Eeditorial AGAPE ANNIVERSARY Redaksi

AGAPE

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ANNIVERSARY 2009

editorial ————————————————————————————— Happy 26th Birthday IEC Azusa! In every birthday, we always do some reflection about what had happened in the previous year and how far we are to reach our goal in life. It is exactly the same for our church anniversary.This is the perfect time to reflect how mature we are as Christians and how close we have become like Christ? Do we understand more about Christ than the previous year? Especially about grace which is our church theme this year. By now, we should know that blessing and grace are two different things. Blessing is more common and people who do not know Christ also receive it. Even birds in the air and lilies in the field also get blessings from God. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mat 6:26) “See how the lilies of the field grow.They do not labor or spin.” (Mat 6: 28b) On the other hand, grace is special and only God’s chosen people will receive it and it is the only thing that saves us from death. Do we understand how important that is? Do we value it? This 26th anniversary AGAPE edition might help you answer these questions. In this issue, we included an article that will give detailed explanation about Grace which is the foundation of Christians’ believe. We also have an interesting article about the danger if we misunderstand grace as an individual and as a church. AGAPE team also conducted a survey about how well our church members understand about grace and answered some questions that were asked. As usual we of Agape would like to do all we can to equip you and publish writings that will encourage, educate, and equip us for Godly-living. We encourage involvement of the congregation through comments and contributions. For questions or comments, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. Hope you enjoy this AGAPE edition and may it become a blessing to you.

Redaksi

Penasehat Rev. Wilson Suwanto Daniel Loe Editor Cheryl Jao Jocelyn Tindage Linda Lukminto Merissa Halim Layout Alvin Sugianto Buddy Yusuf Eva Leony Harold Doryumu Vincent Yobeanto Kontributor Rev. Kristianto Hosea Rev. Wilson Suwanto Rev. Stephen Hosea Ev. Dedy Sutendi Hernie Anwar Jessica Kawilarang Joy Simona Nadya Yobeanto Printing Semiwati Oei E-mail [email protected] Produksi GII Azusa 539 N. Sunset Ave. Azusa, CA 91702 Telp: (626) 812-0326 http://lax.gii-usa.org

AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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content —————————————————————————

The Nature of

Grace

Featured Articles: The Nature of Grace

Renungan:

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Grace Historcally

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Grace-Enabled Relationships

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Grace Questions and Answers

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Mengucap Syukurlah Dalam Segala Hal

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Bahaya Salah Mengerti Anugrah

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22 Children Ministry: Mengajar Anak Berdoa

Anda punya usul, kritik, saran, atau apapun yang berhubungan dengan Agape atau GII Azusa? Silahkan mengirimnya ke [email protected] atau memberikannya kepada redaksi.

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28 Point of View: Rewired 30 Testimony: Besarnya Kasih dan Anugrah Tuhan Dalam Hidup Saya 32 Church Evaluation: Are We a Healthy and Grown Church? 42 Liputan: Peresmian Gereja Injili Indonesia San Diego 44 Christians around the World 46 Book Review: The Unlike Disciples 48 Liputan: Graduates Interview 2009 56 Youth Corner: Lifestyle 58 Album Review: Dear Diary 60 New artists: Jimmy Needham & 10th 0th Ave. North 62 Comic Strips: Saul Conversion to Paul 64 Poem: A Blessing

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AGAPE — Anniversarsy 2009

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GEREJA INJILI INDONESIA AZUSA 539 N. SUNSET AVE. AZUSA, CA 91702

LOKASI LAINNYA:

JADWAL KEGIATAN:

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GII SAN JOSE 600 W. CAMPBELL AVE. CAMPBELL, CA 95008 (510) 972-0493 AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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Mengucap syukurlah dalam segala hal (1Tes 5:18)

26 Menjelang Hut ke 26 Gii Azusa

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Apa yang harus kita lakukan? Biarlah kita belajar seperti rasul Paulus. Bagaimana rasul Paulus menasehati jemaat di Tesalonika (1Tes 5:18)

“Mengucap

syukurlah dalam segala hal.” Biarlah saat ini kita harus sangat bersyukur atas segala anugrah Tuhan yang telah diberikan kepada kita selama dua puluh enam tahun. Apa yang harus kita bersyukur kepada-Nya?

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1. Kita harus bersyukur atas pimpinan-Nya GII Azusa didirikan atas pimpinan Tuhan sendiri. Tuhan dengan tangan-Nya yang memulaikan GII Azusa. Dan dia terus memimpinnyaa sampai sekarang dan seterusnya.Tuhan memimpin GII Azusa selama dua puluh enam tahun dan dia tetap memeliharanya. GII Azusa mana depannya tetap dipimpin oleh tangan Tuhan sendiri. (Filipi 1:5) “Aku mengucap syukur kepada Allahku karena persekutuanmu dalam berita injil mulai dari hari pertama sampai sekarang ini.” 2. Kita harus bersyukur atas penyedian-Nya Gii Azusa selama berjalan dua puluh enam tahun. Dan Tuhan menambahkan sekian banyak anak-anak sekolah minggu. Sehinga tidak cukup kelaskelas untuk anak-anak sekolah minggu. Maka tiba waktu Tuhan. Dia dengan kasih sayang-Nya telah menyediakan tempat yang baru untuk anak-anak sekolah minggu. Maka Tuhan memberikan rumah sebelah kepada kita. Kita sungguh sangat bersyukur kepada-Nya yang telah menyediakan tempat yang indah untuk anak-anak sekolah minggu. (Efesus 3:20) “Bagi Dialah, yang dapat melakukan jauh lebih banyak dari pada yang kita doakan atau pikirkan.” 3. Kita harus Bersyukur atas berkatNya.Tuhan memberkati GII Azusa dengan penuh berkelimpahan selama dua puluh enam tahun. a. Hidup Dengan Rukun

Tuhan sungguh memberkati GII Azusa hidup dengan rukun selama dua puluh enam tahun. Hidup bersama dengan rukun bukan satu hal yang mudah. Semuanya karena anugrah dan berkat Tuhan sendiri. Biarlah tangan Tuhan tetap memimpin anak-anak Azusa hidup dengan satu hati sampai seterusnya. (Mazmur 133:1) “Sungguh, alangkah baiknya dan indahnya, Apabila saudara-saudara diam bersama dengan rukun.” b. Anugrah Keselamatan Tuhan telah memberikan berkat anugrah keselamatan kepada anakanak GII Azusa selama dua puluh enam tahun. Banyak yang telah terima anugrah keselamatan dan kembali ke Indonesia menjadi saluran berkat bagi keluargakeluarga mereka dan orang lain. Tuhan tetap memberkati GII Azusa degan anugrah keselamatan kepada generasi-generasi yang baru. (Matius 28:19) “Karena itu pergilah, jadikanlah semua bangsa muridKu dan baptislah mereka dalam nama Bapa dan Anak dan Roh Kudus.” Sebagai kata penutup, anak anak GII Azusa selama dua puluh enam tahun Tuhan memberkati dengan berkelimpahan dan jadi berkat bagi orang lain. Kita hanya bersyukur, bersyukur, bersyukur segala berkat dan anugrahNya selama dua puluh enam tahun dan seterusnya. (Mazmur 17:8) “peliharalah aku seperti biji mata, sembunyikanlah aku dalam naungan sayapMu.” AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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The Old Testament has two words that can be translated “grace” in English: chesed and hen. Chesed means “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love.” Hen means “favor.” The New Testament uses “charis” which is translated favor or grace. From the observation of the whole Scripture, we can define grace as God’s unmerited favor on sinners. Grace is very different from other gifts of God in that it is closely related to salvation. The term “saved by grace” has become a standard phrase for Christian community. Grace and salvation are inseparable. Grace will be understood only if it is put against the background of sin. Adam’s fall bring sin and death on all humanity. The extent and the depth of that sin are incurable by any means. Chapter 1 and 3 of Romans details this hopeless situation. The act of saving sinful human beings cannot come from themselves; it has to come from God himself. The question is: Is there anything good in human that makes them worthy to be saved by God? The answer is no. Then why does God want to save them? Grace is the answer. That is why grace is an unmerited favor; it is given purely out of God’s will. Human beings cannot contribute anything to make him savable or worthy to be saved. Let us look more closely to these points and the verses that form their foundation. 6


1. Grace is unconditional It is unconditional because there is nothing in us that can meet the condition to receive the grace. If God sets the condition for us to receive His grace, then no one is saved, because no one is able to fulfill or meet the conditions. How can a sinner meet the condition set by the Holy God? The fact that God gives us grace, teaches us that it is totally unconditional.

Is there Is th he ere e anything any nyth ytth h good in human that makes them worthy to be saved by God?

Deut. 7:7-8: The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

~ NO! ~

Notice how God warns the people of Israel not to boast. Their number is the smallest; God loves them because He is faithful to His promise to their forefathers. In other words, it is something in God, not something in us, that makes Him love us. Rom 10:20: And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."


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( INDONESIAN INSERTION ) Sejak Adam dan Hawa manusia sudah jatuh ke dalam dosa dan upah dosa adalah maut. Manusia tidak dapat berbuat apapun untuk memperoleh keselamatan, hanya Tuhan yang dapat memberikannya. Apakah ada sesuatu yang baik di dalam manusia yang membuat mereka berhak untuk memperoleh keselamatan? Tidak! Kenapa Tuhan mau menyelamatkan manusia? Anugrah adalah jawabannya. Oleh sebab itu anugrah keselamatan adalah pemberian cuma-cuma berdasarkan keinginan Tuhan. Manusia tidak dapat berbuat apa pun yang dapat membuat mereka bisa dan berhak untuk diselamatkan. Anugrah tidak mempunyai kondisi apa pun. Jika anugrah berkondisi maka

tidak ada seorang pun yang dapat memenuhi kondisi tersebut. Manusia berdosa tidak mungkin dapat memenuhi kondisi yang diberikan oleh Tuhan yang kudus.

