The Lamb of God Chronicle July 2017 Issue

Transcription

1 The Lamb of God Chronicle July 2017 Issue The Lamb of God Community PO Box Christchurch 8640 Phone [04] Mobile Website: INDEX TO CONTENTS Reflections Page 1-2 News & Articles Page 2-5 Challenges Page 8 Kairos NZ News Page 9 Web Sites Page 9 Members/Info/Records Page 10 Birthdays/Anniversaries Page National Prayer Watch Page REFLECTIONS - Sailing Against The Tide As I write this reflection, many in the country have been captured by the America s Cup. Sailing against the tide therefore initially seemed a good analogy of the Christian living in NZ at the moment. But given the lack of water the Team Emirates boat sails in once on its foils, I suspect tides have little impact. Certainly, this is quite different for the swimmer attempting a Cook Strait crossing where progress can be minimal or stalled and the outcome placed in jeopardy by the tides. Hold that thought! This month we had a ground-breaking event in the Lamb of God. Dave Hughes, at the request of our Auckland branch, gave a webinar to their Pastoral Leaders (a teaching live online). Dave focussed on 2 Corinthians 4, and it was a blessing as he encouraged folk in serving God s people. One of the thoughts I was left with was the need to be focussed not on the work of the Lord, but rather the Lord of the work. I have found this really helpful! Whether it is evangelism or pastoral work or just living in a country which is moving away from God s ways focussing on the Lord of the work is really important. I found that the exhortation to Timothy proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable is on my mind as one where we have to push forward whatever the conditions are. However, I found the 2 Corinthians 4 passage of: But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us very encouraging. (Although it turns to the need to die to myself and allow God to work more.) Interestingly during May, Tom Caballes quoted 2 Corinthians 4 in a word at the Wellington gathering. He went on to say: The Lord is saying to us today, not to lose our focus on Him. Sometimes we are down with trials and problems. But remember to have a long

2 2 term vision for your life. Remember your reward. These afflictions or troubles we are experiencing in life are only temporary because one day God will reward us. Back to the swimmer and the boat with the foils. Perhaps the most important thing when dealing with tides is to be on the boat with the team. Indeed the boat is where it is at! Now should I mention that tides produce currents I ll let Mhel speak more about this. God bless, Mark C OUR PEOPLE With sadness, yet confidence in the Lord, we remember: Iris and Alfred Saldanha [Auckland], as Iris mum passed away on 19 May. NEWS AND ARTICLES MHEL S SHARING IWC 2017 Kirsten Challies [Christchurch], Rina D Souza [Auckland], and I attended a five-day conference for the International Women s Conference [IWC] of the Sword of the Spirit [SOS] in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The title of our conference was Be Strong in the Lord and in His Mighty Power. I was also able to visit brothers and sisters from two communities one in New Jersey, and the other one in Toronto, Canada. Mhel, Rina, and Kirsten during IWC 2017 The IWC conference in Minnesota was a product of a meeting that occurred two years ago of the senior leaders of the Sword of the Spirit. Some of what we discussed was also given during the International Coordinators Meeting in Michigan last year. In that meeting, the leaders discussed the five currents affecting all of us today: 1. The Me Current what is good for me is the most important thing in the world. 2. The Gender current the confusion over the nature and purpose of human sexuality in the modern society. 3. There is no God current; permissiveness no more rules and morals; everything is allowed; no authority; everything is negotiable. Everything is permitted. 4. There is no truth current; relativism so many truths in this age, but no real one. 5. The virtual reality current especially for our young people, the tendency to live out their lives with little or no real human contact or experience. These currents are strong, and our brothers and sisters in the community, especially the young people, are not exempt from being swayed by these currents. Although the currents are alarming, the Lord has spoken to us about these many years ago. There were prophecies given to the Sword of the Spirit:

