O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness  

I was not born into a Christian family. Growing up, I had always heard bad things about Christianity, which led me to have a certain bias and prejudice against Christians. Consequently, I lived most of my childhood and early adult life guided by the fundamental belief that I alone was the master of my own fate and destiny, and that those who chose to place their faith in God and Jesus Christ were misguided, foolish, and lacking in intelligence. I held fast to the doctrine of individualism, believing that all my achievements in life were the result of my own capabilities alone, and that any problems I faced could be overcome through my own sheer tenacity and willpower. I prided myself on my intellect, and would often poke fun at my Christian friends for their so-called “blind faith”, even going so far as to try to goad them into the occasional academic debate wherein I could gleefully point out what I perceived to be the numerous logical, scientific and historical fallacies inherent in the Bible.

The turning point in my life was meeting my now-husband, Timothy, when we were undergraduate students at the University of Melbourne. We became fast friends, and I was attracted to his self-assurance and intelligence, which led me to wonder why someone so smart would believe in Christ. Our many conversations led me to the realisation that most of my conclusions about Christianity were in fact founded on half-baked anecdotes and popular misconceptions. Fuelled by a new-found curiosity, I began attending church services with Tim, and gradually the Holy Spirit enlightened my mind and thawed my once-hardened heart to wholeheartedly accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

Having been saved, I have come to realise that the process of spiritual growth and sanctification is still far from easy. However, I constantly strive to remind myself that any struggles I endure in this life are nothing compared to the agony that Jesus Christ endured in dying on the cross for my salvation. Whenever I sing my favourite hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’, I am filled with amazement, wonder, and humility at the perfection of God’s plan for our salvation, and His mercy and grace towards us all despite how undeserving we are:

“And when I think that God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

— Kueh X Q (Baptism)

I was born into a non-Christian household. I was raised with no knowledge about Christianity or Jesus. My parents who were Buddhist taught me everything that was required of a Buddhist. These things included praying to idols every morning and night, offering up food to idols and ancestors during prayers and various superstitious rules to follow. As a child, I blindly followed these superstitions to ensure I wouldn’t be punished or cursed by these “gods” as told to me by my parents. It was only in P3 that I was invited to church by one of the student care tutors.

 At the age of 9, I was enrolled into the after-school care in my primary school. It was there that I met Aunty Christina, who invited me to attend Kidz club in Life B-P Church. As I was still quite young, all I thought of it was another opportunity for fun. I then went home to seek permission from my mother to attend Kidz club. As I was a very mischievous boy at that time, my mother (who was a bit more open-minded) thought it be best for me to attend church to learn “good things or values” from a church so that I would behave better. I couldn’t have been happier for the opportunity. Little did I know, this would be the turning point in my life. After attending a few sessions of Kidz club, Aunt Christina invited me to attend church on Sundays. This led me to attend Sunday School (SS) Classes and Junior Worship Services (JWS). During this period, I was still attending Kidz club, and during one of the sessions, I chose to accept Christ as I remembered feeling really touched and moved by Christ’s love for us by His death on the cross.

Since then, I decided that I needed to change the way I lived my life. Even though I wanted that, it was more difficult than I thought. After a few years spent in church, my knowledge of the Bible increased but my behaviour improved only a little. It was then that my SS teacher said to me, “What you have is head knowledge, but what God really sees is the heart.” This sentence impacted me a lot as it made me realise that I have been relying on myself to change by learning more about scripture, but I wasn’t relying on God’s strength. In 2016, I started serving in the children’s ministry as a guitarist. Until today, God has slowly changed me to be more like Him. I pray that He will continue to change and guide me to be more like Christ as I continue on this path He has led me to.

— Yap Y S (Baptism)

The notion of God and religion has been a constant presence in my life, beginning with my education at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney, Australia, a Christian school and later on where I attended Maris Stella High School in Singapore (a Catholic institution). Despite this exposure to Christian values and beliefs, my personal journey of faith never really took place till much later in life.

I sporadically attended church services and had a general awareness of God's existence. I had always doubt about God and is He really true? Is it really so easy as to give my trust in Him and I will have everlasting life? Why do I even deserve this? All these questions played in my mind and I never truly trusted in God. My work in finance took me to Hong Kong where life and work was fast paced and full of temptation. I have described my 6 years in Hong Kong as a 6-year hangover to some.