Tuhan mencintai kita bukan karena sesuatu di dalam diri kita melainkan karena sesuatu di dalam Tuhan sendiri. Manusia bisa menemukan Tuhan karena Tuhan lah yang mencari manusia dahulu. Manusia yang pada dasarnya berdosa dan penyembah berhala tidak mungkin dapat mencari Tuhan yang sesungguhnya. Anugrah tidak dapat diraih karena anugrah tidak dapat dibeli dengan uang dan perbuatan baik manusia. Anugrah adalah hadiah/pemberian Tuhan saja

jadi manusia tidak ada yang dapat menyombongkan diri jika mendapatkannya.

Anugrah bukan sesuatu yang berhak manusia dapatkan karena manusia berdosa sudah sepantasnya mendapatkan kematian dan hukuman kekal bukan hidup yang kekal. Karenannya pemberian ini maka disebut anugrah. Anugrah bukan hanya hadiah yang mendatangkan keselamatan tetapi anugrah dapat memberikan kekuatan kepada manusia untuk berubah.

Dengan anugrah manusia dapat berubah untuk melakukan pekerjaan baik dan mengejar kekudusan.

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In fact, we can find God because God first finds us. By nature, we are sinful and idolworshippers. We do not seek Him.Yet, He shows Himself to sinners like us. Again, this action of God is independent from human condition. 2 Tim 1:9: who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, “Not because of anything we have done” is profoundly clear.

2. Unachieveable What is meant by “unachieveable” is that grace cannot be bought, paid, or earned by human beings. It is freely given by God, and there is nothing that we do that can earn it. It is purely a gift. This understanding provides no room for boasting. Let us read these verses below. Romans 11:6: And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Galatians 1:15: But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased Galatians 2:21: I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Ephesians 1:5-6: he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Ephesians 2:8-9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. No observance of the Law, no work of righteousness, no good deeds, even no amount of faith, can earn grace. We keep the Law, do righteous and good deeds, and believe and glorify God because those are our duties as human, God’s creatures. It cannot be counted as “credit” or “merit.” AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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We contribute nothing to our salvation. It is the work of God (grace) from the beginning to the end.

perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

3. Undeserving

2 Thes. 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Eph. 1:4-5: Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. It follows from point 2, since we have nothing to contribute then grace is an unmerited favor to undeserving sinners. We deserve death and eternal punishment. Instead, God gives us grace that leads to eternal life. We truly do not deserve this. This is why it is called grace. If we deserve it, it is no longer grace; it is wage.

1 Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them-- yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Contrary to what other say, God’s grace will encourage, enable and strengthen its recipients to do good works and pursue holiness.

4. Unlimitedly Powerful Pelagius and the like argue that “by grace only” teaching will make people lazy and immoral. Since there is nothing that we can do to earn grace, why bother? But this argument only shows the serious deficiency in their understanding of grace. Grace is not only the gift of salvation; it is the power that saves human beings. In other words, it contains a transforming power. 2 Cor. 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made 10


What can we say in the end? We can only give God the glory. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen (Rom. 11:36).

ANUGERAH Plus: BAHAYA SALAH MENGERTI ANUGERAH Sebuah Refleksi dari Tulisan dari Dr. John Coe. OLEH: Ev. Dedy S. Ginta

Belakangan ini kita melihat spriritualitas sekuler banyak menawarkan ”a selfhelp program” yang berhubungan dengan kehidupan terlepas dari Kristus sehingga orang-orang merasa baik dan benar di mata mereka sendiri. Oprah dalam talk show nya banyak mengundang tokoh-tokoh yang berkaitan dengan hal ini. Dalam kebenaran Alkitab kita mengerti bahwa usaha baik manusia tak mampu mengatasi rasa bersalah (guilt) dan rasa malu (shame). Hanya karena Kristus, dalam karya penebusanNya di atas salib yang berhubungan dengan pengalaman Kristen sehari-hari dimana perasaan bersalah, kegagalan, dan persaan malu diselesaikan. Namun demikian, banyak orang percaya yang berdedikasi tergoda untuk memulai perjalanan oleh iman dalam karya Kristus yang telah selesai di atas salib, ketika menghadapi rasa bersalah, malu, dosa, dan kegagalan dalam pengalaman sehari-hari, tanpa disadari: -melupakan atau gagal melihat pembenaran seseorang berhubungan dengan rasa malu, bersalah, dan dosa, dan -akan tergoda untuk menggunakan usaha manusia berhubungan dengan masalah ini dan merasa baik akan kehidupan Kristen mereka, -hal ini, tanpa disadari, akan membawa dua macam pandangan pengudusan yang keliru: Pertama, bahwa kita datang ke dalam iman atas dasar karya Kristus, tetapi Kedua, bahwa kita bertumbuh dalam iman dan berhubungan dengan dosa atas usaha kita kita sendiri. Paulus melihat hal ini dengan yang telah mempesona kamu? Bukankah apa yang persis sama terjadi dengan Yesus Kristus yang disalibkan itu telah orang-orang Galatia. Situasi pada saat itu: dilukiskan dengan terang di hadapanmu? nampaknya orang-orang Galatia percaya (a.1) Jadi bagaimana sekarang, apakah Ia dengan mengikuti ajaran Judaisme. “Hai yang menganugerahkan Roh kepada kamu orang-orang Galatia yang bodoh, siapakah dengan berlimpah-limpah dan yang AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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melakukan mujizat diantara kamu, berbuat demikian karena kamu melakukan hukum Taurat atau karena kamu percaya kepada pemberitaan Injil?” (a.5).Anggapan mereka adalah mungkin Paulus benar bahwa iman dalam Yesus Kristus adalah cukup untuk permulaan keselamatan dari perjanjian dengan Allah dalam Kristus, tetapi ada

Pernyataan yang mengejutkan dari rasul Paulus membukakan pengertian bahwa usaha orang-orang yang menganut paham Judaisme memegang hukum untuk berhubungan dengan kedagingan

sesuatu y a n g lebih dari itu: jika engkau bertumbuh dalam kesempurnaan (Galatia 3) dan jika engkau berhubungan dengan masalah kedagingan (Galatia 5) harus memegang Torat, engkau harus mengaplikasikan usaha terhadap memegang Taurat yang dimotivasi oleh fakta bahwa usaha-usaha manusialah yang menjadi faktor menentukan dalam berhubungan dengan pertumbuhan diri sendiri dan menang atas dosa dalam ikatan perjanjian.

adalah bentuk lain dari kedagingan. Pandangan Paulus tentang kedagingan (sarx) bermakna ganda: 1. Standar penggunaan kedagingan sebagai lisensi dan pemberontakan dari hati terhadap hukum, kehendak, dan pribadi Allah (bandingkan konsep Kemerdekaan Kristen dalam Galatia 5), 2. Penggunaan kedagingan adalah usaha manusia. Relevansi dan peringatan dalam kehidupan kita: 1. Kedagingan dapat bermanifestasi dalam diri sendiri sebagai lisensi

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pembenaran dan sebagai legalisme. 2. Dalam kehidupan Kristen, kita memulai dengan beban berat dalam pundak kita, dosa, dan kebutuhan pengampunan akan Allah, dan kita harus datang pada Kristus dalam hal ini. Jawaban terhadap legalisme: Teologi Perjanjian baru—Kristus adalah Pembenaran kita sehingga bersatu dengan Dia adalah jawaban terhadap isu rasa bersalah, dosa, dan kegagalan dalam kehidupan Kristen. Pembenaran Allah dalam Kristus menunjukkan bahwa: 1. S e l u r u h d o s a k i t a t e l a h ditanggungkan kepada Kristus (yang tidak berdosa) sehingga kita telah total diampuni dan tak lagi di bawah penghukuman 2. Seluruh kebenaran Kristus telah dilekatkan kepada kita (yang berdosa) sehingga kita secara total diterima oleh Allah atas dasar ketaatan Kristus (bukan karena kesalehan kita). Itulah yang disebut DOUBLE IMPUTATION . Bagaimana kita tahu bahwa kita tergoda menyempurnakan diri kita dalam kedagingan, dan tidak lagi bergantung pada anugerah Allah? Ketika kita disadarkan akan dosa

dan kemudian secara spontan kita ingin melakukan hal yang lebih baik ketimbang datang pada salib, dan ketika kita frustasi dengan dosa kita sehingga membuat kita tidak ingin melihatnya lagi, namun pada saat yang sama kita jatuh dalam moralisme, ketimbang melihat anugerah dan pengampunan. Bahaya untuk kita sebagai murid Tuhan (gereja) jatuh dalam kedagingan, dan tidak lagi melihat anugerah adalah: begitu mudah kita berpikir kita diselamatkan oleh iman tetapi disempurnakan oleh jasa (usaha) kita. Ketimbang, kita diselamatkan oleh iman dan kita disempurnakan oleh kehidupan iman, diselamatkan oleh iman dalam Kristus, disempurnakan oleh iman sehari-hari dalam Kristus-dimana setiap hari seluruh tindakan percaya kita bukan pada tindakan tetapi di dalam Kristus dan Roh untuk pertumbuhan, percaya bahwa saya tidak lagi dalam penghukuman, tetapi saya diterima oleh Allah. Tidak takut melihat diri sendiri dan dosa saya sebagaimana adanya-tidak frustasi dengan kegagalan tetapi sebagai kesempatan mengalami pengampunan Kristus, sebagaimana dalam 1 Yoh 1:8 dan janji pengampunan selalu ada. Ijinkan saya mengutip apa yang dikatakan oleh Edward Curtis dan John Brugaletta dalam bukunya AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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“Discovering the Way of Wisdom,”: “Dalam Perjanjian Lama juga jelas bahwa kita harus mengaplikasikan kebenaran dalam kehidupan jika kita harus bertumbuh dalam anugerah.Tujuan dari proses ini adalah bukan pengetahuan tetapi menyangkut keterampilan dalam kehidupan. Keterampilan dalam kehidupan bukanlah hasil dari mengikuti seminar intensif selama 8 minggu atau menghafal prinsip-prinsip mendasar yang diterapkan secara mekanis untuk meraih kesuksesan. Keterampilan yang bersumber dari hikmat berdasarkan pengetahuan kebenaran, tetapi keterampilan dikembangkan melalui praktek dan aplikasi yang rajin dari kehidupan.” Lalu bagaimana gereja mempraktekkan hal ini untuk bertumbuh dalam anugerah dan kebenaran? -Ajarkan misteri dan karya pemulihan yang Allah kerjakan dalam tempat yang tersembunyi yaitu hati kita. -Perkenalkanlah cerita-cerita yang jujur tentang luka dan penyembuhan namun di saat yang sama menceritakan anugerah Allah. -Tantanglah jemaat untuk beriman 14


