The Chronicles of Northside

How many of us need encouragement today? As we go through the challenges and trials of life we need every ounce of encouragement. If we see the need of encouragement in our lives, are we encouraging others? “ One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement… It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word .” (William Barclay, Letter to the Hebrews ) . The remnant Jews who came home from exile faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple. God knew how to encourage His people. He sent His prophet Zechariah to deliver one of the most encouraging messages they have received as a nation—a message of future hope and glory. Zechariah, whose name means “the LORD remembers,” was a contemp...

Have you ever started a project you have not finished? I myself remember a time when it took me over a year to finish a project that should only have taken a month. As people, we tend to rationalize and the people of Judah were no different. Returning home from exile, the remnant of Judah led by Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest, began the construction of the Temple—the most important structure in Israel’s religious life. However, because of opposition, the construction stopped. The people gave up and went on with their lives. A few years later, the LORD sent Haggai to rebuke Judah. Haggai challenged Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest to finish what they started. The people however, responded with the excuse that “it was not time” (Haggai 1:2). They obeyed twenty days later (Haggai 1:15). The LORD was faithful in encouraging His people to finish the work they were called to do. Though there was an instance when the people of Judah became discouraged (Haggai 2:1-9), the people were able to...

  God always accomplishes His purpose at the right time. During one of the crucial periods in the history of the nation of Judah, the Lord sent His prophet Zephaniah. The result was one of the greatest revivals in Biblical history. Zephaniah, whose name means “the Lord hides,” ministered to a spiritually needy people. Under the rule of ungodly and wicked kings, the nation of Judah was in desperate need of a godly leader who will bring them back to Yahweh. Zephaniah was the prophet whom God used to stir the heart of King Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:3-8-35:19). In addition to a prophetic message of judgment on Judah and its neighboring nations, Zephaniah urged the people to call on the Lord. In his call for them to humble themselves before Yahweh (Zephaniah 2:3), King Josiah responded. For this reason, the Lord brought blessing and revival to him and to his kingdom (2 Chronicles 34:26-28). Humility is necessary if one is to come to the Lord. The Lord lifts up the humble (James 4:10) and ...

Praise the LORD for His goodness as Northside Harvest celebrated her 1 st anniversary September 30, 2012 at the Milpitas Community Center! Visitors and friends came to celebrate with us, Ron Shaw and our brethren from Sunrise Valley Baptist Church , our sending church. Below are some of the pictures taken during the anniversary celebration (Thanks to Brother Sonny and family). More are posted in our facebook page. Please continue to pray for us at Northside Harvest as we labor to reach the city of Milpitas with its diverse population for the LORD Jesus Christ.    

News about crime, injustice and violence occupy a prominent spot in our television sets and daily papers. Such news only cause emotional weariness and even anger at the perpetrator of the crime or abuse. Questions come to mind whether or not GOD is still sovereign and in control of this universe. Habakkuk the prophet struggled with the same questions as he himself witnessed evil throughout the nation of Judah. In a series of dialogue between GOD and the prophet, Habakkuk asked GOD Who graciously answered the prophet’s inquiries. Tired of witnessing the wickedness present in every level of society, Habakkuk asked the question: “ LORD, why do you allow wickedness to flourish ? ” (Habakkuk 1:1-4). The LORD replied saying, “ I am preparing the Babylonians ” (1:5-11). Habakkuk followed up with another question revealing the prophet’s confusion: “ LORD, why would You chose a more wicked nation like Babylon to punish Your people? ” (1:12-2:1). The LORD replied saying, “ The Babylonians will ...

In Psalm 62, David explains why he rested on GOD’s protection from his enemies. With GOD as his “rock”, “salvation”, “stronghold”, and “refuge” (Psalm 62:2, 6-8), David found comfort and confidence in GOD saying, “I shall not be greatly shaken” (Psalm 62:2, 6). Similar to the message of Psalm 62 was the herald of Nahum the prophet. Nahum, whose name means “The LORD is my Comfort,” rested on GOD as His stronghold (Nahum 1:7). GOD and His character stand as the basis of his prophetic book. He proclaimed GOD’s judgment towards the cruel and ungodly nation of Assyria and brought comfort to the LORD’s afflicted people, Israel. Nahum’s ministry occured more than a century after the preaching of Jonah. By that time, the nation of Assyria had returned to their evil and wicked ways. They were known for the atrocities they committed against the nations they conquered which included God’s people, Israel (Nahum 3:1-3; Cf. Hosea 13:5). Nahum preached to the Assyrians GOD’s message of judgment and i...

