A DAY AT THE TOPS

Today, we joined our MOBC friends at The Tops (www.thetops.com.au) for a great time of church camp getaway.

The venue is lovely. Well equipped for all conferencing needs and very homely too.

It was a weekend getaway but we only managed to do the Saturday. Around 100 MOBC Getawayers spent time together fellowshipping and having fun in Jesus' name.

Rev.Simon Arkapaw, Senior Minister of Wentworthville and Carlingford Presbyterian Churches, was our speaker. (www.wentworthville.org.au/minister.html) Simon is our asst.pastor Matthew's brother. 

Well prepared and Spirit-led, pastor Simon challenged the MOBC faithful to live in and by the Spirit as opposed to living by the law - in other words, living a legalistic Christian life. 

I liked his emphasis on the fruit, and not fruits, of the Spirit found in the New Testament book of Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 & 23 " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

According to the teaching of the Bible, the Holy Spirit can bear these qualities in us even though we may not naturally have them. We may be naturally unkind, but God can give us a change of heart and make us kind. 

One thing I noticed - people who have set themselves aside to the service of the Church are highly dedicated people, driven by the love of Christ and dedicated to the teaching of the Word of God in an increasingly hostile society filled with God-haters. Because they are also people like us not without human weaknesses and struggles, they need all the support we can give them as they continue to serve God and the church. I thank God for the Arkapaw brothers for giving their full-time service to the church.

The Tops has everything campers need in the 21st Century, including USB charge points.

The kids had fun. Not even the rain could stop them from going into the swimming pool!

FAREWELL ST.GEORGE PRIVATE

For over four years, St.George Private Hospital www.stgeorgeprivate.com.au has been the place where I earned a living for me and my family. Today, my service at the hospital has come to an end. Another page of my life turned.

When I landed in Australia 5 years ago, I struggled to find a job mostly due to the GFC and my lack of local work experience (I had none!). My entry into the healthcare industry, first as an orderly and now becoming a Sterilizing Technician, has allowed me to see the working of the Australian healthcare system from the inside. Americans will be able to relax.

I am grateful for all the people that helped me develop the skills that I now have.

My colleagues organised a farewell for me after work. We ate a beautiful fresh caramel cream cake and I had an opportunity to thank the people I had worked with for the last 4 years. 

Well, today, "another page is turned forever, another yesterday."

OPEN BOOK
Words and music by Bob Hartman
Based on Hebrews 4: 13, Psalm 37: 18

In the evening when I start to pray
I think about this day
Another page is turned forever
Another yesterday
And as the story of my life unfolds
I know You've read it all
Another line to be continued
Will I stand or fall

Open book - to You I am an open book
You know every page by heart
From the ending to the start
Open book - my life is like an open book
As I read between the lines
It's Your love that truly binds this open book

When the cover of this book is closed
The final chapter read
I hope You find it worth the reading
I hope 'well done' is said

Cover to cover
Lord, You know me
And what I want to be
As You read the pages of my heart
Please tell me what You see

INDIA REPUBLIC DAY LEH AUSTRALIA DAY

January 26 hi India ramah chuan kan hriat theuh angin sorkar chawlh a ni a. Sorkar chawlh a nih chhan chu British sorkar laka inrelbawlna hrang, ram inenkawlna danpui a taka hman tan ni a nih vang a ni. Awpbeh te tan chuan he ni hi ni pawimawh tak a ni a. Zalenna dar vuak ni tak tak pawh a tih theih ang. Mizo te thinlungah erawh chuan ni pawimawh tak a ni lem lo.

England Lalnu Queen Elizabeth-i’n December 31, 1600 khan khawchhak lama sumdawnna lam buaipui tura din British East India Company chu Royal Charter sorkar thuchhuah hmangin sumdawn theihna tura phalna a pe a. India ram leh Qing dynasty rorelna China ram chinah la, silk, chi, thingpui leh opium te chu a sumdawnna bungrua lian ber a ni.

India ram puma British East India Company-in hmun a khuar tanna tak tak chu 23 June 1757-a Plassey indona (Battle of Plassey) atang khan a ni a. Hemi ni hi Kolkata atanga km 150 vela hla Baghirathi lui kama Palashi (Plassey) ah British East India Company sipai ten Bengal lal Niwab Siraj-ud-daulah sipai te indonaa an hneh ni a ni.