dalam kuasa Allah. -Doronglah jemaat untuk menguatkan orang lain dalam krisis. -Berikan definisi yang tepat tentang anugerah dan pertumbuhan seperti yang Alkitab katakan. -Hindari jatuh dalam gaya hidup Kristen termasuk mempraktekkan disiplin rohani yang bersifat legalisme. Contoh: Saya melakukan disiplin rohani seperti doa, membaca firman Allah bukan karena kerinduan tetapi keterpaksaan, keharusan dan aturan. - Ke m b a n g k a n l a h ke l o m p o k kelompok pendukung dalam gereja dimana kita bisa berdoa bersama dan memberi pertolongan kepada orangorang terluka, dalam krisis, pergumulan, di saat yang sama menyampaikan berita kebenaran, sehingga orang yang mendengarnya mendapatkan anugerah. Saya teringat dengan apa yang dikatakan oleh Mel Lawrenz dalam bukunya The Dynamics of Spiritual Formation, “…and God puts the church there as the instrument of soul-shaping.” Tentunya gereja pun dipanggil m e n j a d i instrumen anugerah ilahi.

The teaching about grace has been a subject of debate throughout centuries. Although the biblical teaching of grace is clear, many people find it hard to accept. One of the most common complains of the non-Christians against the biblical teaching of grace is that it really makes people lazy, irresponsible, and immoral. They say that if people are saved only by grace, then they can do what they want. Of course, this is totally denied by the Apostle Paul himself in Romans 6:1-2: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” A certain teacher named Pelagius spent some time in Rome around the year 400s. He witnessed the moral decline among Christians, and he blamed it on the teaching of grace. He took aim especially at Augustine (354-430), the famous church father. Augustine wrote extensively about grace, and Pelagius, after reading much of Augustine’s work, decided to oppose it.


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Pelagius’s principal belief is that human beings are born sinless, and have the power to choose good over evil. He denies that human beings are born with a tendency to do evil because of the sinful nature. In this case, human beings do not really need grace. They do not need the death of Christ, either. They are fine as long as they do good things. To Pelagius, grace is not really necessary. It is not something that the Lord gives into our hearts. It is just an influence to continue doing good things. In this way, Pelagius denies the necessity of Christ’s death. Augustine responded by stating that human beings are born sinful. This sinful nature will translate into sinful deeds. In fact, this is the inclination of human heart. They will always choose the evil over good. Even when they do good things, it is done from sinful motive. As such, human condition is helpless and hopeless. This is why human beings need God’s grace. And God’s grace does not work at the outside, but in the inside of human, in his heart. This grace will awaken the soul, heal its blindness, and transform it into the likeness of Christ. Augustine teaches what the Bible teaches, that apart from the cross of Christ, there is no salvation. If Pelagius is right, then Christ dies for nothing. In his understanding, Christ dies for people who can actually 16


save themselves. It is such a waste. But this clearly contradicts what the Bible teaches. Christ’s death is absolutely necessary for human salvation. 2 Timothy 1:9 says: “[God] who has saved us and called us to a holy life-- not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” Pelagius is sadly mistaken when he says that grace will lead to an unholy life. He fails to understand the power of God’s grace. When somebody receives God’s grace, that grace does not only save him from eternal punishment, it also saves him from the power of sin. The recipient of grace will, in the course of time, weaken the presence of sin in his life. Of course, this is a lifelong spiritual battle, but God will triumph, and so will His children. By God’s providence, in 418, in the council of Carthage, the view of Pelagius is condemned as heresy, and the church continues forward with the biblical teaching of grace, as championed by Augustine.

Banyak sekali orang yang tidak mengerti ajaran alkitab mengenai anugrah karena mereka berpikir bahwa manusia dapat berbuat semena-mena jika keselamatan hanya berdasarkan anugrah Tuhan. Sejarah adalah tempat yang bagus untuk mempelajari kesalahan ini. Pelagius, yang adalah seorang guru agama di Roma di sekitar tahun 400, kecewa dengan menurunnya moralitas diantara orang Kristen dan dia menyalahkan ajaran anugrah. Pelagius percaya bahwa manusia dilahirkan tidak berdosa. Manusia baik-baik saja selama mereka melakukan pekerjaan baik. Dengan begini, Pelagius menyatakan bahwa manusia tidak memerlukan anugrah dan kematian Tuhan Yesus dan bahwa keselamatan itu dapat diraih oleh manusia sendiri. Kalau begini Pelagius tidak menyadari bertapa pentingnya kematian Tuhan Yesus. Agustinus, seorang pendiri gereja yang terkenal, menegur ajaran Pelagius bahwa manusia berdosa pada dasarnya. Manusia akan selalu memilih dosa daripada kebaikan/kebenaran. Kalaupun manusia berbuat baik, perbuatan itu

mempunyai motif yang berdosa. Karena itu manusia memerlukan anugrah karena anugrah dapat membangunkan roh, menerangkan mata rohani, dan mengubah manusia menjadi seperti Tuhan. Jika ajaran Pelagius benar, maka kematian Tuhan Yesus adalah sia-sia karena manusia dapat menyelamatkan diri mereka sendiri. Ajaran ini jelas menyimpang dari ajaran alkitab karena alkitab mengajarkan bahwa selain Tuhan Yesus tidak ada keselamatan seperti yang dikatakan Agustinus. Pelagius tidak mengerti kekuatan anugrah Tuhan karena anugrah Tuhan bukan hanya menyelamatkan kita dari maut tetapi juga dari cengkraman dosa. Penerima anugrah dapat perlahan-lahan melemahkan kehadiran dosa di dalam hidupnya. Tentu saja ini merupakan peperangan rohani di sepanjang hidup manusia, tetapi Tuhan akan selalu memenangkan peperangan ini dan begitu juga dengan anak-anakNya


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By: Nadya Yobeanto

My notion of a relationship being this continuous happy warm feeling went straight through to the roof when I first cried because my friend talked bad of me behind my back. Indeed, relationships are very painful and full of tears; no matter it is a relationship between couples, family members, friends, coworkers, and yes, between fellow church members. People hurt one another and sometimes they might do it intentionally or not, including us, the so-called Christians. This been said, being a church member and being among Christians will not make us immune of the pain. Most of the times, the pain is even greater. We can also admit that the people who offend and disappoint us the most are usually the people we meet once a week (or maybe more) in the church. Despite the pain, we cannot run away from relationships because God creates humans that way. Being in a relationship is in our very nature of existence. We cannot live without relationships. Because of this, I think it is important for us to look at the source of the pain or we can say the reason behind it and the way to actually have true relationships that work and are less painful. 18


Love is the essence of life, and stands at the very core of human relationships. Many today’s people say that to be able to love others we need to learn to love ourselves first. It sounds nice, but that statement is totally misleading. We do not need to learn to love ourselves because we already, in our sinful nature, love ourselves deeply. Lord Jesus said in Matthew 22:39 that we have to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. He does not tell us to love ourselves, because He knows that we already do. A book I read recently states that emotion such as pain, hurt, or disappointment is a selfprotective process against something that is not agreeable with us. So adding these two facts together, the pain we feel from a relationship is a self-protective mechanism because we love ourselves dearly. If we do

not love ourselves, we will not be hurt. The reason the pain is deeper with people in the church is because we have a certain expectations of them to be good and not to hurt us with their words or actions. The pain gets stronger when we actually think that we care about them. We, in our selfish ways, think that church people are supposed to be people who treat us well at all times. But, of course, it is not the way it works. Looking at this, humans, by themselves, cannot possibly have a true relationship that God intended them to have. We are too engrossed in ourselves that is impossible for us to love others and think about others’ well-being. Sinful, selfish and evil, those are the things we are (Mark 7:21-23). Unable to have a real relationship, that is what we are doomed to be.


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All of these take us to the point of wondering on how are we going to be able to have a true relationship? Well, fellow church members, the answers are always found in God’s words. Having a true relationship is only possible when we have God’s grace flowing in us. Through grace, God reveals to us that we are sinners and we are bornagain into a new self. Only with this enlightenment we can learn to love ourselves less and love God more. With loving God more and more each day, we can love others enough to be in the relationship God wants us to have. It is during this year that I am repetitively reminded about the utmost significance of God’s saving grace. Not only that it is the only way for our salvation (Rom. 5:21), but it is also the only way to actually live. The sanctification and constant renewal of the mind (Eph. 4:23) and heart, the wisdom, love (1 Cor. 13:4-7), strength, the selflessness, as well as the commitment so 20


needed in having a relationship can only be given to us through God’s grace. It is only by God’s grace that we can experience a glimpse of true happiness and joy that God longs for us to find in a relationship. Yes, the hurt will still be there because we, sinners, still love ourselves too much for people to treat us unwell. But now, knowing that we are all sinners should humble ourselves. With the strength and wisdom He gives us to pray for those who hurt us, the pain will not even linger in our hearts. It is also best to let the Holy Spirit work in us and to be responsible for our daily repentance and selfintrospection in order to be blessings for others and not hurt them. A famous advice says that when you go to a church, look to God and not to the people in it. It is true, but I think it is also important to look at them as we see ourselves, sinners. This must not lead

to gossiping, judging, and finger-pointing. On the other hand, this should greatly encourage us to pray for one another (Eph. 6:18), support one another in spiritual growth (Col. 1:9), help those in need (Acts 20:35), and to remind/rebuke one another of our sinful acts (Luke 17:3, 2 Tim. 4:2). We should not stay away from other church members to avoid being hurt, but we should grow in faith and in godly relationships together. As the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), it is necessary for us to work together despite our differences as we build our relationships centered on the love coming from God alone. In the end, all relationships take a lot of effort while maintaining appropriate boundaries. They need attention, commitment, sacrifices, and discernment. They will also still be painful because we are a part of a fallen world. However, we have to be constantly thankful that God, through His mercy and grace, has given us the only possibility and capability to have a true and sincere relationship: a relationship with genuine love, hope, joy, and selflessness.


