In this Thanksgiving week, I have been pondering on what I am grateful for. There are of course many things that I thank God for, but somehow good as they are, they appear to be dim compared to the gratitude I feel toward the assurance and the revelation that once I pass on this world, I will live in the Kingdom of God. To be more specific, in the glorious Kingdom of God. Somehow that is what has been on my mind lately, that not only will I be in God’s Eternal Home, but I will also live in the glorious Kingdom of God.
During our latest Bible Study Fellowship where we just praised God with songs and testimonies, my mind just kept going to one central theme: I am grateful to God for saving me from sins and for giving me a new life, where in this new life I can have a personal relation with Christ Our Lord. I am grateful to God for opening my eyes that I can see Him—specifically the traces of His presence and work—in my life. I am grateful for His grace, Grace that has brought me thus far. I am grateful to God for extending His hand of fellowship to me.
Last week I shared the news about Budi and Tante Els, who had to undergo surgery for their medical problems. Today I’d like to share the good news with you that both are home, healthier and stronger. I know for Widya, for Peggy and Brian, Michael and Lupe, Donald and Rendy, along with their children, this Thanksgiving is different from any other Thanksgivings. This Thanksgiving they saw God, how with His loving hands He wove the lives of their loved ones in ways they could not have imagined, let alone planned for. Glory to God!
But life is not always this wonderful. Our sister Katharin and Tante Sophia still suffer back pain, Tante Elvier continues to face health issues, but knowing that God loves us and has prepared, not only a home but also a Kingdom for us to live in, makes our days glorious.
Pastor Paul
This week two members of our church went to the operating table. Budi finally got a hip replacement after months of suffering intense pain and Tante Els had heart surgery. As I write this, both are still in the hospital recovering; and by the grace of God, both can look to better and healthier days ahead. Thank you for your prayers!
Last week I wrote about C. S. Lewis’ disdain toward interference; in fact, he even called God as the transcendental interferer, at least till he became a Christian. But what we call “interference,” God calls it “guidance.” He guides His people like a shepherd guides his flock. He shows us where to go to find green pasture and running water, He protects us from harm, and He nurtures the young and the weak.
God interfered in the life of Budi. He was scheduled for a doctor’s appointment, not surgery, in November, which means he would not have the surgery till much later. But suddenly he was notified that there was a cancelation, and he could get the surgery earlier. Tante Els went to ER not knowing that her heart was due for treatment. Had she waited longer, it could have been fatal. God interfered and disrupted their lives for the better. With love He guided their lives.
Across the sea, in Manado, North Sulawesi, God interfered in ways that we did not expect. Pak Gustaf, the name we mentioned every Sunday, the father of Grace Pratama and the older brother of Ibu Rooz Taroreh, was called home. He, too, suffered the same kind of heart problem as Tante Els, because of years of dialysis. But God had a different plan for him; He disrupted and guided Pak Gustaf’s life to His Heavenly Home. God sent out Budi and Tante Els to the world, but He sent for Pak Gustaf home. Through all this we can glean a lesson that what matters is not where and how God guides us; what matter is why He guides us. It’s because He loves us.
Pastor Paul
In his book, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis shares that one thing that he hated the most was interference. What he wanted more than anything else was “a barbed wire fence and guard with a notice No Admittance.” But that was what he found in Christianity before he became a Christian, a “transcendental Interferer.” It’s something he ought to reckon with before he finally gave himself fully to Christ.
Perhaps we can relate to C. S. Lewis; we, too, wish that we could go on living our lives, our ways and our choices. But that is not so, isn’t it? We cannot go on living our lives, our ways and our choices. We must submit to God as He sometimes “interferes” with our affairs. What we planned does not materialize; what we never planned is happening before our eyes. And we can’t fight it because the more we fight it, the more damage we’ll inflict on us and those around us.
What we call “interference,” God calls “guidance.” And He guides by many means, some pleasant, but some painful. Not too long ago with much hope and prayer, a colleague in ministry applied for aid to study abroad. She had already looked at schools that she would like to attend and asked for my input as to what area would be good for her continuing education. In one word, she was “excited.” But then came the crushing response: The aid was not granted. God interfered, God guided, even though for that He had to hurt her. But hurt and disappointment never deter God from giving His best love for His children. In His time and His way, He guides and gives.
God interfered in the life of C. S. Lewis in a big time when He took his beloved wife, Joy. He was deeply hurt and disappointed; in fact, he almost abandoned his faith in Jesus. But God reached down and lifted him up. He gave him strength but more importantly He made Lewis a more wholesome man: A man of sorrow, not only intellect.