What is true religion? This is a question people often ask in view of the different religions of the world. In a way, the answer to this question was what Micah’s people needed to hear and understand. Micah was a fearless prophet from Moresheth, a small town 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem. His name means “Who is like the LORD?” which is the sum message of his book (Micah 7:18). Micah was called to preach for GOD’s people to worship Yahweh alone (Micah 4:1-5). Sadly, God’s people had embraced foreign gods while purporting to worship the LORD. Micah, who comes from the lower class of society, was an ardent defender of the oppressed and a herald of righteousness (Micah 2; 3:8). He proclaimed GOD’s message of judgment against Jerusalem’s leaders (Micah 3:1-4, 9-12) priests, and false prophets (3:5-8). With a series of rhetorical questions, Micah exposed the guilt of the nation of Judah by showing the people their wrong assumption—that is, believing that by performing religious rituals the...

Jonah is often identified with the big fish which swallowed him. For this reason, some assert that Jonah is a fictional character. However, 2 Kings 14:25 and Christ Himself (Matthew 12:39-41; 16:4; Luke 11:29-32) confirm the historicity of Jonah and his experience. The Biblical narrative begins with GOD commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach against it (Jonah 1:2). Jonah disobeyed the LORD by going to Tarshish instead of Nineveh (Jonah 1:3). Jonah thought he could run away and hide from the LORD by settling himself at the bottom of the ship (Jonah 1:5; cf. Psalm 139:7-12). Subsequently, the LORD hurled a severe storm after Jonah (Jonah 1:4-13). After Jonah’s revelation of himself as a runaway prophet of GOD, the crew rebuked him and pleaded for the LORD’s mercy. Terrified, they finally decided to throw Jonah off the ship (1:14-15). With the storm ceasing, the ship’s crew worship the LORD (1:15-16). Jonah was swallowed by a big fish and was in its belly for three days and three ni...

How do you feel when you receive bad news? Anxious? Fearful? Uncomfortable? In the book of Obadiah, God’s prophet had the task not of receiving but of delivering bad news. Obadiah delivered a message Edom was not expecting to receive—the bad news of judgment and destruction from the LORD Himself. Edom’s roots can be traced back to its patriarch, Esau (Genesis 25:19-28:7; 32:1-19), the brother of Israel (also known as Jacob – Genesis 32:28). These brothers had a troublesome relationship marked with deceit and hatred. Though they reconciled prior to their father’s death (Genesis 32:1-19), this history may explain Edom’s attitude in not allowing access to its territory when Israel requested passage to the land of Canaan, Israel’s promised land  (Numbers 20:14-20). Edom was a very proud nation. It boasted of its having an invincible fortress that provided protection and security (Obadiah 1:3-4) and of human wisdom (1:8). It also gloated over the misfortune of the Israelites, specifically t...

The world believes that power, wealth and intelligence is might. However, the Bible says that the Lord puts to shame the mighty, the powerful and the wise of this world as He accomplishes His plan. In fulfilling His will, He uses individuals who are insignificant and ordinary before the eyes of the world so that those who believe in their own abilities might be put to shame (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). Amos is an example of an ordinary man called by the Lord to accomplish an extraordinary task. He came from Tekoa, a small town around 6 miles from Bethlehem. He was a sheepherder (Amos 1:1), a herdsman (7:14) and a grower of sycamore fig trees (7:14). When he was criticized and ridiculed by Amaziah the priest, Amos humbly acknowledged that he was neither a prophet by training nor a son of a prophet but the Lord has called him to proclaim His message (7:10-15). Amos proclaimed without apology God’s message of judgment against the nations (Amos 1:1-2:4), against Judah (2:4-5) and Israel (2:6-1...

