Scientists Study Speaking in Tongues

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that there may be a neurological parallel...

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that there may be a neurological parallel between what worshipers believe about the speaking-in-tongues experience and what actually transpires in the brain, The New York Times reported.

Scientists took brain images from five healthy, active, churchgoing women as they were speaking in tongues and as they were singing. Comparing the two images, the researchers discovered that the women’s frontal lobes—the willful, thinking part of the brain—were quiet, as were the language centers, indicating something else was in control, the Times reported.

“The amazing thing was how the images supported people’s interpretation of what was happening,” said Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, the lead researcher and director of the university’s Center for Spirituality and the Mind. “The way they describe it, and what they believe, is that God is talking through them.”

Scans of people practicing meditation differed sharply. Newberg found that during meditation the frontal lobe was more active. The findings were published in the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.

Cameron Fisher/ Azusa Street Centennial

taken from Charisma Magazine;
posted by Steven Wong
Charisma Assembly Segamat

A Love Story

10th grade.

As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it.

After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and handed them to her. She said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

11th grade.

The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broke her heart. She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine.

After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Senior year.

The day before prom she walked to my locker. "My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did. Prom night, after everything was over, I was standing at her front door step! I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she doesn't think of me like that, and I know it.

Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Graduation Day

A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

A Few Years Later

Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another man. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn`t see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". She said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.


Funeral

Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read:

I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't >> know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! I wish I did too... I thought to my self, and I cried.

i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u
i love u

DONT WAIT CAUSE IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE TELL THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE THAT YOU LOVE THEM OR YOU WILL REGRET IT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!

posted by
John Lee

ADVANTAGES IN BELONGING TO A MOVEMENT OF CHURCHES

The following points were adapted from New Life Churches New Zealand:

ADVANTAGES IN BELONGING TO A MOVEMENT OF CHURCHES

# CO-OPERATION - working together with a national movement is of great advantage.

# COMPANIONSHIP - comradeship that is fostered keeps Pastors from isolation and independance.

# BEING PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER - this brings a sense of security for people in a local church.

# EXCHANGE OF MINISTRY - interaction creates wealth through access to a variety of gifts and experience.

# RESOURCES - distribution of a range of resources – book reviews, tapes, reccomendations etc.

# BALANCE AND OBJECTIVITY - by sharing with peers, balance comes through seeing different viewpoints.

# INTER-DEPENDENCE - inter-dependence is important, a much more mature state than independance.

# SYNERGY - by exchanging ideas and concepts, the corporate output becomes much more than the input.

# ENABLES LARGER PROJECTS - Churches with a common objective can join with others to achieve greater results.

# ACCOUNTABILITY - This brings responsibility and safety for leaders and people in a local church.

# PROTECTION FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH - As families need fathers for counsel, so does a church.

# A WORKABLE NATIONAL VEHICLE - it is easier to form relationships and work practically in a family of churches.

Posted by:
Steven Wong
Charisma Assembly Segamat

Beware of light thoughts of sin

At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least.

By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in the main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."

Reproduced from:
(C.H. Spurgeon, "Morning and Evening Devotions")


John

New cult reaching out via Internet.

A new cult which is based in Indonesia, is reaching out via the Internet to the neighboring countries.

Led by a 58 year-old single mother, who reportedly has a young son, the reports quoted the sect’s website as saying that its membership was growing and that its followers included politicians.

Cult founder Lia Aminuddin claimed that an angel came to her in 1997 and had trained and tested her to be “the savior”.

She also claimed to be God’s anointed judge to mete out punishment on disbelievers. The former gardener, who referred herself as “Lia Eden”, said recent natural calamities that had occurred were all forms of punishments from God against those who challenged the authenticity of the cults teachings.

The local vernacular newspapers reported on the cult’s website which showed various rituals performed by the followers. All of them were dressed in white robes while many, who had their heads shaved, wore white bands around their heads.

Jesus had warned about the rise of false prophets and false messiahs in the time just preceding his second coming.

He said in Matthew 24: 11; ‘Then many false prophets will rise and deceive many.

Paul also gave this prophecy when he wrote in 1 Timothy 4:1 ‘Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

The media also report on a certain president of a middle east country who is now actively promoting and preparing for their 'messiah' to arise from his country.

All these are happening and will continue to happen because these are the signs that will be manifested more and more until Jesus comes again.

Along with these signs are the other events politically, socially, and natural disasters that will continue to take place in greater frequencies and magnitude.

