Renewal of Commitment

Commitment is the key to successful life. It is a driving force to achieve any goals we are targeting on. It is also the power to accomplish our dreams. When we started with commitments of new years’ resolutions, we have plenty of energies and enthusiasm to do our church activities. We have accomplished many tasks in the beginning of the year because of the freshness of our commitments. If we know it well and make continual commitment, we will definitely win many souls for Christ.

Like physical check up every year, we should have “Spiritual Check-Up” in our lives. It is important to check our spiritual health frequently in order to have a healthy Christian life. We must be healthy Christians, growing Christians, and serving Christians so that Christ will be magnified and glorified through our living testimonies. If we have diagnosed with any spiritual diseases, we much immediately seek healing from God otherwise we will unknowingly give bad impacts to the community.

The Lord wants us to serve people as His hands and feet in this world. The Lord sends us to the end of the world to preach the Gospel and to teach them to be His disciples. Read Joshua 24 and learn how the people of God renewed their commitments. With the challenge of Joshua, they repented and cut off all their sins, they chose God as their only Savior, and made new commitments together. If you have time, listen my message အသစ္တဖန္ဆက္ ကပ္ျခင္း based on Joshua 24 on this blog. Hope that your commitment will be renewed and come forward for His ministries.

I am sad.....

One of a Christian Bookstores near my place is having a discount sale up to 50% off regular price. It is good for customers but I am so sad that the store is closing at the end of this month. I asked the sale person and he said that more people are buying books on internet and their sale has declined. They have no other way except close the store.

I am so sad that Christian bookstores are closing, shrinking, and vanishing in our communities. When I was in Daly City, California, I used to go to Western Christian Bookstore closed to our house and I really enjoyed reading and buying books there. I was so sad that store closed and vanished. My family moved to Union City and found another huge Christian bookstore at Hayward with all kinds of Christian books and religious supplies. Many times I have purchased books, gifts, and music from there for myself and also for our church. I was so sad that store closed and vanished again.

I am a book lover since I was very young. Bookstores and library at Mogok, my hometown in Myanmar, knew me well as regular customer. My room turned as library with my favorite books. I was so sad that there was no Christian bookstore there. I prayed to God for having Christian bookstores for the hungry readers in the communities. It was like falling into treasurer chests when I came to USA and found Christian bookstores everywhere. I said WOW! And praise the Lord.

Now I am sad, one of another nearest Christian bookstore at Newark is closing on October 30 of this year. I am sad not for myself only, but for Christian community. Christian bookstores should be existed among us as Christian witness. I believe that they are not doing only for business but also doing great ministries to spread the word of God.

Berean Christian bookstore in San Jose, which is about half an hour drive from my home, is the largest Christian bookstore I have ever visited. I used to go there because I get 10% clergy discount. I am sad because the store is shrinking. I am sad to see empty shelves, reduced items, less books, and empty spaces. I also go to LifeWay Christian bookstore at Mills Valley where I get 20% clergy discount.

“Men are what they read,” was one of my favorite wisdom quotes and I am following it by choosing, purchasing and reading good books especially spiritual books It impact a lot on my life and also in my ministries. I am glad that there are many online Christian bookstores, audio books, video books, electronic book, books on applications, and so on. But I do not want Christian bookstores vanish from our communities. I am praying for all Christian bookstores to stand strong and continue to serve effective ministries of Jesus Christ. Remember it in your prayer if you are also a Christian books lover.

God is Working

When God works He goes all the way

Martin asked us to pray for his church congregation as they were looking into the possibility of building a church. Cost was a concern as they have only 40 members. Here is God’s answer to his request:

"When we moved here there was about six to ten people meeting o Sabbath at the Company Leaders house, currently we have about 30 - 40 people attending (Praise the Lord).

This presented us with a dilemma because after we moved out of the elders house even the place where we are now renting is now too small. We started to pray for another place where we could meet. We were looking for a larger place to rent but no luck. One day we found out that there was a local J.W. church for sale for $139,900. Our Church elder said that we should look into it, but with only $15,000 in the bank for a building fund it was impossible.

To make a long story short there was a miracle and we now own a church building DEBT FREE! The price was negotiated to $100,000 and there was a $50,000 donation promised to us if we could raise the other $50,000. Within two days $20,000 was contributed from the conference, $15,000 donation from one of our elderly member, and our $15,000 in the building fund made it there.