3 3 Sorrow upon sorrow, agony, sickness of heart will be your companion in the days ahead. The storm is rising; the clouds gather ready to pour out a storm. When people disregard my teaching, darkness is upon them. [1975] Ralph Martin You are a nation at war, and there is no escaping the battle that is to come, they will touch every one of you, they will engulf you whether you acknowledge my word or hide from it. I have given you a warning, and I warn you again. The call to war has gone out, and it is irrevocable. Train your people for war and battle, hardship and difficulty. Prepare them for what will inevitably overtake them in the days ahead. [1976] The days of darkness is upon us now. The prophecies given to us many years ago is for this age and generation. This is what the Sword of the Spirit believe, that we are facing the days of darkness now in the form of the five currents as mentioned. So we need to be mission-ready to share the gospel of Christ in this time and age. What shall we do? Be Awake be aware that these things are happening in the world right now; we should not close our eyes nor be indifferent about them. There is something wrong in our world right now. We need to be aware of what is happening. Be Alert we need to be vigilant; this is the time for spiritual warfare. We should all stand up and do spiritual warfare. Our enemy is not of flesh and blood, but of the spirits. We need to know our enemy and be alert when he attacks. We should always be armed with God s word. We should not sleep nor slumber, for our enemy is just waiting for the gap. If we don t watch out for those gaps, we will fall into Satan s trap. Be alert, be vigilant, and be ready for war. But not be Alarmed as Bruce Yocum said, we do not need to be alarmed. God has trained us; everything that we have learned our teachings and foundation courses we received, even our conversion were in preparation for the days like these. Don t be alarmed, as we have the Spirit of God in us to discern and provide wisdom. Dan Keating, in his talk, said that we should be ready for the mission. Instead of panicking as a response, we should be spreading the gospel of Christ instead. We do not need to be a good evangelist; we only need to be ready at the opportune moment. We should not be afraid of what is to come. Why? God has formed us, God is with us, and we have won the war. God has won the war. It does not matter if there is darkness ahead of us because, at the end of the day, the battle has been won by God. All we need to do is to stand up against the currents and act in victory. Finally, we are called to give thanks to God, always. We need to have an attitude of gratitude always, not sometimes, not when we feel like it, not just when all are well, but always. This attitude will cast away any misery. Each of us was blessed at our final prayer meeting where we were given an opportunity to be prayed over. During the prayer meeting, one of the sisters shared an image to us [on the left]. It spoke a lot to me. As I looked at this image of Jesus carrying a child upon His shoulder, and what seems to be water under His feet, I am encouraged that God carries us so that the currents in our society will not knock us down. Our God is

4 4 stronger and bigger than the currents in our lives. We need to have faith, that He who began a good work in us will be able to complete it. Mhel Caballes Lamb of God Senior Woman Leader AUCKLAND BRANCH NEWS Life in the Spirit Seminar (YCP): The Life in the Spirit Seminar was held over a weekend for the YCP [Young Christian Professionals] from the evening of 26th May to the afternoon of 28th May 2017 at Mangawhai. Twentytwo young adults of the YCP along with Carol and Christopher Fernandez and three speakers from the Philippines Mon Samson, Abyong Calo, and Sheba Duque. Sheba is currently studying in Dunedin for her masters. The weekend comprised of several enriching praise and worship sessions and talks led/conducted by few of the YCP youth and the three speakers. The main focus of these spiritfilled sessions was on growing in a deeper relationship with God, building faith and commitment while being rooted in the Spirit. Each of these sessions concluded with smaller group sharings and testimonies. There was also a time of ministering, and we were blessed to have Patrick and Michelle Amaral assist us during this time. By the end of the Life in the Spirit Seminar, we had many participants who came forward and gave their testimonies and shared how this weekend had touched them and specific areas of their lives and how this is just the beginning towards growing in faith and commitment towards the Lord. This weekend was an opportunity for all of us YCP members to take a break from our otherwise busy lives and to come together in the Lord s presence and reflect on our lives and our relationship with God. It was a time of prayer, reflection and fellowship and it wouldn t have been a success without the people who put in so much effort to make it possible. God bless us all. Orlene DCunha Rest Home Outreach: Go. Do not be afraid. Serve. As part of our outreach for this year, John and Dora s pastoral group have planned monthly visits to the Glenburn Rest Home in Avondale, Auckland. It is great to see the

