Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings in the name of Christ!
How are you doing, church? Are you feeling rather mellow for the year that has passed or are you getting really excited for what is ahead? Well, we have finally come to the last weekend of 2009! Like it or not, it is not going to come back. I know it feels like 2009 has just flown by. But just like every other year, it has 365 days as well. The question is, have you have spent your days wisely? Did you fulfill all that you have set out to achieve? Did you do all that you planned to do?
As we come to the last lap of this year, I want to encourage all of us to take some time out and evaluate what we have achieved and what we failed to accomplish. It is very important that we learn to take stock so that we can do better in the coming year and do not make the same mistakes again. Life on earth can be very meaningless and miserable if we only know how to take one day at a time.
Friends, let me encourage you to live differently in the coming year. Don’t take life too easily. Don’t take things too easily. We need to learn to seize our days. Life on earth is not exactly long. Make every day count. Do things that are meaningful. Learn to love. Learn to forgive. Move on quickly. Don’t get stuck in the past. On another note, I also want to encourage you to learn to budget your finances well in the coming year. Put visions to your money. Give them an assignment. Don’t simply spend what you have. Learn to save up. Learn to invest. Kick out the habit of compulsive buying. Live with discipline.
It is VERY unwise to overspend. In doing so, we will find ourselves working for the bank for the next 5 to 10 years. Church, let us be a debt-free church. Let us learn to live with a greater purpose. All of us only have one life to live so let’s learn to live it to the fullest for the glory of God!
2010 is going to be our best year yet!
Relevantly Engaging,
KEV
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
Welcome to City Harvest Church!
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and blessed Christmas! Thank you so much for taking time to celebrate this wonderful and special festive season with us. Christmas is especially meaningful because it reminds us how God gave us His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
This year, we have prepared 3 services during the Christmas period and our production team has come up with a drama entitled “Operation: Save the World”. It is a story about how God involves angels and mankind to accomplish His task on earth. The cast and the crew has been working very hard for the past month or so, therefore I believe it is going to touch and bless your heart. On top of that, I know it is going to be very entertaining as well. So, if you enjoy the first show, do invite more of your family members and friends to come. I am sure they would be inspired and blessed too!
After that, we will be having 2 Thanksgiving Services over the weekend of December 26-27. We have prepared a host of special programs for all of you. That weekend, we will also be graduating a new batch of leaders, giving out bursaries to all our outstanding students and dedicating all the new babies in our church. It is going to be one special weekend to remember all the good things that God has done for us. I like to do this because it teaches us to be thankful and to learn to count our blessings instead of always complaining.
Church, let’s end the year with a bang. Let’s finish the last lap with zeal and expect 2010 to be our best year yet!
It is going to be one awesome journey ahead!
Running with you,
KEV
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
Welcome to City Harvest Church!
First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and blessed Christmas! Thank you so much for taking time to celebrate this wonderful and special festive season with us. Christmas is especially meaningful because it reminds us how God gave us His one and only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Indeed, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
This year, we have prepared 3 services during the Christmas period and our production team has come up with a drama entitled “Operation: Save the World”. It is a story about how God involves angels and mankind to accomplish His task on earth. The cast and the crew has been working very hard for the past month or so, therefore I believe it is going to touch and bless your heart. On top of that, I know it is going to be very entertaining as well. So, if you enjoy the first show, do invite more of your family members and friends to come. I am sure they would be inspired and blessed too!
After that, we will be having 2 Thanksgiving Services over the weekend of December 26-27. We have prepared a host of special programs for all of you. That weekend, we will also be graduating a new batch of leaders, giving out bursaries to all our outstanding students and dedicating all the new babies in our church. It is going to be one special weekend to remember all the good things that God has done for us. I like to do this because it teaches us to be thankful and to learn to count our blessings instead of always complaining.
Church, let’s end the year with a bang. Let’s finish the last lap with zeal and expect 2010 to be our best year yet!
It is going to be one awesome journey ahead!
Running with you,
KEV
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Dear Church,
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
Christmas is just around the corner! Have you done all your Christmas shopping? Have you sent all your Christmas e-cards? Do you have any plans with your family members or your cell group members? I love Christmas. It is such a joyous time, where family and friends alike can come together to celebrate and share. Christmas is all about giving and sharing, how God came and shared His life with us. And truly, Jesus is the reason for the season.