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Mengajar Anak Berdoa Doa adalah nafas orang Kristen. Istilah ini sering kita dengar di kalangan orang Kristen. Tapi sadarkah kita sebagai orang dewasa maupun sebagai orang tua bahwa anak-anak harus dibiasakan dan diajarkan berdoa dari sejak usia dini. Bagaimana sebenarnya "Mengajar Anak Berdoa"? Cheri Fuller dalam bukunya "When Children Pray" (Multnomah, 1998) memberikan beberapa petunjuk sebagai berikut:

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1.

Mulailah sejak kecil.

2.

Anak-anak meniru orangtua yang menjadikan doa sebagai gaya hidup.

Ajarilah anak Anda untuk berbicara dengan Tuhan semenjak mereka masih balita dan berdoalah bersama mereka selama masa kanak- kanaknya.

Anak-anak "menangkap" doa dari orangtua yang berbicara dan mendengarkan Tuhan, yang bersemangat saat berdoa bersama orang lain dan berbagi doa dengan anak-anak mereka, baik di hari-hari biasa maupun ketika dalam keadaan kritis.

3.

Memberikan doa perlindungan.

4.

Berikan kosakata doa pada anak

Kita sebagai orang dewasa memberikan suatu "doa perlindungan" bagi fisik dan rohani mereka saat melakukan doa syafaat setiap hari. Hal tersebut berarti, kita mempersiapkan anak-anak dalam menghadapi pergumulan melalui doa kita. Bacakan Firman Allah kepada mereka sehingga mereka menyimpan Firman itu dalam hati dan mereka tidak berbuat dosa. Berdoalah seperti yang diajarkan Tuhan, sehingga mereka akan menyimpannya dalam hati agar mereka tidak berbuat dosa (Mazmur 119:11), Roh Kudus akan memenuhi mereka dengan pengetahuan tentang kehendak-Nya (Kolose 1:9), mereka tidak bersandar pada pengetahuan mereka sendiri tetapi percaya kepada Allah di tiap langkah mereka (Amsal 3:5-6), dan Allah akan menunjukkan bahwa mereka berperan penting dalam keluarga Allah dan menjadi bagian dari rencana-Nya setiap hari.

Seiring dengan pertumbuhan anak dalam pengenalannya akan Firman Allah, mereka perlu diperkenalkan dengan kosakata yang tepat supaya mereka tidak perlu bingung tentang siapakah Allah dan apa yang harus dikatakan pada-Nya. Bukan berarti kita harus mendikte anak bagaimana harus berdoa tapi berikan contoh yang sederhana dan kemudian latihlah anak untuk menggunakan katakata mereka sendiri. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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5.

Ajarkan pada mereka untuk mendengarkan Allah.

6.

Ajaklah anak-anak dan para pemuda untuk acaraacara doa yang diadakan di gereja Anda.

Tanyakan pada anak apa yang mereka dengar dari Tuhan ketika mereka berdoa atau membaca Alkitab. Ketika kita menyisihkan waktu untuk bertanya pada anak-anak tentang pikiran mereka dan menganggap serius apa yang mereka sharingkan, itu adalah suatu berkat, karena Allah senang berbicara kepada dan melalui anak-anak.

Jangan abaikan anak-anak itu, ajak mereka untuk berdoa -- berikan pada mereka pokok-pokok doa sama seperti yang akan didoakan saat itu. Ketika Anda merencanakan suatu acara doa khusus atau persekutuan, ajaklah anak-anak dan para pemuda, biarkan mereka tahu bahwa kehadiran dan doa mereka sangat penting.

7.

Ketika berdoa bersama dengan anak-anak atau para pemuda, berdoalah dengan sungguh-sungguh, jujur, dan jangan berpura-pura. Berdoalah dengan singkat, memakai bahasa percakapan sehari-hari daripada memakai kalimat-kalimat yang panjang dan bertele-tele. Dengan demikian mereka diberi kesempatan untuk berdoa dengan katakata yang telah mereka ketahui dan dengan karunia-karunia Allah yang diberikan kepada mereka. Jika Anda mempraktekkan hal-hal tersebut, Anda akan mengetahui, sama seperti saya, bahwa anak-anak bisa menjadi rekan doa yang sungguh menakjubkan dan bisa menjadi pahlawan-pahlawan doa yang efektif

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Bagaimana Mengajar Anak Berdoa Dalam Kelas Sekolah Minggu Seringkali mulai bisa berbicara. Mengajar berdoa kepada anak tidak segampang yang kita bayangkan. Oleh sebab itu guru dituntut untuk tekun dan bersabar. Mengajar berdoa untuk kelas kecil (3-6 th) Tujuan pengajaran pada tahap ini adalah membentuk pengertian dasar pada setiap anak sehingga setiap anak memahami: • Berdoa adalah waktu dimana anak memohon kepada Bapa di sorga sama seperti memohon kepada bapa yang di bumi • Berdoa itu mudah dan menyenangkan, sehingga anak tidak perlu takut berdoa • Bagaimana cara dan sikap berdoa Guru mengajarkan hal-hal yang sifatnya mendasar dan melatih keberanian anak dalam berdoa, sehingga anak suka berdoa. Untuk itu ada beberapa tahap yang harus dilalui, dan masingmasing tahap bisa memakan waktu 3-4 bulan (tergantung keadaan sekolah minggu setempat). Tentu tahap-tahap yang saya usulkan berikut ini dapat diubah sesuai dengan kebutuhan:

Tahap 1: Mengulangi setiap kalimat doa yang diucapkan guru Tahap pertama ini hendak melatih keberanian anak untuk berdoa, dan anak beroleh kesan mendasar bahwa berdoa itu mudah dan menyenangkan. Setiap kali hendak berdoa (pada acara Sekolah Minggu) guru meminta anak mengulangi setiap kalimat doa yang diucapkan oleh guru.Yang perlu diperhatikan di sini adalah: • Guru harus mengucapkan sepotong (1-2 kata) yang mudah diingat dan diikuti anak. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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Diucapkan dengan lambat serta dipilih kata-kata yang sederhana dan mudah dimengerti anak • Keseluruhan doa hendaknya jangan terlalu panjang, cukup 1-2 kalimat sehingga anak dapat memahami maksudnya. Dan akan lebih baik lagi jika guru meminta anak mengulangi isi doa tadi dengan kata-kata mereka sendiri (yang penting anak memahami apa isi doa tersebut). Dalam tahap ini perlu juga diajarkan sikap doa yang baik, yaitu melipat tangan dan menutup mata. Melatih anak untuk melipat tangan tidak sulit, tetapi melatih anak untuk menutup mata ini membutuhkan waktu dan kesabaran kita, sebab pada umumnya anak takut gelap. Guru bisa menggunakan simulasi dan gerakan untuk melatih sikap doa ini.

Tahap 2: Mengajarkan berbagai macam doa yang dibutuhkan anak Selain doa-doa yang dilakukan dalam acara sekolah minggu, guru bisa mulai mengajarkan doa-doa lain yang bisa dipraktekkan dalam kehidupan anak sehari-hari. Doa yang kita ajarkan tentu doa yang singkat, mudah dimengerti dan diingat oleh anak.

Tahap 3: Guru membisikkan doa pada satu anak Dalam tahap ini anak sudah berani menutup mata atau sudah terbiasa bila berdoa harus menutup mata. Guru mulai mengajarkan kepada anak untuk memimpin doa bagi temantemannya. Guru bisa memilih seorang anak dan menyruhnya berdoa sementara guru membisikan kalimat doa di telinga anak tersebut yang diikuti oleh anak itu Mengajar berdoa pada kelas sedang (7-9th)

Tahap 4: Berdoa satu kalimat dengan contoh formula doa dari guru Anak mulai dilatih agar bisa berdoa sendiri tidak lagi mengikuti kata-kata yang diucapkan guru, namun pada tahap awal guru bisa memberi contoh dengan menuliskannya pada selembar kertas atau selipan Alkitab. Tehnik ini akan melatih anak berani berdoa. Bila anak di dalam kelas sedikit, guru bisa memberikan satu kalimat doa kepada masing-masing anak lalu menyuruh mereka mengucapkannya dalam sikap doa secara bergantian.

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Tahap 5: Berdoa untuk orang lain (melatih doa syafaat) Bisa dilatih dengan mendoakan teman di sebelahnya atau teman dalam kelompoknya.

Tahap 6: Anak berdoa dengan kreasi doanya sendiri Anak diajak mengarang doa pendek dengan kata-katanya sendiri lalu guru Mengajar berdoa untuk kelas besar (10-15 th)

Tahap 7: Doa bagi pergumulan pribadi Ajaklah anak-anak untuk menulis surat yang ditujukan kepada Tuhan Yesus. Surat itu berupa pergumulan mereka pribadi. Surat itu bisa berisi doa permohonan atau ucapan syukur karena Tuhan telah memberkati dan menolong mereka.

Tahap 8: Doa bagi permasalahan actual Sebelum berdoa berilah pengantar tentang situasi atau keadaan di sekitar kita, negara kita atau dunia internasional. Ajaklah anak untuk berdoa terhadap persoalan tersebut.

