Preview to HFAN New Westminster

Some pictures from our new home at:

Cavalry Worship Centre
260 12th St.
New Westminster, BC

Drum Set

Bass Amp

Keyboard

Monitor for the keyboardist

Guitar Amp (Acoustic?)

Farewell CCM - Music Team HFAN Burnaby 2013

It's all started with the fear of the Lord

Just something that came up to me recently about the word 'fear'. Sometime we afraid to stand up and say the correct things because our fear of being rejected/unaccepted. In the other word, we fear human beings... I'm not talking about crazy shooter that just barge in and start shooting people..that's different.

But, fear is pretty uncommon these days, because generally we don't fear anything, everything is okay and we can do everything as long as we believe.. so no need to fear anything.. we do self-talk, we convince our reality is otherwise, and we amuse ourselves with what we did..

But the word fear always come again and again repeatedly in the Bible, and it only talks about one thing that we should fear, the Lord your God. 

Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

1 Chronicles 16:25
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.

Proverbs 1, 9, 10, 14
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge

The fear of the Lord adds length to life
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life

Acts 9:31
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

And then I was thinking, what so important about this? 

Fear is not an option. It's so loving of our God to command us to fear Him.. when we fear Him, we fear Him for the right reason. Because He is worthy and it's our duty. When we know who He is, all-powerful and all-loving God, we live in accordance to His will and His leadership. We submit and trust Him.  And the rest are easy.. we just walk following Jesus and enjoying the moments. 

The dying part is the hard one. To go up in life, the world teach us that it's like a linear line, straight line to the top, a ladder, maybe even lie/cheat here and there.. But in Christ, to go up, you have to go down and die of yourself, and only then Christ can work in you and He will rise you up.

Oh, what joy it is to live for and with God, and like Jesus said on John 15, His joy will be in us, and it will be complete.

Aren't we all looking for that full, complete, perfect joy? Yet we are looking in the wrong direction. 

It's all started with the fear of the Lord

Advent week 2 - accepting the gift

This week discussion will be taken from Luke 1:26-38.

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6: 1-2 (Isaiah 49:8)

Have you received any gift lately? What came up to your mind the first thing when someone handed it to you?   
For me, it's FREE! woohoo! who doesn't like free stuff right?  and then see what's the content..
And then I would feel grateful and think, do I deserve this? What would I do with it?

Now, how about the gift of salvation? the gift that last a lifetime, even after our death?

Last Sunday sermon was so practical and comforting.. Ps. Ery talked about 3 things that we are ought to do with the gift of salvation:

First, we need to be responsible with it.  I can imagine how it makes our parents grief  when we abuse their gifts to us.. either it's love, protection, care, Christmas, or whatever gift that they give.

Second, we need to accept it as a whole. Jesus is all or nothing, you can't have half of Him and half of your own selfishness. When Jesus asked the rich man to sell everything and follow Him, it means a totality. Of course it doesn't mean that we literally sell everything and down our banking account to $0.. but we have to renew our mind and re-focus our goal toward Jesus and His salvation, instead of building our own wealth.

Lastly, we need to accept reality and reality of Jesus Christ. It means not denying problem/life struggles.. it doesn't mean we are never sick and poor.. but how can we find strength in those condition and hope in spite of difficult times.  After accepting the reality, we need to response by accepting the reality of Jesus Christ.
Man, how I always love the love letter from our Father in heaven. Someone summed up beautifully here: http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html

Christmas is not about gift and festivity.. it's about Son of God that came down and giving us all the gift of salvation. (Luk 1:77 ;  Acts 4:12)

So, would you accept the gift of salvation? would you make Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?

Anggur Baru

Roh Kudus tercurah di tempat ini
UrapanNya yang ajaib memulihkan umatNya

Bapa Engkau Sungguh Baik

Bapa, Engkau sungguh baik, kasihMu melimpah di hidupku
Bapa, ku berterima kasih, berkatMu hari ini yang Kau sediakan bagiku

Advent week 1 - waiting in expectation

Hi everyone, as you know we're entering an advent season for the next 4 weeks, and I thought it'd be good to discuss the topics here. If you don't have the booklet, you can get it from the ushers next week.

The 1st week reading is taken from Isaiah 52:7-10

From the passage, it talks about how God has delivered His people and apparently they've been waiting for a long time! Pastor Sonny gave a little bit of background in his sermon last week, the history of the Israelites, and the pressure, the oppression, and how they all lost God's favor.. Thus, when the God's word came forward through the prophet about God's salvation and deliverance, His promises to restore Jerusalem and redeem them.. nothing except bursting shouts of joy!