And I also love the feeling and the atmosphere surrounding the church during this time. It is so abuzz with life; with rehearsals going on, the cast practicing their lines, the crew setting up the place and the props team decorating and designing the backdrop. I like seeing a busy church – a church where family members come back to help each other till late at night. It just goes on to display a church with love and life. I want to take this opportunity to encourage all of us to serve. It is through serving that we develop a greater sense of belonging and deeper sense of love for God and one another. Even if you do not know what you can do, just turn up and I am sure someone will have something for you to do. Many years ago, when I was still a teenager, I just showed up at my church and told the pastor that I wanted to help. Ever since that day, I have been serving and helping in the church.
It does not take a lot to start. It only takes a simple initiative. So, why don’t you ask your cell group leader if there is anything you can do in the house of God? Or perhaps begin to invite your family and friends to church this coming Christmas. I am sure they will be blessed with all the performances and programs that we have prepared.
Church, let’s celebrate this Christmas with joy and love. Let’s share the love of God with all those around us.
Merry Christmas… and don’t forget to buy presents for your loved ones,
KEV
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
Christmas is just around the corner! Have you done all your Christmas shopping? Have you sent all your Christmas e-cards? Do you have any plans with your family members or your cell group members? I love Christmas. It is such a joyous time, where family and friends alike can come together to celebrate and share. Christmas is all about giving and sharing, how God came and shared His life with us. And truly, Jesus is the reason for the season.
And I also love the feeling and the atmosphere surrounding the church during this time. It is so abuzz with life; with rehearsals going on, the cast practicing their lines, the crew setting up the place and the props team decorating and designing the backdrop. I like seeing a busy church – a church where family members come back to help each other till late at night. It just goes on to display a church with love and life. I want to take this opportunity to encourage all of us to serve. It is through serving that we develop a greater sense of belonging and deeper sense of love for God and one another. Even if you do not know what you can do, just turn up and I am sure someone will have something for you to do. Many years ago, when I was still a teenager, I just showed up at my church and told the pastor that I wanted to help. Ever since that day, I have been serving and helping in the church.
It does not take a lot to start. It only takes a simple initiative. So, why don’t you ask your cell group leader if there is anything you can do in the house of God? Or perhaps begin to invite your family and friends to church this coming Christmas. I am sure they will be blessed with all the performances and programs that we have prepared.
Church, let’s celebrate this Christmas with joy and love. Let’s share the love of God with all those around us.
Merry Christmas… and don’t forget to buy presents for your loved ones,
KEV
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Dear Church,
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
The year is coming to an end. Malls are decorated with colorful lights and sales are everywhere. It is a time to celebrate and for most people it is a time to shop. Shopping is not a bad thing especially when we are getting gifts to reward ourselves for all our hard work or for our loved ones. However, excessive and uncontrollable shopping is a negative thing. We need to ask ourselves if we really need the thing that we are thinking of buying or we simply want something new. Sometimes sales and discounts can be quite deceiving, in that they make us feel like we need something when we do not actually need it. Take sales like ‘buy one get another for free’ for example. Why do we need two toasters when one is enough? Do not be a compulsive shopper. Do not make any purchases out of the spur of the moment. Always plan your spending. Never buy with credit especially when you are in debt. Remember this – spend within your limit. Now that Arise and Build, Christmas and 2010 are looming, make sure that you take the time to plan your finances. Give every dollar you earn a vision. If you are saving up for a house, do not overspend on your holiday. If you are saving up to get married, do not buy any unnecessary gadgets. If you are saving up for your building fund, do not stray away from that focus. All of us can be easily distracted therefore the best way to keep us right on track is by having a plan and review it regularly. If we truly want to be successful in this area, then we need to be disciplined. We need to make the extra effort to ensure that we plan our money well. That way we will always have more than enough. Otherwise, how can we be generous? How can we give to God if we have nothing and are constantly in debt?
Money is a big and important subject in life. Our ability to handle money well will determine how much we can do for God in the area of mission and building His kingdom here on earth.
Remember, God is not against us having money but against money having us.
Be wise,
KEV
Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus!