British East India Company-in kum za chhung India ram puma thuneihna a chelh hnuah May 10, 1857 khan an rorelna paihthlak tumin India mi Kumpinu sipaia tang thahnem tak an hel a. Ram pumah a alh chhuak lo nain nasa takin Kumpinu sorkar chu a nghawr nghing a. Mi tam takin nunna an chan nghe nghe. Hemi tum hian Jhansi lalnu huaisen Rani Laksmibai pawh Mizo lal Lalnu Ropuiliani angin a tlawm duh lova, India ram awptu Kumpinu sorkar chu a thih thlengin a do a ni. Sap ho hian “Sepoy Mutiny” te tiin han sawi thin mah se, history lam ziaktu India hnam rilru pu te chuan “India’s First War of Independence” tiin an ziak thin. 

Kumpinu sorkarin hnehna chang mah se, British sorkar chuan boruak thalo zel tur vengthawngin India ram chu sumdawng pawl British East India Company hnuaiah mai nilo sorkar hnuaia enkawl ni turin August 2, 1858 khan British Parliament ah Government of India Act, 1858 hmangin thu a ti tlu a. Zirlaibu atanga kan hriat angin India ram chu August 15, 1947-a independence puan hma zawng British sorkarin a awp a. January 26, 1950 khan mahnia ro in rel tak tak turin Dr.B.R.Ambedkar-a hova uluk taka an lo buatsaih rampum danpui (constitution) chu hman tan a ni ta a ni. August 15, 1947 leh January 26, 1950 inkar Constitution hman hma zawng khan India rama thuneitu sang ber chu a hmingin British lal a la ni a. Constitution hman tan a nih chiah khan India ram chu ram zalen tak tak, mahnia ro inrel – sovereign – a ni ta a ni.


British ho hi khawvel hmun hrang hrangah ram an awp hnem thin hle a. India rama ro an rel hunlai te pawh khan khawvel hmun hrang hrangah ram an awp nual. Ram ni tla seng lova roreltu tih tawngkam te pawh a piang hial a nih kha. Australia pawh hi USA ni ta British colony 13-ten zalenna an sual chhuah hnua British sorkarin ram a hloh ai ang deuhva a zawnchhuah leh a zu ta neih a ni a. A tawi zawngin sawi ta ila January 26, 1788 khan England atanga tirhchhuah lawng 11 commanding officer Captain Arthur Phillip-a’n tuna Sydney khua ni ta hmun pakhat Sydney Cove ah British Lalpa King George III-a hmingin British flag chu a pawtparh a. Chuta tang chuan Australia ram chu British sorkar tan a hauh nghal a ni.

Hun a kal zel a, 1901 khan Australia rama state hrang hrang te’n ram khat ni turin an inzawmkhawm a. Amaherawhchu, he ni January 26 hi state hrang hrangah ni pawimawha hman a nih dan a inang lo, 1994 chauh khan Australia ram pumah a ruala hman tan a ni a. “Australia Day” tia koh a ni a, sorkar chawlh a ni. Ram pumah lawmna buatsaih thin a ni a. Intihhlimna chi hrang hrang leh Australia rama hnam hrang hrang awmkhawmte culture pholanna hun atan te hman thin a ni. Tin, Australia khua leh tui ni tharte puala hun hman a ni thin bawk a. Citizenship ceremony program hlung taka hman thin a ni. Kumin Australia Day khan ram dang mi 16000 chuang  Australia khua leh tui nihna pek an ni a. A tam ber chu UK atanga lo kal niin, a dawttu chu India ram mi an ni.

Australia Day hi ram pumah an lawm nain mingo ho rawn luh hmaa lo cheng tawh Aborigine hnamte chuan he ni hi an hnam tana ni duhawmlovah an ngai a. Ramdang miin an zalenna leh mahnia ro an inrelna (sovereignty) an rawn tihchhiat niah te pawh an ngai bawk. Tin, a hming pawh “Australia Day” tia ko lovin “Invasion Day” te an ti hial a ni.

The Lushai expedition in Mizoram sketched by
Lieutenant BWG Cole in the Illustrated London News 1889

Australia rama indigenous hnam tan chuan sap hovin ram an zu neih kha anmahnia ro an inrelna tibuaitu leh titawptu a ni a. Chaklo zawk ni mah se, vawiin thleng hian a ram neitu hmasa an nihna hi an la auchhuahpui nasa hle a ni.

