When I didn't feel like attending church

I've been getting quite stressed up lately and I didn't feel like going to church this morning, which doesn't happen in all my life. 

Well, not that it doesn't, just that it's very rare.

However, I made the decision to go anyway. I know I didn't feel like it but I know I had to. 

So I turned up for service, and it turns out it's a good thing I did. 

I have always looked forward to Dr Leong Tian Fock's sessions and I didn't know he was preaching today. 

His sermon on Psalm 44, A House of Prayer: Through the Psalms of Lament was what I needed. 

He said at one point that there is no point in hiding from God. Because if we do, we are denying the fact that he is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving. 

He knows anyway, and he has the power to do something and he loves me. 

That's all I need to know for now to get myself right again with him. 

pearlie

God Allows Complaints

I was in KL Wesley on Sunday and found the sermon preached by Rev Dr T Jeyakumar very good. 

I was waiting for the church to probably put up the sermon in mp3 but all I found was a PDF sermon notes. 

He gave an expository sermon on Habakkuk 1 and here are some of his memorable statements. 

Habakkuk is not asking why evil but how long will God tolerate evil. He begins with faith, a questioning faith. He knows only God can put things right but why not as quickly as he wants it to. So many things God seems to be overlooking...He was disturbed how long will God tolerate evil. And how can more evil nation used to punish a less evil nation?

Is we don't point out of the sin of others we do them the greatest disservice and we mock the good news of God.

God will not abandon us. We are suffering not because we are abandoned but because he is disciplining us. 

For more, check it out here. 

pearlie

A sermon on divorce

Today is the first time I've ever listened to a sermon on divorce. 

We are in the midst of expository sermons on Matthew, and our speaker Dr Leong Tian Fock had to tackle Matthew 19, on the topic of Marriage in the Kingdom. 

And he did it superbly well. I had so many questions when he first started, where he laid the foundations, but as he moved on, most if not all of my questions were answered. 

There are several views on divorce and I like this part when Dr Leong said that when godly theologians and good Bible scholars cannot come to a consensus, that means the Bible is not very clear on that particular issue and in this case an ethical issue, and this means whatever stand you take, there is a chance of making a mistake. 

And so like Dr Leong I will also take his philosophical stand, which is to err on the side of compassion. 

It's a tough thing and I know friends who are struggling with it, wanting to know exactly what the Bible says. It is therefore so very important for this to be taught in church. 

If you would like to listen to the sermon, it is found here.

pearlie

Work heartily as for the Lord

The sermon today was on Colossians 3:22-4:1, where servants or slaves (doulos) are to obey their masters and masters are to treat them justly and fairly. 

These verses were addressed to slaves of Paul’s time and in our application, the general commands of these verses would still apply, in that it is not enough to do just enough:

- work not only when our employers can see us but to put in work well worth our abilities and capabilities

- work heartily as for the Lord, not for men

This reminded me of a book I have read 4 years ago, which I need to read again. 

Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace

by Kenman L. Wong and Scott B. Rae

pearlie

What does it mean by being members of a church?

Our sermon in church today was based on 1 Tim 5:1-3 and Titus 2:1-8. And I find the words in Titus very good and instructive. 

Titus 2:1-8 (ESV)

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

I feel that being in a faith community gives us the privilege of being in a larger family in Christ and it’s something so good that we shouldn’t take it for granted, which we sometimes unconsciously do. 

Like what Titus 2:1-8 say, we should be building relationships in the churches we worship in together. 

But building relationships and building trust with each other takes time. And we don’t spend that much time in church. 

So I find that we do need to make an effort to get know each other, to talk to one another and to love them. 

It wasn’t brought up in the sermon but it does bring me to something I have not thought about in a long time: church membership.  

I have not put much thought into committing to being members of a church ever since we sort of got burnt in one. 

We are not negative about it. We just don’t think about it. And with that I realise we are not fully committed either. 

As such, I am now beginning to put some thought into why I am not thinking or considering being a member of the church we are currently attending. 

We have “visited” a church before this for more than 4 years. We left and now we have been in this current one for one and a half. 

We love the people and the place...so maybe it’s time we commit again. 

pearlie

My 2018 Prayer: to overflow with thankfulness

Pastor Wong Fong Yang preached on the Lordship of Christ from Colossians 2:1-8, with God’s word to chart us off into the new year. 

I like it when he referred to 2:6-7 as a litmus test of life in Christ. 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

~ Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

His message for the new year is that we will continue our lives in Jesus, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith we have been taught all these years, long or short. 

And the litmus test is to ask: am I overflowing with thankfulness or am I always complaining or murmuring?