5 5 young and the not so young members get together to spread the joy of the Lord and the message of hope. We are told that these visits are well received with the Rest Home residents looking forward to them. Cynaika D Costa, one of our young members, writes about her experience of the visit made by the group: When I received the news that our pastoral group was going to be visiting the Glenburn Rest home, I had all these different stereotypes of what I thought a rest home would look like. I really didn t know what to expect! While moving down towards the Manukau Room (where we were planning to entertain), I started to notice the rooms, kitchen and tables all set up. It was then that I realised that the Glenburn rest home was just like a home, but there was something missing, something that every home should hold within it. Joy. That s why we were there, to spread joy, and bring love. Starting conversations with them was easy, and almost everyone was tapping and moving to the upbeat music, some even got up to dance with us. We also decided to add in a little hand jive and watching them participate and smile, filled all our John Tham hearts with happiness and encouraged us to keep coming up with new ways to get them involved. We jogged their memories to a fun quiz on nursery rhymes. It was great to see how almost all of them remembered some that even I had forgotten. Coming out of the home I turned around and took one last glance at the seniors, each one of them wore a smile brighter than the other. The time passed like a breeze, and soon we were driving back home to our everyday lives, and we were all enriched by this special experience. Can t wait to go back there again with new ideas, our best smiles and the love of Christ. Cynaika D Costa CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH NEWS HONOURING A SPECIAL LADY The last General Gathering of the Christchurch Branch in May included a time of honouring MARY ANNGOW to celebrate her 90th birthday. Mary s husband, Ted (deceased) was one of the earliest Lamb of God members, but she joined the community later on. She was a very active member for some years, and at present regularly attends the Elliott Member Group. A good number spoke to honour Mary for her deep faith, prayerfulness, and commitment over the years. She has been a dedicated mother to 16 children, and now her grandchildren. It is evident she loves her family! Mary continues to attend Mass at St Francis of Assisi parish in Mairehau and is active in the Catholic Women s League.

6 6 The branch thanked Mary for her service, and the branch celebrated with a shared afternoon tea. She is pictured with a bouquet and a group of happy young folks! Blessings, Mary. HONOURING A SPECIAL COUPLE The well attended Christchurch branch General Gathering on 11th June included a time of honouring Philip and Alison Middlemiss on the occasion of their 50th year of married life together. They lived in the Burwood Cluster for years, but have moved to Picton. They have established themselves well and enjoying life in their new location. Many expressed appreciation for their leadership, prayerfulness and exercise of spiritual gifts, all a blessing to us! We were truly pleased to have some members of the Ashburton Group join us in the celebrations. Thanks for coming! Afternoon tea followed. Three Couples Make an Underway Commitment Wellington Branch On the 27 th of May, three couples from the Wellington branch made their underway commitment to the community. The couples are Chris and Liza Blanch, Jojo and Ella Jalandoni, and Howell and Sheen Tungol. The evening started with a Lord s Day celebration; brothers and sisters brought great food to share for dinner and dessert. Afterwards, the commitment ceremony ensued, and each of the couples was asked to share their journey towards making the underway commitment. It was inspiring to hear their sharings, knowing that God works in different ways and circumstances. Chris and Liza Blanch Jojo and Ella Jalandoni Sheen and Howell Tungol