We were discussing at the business meeting that we still need to get a Piano. By the end of the meeting one of the members that was not present there called and donated $5,000, so now we will even have a Piano. When God works He goes all the way. " Martin, June 1999.

30th Anniversary Burmese Christian Family Camp

This is 30th anniversary celebration of Burmese Christian Family Camp. We will be gathering at beautiful "Silver Spur Christian Camp" at Toulumne, California from September 5 t 7. Members from eight churches and fellowship plus inviting special guests will be there. Here are speakers for this camp:

Rev. Dr. Latt Yishey (San Francisco)
Rev. Zauya Lahpai (San Jose)
Rev. Sammy Myo-Sett (Concord)
Rev. Harold Ho (Fremont)
Sayama Christine Ang (Fremont)
Dr. Garrick Law (San Francisco)
Dr. Victor Hui (San Francisco)
Dr. Jimmy Chao (San Jose)
Dr. Raymond Mu (Manteca)
Naw Bawk Lazum (San Francisco)

There will be Children program and youth program you can participate. They are very special. Also you will be experienced inspired and enjoyable evenings with many popular activities every night. Contact your pastor or leaders to join this year's camp.

Give of Your Best to the Master

We had sung this hymn, "Give of Your Best to the Master" countless of time since we were young. Almost every consecration service or youth camps of retreats, we used this hymn as dedication song. It encouraged and inspired throughout my life to use God-given talents for His ministries. I am so thankful to God for whenever I see young and talented Christians serving God with their talents and Spiritual gifts. I also admire and thanks to many Gospel songs composers who challenge young people to serve God in their songs with powerful lyrics. The lyrics and poet touch many people's hearts those who sing and hear the music.

The bible says, "Sing to the LORD, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the generations, His wonderful deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods."

(1 Chronicles 16:23-25). Mostly young people are talented in music, singing, and dancing. God has change the stuff of Moses to be a powerful tool to divide the sea into two; God used Paul's handkerchief to heal the sicks; and Jesus used a small meal of a kid and feed thousands of hungry followers. Still God is using many Christian music to convert many prodigal sons and daughter.

I always give thanks to God for many talented young people in our church who faithfully serving God with their musical talents. I believe God has given every church with dedicated musicians. Worship services and religious celebrations been always made alive because of inspirational music.

"AGAPE Music Band" of our church is planning to have another "Musical Concert" along with "Burmese Food Festival" this month. They will sing lots of praise songs, gospel songs, gospel rap, and also perform praise dance. Come and join us if you are at Bay Area that weekend.

Fanny Crosby's "Soul's Poem"

One of Fanny Crosby’s hymns, based on a combination of the thoughts in Ecclesiastes 12:6 and Revelation 22:4, 5 was so personal that for years she never let others see it. Professor Kenneth Osbeck says its revelation to the public came about this way.

“One day at a Bible conference in Northfield, Massachusetts, Miss Crosby was asked by Dwight L. Moody to give a personal testimony concerning her faith and Christian experience. At first she hesitated, then quietly rose and said, “There is one hymn I have written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem. Sometimes when I am troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings comfort to my heart.” She then recited while many wept, “Someday the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; but O the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story—saved by grace!” At the age of 25, Fanny Crosby’s wish that the face of Jesus would be the first she would ever see was realized.”

Frances Jane "Fanny" Crosby (1820-1915) was an American hymn writer and poetess, who wrote over 8,000 hymns during her life. One time a preacher sympathetically remarked, "I think it is a great pity that the Master did not give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you." She replied quickly, "Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?" "Why?" asked the surprised clergyman. "Because when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"

Gospel Music Show

(Click on the image for larger view)

"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Psalm 137:4). I was so sad to read this psalm that the people of God hanged their musical instruments on the willow trees and unable to sing the Lord's songs amidst the difficult situation in foreign land. Unable to sing or play instruments because of political oppression, unable to perform because of financial hardship, unable to praise God because they were away from their home country. So sad, they felt that they were away from the presence of the Living God.

How about you my friends, will you be kept quiet and not praising God amidst the storms of life? Do not feel that Living God is away from you. He is always with us, near us, caring us, guiding and blessing us with His presence. So, Join us on August 15, to sing, to shout, to praise, and to dance together at Little Theatre, Daly City. (Check on the flyer for detail information).