Set Free

Here is another testimonial song for the purpose of evangelism:-

Set Free  
Psalm 146:7

Verse 1
I was trapped inside a tower
High above the ground
Surrounded by the echo of stone walls
I gazed out the open window
To that other world
Out of reach but still I heard it call

Verse 2
My gaze wandered onward further
To souls down below
All joined by a web of love & laughter
My lungs cried out to catch their attention
All efforts in vain to make a connection
The barrier between us was too high

Bridge
And as I lay asleep
In the stillness of the night
I felt a sudden rumble of the earth
The walls began to tremble
The doors flew open wide
The way the truth the life had come at last

Chorus 1
I’ve been set free
Free to Dance
Free to dance & prance
In open fields of green
I’ve been set free
Free to fly
Free to fly up high
Into that bright sunrise
I’ve been set free

Verse 3
I climbed a spiral staircase
Strived to reach the top
To please the special others in my life
Driven by a need for success
Exhausted but I could not relax
The final prize eluded me again

Chorus 2
I’ve been set free
Free to love
Free to care be kind connect
To those I hold dear
I’ve been set free
Free to rest
Free to rest relax rejoice
In what God has made
I’ve been set free

Chorus 1

Chorus 2

(c) Beverley Tang 2003

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1051446

All That I Am

Here is a testimonial song for the purposes of evangelism:-

All That I Am

Verse 1
Lived in a house that wasn’t a home
Thought all things were perfect but felt so all alone
Felt a discomfort that lingered in the air
You took me out to a safe place
Felt a special peace there that I could embrace
For the first time I could be myself

Verse 2
I realised I was broken & bound
Like an injured bird that had just been found
Tears flowed out like snow caps melting in the sun
Felt the emotions of anger and grief
Letting it all out was such a relief
My wounded spirit was slowly healing day by day

Bridge
Like a skilled craftsman and in your own time
You cleansed the dark parts that once were mine
You replaced them all with your life giving fruit of
Love joy peace patience & kindness
Goodness faithfulness gentleness & self control

Chorus
All that I am is You
All that you are is what I want to be
All that I am is You
All that I am is You

Verse 3
You gave to me my identity
Changed me deep within to who I’m meant to be
Like breathing life into dry and lifeless bones
Sprinkled my life with laughter and joy
Gave me a new vision & promised to be loyal
Like a big rainbow that’s guiding me ever on

Bridge

Chorus

Chorus

©  Beverley Tang 2003

Click here to listen to song: -
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=1051446

Natural Disasters – A Biblical Perspective

There have been many natural disasters occurring across the globe recently. The tsunami in Japan, the earthquake in New Zealand and China and hurricane Katrina in the USA are just some examples. It can often lead us to ask why all these events are happening. Some Christians even ponder whether these disasters are God’s judgment on a sinful world.

The following are some points that may provide some answers to these probing questions. As believers it is also beneficial to have a biblical response to these calamities, to know how to give an answer to our Christian and non Christian friends. These points are taken from the RBC booklet called “After the Hurricane – A Biblical Response to Calamities”.

1. According to the bible the original root cause of the whole of creation being thrown into chaos can be found in Genesis 3:17. This is when Adam and Eve first sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. They had to face the consequences of their disobedience. This involved God commanding that the ground would be cursed because of their sin and that only through painful toil will they live off the earth. This concept is also found in Romans 8: 20 which states that creation is now subject to “frustration” due to the sin of Adam and Eve. Hence natural disasters will continue to occur until God brings into being a new heaven and new earth ( 2 Peter 3:13 & Rev 21:1) .

2. As a result ever since that time, “ the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of child birth right up to the present time” Romans 8: 22. Natural disasters are a manifestation of the curse on the earth that came about due to the original sin of man and woman. Natural disasters can be seen as the whole physical earth groaning. In verse 23 it also states how we as believers also at times groan as we continue to live in a broken world and eagerly await the hope of God’s glory when he will finally put all things right and make all things new again in heaven and earth. God himself also groans with us according to Romans 8: 26. He is not a distant God who delights to see the destruction of rebellious people but yearns for them to repent and be saved to experience his love and deliverance.

2. Serious doubt is cast on the claim that natural disasters are a specific judgment of God on the sins of the world, by the fact that thousands of wonderful Christians have also been impacted along with everyone else in many of these disasters.

