Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Pray for NOC STM Thailand 2014
Have you heard? Newsong NOC is sending a medical team to minister to two orphanages near the western border of northern Thailand. We will be partnering with www.helplive.org, an organization that works
toward improving the lives and living conditions of at-risk children. The children we will be visiting are displaced Karen who have no official standing in Thailand.
Would you partner with us to love these kids?
Besides actual clinical care, we will be working on projects with long-term impact such as medical education, mosquito mitigation (malaria is a huge problem), and vaccinations. We will also be loving them in simple ways like bringing toys and supplies, singing songs and playing games, cooking meals, and working to improve their facilities.
The team would love to have your prayer support. If you've been around church folk for any length of time, you've heard this request before and probably even committed to praying for someone yourself. And then not followed through. I've certainly done that. I get it, we're all super busy and prayer takes time. But deep down, I wonder if we really believe that it can make a difference, much less a miraculous difference.
Who knows? We might need a miracle in Thailand. So we ask you to be faithful in
your commitment to pray for us.
We are asking for prayer over specific areas at specific times. We ask that you take some time each week to pray for us before our trip and every day while we are there. Then comment below (anonymously is fine). This provides encouragement for us and accountability for you. Morning or at night. In the car or on the can. It's all good.
Would you partner with us to love these kids?Besides actual clinical care, we will be working on projects with long-term impact such as medical education, mosquito mitigation (malaria is a huge problem), and vaccinations. We will also be loving them in simple ways like bringing toys and supplies, singing songs and playing games, cooking meals, and working to improve their facilities.
The team would love to have your prayer support. If you've been around church folk for any length of time, you've heard this request before and probably even committed to praying for someone yourself. And then not followed through. I've certainly done that. I get it, we're all super busy and prayer takes time. But deep down, I wonder if we really believe that it can make a difference, much less a miraculous difference.
Who knows? We might need a miracle in Thailand. So we ask you to be faithful in
your commitment to pray for us. We are asking for prayer over specific areas at specific times. We ask that you take some time each week to pray for us before our trip and every day while we are there. Then comment below (anonymously is fine). This provides encouragement for us and accountability for you. Morning or at night. In the car or on the can. It's all good.
Our prayer requests
Before July 23
- Our mission will become clear
- Each team member will find a unique way to express his/her spiritual gift
- The team will bond together around our purpose
- Preparation of the hearts and souls of the people we will meet there
- Spiritual protection that our preparations will not be hindered
July 23 - August 3
- Safety in travel
- Health, rest, and spiritual protection from attack
- God's blessing on our ministry activities
- Salvation for the lost and strengthening of believers
- Our attitudes of availability, flexibility, and teachability
Monday, November 25, 2013
Sermon Rewind 11/24/2013 - Oceans: True Conviction
Revelation 3:14-20
New International Version (NIV)
To the Church in Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come inand eat with that person, and they with me.Benjie Kim concluded the Oceans series by teaching from Revelation 3, 14-20 on the theme of self-sufficiency. Revelation 3:14 - 20 says "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!" Many people take this to mean that it is better to be either a strong Christian, or a non-believer, than to be a lukewarm Christian. Benjie described the background of the passage - it was written to the city of Laodicea, which was a prosperous city that did not need God. But God's intention is never to guilt or shame us into taking action, true conviction comes from a life/spirit transformation. Laodicea may have been rich, but the true riches come from gold refined by fire, true riches come from God who convicts us with love. We may think we are self sufficient, but all blessings really come from God.
by Kenny Yamada
Sermon Rewind 11/17/2013 - Oceans: A Relationship That Transforms
Psalm 42:1-2
1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
Tommy Nixon continued the Oceans series by showing us how our desire to simplify GOD into a one-dimensional being is often expressed in unbiblical statements such as "everything happens for a [good] reason," "GOD will never give me more than I can handle," and "GOD is testing me." While GOD is too much for us to completely understand, even a grasp of His multi-faceted nature requires a relationship with Him. And He loves us too much to settle for a transactional relationship. He wants to have a transformational relationship with us.
Tommy offered three keys to a transformational relationship as demonstrated by (probably) David in Psalms 42 and 43:
1. Talk with GOD - have an honest conversation, one that is two-way and allows for real emotions like anger and disappointment.
2. Ask for two things:
a. GOD to right wrongs, and
b. GOD to restore things to their proper place.
3. Speak words of Life, not Death (negativity, hatred)
a. command your soul, and
b. speak into the future in faith.
By Chris Cheung
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Sermon Rewind 11/10/13 - Oceans: Entering The Presence of God
Exodus 4:10-17
New International Version (NIV)
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
Benjie Kim continued the Oceans series, recounting the story of Moses. It can be hard to believe in a God we can’t see. We often think to ourselves that if God tangibly manifested Himself in front of us, we would believe. However, we forget that throughout the Bible, entering the presence of God was difficult, and cause for fear and cowering.
God calls us instead to pursue the journey in the present. This life is a test and preparation for the next life. The reward is not the promise of things, it is the promise of God. Can we take risks and pursue God-sized dreams, learning to trust in God no matter what the outcome? When we do and trust in Jesus in the deepest parts of our souls, we will be changed, becoming readied to experience His full glory.
Moses’ story was not just a story about miracles - it was about God being faithful for a broken people, reminding them of the promise of His presence always.
by Sonny Luong-si
Sermon Rewind 11/3/2013 - Oceans: Rocking The Boat
Luke 5:1-11
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
When Peter stepped into the ocean, he stepped into the chaos of rolling seas, thundering skies, and uncertainty. Dave Brubaker began the Oceans series asking: How do we react when our lives are in the midst of chaos? We are called to take a stand and not be moved, even in changing and troubling times. Reading from Luke 5, Dave posits these truths about following Jesus.
1) It is inconvenient, just as when He told to Peter to fish again despite a long night of work. Can we accept when he comes into our lives and disrupts things?
2) It means relinquishing control - He wants to commandeer all aspects of our lives, just as He used the fishermen’s boats as a pulpit.
3) It is unconventional - He will often ask us to do something completely different. Will we, like Peter, agree simply because He says so?
4) It takes the willingness to leave everything - our money and our independence - instead, banking on Jesus to make us the person that He wants us to be.
By Ed Chu
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Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sermon Rewind 10/27/13 - Unity In The Community
Ephesians 4:3-6, 15-16
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Benjie Kim echoed the Apostle Paul's stance that avoiding division within the church is critical if The Gospel is to be spread. Unity must be an intentional goal because division occurs naturally in a diverse community. In Ephesians, Paul lists out three solutions we can follow:
1) Trust. We need to trust that God has a plan for our lives and for NOC. Though we are all broken humans, do we trust that God can work in them?
2) In all things, act and speak the truth in love. Avoid gossip and slander, and instead seek out engagement and conversation.1) Trust. We need to trust that God has a plan for our lives and for NOC. Though we are all broken humans, do we trust that God can work in them?
3) Radical acts of service. Benjie encourages us to go out of our way to serve the greater good, in all aspects of our lives. When others see a community serve in this way, they will see Jesus.
What is one act of radical service you can do for someone this week? Let us strive to be a church of unity.
by Chris Cheung
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