I pray for a more Spirit-filled 2018, to live my life more fervently in Christ, to stay rooted in him, to continually be built up in him, to be strengthened in my faith in him. And all in all, to overflow with thankfulness in whatever circumstances I am in. 

pearlie 

Why do we keep seeking for perfection in life?

Have you ever thought that we always want and expect good things to happen all the time. 

And we want it now. 

Healing, solutions, answers, riches, success, any kind of good things you name it. 

We want it now. We want it more. 

Have you ever thought that as human beings, we are made to have a consciousness and mind of our own, and we have this desire for perfection. We desire all things to be good in our lives. 

Do you know that we were created in perfection? But we are far from perfect. We know it and yet we seek for perfection in our twisted imperfect ways. 

And until and unless we acknowledge our own imperfection, we are doomed to spiral into an endless search for perfection but never finding it. 

And until and unless we recognise Jesus as Lord, we will forsake the very perfection we are looking for. 

The sermon today was based on Colossians 1:15-23 on The Preeminence of Christ. 

It’s an crucial message to learn that when Christ came and removed our imperfection, he substituted it with his perfection through his death on the cross and through his resurrection. 

So what we have is Christ’s perfection and not ours. 

Then why do we still strive for it in our own imperfect ways?

We may not realize it but we may feel that Jesus is not enough. We want more. 

And do we know who he is and what he has accomplished?

Until and unless we do, we will not be able to see life to its complete purpose. 

What is your only comfort in life and death? I am not my own, but in Christ in both body and soul, in life and death.1

pearlie

1 Heidelberg Catechism

What is Expository Preaching by Bryan Chapell

A friend asked me what expository preaching is and I thought she deserved a more complete and authorized explanation. So I went looking for resources and found this more than an excellent explanation of what expository preaching is by Bryan Chapell. 

pearlie

3 Amazing Stories about Faithfulness

I was at Faith Methodist Church Cheras today as Grace Notes presented an anniversary anthem for their 30th anniversary celebration. 

I was glad to be there and I realize how much I miss attending a liturgical Methodist Sunday service!

Rev Dr T Jeyakumar was the speaker and his sermon based on Revelation 14:1-5 was a very good lesson and reminder for me to remain faithful to the Lord. 

Revelation 14:1-5 NLT

Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together. This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. They have kept themselves as pure as virgins, following the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been purchased from among the people on the earth as a special offering to God and to the Lamb. They have told no lies; they are without blame.

The author of Revelation uses a lot of imagery language and the 144,000 people is used to represent all the people that belongs to God. 

But why the number 144,000?

12 times 12 times 1000? If it is really 12 times 12 times 1000, then it clearly depicts all of the redeemed people of the Lord - 12 tribes multiplied by 12 tribes and on top of it multiplied by a thousand.  

I like Rev Jeya's focus on verse 4: It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb. (ESV)

When I first read v.4, I felt rather discouraged. I know I am not pure nor have I been really following and obeying all the time. Does that mean I am not part of the 144,000?

But again Rev Jeya reminded us that it's imagery language that was used and that v.4 takes on the marriage covenant imagery where the groom remained undefiled. 

As such the three lessons of v.4 is that of (1) being faithful, (2) following Christ and (3) belonging to God as his redeemed. 

With that I am most encouraged. 

Rev Jeya also gave us some examples in being faithful to God. It is easy when things are well and good but when things get tough, will we still be faithful?

The stories he told were harrowing true events. 

First, he referred to what happened recently when three bus loads of Christians were stopped by a group of ISIS men in Egypt. They were ordered to alight the bus one by one and each of them were asked two questions: "Are you Muslim?" and "Will you be a Muslim?" As they firmly stood by their faith, they were either shot or had their throats slit. Imagine you were in the line to get off the bus to answer the two questions and as you watch what is happening, will you remain faithful?

The second story about Nabeel Qureshi. He was a Muslim who became a Christian after he studied the Bible and as much as he tried to refute it, in the end he found there is no way he could deny the logical truth and the love of Christ. He then put his life into studying theology and spent his days being a testimony for Christ but he faced a lot of cruel criticisms from a lot of people. He soon found himself in stage 4 stomach cancer and the verbal abuse became even more relentless. He held on firmly to his faith in Christ till his death on 16 September 2017. If we were in such a situation, will we still hold on to our faith?

His third story was one that made me tear up. I don't cry easily but this one made me. I did a search and found it in a book entitled Heroes of Our Faith by Patrick Sookhdeo (2012).

I really can't imagine how it will be like when one is being buried alive, and what more with kids!

Will you remain faithful? 