I don't know about you, but waiting is not something that we like to do, especially in this world of instantaneous! Everything feels like in the palm of your hand and it makes us anxious, impatient, and we go through our life just like that, ignoring what God has in store for us, ignoring His words. No wonder we don't feel God's presence, we don't experience His miracles and healing..

It also mentioned in that passage:

How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,

How beautiful are those who bring good news! why? because our message brings deliverance! our testimony brings salvation! We proclaim good news to those who are broken-hearted, lost, poor..

Revelation 3:17 said: You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Yes it may contradict to what we see in our daily live, especially in here in Vancouver.. people are happy, they're fine, they don't need God, they are wealthy and very healthy.. but of course they are from the outside! overall, they need to look good in front of other people right?
No, I was talking their deep down inside needs.. do you know how many depressed people out there.. how many suicide cases, fighting, broken family, marriage, relationship.. they all need God, they all need what Jesus has come and die for.. they need God.

It's a calling for all of us. Think about those lives that you could've touched, could've changed.. and they are not, because we don't obey.

Will you bring the good news to your friends and family? Will you accept and receive what God has called and commanded you to do?

Through it all - Hillsong (G)

Intro: G-D/F#-Emsus--C9--D (2x)

Verse: 

 1     5/7      6 

You are forever in my life 

 4              5 

You see me through the season 

 1          5/4           6
Cover me with Your hands 

 4                     5
And Lead me in Your righteousness 

 3            4 

And I look to You 

 3           4 - 5
And I wait on You 

 Chorus: 

 1                   4 

 I'll sing to You, Lord a hymn of love

 5         6         4         5

 For Your faithfulness to me 

 1               4

 I'm carried in everlasting arms

 3          6            2 

You'll never let me go

 5           1

 Through It all 

 Exit:

 1  6    4      5

 Hallelujah....(4x)

How's your prayer life ?

Yesterday's discussion was about prayer life.

Prayers are the core being of our Christian life. It's the communication part in a relationship. Imagine a relationship without communications.. that'd be living a Christian life without prayers.
I'm talking about those that have received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. If you have not, have someone to talk to :)

Undoubtedly it's expressed many ways in the bible, from Abraham, David, Job, Daniel, Nehemiah, all the prophets ever written, and even Jesus Himself prays! They all have their own traits and personalities when it comes to prayer. I love how David danced as his acts of praying (2 Sam 6:13-14)
Matthew 6 pictured how we should pray. I'm not going to talk about that here, but it's good to read and learn that again and again.   

It's amazing sometimes we forgot to pray or delayed or don't have time because of our tiny little own business, or busyness.. without realizing how it hugely impacted our life!   We focused so much on our own stuff and forgetting that God cares for you and He wants to help you.. overall He loves you! Probably He was thinking, oh my son, why did you do that, why didn't you consult with me, and sometimes He just so loving of a father, he let us wander ourself, out of His care and protection, let us far enough, fall on our own maybe... and all that just to know that there is a God, a Father that cares for us, and always open His arms to welcome us back.

Think about what if.. What if I talk to God first.. what if I let Him in be in control.. what if we don't have to wander around? Think about God's plan that He has for you, and what if God has a bigger and better purposes for us? Might not what we want or like, but He has a purpose for you!

In the music prayer yesterday I shared about how sometimes my prayer doesn't always get answered, at least in the way I want, or when I want.. but one thing I do find true, that God always listen, and every time I finish praying, I always feel that my burden is so light and peace just rest in me.. man, it's awesome. And when He answers.. wow, you just stand in awe, giving back all the glory.. when He answered, Job became speechless.. when He spoke, raging storm calmed down.. when He spoke, fire came down...  
man, who said Christian life is boring?  You're being backed up by a living God, the creator of heaven and earth.. God that created you and yet we can't comprehend His greatness in our little brain (we tried to)... but I just know that I'm on His side! If God is for us then who can be against! You witness His glory and His work everyday...  It's a life that filled with purpose, full of God's grace and empowerment! Walking everyday with faith, seeing God's work in every person you meet, life-changing experience.. it's just amazing. Don't you want that? 

So, how's your prayer life? 

