Went Tobe With the Lord

My loving dad, at his seventy, after having well done what his Creator had assigned to him, went to be with the Lord on March 23. In the midst of our sorrow and tears, we, the left behind family of our late father, find more to thank the Lord for His faithfulness to him during his tiresome days. This is a time of reflection and also of preparation for the whole family indeed. We will never forget the example of our loving dad in faith and sincerity that will rather challenge us always.

Heart of Giving (Burmese)

Text: Mark 14:3-9
Summary:
Even a dim light gets brighter in the dark night. The giving of Mark 14:3-9 is encircled with some darkest moments in history (cf., vv. 1, 11, 30, 37, 46, 64), so stands it out as a lighthouse to give us direction on how to live in the days like today.
1. True Heart of Giving gives what is the most in lives (vv. 3-5): True heart of giving does not care how it was so valuable in the past in the uncomparable light of Jesus Christ. So, the alasbarter jar of that perfume, worth of more than three hundred danarius, though expensive in itself, is no use to compete with His presence, so was just to be broken and poured out on Him.
2. True Heart of Giving gives away at the right moment (vv. 6-8): Several times we tried to give but sadly at a wrong time. Even to give has its own proper timing. The giving of this woman came at the right time, when Jesus was really in need of such concern and care. To be meaningful in our service to God, do it at the right time. We don't need to wait for another day. Today is the right and proper moment to serve Him, to love Him, and to give Him. No better time would come again!
3. True heart of Giving gives toward God's heavenly account (v. 9): Many people seem so generous. However, most of their giving is just a deception--just to hide their true color inside. Jesus said to save in heavens above. This is the call to open account with heavenly bank! One can do it as he made his intention of all his doings, servings, and givings toward God. To give the poors (v. 5) is good. However, among those many goods, there's the best. To intent toward serving, loving, and giving God himself is that very best.

Christmas & New Year Event in Province

Pastor Thangsan was in province to attend the special Christmas and New Year celebration of the Tahan AG Church. He served the event as main speaker. During the occassion, there was also held a time of special offering for the ongoing building project of the church. The church has currently 401 active registered members with a prospect of more growth, so is the urgent need a new sanctuary. Everyone is invited to take part in this project if felt compelled by the Holy Spirit.

Revival Services in Province

The whole October was spent in far province for several revival crusades. In the midst of opposition from leaders of other religious group, God brought peace in the area along with revival that swept over the whole large village. Especially, the revival event in Vangteh is very remarkable. Praises be to God!

Vangteh Crusade 09 @ Yahoo! Video

More pictures are coming...

Outreach to Delta Region

An outreach to delta was successfully done at the request of Yangon Christian Church. Rev. David Mung (Pastor Thangsan), accompanied with other two pastors from the Church, spent a week (September 14-18) in Bogalay township for Bible seminar for new believers, who had only six months of their Christian experience. However, they are eager learner of the Word of God and their first-love for the Lord are evident on their faces in the midst of discrimination for their new found-faith. Here below are some of their live-testimonies (sorry for not giving their full-names):

Referring to last year cyclone, a man named MT said, "At first, we blamed the Nargis(cyclone) for taking away our families, our properties, and everything of us. We loathed even to breathe in this air knowing it is so much disastrous to a such destruction of life. However, now we received Jesus Christ in the midst, and it happened to thank the Nargis again for introducing us to the Gospel." Another man named ZL said, "When I was persecuted in the family and expelled from the list of my relatives, they said that I would return to them in repentance. Then, I replied," he said, "the ones who would repent and follow after my faith will be you rather." Another lady named MN said, "We were rejected from our work-place so many times and despised among our friends for this new religion. For we always demand them (supervisors) to let us leave alone on Sunday so that we can worship God." (Actually this people do not usually take day-off from work even on weekend).

Spiritual Ephasis Week Again!