7 7

8 CHALLENGES IN LIVING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY Resource for House Group Discussion by Tom Caballes The Cost and The Fruit of Forgiveness - July "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. [Matthew 18:21B-22 ESV] We are a sinful people, and we hurt each other with or without intent, especially those close to us; that is why God wants us to forgive and reconcile with one another. But it is extremely difficult to forgive. We need to get out of our comfort zone and talk with people if we have been offended. We need to give up our self-pity and pride. We need to give up our desire for justice and revenge. We need to release people from being unforgiven. It is just so easy to sweep the issues under the carpet - until one day it will just haunt us and burst unexpectedly. But if we forgive, we experience reconciliation, love, freedom, joy, and restoration of relationships. We release ourselves from the bondage of anger and resentment. We stop clinging to the past and live in the present. More importantly, we stop damaging ourselves. Are you willing to pay the cost of forgiving to enjoy its fruits? It is well worth doing. So How Do You Forgive Others and Move On In Life? 1. Look at your past are there any backlog of unresolved anger or grudges against anyone, especially those close to you? It might involve people who have already passed away or those who you are not in contact with anymore. You need to look at the different stages of your life and see if you had any resentment against anyone. You need to release them from the heart and surrender them to God. Forgiveness is a decision, and you can forgive even if you do not feel like forgiving. 2. If the issues are with those who are close to you spouses, family, and close friends - you need to deal with the issues on hand. Ideally, you should ask them to ask forgiveness from you and then forgive them. If they make excuses and justify their side, you should still be ready to forgive them from the heart and release them from your anger or hatred. Ask God for the grace to forgive from the heart. 3. Look also at your life and see if you have hurt or offended anyone and ask forgiveness from those you have hurt. Do not justify or make excuses ask forgiveness to them. Accept responsibility and be humble. A true apology does not make excuses. Offer and make restitution if needed to reconcile fully with them. 4. Deal with the issues directly. Do not share to lots of people who can do nothing about it. The symptoms of anger and being hurt will go away slowly once the issues have been resolved. 5. Small hurts can build up and can explode one day. Try to deal with and diffuse those small hurts, so they do not build up. Practice forgiving and asking for forgiveness daily, especially with those close to you. 6. Forgiveness has the power to heal, but it may take time for the healing to complete. It is like a wound that needs time to mend. Forgiveness and healing can be a process. Be willing to last it out. 7. Talk with a trusted person if you need help and guidance in dealing with forgiveness. OTHER SCRIPTURE PASSAGES: 1. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. [1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV] 2. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. [Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV] 3. Other references: Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:26; 1 John 1:9 and James 5:16. FOR REFLECTION OR SHARING: How easy is it for you to forgive and ask for forgiveness? Are you convinced of its importance? Are you living a spiritually debt-free life? If not, what do you need to do about it?

9 SUMMIT 9 KAIROS NEW ZEALAND YOUTH NEWS Kairos New Zealand and Singles Schedule of Events / to 11 July Winter Oasis 2017 in Auckland [for high schoolers] 1 to 3 September Get Set 2017 in Auckland [for tertiary and singles] 7 to 11 January 2018 Summer Oasis 2018 [for high schoolers and up] WEBSITES WORTH NOTING KAIROS South Pacific Web Site check it out at You can network and chat with other young people by going to this website: We designated every Friday night at 10 pm as a time to meet other young people. Go and visit the International Kairos Media website: We updated our Lamb of God website We also have two new domain names which point to the same website: and Try them! The Sword of the Spirit website is This website is where we can know more what is happening in our communities around the globe. The Lamb of God is a community of the Sword of the Spirit. Sign up [free] for Youth Culture Newsletter The most recent edition of the Youth Culture Newsletter is now available online. Please visit the website below: This link is a recommended Sword of the Spirit publication for youth and parents. Living Bulwark Sword of the Spirit Highly Recommended! This Sword of the Spirit on-line publication has received more than 43,000 visits (an average of 135 visits each day) in its first year. All back issues for the past 12 months are available at To view the current issue of the online magazine, go to SENDING NEWS FOR CHRONICLE PUBLICATION Branches are encouraged to news, photos, happenings and snippets to Tom Caballes at office.lambofgodnz@gmail.com. We close on the 20 th of the previous month.