You alone can rescue - Matt Redman

Key B - Capo 4

Verse 1:
G                     C       G
Who, oh Lord, could save themselves,
  C        G         D
Their own sin could heal?
    Em         G      C       G
Our shame was deeper than the sea
      C       D      G
Your love is deeper still

Chorus:
                C      D           Em
You alone can rescue, You alone can save
               C       D        Em7
You alone can lift us from the grave
                  C        D             Em
You came down to find us, led us out of death
                C         D       G       C  G  C
To You alone belongs the highest praise

Verse 2:
G                   C      G
You, oh Lord, have made a way
     C       G        D
The great divide You heal
     Em       G           C   G
For when our hearts were far away
      C         D       G
Your love went further still
            C        D       G
Yes, your love goes further still

Chorus:
                C      D           Em
You alone can rescue, You alone can save
               C       D        Em7
You alone can lift us from the grave
                  C        D             Em
You came down to find us, led us out of death
                C         D       Em
To You alone belongs the highest praise
                C         D       Em
To You alone belongs the highest praise
                C         D       G
To You alone belongs the highest praise

Tag:
     G
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
             C
You’re the Giver of Life
    Em
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
            C
You’re the Giver of Life

God's authority & plan

Psalm 33:4-5:

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

When I read that passage, I was wondering how it could be true in spite of the tragedy that happened around the world? Maybe David has never seen a typhoon as big as what happened recently was the typhoon Haiyan in Philippines?

How could we find Him faithful in all He does? Is this hurricane/typhoon/disaster is part of what He does? 

Is this part of His acts as a just judge and righteousness? 

Is the earth full of his unfailing love?

Well, as humanly as this might not make sense to all of us, the best answer that we could get is from the Bible itself! 

>> We must acknowledge and understand who our God is <<

1 Tim 6:15-16 says: 

...which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever...

He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. The creator and ender of all things. He is an almighty God that way above all created things, for everything is created by and for Him.  David was fully grasped that, Job was fully understand that, Paul totally grasped that.. along with other disciples,  and everyone else..  Do we?

We human always tried to be our own God but forgetting who we actually are and who owns our life!  

As my friend Daniel said, behind all that, we can learn that destroying/annihilation isn't really God's 'end-game' (the best way I can put it :p) , but restoration is! If we see in the old testament, Noah, Job, Sodom and Gomorrah, Elijah, Israelites.. and even the death of Jesus Christ! there's always a restoration that follows through, and it's always for His glory.

So the question is, my friend Greg once asked, on which side of authority do you want to be in?

James 4:12

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy

Offering

Roma 12: 1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

What's the purpose of your work/study/self-improvement? Who are you doing it for?

- love God better, or love yourself better?

- love others better, or love yourself better?

How to have a Kingdom mindset?

Breaking Bad TV shows

Source: Sunday Service sermon Nov 3, 2013

God stories? :)

God's glory

Ezekiel 10:4 helps us to glimpse and understand God's glory: 

"Then the LORD's glory rose from above the winged creatures and moved toward the temple's threshold. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the courtyard was filled with the brightness of the LORD's glory." 

The word translated here as "glory" is kabod in Hebrew. Curiously, this word is derived from a root with the basic meaning of "heavy." From this root came, among other things, a word meaning "rich." Speakers of ancient Hebrew would refer to a rich person as "heavy in wealth" much as we might say someone is loaded. A similar extension of the literal sense of kabod included being loaded with power, reputation, or honor.

It's from this use of the word that we get the meaning of glory. God's glory is God's weightiness in wonderful qualities such as might, beauty, goodness, justice, and honor. When it comes to these characteristics and so many others, God has them in superabundance.

God's glory is solid and substantial. It isn't mere reputation. It isn't dependent on anyone or anything else. God's glory reflects his essential nature.  Power and Love - Psalm 62:11-12

Source: Christ Centered facebook page

God's attention to skills

God's attention to skills.  Let's look at His command:

Exodus 25

Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

All skilful process that God requires from chapter 25 - 39

• 28:3, 6, 8, 15
• 31:3, 6
• 35:30-35
• 36

God cares about your skills, your talents, and He has called each one of us to serve according to our ability. I think this is why we serve in a music ministry.. we give Him all our skills and talents to worship Him, to create that 'tabernacle' where God's glory can be shown and create that space where people can come to worship Him and have personal encounterance with God.

Maz 22:4 - Engkau yang kudus yang bersemayan di atas puji-pujian orang Israel

And our objectives is to see God's glory revealed, relationship restored, true and personal encounterance, through praise and worship that impacted their life time!

Like in Exodus 40, for God's glory to come down and stay.

Exodus 40

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.

so, next week we'll talk about what is God's glory.

source: http://cdn.theresurgence.com/files/2011/10/06/Audition_Interview_Questions.pdf?1317943842

Purpose of our ministry

The purpose church & its ministry: to reconcile to God and others.

2 Cor 5

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here!18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation

In music ministry - are we bringing that ?

How are you doing relationally? with God and with others?

Restore me the joy of your salvation

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.


Restore me the joy of your salvation

It's not my salvation, it's God's

Yes life can hit us, and sometimes hit us hard.
Disaster, tragedy, people come and go, death and birth

david's prayer:
- pure heart, motivation, whatever happens
- steadfast, unwavering, stable, tak tergoyahkan.. he knows issue/problem will hit
- joy - not happiness, it's God's not earthly
- your salvation - reason of joy, not our own salvation, but His. only by accepting Jesus and following Him.