Pastor Paul
On Thursday some of us went to visit Oom Kiat Ong to celebrate his 96th birthday. He’s weaker compared to the last time we saw him some weeks ago but remained alert. When asked what he wished to say on his birthday, he said, “I cannot tell you how grateful I am to God for all He has done in my life. His grace is simply amazing.” It’s exactly what he always says whenever we ask how he is doing.
Oom Kiat is still here on earth, but his eyes are fixed toward heaven where Tante Gwie is. That is where he wishes to be: Home.
Oom Kiat is an iron man, not because he has run, swum, and biked for miles but because he has been forged by life’s hardship so many times and for so long. But each blow that life gave him only made him stronger and closer to God. That’s the reason he always gives thanks to God and is always eager to tell others what a mighty and loving God he places his trust in. God has never disappointed him.
Some of us have had a tough life but some, smooth life. Some are still experiencing hardship and uncertainties while some have had their questions answered. Wherever we are on this journey, we can say with peace in our hearts that we are not alone. Situations may change but who we are as children of God will always be the same.
In his book, Run with The Horses, Eugene H. Peterson shares this insight to Israel’s captivity, “They settled down to find out what it meant to be God’s people in the place where they did not want to be—Babylon . . . . They did not lose their identity; they discovered it. They learned how to pray in deeper and more life-changing ways than ever.” Perhaps we are in a place where we do not want to be—our Babylon—but we need not lose our identities. We can discover it—that we are Christ’s beloved children. Here in Babylon, we learn to live in a place where God wants us to be.
Pastor Paul
During our visit to Indonesia, Santy and I had an opportunity to visit Tante Betsy. She’s healthy and alert, and still remembers almost all of you. She said hello to all of you. Frans, her son, filled me in with the details of his dad’s passing. According to him, Oom Arief was relatively healthy; he did not have any medical problem. Frans was exercising outside when Oom Arief’s caregiver called him to come home because he had difficulty standing up. But when Frans got home, Oom Arief had managed to stand up. Frans then sat him on a couch with the caregiver next to him before he went downstairs to get something. It’s then while he was downstairs, Oom Arief tilted to the side and took his last breath. He slipped into his new home.
But there is something else that Frans told us. The night before he passed, Oom Arief could not sleep. He was awake virtually all night. When his caregiver asked him why he could not sleep, he replied, “I see angels.” The following morning, he really met all the angels. I believe that Oom Arief really saw angels because it was the kind of joke that he never made. As you recall, he was a jovial man; he was always young at heart and liked to crack jokes. But the one joke he never made was seeing the angels of God. So, yes, he saw angels.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Oom Arief was in that group of believers whose hearts were pure. I had never heard him say malice against anybody else; he always had something good to say about others. And one more thing about him: He had the heart of a child. Despite his advanced age, Oom Arief was always a little child of God. That’s why, when I heard this, I thought how fitting it was for him to see God’s angels before God took him home the next morning. God opened the window of heaven and let him peek. No wonder he could not sleep all night long; he was too excited.
Pastor Paul
Today is a special day that calls for thanksgiving. We are celebrating our church’s 44th anniversary. There are many things that we can thank God for but today I would like to give thanks to God for Tante Barbara, the wife of our beloved Pastor John Lim, who has been with us since the inception of this church. It was she who stood by Pastor John Lim through years of pastoral ministries in Indonesia and the United States. It was she who helped support her family as Oom John pastored this fledgling church. It was she who always believed in and prayed for Pastor John through the many seasons of life and ministry. So, to her we owe her thanks. Thank you, Tante.
On a slightly different note, I’d like to invite you to participate in our Thanksgiving Retreat. The theme of this year’s retreat is, fittingly, “Be Thankful.” I will speak in four sessions, starting from Thursday, November 28 to Saturday, November 30. In the first session I will address the topic of “THANKFUL Does Not Always Lead To GRACE.” In the second session, I will cover the topic of, “THANKFUL Does Not Always Lead To WORSHIP.” In the third session, I will speak on the topic of “THANKFUL Does Not Always Lead To REPENTANCE.” And in the last session, I will cap it all with the topic of “THANKFUL To See God In Everything.” I hope you’ll come and fellowship with us.
Some say that being thankful is an inborn trait; some say that it is an acquired attribute. The fact is being thankful is more complex than that. It is my intent that through our studies of the Bible we will see that being thankful is not as simple as we think. Being thankful does not automatically lead us to grace, worship, and repentance; more must happen in our spiritual walk. And that “more” is simply being able to see God in everything. The truth is the more we see Him, the more thankful we will be. We who do not see God in everything will find it hard to be thankful to Him. So, open our eyes and see.