Tahap 9: Berdoa 24 Jam Pada tahap ini anak mulai bisa diajarkan tentang perlunya doa setiap saat, mulai mereka bangun tidur, makan, pergi sekolah, bermain, dsb… Anak-anak bisa berdoa setiap saat dalam hatinya. Sumber: Buku “Teaching Kid How to Pray, terbitan Global Harvest Ministry www.rajawalikecil.com


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RE WI RED By Jocelyn Lee Tindage

H

aving grown up in a non-Christian home, my life had been filled with conventional wisdom such as: work hard and you will get good grades. Get good grades and you will get into a good college. Get into a good college and you’ll get a good job. Get a good job and you will be secured in life.

elderly couple on the east coast lost their $700,000 savings in the market crash of fall 2008, reality taught me that Chuck knows jack about the unpredictability of life.

Then in 2001, my friends raved about a money making machine called 2by2. net. It was an opportunity to accumulate wealth quickly with only a bit of work. I followed a convenient formula: Half of my savings, a year of wasted time and one broken friendship later, I learned Prestigious job + wise investment + ½(Hard I had been lured into a pyramid scheme work) = Retirement in Vancouver and had I been successful, that probably meant I deceived my friends into the For me, the formula began with a job scheme as well. in accounting – a career path that I deemed stable and prestigious. I was Yet where conventional wisdom failed really looking forward to addressing me, the Word of God began to make a my letters with Jocelyn Lee, CPA but whole lot more sense. As 1 Corinthians soon discovered my calling in a path 3 describes that required a lot of work, little pay, 19 and even less appreciation: elementary For the wisdom of this world is foolishness school teacher/freelance writer. in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches The formula also taught me to put my faith in Charles Schwab so that I can retire with a yacht in San Diego. When an 28

AGAPE1—9 Anniversarsy 2009

F o r

t h e

the wise in their craftiness” 20and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

w i s d o m

o f

t h i s

w o r l d

i s

While I was bent on having a prestigious job worthy of envy, Christ taught that “26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20, NIV) While conventional wisdom taught me to plan for a comfortable retirement, Christ said, "19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6, NIV) Instead of putting my faith in a mutual fund, which may be wiped out at any given time, I should put my faith in the Lord, who knows my needs and supplies for me day by day. (I'm not saying don't have a mutual fund, just don't put all of your hope in it.) While the world encourages that I find ways to earn money quickly, Proverbs 13 tells me that "11Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow." (NIV) Instead of looking for a windfall, I should have been working hard.

f o o l i s h n e s s

i n

G o d ’ s

I felt that the Holy Spirit has been slowly rewiring my brain, replacing my conventional wisdoms with the Word of God. While it is still important to study, to get a job, and save up, I now know that my intentions for these things were futile. I had done everything with the goal of a good retirement when I should have first sought the kingdom and righteousness of God. So I won’t have an office with the nameplate: Jocelyn Lee, CPA on my door; my investment in Charles Schwab has dwindled down to $252.45 (no, this is not a typographical error); and I probably won’t have a million dollars in my savings account by thirty. But I have a loving God who secured my retirement in heaven with Him and that is more than I could have ever asked for. 28

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20, NIV)

s i g h t . AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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Testimony: Besarnya Anugrah dan Cinta Kasih Tuhan di Dalam Hidup Saya By Hernie Anwar Dari dulu saya mencari satu gereja Indonesia yang ajaran sesuai dengan Alkitab dan Tuhan telah membawa saya pada GII Asuza yang saya rasa paling cocok. Padahal saya paling tidak suka ke gereja Indonesia pada umumnya. Saya ingat pertama kali saya ke gereja GII saya pernah berkata kalau saya suka pada gereja ini. Padahal dari semua gereja Indonesia yang saya datangi saya tidak pernah berkata demikian. Saya ingin sedikit berbagi cerita/kesaksian bagaimana begitu besar anugerah dan cinta kasih Tuhan dan muzijat yang Tuhan telah lakukan dalam hidup saya. Kembali pada bulan Dec/ Jan bagaimana saya begitu stress. Mengenai masalah financial saya, suami sudah di lay off sejak bulan May/Juni 2008 dan hanya saya seorang yang harus menanggung mortgage, insurance, dan keperluan rumah tangga. Keadaan sudah berubah. Lalu saya menyuruh suami untuk mencari pekerjaan lain tetapi dia tidak mau mendengar lalu mulai berbisnis kecil-kecilan tetapi sangat sulit untuk menagih uang kepada customer. Perlahan-lahan uang tabungan saya mulai menipis kalau saya biarkan begini saya akan bangkrut lalu saya memutuskan untuk tidak membayar mortgage dan menjual rumah saya. Suatu hari saya pernah menangis tersedu-sedu di dalam gereja pada saat kebaktian sehabis saya mendengar lagu yang dibawakan salah satu umat yang telah begitu menyetuh hati saya, dan teman-teman mengira masalah dengan suami padahal bukan. Singkat cerita saya dibohongi dan ditipu habis-habisan oleh agent yang melistingkan rumah. Hampir saja rumah saya di-foreclosure pada bulan Juni 2009 30


karena dia tidak pernah meng-submit penawaran yang begitu banyak dari pembeli. Dan dia ingin membiarkan rumah saya di-foreclosure karena dia tahu kondisi rumah saya sangat ok, masih brand new. Padahal agent itu adalah seorang Kristen. Hati saya sakit dan kecewa. Setiap malam saya berdoa dan menangis, saya tidak terima dan percaya kenapa Tuhan membiarkan saya jatuh. Akan tetapi Tuhan mendatangkan malaikat penolongnya melalui agent dari pembeli, pembeli, dan CEO dari Escrow Company. Dan juga tim dari bank saya meminjamkan uang karena saya menceritakan semua problem saya dan mengenai listing agent saya sehingga mereka membantu saya besar-besaran padahal dia tidak mengenal siapa saya tapi saya percaya itu adalah pekerjaan tangan Tuhan yang mengerakan tangan mereka untuk menolong saya sehingga rumah saya bisa terjual dan process jual-belinya lancar dan saya bisa closing escrow tepat pada waktunya. Dan sampai sekarang saya masih berteman baik dengan mereka bahkan mereka sudah 2 kali mengajak saya makan. Dari semua kejadian ini membawa hikmat dan pelajaran buat saya yaitu : 1. Jangan pernah meragukan kebaikan dan kemurahan hati Tuhan dalam hidup kita. 2. Saya jadi lebih ingin mengenal Tuhan lebih dalam lagi melalui Bible study dan membaca Alkitab setiap hari. 3. Jangan pernah melihat manusianya karena kita akan kecewa, lihat saja Tuhannya. 4. Tuhan tidak pernah meninggalkan kita dan membiarkan kita jatuh kalau kita percaya 100% kepadanya. Akhir kata saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada teman-teman di GII Asuza dan kepada gereja GII Asuza yang atas bantuan doanya dan perhatiannya melalui gembala siding maupun pastor-pastornya yang konsisten memberi contoh hidup dan ajaran yang benar sehingga umatnya pun takut akan Tuhan.


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Church Evaluation Are we a grown and healthy church?

got wisdom? As a grown man at the age of 26 is matured enough to be able to keep a healthy body, he will wisely choose a habit of eating nutritious diets. 32


Are we (as a church) who represents the body of Christ matured enough to choose a correct habit to feed our spiritual needs such as meditating on the Word of God, attending Bible study, and attending prayer meetings? If we keep this Godly habit, we know that we will have a healthy spirit by understanding His will and the truth in Him, and therefore, we are likely to be immune to the temptation around us. As for the church evaluation, AGAPE team conducted a survey about God’s grace which is the foundation in the Christian belief. The survey was distributed to 70 people randomly whether they are active in the church or not, whether they are recent members or deacons, or whether they are young or old (10+ years old thru 80+ years old). In the survey, we divided the participants into 4 groups according to their age. And before we go to the survey result, let’s recap the question (or just in case some of us didn’t had a chance to participate in this survey) GRACE Survey 1. How can we receive salvation? A. By God’s grace alone B. By winning souls to Christ, being involved in the church ministry, and plus doing good deeds C. Both grace and God’s works described in B 2. What leads you to your answer? A. God’s Word and realize our holy human nature that we deserve salvation B. God’s Word and realize our sinful human nature that we don’t deserve salvation C. God’s Word and realize that we need to do something to earn salvation Your age: A. Under 22 B. 22-35 C. 36-50 D. 50 and above AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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The right answer: Only by God’s GRACE ALONE we can receive salvation, and it comes with a realization that we are SINNERS and that nothing we can do to earn or deserve it. The right concept of grace: From the main article “The Nature of Grace” (referred from God’s word), We should now understand the concept of grace. A. Grace is unconditional because no one is able to fulfill or meet the conditions set by the holy God. B. It is also unachievable because nothing we can do to earn it. C. It is undeserving. Ever since the fall of Adam & Eve into sin, we deserve death and punishment. D. It has a powerful impact on the receivers once realizing what an amazing gift is God’s grace.

