Newsletter

I'm sure that many of you would have had your minds occupied with making New Year resolutions and planning a strategy to hold on to it. I'm no exception to it! Man's mind urges him to be a better person. It seeks to try new things in an effort to fill the restlessness in his hearts.

II Cor 5:17 explains this beautifully. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation the old has gone. Let us rejoice in this faith and set our hearts to do His will.

I wish you all a very happy 2008!

Yours in Christ,
Preethi Samuel

Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10

Friends, by His Grace we are in the year 2008. God expects His children to bear fruits. In order to bear good fruits we need to abide in Him. Can I bear fruits for the Lord in 2008? Yes, but only with the help of God. In Psalm 46, the Psalmist says, ‘Be Still and Know that I am God'. To bear good fruits for the Lord, we should know Him. To know Him, we need to ‘Be Still'.

This Psalm was written after Hezekiah prayed to God and God sent an angel to destroy 185,000 Assyrians. This Psalm teaches us that whenever disaster strikes and when it seems that all hope is lost, that God can handle it, according to His will, in His own good time and way.

Many times, people spend their whole life searching for the will of God. They have ambitions, goals, dreams and questions. Question like, What Am I to do with my life? God has a Plan for each Life - Be Still and Know that God will Reveal His Plan at the Right Time. Many Times problems arise, delays come, and detour signs appear. You may worry how you will accomplish your Goals - Be Still and Know that God can and will perform miracles in your life.

Just like Moses and Israel at the Red Sea, Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord. The first phrase of Verse 10 is important. It is the hardest thing for a person to do. We are prone to talk, to defend ourselves, to justify our failures, and to not accept our defeats. But the Psalm is clear, "Be still, and know that I am God." "Be still" means stay focussed in prayer. Ask God to reveal His plans for you in the year 2008. It also means wait upon the Lord. Wait for His time to come. It also means do good to others. Do not stop doing good. Continue your good works and God will reward you. May our Good Lord Bless each one of us to bear good fruits for His Glory. Amen.

- Pastor Godwin

Edward Mote's name is not popular among Christians today. However, his life is an inspiration to all Christians. Mote was not brought up in a godly home and did not have the advantage of early exposure to Scripture. His parents managed a pub in London and often neglected young Edward, who spent most of his Sundays playing in the city streets. Of his theological upbringing, he said "So ignorant was I that I did not know that there was a God."

Eventually Mote became exposed to the Word of God, and was baptized at the age of 18. However, he did not go into ministry immediately. He became a cabinetmaker. Eventually, at the age of 55, he became pastor of a Baptist church in Horsham, Sussex, where he did not miss a Sunday in the pulpit for the next 21 years. He resigned from this pastorate in 1873 due to ill health, and died the following year at the age of 77.

It was with this background that Mote wrote the hymn, "The Solid Rock." It was during his career as a cabinetmaker that the hymn came into being. One morning in 1834 as he was walking to work, it entered his mind to write a hymn. By the time he got to work, he had the chorus. He wrote four more verses over the course of that day and two additional verses before he was finished.

As to the doctrinal message of the hymn, it clearly sets forth the message of grace. The metaphor of Christ as a rock is one with a firm basis in Scripture (1 Cor 10:4). To me, this ‘Hymn of grace' is very loud about total dependence on Christ. It recognizes that our hope for eternal life depends completely upon Jesus' righteousness, not on some sweet earthly frame. No any work on our part can add to Christ's work in order to secure our eternal salvation. There are times when the doubts, cares, and darkness of this world will seem to weaken our fellowship with God and veil His face from us. Even in these times, when "all around [our] soul gives way," God has not left us. Our anchor of faith can still hold in the darkness, knowing through faith that even though not seen (Heb 11:1), He still sustains us. HE ALWAYS HAS AND ALWAYS WILL.

Edward Mote (1797-1874)

- Sujaya Robin

- Joe Kingsly

I felt sorry for them. They were being' quizzed with some pretty tough questions. Statements they had made casually in the past were coming back to bite them. Some, even though they knew they had no chance, were bravely fending the questions meant to rip them open in public. Yeah, it was the presidential debate.

Ok, they had a choice and they chose it. I shouldn't feel too bad for them. One thing struck me though while watching the show. I realized that every person who confesses to be a Christian should be quizzed about his faith, his commitment and his purpose in life.

Most Christians are a standing model for Newton's first law, the law of inertia. They are glad to be in a state of rest or state of uniform motion. Most of us are not sure of what we believe, what we do or we should be doing. Recently, I was reminded of the song, "வல்லமை தேவை தேவா" where we eagerly ask God to fill us with his power. Any worship leader would love to sing that song. And if the tempo can be increased gradually it would be the perfect stimulant for any congregation. The songs call for the pouring of the power of the spirit and also for the spiritual gifts.

If God says "OK, you asked for power and gifts, I'm pouring everything I have on you". What will you do with that power? What's next? I'm sure many Christians cannot answer that question. I'm all for faith. But unless every person who professes to be a Christians knows what and why they believe, their faith is as good as dead.

Every Christian should actively evangelize, serve others and have the mind of Christ. It all starts with love.

This month, a new council will take office in our church. I wish every one who volunteers to do this ministry will have the courage to face these tough questions among other. Do you have a relationship with God? What is the church to you? How do you wish to serve God through this ministry? Will God be the focus of every decision you make?

I wish our new council the very best for this year. I hope God will fill them with wisdom, strength, courage and above all love to do this ministry.

- Samuel Davidson

For those of you who thought that Esther was not worth spending time on, here’s Timothy. Quiz in the books of I and II Timothy will be held on the 3rd sunday of February

Congratulations! Correct entries for Crossword No. 7 submitted by
Edith Andrews, Chennai, India
Hannah Daniel, Aurora, IL
Kavitha Kingsly, Bolingbrook, IL