We are seeing all these but Jesus said that these are only like labor pains that must precede the birth of the baby. In other words, his coming is not yet but just as labor pains intensify in frequency and magnitude just before the birth, it would
also be so before Jesus returns to judge the world

John Lee

Thinking about Jesus

One of the prerequisites for being a servant of God is to think like a servant. This would be fine if it wasn't so impossible. We are all naturally wired to think only of ourselves.


Learning to give preference to others is one of the true marks of a Christian because it is so contrary to human nature. That's why desiring it comes from God, and doing it comes through the Holy Spirit.


Paul said of Timothy: “I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares for your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:20-21 NLT).


Hidden in these verses is the secret to making an attitude of servanthood become a part of your thinking. It starts with Jesus. When you fall in love with Jesus, you focus on Him and worship Him. As you do this, you find out about Him -- you get to know Him as you would a friend -- and soon you come to know what matters to Him, until finally, you start to realize that what matters to Him, matters to you. This is not just a factor of familiarity, either. There is a supernatural element at work here as well. What matters to Jesus connects with the Holy Spirit in you, and the Spirit answers from deep inside you to the call of truth.


Other people mattered deeply to Jesus. He could read their hurt and pain. Scripture says He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Well where did that grief and sorrow come from if it didn't come from the suffering of people around Him? In other words, He was bearing their grief and carrying their sorrow. Once a woman touched him in a desperate need to be healed, and He could feel the compassionate power go from Him even though He didn't see who touched Him in the press of the crowd. He was that sensitive to the needs of those around Him.


So if you're struggling with having a servant's heart, get closer to Jesus. Ask Him to help you see people through His eyes. Ask God to move your heart with the same things that move the heart of Jesus, and then be ready to act on what you find out. And don't forget to keep falling in love with the life of Christ as recorded in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), because that is how you come to learn what moved Him.


By John Fisher.
Reproduced from Purpose Driven Life daily devotion

JL>

Passing Our Faith To Our Children

Today's culture shows the remarkable success of Satan in influencing the values of the world with all the TV programs and internet access into adults sites. The media has also been an influence and has been used to convince the values of people to a decadent level.

Advertisements in the media are all laced with lust and sensual suggestions. What about the behavior and dress culture of screen icons? There is a generous flaunting of the flesh which leaves nothing to the imagination.

It is a common sight to see our daughters coming to church wearing plunging necklines and also low hanging jeans or slacks. Satan has been most successful in convincing our sons and daughters that his ways lead to happiness and fun. That to be popular, they need to think, talk and act as modern culture tells them to.

The deception is also that there is no need to worry about tomorrow---that they should go for all the pleasure they can get today. That illicit sex is fun and everybody is (or should be) doing it. That drugs and alcohol are a wonderful escape. Satan has thus far been remarkably successful in his efforts.

How do we counteract this influence?

Parents must tell God's story to their children as soon as they are abale to grasp it. This is done by parents exposing their children to the Scriptures, sharing what God has done in their own lives and helping each child connect to God's love and His plan.

Each child is unique and have different talents, gifts, fears and desires. The challenge of a parent is to meet each child at his or her point of need and interest. We should help them to connect to God in the context of their individual emotional and intellectual make-up.

In embracing the way of God, a child will have to identify this way with his or her own personal circumstances and thinking. Our educational efforts as parents have to be tailored to the individual child. Parents should ask God in prayer to help them see the ways that they can make His existence and truth relevant to their children.

Making connections with your children's interests will help them connect to others who walk with God successfully. They can and should picture themselves as having the potential to be servants of God.

Parents must attempt to connect with their children by perceiving what is in their hearts their feelings and emotions, hopes and dreams and what they aspire to be. These can become the basis of discussion of how God and His truth can impact their lives. they will gradually learn that God is there as a friend and help. It needs to become very personal or else they will feel it doesn't apply to them.



John Lee

Iron Sharpens Iron

The ongoing flury of the inaugural East Asia Summit, the 11th Asean Summit and the Free Trade Agreements between countries in Kuala Lumpur demonstrate the paramount need for dialouge and fellowship among countries and parties to establish bonding, understanding, tolerance and mutual help towards each party.

The Malaysian Government also sent a team of officials to China recently to explain and apologise for the misunderstanding that arose from the unsavoury treatment of foreign nationals by the various government bureaus.