Percentanges of the Survey Takers Grouped by Age 50+ 17%

36-50 29%

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under 22 23%

22-35 31%

Percentages of Right and Wrong Answers in Each Group Wrong 9% Wrong 44%

Right 91% Right 56%

Under 22

22-35

Wrong 30%

Wrong 33%

Right 70%

Right 67%

36-50

50+

This survey tells us that: 1. We need to pay extra attention to “under 22” group in IEC Azusa as almost half of them have the wrong concept of Grace. As we should remember our children is a precious gift from God and that they belong ultimately and always to God firstnot to us. So, parents pay close attention to the spiritual habit of your kids so that when they grow older they always keep the truth in their hearts and be immune to the craziness in nowadays world. 2. The 22-35 is by far the healthiest group in the church.Almost all of them-91% of them has the right concept of grace.We noticed that this group is the most active group in the church when it comes to learning God’s Word and attending prayers meetings. As most of them regularly attend Saturday Bible studies, Sunday Bible studies, and/or Friday’s prayer meetings. 3. Ideally, we would expect the 36-50 and 50+ groups to be the healthiest groups in the church since we expect the elders has larger time span in their life to learn AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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the truth in God’s Word. However, only about 70% of them on both groups know the answer to God's Word. Let’s look into more depth about the wrong answers in each group

Combinations of Wrong Answers in Each Group grace+merit/sinful, 1 grace+merit/holy, 1 1. C) grace+merit/ 2. B) sinful, 5

grace+merit/sinful, 3

grace+merit/earn, 2

merit/holy, 1 grace/earn, 1 grace/holy, 1

grace+merit/sinful, 1

Right, 14

Right, 8

36-50

50+

grace+merit/holy, 1

grace+merit/holy, 1 grace/earn, 1

Right, 20

Right, 9

Under 22

22-35

4. The most misleading concept of grace in Christianity is that good works/merit can help Christians gain salvation.And, we found that about 24% of the church seems to be swayed by this concept. These people on the survey chose the answers that correlate grace with good work/merit or they correlate grace with earning salvation. 36


(17/70 quiz takers = 24% representative of the church in the survey). 5. There is 1% of the church coming from the age group 36-50 that claim he/ she does not need God and His grace. This one person answers salvation is gained thru his/her own work/merit. He/she is able to do it because he/she is already holy, and that no redemption is needed, which is implying there’s no need of God in his/ her life. 6. There is also 1% of the church in the same age group 36-50 that shows controversy between his/her concept and action. In a way, he/she knows the right concept of grace-that salvation comes only by God’s grace alone, but at the same time he/she thinks that she is holy. In his/her life, he/she doesn’t know the standards of the holy God or the rights and wrongs according to God’s Word. Hence, it seems like his/her actions are not according to Him. 7. As a side note, this survey is originally intended just to see if the church is healthy by finding out if it recognizes the truth in God’s word. But since the pastors have been emphasizing grace in sermons- since grace is the church theme this year, it’s also revealed whether IEC Azusa has a growing faith to digest the message or not. After many times, the pastors explained “the Nature of Grace” in the sermons, we expect more than 90% of the church know the truth in the subject; however, only 73% of the church is able to answer correctly.This is a sad news because this implies that a lot of the church members don’t have a growing faith that makes them able to listen and to receive God’s Words. As our senior pastor, Pastor Hosea says FAITH is like the Asam Acid (Amino Acid) in an adult’s body because it makes him able to digest hard food not soft or baby food. Conclusion: We hope by this survey IEC Azusa takes time to reflect individually and ask the questions “am I a healthy part of the body of Christ?” and “is my faith growing day by day?” And by this we also hope that IEC Azusa has a growing faith that makes us able to digest and crave for God’s words each day. (Remember our church provides inductive Bible Studies that are intended to supply all of us spiritual needs). Schedule: Friday Prayer Meetings (Indonesian & English) start at 7:30pm; Saturday Young Adult Fellowships (Indonesian & English) start at 6:00pm; Sunday Bible Study (Indonesian) start at 9:00am. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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Grace Q&A

Questions and Answers

(Answered by Rev. Wilson Suwanto)

If grace is free, why can’t everyone have it? Why can’t God give it to everyone as a default? People tend to not appreciate “free” gift. Why God still give it for free? By definition, grace is a free gift. If somebody can pay for it, it is no longer grace. It is either a product or a credit. Grace is pure gift, cannot be earned by anyone. It is not salary, either. Salary is what you earn through your hard work. Then, why can’t everyone have it? That is because it pleases the Lord to give His grace to whom He wants to give. Romans 9: 13-16: “Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” People who don’t appreciate it, never receive it in the first place. If somebody is given grace by God, that grace will absolutely change his mind and heart. He will not take it for granted. He will thank God for it. He will realize that he is not worthy of receiving this. He will live his life for God very carefully and gratefully. You are right, people do not appreciate God’s grace because by nature, they are sinners and hostile to God. Therefore, it requires the work of the Holy Spirit to give them the new birth so that they will have a new heart.

Why would a holy God extend His grace on a wretched and sinful man? Because He is the God of love (1 John 4:16)

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Are we able to resist salvation? a.k.a. can we resist grace? By nature, human beings are hostile to the things of God, and this includes the gospel. We will try to resist the gospel presentation. But if that person is God’s chosen one, he will not successfully resist God’s grace, because God’s grace will soften his heart so that he doesn’t want to resist. One believed and received salvation by God’s grace what is happening to him if he reject HIM after years? What happens to God’s grace? Those who truly reject the gospel never receive it in the first place. If they are truly Christian, they will never reject Christ who saves them. “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” 1 John 2:19 Who does grace involve? Grace involves God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Triune God works together to accomplish the salvation for His people. What’s the definition of grace biblically? Grace is the unmerited favor of God given to the unworthy sinners. Will Christians who believes the cross of Jesus and practices faith but don’t fully understand the true concept of grace receive salvation at the end for example the person in charismatic church or the elders in the church that do less of reading/listening of the gospel? Faith includes knowledge of the things that you believe. If they are truly saved, they will be like babies who long for pure milk (the word of God; 1 Pet. 2:2). If they claim to be Christian, and they don’t seem to care or examine what is being taught to them, we cannot really say that they are believers. True believers will examine everything in the light of the Bible, and when they find that they go to a wrong church, they will quit that church, and seek the right one. The claim that “they believe in Jesus and His cross” seems superficial because Mormons, Catholics, and others also claim to believe in Jesus and His cross. The question is: which Jesus? Which cross? Every teaching should be according to the Bible. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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If one stranded in the island with a small community no gospel or Bible around (or the primitive people), how will he know God’s grace? Will he be saved or not? If it is God’s will, God will send missionaries to preach the gospel to them. Nobody is saved apart from the preaching of the gospel. Romans 10:14 “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Apart from the preaching of the gospel, nobody can be saved.

How will I know if I already received grace? Is there a way to test it? Yes. A person who receives grace will have these traits (this is not exhaustive, but essential): He will realize that he is an unworthy sinners. He deserves nothing but death and eternal punishment because he is a sinner. He realizes that it is impossible for him to save himself. But he thanks God because God has provided Jesus for him. He is joyful because Jesus, the holy Son of God, has died for his sins. In this, he humbles himself, thanks the Lord in all circumstances because he has received God’s grace; something that he doesn’t earn or deserve. It is freely given by God. As a result, he is moved to love Christ with all his heart. He longs to have fellowship with Christ through reading His word and praying to Him. He will long to have fellowship in the true church, because the church is the body of Christ. He is not afraid of death because he knows that Jesus loves them. And he always waits expectantly for the second coming of his dear Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

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What is the connection between faith and grace? Will enough faith bring grace? Which one do we receive first? Grace comes before faith. In fact, grace creates faith. Without grace, faith is impossible because then I will put faith in something that does not exist. It becomes just my own fantasy. It is grace that makes faith possible. Faith is God’s gift to us. In other words, faith itself is part of God’s grace for us. Faith is not human effort. Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” “Saved by grace through faith” as a whole is the gift of God. It says “not by works” so that no one can boast. If faith is our effort, then we can boast about it. Since it is not, we cannot boast about anything. If you guys have more questions on grace or some of the above answers still puzzle you, please email us at [email protected] and we will gladly have them answered for you.


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Peresmian Gereja Injili Indonesia San Diego Pdt. Stephen Hosea Gembala Sidang

Church San Diego, pada tgl 22 Maret 2009, kami mulai mengadakan persekutuan setiap minggu.

Khotbah pembukaan dibawakan oleh Moses Yang (kanan) dan diterjemahkan oleh Pdt. Stephen Hosea (kiri).

Gereja Injili Indonesia (GII) San Diego dimulai dengan persekutuan doa dan pemahaman Alkitab yg diadakan pada tgl 27 April 2008 dan dihadiri 13 orang di tempat kediaman William Mulyadi. Mula-mula persekutuan ini diadakan sebulan sekali secara bergilir di rumah jemaat. Sampai pada bulan November 2008, persekutuan kami bertambah menjadi sebulan dua kali. Kemudian setelah kami menyewa gedung First United Methodist 42


Sementara kami mengadakan persekutuan di San Diego, kami terus menerus mencari pimpinan Allah melalui doa untuk rencana pelayanan ke depan di kota San Diego. Melalui pengamatan kami, kami menyadari bahwa banyak masyarakat Indonesia yg tinggal di San Diego dan sekitarnya sangat membutuhkan injil Kritus dan pembinaan rohani. Dan Tuhan menambahkan beban di dalam setiap hati kami untuk mewujudkan visi ini. Maka pada tanggal 2 Agustus 2009, dengan bersandar kepada anugrah Allah kami meresmikan GII San Diego. Kami bersyukur bahwa dalam acara peresmian ini, Pdt. Moses Yang (dari Pusat Gereja kami di New Jersey) dapat menyampaikan firman Allah dengan berdasarkan kitab Yeremia 17:5-8 untuk menguatkan kita agar kita senantiasa mengandalkan kekuatan Allah bukan kekuatan manusia sehingga bukan kutukan melainkan berkat yg kita alami. Acara ini juga dihadiri paduan suara and wakil dari

GII Los Angeles, wakil dari Sinode Gereja kita di Pantai Barat dan wakil gereja dari GII San Jose dan San Francisco, berserta masyarakat Indonesia yang tinggal di San Diego dan sekitarnya. Ruangan kebaktian terisi penuh dengan lebih 120 hadirin dan suasana kebaktian penuh dengan khidmat. Kiranya Allah yang mendapat segala kemuliaan! Visi dan misi gereja kami adalah menjangkau komunitas di sekitar kita untuk menjangkau dunia (to reach out our community to reach the cosmos). Kami berdoa agar GII San Diego dapat menjadi wadah yang menyalurkan berkat keselamatan bagi masyarakat Indonesia dan membangun kerohanian hidup bagi umat Kristen di San Diego.

