Untangle – The Rose’s Story

I took the photo of the Rose blooms (left) at the church’s parking lot shed in February. After a month, I couldn’t see the Rose anymore. The Great Bindweed? has entangled and engulfed the Rose.

It is a beautiful illustration of how our lives can easily be entangled with sin and many things that will hinder us from living a real Christian life.

It’s not the end of Rose’s story. Somehow, the gardener or a group of gardeners will come and clear all the viny entanglements, maybe on a working bee day.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Faith-Assurance-Evidence Matrix

In my message last 26th February Sunday, on “Faith”, I came up with this matrix identifying the “assurance of things hope for” (Hope Assurance) and the “evidence of things unseen” (Unseen Evidence) of the faith definition examples in Hebrew 11.

In the last row of the table above, please provide your “Hope Assurance” and “Unseen Evidence” that you have experienced in your faith journey.

Sermon Series – Wisdom and Faith-Wisdom

Last 5th March Sunday, we started our series on “Wisdom”. Malcolm talked about “Wisdom, Faith, and Obeying God“. Continuing our wisdom sermon series, Tom will speak on 12th March Sunday.

On the following two Sundays (19th and 26th March), we will learn about “Faith-Wisdom” with Jonan preaching.

TEE “Abundant Life” Session – 12th March Sunday, 1:30 PM

We are going to tackle Lesson 3 of the “Abundant Life, the Life of Jesus In You” this Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM at the OBC Dining area.

TEE Group Leaders’ Training – 31 March to 1 April

Our church is hosting the Group Leaders’ Training on 31 March (7:00-9:00 PM) to 1 April (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

A registration fee of $50.00 per participant covers materials (Student Workbook, Group Leader’s Manual), snacks, and lunch.

Please pray about joining the training to learn how to facilitate Bible study groups.

We desire to sustain the growth that OBC is experiencing. Training leaders to lead discipleship groups is essential.

Let us pray for participants.

Weekly Reminders

• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM

Stops and Slow Downs

If you are a frequent traveller from Timaru to Oamaru or vice versa, you might have noticed the stretch of highway approaching the north end of Glenavy that has a deep rut.

The NZTA has identified it and put “Slow Down” signs for over a year. Then a month ago, the road repair started. Vehicle speed was limited to 30 Kph, and then vehicles had to queue as the passage was limited to one lane.

Driving to Oamaru last Thursday, I stopped at the road repair site as requested. The queue of passing vehicles was so long.

I didn’t mind the long wait, and it never made my patience run out because I knew they were repairing the highway for our safe driving benefits.

Later, I reflected that stops and slowdowns are needed in any life journey to make our trip better and more fruitful. They make us better travellers as well.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray (Proverbs 10:17)

TEE Group Leaders’ Training – 31 March to 1 April

The Group Leaders’ Training Poster is out!

The event will be held on 31 March (7:00-9:00 PM) to 1 April (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

A registration fee of $50.00 per participant covers materials (Student Workbook, Group Leader’s Manual), snacks, and lunch.

Please pray about joining the training to learn about facilitating a group for Bible study and other purposes.

I have shared this poster with the Oamaru Ministers group.

Let us pray for participants.

OBC Sings Original Music

“Saviour, Redeemer” by Tom Francis is one of our praise and worship lineup songs. Jewel introduced “Let Us Sing Praises” a couple of Sundays ago.

We hope and pray for more original songs to sing at OBC.

Weekly Reminders

• Prayer Meeting – Thursday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM
• Music Jam – Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM