From the monthly archives:
June 2008
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” (Hebrews 2:1)
This is so simple and profound. I believe the phrase I’ve heard for Chrsitians these days is that we are “educated beyond our obedience”. How might we all make a habit of actually responding to all the ways God speaks to us?
“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Hebrews 2:10)
It’s interesting how God himself found it fitting that the author of life should offer salvation through suffering. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked when we try to offer life to others, it might involve suffering as well.
It’s also bewildering how the passage describes Christ as our ‘brother’ as he shares in our humanity. Yo Bro, would be the last thing I would thinking of calling Jesus the King of Kings.
It was a wonderful experience in today’s worship/fellowship in Tendercare Living Centre. There were about 20 seniors attending the service including three English speaking residents. People of different cultural background gather together in name of Jesus fabricate a beautiful quilt of fellowship. It is also representing our dream of Mosaic. We offered a bilingual service for the seniors according to their cultural differences. I know there is no guarantee for their total satisfaction in a bilingual setting. I will lift it up to God for our future development. What amazed me was the staff would like to invite the non-Christians to join the service. I pray that it is a positive start of our nursing ministry. We should be ready for the opportunities to serve God and His people. Please don’t wait, the harvest is here.
I initiated a fundraising campaign in my workplace for the victims of Myanmar Cyclone & China Earthquake. We collected $765.00 from our seniors, their families and staff members. The donations have been directed to The Canadian Red Cross. We are not only proud of the support from the community of Aurora Resthaven, but also being a partner with The Canadian Red Cross in serving humanity. Thanks be to God for inspiring us to love one another.
I found the following article is similar to my struggles. How about your struggles in evangelism?
It isn’t hard to find reasons to avoid reaching out to others with the good news of Jesus Christ. Here is how I respond to 10 common objections.
1. “I don’t have any non-Christian friends.”
Jesus was a friend of sinners. We need to take risks to follow his example.
2. “I don’t have the gift of evangelism. It’s not my thing.”
Jesus gave the Great Commission to the entire church. We all have a vital part to play by using approaches that fit our unique personalities.
3. “I don’t have time right now.”
Mix outreach with things you’re already doing by inviting unchurched friends to join you. Think of the difference one lunch made in the life of Zacchaeus!
4. “I’m afraid of what friends will think of me.”
That’s a good sign you’re sensitive enough to approach people in ways that won’t unnecessarily offend them! If you interact respectfully, they’ll likely be open.
5. “I’ll just live out my faith in front of my friends; they’ll figure it out.”
That sounds appealing, but it’s neither biblical nor effective. Paraphrasing Romans 10:14, they’re not going to see it unless we also say it.
6. “I don’t know how to bring up the topic.”
Pray for wisdom and courage to seize split-second opportunities to steer ordinary topics, like getting a drink of water (John 4), into spiritual conversations (“I could have given you living water”).
7. “I wouldn’t know what to say once the topic was raised.”
That’s okay because it’s best to do more listening at first anyway. Once you’re into it, you’ll find experiences to explore, questions to discuss, and stories to tell—and the Holy Spirit will guide you!
8. “I don’t know enough.”
The best way to grow in this area is simply to dive in and say what you do know. You can always delay answering a tough question until you’ve had time to look into it.
9. “In our church’s tradition, we don’t talk about personal faith.”
Your friends need to understand the gospel message because it’s “the power of God for salvation.” Stretch yourself to communicate it in ways that fit you, and them—maybe writing letters or sending books or tapes. Take small steps, and it’ll become more natural.
10. “My church is more into teaching and worship than evangelism.”
Don’t excuse negligence of one area because we have competence in another. For the sake of lost people who matter to God, let’s do all we can to reach them, personally and through the church.
© 1998 Christianity Today International. This article originally appeared in Leadership journal. For more articles like this, visit CTLibrary.com.
this song encompasses what im trying to do right now...