10 10 IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT OUR RECORDS Membership Records and Data: Branch leaders are responsible for keeping updated records and then ing all new attendee additions, deletions, address, phone changes, births, deaths, transfers, etc. to: Tom Caballes BIRTHDAY INFORMATION [Day and month, but the year is optional.] Branch leaders are asked to keep updated records and all new attendee additions to: Tom Caballes GETTING CHRONICLE & OTHER NEWS BY [1] If you are receiving The Chronicle as an electronic edition, we just need to hear if and when you change your address. Notify [2] If you are receiving this by hard copy but you have an address, please send your address to [3] The Chronicle has a national and international mailing schedule. If you want to add an address we can send the Chronicle, please notify office.lambofgodnz@gmail.com. Wedding Anniversaries - Happy Anniversary! NAMES DATE BRANCH July Robert & Ethel Caballes 01/07 Central Leslie & Simone D'Mello 10/07 Auckland Birthdays for This Month - Happy Birthday! NAMES BIRTHDAY BRANCH Ronnie D'Souza 01/07 Auckland Angela Fordham 01/07 Christchurch Henri Zalamea 04/07 Central Lucy Misquita 06/07 Auckland Analise Borkus 07/07 Christchurch Collin Sequeira 07/07 Auckland Brett Joslen 08/07 Christchurch Tim Kay 09/07 Christchurch Mikhail D'Souza 10/07 Auckland Jerome Caballes 10/07 Central Jonathan Challies 12/07 Christchurch Riza Gueco 12/07 Central

11 Rosana Kuresa 12/07 Auckland Joshua Vessaokar 13/07 Auckland Pat Twose 14/07 Blenheim Tony Borkus 15/07 Christchurch John MacManus 15/07 Southern Dorothy Fernandes 19/07 Auckland Julie Humphries 20/07 Christchurch Jacinta O'Neill 20/07 Blenheim Stephanie O'Neill 20/07 Blenheim Hazel Patrao 20/07 Auckland Sara Homes 21/07 Southern Patrick Lim 21/07 Auckland Felicity Lyons 21/07 Christchurch Helen McKenzie 24/07 Christchurch Nui O'Malley 24/07 Central David Black 27/07 Christchurch Ambrose Challies 27/07 Auckland Jacinta Dalgado 28/07 Auckland Janet MacManus 31/07 Southern 11 PRAYERWATCH SOLDIERS OF CHRIST, ARISE Fight the good fight. Reinforce the guard, station the watchmen, prepare an ambush! The Lord will carry out his purpose, Jeremiah 51: 12 NIV SOLDIERS OF CHRIST - SERVICE The final attribute of a good soldier is Service, something that society does not see as important unless it is to serve our own pleasure. In the dictionary, service or serve has many meanings such as, to render or be of service to a person, cause, etc., to help, to serve customers or guests, an act of help or assistance and can be used in many other ways. As married couple s we need to have an attitude of service to each other all the time instead of wanting to be served. Once children come along our service in our marriage will change as the children become a priority, and with younger children, we will spend more time in serving them. When the children are older, we need to train them to have an attitude of service and to be able to first serve the family initially, then to others outside the family and finally to serve in their own marriage and family. Our work life is about service as we serve our employer, our fellow workers, customers whether we deal with them personally or are part of the service provided. Do we just do our role or do we help fellow workers to accomplish their tasks at times by being members of a team, do we go the extra mile as Jesus suggested? As motorists, are we aware of what is happening around and prepared to serve fellow motorists, or are we a road hog, who will pass and push in to get further up the road? In God s army, we are called to serve, not to lord it over one another. Jesus tells us how to be great in Mark 10: NIV Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

