Pleasant Easter surprise.

In her younger days, my wife used to make hot cross buns for Easter. In recent years when we lived at Upper Bukit Timah we used to buy some each year from the nearby supermarket Cold Storage. Yes, hot cross buns for Easter and minced pie for Christmas - a tradition we observe.

Last year when we moved to Changi, we did not know where to buy hot cross buns. We mentioned this to someone who quickly got us some. We were indeed grateful to  two friends who got us the buns.

God knows the desires of our heart. On Good Friday, after the meeting, Major Pascoe handed me a parcel and in it were four hot cross buns! This came from our very good friend, Susan Lim Miang Cherng who is now staying at the Assissi Hospice. She knows her days on earth are numbered and she will see the Lord face to face in Heaven soon. In her condition she still thought of us and made arrangements to ensure we had hot cross buns for Easter. How touching!

We are reminded of the incident recorded in 2 Samuel 23: 13-17. King David was taking refuge in a cave and in a moment of weariness, expressed his longing for water from Bethlehem. Three of his very  loyal mighty men, at great risk to their lives made their way to the well at Bethlehem now under enemy control to get the water for David. He was so touched, he could not drink it but poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

We felt like David, but did not do as he did. We kept it for Easter morning and as we ate the buns, thought and prayed for the many relatives and friends who have blessed us like Susan. Yes, we have them all over the world.

Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday morning. We were up early and attended the Sunrise Service at 6.30 a.m. held outside the corps (church) building.

This was followed by the fellowship breakfast for the folk who came. Then a film was shown.

I was asked to give the Easter message at this meeting and my wife read the Scripture. I based my sermon 1 Corinthians 15 - a whole chapter devoted to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 


Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, John 11: 25   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3

The Lord is risen. Hallelujah

The Old Rugged Cross

Alone the Saviour prayed in Gethsemane

Jesus took three of His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. They were to be His praying companions. But they were too tired to concentrate and fell asleep. Twice He had to wake them, after that He left them and went alone to pray.

A song writer has beautifully described the scene in the garden.

It was alone the Saviour prayed 
    In dark Gethsemane.
Alone He drained the bitter cup
    And suffered there for me.
Alone, alone, He bore it all alone;
   He gave Himself to save His own.
He suffered, bled and died alone. Ben H Price

Jesus had to bear the impending cross alone. The mission to save the world rested on Him alone.

Alone in the Garden of Gethsemane, He made that final submission - "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42

The Last Supper - the Missing cup

During Holy week, my thoughts turn to the events leading to Calvary where our Lord was crucified on the cross. One of the scenes that came to my mind was the Last Supper. I turned once again to Leonardo DaVinci's painting of the event.

The artist worked painstakingly for a period of three years to complete the painting. In the picture the disciples were on either side of Jesus; on each side two groups of three. The arms of Jesus were stretched out and in His right hand He was holding the cup.

He invited a good friend to view his painting and give his honest opinion. This friend was very impressed and mentioned specially about the cup in Jesus's hand. "That cup is so real, I simply cannot keep my eyes off it."

DaVinci immediately took his brush and drew it across the sparkling cup. He did not want anything or anyone to detract attention from Jesus. He must be the main character and remain preeminent. He said to his friend, "If the cup affects you in that way, it must nor remain, nothing shall distract attention from the figure of Christ."

Years rolled on, people still admire the painting by Leonardo DaVinci - Jesus and His disciples but on the table there is no cup.

^"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2) (NASB)

Paul writing to the Colossian believers sail, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3)

I love the song written by Helen H Lemmuel many years ago. It is still my prayer and share it with you.

 O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free! 

 

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
 

Family get together

My family comprising my father, mother plus a girl and three boys grew up in poverty. They have all gone to be with the Lord. The last one to leave this world was my younger brother who left us on 5th January 2009. All of them died in their seventies, in fact my elder brother passed away at the age of 55 a week after my wife and I were appointed to take charge of The Salvation Army in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He had a stroke and was in a wheelchair for five years.We could not come home for the funeral as we were being welcomed in Hong Kong.

None in my family reached the age of 80 and here I am coming to almost 84, still alive. Well, I come to the conclusion there is still work to be done and I've not completed by task yet. 

Last Saturday, my sister-in-law Agnes and her only daughter visited us and took us out for lunch. What a lovely time we had as we reminisced, recalling the past. Adeline and her family decided to move in and look after her Mum and when the latter suggested she would like to see us, the daughter quickly made arrangement for us to meet.

What a great time of fellowship we had. When we were overseas for the last 15 years in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and London this younger brother always made it a point to visit our special daughter Dora Poh Chin. He became very good friends with the people in charge of the Home where Dora was at Upper Bukit Timah and gave good support.

In retirement, he volunteered to help out at Gracehaven.

God has been good to us and our family. We thank God for family and friends who have blessed us.

"Families and friends form some of the closest of bonds you will ever experience. It is almost impossible for you to lead a happy life without support from these important groups of people." Jeffrey Dawson, Boundaries: Line Between Right And Wrong 
 

Jesus and disciples sang

We are in the season of Lent - a 40-day period of fasting and prayer. It is the annual period of Christian observance that precedes Easter. The dates of Lent are defined by the date of Easter, which is a movable feast.

We hear sermons on Jesus praying, teaching, preaching, healing, but we do not normally hear of Jesus singing. Yet, the Bible states clearly that Jesus and his disciples after the Last Supper sang. "When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." Matthew 26:30  Mark 14:26.

The hymns or songs would be the Psalms 113-118 - psalms of joy, praise, thanksgiving, of affirmation of faith in God's goodness.

Death was coming, the hour was near. Soon He would be going to Gethsemane to pray and agonise. Soon He would be betrayed by one of His disciples; be arrested, tortured and crucified like a common criminal.

What about the disciples? They joined Jesus in the singing to praise God. Then they moved on to into the Mount of Olives.

Paul and Silas sang in Acts 16:25. 1 Corinthians 14:15 talks about singing with the spirit and singing with the mind. Hebrews 2:12 tells us about singing in the church. James 5:3 says to let the joyful sing, let the sorrowful pray "among you" (in church). Revelation 15:3 describes singing in heaven.

Move to 1913 and think of the sinking of the Titanic. The great ship struck an iceberg and as it was sinking the band started to play "Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee."  What an appropriate hymn for such a hour. The  strains of the music continued till they were silenced by the icy waters. Such courage could only be inspired by those who had hope in Christ.

Thank God death is not the end for the believer. There is Hope of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57New International Version (NIV)

 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