3. In ancient times it was often assumed that a calamity would befall only those who were extremely sinful. However in Luke 13:1-5 Jesus refutes this idea saying that those who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them were not more guilty and sinful then those who did not die from this calamity .

4. However Jesus does make a clear distinction. Even though he confirms that these disasters were not because these people were more sinful, he still uses it as a warning and a call for all people to repent. Otherwise when Jesus does come again people will then truly have to face final judgment and true punishment for their sins. ( which will be like facing the trauma of a natural disaster). It could be helpful for we as Christian believers to point out this distinction when trying to explain natural disasters to our friends and family. The natural disaster can be used as a call for non believers (and believers) to think about their lives, to realize what is truly important and consider where they will spend eternity if their life suddenly ends eg from a natural disaster.

5. Even though such tragedies like natural disasters occur, we must also rely on God’s promise that He can still bring something good out of such dire circumstances for those who love Him” – Romans 8:28. During such times it gives an opportunity for Christians all over the world to show Christ’s love in practical, emotional and spiritual ways. Those who are suffering have the opportunity to experience the love and compassion of believers through Christ’s love and power. Christians throughout history have been in the forefront of relief operations. This allows a great opportunity for believers to be a witness to the secular world.

6. Helping those in natural disasters however often requires great sacrifice and even suffering at times. Suffering can be subtle eg. a wife may need to release her husband to work extra hard at relief operations. This may put a strain on marriage and family and put an extra burden on her. However when we realize the work is being done for God’s glory and for those in desperate need it can take away the pain and possible resentment. Other ways of suffering can be fatigue, lack of sleep or facing criticism about our motives for service.

7. Those who cannot give hands on help can pray for the victims, workers and officials. Praying can often be the most powerful work a Christian can do.

8. When giving hands on help during natural disasters it is also a time to be careful- for instance :-
- not to neglect time with God and lose one’s spiritual health
- not to neglect time with one’s own family and children
- taking a Sabbath rest day each week .
- seeking counseling yourself especially if the trauma has affected you greatly.

If Christians fail to do these things a loss of joy, irritability and even depression may occur. Hence it is wise to keep a close watch on oneself. We tend to get careless about ourselves and our personal lives when we are tired.

A sad fact in the history of relief operations is that many helpers have fallen into serious sin , damaged family relationships or suffered burn out so that they have never attempted such work again.

9. Other things to watch out for are : -
- to be careful not to exaggerate our efforts to bring glory to ourselves
- ensure funds are managed honestly and accounted for correctly. Sadly many frauds have been committed during relief operations. Some began as errors in procedures by well meaning individuals.

10. However during natural disasters it is a good opportunity for Christians who have received God’s comfort to offer comfort to those who are in desperate need. This may involve being with people and listening to them. One of the most important jobs of experts is to help people get back to their “normal” relationships with their families, friends, colleagues and neighbors since it is these relationships where they will find strength as well.

11. The following is a point about counseling hurting people during a natural disaster which is helpful to know. Standard practice is to ask hurting people to talk about their pain and what caused it. However during a trauma such as a natural disaster it is not wise to ask people to talk about their pain too soon because they may not be ready to handle these emotions yet. They should only start talking about their pain when they are ready.

Hopefully the above points will help to give greater insight into a biblical perspective for natural disasters since they are occurring more frequently in our world today.

A more detailed discussion of these points can be obtained from the RBC booklet
“After the Hurricane – A Biblical Response to Calamities”. You can obtain a copy for free or via donation by emailing :- australia @rbc.org or calling (03) 9574 7780

Baby of the Week

Bath time Baby

Baby’s Name : Sebastian

“To wet the baby’s head” – to celebrate a baptism with a social gathering;  to drink to the health of a newborn baby.

Worship Epiphany

I had an epiphany about worship the other day after listening to a teaching CD by Charles Nieman.  He was saying that by worshiping God and declaring who he is and his sovereignty,  we are affirming to God (and ourselves)  that God’s power is greater and will be victorious over our own problems and circumstances.  This helped me to realize more the value of worship and the relevance it has for my own life.  It helped to motivate me to worship God with greater zeal and enthusiasm

Of course we are supposed to worship God just for who he is and because he is worthy.  However part of me also just saw worship  as God’s command and something that Christians just do.  I did not always see the connection it had to my own life – especially when going through great suffering and seeing no way out of my situation or just not having the faith that there was a way out.