All these go to say that misunderstanding can be overcome through interaction and fellowship with all interested parties concerned. Be it on an international level, corporate level or personal level, kinks and difficulties can be ironed out amicably through face to face and heart to heart dialouge.

This principle is all the more so in the body of Christ.

We are all different members of the body of Christ. This covers individual members as well as corporate members and the natural law is that each member compliments the other. The body will function best if all members are in their prime and strength. If one member suffers, the whole body suffers. If one member is blessed the whole body is blessed.

The FGA Plus is a cluster of spiritual fruit bearing assemblies, we need to consciously complement and encourage each other and to interact closely so that sharpening can take place within the fellowship and all may improve and attain the cutting edge of the Holy Spirit ministry.

How do we sharpen each other?

Interaction may be on a face to face encounter but it can also be interacting on the internet through this blogpage. Good testimonies and programs can be posted and shared to encourage and build up each other. Teachings can also be posted, resources can be shared and the list goes on and on.

Let us therefore make full use of the technology that is available to do the sharpening. As iron sharpens iron so let each of us sharpen one another.

JL

Global Ethics

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF) in cooperation with Malaysia’s Education Ministry and the Global Ethic Foundation of Germany (GEF) met in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 6 .2005 for a special forum entitled “Teaching Common Values”.

Prof Dr Hans Kung, the president of GEF explains that Global Ethic is not a new religion or school of thought but is a common principle as old as mankind. The Global Ethic refers to as set of common moral values and ethical standards which are shared by the different faiths and cultures with a common set of values that also have secular appeal.

They are:

• Having respect for all life (or You shall not kill)
• Dealing with others honestly and fairly (or You shall not steal)
• Speaking and acting truthfully (or You shall not lie)
• Respecting and loving one another (or You shall not commit sexual immorality)

Underlying the Global Ethic is the Golden Rule which asks a person to treat others as he or she would like to be treated. (Do unto others what you would want others to do unto you) This Golden Rule is one of the oldest rules of human society. It is the basis of all other rules even though it is sometimes forgotten. Indigenous communities too had ethical standards even before they were discovered.

Prof Kung pointed out that the Global Ethic is not just theory. In practical terms, it is necessary in politics, business, science, education and culture. The importance of speaking and acting truthfully is especially glaring in the present day society. With globalization, there is a greater need for Global Ethic, especially when religions become more insular within political contexts which are hostile such as in the Middle East and Kashmir.

Taking a closer look at the value systems of the world, all values and laws are derivative of the 10 Commandments that God has given to Moses and the world. Before the commandments, there was no law in the world and all man did as he thinks right.

This is possible because of the conscience that God has given to each man for guiding him in his dealing with himself and with others. However, having said that, we must also realize that our conscience may be hardened by our lifestyle and therefore the values and standards of our conscience ruling our thoughts and intentions differ.

Some have developed hardened consciences and callous hearts which would not make them blink an eye for the atrocities and evil that they do sometimes even in the name of religion as we have seen in the acts of those perpetuating terrorism in the world.

These perpetuators have become the law to themselves as we see the brutal killings in some countries where crime has been committed in the name of holy wars. Innocent women and children have been killed mercilessly all in the name of god.

But God had never perpetuated killing, in fact his commandments included ‘Thou shall not kill.’ Whether it’s killing, stealing, or any other crime, these have been condemned by God when he instituted the 10 commandments for all mankind. How then can any man justify that their evil deeds are in obedience and glorification of God?

World religious leaders and world political leaders must take a re-look at the value systems of whatever they are propagating and expanding.

With their zealous leadership in advancing their glorious plans, are they conforming to the true teachings of their religions and cultural ethics?

The world has now become a borderless global village. It is now possible to traverse the globe within hours and such propagators of their own values can import it from one country to another with such ease.

For the world to continue to exist in harmony and peace, the world societies and culture must make a return to the original laws and ethics declared by God. These are the very foundational values of society from the very beginning of mankind. Such values cannot be discarded as a cost for present day development.

Forgiving the offender

The church of Jesus Christ is a living entity.

Problems arise on a very regular consistency and leaders are being tested for their patience and love to know how to handle the crisis that occur in the Church.

Immorality in the present time has not abated but has increased in the global culture of liberalism. The newspaper today has an article on 'Women Chauvinism' which is now a new culture of liberated women who are young and seductive and calling the shorts for what they want. They like to flaunt their body assets and control the relationship between the men they choose.