British hovin Assam ram an awp china Mizo Lalten an zu beih chhinchhiah hmasak ber chu 1826 a ni a. 1850 thleng khan Assam ram china British officer te khan Mizo Lal te run an tawk kum tin a, sap ho tan khan Mizo Lalte kha an hnawksak in an hlauhawm hle a ni. 1849 ah phei chuan Mizo pasaltha rual an che na hle a, British sorkarin Sylhet Light Infantry commander Col.Frederick Lister-a leh a hote chu Mizo Lalte han tudai turin an tir hial a ni. Hemi tum hian Mizo Lalten ral an beihnaa sal an man mi 400 lai Col.Lister-a leh a sipaite hian an chhanchhuak niin Sir Thomas Mackenzie-a lehkhabu “North-east frontier of Bengal” Bung XII-naa inziak dan angin ziakmi Bertram Sausmarez Carey leh Henry Newman Tuck-a te chuan an ziak a. 1862 vel thleng chu Mizo Lalte khan thawm an nei zui lutuk lo niin history chuan a chhinchhiah.

1870 chho bawr velah khan Mizo Lalte chu an che tan leh a. January 23, 1871 khan Cachar district khawthlang lama thingtlang khaw pakhat Ainerkhal chu Mizo pasaltha ten an bei a. Hemi ni vek hian Sailam Lal Bengkhuaia leh a hote chuan Alexandrapur thingpui huan an zu bei thut a. A hnu zel chu Mizo te chanchin khawvelin a hriat phahna a ni ta tih kan hre theuh awm e. A tawi zawngin sawi ta ila, Mary Winchester chhanchhuak tura British sorkarin Brigadier General Charles H.Brownlow leh a sipaite a rawn tirh hnu atang khan mahnia ro kan inrelna (sovereignty) chu a tawp ta a ni. Khami tum khan Mizo pasaltha engemaw zat an thi nghe nghe.

Mizote hian kan hnam history ennawn duhna kan nei lian ta telh telh niin a lang a. A bikin sap hovin kan ram an thenhran dan te. Thenkhatin, kan hnam Zonunmawi tichhetuah sap ho – missionary te pawh – an puh bawk a. Australia-a indigenous thenkhatte pawh hian chutiang chiah chuan mingo ho hi an hmu a. Ram zalen an ni bawk a, an sawiin an ziak nasa khawp mai. Australia Day nia tar ni ngeia lang poster pakhat ka hmuh chu heti hian a inziak a: “...227 YEARS STAY. SEND BACK THE FLEET.” A bul chiahah Australia ram zu fang hmasatu Captain Cook-a, a hnua Hawaii thliarkar indigenous hnam hovin an vawhlum lai lem a lo intar bawk a. “The Death Of Captain Cook Was Awesome. Kill Your Coloniser!” tih a inziak a.

Aborigine ho te awm hle hle lai mingo hovin an zu tibuai te; keini tlangmi ho kan ram luah chinah sap hovin min rawn luhchilh a, kan zalenna leh mahnia ro kan inrelna min rawn tihtawp sak te hi ngaihtuahchian chuan tlawmna leh channa lian tak a ni a. Thinrimna tur pawh tam tak a awm ang. A hnua India rama rin luh kan ni ta ringawt te, kan unau thisen zawmpui te “ramdang mi” a an chhuak ta ringawt te hi thil fello tak chu a ni. British ho demin hun hmang dawn ila, kum tam kan thin a rim ang. India sorkar demin hun hmang dawn ila, silai chelek duhna khawp boruak a chhuak leh thei ang. He’ng hnam rahbeh leh awpbeha awm Aboriginal ho te leh keini Mizo te pawh hian sap ho vanga kan zalenna kan chan rual hian sap ho kaltlang bawkin malsawmna nasa tak kan dawng a ni tih kan hriat a pawimawh hle. Khawvel tukverha dak thei turin an rorelna rah thain rahbi min tuksak a. Remchanna (opportunity) nasa tak rawn inhawng ta hi hmasialna thain kan lo pawm a pawimawh hle a ni. Kan zalenna kan hloh, mahse kawngka zau tak hawnsak kan ni hlauh thung.

ALL NATIONS

This year at www.mobc.org.au, we have adopted a motto based on the gospel according to Matthew 28:19, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Last Sunday, our senior pastor Tim Burns talked about how God love extends to ALL nations and how followers of Jesus are called to go and teach God's grace and salvation to people of every nation.

According to Bible scholars, the original Greek word used for "nations" is "ethnē", a plural form of the "ethnos" from which the English word "ethnic" is derived.

New Testament scholars believe that Jesus was specifically talking about the many ethnic groups of people scattered across the globe. People with a distinct language and culture.

Roughly speaking, there are about 196 different countries in the world. According to the Australian government, in 2013-14, 163 017 people became Australian citizens by conferral from at least 190 different countries.