I thought I would share this revelation since it may help someone else who may struggle to worship God in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Sunny Mummies

There is a secular support group called “Sunny Mummies” which helps to provide emotional support for new mothers or those women about to be mothers.  It helps to provide information on how to look after yourself and your baby.   This could be a good way for young Christian mothers to gain helpful insights while making non christian friends to assist them in any  struggles they may be having with the love of Jesus.

See :- http://www.sunnymummy.com.au

Finding Freedom from Pornography

There is available a DVD called “Trapped – Finding Freedom from Pornography” published by RBC Ministries. There are many godly insights that are worth sharing so people can be better informed to help themselves or others in need. Much of the following information is revealed by Dr Larry Crab a well established author and Christian counselor. It outlines the negative affects pornography has on all of a person’s relationships in life. It is like the “inside” story that the world never tells you about.  It is not condemning or judgmental but instead describes the causes and sources of this addiction as well as providing a way out from it’s destructive force.  (The  DVD acknowledges that some women today are also becoming addicted to pornography,  however only issues with men are discussed in the documentary).

The internet has provided us with access to just about any information at our finger tips. The downside is that it has now made pornography easily accessible to everyone all over the world no matter what station in life. As a result the destructive forces of this practice especially on marriage and family have most likely increased in an exponential way. The following points are some facts about pornography that many may not be aware of:-

- Pornography makes a man feel like a man without taking the responsibility for actually being one.

- It prevents intimacy with real people

- It affects a man’s relationship with his wife, children and friends, causing him to withdraw from them

- It affects how a man sees his wife and how he sees himself

- Pornography affects negatively how a man :-
- relates to his wife
- what he gives to his wife
- how he sees his wife
- how he values his wife
- how he fathers his children
- can block his relationship with God

Hence this is a ploy used by Satan to seek to destroy marriages, families and hence the whole of society.

- Pornography is not real experience but a fantasy. It is often used by men as a release valve when they cannot handle things in life in their own strength. Instead they need to run to God for strength and comfort.

- It strips men and women of their dignity

- When a man becomes addicted to pornography it is due to a problem or insecurity within himself and NOT because his wife is unattractive or due to her lack of physical appearance etc. Unfortunately though, women often take it as a rejection of themselves or their physical appearance which is not true.

- Pornography can become a wedge between a couple because it causes shame in a man because of his sin and it causes the wife to feel rejection. (when it’s really not her fault).

- As a Christian, freedom from this addiction begins when a man shares his secret with another man he can trust eg. a trusted friend, Christian leader or counselor. Sexual sin thrives in darkness and secrecy. Once it begins to be exposed Satan begins to lose his stronghold over a person’s life.  The DVD includes a testimony of how a man shared his secret with another pastor friend.  The pastor was not surprised but replied that a lot of men ( christian and non christian) struggle with this problem.  Hence a person does not have to feel that he is the only one.

- It can often be impossible to overcome an addiction to pornography without sharing it with another close male friend . It is healthy for a man to have at least one other male friend he can be real with and share with. This friendship can help provide accountability especially if an addiction arises. If a man does not have any close male friends he should ask why? Is he lonely ? Is he also giving true friendship and intimacy to his own wife and children?

- To break free can be a long and hard road. One needs to have a battle mindset and make a firm decision to commit to freedom. One must look to Jesus for his strength grace and hope. He does not condemn us for our sins but meets us where we are, to help transform us bit by bit if we truly open our hearts in surrender to Him.

- Dr Larry Crab – a professional Christian counselor says that if a man cannot give up the addiction from his own free will initially, the addiction can be a product of much deeper wounds in the man’s life which must be dealt with.

- A vulnerability to pornography can occur in a man when he feels weak or doubts his ability as a man in this world, eg he may have no idea how to relate to his wife in a particular situation. Instead of turning to God for help and wisdom he may back away and feel inadequate as a man. To comfort himself he may turn to pornography which makes him feel like a man again.

- To help deal with this vulnerability a man could ask himself “Do I give people a chance to love me when I’m at my worst?”. Often society demands that men always look strong, in control and always have the answers . This is totally unrealistic and impossible since they are still human. Unfortunately it can make some men feel insecure and “less of a man” in these vulnerable situations.

- A man may have childhood wounds and traumas which have not been resolved properly and dealt with. He may still be carrying around this pain while still trying to function in life. When the pain becomes too great (eg in times of great pressure or vulnerability), pornography is used as a false comfort, to dull the pain and inadequacy (in his eyes) of not living up to being a man in this world.