Yet I Will Praise
by vineyard
I will praise You Lord my God Even in my brokenness I will praise You Lord I will praise You Lord my God Even in my desperation I will praise You Lord And I can't understand All that You allow I just can't see the reason But my life is in Your hands And though I cannot see You I choose to trust You Even when my heart is torn I will praise (trust) You Lord Even when I feel deserted I will praise (trust) You Lord Even in my darkest valley I will praise (trust) You Lord And when my world is shattered and it seems all hope is gone Yet I will praise You Lord I will trust You Lord my God Even in my loneliness I will trust You Lord I will trust You Lord my God Even when I cannot hear You I will trust You Lord And I will not forget That You hung on a cross Lord You bled and died for me And if I have to suffer I know that You've been there And I know that You're here now
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gGH2YXcWJ4Q
God had been knocking at my heart about this for a while now. He has been teaching me how to love
someone. And sometimes, i wanna do things my way, but it's clear that it has to be about God (cus
God is love)...i had to speak up and lay out God's view (as how He has graciously revealed to me)
of our relationship and on your relationship with Him, God is calling you back to Him and although
i wished that you would go back to God for the sake of us, it's really not about that...it's up to
you and Him...thus, 3 options arised: you go and mend your relationship with God on your own, you
go and mend your relationship with God and i will support you, or you can shrug off your relationship
with God and relieve me of my pain...although the first two options seems much harder, i would be
more than glad to go through them with you...in the end, you chose option one...it's really hard
to just let it go, but i am learning to trust God...it sucks that we're not together anymore, but
to truly love God and you...i must resist turning back because i must trust that God's plans are
perfect!
More Father’s Day after thoughts:
The priest Eli’s two biological sons; Hophni and Phinehas, were bad to the bones. Somehow their wickedness were a result of Eli’s doing (1 Samuel 2:29). Eli was too ‘soft’ a father. Eli also had a spiritual son, Samuel, and he turned out just fine. However, Samuel’s oldest sons, Abijah and Joel, were as rotten as Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 8:1).
Both Eli and Samuel were good priests but their sons turned out exactly unlike them. What happened?
Were they bad fathers? Did Samuel pick up Eli’s fathering style which caused his sons to be wicked?
God told Eli that he had honored his sons more than God and was this the reason why these sons had turned bad?
What can we learn from these two fathers?
1. Fathers need to honor God first. This means that we will have to teach our children to have a healthy fear of God. Whether our children will fear or not fear God is their choice, but showing and guiding them to fear God is the father’s responsibility.
2. It is not easy to pass down a Godly heritage. It is not automatic and it takes much effort. Father must continously enrolled in the courses of ‘Fatherhood 101, 102, 103 etc.’ to adjust ourselves as our children grows older.
3. Pray for those who are fathers. Ask the Spirit to show them the way in a very antagonistic environment for parenting. Especially pray for those fathers who are in ‘full time ministry’.
TenderCare Ministry
We are starting a Cantonese worship service for the residents at the Tendercare at the corner of McNicoll and Victoria Park. It will be once a month on the third Sunday of the month. Pray for wisdom, sensitivity, knowhows and patience for those who will be helping out. Po Man is leading the event for this coming Sunday. Ask God to give us much love to minister to the elderly and physically challenged.
Kneadings Bread Company
Yes, this is the name of our bakery and cafe. No, this is not a church building but we would like this to be a foundation for a faith community that worships Jesus. Yes, we have taken possession of the unit. No, renovation work has not begun yet but we are aiming for a fall opening.
Prayer requests: God will use this shop to his glory. The finances and renovation work. People in the immediate community to be ministered. Strength and health of Jennifer and I.
Prayer requests for this week:
1. Collected on Sunday:
Please pray for a patient of mine Steve K. Has quickly progressed with ALS and now requires 24 hour attendant care. Only months ago did he enjoy life, but this condition has taken much of his quality of life and has suffered with much pain. Pray for no pain / suffering, and guide me in any ways that I might help his condition especially the recent head injury that rapidly caused his decline. Finally, throughout this that he would come to know God.
2. Continuing prayer for Aaron Cheng on his open heart surgery. It was delayed until Wednesday (June 18).
3. Pray for Sophia’s upcoming Epideral Cortisone Injection (June 26).
4. The many missions trips that is either at ‘real time’ or upcoming: Vicky Wen, Lindsay Wong, Stephanie Tung, Henry Chow, Janet Wong and her team, and Dennis Ho.
5. Young parents in their parenting joys and struggles: Daniel and Elaine, Lon and Yvonne, Steve and Cynthia, Joshua and Candy.
Summer Plans:
a trip? a job? a renovation project? how about reading a book or two on Christian spirituality?