Another Spiritual Emphasis Week had again been occasioned at Grace Music Institute (from June 29 to July 2). Upon the invitation of the Principal, Pastor Suum, Pastor Thangsan (Rev. David Mung) spoke there during the event. Here below is given notes of his daily deliveries.
June 29 "Form and Essence" (Ecclesiastes 12:13):
Life without form is void and life without essence also is meaningless. Duty without a sense of responsibility is hollow. The same time, performing duty without proper job-description would be more than disastrous. Like egg-yolks and egg-white, religiousness without proper knowledge of God is hollow and claimed knowledge of God without proper form of religiousness is a lie. What the preacher in Ecclesiastes is calling forth is to have true essence of life--that is true knowledge and fear of God--in every steps of life.
June 30 "God of the Second Chance" (Matthew 9:10-13 ; cf., Luke 23:43; Rm 6:23):
The Bible is full of stories of men and women, who miserably missed the first chance in their lives but sought for the second chance that merciful God would grant to those who seek Him. For instance, Esau and Jacob. Both had failed their first chances in different ways. In case of Esau, he failed his by selling his birthright for a single food. The same way, Jacob had also failed his by lying his old-aged father, Isaac, for his personal gain. He had to flee like a poor captive on-the-run rather. However, when they came to their senses and repented, the God of second chance had shown them mercy. To Esau, he gave land and descendants that mighty kings like Herod the great would come through his line. To Jacob, he brought him back to Canaan to inherit the land as was formerly sold to by Esau. The Bible said that we all had missed our first chance in Eden. However, if someone is willing to seek after God, the second chance, the better one, was provided in Jesus Christ. Therefore, though failing in Eden caused death on all humanity, the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross had wiped away the curse and opened up the door of second chance for us all.
July 1 "By Way of Grace" (Ephesians 2:8-9):
Christianity is not about religion. It is a living relationship of God and man (all humanity). However, this relationship, in difference to various terms and conditions of our modern-day-relationships, is defined by "grace". Grace is God's defining term to make a relationship with us. However, from our part, we have to response Him in faith. Therefore, grace is like God's giving hand and faith is like out receiving hands. Accordingly, Paul gave us a fine calculation that says "Grace + Faith = Salvation". Where God's giving hand and man's receiving hand are met, there's always a result that is "salvation--God's saving act on our behalf." Another reason of this is to prevent everyone of us from boasting. Therefore, for us is just to receive what God provided in Jesus Christ and praise Him. That's all we need.!
July 2 "Change or A New Beginning!" (John 3:1-5):
Jesus asked Nicodemus to make a new start in life less no chance even to see the Kingdom of God. All his previous attempts and good works are meaningless without this new beginning. However, there is no human way or method to make it out happened. How can an old man enter into his mother's womb to be reborn? However, there is God's way for that. It is like the story of Isaac. There were two Isaacs in story of Abraham. The first Isaac is the one he gave birth with Sarah. He is his son, only son, born of human parents. However, there were no guarantee by this human born child to secure God's covenant. Therefore, God had a plan for Abraham to completely redeem his Isaac to His own so that His covenant promise be secured by him. Accordingly, the call came to Abraham early morning to bring his only child, Isaac, to the mountain and give it away to God. On the mountain, God truly met Abraham and made a transaction with a sheep to redeem Isaac for His own. Therefore, Isaac, the one who went up to the mountain with Abraham, and Isaac, the one who went down from the mountain following after Abraham, are different Isaacs. The first Isaac belonged to Abraham and Sarah. But, the second, latter, Isaac is of God, whom God himself redeemed (bought) from Abraham on the mountain. However, this transaction with God will for sure secure God's covenant-promise for Abraham forever. This is the same call of Jesus Christ, to be born of God by receiving the Gospel-call so that God's Holy Spirit will come and renew our life. This is of course a life born of the Spirit and power!

A Life of Being Blessed!

Under the theme, "A Life of Being Blessed," a night-time revival crusade and day-time Home-cell seminar was successfully done at the Tahan Assembly of God Church end of April (early May). Actually, this is an exposition of the Book of Ruth. Rev. Thangsan (Pastor David Mung) had served as the main speaker of the event. The whole event was beautifully ended with a challenge to young Christians to immediately take water baptism to testify their faith and their new blessed life in Christ. Twenty six did response! Further, as the result of Home-cell seminar, a new home-cell system was set to start by the middle of May in the church. Please, view a clip taken during the event as posted here below.