Tonight we will have supper with the King of kings, the Lord of lords.

pearlie

Finally, a sermon on envy

It was just two months ago when envy reared its ugly head in my life and I was quite badly affected that I really need to get it managed before it went bad that I found and bought a book to help me with it, which I blogged about here. 

The book termed it as a sin that no one talks about which is why I am so grateful that it was the topic of our sermon this morning by Pastor Wong Fong Yang. 

Pastor gave us these four ways on how to overcome envy:

1. Having a proper grasp of the gospel that will lead to godly contentment. Jesus is the Lord of all our circumstances. From that deep contentment will flow a right desire for and rejoicing at the good of our neighbour. 

2. Love others, for in 1 Cor 13:4, love does not envy. 

3. Enjoy the glory of God's creation and workmanship. Look on beauty and be grateful. Look on truth and be grateful. Look on talent and be grateful. 

4. Have faith in future grace. Meanwhile, live, work and play with the view of the One audience in mind - his praise matters more than anything or anyone. 

And I would like to add one more, courtesy of the author RT Kendall, that we should accept our calling. We should embrace what God has called us to and not look beyond it. He said, "He has a calling for your life--one that is infinitely better or greater than you could have come up with on your own. When you accept His will and His choice of a career--or job--you are at peace with yourself and lessen the temptation to envy or to be jealous."

And I also have this thought that we will still never ever be satisfied if we get what we covet or envy for. We will still want more and so to counter that, accept what we have and be grateful for it.  

It is however, not an easy thing to do and I am not sure what will happen when it comes again. 

We also talked a lot about it during our CG today and pastor teased us with the possibility of another sermon on Envy Part 2. 

When eh, pastor?

pearlie

Thank God for Cantonese sermons

I am now progressing very slowly with my Mandarin learning at HSK level 4. It is very challenging because I am encountering words that are really very difficult. 

But amusingly, I am trying to learn them by recognizing them first in Cantonese. I am amazed that I actually know those words in Cantonese. 

I suppose the fact that I have sat through numerous Cantonese sermons when I was growing up is paying off now. 

Here are a few examples:

pearlie

A sermon on adultery

Today's sermon was from Proverbs 6:20-7:27 on a topic that is seldom preached in church: the subject of adultery. 

It comes with a title that says it all - Can a man scoop fire into his lap (an euphemism won't you say?) without his clothes being burned? (question in parentheses mine). 

The passage uses three imageries as to why one should not commit adultery:

1. A prostitute - the price of a prostiture for a night might be minimal but the cost of adultery is extremely high. 

2. Playing with Fire - one who puts fire into his own lap will surely get burned. You won't get away with it. 

3. A thief - it's sheer stupidity to commit adultery destroying marriages, and the stake is so high: you will lose honour, reputation, manhood and womanhood, life, future. 

It all boils down to our hearts, which is usually prone to evil and momentary pleasures. 

Pastor gave us eight pointers on how to have sexual purity:

1. Know that you have a sinful nature. Our hearts are wicked. We are weak. 

2. Keep God's word in our hearts to remind us. Live according to God's word in line with the Holy Spirit's leading.  

3. Delight in Christ. Have him as someone better and more delightful than sin. Jesus is wisdom, salvation, sanctification. 

4. Think noble thoughts. Stop fantasizing as it will surely lead us to fall into sin.  

5. Keep ourselves away from pornography.

6. Have good healthy hobbies.  

7. Have accountable and trusted friends and mentors.  8. Find sexual satisfaction from your spouse. 

Like what Joseph did when he literally ran from Potiphar's wife, stay faraway from tempting situations and if you find yourself in such a situation, run! 

It is too high a cost not to. 

pearlie 

This bottomless pit of ours

Today's sermon was from Proverbs 6:12-19. What I found instructional was from v.16-19. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)

There are six things the LORD hates- no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.

I referred to Raymond Ortlund's Preaching the Bible Commentary on Proverbs and he says, "When the Old Testament uses this literary device (x // x + 1), as in “three // four” (Proverbs 30:18–19, 29–31) or “six // seven,” it is the last item in the list that matters most. The seventh thing the Lord hates, “one who sows discord among brothers,” is the key to understanding the other six things the Lord hates."

It is a saddest thing when strife and hatred exist in the family, where love is suppose to abound. Isn't it all because of the feeling of worthlessness and wickedness (v.12-15)?

We are selfish people, we only care for ourselves, we only want to only fulfill the desires of our own hearts, not realizing that the desires of our broken hearts is a bottomless pit. 

Until and unless we are filled with the love of God, whose steadfast love culminated in the giving of his Son for us on the cross, this bottomless pit of ours will never be filled.