The year is coming to an end. Malls are decorated with colorful lights and sales are everywhere. It is a time to celebrate and for most people it is a time to shop. Shopping is not a bad thing especially when we are getting gifts to reward ourselves for all our hard work or for our loved ones. However, excessive and uncontrollable shopping is a negative thing. We need to ask ourselves if we really need the thing that we are thinking of buying or we simply want something new. Sometimes sales and discounts can be quite deceiving, in that they make us feel like we need something when we do not actually need it. Take sales like ‘buy one get another for free’ for example. Why do we need two toasters when one is enough? Do not be a compulsive shopper. Do not make any purchases out of the spur of the moment. Always plan your spending. Never buy with credit especially when you are in debt. Remember this – spend within your limit. Now that Arise and Build, Christmas and 2010 are looming, make sure that you take the time to plan your finances. Give every dollar you earn a vision. If you are saving up for a house, do not overspend on your holiday. If you are saving up to get married, do not buy any unnecessary gadgets. If you are saving up for your building fund, do not stray away from that focus. All of us can be easily distracted therefore the best way to keep us right on track is by having a plan and review it regularly. If we truly want to be successful in this area, then we need to be disciplined. We need to make the extra effort to ensure that we plan our money well. That way we will always have more than enough. Otherwise, how can we be generous? How can we give to God if we have nothing and are constantly in debt?
Money is a big and important subject in life. Our ability to handle money well will determine how much we can do for God in the area of mission and building His kingdom here on earth.
Remember, God is not against us having money but against money having us.
Be wise,
KEV
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dear Church,
Greetings in the blessed name of Jesus!
WOW! What a special weekend this is - the Chinese calls this ‘double-happiness’ as we have both Ps. Rob Buckingham and the famous Parachute band with us! Let’s give them a warm City Harvest welcome! I believe it is going to be one amazing weekend that will open the floodgates of heaven over our lives! So church, I want to encourage all of us to press in and allow the Spirit of God to do a new work on the inside of us!
Well, I am not sure if you realize but we are already in the last month of the year! 2009 is coming to an end and 2010 is coming! Have you achieved all that you set to achieve? Are you taking time out to evaluate how you have spent the year? I know I remind and encourage all of us to do this every year but this year, I really want all of us to take this seriously. We cannot afford to live every year aimlessly or averagely. We are not getting any younger and the task ahead of us is huge. The LORD has commissioned us to do an important work for this generation. So, I don’t want our church to look back at our past in the future and regret that we did not attempt greater things and risk more for Him. I don’t want us to have to say such things as, ‘We could have…’, or ‘We should have.’ City Harvest, we are given one life to live, so why don’t we live life to the fullest for our Savior? Yes, there will be challenges. The devil will throw all kinds of false accusations against us… but if we truly know that we are doing it for the LORD, why should we fear? Why don’t we stick together as a family and do Him proud? Why don’t we stand united and bring the Kingdom of God into our generation? Wouldn’t that be a better way of living? Or do we rather that we hide our gifts and talents and do nothing with it?
I am sure this is not how Jesus wants us to live. He wants us to be strong and courageous. He wants us to live life with unusual responses. He wants us to step out and step up! He wants us to break new grounds for Him! So, let’s spur each other on and live life like that!
Let’s arise and build,
KEV
Greetings in the blessed name of Jesus!
WOW! What a special weekend this is - the Chinese calls this ‘double-happiness’ as we have both Ps. Rob Buckingham and the famous Parachute band with us! Let’s give them a warm City Harvest welcome! I believe it is going to be one amazing weekend that will open the floodgates of heaven over our lives! So church, I want to encourage all of us to press in and allow the Spirit of God to do a new work on the inside of us!
Well, I am not sure if you realize but we are already in the last month of the year! 2009 is coming to an end and 2010 is coming! Have you achieved all that you set to achieve? Are you taking time out to evaluate how you have spent the year? I know I remind and encourage all of us to do this every year but this year, I really want all of us to take this seriously. We cannot afford to live every year aimlessly or averagely. We are not getting any younger and the task ahead of us is huge. The LORD has commissioned us to do an important work for this generation. So, I don’t want our church to look back at our past in the future and regret that we did not attempt greater things and risk more for Him. I don’t want us to have to say such things as, ‘We could have…’, or ‘We should have.’ City Harvest, we are given one life to live, so why don’t we live life to the fullest for our Savior? Yes, there will be challenges. The devil will throw all kinds of false accusations against us… but if we truly know that we are doing it for the LORD, why should we fear? Why don’t we stick together as a family and do Him proud? Why don’t we stand united and bring the Kingdom of God into our generation? Wouldn’t that be a better way of living? Or do we rather that we hide our gifts and talents and do nothing with it?
I am sure this is not how Jesus wants us to live. He wants us to be strong and courageous. He wants us to live life with unusual responses. He wants us to step out and step up! He wants us to break new grounds for Him! So, let’s spur each other on and live life like that!
Let’s arise and build,
KEV
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