Questions:
how's your relationship with God?
what motivates you to serve?

God's Kingdom parable

Hi guys,  how are you doing?

Just want to share a bit of what I got when reading this passage. Before hand, on Mat 6, Jesus said do not worry so many times, and in the middle he said: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well". 

So what does he mean by His Kingdom or Kingdom of Heaven? In later chapter, 13, He explained it all with parables.

- a man who sowed good seed in his field/the parable of the weeds

- a mustard seed

- a yeast that got mixed 

- treasure hidden in field

- fine pearl

- net caught all kinds of fish

What I find interesting is, he explains couple of His parables! huh, very rare of him to explain parables, hehe, but nonetheless, he did explain about the parable of the sower and the parable of the weeds. 

And then, on verse 29 & 30, interestingly, it seems like Jesus 'let' the weeds grew altogether with the wheat (good seeds)... in here Jesus said let the evil grow, let every bad things happen, for it already rooted together with the wheat!  I guess that's why we see so many bad things happen, brokenness here and there, and this is where we're growing, along with the weeds!  

But do not worry, in the end, God himself will separate the weeds from the wheat! That's where grace comes in and separate us! Once we belong to Christ, nothing can separate us (Romans 8:35), we're the wheat and He himself will pick us up and separate us, and in the end God's barn sounds so much better than fiery furnace (Mat 13: 42-43) 

:)

Keep up your daily bible reading! and Have a blessed day!

Unity and persistence

Luk 5:17-20 / Mark 2:2-4

Men came to carry a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him to Jesus, too full, must be crazy full otherwise they wouldn't go to the roof, they lowered a mat through the roof ..

Paralytic man - his friend? family? we don't know, but someone that they care enough to climb up and digging through the roof. 

The house - they couldn't find a way because of the crowd.. like really full, no other way.

Imagine, 4 people - with a paralytic man in a mat.. carried them over to the roof, and digging through the roof, made an opening (well, do you think they prepare before hand? ) they must quickly gather tools and stuff to make hole..  and even rope, to lower it? 

And then God rewarded their persistence, and faith of these 4 people  -  and the man was healed.

We're like those 4 people that carried the mat.. we're a tool, we have faith, and persistence. Sometimes we don't get the reward, but what we did make a difference... not just in someone's life, in this 'paralysed' person life, but other people that witness it, even for the Pharisee life, stirred up something.. offensive faith!

We're musician, singers, multimedia, we have to give our best, we do make a difference, we have faith, know that Jesus can heal, restore, and we need to persist. As Pastor Gagan mentioned, we are the mediator, we re-focusing people and congregation attention to God himself, we all are the servant of God and our music ministry serve as a 'bridge'. That's our goal, as a music team! we need to work together, not 1, 2 but 4 people! 

and in the end: verse 26: Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. 

Keselamatan merupakan rencana agung Allah

Acts 2: 14-41

Salvation is planned by God, far before Jesus was born, God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that salvation will comes from His chosen nations, Israelites and his descendants
- Moses (Exodus: 2:24- 3:22)
- Joshua
- Judges
- 2 Sam 7:12-13
- Psalm 132:11

Fulfillment of the prophecy
- Daud - Maz 16:8-11
- Joel - 2:28-32
- Isaiah - 52-53


1. Allah telah menetapkan Yesus untuk mati dan bangkit kembali

Men have been trying to fail God's plan, to steer off.. however only to find out that they're actually fulfilling His bigger plan and prophecy. 

Example: Joseph, Job, Noah, Jude

? Why Jesus has to die ?

Mat 26:26-28 - Yesus mati untuk menyelesaikan masalah dosa
Isaiah 53:4-6 - Yesus mati untuk menanggung dosa kita
Roma 3:23 - kehilangan kemuliaan

? What is sin ? 

It is whatever separates us from God and others. Sin has a way to slowly killing ourselves, our soul, our body.. it hurts our relationship to God and others.

? Why Jesus has to be risen ?

Rom 6: 3-4  -  new life
1 Tim 2: 3-4 - knowledge of truth - man & God
Col 2:6-7 - continue lives in Him

What is the salvation? - It's God's unconditional love to save us, to forgive us.. It's receiving His gifts of forgiveness from sin and grace to empower us to love God and others

2. What shall we do? Response

- Hear the word of God
- Repent 
Rom 10:9-10
1 John 1:9

- and be baptised

...for the forgiveness of your sins and receive gift of Holy Spirit - Acts 2:38

...And live up the new way. 2 Cor 5:15-18

 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

source: pastor Gagan sermon