It can only be filled with the everlasting love of God.

pearlie

Guard your heart above all else

The sermon today was taken from Proverbs 4, and as I was reading it in the NLT version, the message was so clear.

Proverbs 4:20-27 NLT

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

The paramount message is to guard our hearts. And guard it above all else. This is because the heart determines the course of our lives.

I find this a very good and timely reminder for me to check my heart every moment, every day, to make sure that it is set firmly and closely to the heart and word of God. I get so easily distracted and I forget who I am and what my purpose is as a child of God. 

So this is a firm reminder for me -- guard my heart above all else, for it determines the course of my life. I put my heart in your hands, Lord Jesus. Cleanse it and teach me to follow you all the days of my life.

Amen. 

pearlie

Lord, purify my heart, correct me, discipline me

Our sermon this morning by Rev Wong Fong Yang is on Proverbs 3:11-12, entitled Do Not Despise the Lord's Discipline. 

We would normally accept discipline when we know we have done wrong and the Lord disciplines us, but it is when we have not done anything wrong, the Lord still disciplines us. Why?

The answer is pretty straight forward, though hard to take: it is because He loves us and wants to mature us.  If you imagine yourself not having gone through any difficult periods in your life, how would you have turned out to be? Not a very matured or nice person for that matter I'd say.

So be glad for the Father's discipline on us, his children, whom he loves. 

I was worship leading today and I picked Refiner's Fire as the song of response which was most appropriate. I had the privilege to have my former vocal teacher, Charity Lee, to be my back-up (what are the odds? We ended up attending the same church!). It was fulfilling to sing the song with her, calling out to God to purify and cleanse us. 

I found this video by Jeremy Passion and The Katinas who did an amazing job on the song. I kept listening to it over and over again as I work on this post. What a lovely interpretation of the song. 

Do take a listen. 

pearlie

How life should be

Today's sermon was on Proverbs 3:1-8. I find that this passage is divided into four parts, each with what we are called to do, what we are to do and what will happen when we do: peaceful, successful, good and content. 

(1) Do not forget God's teaching but to know it and obey it, and we will have long peaceful days

My son, do not forget my teaching, 

   but let your heart keep my commandments, 

   for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 

(2) Keep steadfast love and faithfulness as a way of life in whatever we do and we will succeed wherever we will be

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; 

   bind them around your neck;  

   write them on the tablet of your heart. 

   So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 

(3) Trust in God, not self, not materially, not abilities, but put our security completely in God, and our paths with be the right and good paths

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

   and do not lean on your own understanding. 

   In all your ways acknowledge him, 

   and he will make straight your paths. 

(4) Fear the Lord, for this is is our whole duty, and life will be full and content 

Be not wise in your own eyes; 

   fear the LORD, 

   and turn away from evil. 

   It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Sounds easy but if you think about it, it is a complete surrender to God, to deny self, to take up the cross and to follow Him. It's the only way it will work. It's the only way life will work. 

pearlie

Sermon series on Proverbs

We have started a new series of sermons in CDPC Puchong on the book of Proverbs. And here are the planned topics and passages for the next six months. 

I love the book of Proverbs and I really look forward to the sermon lessons. After all, the purpose of Proverbs is to know wisdom and to learn to fear the Lord as the beginning of knowing. 

I remember reading a preaching commmetary on Proverbs and dug it out for a re-read. 

Proverbs, Wisdom that Works

by Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. 

I reviewed the book back in 2014. But with me being me, I'd have forgotten what I have read. Now that I am reading it again, I'm am blown away by the way Ortlund described the book of Proverbs. 

If you haven't had a copy of this commentary, I would highly recommend you get one and read it. 

pearlie 

It's challenging and costly to follow Christ

The sermon this morning was from Luke 9 on the theme of being active for Christ or being an active disciple of Christ. Rev Roger Bray talked about its call, cost and commitment. 

When someone addressed Jesus and told him that he will follow Jesus (v.57), Jesus replied most unexpectedly. He did not say "that's great" or "wonderful, let us fix a time and help you with your bible reading." Even though that is important, he cut to the chase and went straight to the cost of following him (v.58-62). 

It is costly to follow Jesus. It is putting him above everything in our lives, everything. 

Rev Bray quoted this scene from the movie The Fellowship of the Ring to stress on the cost and the commitment of following Jesus. 

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened...

Gandalf: So do all who lived to see such times...but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.

What do we do with our lives that God has given us here? What does it mean for us to follow him?