Tampak ruang kebaktian dari depan


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Christians Around the World The Scottish-based Churches Action for the Homeless will drop “churches” in its name over concerns that the religious identity would make it more difficult to receive grants. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel vowed that the Jerusalem flag will remain over the Western Wall (Kotel), ignoring Obama’s apparent trial balloon that he wants to see the United Nations flag fly over the Old City holy sites.

Famed theologian J.I. Packer left the Anglican Church of Canada in 2008 due to “poisonous liberalism” in the church body. Packer was named one of the most influential evangelists by TIME magazine in 2005.

A Christian high school wrestling coach in Michigan is suing the school Muslim principal. The Muslim principal terminated the coach, because his associate converted a Muslim student to Christianity.

Churches in Bolivia hope for peace over gender, ethnicity, economic, and environmental problems. They are hoping for an ecumenical declaration during the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation will ensure political, economic, and moral stability. 44


The Mongolian church is the most efficient missions force, sending one missionary for every 222 Christians. (Jason Mandryk) July and August 2009 will be remembered as the constitutional genocide of Pakistani Christians. Under the Article 295 B and C PPC (Pakistani Penal Code), anyone who blasphemes against Mohammad will have life in prison or be put to death. Muslims ransacked Christian homes and many Christians were burned alive.

Spain sets to loosen their abortion laws, allowing women to seek abortions between their 12th and 14th week of pregnancy without seeking permission.

One Prayer plans to build another 500 churches in Cambodia, southern India, Sudan, and China plus 100 more in northern India, where Christians have been targeted by Hindu extremists.

In Australia, Christian schools and teachers defend the teaching of intelligent design in sciences classes despite opposition from scientists. An open letter was signed by groups such as the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) on Oct. 21, 2008, calling on Australian governments and educators to stop ID being taught as science. The letter was printed in major newspapers.

The African Assemblies of God have set out to baptize 10 million Africans over a ten-year period, according to the denomination’s new agency. There are about 16 million AG members meeting in more than 50,000 churches in 50 countries in sub-Sahara Africa and the Indian Ocean Basin, according to the denomination. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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Book Review

T he Unlikel y Disciple By Jocelyn Lee Tindage

“I

had this secular/liberal paranoia that when evangelical students were among themselves, they spent their time huddled in dark rooms, organizing antiabortion protests and plotting theocratic takeover.” Kevin Roose, currently a senior student in Brown University majoring in English, is a freelance writer about to graduate. That’s now, though. Two years ago, he infiltrated Liberty University (evangelical Christian university founded by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell), survived a semester at the Bible Boot Camp pretending to be an evangelical Christian, and penned The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner’s Semester at American’s Holiest University.

having grown up in a Quaker family, and wrapped safely in a secular bubble, Roose wondered what it was like in the other bubble – namely, the evangelical Christian bubble. In an interview, he expressed that he “was expecting a college full of students who spent their free time sewing Hillary Clinton voodoo dolls and penning angry letters to the ACLU.”1 Imagine Roose’s surprise about what he discovered. He met friends who debated about the interpretation of Revelation as well as friends who griped about too much homework. He found people who listened to Chris Tomlin as well as people who listened to Emimen. It turned out that not all Christians were rightwing extremists who grew up watching VeggieTales.

The discoveries of this unlikely disciple Roose meant for his experience to be during his semester in a community a cultural experiment. As a student in completely different from his own one of the nation’s most liberal college, were written with unmistakable talent, 46


a dash of sincerity, a lot of humor and an observant eye. It is an entertaining and insightful read suitable for college students and young adults. However, there is a reminder for Christian readers.

So, yes, I would recommend this to any college student or young adult with time to kill as along as the reader remembers this: as Roose’s personality, humor, wit and insights begin to grow on him/her, the reader will encounter a difference in This book was written mostly from a opinion between the reader and author. cultural, social, and political view, not From a Christian point of view, that’s not a spiritual one. In Roose’s words, “I a bad thing. suppose it’s weird that I’m more attached to my social and political views than my 1 Portnoy, B (2009, March 25). Five Minutes with religious beliefs.” He would much rather Kevin Roose. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from Campus accept the fact that earth was created in Progress Web site: http://www.campusprogress. org/5mw/3803/kevin-roose six days than denounce the pro-choice movement. So despite the strides he had made in understanding evangelical Christians, there were still gaps he could not cross. He conceded in his observation that “[i]t…feels like everyone on this campus is tuned in to a radio frequency I don’t get on my antenna.” Roose’s ideology is shaped by the rules of this world while a follower of Christ should shape his or her view according to the Word of God. We have this world in common, but the way we view it, the way we live should be vastly different. It’s as if two people are looking at the same valley, but one stands at the mountaintop and one stands at the bottom of the valley. Both will describe a beautiful view of green hills, white water rivers, + open sky, but the two will not see the same view until they stand on even grounds. AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Chris Atmadja GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW College? Art InstituteGRAD of California, San INTERVIEWDiego GRAD Major? Game Art Design GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in high school? Never be afraid to speak out GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD your own beliefs. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I hope to learn in college? To be a better artist than I am now. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Advice for the incoming freshmen? Respect the people around GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW you; grow up! :D GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Shout out? My family for supporting me to go to an art GRAD major; INTERVIEW Kenny and Timmy: good luck in GRAD school INTERVIEW and what ever you do; Darren GRAD Handoko: good luck in high school; GRAD INTERVIEW Reverend Wilson: for helping me with my problems. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW S a b rGRAD ina GRAD INTERVIEW 48 AGAPE — Anniversarsy 2009 GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD

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TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW S a b r i n a GRAD O e i INTERVIEW cont... GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW College? University ofGRAD California, Irvine TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW INTERVIEW Major? Undecided, Optometry GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in high school? Always stand by your friends. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I hope to learn in college? To learn where I want to be GRAD INTERVIEWAdvice for the incomingGRAD INTERVIEW freshmen? Stay focused. Don’t follow TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD the crowd and be anINTERVIEW individual! Tesia, INTERVIEW just because she is right next GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? Zot! Zot!GRAD to me. Cheryl, for doing this interview. Pency, because TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW she’s next to me. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Jason Kawilarang TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW College? University of the Pacific GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Major? Business/ Pre-law TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in high school? Nothing…I don’t know… GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW to chew with my mouth closed. TERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW What I hope to learn in college? HowINTERVIEW to do my own laundry and fold my own clothes. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? Only read your books, only TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW study, join all club events, be very academic, stay in the GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW library, eat with people with straight A’s. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? SOLI DEO GLORIA. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW AGAPE — Anniversary 2009 49 TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW A l b e r t H a l i m GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD College? Umm... lookGRAD either INTERVIEW Philadelphia Biblical College orGRAD INTERVIEW possibly UC Walnut :D! GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Major? Double Major, Music and _____. <-- Undecided GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in high school? I learn that everything you do GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD now affects the future result. What I hope to learn inGRAD college? To be discipline and gain INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW wisdom (Prov 2:6 and Prov 8:11). Be more like Christ GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD and to sit with Him. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? Whatever you do, do your GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD HW even if its small... Don't slack off, laziness is a sin and GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW conform to the image of Christ. Give God the best and give God ALL the glory. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Shout out? uhhhh YESAYA, thanks for being a good GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW mentor! Sabrina is gay... Hi Risa and her friend! Can’t GRAD INTERVIEW INTERVIEW GRAD name everyone... God Bless ya'll! Stay GRAD faithful, stay fresh, GRADand INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW keep it real, repent daily all glory be to God. “On our knees is where the battle is won.” Pastor Aaron. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW J o a n n a S eGRAD t i a wINTERVIEW an GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD College? Pasadena Community College GRAD INTERVIEW Major? Business/ GRAD INTERVIEW International marketing GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD What I learned in high school? If you miss quizzes, you can’t make them GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW up. What I hope to learn in college? The economy and how GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD money and the stock markets work. Basically money. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW 50 AGAPE — Anniversarsy 2009 GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

