First Group Photo in 2009

Asia Conference 2008

19-23 November 2008

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Weekend Services with Rev. Dr. Ed Silvoso

W327 at JW Church - 19 Oct 2008W327 @ A Shot 2 Fame

Back to Basic

Saturday, 25 October 2008

Here are three foundational pillars City Harvest Church is built upon:

1) Great Commandment ( Matt 22: 36-40)
Loving God wholeheartedly and loving people fervently

2) Great Commission (Matt 28: 18-19)
Preaching the gospel all over the world through missions

3) Cultural Mandate (Matt 5: 13-16)
To be the salt of the Earth and the light of the world
'world' - kosmos means the way the society is being organized

Now, here are seven pillars of society:

1) Family
2) Religion
3) Business
4) Education
5) Government
6) Arts
7) Media

No 3 to 7 are what we call 'marketplace' where we can influence the society

Popular culture is where we can be of impact through our CREATIVITY
Here are the cultures, in order of impact:

1) Advertising
2) Celebrities
3) Music
4) Movies
5) Television
6) Fashion
7) Sports
8) Arts

We are, in fact, creative when we have liberty or freedom, and CREATIVITY REQUIRES RISK-TAKING!

However, being creative means to have knowledge. Therefore, innocence does not equal virtue. Virtue is innocence that is being tested, it is power or maturity, and maturity is the power that we have, to do the right things when faced with an option.

God wants us to be creative, to have freedom.. so, let's be!! =)

Inspirational Story

The Taxi driver

Story

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living.

When I arrived at 2:30 AM, the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away.

But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself.

So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a frail, elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suit case. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets and there were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

"It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated". "Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice. "

I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw that her eyes were glistening ....

"I don't have any family left," she continued.

"The doctor says I don't have very long ..."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.

It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse ...

"... Nothing," I said

"... You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light.

Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.

What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware -- wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

Lesson

People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said; but they will always remember how you made them feel.

SONship

summarized and simplified by Rayvin

Psalm 127:1
God wants to build your house, your family, your career.
God builds through people. Church is all about people rather than concrete building.

Psalm 127:3-5
God builds through the son of the house. God is a trans-generation God. God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God also builds, most importantly, through mature son.
"Children" in Hebrew means Sons, Builder of family name.

Romans 8:14
A part of maturity is being led by the spirit of God.

Heb 3:1-6
Moses was faithful, but God built His church through Jesus.
Because Moses was a servant. Jesus Christ is a son.
God can't build through a faithful servant, but a son.
It's important to be a servant. And God was not taking anything away from Moses.
But you can serve with a mentality as a slave, you can serve in fear, you can serve for selfish reasons.
Or you can serve God with a mentality of loving and confidence son.

How do you know then if someone is a biological child of a parent?
In modern day, we use DNA test, because a son carries the same genetic code DNA of the parents.
It's the same in the house and church, e.g: in CHC, we have our own style, we have our X-factor, the CHC-factor in your soul.
We are not saying that we are better than others. Every person is unique, every person have its own genetic code.
Every church is unique. So we can tell easily tell if someone is from CHC.
Because we have our own way of doing things, for simple things like the way CHC worships, the people's attitude, or even by the tongues.
From the way we honor his parents, our Pastor, our CGL.

Some people think it's a bad thing that a member resembles the pastor in the church as if they are brain-washed.
Like father like son. What is true in the natural is also true in the spiritual.
If you're a son of CHC, then you have to resemble the culture of CHC.
If you're not holding the value that your church holds, you are at best just a visitor/guest.
You can be staying in Singapore for very long but never be a Singaporean.
Singapore Ambassador cannot fight for you if you get into trouble in Singapore.

Phil 2:19-22
Timothy was a son.
Like-minded = same spirit = same style = same attitude = same mindset
It's easy to find a staff/a worker but very hard to groom a son.
A servant needs to be told what to do before he serves. e.g: domestic helper.
But a son does it out of his own willingness and love.


Timothy became a son by choice, by adoption.
Adoption is a two-way street. The parents can adopt a child, but at the same time, the child must also adopt the parents.
Timothy was prepared to do anything to serve the vision of Paul.

Being a son is not just about signing a membership form of a church, being water-baptized in the church.
But having the same genetic code and having the same purpose of the church in your life.

The house of God:
1. Place of Vision and Dream (Gen 12:7-8)
2. The Gate of heaven (Gen 13:1-4)
3. The Altar of God on Earth (Gen 28:10-19)