It is very challenging to follow Jesus. It is very costly; it costs our everything. We may not walk the paths of martyrs or missionaries or even pastors. Each of us have our own path to walk as ordered and directed by God. But the cost is high nonetheless. 

And for us to walk in that path, Jesus has committed himself to us to be his disciples. He had sent his disciples out with the Holy Spirit, he will do the same with us. Whilst we are not able to cannot carry the cross, he carried it for us. He died in our place and only he can do that for us. We can't do it by ourselves. He is the one who empowers us. 

The cost may be high, but he enables us.

pearlie

A church: sharing what we have in common

I was all into chiasms when I was studying (part time) in a seminary. I would always try to see if there were chiastic structures in the bible passages I studied. A chiasm is the figure of speech in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures in order to make a larger point; that is, the clauses display inverted parallelism. 

So when today's sermon by Matthew Bellville began with a look into the chiastic structure Acts 2:41-47, I was quite enthused. The passage is about the early believers forming a community, a church. And with the chiastic structure, the focus of the passage is in v.44.

Acts 2:41-47 NLT 

[41] Those who believed what Peter said 

were baptized and added to the church 

that day-about 3,000 in all.

      [42] All the believers devoted 

      themselves to the apostles' 

      teaching, and to fellowship, and 

      to sharing in meals (including the 

      Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

           [43] A deep sense of awe came over 

           them all, and the apostles 

           performed many miraculous signs 

           and wonders.

                  [44] And all the believers met 

                  together in one place and 

                  shared everything they had.

           [45] They sold their property and 

           possessions and shared the money 

           with those in need.

       [46] They worshiped together at the 

       Temple each day, met  in homes for 

       the Lord's Supper, and shared their 

       meals with great joy and generosity-

[47] all the while praising God and 

enjoying the goodwill of all the people. 

And each day the Lord added to their 

fellowship those who were being saved.

The speaker highlighted that there the original Greek in v.44 do not have the word "everything" in it and the more literal translation of "all in common" implies that they shared what they have in common, beyond the materialistic things. They shared what is common in their one faith, one Lord, one Ruler, one future, one hope, one law keeper.

Acts 2:44

πάντες δὲ οἱ         πιστεύσαντες     ἐπὶ

all        moreover   having believed (were) together 

τὸ  αὐτὸ  εἶχον   ἅπαντα κοινά.

the same having all          in common.

And what they had been doing and what we should be doing in church and out of church are the four devotions we have in common as listed in v.42:

1. Apostolic teaching

2. Fellowship

3. Sharing of meals

4. Prayer, in hope and in confession

And with this, it lessens the emphasis we usually pay to v.45, where according to the NIV Study Bible, it is "not communalism or communism since this giving is voluntary (5:4) and since people still retain personal possessions like homes (12:12; 17:5) and property (4:37). A better analogy is that the church views itself as a family, and healthy families take care of their own."

I like the what it says of the church, "a family, and healthy families take care of their own."

pearlie

So we think we are so great

Today's sermon was an exposition of Luke 4:14-40 and the speaker, Brett Hartman, has approached it in a way I have not thought of before. 

He explained the passage as follows: Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth and when it came to the reading from the prophets, he took the scroll and read from Isaiah, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD's favor has come."

Jesus then gave an exposition of the passage saying, "The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"

The people were amazed and they were happy with what Jesus has said. They see themselves as good people, under the oppression of the Romans. And so they were waiting for the Messiah to come save them, and to proclaim the year of Lord's favour on them. 

But Jesus see that they have missed the point of the gospel. And so he continued with the mention of two people whom God chose to save: of all the widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, God only chose to save a foreign poor widow, and of all the lepers in Israel, God only chose to cleanse Naaman, a rich foreign. Both of them implying that God had not chosen to save Israel. 

The people became very angry when they heard that. They rose up, drove Jesus out of town and wanted to kill him. They failed this time, but we know, they soon nailed Jesus to the cross. 

The lesson here is that grace means that God is not obliged to save anyone but yet he is free to save anyone. The Israelites cannot have a claim to salvation anymore than the two foreigners can be excluded. 

The speaker also brought a more in-depth meaning to the passage read by Jesus in the synagogue, that four things will happen when you truly encounter God:

1. You will be set free from captive

2. You will open your eyes and see

3. You will be cleansed and accepted by God, no longer be loathed and shunned like a leper

4. You will be set free and no longer be oppressed or be poor in spirit 

We must recognize the deep desire in our hearts and lives that we do not really want to give God control in our lives. We want to be our own god, our own saviour. We want control. 

But how good we think we are, we actually do not have anything, do we? We are indeed nothing. We need the Lord, he is the one in control. 

pearlie