Like a peal of bells the word allelon-'one another'-rings through the pages of the New Testament. 'Accept one another' allelon 'Serve one another' allelon 'Wash one another's feet' 'Confess your sins one to another' 'Pray one for another' 'Forbearing one another and forgiving each other' 'Teaching and admonishing one another' 'Comfort one another and build each other up' 'Bear one another's burdens' 'Love one another as I have loved you' Those who have the flow of mutuality in their relationship with each other need not be vocal or exuberant in expressing it.

One day, an assistance pastor from a Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore talked to me, he said, "We, Bible Presbyterian Churches in Singapore, do not have interest in mission work, but we are more interested in squabbles among ourselves, we like to live in fighting, we are more interested to sue one another in the court, we like to fight among ourselves to see who is the greatest among us, we do not have interest to evangelize, but we are always on fire for prayer meeting when we face lawsuits, infighting, squabbles, doctrinal issues, this is a good sign for us, you see, many turn up in prayer meeting when we were facing lawsuit with Far Eastern Bible College, it is good for us!"

To these many Bible Presbyterian Churches, apparently, 'practical mission work' and 'theological reflection' are mutually exclusive. Where the one in the forefront, the other is almost by definition absent. They are here presented with a false choice. This is wrong!

Paul, after all, combined his extensive missionary activities with correspondingly intensive work in the area of theology.

Martin Kahler, thus correctly remarked, that mission is indeed the mother of theology!

Good example

Pastor Leonard Chong formerly worked in a Bible Presbyterian Church in Singapore.

Today, he is working in a new denomination! 

Pastor Leonard Chong is now working in All Saints Presbyterian Church, Singapore! 

Ism and ist

says Koyama:

‘ We are bound by all kinds of doctrines. Our interest is always on the side of ism rather than

ist. Excessive interest in ism brings forth a disastrous situation which may be called the

tyranny of doctrines. We tend to look at other persons through ‘doctrinally trained eyes’. So

we become experts in quick pronouncements of judgment upon others. When ‘doctrinally

trained eyes’ say, ‘Now master, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.

According to the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women to death!’ (Jn. 8.4),

‘incarnate eyes’ look in a different direction. ‘Jesus stooped down and began to write with his

finger in dust on the ground’ Ism and ist are related. Don’t let ism walk alone.’

Unity In Diversity for Bible Presbyterian Churches

Like a peal of bells the word allelon-'one another'-rings through the pages of the New Testament.

'Accept one another' allelon
'Serve one another' allelon
'Wash one another's feet'
'Confess your sins one to another'
'Pray one for another'
'Forbearing one another and forgiving each other'
'Teaching and admonishing one another'
'Comfort one another and build each other up'
'Bear one another's burdens'
'Love one another as I have loved you'

Those who have the flow of mutuality in their relationship with each other need not be vocal or exuberant in expressing it.

Jurong's 'Hachiko' waits at same spot every night for owner -- who never comes

STOMPer Bill has noticed this dog returning to the same spot in Jurong East Avenue 1 at the same time every night, reminding residents of the loyal dog Hachiko. He wonders where the dog's owner has been.

Hachiko was a dog born in Japan, remembered for his outstanding loyalty to his owner. Even after his owner's death, Hachiko continued to wait at the train station for his owner every day without fail, who never returned.

Said the STOMPer:

"A dog that looks like a labrador was heard crying for help on early Thursday morning.

"He stood along the roadside just outside Block 345 Jurong East Avenue 1 and looked around helplessly.

"Where is his owner?

"Is he a stray dog?

"Nobody knows!

"Since then, he has been wandering around the area, coming back to the same spot at almost the same time every night, at around 9-10pm and 4am.

"He does nothing but lie there quietly to wait for his selfish owner.

"His hachiko-like behaviour has touched a lot of people in the neighbourhood.

"We feed and give him fresh water.

"He is getting thinner and dirtier every day.

"It is torturing!

"Just hope someone can help before he is put to sleep!!!"


http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/in_the_heartlands/1128186/singapores_hachiko_moves_residents_but_what_happened.html

Leonard Ravenhill

What God wants is not to fill up empty pews.
He is not concerned about filling empty churches,
He is concerned about filling empty hearts.
And empty lives, and empty eyes that have no vision;
Empty hearts that have no passion,
And empty wills that have no purpose.

Martin Luther

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.

Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, Weimar Edition, Briefwechsel [Correspondence], vol. 3, pp. 81f.

Joel

A Call to Repentance

13 Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn;
wail, you who minister before the altar.
Come, spend the night in sackcloth,
you who minister before my God;
for the grain offerings and drink offerings
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Declare a holy fast;
call a sacred assembly.
Summon the elders
and all who live in the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
and cry out to the LORD.

Thomas à Kempis (1380 - 1471)

All men indeed aim at good, and mean something of good in their words and actions; and so, under the appearance of good many are deceived.

Thomas à Kempis, Imitation of Christ, Bagster, London p. 223

Funnymentalist

Well one day, our friend Funnymentalist has really hit rock bottom. He thought he had his doctrine all straight, but alas, no go. He is sitting all alone looking confused and despondent, and that is how Paull finds him.

Paul: Young man, what is the trouble?

Funny: Well I have talked to people from Adam to Peter and they all disagree with me, and I have the sneaking suspicion that they are right, and that is the worst part.

Paul: Can I show you a couple of things, my friend?

Funny: OK.....say....why are you so nice to me, anyhow? 

Paul: Well, I'm Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles. I'm YOUR apostle, and I have your doctrine for you.

.................................................AFTER THAT.......

Funny wasn't funny anymore.....he became.....a...Bible Believing Christian.

Bible Believer then thanked Paul for helping him to rightly divide the Scriptures and went on his way rejoicing. (2 Tim. 2:15)