According to www.ethnologue.com, there are 7106 living languages today which invariably means that there are over 7000 different ethnic groups Jesus was talking about.

According to Joshua Project, "approximately 4.75 billion individuals residing in an estimated 8,463 distinct people groups" live in areas where the church has minimal or no presence.

"5,915 (62.5 %) of these people groups are considered unreached and have a population of 2.91 billion (61.3 %)" according tohttp://joshuaproject.net/resources/articles/10_40_window

Only 121 years ago, the people group/ethnic group I come from i.e. Mizo/Lushai, had never heard the name of Christ. They had no written language and had very little contact with the outside world. Two brave young men from London, FW Savidge and JH Lorraine took the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 to heart and went to the then Lushai Hills and did exactly what Jesus commanded His followers.

Today, I can boldly proclaim that I come from an evangelised Mizo ethnic nation as a result of the obedience of the two English blokes who obeyed the commandment of Jesus given 2000 years ago. We owe all to the gospel of Jesus.

But Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

2.91 billion people alone donot have the knowledge of the God of the Bible.

Let us pray, sincerely, that we as a body of Christ will stay the course and focus on this Great Commission. Remember, "God...wants ALL people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim 2:4)

ISAK LALCHHANDAMA IS NO MORE

Exactly at 6:10 p.m. yesterday (IST), my aunt Lianbuangi and her family said goodbye to their son - Isak Lalchhandama - who was diagnosed with stomach cancer last November.

Families and friends gathered around the lifeless body of the once healthy and sporty young man as the world stopped revolving for the family of Dawrpui Presbyterian Church elder Rokamlova, also former Speaker of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly.

At the funeral, his father gave an eulogy on behalf of the family. One of their great joys and perhaps the greatest joy is the fact that despite his troubled life, he met the Lord and experienced peace in his heart. 

At the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore doctors told his mother that the cancer had spread and that he would not be able to receive chemotherapy treatment due to his health that had already gone down drastically. 

He was cared for by his family, relatives, friends and well-wishers for about 8 weeks after he was discharged from the hospital. And at exactly 1810 hours IST yesterday, the many sleepless nights of his already grieving family came to an end when the Lord called my cousin to be with Him. His mum watched him leave peacefully.

A translated version of Fanny Crosby's song "City of Gold" was sung at the funeral held in the family home today at noon. In Mizoram, funerals are conducted at home and are organised by the local community organisations free of charge. The grave is dug by volunteers of the local community organisation in the local community cemetery at no cost. There is also no charge for the burial plot. While the community organises the logistics, the church takes over the role of organising the funeral program. Pastor C.Zorammawia, the local pastor of Dawrpui Presbyterian Church led the funeral.

Isak Lalchhandama, or Machhandama as many know him, was born on Oct 1, 1977. "All the days ordained for [him]" (Psalm 139:16) came to an end on Feb 2, 2014. We will miss him dearly but we know we will meet him again in glory because of Jesus who once said to Martha of Bethany, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die."

I remember back in the early 90's when his father was the Speaker and they lived on top of MacDonald Hill where the Chief Minister resides today. We would go there and have great fun playing cricket, table tennis or Nintendo video games. Some childhood memories.

He can now rest in the arms of his Saviour who died for him.

Dear brother, 

"Go rest high on that mountain

Son, your work on earth is done.
Go to heaven a-shoutin'
Love for the Father and the Son."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwFiWCUkk4M

WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH?

Me: "Hannah, why do we go to church?"

Hannah: "Because, it is Sunday?"

Me: "Abby, why do we go to church on Sunday?"

Abby: "To sing for Jesus and to worship"

This was our conversation on our way to church this morning.

Today, at www.mobc.org.au, folks gathered to "sing for Jesus" and to worship the One true God. It is a tradition of most Christians around the world to come together on Sunday and worship the Lord. Part of our worship includes singing songs that talk about the Christian faith and God Himself. One of the songs we sang was "Shout To The Lord" written by an Australian Christian singer Darlene Zschech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uMeuhxftiQ.

In the song, Darlene wrote, "...Nothing compares to the promise I have in You." Christians believe that, in Jesus, there is promise of eternal life even after death. One of Jesus' disciples John wrote, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Millions have found this to be true upon their own investigation.

In the afternoon, we went to visit relatives and had a great time in their swimming pool.

When the clock strikes 10:50 tomorrow, Abby will start her first day at OWPS www.oatleywest-p.schools.nsw.edu.au/!