Let’s receive the best gift of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, by worshipping and serving Him…

Let’s join with the apostle Paul who said, …I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me… I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14, NLT

It is my prayer that as you walk faithfully with the Lord, that the year 2009 will be a blessed year for you, your family and your business (Deuteronomy 28).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PARTNERSHIP IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA MISSIONS.

ABRAHAM C. VISCA

Missionary to PNG

School of Bible and Theology Students 2008                

A Joyous Christmas

Love,
Chad, Renee & Nav

www.narrowroadpilgrim.com
www.ica-bangkok.org

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” (Proverbs 25:2 NIV)

I normally don’t skim through my files but recently I did because I need to clean up my computer. Among other things in there, I found this short message. I can’t recall how I got this, or where or when I used it before, but it really brings out an appropriate message for us this Christmastime. Some of us may remember a famous bumper sticker the message of which was as profound as it was simple: WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM.

I like this because it says at least two things. First, those who seek God are wise. God affirms the dignity of the searcher and the search. The fact that God has set it up this way – that He has concealed His matters and has invited us to search for him – confirms our nobility. It says we have enough smarts to look for Him and recognize Him when we find Him. In fact, the proverb above puts the searcher in the realm of kings. It’s a noble task to seek after God.

Second, those who seek God are given the benefit of the doubt, that if they seek Him, they will find Him. This is actually a promise in Scripture: “He rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) This is why those of us who already know Him don’t have to jump all over those who are still seeking Him when they get something wrong or don’t put it in exactly the right words. If they are truly seeking, they will find Him, and, ultimately, it will be God Who will open their eyes. We need to respect the search of those we know who are seeking and not get impatient with them or think of them as stupid for not seeing what we see. When it’s time, they will. (more…)

Here’s a photo during their last day of practice:

Service starts at 9 am. Everyone is invited. Come one, come all!

PRINCE OF PEACE: ICS’ Christmas Cantata Special ‘08

No I am not referring to a new ICS website. This is just to inform the whole ICS community that a new and revitalized Committee on Missions was recently re-organized last November 29, 2008, and will, henceforth, be known as ICS COM. The ICS leadership saw the need to have a central body to coordinate all activities relevant to the Missions Program of our church. ICS COM was therefore born to accomplish this great responsibility.

Pastor Jerry Balbuena appointed Bro. Jeff Castillo to organize the committee. Bro. Jeff, in turn, recommended to Ptr. Jerry the existing heads of the various ministries, as well as other members, to initially form the ICS COM. Here are the names of members: (more…)