Dear Frank and Lora,
The attendance for the dinner was surprisingly good, 4-5 times of the usual attendance on Sunday service. A sister told me that many grandparents and parents came to see their grandchildren and children to perform during the celebration. They usually didn't attend Sunday service, and usually will not come for other events that organised by the church, except this Christmas celebration, ie. they only come to church once a year, on the Christmas day only. Kind of sad to hear that, but may they hear the message presented during this time of the year.
https://youtu.be/3eyLISSSlAI
http://www.christianitytoday.
http://www.desiringgod.org/
Merry Christmas from the town of Sibu. It had been a happening month especially with christians predominantly in the town.
* * *
Firstly
they have a Christmas Parade on December 12, where the organiser
gathered most of the churches in the town to have this parade. Everyone
keep saying this is a one of a kind event that will only be seen in
Sarawak. Indeed it is something that will not happen in West Malaysia.
It
is a grant event, but honestly I don't feel very comfortable with it,
because I don't really the see point of gather almost all the churches
from different denomination (Roman Catholics, Methodists, Charismatics,
etc) and have them walk around the town with decorated cars. Does this
kind of event will deliver the biblical message of Christmas to the
people in the town? Will people misunderstand the true meaning of
Christmas? Maybe this might also be the reason why the church that I am
attending (Calvary Sibu Bible-Presbyterian) didn't not participate it
(although the organiser put the name in the event pamplet without their
permission).
Many times it really perplex me, what is the line that divide the spectrum of these 2 extremes:
(1)
2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For
what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship
has light with darkness?
(2) Ephesians 3:14 - until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ.
In this kind of event, should we be in unity, ot should we separate ourselves from them?
I also saw some photos in the net (http://www.theborneopost.com/
* * *
On December 22 we have a fellowship dinner to celebrate both Christmas and Winter Solstice at a sister's house.
We
have a wonderful time and have gift exchange as well. This cell group
is under David Ngu, the pastor of City Harvest Church in Sibu. The
sharing that he gave (that Christ is the centre of the Christmas) is
true, but at the same time rather simplistic, and this gave me more
reason not to attend their regular Sunday Service.
Calvin
will be going back to his hometown in Penang from December 22 to
January 3 to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family.
* * *
On
the Christmas day itself, my church Calvary Sibu has morning service,
and thank God that I was able to attend it after my night shift in the
casualty department.
In the evening 5.30pm they
also have a Christmas dinner in the church, followed by Christmas
message from the pastor, testimony from siblings of four, many choir
presentations, dance performance, Bible quiz, and also a sketch on the
Book of Jonah. The sketch was surpirsingly very good, with just enough
of humour, but most important was the sketch faithfully followed the
entire Book of Jonah from the first verse to the last verse. Overall the
whole Christmas celebration good, in the sense that the Christmas
message was proclaimed and the call to repent and turn to Christ for
salvation.
The attendance for the dinner was surprisingly good, 4-5 times of the usual attendance on Sunday service. A sister told me that many grandparents and parents came to see their grandchildren and children to perform during the celebration. They usually didn't attend Sunday service, and usually will not come for other events that organised by the church, except this Christmas celebration, ie. they only come to church once a year, on the Christmas day only. Kind of sad to hear that, but may they hear the message presented during this time of the year.
* * *
Recently I read through a few interesting messages for Christmas in the Internet.
* * *
A picture shared by Joshua.
Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11)
though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:5-11)
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