This lifestyle ultimately also filter into the churches and displinary problems of sexaul immorality is rampant though most do not show through the surface. However, this is not a new phenomenon but was also rampant in the early church and the problem was so challenging that Paul had to write to the Church in Corinth on how to exercise discipline and restoration which in turn serves as our manual for church discipline.


1 Cor 5:1-5
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife.
2. And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from you.
3. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
The Corinthians were tolerating great sexual immorality in the church and Paul had to deliver this severe judgment and discipline.
Vs 5: Deliver such a one to Satan, implies church ostracism and a removal of God’s protective power, which allows Satan to work.

For example.

1 Tim 1:20; of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. This refers to ex-communication which is remedial and punitive for the church

Destruction of the flesh administer to the offender would bring about a spirit of humility and repentance.

However, this punishment must be retracted when the offender has repented.


2 Cor 2:5-11
5. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent---not to be too severe
6.This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man.
7. so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him t perhaps such a one be swallowed up by too much sorrow.
8. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him
9. For to this end I also wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
10. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ.
11. lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.The severe letter of 1 Corinthian achieved a degree of correction, the rebel who caused grief for the entire church to some extent had been repudiated.

Paul is ready to forgive and forgive the offender. To continue to punish him after he has repented would damage not only him but the church, because it would allow Satan to take advantage of the discord in the church.

John Lee

The Cutting Edge

Over the week we have just seen and celebrated the world conquering feat of Nicole David, the new “Ladies World Champion” for squash. The whole nation was so excited that finally we now have a ‘World Champion’ in our midst.

It was heart warming to even see the Prime Minister taking time off to give her a personal call and a personal letter of commendation for her towering achievement. We have seen her path to victory over the course of this year. She has been winning all the national open ladies squash tournaments throughout the world.

The most outstanding thing is that her journey was not one that was easy. In fact it spanned through a period of 17 hard years since the age of 5 years till today. It was her life journey on the quest to excellence. There is the need to make great sacrifices which we know little about. It was a journey of equipping and training, the need to know the basics, the grounding on techniques and the constant practices that honed her to be what she is today.

In the secular she is truly a conqueror. She has conquered and won all the battles on the squash courts in the world. She has also become an overcomer of all the challengers who came her way. She has truly fought her good fight and would need to continue fighting so as to remain as the world’s supreme in the Ladies Squash sport.

All these has pointed out to us that we the locals and Asians are not at all inferior to our western counterparts. We are capable to excel and become world champions and icons as well.

How does all this apply to us in the Church?

The church in Asia has come of age. The fact is that the churches in Asia are now the fastest growing and are also the mega Churches. We have also come a long way since the western missionaries came and evangelized the pagan world of Asia. Praise God for the gospel that was brought by our western missionary brothers. For without them, we would not have our salvation and we would not be where we are today.

The West is now looking back to us for directions. They are looking at the ways that we have planted churches, trained our people and sent out workers. They are also looking at our methods and success in rural and urban church planting.

The biggest churches are now in Asia where mega Churches are something that is normal. Throughout Asia, we see churches that have congregations of tens of thousands irrespective of whether the countries are rich economically or not. The move of God is on and it will not abate. The churches in Asia must take Asia for the Lord. The western face has now become irrelevant as we the Asian ministers have all become of age.

We cannot just remain as ‘coming of age’ but we need to move on to become champions for the Lord, nationally and globally. We need to become World Christians and World Churches. Just like Nicole needed to get grounded in the basics and then keep in continuous practice to be honed into a world champion, we the Christian ministers and Churches must also do the same.

The world is waiting for us to bring salvation to it. The westerners are no more effective because of the political, cultural and linguistic barriers. Our own Jerusalem and Samaria are crying out for the gospel. We need to get out of this grasshopper attitude and rise up to become World Champions for the LORD.

Rom 10:14; How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

John Lee

Guidelines for Posting

Guidelines for Posting:

1. If the article is too long or you already have the information on your own website, create a hyperlink in the article to it. (Especially for posting teaching materials, seminar details, mission trip details in your churches). If you don't have a website yet, then it is ok to post everything.

2. Put the name of the person, email address, church, telephone etc. at the end of the article so that those who wants further information can contact you.

3. If you have to publish something which is not categorized, please put it under the Miscellaneous or let me know so that I can open another category.

Keep in touch.

Regards and God Bless you all,
Blog coordinator
Steven Wong
Charisma Assembly Segamat