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TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW J o a n n a S e t i aGRAD w a n INTERVIEW cont... GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice INTERVIEW for the incoming freshmen? Mine your ownINTERVIEW business; TERVIEW GRAD GRAD just do your own thing. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? My dog, Nike. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW R y a n H a n d o k o GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW College? Brown University. GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Major? Math. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in high school? I learned to be more confident TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW and to grow as a person. I grew more emotionally and GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW more mature. What I hope to learn in college? MathINTERVIEW and cognitive science. I TERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW want to learn for my own sake and to learn things that GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW cannot be learned anywhere else. I want to know more TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW about was God has created around us, like how math is GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW used by God to structure the world. TERVIEW GRADDevelop INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? good study habits. Figure GRAD out what you want to do in the future and find a INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW suitable college for you; don't just go for the big names. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Don't expect less out of yourself, because you can be sur GRAD INTERVIEW prised GRAD at whatINTERVIEW you can do. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? To my mom, who pushed me ever since I was little, to Pastor Wilson who helped me GRADand INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW grow spiritually. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW AGAPE — Anniversary 2009 51 TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW COLLEGE GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT Henry Gaw GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW F o r m e r College? California State University, Los Angeles. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT Major? Electrical Engineering GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in college? Time management and GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT better skills with technicality. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I hope to learn after college? How to make explosive weaponry ;p. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT Advice for the incoming freshmen? Come in with a goal, GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW because if you don’t, you might as well take one year GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT off. It would save time and money. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? Baby Sabrina, Tiny Jay (or Big Jay), to all the youngsters who helped me and encouraged me to GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT succeed in life ratherGRAD than fail. INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW L i n d a GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Y u s u f GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW F o r m e r College? Calstate University Long Beach. Major? Public Administration. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT What I learned in college? that there are 50 states in GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW America ^^ haha.... GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT What I hope to learn after college? anything that GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW can be learned. 52 AGAPE — Anniversarsy 2009 GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INT GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW L i n d a Y u GRAD s u f cINTERVIEW ont... GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? hard, TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD study INTERVIEW don't waste time.. life is good. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? Jesus Christ, Buddy, Linkin Park, TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW my family & friends. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW M a r i a P r a m u d i t o GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW F o r m e r College? CaliforniaGRAD State University, Fullerton. TERVIEW INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Major? Finance. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in college? Self-confidence, patient, TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW analytical thinking, and of course a lot of GRAD INTERVIEW "financeGRAD stuff".INTERVIEW What I hope to learn after college? There are still TERVIEW GRADHmm… INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW a lot ofGRAD thingsINTERVIEW that we need to learn in this life, outside GRAD INTERVIEW college. As Pastor Hosea always says in Chinese language: TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW "Huo dao lao, Xue dao lao" which means “If you live until INTERVIEW INTERVIEW you're GRAD old, you will also learn until you're old.”GRAD We never TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW stop learn/study in this life :). Advice for the incoming freshmen? Well, I can't really say any GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW thing about college life since I took a part-time study proTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW gram at night. But I think, in any situation we need to GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW remember to INTERVIEW always depend on GOD and put GOD first TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW everything you do. And also, be patient. No pain no gain. In the GRAD beginning, I don't think I can finish thisGRAD study.INTERVIEW INTERVIEW Those readings, papers, and presentations were TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW too much GRAD INTERVIEW for me. It took me more than an hour to read and underGRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW stand ONE page of my textbook. I wanted to cry, but I TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW can't, still have the whole GRAD chapterINTERVIEW to read. Now that I look back, IGRAD know for sure that it's all GOD's blessing and INTERVIEW withINTERVIEW GRAD out HIM, I wouldn't be able to finish all the classes. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW AGAPE — Anniversary 2009 53 TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD Maria Pramudito cont... GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW INTERVIEW GRAD Shout out?GRAD My parents who encouraged me to take the first step to go back to school and pray for me all GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW the time. All brothers and sisters in GII Azusa - Indo youth GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD who help me maintain a balanced life between school GRAD INTERVIEW GRADhelp INTERVIEW and having fun. ^^ … and… me proof-read GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD my papers. ^o^All of our church members who pray for all students every week in Friday prayer meeting. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Thank you so much GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW for your prayer support! GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW H e n d r y W i j a y a GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD F o r m e r College? CityGRAD University of Seattle. INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Major? Information System (MBA). GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD What I learned in college? Education's purpose is to GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW replace an empty mind with an open one. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD What I hope to learn after college? Learn to utilizeINTERVIEW the knowledge that I gotGRAD in college. INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? Learn as much as GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD you can before you decide what you want to learn. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Shout out? Parents and friends. GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW 54 AGAPE — Anniversarsy 2009 INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

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TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Y u l i a n a H a r d i TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW F o r m e GRAD r College? California State University, Fullerton. Major? Dance. TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW What I learned in college? Dancing, choreographing, sewing, GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW writing, English, discipline, time management, effective TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW learning strategies, self confidence. What I GRAD hope to INTERVIEW learn after college? One will neverGRAD stop INTERVIEW learning even after college. I want to the person that God TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW wants GRAD me to be. INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Advice for the incoming freshmen? Ask God to give you TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW wisdom and guide your future. GRAD INTERVIEW INTERVIEW Shout out? God, my parents, my brother, Cipta,GRAD my sister, Ps. Hosea & family, Ps. Wilson & family, my best friends, TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW Irma &GRAD Lyra. INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW AGAPE — Anniversary 2009 55 TERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW GRAD INTERVIEW

that’s all, folks

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ALBUM REVIEW

Dear Diary By Cheryl Jao

I haven’t been listening to any Christian music recently because for a couple months I’ve thought that most of the songs played on the radio were average or repetitive in concepts and lyrics. Chris Tomlin’s newest album did not appeal to me because he always talks about the same topics. So, Christian music was put on hold for a couple months while I ventured into other cultures’ music.

and surprisingly, it was FM Static. (How ironic?)

FM Static. I haven’t heard that name in quite a while, probably because Trevor McNevan (songwriter) and Steve Augustine (drums) have been working for their main rock band: Thousand Foot Krutch. FM Static’s last album was release in 2006, so it was a shock that both bands had time to produce more albums It was not until mid-July that I was from both bands. But, nevertheless, they sitting in the car, waiting to go home, created a masterpiece worth listening to. and realized that I haven’t listened to the radio in a long time. I turned the dial to According to McNevan, the album, titled my ever-favorite Christian radio, Air1: Dear Diary, is “…a concept record, The Positive Alternative. Most of the the entire album will be one story from songs were repeated from a while back, beginning to end. It’s based on a boy (and proving my listlessness to even turn on occasionally a girl) and their diary entries the radio. But one song did catch my about what’s going on in their lives. It attention. Unfortunately, the static over deals with faith, doubt, love, death, and the FM radio is not friendly and forbade the honest questions that surround living me from listening to the lyrics. But the and growing up in modern day culture.” beat and tune were in my head so once I could personally attest to this. After I got home, I searched on the internet just hearing a few tracks on the CD and for whoever wrote that wonderful song, reading their lyrics, it seemed like a story 58


similar to mine was being told. The first track, “Boy Moves to New Town with Optimistic Outlook,” starts off the high school theme right away, introducing the boy of the album and the world around him. The album progresses into problems that every high school student faces: identity, acceptance, and doubt. The energetic, uplifting beats gradually turn solemn on “The Voyage of Beliefs” featuring Tricia Brock of Superchick. The track focuses on how both the boy and the girl need to choose what to believe for themselves and not what their parents pick for them.

“The Shindig (Off to College),” bringing everything back to the beginning. I highly recommend FM Static’s Dear Diary, especially for high school students and maybe even some junior high kids. Every song hits the bulls-eye with an uplifting, God-centered message. The album itself is evenly balanced between high-spirited and thought-provoking songs. Dear Diary is something that no student should miss out on. Where to purchase: Tooth & Nail Store (online), $10.00

The climax of the album is “Her Father’s Song.” A heartfelt song written from an earthly father’s point of view where he must let his daughter go to be her own woman and to face her own problems. It’s a song not only focused on growing up, but of hope and trust for his daughter, that despite living in this world, the father must trust his daughter to be the woman he has taught her to be. The following songs continue to carry the somber mood, including “Take Me as I Am” (the Air1 #1 song) and “Dear God.” Both appealed to me greatly because both songs mirror what high school is like nowadays through a Christian teenager’s perspective. Finally, the album ends with AGAPE — Anniversary 2009

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New Artists:

Jimmy Needham & Tenth Avenue North By Jessica Kawilarang

With all the artists and bands out there who simply skim the realm of “Christianity” and “God” in their lyrics, I became very picky about finding new musicians who not only have great music and style, but also have lyrics that really proclaim truth, give God glory, challenge my current faith, and actually teach me something! I’m tired of bands that label themselves in the Christian genre but basically produce mainstream music with slight references here and there about their general belief in God. Therefore, I was quite pleased and excited when I heard of Jimmy Needham and Tenth Avenue North.

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Jimmy Needham’s style integrates acoustic, light blues/rock, and alternative— similar to Jason Mraz’s style with a bit more edge. His album Not Without Love centers on a theme of ultimate grace and love from God despite his best efforts. He was in a period in his life where he thought he knew all about God, yet did not truly experience what ultimate grace was; in other words, he had all the head knowledge of God, yet lacked true reconciliation and relationship with Him. This album is an accumulation of how God has led him to the realization that he is hopeless without ultimate surrender and trust in God’s

ability to save and love him. In one of his more popular songs “Before and After”, he stands in awe of God’s grace and how He has been able to change him: from questioning “how a holy God can renew a wicked Pharisee” to praising God saying “’cause I was once stained, but now I’m called a saint”.

One of my favorites called “Times” is sung like a personal prayer to God. It’s more raw and genuine about times when we struggle with hopelessness in what we have become apart from God, but the song concludes by looking at who God is rather than who we are. They proclaim that despite our shortcomings, our relationship with God is possible because of his willingness to love us regardless of who we are. In essence, the song gives all credit to God’s love for us rather than our efforts to want to be near Him.

On top of awesome lyrics, his style of music and voice is all his own. Even before paying attention to his lyrics, I was first attracted by his music! And for the ladies out there, he added two songs called “Firefly” and “Unfailing Love” In all, I give both Jimmy Needham and about his love for his wife, the latter was Tenth Avenue North awesome praise used to propose to her! in both their music delivery, but more importantly, the content of their songs. For those who prefer a more straight alternative rock/pop sound, Tenth Avenue North is a band that delivers great ballads with lyrics that center on continued surrender of our selves for all of God. Even the titles of the songs say a lot! They deliver a great balance of how our relationship with God should be: there is complete adoration and praise of who God is in “You Are” and “Hallelujah”, continued surrender of ourselves in “Lift Us Up to Fall” and “Break Me Down”, and a trust in God’s grace and love for us in “Satisfy”, “Hold My Heart”, and “Beloved”, just to name a few.


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COMIC STRIPS: The Turning Point in Saul's Life

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A Blessing God is love and His presence permeates the entire universe. Therefore, His love also fills the universe. From the front door to the back room, His love fills every corner And every inch of our home. His love embraces, surrounds, and protects me. His love also fills me. Love forgives, nurtures, and allows all things to grow. As the sun shines alike on good and bad people, as the rain nourishes good and bad people alike, God can forgive everyone, everyone that receives grace. Since His blessings and grace fill me, I should now love and forgive good and bad people alike, without exception. I have now forgiven everyone, and spread goodwill to all. Happy 26th Birthday GII! Love

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Tante Mona

Eeditorial AGAPE ANNIVERSARY Redaksi

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