It wasn't until 2016 that I truly received Christ as my Saviour and was baptized. This transformative moment was a result of the profound influence of my wife and her family who showed me the way to Christ's saving grace. It was through their unwavering faith and love that I began to realize that all the blessings in my life had been received from Jesus alone. His presence had always been there; I just needed to acknowledge God alone and place my trust in Him. The birth and joy of having our 2 children particularly reinforce how blessed I feel as a person and Christian.

Ephesians 5:14-20 aptly describes the essence of my salvation journey.

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:14-20)

I, too, had been asleep to the truth, but Christ's light awakened me. I had indulged in the pleasures of the world, but now I seek joy and peace with the Lord by my side.

Becoming a Christian has taught me that it requires effort, care, and constant prayer. It requires trust and reliance in the Lord's plan, even when we find ourselves stuck and sometimes lost in life's challenges. My faith journey has led me and my family to Life Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore, where we have been attending for many years. As we take the next step to transfer our membership, we are grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow in faith within the loving community of Life Bible-Presbyterian Church.

— A J Koh (Transfer)

I was born into a Christian family and spent my childhood immersed in the routines of Sunday School, Youth Group, and Church services. Sundays meant playing with other kids at church while waiting for my parents who served. We went to church at 10am and left after 4pm. That was our Sundays. Christmas holidays were spent at Church camp. Unlike my school friends who shared stories of camping in other states and opening presents around a tree, my Christmases were spent sitting at a table with other children, watching my parents serve others, and I rarely saw them during the camp's busy days.

This waiting became a part of my life, whether at church or during Bible study meetings at friends' houses. In my early years, I followed the adage, "obey your parents, that is the right thing to do," not yet realizing it was a biblical command. It felt like a saying; a Chinese and religious norm, but I began to feel resentment growing within me, mainly towards the waiting.

As I entered my teenage years, the restrictive aspects of being a Christian became harder to accept. I struggled with the rules and how they separated me from my friends. You can’t wear this, you can’t say that, you can’t do this, you can’t have that. I never questioned the existence of God in my life, but I grappled with reconciling my Christian identity with my life from Monday to Friday.

The issue was that my identity as a Christian felt distinct from my identity as a person. It seemed like just one part of me, rather than the core of who I was. However, as I grew older, I began to realize that my identity wasn't defined by what I had become, but by who God had created me to be. And as I embarked on a journey of spiritual growth, I began to understand that being a Christian wasn’t about conforming to a set of rules, it was about embracing a relationship with God.

Today, my identity as a Christian is no longer a mere part of who I am; it is the foundation upon which I build my life. God’s commandments are not just a set of rules but a source of guidance and inspiration. I understand that it isn’t about what I “can’t” but about choosing to live in a way that is aligned with my faith and beliefs. My journey has taught me that being a Christian is about living a purpose-driven life that reflects the love and grace of God and embracing my identity as a child of God.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

— J Wu (Transfer)

I did not grow up in a Christian family, but all of us eventually found our own separate ways to Christ. While in secondary school, I was interested in Christianity because it seemed to fill a void in my life. However, I could not intellectually reconcile with the doctrine, thinking that religion seemed to be a crutch for “weak” people. I also took up Buddhist studies to find out more about Buddhism – which is the largest religion in Singapore. The Buddhist doctrines seemed logical, but did not seem to fill that void. Though I did fellowship with my Buddhist friends, I eventually followed my Christian friends to church, especially in junior college and through university. The fact that being a Christian was not a “logical” decision held me back for some years. It was only when I realized that the “leap of faith” was required, and that I was willing in my heart to make it, that I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour in 1995 at St John’s St Margaret’s Church. After meeting M my wife and marrying her in 2004, I began to attend Life BP Church.

In the very first church I attended, Barker Road Methodist Church, the pastor preached the Arminian concept. Being young and fearless, I believed in individual sovereignty, hence I agreed with that. But over the years since, I have moved towards a more Calvinist position. While there are good reasons why one should choose Calvinism, the following personal observations helped me to decide:

1. Prior to my acceptance of Christ, someone took care of me, the same way I was being taken care of after my baptism – Election and its benefits seemed to have applied prior to my admission of Faith.
2. In my career as a doctor for more than 2 decades dealing with the sickest patients in my hospital, I have seen many patient outcomes. Some patients do very well despite extreme adversity; others have everything going for them, yet do not make it – Predestination seemed to be at work, regardless of the will of the patients.
3. Following on the last point, I began to realize that the ability to make the right choice – Rational Faith - in a complex, evil and often overpowering world is overrated. The belief that one could make such a choice correctly and consistently under adverse conditions – it is a daily choice for us, isn’t it? - seemed to me like pride. It is now my belief that one can only make the right choice with the total help of the Holy Spirit.