Pastor Paul
On Wednesday, October 2, around noon local time in Jakarta, Jesus Our Lord came to take Oom Hein to his eternal home. I happened to have arrived the day before but that Wednesday I had a class to teach, so, I planned on visiting him on the day after. Not knowing that he’d already passed, I contacted his caregiver, Nendah, to make an appointment. It was then she told me that Oom Hein had passed just a few hours earlier. Rest in peace Oom, in the arms of Jesus.
Nendah told me that for the past few days Oom Hein was already getting weaker; he mostly slept. That morning, he managed to get up and had breakfast; afterward, he went right back to sleep. She later became worried because Oom Hein seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep and was unable to respond. So, she immediately called his nephew who directed her to call an ambulance. On the way to the hospital Oom Hein slipped into eternity. That breakfast was to be his last meal on earth but that evening, he had his first supper with Our Blessed Lord in the Upper Room, with Tante Anne.
On Thursday, October 10, I attended Oom Hein’s funeral service, ministered by GKI Gunung Sari, his place of worship before he became too weak to go anywhere. His body was cremated but his spirit was in the presence of Our Blessed Lord in the heavens, where he had always wanted to be ever since Tante Anne preceded him years ago. To him death was merely a door to his new home. While on earth he opened the door of his heart to Jesus Our Lord to come in and dine with him. Now, it was Jesus Our Lord who opened the gate of heavens for Oom Hein to come in and dine with Him. God calls His children home in His time and in His way; and we can never know when and how He will do that. But this is what we know: It’s always the right time and the right way—and for the right reason: So, we can be with Him to enjoy His goodness and beauty forever.
Pastor Paul
2 amazing steps: Step 2
Last week we looked at how the community in Thessalonica lived faithfully, living in a way to please God. What more could they do? Do the things they were doing more, and more, and more, and more.
Paul says, “we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1
What are those things to do more and more? 2 Things:
LIVE TO PLEASE GOD MORE & LOVE OTHERS MORE
Easy to say, not always easy to do, but it is what Jesus modeled for us. He showed us how to live to please God and how to love others, even when they don’t love you back.
Often the best test of the strength and depth of our faith comes when life is hard and we choose to live to please God no matter what, or turn on God, questioning Him as to why He isn’t working like we want Him to. And secondly, when people are hard and difficult, don’t respect us, act selfish, or simply are unkind – do we chose to love them, and like Paul said, to do it more, and more? These are the tests of faith that reveal our true heart, but Jesus showed us that the more we chose to do them, the more naturally they come to us.
Pastor Steve
2 amazing steps: Step 1
I’ve been working through 1 Thessalonians a lot lately and have been so encouraged by it. One thing that makes the letter easy to grasp is that there are basically just 2 parts or steps which are separated by prayers.
The first step – live faithfully & please God. This is often easy to just think about or agree with, but then not really do anything differently, but nothing could be further from the truth. It takes work to live faithfully. It wasn’t easy for those reading this letter from Paul, but they were overcoming the obstacles in life faithfully; how about us?
Paul is, “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12
If Jesus were to come back, how faithfully would he say we’re living? It’s something I wrestle with.
And then I see Paul’s words – to live a life worthy of God. I take this to mean that I can also live a life not worthy of God. The life God offers is “worth” the life of Jesus, because it cost Him his life, and I don’t ever want to take that for granted.
I encourage you to take time to read through 1 Thessalonians 1-3 and allow God to speak to us about what living faithfully to please God looks like.
Pastor Steve
Last Wednesday I felt like being in Heaven. Friends that I met over four decades ago, three decades ago, two decades ago, and over a decade ago, came to pay their last respect to my father-in-law Peter Subadya. I guess this is what Heaven must be like: full of laughter and joy; where our minds are filled with fond memories and hearts are full of gratitude to God. In Heaven not only will we meet those we met decades ago, but we’ll also meet folks we had neither met nor heard of. So, it is better than reunion; it is reunion plus union.
In his book, No Grown-Ups in Heaven, Art Greer shares his belief that there will be no adults in Heaven; there will only be children, as plainly stated by Our Blessed Lord in Matthew 18:3, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Of course, both Jesus Our Lord and Art Greer are not talking about it literally, but rather figuratively. In The Message, Eugene Peterson translates the next verse in such a way that we will not miss the meaning of “children” here, “Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s Kingdom.” In Heaven there will only be children—those who possess a simple and elemental faith.
One of the qualities of children, as pointed out by Greer, is that they simply live. They don’t think about homework while playing. When they cry, they just cry as they wish—loudly. Children simply live. On the contrary, we, adults, think about work while we are home, and when we cry, we will look around to make sure no one is watching. Unlike children who simply live, we, adults, simply think and worry.
Children belong to Heaven because they can enjoy God. Heaven is a fun place, so it is perfect for children. We, who cannot enjoy God, are not good fit for Heaven. I am afraid, we might even ruin it.
Pastor Paul