12 Jesus time on earth certainly challenges us as we apply to our lives the example he set to his disciples and the Jewish people which ultimately led to his death for each one of us. Jesus also showed us that God s ways are different as we read in Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As servants of the living God, we need to realise that prayer does not put God on our side but it should put us on God s side. We need to see things from God s perspective, so our prayers are really His prayer. A supporter once said to Abraham Lincoln: I hope God is on our side ; to which Lincoln replied: My great concern is that I am on God s side! We need to choose to be on God s side, something we will find humbling, costly, but infinitely, eternally worthwhile. Soldiers of Christ Arise and put on your armour, strong in the strength which God supplies, through His eternal Son. If you have any comments or questions concerning the Prayerwatch, then please send them to me or give them to one of your branch leaders to send to me. God bless and watch over you all. Alan McKenzie - National Coordinator, Prayerwatch 12 LAMB OF GOD PRAYERWATCH - PRAYER INTENTIONS SPIRITUAL WARFARE Against strongholds of Apathy, Witchcraft, Confusion and other named spirits. INTERCESSORY PRAYER COMMUNITIES Protect and bless the life and mission of SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, Patmos & Cornerstone Lamb of God [Fiji], Families for Christ [Melbourne], Vanuatu Group, Light of Christ [Nelson], The Covenanted Community For Christ, [Penang & Taiping], FAMILY Auckland: Yvonne D'Souza, Ashlyn & Felecia Fernandes, Central: Jun & Angie Briguera, Henri & Cutie Zalamea, Robert & Ethel Caballes, Tom & Mhel Caballes, Peter & Stephanie O Connell, Blenheim: Mark & Mary Jackson, Mike & Cheryl Garrett, Christchurch: Roger & Veronica Foley, Robert & Karin Van Doorn, Darren & Julie Humphries, Tai & De Stirling, Niul Kay, Lyn Keane, Pauline Marsden, John & Monica Haughey, Annette Sargisson, Chris & Maureen Lyons, Ian & Pārbati Hamilton, Trevor Wall, Joan Corbett,Southern: John & Janet MacManus, Mike & Judy Prendeville, OTHER NEEDS Auckland: Clifton & Anora D'Costa, Southern: Florence & Susan Quigley,

13 HEALING CANCER 13 Central: Ron Blackwell, Rosemarie Buladaco, Blenheim: Carol Cullimore, David Aberhart, Christchurch: Mary Anngow, Robin Corbett, Trevor Wall, Southern: Christine May, HEALING HEART Auckland: Collin Sequeira, Maryanne Hall, Central: Paul Oliver, Blenheim: Chris Fredericks, Philip Middlemiss, Christchurch: Dorelle Ham, Undine Cavanagh, Niul Kay, Andre a Forster, HEALING Auckland: Winona D'Costa, Mira D'Souza, Peter D'Souza, Maria dos Anjos D'Souza, Thomas Hong, Vimath Sequeira, Alwin D Souza, Joan Lobo, Alfred Saldanha, Shalini Saldanha, Allan D Souza, Simone D'Mello, Karyn Coutinho, Cheryl Lobo, Harry Lowe, Central: Stephanie O Connell, Jacob Muollo, Henri Zalamea, Aly Fernandes, Jojo and Ellamae Jalandoni, Cutie Zalamea, Blenheim: Peter Greig, Josiah Grieg, Grace Weston, Mike Garrett, Anita Fredericks, Judith Rodgers, Barbara Ryan, Jamie Rodgers, Micah Rodgers, Chris Fredericks, Christchurch: Lisa Borkus, Karin Van Doorn, Chris Aston Grieve, Veronica Foley, Siobhan Forster, Bernie Black, John Murray, Chris Lyons, Monica Haughey, Bronwyn Harborne, Pauline Marsden, Ian Hamilton, David Black, Fr John Rea, Southern: Fr Merv McGettigan, Daniel MacManus, Steven & Judy Homes & Family, Rhoda Woodfield, Alan McKenzie, Judy Prendeville, Richard May, Others: Julianne Masilomani, John Keating, BEREAVEMENT Auckland: Iris & Alfred Saldanha, Blenheim: Philip & Alison Middlemiss, Chris & Anita Fredericks & family, COVERING PRAYER National Council, Kairos Ministries, Branch Life, Lamb of God Centre, Branch Visits, Clustering in Auckland, Ministry of Fr John Rea, Employment of Members, Light of Christ Special Ministry, Wellington branch [sickness among extended family], and the Ashburton Group in Christchurch. I have made you a Watchman Ezekiel 33: 7