Have you ever witnessed a swarming army of locusts?  In 1869,  locusts from the deserts of West Africa made its way to England covering an astonishing span of 2,000 miles. This army of locusts ravished every green herb on its path.  A similar or worse event must have taken place during the time of the prophet Joel.  How devastatingly barren the land must have been! Joel, whose name means “The Lord is God,” prophesied during the aftermath of the locust invasion.  It foreshadowed the coming of a might army that was to invade Judah and destroy its beloved city, Jerusalem, during the great day of the Lord (Joel 2:1-11).  Joel warned the people and called them to repent before God (Joel 1:1-20). The phrase, “great day of the Lord,” is used by the prophet to refer to both a near and future fulfillment.  The first points to the Babylonian invasion which has been fulfilled as prophesied by Joel.  Like the army of locusts, the Babylonians was used by God to discipline His people, Jud...

Do you still remember the sights and sounds of your wedding day? Those days and nights of preparation culminate with those long awaited words, “I now pronounce you man and wife… you may kiss the bride.” I myself remember that day when I took Anna as my wife, especially during this past week when for the first time, I showed my daughter the fairy tale,  Cinderella . Unlike  Cinderella,  a life of “living happily ever after” does not come with marriage.  As trials and difficulties are a reality of life, we commit to loving our spouse– for better or for worse.  Nevertheless, most of us expect happiness.  If we were told for certain that our marriage will be a disaster, I believe we would either not marry or proceed in disbelief. In the book of Hosea, the Lord God commanded Hosea to marry Gomer. So far so good (at least Hosea knew exactly whom he was to marry)–right?  The problem was–Hosea was told by God prior to marriage that Gomer will be unfaithful to...

The book of Daniel relates not only past but also future events.  What the book of Revelation is in the New Testament, the book of Daniel is to the Old.  From the first chapter to the last, prophecies are evident– revealed by God through His angel to Daniel. Chapters 7-12 are especially full of symbols that speak of what is yet to come. Also evident in the book of Daniel is God’s sovereignty.  He is in control, not only over the lives of individuals but also of nations.  God’s hand can be seen in the rise of Babylon, the Jews’ resulting exile, the testimony of Daniel and his three friends, (Daniel 1), Daniel’s gaining the king’s favor (Daniel 2), God’s amazing deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3), God’s humbling of king Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) and God’s deliverance of Daniel while he served as one of the top officials in the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 6). Familiar to most of us from the book of Daniel is the story of Daniel in t...

When we arrived at the Community Center last Sunday to set up the room for worship, we found the doors locked.  It just so happened that we had 3 attendees visiting that day for the first time.  Thankfully, chairs were spotted just outside the Center and preaching from the book of Joel was heard under the open sky :).  About an hour later, the doors were opened and we had goodies with good coffee.  What seemed an unpleasant, uncomfortable situation turned out to be a memorable event — with the Lord granting a right perspective and a thankful heart. The 3 visitors last Sunday were brought by one of our regular attendees who was just recently saved.  We have been having a weekly Bible Study at her home now for about four months; and, we praise the Lord for the fruit we are seeing in her life. One of the 3 visitors came to join us for worship this morning; and, she is considering joining our weekly Bible Study!  We do pray that the Lord will draw her to commit to studying the Word wi...

We praise the LORD for the men and women who have labored to make the 2012 GARBC Conference possible. Tuesday evening of the Conference, Northside Harvest Baptist Church was received into the Association. Like the many who attended, we have been spiritually fed and encouraged. We were especially blessed by the support of our Sending Church and the presence of Pastor Ron and Mrs. Judy Shaw. At the Conference, we met fellow church planters and were reminded of God’s call for us to pray for more laborers. We were privileged to meet Chaplain John Murdoch who has been so gracious in calling us from time to time to encourage and pray with us. We also met Scott and Brooke Greening who currently labor as church planters in Illinois.  As ones who face many challenges similar to ours in seeking to reach out a diverse community, they are in our hearts and prayers. For more details about the 2012 GARBC Conference, go to www.garbc.org.  Indeed, God is good.  He has done great things!  We do pr...