- To climb out of an addiction to pornography a man should start by being authentic before God. Then he may need to find another man he can trust to share with to help break free and be accountable to. If he does not have a trusted friend he could find a Christian counselor to confide in.

- According to Dr Larry Crab, each man struggles with a core terror – “ Do I have any weight as a man to have any impact in this world? During vulnerable times when men do not feel they have the strength and masculinity in difficult situations, they can be tempted to turn to pornography which gives them a “false” feeling of being a man.

He continues to share that sometimes men can feel they would like to have a break from the responsibilities of being a man that God has called them to, which can be heavy and sometimes overwhelming at times. This is where it is often tempting for men to use pornography as a relief from this pressure. It helps them to feel like a man without actually fulfilling the responsibilities of being one.

- When a man is outside his “sphere of competence” this can cause him to feel inadequate. This is when he may be vulnerable to pornography which makes him feel like a man again.

- Pornography is also a soul issue. It involves the question “What feeds your soul?”. If we fill our souls with time with God, relationship with Him, surrender to God then our soul can already be full. On the other hand if we are just going through the emotions of religion then we can still be hollow inside which opens the door to pornography to fill that void.

- Christian leaders have to beware of getting so busy they neglect their personal devotion time with God to help feel their souls.

- Another step in the healing journey is to explore the quality of your relationships eg. with your wife, children and friends. Find out what steps you can take to be more fully a man in these relationships.

- In relation to a man’s wife, pornography succeeds to confirm a woman’s worst fear – that she is not beautiful or desirable and there is nothing within her soul that is worth protecting and cherishing by a man. This is so because women often blame themselves for problems because then they feel they can do something about it.

The wife who feels injured and betrayed must also seek help and support from other trusted female friends. She also needs to see that she is still valuable and beautiful in God’s eyes regardless of what her husband does at a point in time.

- The ironic thing is that every time a man watches pornography, something in his manhood withers and dies. This is so because he is putting himself in a position of
“ I am needy and hurting at present and I want you (the images) to take care of me and make me feel better”. Such an attitude then sets a man up to be a failure as a husband.

- The beauty of a woman’s soul is not centered on her exterior. When a man views pornography he also loses his ability to see the core beauty in a woman’s soul. Instead he sets himself up to only value a woman’s outer beauty for the purpose of sensual pleasure to satisfy his soul. However outward exterior can never fully satisfy a man’s soul.

- The solution is to run to God and trust Him to provide the strength, and wisdom to know how to handle unknown situations. Also to realize that it is God who has every resource a man needs to become the man God has called him to be. Pornography is definitely not part of that journey.

-  Other practical steps can include putting blocks on your computer.  There also exists a program which can be set up so that whenever you try to enter a pornographic site it can automatically send an email to your accountability partner.

Suggested Steps to Freedom

1. Confess and pour your heart to God about it.

2.  Find a trusted Christian friend,  leader or counselor you can share the problem with.  Ask for his prayer support to help you in your journey to freedom.

3.  Seek help to find the deeper reasons for the addiction eg.  insecurities about being a man especially during vulnerable times when you feel out of your area of competence;  to dull the pain of deeper wounds in childhood or in the past which have not been dealt with yet etc.

4.  Examine the quality of your relationships with your wife,  children and friends. Is there any ways you can improve in these areas to become more fully the man that God has called you to be?

5.  Find another man you can be accountable to,  to help you free yourself from this addiction in the long term.   Eg.  put blocks on your computer where necessary and install a program where if you try to enter a pornographic sight it will automatically send an email to this friend.

6.  Commit to a regular devotion time with God and develop your prayer life and bible reading to learn to draw strength and help from the Lord in your time of need.   Reading and memorizing the word can help build your faith to trust in the Lord.  (Faith comes from reading the word)

7.   Learn to trust God and learn how to tap into His  power when you feel vulnerable and at a loss as to what to do in life situations.

8.  Remember that God has every resource a man needs to become the man God has called him to be.

Perhaps this information is also a call for Christians to pray for the abolition of the billion dollar porn industry which is really profiting from the subtle destruction of men’s lives and their families.

For more information about this topic you can obtain the DVD entitled ““Trapped – Finding Freedom from Pornography” published by RBC Ministries. This can be obtained free or by donation via:-

Email : australia@rbc.org or
Phone: (03) 9761 7086