My choice of Calvinism dovetailed nicely with my attending Life BP church after my wedding. I am grateful for the support that Pastor Charles Seet and Pastor Quek have given my family all this time, and am looking forward to formally joining the Church.

— V Chao TT (Transfer) 

* * * 

THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

    Many people would like to know how Christians should view the conflict which has developed between Israel and Hamas. I believe that it is one of the many events leading up to the end times: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6-8)

    Hamas is a terrorist organisation that has only one objective – to destroy Israel and create an Islamic state on the land that belongs to Israel. This objective will never be achieved, since history has shown that God’s promise to Abraham concerning the land remains unchanged. (Genesis 17:9 - “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”)

    The awful destruction, suffering and death which war brings reminds us that as long as sin reigns in the hearts of men, there can be no peace on earth. This should make us look forward to Christ’s soon return to subdue all the nations of the world and inaugurate His reign of peace on earth (cf. Isaiah 2:2-4).

    The shocking lapses in Israel’s intelligence and security and the ability of Hamas to breach its defences demonstrates why we should trust in God to guard us from our enemies rather than in our own weapons and military prowess. (cf. Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”)

    At present it is still uncertain how this conflict will develop. If it escalates to the point that many militant organisations and Muslim nations become involved in fighting against Israel, then it is likely that the whole world will plunge into turmoil. That would give the Antichrist the opportunity to emerge as the ‘Saviour’ who is able to resolve all the world’s problems and win the admiration of all people. (cf. Revelation 13:4)

    But after gaining the support of the whole world, the Antichrist will reveal his true colours and seek to destroy Israel (just like Hamas seeks to do). When there seems to be no hope left for Israel, Christ will return to defeat the Antichrist and all the armies that come against it and save the Jews from destruction. (cf. Zechariah 14:1-4) Then they will finally recognise Jesus as their Messiah (cf. Zechariah 12:10)

    What should we do now? To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We must be ready for the changes that may be coming soon. While we watch the news to see what happens in Israel, we should not be worrying about how soon the prophecies about this nation will be fulfilled. Only God knows the precise timing of all the end-time events. The most important thing we need to do now is to occupy until Christ returns. This means maximising the remaining time to do as much as we can for the Lord. May the Lord Jesus find us faithfully serving when He returns. – Pastor

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Oct 16

        7.30 pm     ERBL: OT Poetic Books (Rev Charles Seet)

Tuesday, Oct 17

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Dn Teo Kian Guan)

Thursday, Oct 19

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: The Theology of Prayer (Pastor Tan Soon Yong)

Saturday, Oct 21

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

Sunday, Oct 22

  8.00 am     The Power of the Gospel Acts 19:1-20 (Rev Ho Chee Lai, with Holy Communion)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am The Power of the Gospel Acts 19:1-20 (Rev Ho Chee Lai)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.00 pm Session Meeting

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6) 

Announcements

Door to Door Evangelism 15 Oct 2023

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30 pm Contact: Desmond  or Amos  

Traffic Wardens

Lifers are invited to serve our Lord as Traffic Wardens on Sunday. Kindly contact Bro Yeo  if you are available.

Building Our Church Community Survey

https://forms.gle/cKJim9fxEmwshHo66

CBPYC 2023 

8-9 Dec 2023 Speaker: Pastor Mark Chen

Sign up at bpilgrims/com/cbpyc2023

Anniversary Greeting:

Warmest greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for the 73^rd Anniversary Thanksgiving of Life B-P Church. May God’s richest blessings be continually be upon you all in your faithful service for Him, for His glory. 1 Cor. 15:57,58. With love in Christ and prayers – Rev Edward and Lehia Paauwe.

Strengthening Marital Relationships in the Church 

Speaker: Rev Gabriel Gan

Date: 4 & 18 Nov 2023

Time: 2.00pm to 6.00pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Registration deadline: 20 Oct 

A nursery programme will run concurrently with the seminar for children 3-8 years old. https://forms.gle/RrXU9nGYJ2VPjnmz6

MM Thanksgiving Fellowship Meeting 25 Nov 2023; 4-7 pm 

“My Three Pillars of Life” by Rev Daniel Khoo. All are welcome. Dinner is provided. RSVP if you are joining for dinner by contacting Bro Ignatius This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

LTF Camp 2023 

4-8 Dec 2023 “Peter the Man, Jesus his Lord” by Brother Joel Seah

Registration link: http://tiny.cc/LTFCamp2023eform 

Closing date: 29 Oct 2023 (Sunday)

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