just short, it is precious. Don’t squander it away and live with eternal regret.

This Lent, may you draw closer to Him.