Amazing Grace --- John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Kehendak yang Menghancurkan (1 Raja-raja 21)

Masih ingatkah kita akan kisah Raja Ahab. Salah seorang raja Israel yang begitu mementingkan kehendaknya walaupun hal itu menghancurkan orang lain. Keinginan untuk memiliki kebun anggur milik Nabot telah membuat dia melakukan hal yang diluar batas. Tanpa memperhatikan kedudukannya dan segala yang telah Tuhan lakukan bagi dirinya, raja Ahab menghalalkan segala cara untuk dapat melampiaskan apa yang dia ingini. Sehingga dengan menuruti perkataan istrinya maka dia berhasil menyingkirkan Nabot dan menjadi pemilik atas kebun angur tersebut. Namun demikian apakah hal ini berkenan dihadapan Tuhan. Tidak. Allah memandang dengan keji perbuatan yang telah dilakukan oleh Ahab beserta dengan istrinya. Kehendak yang tidak sesuai dengan Firman Tuhan membuahkan kehancuran bagi Ahab dan seluruh keluarganya. Allah menghukum Ahab demikian juga dengan istrinya oleh karena tindakan itu.
Dari kejadian tersebut, membawa kita kepada suatu pemahaman yang baru bahwa kehendak diri sendiri haruslah ditaklukan di bawah terang Firman Tuhan. Belajarlah dari kisah raja Ahab agar peristiwa yang menimpa Ahab tidak terjadi kepada kita. Amin

isa

First Day At School

First Day at School (15 July 2010)
Gloria Christian Elementary School

"Let God always be with us for this whole year."

First Persecution (Nero)

The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67

The first persecution of the Church took place in the year 67, under Nero, the sixth emperor of Rome. This monarch reigned for the space of five years, with tolerable credit to himself, but then gave way to the greatest extravagancy of temper, and to the most atrocious barbarities. Among other diabolical whims, he ordered that the city of Rome should be set on fire, which order was executed by his officers, guards, and servants. While the imperial city was in flames, he went up to the tower of Macaenas, played upon his harp, sung the song of the burning of Troy, and openly declared that 'he wished the ruin of all things before his death.' Besides the noble pile, called the Circus, many other palaces and houses were consumed; several thousands perished in the flames, were smothered in the smoke, or buried beneath the ruins.
This dreadful conflagration continued nine days; when Nero, finding that his conduct was greatly blamed, and a severe odium cast upon him, determined to lay the whole upon the Christians, at once to excuse himself, and have an opportunity of glutting his sight with new cruelties. This was the occasion of the first persecution; and the barbarities exercised on the Christians were such as even excited the commiseration of the Romans themselves. Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the Christians that the most infernal imagination could design. In particular, he had some sewed up in skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs until they expired; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate them. This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity. In the course of it, St. Paul and St. Peter were martyred.
To their names may be added, Erastus, chamberlain of Corinth; Aristarchus, the Macedonian, and Trophimus, an Ephesians, converted by St. Paul, and fellow-laborer with him, Joseph, commonly called Barsabas, and Ananias, bishop of Damascus; each of the Seventy.

Duty

A file that we can think about download here